Your favorite Hard Rock/Metal Released In 2008

Mine....

Killing Season by Death Angel
Awaiting Evil by Hatchet
Global Warning by Jon Oliva's Pain
Slania by Eluveitie
War Without End by Warbringer
Teaced In Air by Cynic
Citizen Brain by Gamma Bomb
Death Brigade by Avenger Of Blood
Feed The Beast by Bonded By Blood
An Overdose Of Death by Toxic Halocaust

What a year for metal.

1. Blaze Bayley - The Man Who Would Not Die
An incredible band performance here. All the songs rock hard. Sounds great. Still the best Blaze CD, and Blaze is one of my all-time favourites. I loved it then, I love it now. Get it.

2. Marshall Law - Razorhead
Very heavy, very infectious. I got this when it was new, but I just played this recently after I got some other Marshall Law CD's. It still holds up. Stuff like Gods of Deception, Premonition, Night Terror, Bloodlines... so very awesome.

3. Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Alex Skolnick is back and the band releases a milestone album. This one destroys all thrash metal today, destroys all 80's Metallica albums. It is just that good. A must-have.

4. Ayreon - 01011001
A masterpiece following up the previous masterpiece (The Human Equation). It's a little difficult to rank because it is so good, flawless. But it's not the Human Equation. I guess that's why it's fourth.  

5. Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
The last 'Pain' album we'd get. And it has some of the best Savatage/Oliva songs EVER! Stories, Adding the Cost, Before I Hang... a must for 'Tage-heads. The digipak bonus also rules - No More Saturday Nights! A personal favourite. I hold this album dear.

6. Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man
Some fans don't like this. I love it. Divide Devour is one of the best Iced Earth songs ever. Crown of the Fallen, Crucify the King... timeless classics, to me. Barlow again bid his farewell after this album. But it's a strong one. Just because Stu Block outdid him on the next one doesn't mean this is a let down.

7. Poisonblack - A Dead Heavy Day
I was a little on/off with this band. While I always loved Sentenced, Poisonblack wasn't always very consistent, and a lot of times too gothic. Here, they are heavy and the passion and the performance is very tangible. Just listen to 'Diane'. The CD came with a very cool bonus live DVD. And I saw the band on the tour.

8. Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper
I vividly remember listening to this CD for the very first time. From the very first notes I had a huge grin on my face. The Heep is back. This sounds amazing. Classic Uriah Heep, sounding like they should. Big, catchy songs. Hooks everywhere, keys, organs, Mick Box... oh and Bernie Shaw sounds divine.

9. Death Angel - Killing Season
Already mentioned here. The follow up to the wicked awesome Art of Dying. It's almost as good. I love Death Angel, they are now my favourite band. Not really much else to say. All their albums belong on top ten lists everywhere. My second hand digipak is a little beat up though. The booklet is damaged. But there's a really good live DVD as a bonus. All is well.

Tenth spot is always the hardest. So many options to pick from. No matter which way I go, I will regret it.

10. Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
The OG shredder himself. I had to pick this one because I've been spinning it a lot lately. Red Devil... so cheesy, but there's a poster with Yngwie and his Ferrari. What's not to like there, it's outrageous. Tim Owens shines here as well.

In the end it was between Yngwie and Driver - Sons of Thunder. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Rob Rock and Roy Z, but it's still not an ageless classic like the original M.A.R.S. - Project: Driver. But it's pretty damn good I tell you.

But yeah, it was a good year. Manilla Road, Circle II Circle, Avantasia, Falconer, Rage, Pyramaze and many others with cool albums. So there was depth, too.

Death Angel- Killing Season
Testament- Formation of Damnation
Into Eternity- The Incurable Tragedy
The Sword- Gods of the Earth
Gama Bomb- Citizen Brain
Hatchet- Awaiting Evil
Toxic Holocaust- An Overdose of Death
Warbringer- War without End
Bonded by Blood- Feed the Beast

Warrior Soul - Destroy The War Machine
Motorhead - Motorizer
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Bad Biscut - We Still Believe The Hype
Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again
Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
Tesla - Forever More
AC/DC - Black Ice

Death Angel - Killing Season
Agalloch - The White
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
Enforcer - Into The Night
Grand Magus - Iron Will
The Sword - Gods Of The Earth
Testament - The Formation Of Damnation
Enslaved - Vertebrae
Warbringer - War Without End
Toxic Holocaust - An Overdose Of Death

People rank Death Angel high. I LOVE Death Angel. They are my new favourite band. But this is possibly my least favourite album by them.

It does speak volumes about the quality of their output.

Loudness - Metal Mad
Death Angel - Killing Season
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Laaz Rockit - Left for Dead
Metal Church - This Present Wasteland
Helstar - The King of Hell
Rage - Carved in Stone
Paradox - Electrify
Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn
Avantasia - The Scarecrow

#10 Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again
#9 Tesla - Forever More
#8 Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
#7 AC/DC - Black Ice
#6 Metallica - Death Magnetic
#5 The Sword - Gods of Earth
#4 Motörhead - Motörizer
#3 Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad
#2 Testament - The Formation of Damnation
#1 Death Angel - Killing Season

metalinmyveins wrote:

#5 The Sword - Gods of Earth

I once ordered and paid for this release. That was over a decade ago. I never received the CD, and have never even heard it. I can't remember, but I probably got a full refund. But that's my experience with the Sword.

Avenger Of Blood - Death Brigade
Bonded By Blood - Feed the Beast
Death Angel - Killing Season
Gama Bomb - Citizen Brain
Hatchet - Awaiting Evil
Motorhead - Motorizer
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Toxic Holocaust - An Overdose of Death
Warbringer - War Without End
Warpath - Damnation

Avenger of Blood - Death Brigade (yes I am biased LOL)
Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge
Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn
Bloodbath - Unblessing the Purity
Dismember - Dismember
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Unleashed - Hammer Battalion
Venom - Hell
DragonForce - Ultra Beatdown
Bloodbath - The Fathomless Mastery