When making these "year lists" it is not an uncommon scenario to find me deeply depressed, sitting in a corner, pulling my hair and mumbling something only a Neanderthaler would understand some of, or said in another way, damn it's difficult.
It's nevertheless too much fun not to do it, so I have once again tried to sum up some of my personal highlights of the year 2003. To keep it simple I have made an album list and a live show list.
Albums Of The Year
When considering so many releases it's extremely difficult to make a list where each album is placed in connection with the quality of the one above and the one just below. This list is nevertheless an attempt to have a system where there is a clear tendency to start with the best ones and then work my way down as the quality drops continually.
These are all albums that I at least have found overall pleasing (some being only that though). I have linked to the ones where a review is available, but also made a short comment on each album on the list.
The albums at the bottom are of course not the revelationz I was hoping for, but now I have added them so that you don't have to write and ask: Why is that album not here?
And just to make sure, I have not heard these albums one or two times, they have all been given a healthy amount of spins, otherwise this wouldn't be possible at all.
This list contains the albums officially released in 2003 that I got my hands on up to the moment writing this, before long I most likely will get other releases that deserves to be here, that's the price to pay.
My central fields of interest spans Heavy Metal, Power Metal and Progressive Metal, so these will be the general styles you will find on this list, you are very welcome to comment on it and make me some suggestions of things not found here.
Three albums more or less share first place:
1. Masterplan. Masterplan. Read review
Talking about a great debut! Amazing songs and an astonishing quality throughout the entire record.
2. King Diamond. The Puppet Master. Read review
So many fantastic songs, huge solos and thrilling moments. There is just something magical about the way this album is packed with huge memorable melodies.
3. Labyrinth. Labyrinth. Read review
Only fantastic songs on this most refreshing and intense record, who said Power Metal was predictable!
Here we go with the rest:
4. Lost Horizon. A Flame To The Ground Beneath. Read review
Technicality, epic features and pure power mixed into one magnificent and emotional whole. These songs contain an inner cosmic force that hits you right on.
5. Iron Maiden. Dance Of Death. Read review
All the classic and well-played elements in a complex and rather experimenting package.
6. Poverty's No Crime. The Chemical Chaos. Read review
Grooving, rocking and atmospheric Progressive Metal with songs that have a jamming edge. I really like the special way the keyboard is fitted into this well played and cunning album.
7. Evergrey. Recreation Day. Read review
A very atmospheric and bombastic release. Power Metal with a twist of progressiveness. Tom's emphatic and emotional interpretation of the melancholic lyrics is a special and genius feature.
8. Kamelot. Epica. Read review
A well put together concept, epic and very melodic elements in a nice flowing stream. Even though I have been listening to it for a year now I still find it very comprehensive and clever in its structure and the atmospheres are really deep and meaningful.
9. Helloween. Rabbit Don't Come Easy. Read review
A melodic blast of catchy tunes with a certain positive feeling and many cool refinements.
10. Dream Theater. Train Of Thought. Read review
Definitely a very high quality album. The hard profile works very well and I simply love the amazing guitar work and gigantic drum effort.
11. Redemption. Redemption. For another opinion check the review by Steen
A Progressive Metal album that faces the listener with many challenges, this is surely one of those albums that keep on growing for a long time. The technical level of these tracks is very high and I find songs like
Window In Space and
Something Wicked This Way Comes absolutely spellbinding. I love the atmospheres but could have used more catchy elements.
12. Adagio. Underworld
This is a real treat for fans that are into Progressive Metal mixed with Power Metal elements and a clear classical inspirational source. It reminds me a bit of Symphony X, but make no mistake this is truly original all the way. A key word is atmosphere and let me just say that this album is packed with mesmerizing moods and mystical adventures. A few times it's it falls a bit apart due to some very long and loosely structured passages, but the album surely wins with time. The excellent guitar and keyboard job melts together into a spellbinding experience.
13. Rage. Soundchaser. For another opinion check the review by Steen
One third of Wagner, Smolski and Terrana once again result in a very explosive cocktail. Intense, powerful and detailed sums up a lot of what this release has to offer. Not their best and most worked through album, especially lyrically, but many really great songs.
14. Brainstorm. Soul Temptation. Check out David's review and my comment
This is Power Metal of the most vigorous and hard-hitting kind. Overall a fantastic release.
15. Consortium Project III. Terra Incognita (The Undiscovered World). For another opinion check the review by Hashman
Elegy's Ian Perry returns with the third Consortium Project, a progressive all-star release with many melodic cuts.
If you want to get an impression of this release just listen to the first two songs, they blew me away for sure. I still think the concept musically could have been tied better together on some instances.
16. Ring Of Fire. Dreamtower
This is a bunch of extremely talented musicians, a fact that shows itself immediately. It's symphonic, progressive, powerful, grooving, melodic and immensely capturing. Only a few songs are not quite upholding the otherwise splendid and very high standard. The lyrics are extremely well fitted together too, and highly interesting at the same time.
17. Metallica. St. Anger. Read review
I have always liked it when a record had an overall approach or feeling to it, at least when it worked. In this daring case it does because it is as special as it is, very unbound, direct, nerve filled and heavy. From time to time it gets a bit unstructured and some songs simply don't have enough melody or flair to really work, but wow what an attitude and kick ass vibe! I love the personal lyrics and with songs like
St. Anger,
The Unnamed Feeling,
Shoot Me Again and
Frantic I think they achieved making a very good record. On this one Metallica does what they do best, namely play smoking aggressive Metal. Can't wait to see them live in Copenhagen in May.
18. Nevermore. Enemies Of Reality. For another opinion check the review by Steen
A very bombastic and aggressive approach where the cool melodies nevertheless lures here and there.
Noumenon falls a bit through, but cuts like
Ambivalent,
Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday and
Seed Awakening are marvellous.
19. Stratovarius. Elements Pt. 1
Quite many epic and atmospheric songs, gaining a lot by the use of a real orchestra.
Soul Of A Vagabond is a really cool song and overall I find the mixture of speed, bombast and melody very fitting. Some songs are stretched out a bit, but the musical performance is really great.
20. Mercury Tide. Why? Read review
Angel Dust singer Dirk Thurisch's new band debuting with a very unique blend of Heavy Metal, Heavy Rock and lots of symphonic elements. This is one of those albums that keep challenging you with its originality and diversity. The title track and
Set Me Free being outstanding melodic cuts.
21. Circle II Circle. Watching In Silence. Read review
Former Savatage singer Zak Stevens with a new band and a very good and melodic debut
.
22. Opeth. Damnation. For another opinion check the review by Hashman
A special Progressive Heavy Rock kind of album, mellow, detailed and half acoustic. The heaviness lies in the deep dark atmosphere; the rock element comes to life especially in the slow rhythms and melodic guitar solos. A very unique melancholic mood seems too flow from start to finish, suitable for relaxing on the couch.
23. Sonata Arctica. Winterheart's Guild
A more complex sound but otherwise classic Sonata Arctica. Not their best release due to some not that thrilling songs as ex.
Silver Tongue, but overall a high quality album.
Gravenimage has a cool progressive twist and the symphonic drama
The Ruins Of My Life has become one of my favourite Sonata Arctica songs.
24. Stratovarius. Elements Pt. 2. Check Hashman's review and my comment
The first part started the year, this one ended it. Again a strong and reliable release that contains all the well known Stratovarius stuff in a very groovy and atmospheric setting, containing a party song of dimensions with
I Walk To My Own Song.
25. Elegy. Principles Of Pain
Progressive Metal with great melodies, strong vocals and impressive guitar work. This one gains a lot with continued listening. The powerful
No Code No Honour and the atmospheric ballad
Silence In The Wind are fantastic songs
; more stuff in that melodic style would have made it even better.
26. Andromeda. II=I. For another opinion check the review by Yoni
Never really heard anything quite like it. Great ultra technical Progressive Metal, I especially love the drum work but all members deliver an impressive performance.
Sometimes I miss a bit more bite and hard impacts, but overall a very atmospheric and innovative release.
Two is One, Morphing Into Nothing and
Castaway being most splendid songs.
27. Silent Edge. The Eyes Of The Shadow. Read review
A nice debut, Progressive Power Metal in the direction of Symphony X. A varied record with some very successful cuts. We find great epic and fast stuff in
Wasted Lands and fantastic mysticism in
For Ancient Times. Some songs lack a touch more melody but all in all a firm and quite impressive release.
28. Secret Sphere. Scent Of Human Desire. Read review
Interesting and diverse Symphonic Power Metal with some minor aspects that simply becomes too weird.
Rain and
More Than Simple Emotions being absolutely thrilling tracks.
29. Eidolon. Apostles Of Defiance. For another opinion check the review by Hashman
This one rips! A nice blend of heavy riffs, trash elements and a drum performance by Shawn Glover that really kick serious ass. Power Metal with a special intensive touch. Ok there could have been more variation and I miss a couple more really fantastic songs, but a very firm standard is upheld throughout the entire album.
30. Lanfear. The Art Effect. For another opinion check the review by Steen
One of those albums that keep sounding very "new" due to a alternative sound and complex song writing. Progressive Metal with a refreshing bombastic profile and great symphonic elements.
A bit more melody and structure to some songs would have advanced it even further.
31. Sun Caged. Sun Caged. For another opinion check the review by Steen
A nice debut containing well-performed Progressive Metal with associations to Dream Theater and Vanden Plas. There is a tendency for some passages (for example in
Soil) to be rather unstructured and floating around, in need of that binding glue. Cuts like
Sun Caged and
Unchanging and are nevertheless fantastic.
32. Seven Witches. Passage To The Other Side. Read review
Power Metal mixed with many more classic Metal elements.
Johnny,
The Lost Horizon and especially the emotional title track are fantastic songs. Still some rather tame aspects appear here and there keeping the rating at hold. All in all a pretty hard and vigorous album.
33. Grave Digger. Rheingold. Read review
Even though my high expectations were not fully met, this is a classic Power Metal album with an overall good standard.
34. Edenbridge. Aphelion. For another opinion check the review by Steen
This one had to grow on me before it became really interesting. A very atmospheric and reassuring feeling roams this universe. I miss a bit more aggression and diverse song structures but this is indeed a good album with many fine and very melodic songs. The soft female voice is nicely matched into the symphonic profile.
35. Section A. The Seventh Sign. Read review
First album by the band with guitarist Torben Enevoldsen in front. This is nice and good music without many overly exiting moments, the comprehensive
Tomorrow being the albums peaking moment.
36. Galloglass. Legends From Now And Nevermore. For another opinion check the review by Steen
Melodic Power Metal coupled with the use of violin on quite many occasions, all in all working pretty well and leading the thoughts on to Jag Panzer who have also used this instrument with success. These guys have a talent for making good catchy passages and the twin guitar performance is of high standard. Some average tracks and a general low number of really awesome parts keep my rating a bit down. All in all a positive acquaintance.
37. Dream Evil. Evilized
Their second album and once again the style is a mix of traditional Metal and Power Metal. 12 songs that vary from standard and rather anonymous to very good with most of them in the better half, having a great hook or cool riff.
38. Dragonforce. Valley Of The Damned. For another opinion check the review by Steen
Nobody can take away the genius of this albums title track; still there are other good songs and again some not that intriguing. Overall a refreshing album with lots of speed, melody and unbound power.
39. Biomechanical. Eight Moons. Read review
Very interesting debut that has a lot of heaviness nicely placed in a complex web of progressive features. Unfortunately a disorderly song structure presents itself from time to time.
40. Winterlong. The Second Coming. Read review
A mix of progressiveness and classic Metal, in most instances a very interesting album that just needs more really great songs.
41. Wizard. Odin
A concept about northern mythology that has its interesting aspects. The music is stripped from advanced detours, a fact that gives the music its own charm. In your face Metal with tons of energy and some cool hooks. Could have been more epic and capturing but overall a good release.
42. Anthrax. We've Come For You All
We were offered some great cuts with this their ninth release. The ultra heavy
What Doesn't Die and the melodic softy
Safe Home being the best ones. But there is also some quite boring stuff like
Superhero and
Think About An End,
making this one of their least good albums.
43. Paragon. The Dark Legacy
After their incredible Law Of The Blade I had my mind set for something much better. A lot of the epic and atmospheric stuff has been replaced with a more predictive and at times tiresome path. This said the unique power and rawness that they master so well is still here in well-played fashion.
44. Platitude. Secrets Of Life
How many bands have two keyboard players? Well it certainly works out for the better in this fine debut from the young Swedish band combining elements from Progressive, Neo-classical, Power and traditional Heavy Metal. Even though some songs are very good there are again some that lack structure and that important exciting melody or break.
45. Gothic Knights. Up From The Ashes
Their second album with a mix of Power Metal and a more traditional Metal direction. The craftsmanship is good and the songs work out pretty successful. On the other hand there is a tendency for some tracks to become just too uninteresting and average in quality.
46. D.S.G. Ashes To Ashes.
This is a quite good traditional Heavy Metal record, nothing more, nothing less. Most songs are solid without being exactly exciting and I must admit that I find it a bit monotone in length. Former Manowar axe man David Shankle still knows how to play a mean guitar, and the raw and very heavy approach on this album hits with strong force.
Calling All Heroes being a great hymn.
47. Taraxacum. Rainmaker. For another opinion check the review by Nina
I was hoping for something better but it nevertheless is an overall good CD. Combining an interesting style of Metal and Rock with many melodic refrains and grooving rhythms they managed to come up with a rather interesting second release. I just miss more exiting breaks and a bit more power here and there.
48. Firewind. Burning Earth
Aggressive and forceful Power Metal that mostly results in something successful, not much to really get me up my chair though. Some melodies and choruses remain a bit anonymous and standard. Anyway I especially like the drum and guitar performance, both being of high quality.
49. Tad Morose. Modus Vivendi. For another opinion check the review by Hashman
A rather raw and unpolished release that to some degree also remains its strength, more ingenious elements would on the other hand have spiced things a bit up. It relies to a high degree on average riffs (ex.
Afraid To Die) and tame choruses (ex.
Clearly Insane). Again some songs rocks pretty tight and directly misplaced aspects are not found very often. I simply don't find this inspiring enough to be listed higher, still songs like
Cyberdome and
Life In A Lonely Grave are in fact very good
.
50. At Vance. The Evil In You
Solid guitar leading Power Metal with a couple of slow ballads. It's difficult to say anything directly bad about these songs; it nevertheless is just as hard to say much really good. The album gets a bit tedious in length; too often being very reliant on simple choruses. The faster songs and passages are clearly the best ones.
Live Shows Of The Year
Listed in connecting with personal liking, all very good shows though.
Wacken Open Air. Read report
The report should say it all, damn that was a crazy extended weekend, and yeah the music was great too. I saw 11 concerts and had a more or less positive impression of them all.
Iron Maiden. Read live review
The legends proved that they still got it, missed a bit more surprising and intriguing elements, but they rocked for sure.
Helloween/Rage. Read live review
Two great shows with lost of intensity. Rage displayed great musical skill and Helloween put out some great classics.
Dio. Read live review
My high expectations were meet and we got classic Metal with lots of nerve, a really cool gig.
Evergrey. Read live review
They did really well at Aalborg Metal Festival, kicking some serious ass and putting out a solid performance.
Once again this article became longer and more time demanding than expected, I think I'll start making the lists for this year now.
