YngwieViking's Top 10 of 2015
January 5, 2016
No. 10
Band: Degreed
Album: Dead But Not Forgotten
General Info
Year of Formation: 2005
Label: SunHill Production
The sensational youngsters Modern Melodic Hard Rockers DEGREED from Sweden are still playing a very special blend of Scandinavian Heavy AOR with some contemporary influences, but also in coherency with the more commercial and catchy side of the genre!Spiced up with some Progressive gimmicks and a huge loads of Melodic hooks with of course some demented high-level playing sequences, with each and every elements pushed at its maximum!And finally unveiled all their talented creativity and even a new found heaviness!
"Dead But Not Forgotten" had fulfilled all my expectations and beyond! They stick to their own recipe! What strikes the most is their sheer abilities to refresh the classic old AOR recipes with elements borrowed from Classic Rock/Power Pop/Prog Rock or the mandatory Scandinavian melodic Metal with still a solid consistency in their sound! Once again Robin Ericsson delivers a very impressive vocal performance and all along the record, he manages to keep a fresh unity in the different musical genre and the heterogeneous ingredients perfectly mixed up here.
No. 9
Band: Cage
Album: Ancient Evil
General Info
Year of Formation: 1992
Label: SMG
Us Screaming Power Metal of the strongest caliber surrounded by some darkest conceptual thematic!Upon a scary novel in the Lovecraftian style written by the very active high pitched vocalist Sean Peck (also frontman for DENNER/SHERMAN or DEATH DEALER)
The superb combination of American Heavy Metal madness and Power Metal screamin' prowess conjoined with all the other elements creates a balanced Metal for the starving masses, hungry for Steel... An utterly recommended album!
No. 8
Band: Darkology
Album: Fated To Burn
General Info
Year of Formation: 2004
Label: Prime Eon Media Ltd.
The soaring vocals of Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ZIERLER/ex OUTWORLD) returning with his typical amazing high pitched performances and the spontaneous combustion of the Michael Harris' spectacular licks are the most flagrant and symbolic factors of the DARKOLOGY sound, after five excruciatingly long years since their seminal debut album "Altered Reflections" nothing has changed and the precepts are numerous and all fulfilled in a perfect demonstration of the contemporary American Metal splendor!The opening cut "Kill Me If You Can" and the title track are already classics in my book!
The famous and legendary Chris Tsangarides, the Grammy nominated Anglo-Cypriot producer (JUDAS PRIEST/ANVIL/MALMSTEEN/KING DIAMOND or THIN LIZZY) has handled superbly the mixing duties and the mastering process with his most impressive expertise!
Well, If the whole spectrum of the Harris bros capacities was employed in this milestone album, everything was set in a special atmosphere elaborated to fit the ultra-high level of playing, in the full orthodoxy of Pure American Steel in order to click with this mind blowing collection of hyper challenging tunes !To symbolize this Instrumental density and the supremacy of Michael Harris in the genuine art of soloing, and his obvious mastery in such demanding musical elements, I can recommend you to take a while to fully analyze the track "Festival Of Fear" (KING DIAMOND meets CRIMSON GLORY) the creepy verses and its incredible middle part or of course, the final all instrumental bonus track ("Your Hollow Soul")!
Ultra recommended for my esteemedd fellows addicted to the US Metal style of the early 90's legacy!
No. 7
Band: Revolution Saints
Album: Revolution Saints
General Info
Year of Formation: 2015
Label: Frontiers Records
When some of your favorite musicians are united under a brand new super-group banner in order to bring to the world another masterpiece of Melodic Hard Rock, and if the band name is REVOLUTION SAINTS formed by the American trio of Deen Castronovo, Jack Blades and Doug Aldritch, the excitation is rising to a very high peak!
First thing, leaving all doubts behind, the REVOLUTION SAINTS' music is among the best of the best in the AOR genre, each and every typical elements is assembled with precision to fulfill the promise of such an heavenly line up, each song is played with passion, heart and soul with full intensity and great talent by a bunch of legendary players!
On paper, the whole casting looks amazing and the early teasing engagement is totally completed by the exceptional delivery carved on record, the JOURNEY fans should be in Melodic Heaven with such a record ("You're Not Alone", the energetic "Dream On" or the magnificent "Don't Walk Away"), easily rated higher and much better than any contemporary disc by Schon and Cain! A future classic!
After the general consensus, I was waiting for a tsunami of bitter comments by the regular skeptical cohort of haters and the venom flux of cyber naysayers but instead I have found their justifications of their sudden appreciation after so many years of systematic bashing! Guys you know that only idiots never change their minds!
No. 6
Band: Zierler
Album: Esc
General Info
Year of Formation: 2015
Label: Vanity Music Group
The ambitious musical universe of Danish keyboardist/composer, Finn Zierler, has been growth exponentially on all levels!Dark Scandinavian Progressive Metal with a Modern approach and a sporadic Thrash extreme edge!That's what you could expect from this new project!Even if the similarities with BEYOND TWILIGHT, are numerous, the improved parameters are also in excess!The performance of vocalist, Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ex-OUTWORLD), is perfectly in accordance with this heterogeneous style, from grunt to high pitch banshee to some more aggressive growl!
After his amazing participation to the great 2015 highlight namely "Fated To Burn" by DARKOLOGY, this is the second time in a row that he proves that he could rival easily with any vocal-greats before him, by reaching the same utterly awesome caliber of Mr Jorn Lande, with an impressive range and a real Heavy determination, with some Russell Allen's magic inflections and even a few tones borrowed to Tom Englund (EVERGREY) , he's along with the Virtuosic players one of the best asset of this "Esc". Speaking of tremendous talent & skilled musicians, the International team line-up is indeed stellar, but unexpectedly the final sonic result is even better than predicted.
Ex-BEYOND TWILIGHT/SCAR SYMMETRY fellow from Sweden Per Nillson's hi-tech frenzy guitar-playing, is typical from the Scandinavian school, with a multitude of influences from superb Melodic lines to absolute Neo-Classical Shred buttress by the low parts of Truls Haugen (CIRCUS MAXIMUS) on Bass and Vocals from Norway. Bobby Jarzombek (SPASTIC INK/HALFORD/RIOT/FATES WARNING), an authentic Drums legend, his hitting performance is technically terrific, almost touching the skies of perfection more than once!
With "Rainheart" or "You Can't Fix Me No More", both Zierler the Pianist/composer, and ZIERLER the band, hit its climax, mixing all the elements from gloomy atmospheric intro to rich layers of Harmonized choral not far from the complex Devin Townsend stylistic approach, the emotional piano parts are ultra-touching and the elaborated playing is as always sublime!
Of course, invariably with the studio magician/knobs expert like legendary Jacob Hansen behind the mixing desk, the whole sounds tight with every nuances and each details of the intricate musical parts in a crispy halo of elegant sounds!If you need to lift you up both intellectually but also in terms of feelings this a poignant release!
No. 5
Band: Free From Sin
Album: Free From Sin
General Info
Year of Formation: 2009
Label: Pride & Joy Music
FREE FROM SIN self titled debut album it's an unexpected magical blend of Classic Rock with Scandinavian Contemporary Power Metal and a few Neo-Classical spices...Updated and enhanced with surprisingly fitting Hammond organ instead of the usual indigestive and plastic keyboards patterns...The musicianship is top notch and the singer delivers a solid performance !!!
No. 4
Band: The Winery Dogs
Album: Hot Streak
General Info
Year of Formation: 2013
Record Label: EarMusic
After an acclaimed high profile debut CD and a particularly impressive ubiquity capacities gift, the power trio formed by drums God Mike Portnoy (ex-DREAM THEATER ) with his new musical partner the legendary/magnificent Bass Maestro Billy Sheehan (NIACIN / TALAS / ex-DAVID LEE ROTH / MR BIG / PSMS), and completed by none other than one of the most gifted Guitarist of his generation once Shrapnel Records discovery: Richie Kotzen! But this time again no instrumental trickery knitting, because Mister Kotzen beside his well-known absolute amazing skilled fret-board wizardry is also indeed an hell of a fantastic soulful singer -but still a very underrated as vocalist- of the best brand.
This is a stellar super group, a Dream Team obviously!but mostly a great touring band!Their second work is still holding the same magic with an amazing succession of highlighted songs in order to satisfy each and every MR BIG fanatics and beyond!
No. 3
Band: Jorn Lande/Trond Holter's Dracula
Album: Swing Of Death
General Info
Year of Formation: 2014
Record Label: Frontiers Records
Kudos to the Frontiers A&R guys for the early batch of 2015's hot releases with impressive stuff like REVOLUTION SAINTS/ECLIPSE and most of all Jorn Lande/Trond Holter's project Dracula and their first work "Swing Of Death"! Obviously they have reached the optimum climax of the melodic Valhalla!
Amazing just amazing, maximized awesome work by Jorn & Trond... Both are giving their absolute best... Mister Lande is clearly at the peak of his vocal interpretation, literally possessed by the character without being too theatrical or dramatic but instead totally passionate and dedicated to the role...What a voice my god...It could have been easily the album of the year...
No. 2
Band: The Night Flight Orchestra
Album: Skyline Whispers
General Info
Year of Formation: 2011
Record Label: Coroner Records
After the unexpected triumph of their excellent debut "Internal Affairs" in 2012, the incredible SOILWORK side project called THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA is back!In the same stylistic pattern, the new album under the title of "Skyline Whispers", is providing a much awaited sequel to their first masterpiece !Yep, this time again it's Pure Classic 80's Melodic Rock with a Vintage feel and a real positive attitude! Catchy, entertaining and most of all elegant and addictive!
Björn has outdone himself, his voice is magnificent and his performance full of class and it's clearly the highlight of this release! Now let me say one thing: the publishing of a subsequent episode of such quality in an immediate linking sequence, is nothing more than great but also astonishing and awesome!
Beside The ultra-brilliant vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid, the ex MEAN STREAK's men, drummer Jonas Källsbäck and gifted guitarist David Andersson who is playing some gorgeous solos and a bunch of delicious licks, while bassist Sharlee D'Angelo (SPIRITUAL BEGGARS/ARCH ENEMY ) display an amazing four strings personality with his low retro sound ("Stiletto"/"Demon Princess"), perfectly seconded by keyboardist Richard Larsson and his textured layers by ultra specific sounds ("Lady Jade" is another biting track that blends a "Dynasty" era KISS-style intro with funk keyboards)! Fabulous!
The endless journey and the Road trip thematic are in a recurrent loop, the time travel is also credible as an option as some cuts seems to reveal their absolute efficient time-capsule function!Spectacular AOR
No. 1
Band: Symphony X
Album: Underworld
General Info
Year of Formation: 1994
Record Label: Nuclear Blast
This new album can be quoted as their most easy to catch...In fact, I believe there is something for everyone, it will remembered as an unifying album, as it can brings a general consensus here and elsewhere!
The contrasts between the homogeneous parameters borrowed to many heterogenic styles, are even stronger than ever, lighter in the atmosphere but still quite damn Metallic, epic, complex and virtuosic but far from hermetic, enough adventurous but so Melodic with a demanding cabalistic thematic yet hyper catchy...
in fact, the most concluding specimen is with the majestic song "without you" where SYMPHONY X delivers one of their most attractive track commercially speaking, certainly one of the best power ballads of recent years which is filled with stunning interplay between the musicians, intricate arrangements, some impressive harmonious layers of backing vocals and of course their special tricks aka jaw-dropping soloing sequence, whilst still managing to maintain the Progressive ambitious stamp with old references in a few motifs...And a fantastic sing along anthem chorus with a giant potential!
While SYMPHONY X shows a less extreme side than their recent (yet sublime and absolutely recommended) works, the aggressive temper and the heaviness are more than omnipresent, in a maybe diluted proportion in consequence with the new cleaner vocal style, still driven by some sharp riffs courtesy of the Maestro himself, they managed to balance all those elements with a new full Progressive recipe...With a furious dose of American Power Metal!
...Maybe it could be the considered as the Ultimate way to discover this talented band of exceptional musicians, this is indeed like a sort of a virtuous schema or a condensed version of what SYMPHONY X means...
Pure quality Modern Prog-Power Metal of the highest order!
Honourable Mentions of 2015
S.A.Y "Orion" (Swedish Melodic Metal/Heavy AOR) - MelodicRock.Com Records
C.O.P. "State Of Rock" (Scandinavian AOR) - AOR Heaven
Pyramaze "Disciples Of The Sun" (Scandinavian Prog/Power Metal) ' Inner Wound Recordings
Sorcerer "In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross" (Swedish Melodic Doom) ' Metal Blade Records
Tad Morose "St. Demonius" (Scandinavian Power Metal) - Despotz Records
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