Fairyland - Score to a new beginning
While waiting for the next Rhapsody album to appear, Fairyland is the perfect way to spend your time. High quality symphonic Metal. When I first heard
Assault on the Shore I was sold.
Missing Tide - Follow The Dreamer
This new Danish band's debut is a promising piece of old school heavy rock/metal.
Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way Of Orwarrior
After two listens my first impression of this highly anticipated album is complex and promising but not as immediately captivating as Mabool. Time will tell.
Grand Magus - Iron Will
I was impressed by these guys at this years Sweden Rock Festival and finally I have their latest album. It doesn't disappoint. Heavy Metal played with no compromise and a lot of heart. About time I discovered this band.
Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
My favorite album of the year is sheer musical perfection.
Read full review.
Sonata Arctica - Unia
I've had this one for quite a while without giving it a chance. Probably because of all the negative reviews I'd read. That was a mistake. Unia shows potential and the songs grow with each listen.
Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces
Tori Amos delivers a great Christmas themed album with her own rendition of various Christmas hymns as well as a few originals. Intriguing and infectious.
Spin Gallery - Embrace
Outstanding AOR. The vocals are silky smooth, the music is melodic and the songs are memorable. A great discovery.
Van Zant - Van Zant
Pretty decent AOR effort. Not quite the gem which the webshop said it was but worth locating.
Cheap Trick - The Latest
Another fine album from Cheap Trick.
Blackwood Creek - Blackwood Creek
Kip Winger, Nate Winger and Peter Fletcher reforms their first band. Effective and ultra melodic Retro rock with strong vocals. Solid.
MetalForce - MetalForce
Highly unoriginal power metal. Unoriginal in the way that the whole thing sounds too familiar and the band is unable to create their own sound, borrowing heavily from a certain other band beginning with M. Metalforce is not able to pull off lyrics like these in a convincing way. Unfortunately, just not good enough to stand out.
Bon Jovi - The Circle
After Lost Highway, The Circle takes a U-turn back towards Have a Nice Day, which makes me smile. It doesn't quite reach that one but it's a solid album. Favorites include Live before you die, Happy Now, When We were beautiful, Superman Tonight and Brokenpromiseland. No pretensions, just good natured rock.
Danny Vaughn - Standing Alone
A good selection of songs rendered in an acoustic setting. Great voice, great songs.
Heavenly - Carpe Diem
There's nothing revolutionary under these skies except that the Queen influence reaches new heights on
Farewell. A song which has a very unfortunate vocal performance from a shrill Ben Sotto. Beside that misstep Heavenly deliver a bombastic power metal album which sounds promising after the first few listens.
Angra - Holy Land
My favorite Angra album still holds up.
Read full review.
W.E.T. - W.E.T.
A brilliant hard rocking gem.
Cain's Offering - Gather The Faithful
One of the best Power Metal releases of 2009.
Red Dawn - Never Say Surrender
Great AOR. Worth seeking out.
CD purchases of the month
Bon Jovi - The Circle
Cain's Offering - Gather The Faithful
Danny Vaughn - Standing Alone
Danny Vaughn - Traveller
Danny Vaughn - A road less travelled
Cheap Trick - The Latest
Fairyland - Score to a new Beginning
Red Dawn - Never Say Surrender
Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Night Castle
Van Zant - Van Zant
