Accept - Metal Heart
Warming up for Wacken Open Air with some of their best songs, the drive of Midnight Mover crushes everything.

AC/DC - Powerage
Groovy vibes and kick ass nostalgia, the force of Bon Scott defines intensity.

Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith
This band is so much more than just party rock; take the epic Dry County, the alternative Keep The Faith, I Believe with its monster rhythm beat and the ultra catchy I Want You.

D:A:D - Scare Yourself
The new and very good Hard Rock album from the Danish veterans, Camping In Scandinavia is the party song for the summer.

Demons & Wizards - Touched By The Crimson King
Not as inspiring as I had hoped, but the dark scenarios are still enchanting.

Dream Theater - Octavarium
An extremely varied and symphonic album unveiling another great side of this unearthly band, even though it isn't among their best works. Looking forward for it to really unfold.

Frameshift - An Absence Of Empathy
Henning Pauly's collaboration with Sebastian Bach has resulted in a far-reaching and at times very expressive Prog Rock/Metal composition.

Headrush - Headrush
Italian guitarist Alex De Rosso has hired Roberto Tiranti from Labyrinth to put his wonderful voice on these Hard Rock/Metal songs. Some of them are really good and quite catchy.

Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell (25th anniversary edition)
1977 and Rock music was never quite the same. Jim Steinman is no less than a genius, a theatrical and melodic opus.

Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
One of their finest releases; ambitious, well-crafted and downright heavy.

MD.45 - The Craving
Dave Mustaine's interesting project from 1996. A direct, jamming and refreshing approach.

Pagan's Mind - Enigmatic: Calling
The promising Progressive act from Sweden has made another great album; some really interesting ideas are to be found in this one.

Pain Of Salvation - One Hour At The Concrete Lake
Challenging, thought provoking and freezing in a fitting way. The mesmerising atmospheres are truly unique and amazing. The stunning keyboard break in New Year's Eve has a tendency to pop up in my head from time to time.

Queensrÿche - Empire
A musical melting pot of thrilling ideas, this band has brought something entirely unique to the scene. It keeps finding its way into my stereo.

RPWL - World Through My Eyes
Experimental Prog Rock featuring mystic atmospheres and cool melodies.

Russel Allen's Atomic Soul - Atomic Soul
Lots of attitude, soul and killer Hard Rock, this man is simply one of the world's greatest singers. ever.

Shadow Gallery - Room V
Diverse and coherent, a wonderful Progressive Metal album.

The Gathering - Mandylion
You kind of just drift off to these all-embracing moods, a profound and magical journey.

To/Die/For - IV
They play their own special and melancholic Metal and it works out rather well, there is just only a few really exciting songs here.

Written by Tommy
Wednesday, June 15, 2005