TNT - A New Religion
Tony Harnell makes a return to former TNT glory with this new disc that captivates with its much missed AOR style. Ronnie LeTekro shows his chops by bringing exactly the right amount of axework to each song, never overdoing it, and remaining tasteful and stylish, all at the same time. The production is outstanding and many of the tunes featured here exploit that beloved classic TNT sound that was so lamented over during its absence. The modern touches injected in others are refreshing but don't overwhelm, creating a nice balance between the two worlds.
Therion - Lemuria/Sirius B
Puzzlingly, this was released without much fanfare, pretty much flying under the radar, even moreso than the much overlooked "Secret of the Runes" from a few years back. Two complete discs, a staggering cast of musicians, and more music than you can absorb in just one or two sittings, Therion scores another hit with this huge collection of music that is a must own for anyone that enjoyed their last few. The one major change is the inclusion of a lead vocalist, Mats Leven, who shows up for numerous songs, while the majority still features the choir setup that everyone is familiar with. Big, bold, and one of the most epic in scope releases that I have ever heard.
Ten - Return to Evermore
Ten returned minus Vinnie Burns and with a vengeance in this disc brimming with killer hooks in the AOR styled songs and heavier epic tracks in a return to their roots. A little bit of everything is thrown in to try and please everyone and somehow the mixture manages to gel for an easy flowing album. Gary Hughes continues to weave the listener into his seductive world of teeming with passion as he spellbinds the listener into one fantastic romance tale after another.
Lake of Tears - Black Brick Road
Many thought that LOT was over with after the last album, but after a few jam sessions the band decided to forge on with a new record label and a renewed interest in the music itself. Their newfound enthusiasm shines bright in a mixture of doomy tracks with their signature progressive touches, as well as catchy numbers that take the listener back to the heavier doom depths of "A Crimson Cosmos" made it a treat for those that prefered the bouncier LOT sound.
Jorn - Out to Every Nation
Always a favorite, Jorn Lande is always predictable with his consistancy, albums that he is involved with are always meticulously crafted for hours of wear and tear. Jorn's distinctive pipes and sharp songwriting propelled this to be one of the highlights of the year. Not quite as good as the previous album, "Worldchanger" but still ranking high with rich hooks, especially in the anthemic title track, and lots of cut throat guitarwork as well. The sound ranges from Whitesnake-ish delights to Sabbath-like heaviness.
Bowes and Morley - Mo's BBQ
I wasn't expecting to be so enamoured with this release, but the guys from Thunder really pulled through when it came down to doing a bluesy rock album. The ballads are memorable and there are some songs on here that just can't be erased from memory. Some tracks do fall a little flat, but the sheer quality of the good stuff keeps it fresh and makes it a disc that's easy to return to.
Crossfade - White on Blue
So rich and smooth, its creamy aural goodness is easy to get lost in. A lovely AOR album with various influences creeping in, tinging it in hues of varying shades and degrees. It is a beautiful piece of work with the always wonderful Goran Edman in the vocal spotlight, making it an even more pleasurable listening experience. Very Westcoast, and very essential for those that need a break from the speedy stuff.
Edge Of Forever - Feeding the Fire
Coming out of nowhere is Edge of Forever, who managed to replicate Yngwie's past signature sounds and do it better than the maestro has in years. One of the best debut albums that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, with guitar solos that actually get the blood pumping with electric excitement.
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret
This is for those that loved "SOEL I" with its massive orchestrations but found "Dawn of Victory" tedious and even boring at times, with its more stripped back sound. "SOEL II" kicks up the epic feel a notch with tons of classical influences set to the thunder of metal and Fabio's golden pipes.
Silent Force - Worlds Apart
It is refreshing to finally hear DC Cooper again, after what was a painful wait between albums indeed. Silent Force was never my favorite of his projects, the previous "Infatuator" was too typical of all the other power albums out at the time and didn't utilize Cooper's voice to its full potential. All of that has been fixed for "Worlds Apart". There are the anticipated speed metal tracks, but some slower material as well that takes things in a bolder, more creative direction.
Edguy - Hellfire Club
I just can't NOT mention this disc even though it kind of falls a little under everything else. Perhaps it's a case of Tobias burnout? NEVER! It is typical Edguy, you've probably heard it all before, from the tongue in cheek bits to the speedy double bass drum stuff, but with Tobi being the voice behind it all, the music somehow feels brand new even if it is simply a twist on an old theme.
Ayreon - The Human Equation
Arjen Lucassen has outdone himself once again, with a dizzingly ambitious progressive album that dares to delve into subject matter that no one has done quite before, the tapestry of senses that is the scales of human emotion. Each emotion is given music and voice, and reaches right to the spirit to steal into the very soul. An album that does take time and patience to warm up to, but once you invest the required time, the payoff is tenfold.
Dare - Beneath the Shining Water
Alot of people were disappointed in the disc as expectations were high and this didn't quite fulfill them, but the album's calm soothing instrumental waters set against a Celtic influenced backdrop with velvety vocals makes a beautiful trip to dream by.
Frontline - The Seventh Sign
Frontline have not innovated their approach in quite some time, in fact they have barely even tweaked it. "Heroes" was the peak of their career thus far but they seem to keep moving away from their Journey-esque beginnings and more into the hard rock arena, but being such a fan, I don't even mind. In fact, they can keep repeating this formula for a couple more albums and there would be nothing but love sent their way.
Hodson - This Strange World
Rainbow mixed with Magnum done by the guy behind Bob Catley's last solo CD... equals absolute metal bliss, and the kind of music that many of us have missed for some time. The void has finally been filled, and while it probably has gone unnoticed by many, this is a really high quality release that deserves more acclaim than it has recieved thus far.
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