Stuff I'm enjoying this year!

[Psychotic Symphony]

MI God - Specters on Parade
This one has been talked about enough around these parts, and I originally found them here. I love it. Crunchy and solid prog power.

Soilwork - Verkligheten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kcWrCX9rA
Pretty much first out of the gate in January is another excellent Soilwork release. It might just be me but I think this is slightly lighter/more hard rock than most of their other material. That's okay, it's not like Scar Symmetry is putting anything else, and Soilwork were the original purveyors anyways.

Anthem - Nucleus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWlK9bthsE
It's basically a re-recording of previous material, but it is so damn good. ABsolutley shredding heavy metal that would make even Chris Impellitteri himself shit his pants.

Kawn - Kawn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRqNT7kjLE
Hailing from Morocco I was expecting something like Myrath or otherwise...folky. There are some folky bits here and there but honestly their sound is closer to Symphony X - TIO era. It has about that power level with even more symphonics. They could do with a beefier production, but this shit is lush.

Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Terrorvortex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKlVYJTSzuU
Some of the best power metal in the world is currently coming from the Kingdom of Fife. Their last disc was my power metal disc of the year, and it looks like this one is set to do the same.

Majestica - Above the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt9Ma1W_0wI
Reinxeed by another name. I don't know how Tommy does it but when he is at the helm magic happens.


and now for the new(ish) wave of 70s inspired proto metal?

Tanith - In Another Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPY_Jw-O5k0
Proto metal (Manilla Road, Black Sabbath, etc) with two clean vocalists, one male one female. Both are equally good and the melodies are as warm as a bath drawn by your mum.

Gygax - High Fantasy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g89oOcQzKeA
D&D inspired heavy metal. I know that's not a "new" thing but these guys have flare and this is their third excellent disc in a row.

Dream Troll - Second to None
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhr__ppVksU
My favorite of the bunch. This might be my disc of the year so far, but who knows. These guys really are second to none. No one sounds like them and they don't sound like anyone either. Riffs are from hell, vocals from heaven. I would also highly recommend their first album and EP.

[elendil]

That Dream Troll track has gotten my attention.

[introclaus]

MI God - Specters on Parade
This one has been talked about enough around these parts, and I originally found them here. I love it. Crunchy and solid prog power.

Soilwork - Verkligheten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kcWrCX9rA
Pretty much first out of the gate in January is another excellent Soilwork release. It might just be me but I think this is slightly lighter/more hard rock than most of their other material. That's okay, it's not like Scar Symmetry is putting anything else, and Soilwork were the original purveyors anyways.

Anthem - Nucleus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWlK9bthsE
It's basically a re-recording of previous material, but it is so damn good. ABsolutley shredding heavy metal that would make even Chris Impellitteri himself shit his pants.

Kawn - Kawn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRqNT7kjLE
Hailing from Morocco I was expecting something like Myrath or otherwise...folky. There are some folky bits here and there but honestly their sound is closer to Symphony X - TIO era. It has about that power level with even more symphonics. They could do with a beefier production, but this shit is lush.

Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Terrorvortex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKlVYJTSzuU
Some of the best power metal in the world is currently coming from the Kingdom of Fife. Their last disc was my power metal disc of the year, and it looks like this one is set to do the same.

Majestica - Above the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt9Ma1W_0wI
Reinxeed by another name. I don't know how Tommy does it but when he is at the helm magic happens.


and now for the new(ish) wave of 70s inspired proto metal?

Tanith - In Another Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPY_Jw-O5k0
Proto metal (Manilla Road, Black Sabbath, etc) with two clean vocalists, one male one female. Both are equally good and the melodies are as warm as a bath drawn by your mum.

Gygax - High Fantasy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g89oOcQzKeA
D&D inspired heavy metal. I know that's not a "new" thing but these guys have flare and this is their third excellent disc in a row.

Dream Troll - Second to None
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhr__ppVksU
My favorite of the bunch. This might be my disc of the year so far, but who knows. These guys really are second to none. No one sounds like them and they don't sound like anyone either. Riffs are from hell, vocals from heaven. I would also highly recommend their first album and EP.

Great list - 4 of these are on my list as well (MIGod, Majestica, Tanith And Dream Troll).

[Random Axe]

I read the Dream Troll name and thought WTF? Then I followed the link and wow! This is inspiring and refreshing stuff. I contacted the band to purchase their back catalog if they sell directly and not through bandcamp. Thanks for posting this!

[Guillaume]

MI God - Specters on Parade

Anthem - Nucleus

Tanith - In Another Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPY_Jw-O5k0
Proto metal (Manilla Road, Black Sabbath, etc) with two clean vocalists, one male one female. Both are equally good and the melodies are as warm as a bath drawn by your mum.

Gygax - High Fantasy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g89oOcQzKeA
D&D inspired heavy metal. I know that's not a "new" thing but these guys have flare and this is their third excellent disc in a row.

Dream Troll - Second to None
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhr__ppVksU
My favorite of the bunch. This might be my disc of the year so far, but who knows. These guys really are second to none. No one sounds like them and they don't sound like anyone either. Riffs are from hell, vocals from heaven. I would also highly recommend their first album and EP.

I really enjoy the MI.God and Anthem discs. I quite enjoy the Tanith and Gygax. Dream Troll, it took me a few listens but now think it's quite good stuff indeed. Anyone think the vocals are kinda similar to Voyager at times?

[Kez]

That Dream Troll track has gotten my attention.

Wow, same here. That's a sweet track. How is the rest, and where can I get it?

[Random Axe]

I ordered the Dream Troll back catalog today through bandcamp.

I love they can write some super melodic stuff with retro metal touches and have fun with it all. The video for Chrome Head Viper is a great example of a band embracing the entertainment aspect of the biz. The song is great(maybe too long?) and funny.

[introclaus]

I ordered the Dream Troll back catalog today through bandcamp.

I love they can write some super melodic stuff with retro metal touches and have fun with it all. The video for Chrome Head Viper is a great example of a band embracing the entertainment aspect of the biz. The song is great(maybe too long?) and funny.

Agreed 100% with what you said - "Chrome Head Viper" might be my favorite song on the album, but just like the rest of the songs on the disc it's a minute or two too long. It's a 1 hour long album with 8 tunes - I would have liked it better if it was 10 songs in the same time span. Currently the disc is sitting solidly in my top 15-20 of the year probably won't move much from there ...