Are we putting together our year end lists ?

[LarryD]

Going to be a very curious year this time around I think ....

[Random Axe]

I posted my year in review early last week. I think only Claus read it lol!

[introclaus]

I posted my year in review early last week. I think only Claus read it lol!

Lol - yeah great list. And thanks again for recommending the Osyron. Really awesome album. Heck, even Larry would like it if he gave it a listen

[LASERCD]

Re: Osyron. I reached out to them about 2 weeks ago to try to stock copies. Never got a response.

[Random Axe]

Re: Osyron. I reached out to them about 2 weeks ago to try to stock copies. Never got a response.

I've been talking back and forth with them. I'll mention that. Can't imagine they'd ignore any distro...

[LarryD]

I posted my year in review early last week. I think only Claus read it lol!

***Definitely read it - as always ........

[Mardoch]

I think I have my tops locked in. I just need to write stuff and make sure I haven't missed anything.

[Sir Exar Kun]

I've got about half a dozen discs yet to spin..... Notably Devin Towsend and Threshold. Pretty sure I have my top 3-5 nailed down, but wouldn't be shocked if either / both of those shake things up a bit.

Hopefully get something together by early January.

[jhallum]

I was telling my wife, I think I have a clear top four, and then there's like 20 albums bunched together. Unfortunately, I usually only make a top 10, so the list gets pretty hard to fill out the last six.

[LarryD]

I've got about half a dozen discs yet to spin..... Notably Devin Towsend and Threshold. Pretty sure I have my top 3-5 nailed down, but wouldn't be shocked if either / both of those shake things up a bit.

Hopefully get something together by early January.

****Bro -- get on that Threshold, if not for anything, do it for me ..........

[LarryD]

I was telling my wife, I think I have a clear top four, and then there's like 20 albums bunched together. Unfortunately, I usually only make a top 10, so the list gets pretty hard to fill out the last six.

***It's hard for me as well ....... I only do a top 10 mainly because I'm so picky as time goes on ...... and I only try to list what is normally in the genre here, or I'd be putting Loreena McKennitt discs on the list ........

[Norén]

If anyone cares. Here's mine:

1 - Major Parkinson – Valesa – Chapter 1: Velvet prison
2 - Wilderun – Epigone
3 - Ghost – Impera
4 - Tears for fears – The tipping point
5 - Lalu – Paint the sky
6 - PreHistoric animals – The magical mystery machine (Chapter two)
7 - xPropaganda – The heart is strange
8 - Devin Townsend – Lightwork
9 - Dim Gray - Firmament
10 - Joakim Berg – Jag fortsätter glömma

[outprogged42]

I listen to less new music as the years go by, so I don't have that many. I also listen to a lot of non-metal or prog-related artists in addition.

Releases I've liked from this year:
Threshold - Dividing Lines (Prog-Metal)
Images of Eden - Weathered and Torn (Prog-Metal, Heavy Metal)
Floating in Space - Liftoff (Post-Rock, Ambient)
U137 - Imagination (Post-Rock, Ambient)
James LaBrie - A Beautiful Shade of Grey (Rock)
Evergrey - A Heartless Portrait (Prog-Metal)
Zero Hour - Agenda 21 (Prog-Metal)
Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home (Prog-Metal)
John Elefante - The Amazing Grace (Rock, AOR)
Ronnie Atkins - Make It Count (Rock, AOR)
Carly Comando - The Calm Before (hard to classify; chamber classical, maybe?)
Silent Skies - Nectar (sort of the same style, chamber classical but with Tom Englund)
Big Big Train - Welcome to the Planet (Prog-Rock)
Devin Townsend - Lightwork (hard to say; Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal?)

There are a few I've yet to check out, though. Henrik Fevre, Stryper, Kirk Hammett, and Aramid among them at the moment.

[introclaus]

If anyone cares. Here's mine:

I do!

1 - Major Parkinson – Valesa – Chapter 1: Velvet prison
2 - Wilderun – Epigone
3 - Ghost – Impera
4 - Tears for fears – The tipping point
5 - Lalu – Paint the sky
6 - PreHistoric animals – The magical mystery machine (Chapter two)
7 - xPropaganda – The heart is strange
8 - Devin Townsend – Lightwork
9 - Dim Gray - Firmament
10 - Joakim Berg – Jag fortsätter glömma

I have two of those on my list as well.
There are a few I don't know, so I'll have to check them out.

[introclaus]

I listen to less new music as the years go by, so I don't have that many. I also listen to a lot of non-metal or prog-related artists in addition.

Releases I've liked from this year:
Threshold - Dividing Lines (Prog-Metal)
Images of Eden - Weathered and Torn (Prog-Metal, Heavy Metal)
Floating in Space - Liftoff (Post-Rock, Ambient)
U137 - Imagination (Post-Rock, Ambient)
James LaBrie - A Beautiful Shade of Grey (Rock)
Evergrey - A Heartless Portrait (Prog-Metal)
Zero Hour - Agenda 21 (Prog-Metal)
Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home (Prog-Metal)
John Elefante - The Amazing Grace (Rock, AOR)
Ronnie Atkins - Make It Count (Rock, AOR)
Carly Comando - The Calm Before (hard to classify; chamber classical, maybe?)
Silent Skies - Nectar (sort of the same style, chamber classical but with Tom Englund)
Big Big Train - Welcome to the Planet (Prog-Rock)
Devin Townsend - Lightwork (hard to say; Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal?)

There are a few I've yet to check out, though. Henrik Fevre, Stryper, Kirk Hammett, and Aramid among them at the moment.

Nice list. I like Threshold, Zero Hour, SUE and Ronnie Atkins out of those.
I don't really understand "post-rock" and "ambient", so several of these goes over my head.

[jhallum]

A bit late in getting this out there. Been able to expand my metal horizons a bit this year, which has brought in some really cool stuff.

Outside looking in: 
Judicator -- The Majesty of Decay
Messa -- Close

20-11 (no order)
Byrmir -- Voices in the Sky
Kissin' Dynamite -- Not the End of the Road
Michael Romeo -- War of the Worlds pt 2
Persefone -- Metanoia
Porcupine Tree -- Closure / Continuation
Seven Kingdoms -- Zenith 
Tranzat -- Ooh La La
White Ward -- False Light
Battle Beast -- Circus of Doom
Avantasia -- A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society

10  Seventh Wonder // The Testament
9 Star One // Revel In Time
8 Pure Reason Revolution // Above Cirrus
7 Oceans of Slumber // Starlight and Ash
6 Epica // The Alchemy Project
5 Amorphis // Halo
4 The Otolith // Folium Limina
3 Aeternam // heir of the Rising Sun
2 Zeal and Ardor // Zeal and Ardor
1 Blind Guardian // The God Complex

Song of the Year -- Zeal and Ardor -- Death to the Holy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9G4HRGh8Ac

[introclaus]

Messa -- Close
Byrmir -- Voices in the Sky
Kissin' Dynamite -- Not the End of the Road
Porcupine Tree -- Closure / Continuation
Battle Beast -- Circus of Doom
8 Pure Reason Revolution // Above Cirrus

I didn't like these.

Judicator -- The Majesty of Decay
Michael Romeo -- War of the Worlds pt 2
Seven Kingdoms -- Zenith 
6 Epica // The Alchemy Project

Based on previous releases from these bands I had hoped/expected to love these, but I just didn't.

4 The Otolith // Folium Limina

This is doomy and I love the violin (reminds me of My Dying Bride), but somehow it crosses into sludge territory and even that post-metal crunch style like Neurosis/Isis/Cult of Luna that I unfortunately dislike. Her voice is beautiful though, and they write good (loooong-winded) melodies. I want to like it but just don't, and I think in large parts it's the sludgy production that ruins it.

2 Zeal and Ardor // Zeal and Ardor

Same story as the The Otolith. I can see why people love it and I REALLY want to do that as well, but nope ...

Tranzat -- Ooh La La

Wow ... that was strange. Not for me, but I can understand how someone would love it. That album cover is glorious!
https://youtu.be/adOqRYJuUUw

Persefone -- Metanoia
White Ward -- False Light
Avantasia -- A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
10  Seventh Wonder // The Testament
9 Star One // Revel In Time
7 Oceans of Slumber // Starlight and Ash
5 Amorphis // Halo
3 Aeternam // heir of the Rising Sun
1 Blind Guardian // The God Complex

Great albums.