The top ten albums are in order more or less, the rest is listed afterwards. There were plenty of releases that I failed to hear this year, as well as many that I likely have forgotten through the tumultuous year that was 2009. However, the mass amounts of sheer rock pleasure that coursed through my metal starved veins over the past year has made it a memorable one indeed. Come along and see what lit my fires the hottest for 2009 and remember why they did.
SONATA ARCTICA - THE DAYS OF GRAYS
Far and away the most outstanding experience that defined (and refined) 2009. Sonata Arctica's past has been crammed into the future for a complex, gorgeous ride of exceptional power/progressive/epic/speed metal with grandiose porportions and a keen eye trained for the glorious. Kakko's mesmerizing "In the Dark" was pure musical ectasy and fan favorites such as "Flag in the Ground" solidified their stance as one of the few bands that hold innovation in their hands and are not afraid to tackle the seeming impossible (the breathtaking, soul crushing "Deathaura"). But they still show their roots, and rather proudly. A fine band that just keeps evolving into something more spectacular as years go by.
PLACE VENDOME - STREETS OF FIRE
Michael Kiske was born to sing AOR. That is the only conclusion that can be made when dipping into the delights that make up "Streets of Fire". A host of songwriters knew just how to milk the greatest performances from him and the guitar work is so tasteful it is almost a sin. Melodic to excess and choruses that boil down to sincere emotion, this is a must-hear album and one that absolutely blows away everything else in the melodic arena from 2009, even W.E.T., though it is a close one.
W.E.T. - W.E.T.
Absolutely superb. Jeff Scott Soto has truly never sounded better and the disc is relentless. Every song is crafted for maximum enjoyment with very few fillers lingering about. The lovely sexiness of "Comes Down Like Rain" seals the deal, does it not? Or perhaps it takes the flat out melodic rock flow of "Running From the Heartache" to boil your blood til it bubbles over? And the guitars are very tasteful and fit the songs like an electric glove. This and Place Vendome are both examples of melodic perfection with slightly different flavors.
CHRIS LANEY - PURE
Underrated!! and for SHAME! Laney's disc melts down the greatest of the 80s into one sleek package. His vocals are so sincere (even when spitting furious nasty fire) that it is easy to get swept up into the animal instincts that prevail over "Pure". Why this didn't get more attention perplexes me to no end, but I'm still enjoying the hell out of it over here. The heavy sexiness of "I Dunno", the anthemic "Fire & Ice", the Def Leppard layered rock sleazy balladry in "Get U Down"... this one deserves to be played loud, proud and pounded often.
WINGER - KARMA
The self titled album went to hang out with "Pull" and this was the result... "Karma" is a sensational return for the band Winger, retaining the fabulous intricacies of "IV" but also digging those big melodic moments out of the past. Amongst the modern trappings, it is always the unexpected bits of sheer melody that catch you by surprise or the completely modern yet pulsating addictive tracks like the purring predatorial "Come a Little Closer" that make this one stand out amongst the crowds. It is so difficult to walk that modern/classic line, but "Karma" does it so effortlessly it makes one wonder why other bands can't pull off something this easily.
HARDLINE - LEAVING THE END OPEN
Surprise! Hardline is back (again) and it doesn't suck! Actually their moody, slightly prog, very contemporary approach is a breath of fresh air, and Gioeli's vocals are just, oh! So wonderful. The update is made possible mostly by those vocals and a very sweet production that brings their twist on the melodic to the fore. "Hole In My Head" is angsty while "Falling Free" just focuses on this sweeping feel that tumbles you head over heels. "Start Again" is fragile and lovely... a varied disc that deserves its due.
CRASH THE SYSTEM - THE CROWNING
There's several singers involved here, but really, Goran Edman is the only one worth checking in for, simply because he steals the show, takes the cake and makes you wonder why on earth they didn't just give him free reign over the whole thing. The album relies on lots of keyboard effects, and just wraps your senses in them. It's pop, it's rock and it just nails the addictive feel wonderfully. "Broken Glass" is driving rock pop that sweeps you up as it cranks out... oh and the rest of the singers do an alright job too, especially Mats Leven in the dark styled "All Because of You" and some surprising turns at the mic from Bjorn Jansson.
DANGER DANGER - REVOLVE
Approaching this with no expectations, it sure did shock me to my senses and kept me listening for months afterward... as a fan of the previous singer, it was nothing but apathy over the return of Poley, but the results speak for themselves. This is another great AOR/melodic disc that tampers ever so lightly in modern trappings and comes out sounding fresh, new and yet... familiar. The fun flow of the straight-to-your-pocketbook "F.U. Money" and the darker mid-tempo bomber "Beautiful Regret" are two to watch out for.
MAGNUM - INTO THE VALLEY OF THE MOONKING
Cast off all thoughts of that "Alice" mess as well as quite a few albums that came before that. Those were grasping (gasping?) at/for glory. This one actually achieves it. Magnum's return to grandiose hard rock in the British style, is spectacular. A disc that requires growth and patience on the listener's part, but is satisfying in the end. Catley and Clarkin are truly magic together, here's a glimpse of why older Magnum was held in such high regard.
THE TROPHY - THE GIFT OF LIFE
Michael Bormann's little project seemed to get lost as being one of the first releases of the year and got heaped under a ton of other things all begging for attention. But it has the power and longevity to rise up and get noticed once again. This has a moodiness about it that is hard to pinpoint. It's almost goth, depressed in moments but finding their melodic heart when you least expect it. Little twists like that stick the knife in for the hooking sweet "When Nightmares Wake Me Up" and the loose grey atmosphere of "The Shades of Grey".
Vision Divine - 9 Degrees West of the Moon
A very appealing and often forgotten disc from 09. Fabio Lione is back behind the vocals and does the admirable singing duty that only Fabio can. Love or hate, but worth the trip.
Sunstorm - House of Dreams
Joe Lynn Turner and AOR, a combo that is hard to mess up too badly. A solid disc that runs well with a few standouts.
Gotthard - Need to Believe
"Domino Effect" essentially dazzled me silly so expectations were astronomical for this and immediately came crashing down. A good album but doesn't even begin to play in the same field as the one before it.
House of Lords - Cartesian Dreams
Another album that lets down in the songwriting department but also has its moments.
Leverage - Circus Colossus
While not all members are operating on full capacity, the prog/melodic cross direction continues into excellence.
Dare - Arc of the Dawn
Lovely, rich and beautiful. Dare's "Dawn" is loveliness in music.
Blanc Faces - Falling From the Moon
There are two songs here that require your immediate attention. One is the title track, the other is "Fly" which resonates on so many emotional levels that makes it difficult to describe...
Jorn - Spirit Black
Lande wanted to make the ultimate heavy metal Dio-sounding album. And he did. And it was good. The end.
GEFF - Land of the Free
Goran Edman, Mats Olausson, Anders Johnsson, and guitarist Ralf Jedestedt. Yep it is absolutely frantic neo-classical sounding metal with a melodic little twist. Goran can keep up and expect keyboards in grand abundance. Heavy but accessible and an overlooked little disc...
OTHER and ETC
ADAM LAMBERT - FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT
It wasn't metal, or rock or pop or dance but had bits of all of these and somehow managed to be a fun, captivating album. Lambert's voice is just heaven divine, and he stretches it now and then. The real kickers are the glitzy glam dance numbers that crank up the heat and make you adrenaline sweat like the switchy "Strut" and the wicked title track. More please?
TED POLEY - GREATESTITS
With Vol. 1 tattooed on the boob. Of course! 33 songs, all Poley sung and across the various stages he has waltzed out on including Melodica (sadly forgotten), and Bonemachine (yah and his solo stuffies too). There are three unreleased pieces too. If you don't have it, you need tit.
MAKES ME CRY
EUROPE - LAST LOOK AT EDEN
And why? That's all I have to say. The heavy epic crunch of the title track is nice, but none of the others contain that life fluttering spark. They are all lifeless and dead, soulless songs that are harshly modern but have nothing entertaining beating within. Just so... drab, boring and dreary.
LITA FORD - WICKED WONDERLAND
The saddest part of this record is someone thought it was a good idea, a good enough idea to greenlight it, print it and ship it. And people actually bought it. The whole process is astounding, because this disc is absolute and total garbage with so few redeeming qualities.
HOWARD LEESE - SECRET WEAPON
It's under 50 minutes but feels like three hours. He's a talented guitarist, these are good singers on board, what went wrong? Well the songwriting for one thing... rocks have made more interesting music.
|
|
