At the end of every year, the Metal Express Radio crew makes their lists of the best Rock and Metal albums of the year. Here you will find all the lists from 2004 until today. Click on the names to expand their lists.
2023
The official Metal Express Radio top list of 2023
- Invasion – Invasion
- Angra – Cycles of Pain
- Redemption – I Am the Storm
- Prong – State of Emergency
- Winger – Seven
- Withering Scorn – Prophets Of Demise
Big City – Sunwind Sails
- Primal Fear – Code Red
Archon Angel – II
Metal Church – Congregation of Annihilation
Stig Gøran Nordahl
- Invasion – Invasion
- Sacred Outcry – Towers of Gold
- Helms Deep – Treacherous Ways
- 66crusher – Limbo
- Winger – Seven
- Girish And The Chronicles – Back On Earth
- Redemption – I Am the Storm
- Dyspläcer – Temple Heights
- AGORA – Empire
- Electric Boys – Grand Explosivos
- Withering Scorn – Prophets of Demise
Scott Jeslis
- Archon Angel – II
- Metallica – 72 Seasons
- Redemption – I Am the Storm
- Withering Scorn – Prophets Of Demise
- Mystic Prophecy – Hellriot
- Savage Grace – Sign Of The Cross
- Invasion – Invasion
- Kikimora – For A Broken Dime
- George Lynch – Guitars At The End of the World
- Ashrain – Requiem Reloaded
- Big City – Sunwind Sails
Bryce Van Patten
Séverine Peraldino
- Sacred Outcry – Towers of Gold
- Skálmöld – Ýdalir
- Vulture Industries – Ghosts From The Past
- Big City – Sunwind Sails
- Angra – Cycles Of Pain
- Apocalyptica – Live in Helsinki – St John’s Church
- Sortilège – Apocalypso
- Floor Jansen – Paragon
- Mass Hysteria – Tenace – Part 1.
- Beyond The Black – Beyond The Black
- Theocracy – Mosaic
Matt Zaniboni
- Metallica – 72 Seasons
- Frozen Soul – Glacial Domination
- Immortal – War Against All
- Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
- DevilDriver – Dealing with Demons Vol. II
- Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific
- Unearth – The Wretched; The Ruinous
- Cavalera Conspiracy – Morbid Visions
- Death Ray Vision – No Mercy From Electric Eyes
- Prong – State of Emergency
- Dethklok – The Dethalbum IV
Mark Zagotti
- Metal Church – Congregation of Annihilation
- Overkill – Scorched
- Prong – State of Emergency
- Night Demon – Outsider
- Danko Jones – Electric Sounds
- Fires in the Distance – Air Not Meant For Us
- Skinner – The Dark Design
- Winger – Seven
- King Kraken – MCLXXX
- Stargazer – Life Will Never Be the Same
- Obituary – Dying of Everything
2022
The official Metal Express Radio top list of 2022
- Machine Head – Of Kingdom and Crown
- Blind Guardian – The God Machine
- Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
- Amorphis – Halo
- Cloven Hoof – Time Assassin
- Arch Enemy – Deceivers
- Threshold – Dividing Lines
- Lamb Of God – Omens
- Hammerfall – Hammer of Dawn
- Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army
- Stratovarius – Survive
Stig G. Nordahl
- Cloven Hoof – Time Assassin
- Head First – Head First
- Odd Crew – Dark Matters Part 1
- Machine Head – Of Kingdom and Crown
- Sword – III
- Skid Row – The Gang’s All Here
- The Defaced – Charlatans
- Sin Starlett – Solid Source of Steel
- Dead City Ruins – Shockwave
- Eruption – Tellurian Rapture
- Michael Romeo – War Of The Worlds // Pt. 2
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Monuments – In Stasis
- Fit For An Autopsy – Oh What The Future Holds
- Ashes Of Ares – Emperors And Fools
- Blind Guardian – The God Machine
- Obsidious – Iconic
- Fallujah – Empyrean
- Hammerfall – Hammer of Dawn
- Queenrÿche – Digital Noise Alliance
- Threshold – Dividing Lines
- Soilwork – Övergivenheten
- Evergrey – A Heartless Portrait (The Orphéan Testament)
Jon Harvey
- Lorna Shore – Pain Remains
- Black Anvil – Regenesis
- Lamb Of God – Omens
- Allegaeon – Damnum
- Slipknot – The End, So Far
- Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
- Machine Head – Of Kingdom And Crown
- Deathspell Omega – The Long Defeat
- Darkthrone – Astral Fortress
- Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram
- Devil Master – Ecstasies of Never Ending Night
Mark Zagotti
- Machine Head – Of Kingdom and Crown
- Wolfheart – King Of The North
- Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
- Arch Enemy – Deceivers
- Amorphis – Halo
- Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black
- Riot City – Electric Elite
- Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army
- Defacing God – The Resurrection of Lilith
- Night Demon – Year Of The Demon
- Within Temptation – Don’t Pray For Me
Bryce Van Patten
- Graham Bonnet – A Day Out In Nowhere
- Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9
- Udo Dirkschneider – My Way
- Michael Schenker Group – Universal
- Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars
- Hammerfall – Hammer of Dawn
- Derek Sherinian – Vortex
- Stratovarius – Survive
- After Lapse – Face the Storm
- Saxon – Carpe Diem
- Fraser Edwards – The Reckoning
Séverine Peraldino
- Malemort – Château Chimères
- Blind Guardian – The God Machine
- Amorphis – Halo
- Cloven Hoof – Time Assassin
- Sabaton – The War To End All War
- Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind
- Beriedir – AQVA
- Visions of Atlantis – Pirates
- Star One – Revel In Time
- Planeswalker – Tales Of Magic
- Avatarium – Death Where Is Your Sting
Matt Zaniboni
- Hypermass – Empyrean
- Machine Head – Of Kingdom And Crown
- Crowbar – Zero And Below
- Dropkick Murphys – This Machine Still Kills Fascists
- Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
- Terror – Pain Into Power
- Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army
- Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram
- Lamb Of God – Omens
- Abbath – Dread Reaver
- Ghost – Impera
Frank Jaeger
- Threshold – Dividing Lines
- Ignite – Ignite
- Blind Guardian – The God Machine
- Thunder – Dopamine
- Shinedown – Planet Zero
- Satan – Earth Infernal
- Voivod – Synchro Anarchy
- Audrey Horne – Devil’s Bells
- Kreator – Hate Über Alles
- Xentrix – Seven Words
- Amorphis – Halo
Dan “Ena” Enqvist
- The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost
- Starchaser – Starchaser
- Crashdïet – Automaton
- Ginevra – We Belong to the Stars
- Arch Enemy – Deceivers
- Borealis – Illusions
- Nordic Union – Animalistic
- Stratovarius – Survive
- Evergrey – A Heartless Portrait (The Orphéan Testament)
- Induction – Born From Fire
- Girish And The Chronicles – Hail to the Heroes
2021
The official Metal Express Radio top list of 2021
- The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
- Todd La Torre – Rejoice in the Suffering
- Dream Theater – A View From the Top of the World
- Existance – Wolf Attack
- Exodus – Persona Non Grata
- KK’s Priest – Sermons of the Sinner
- NorthTale – Eternal Flame
- Gojira – Fortitude
- Flotsam And Jetsam – Blood In The Water
- Epica – Omega
Stig G. Nordahl
- Silver Talon – Decadence and Decay
- Todd La Torre – Rejoice in the Suffering
- The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
- The Quill – Earthrise
- Existance – Wolf Attack
- Dream Theater – A View From the Top of the World
- Flotsam And Jetsam – Blood in the Water
- Electric Boys – Upside Down
- Tony Mitchell – Hot Endless Summer Nights
- Odd Dimension – The Blue Dawn
- Voodoo Circle – Locked & Loaded
Scott Jeslis
- Gus G. – Quantum Leap
- Todd La Torre – Rejoice In The Suffering
- Dream Theater – A View From The Top Of The World
- The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
- NorthTale – Eternal Flame
- Joe Stump – Diabolical Ferocity
- Walk The Walk – Walk The Walk
- Flotsam And Jetsam – Blood In The Water
- Secret Alliance – Revelation
- Existance – Wolf Attack
- Temple Balls – Pyromide
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Erra – Erra
- Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE3
- Born of Osiris – Angel or Alien
- The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
- Canvas Solaris – Chromosphere
- Vola – Witness
- Interloper – Search Party
- Domkraft – Seeds
- John 5 – Sinner
- Tomahawk – Tonic Immobility
- Between The Buried And Me – Colors II
Miłosz Mikołaj Nizioł
- Dee Snider – Leave A Scar
- Exodus – Persona Non Grata
- Resurrection Kings – Skygazer
- KK’s Priest – Sermons of the Sinner
- Godslave – Positive Aggressive
- SHOW-YA – Showdown
- Marty Friedman – Tokyo Jukebox 3
- Beast in Black – Dark Connection
- Blackened Blood – Black Dawn Rising
- Bloody Hell – The Bloodening
- Xenos – The Dawn of Ares
Dan 'Ena' Enqvist
- Manimal – Armageddon
- Light The Torch – You Will Be The Death Of Me
- Infinite & Divine – Silver Lining
- Of Mice & Men – Echo
- Bloodbound – Creatures of the Dark Realm
- Our Hollow, Our Home – Burn In The Flood
- Todd La Torre – Rejoice In The Suffering
- Memphis May Fire – Left For Dead
- Ronnie Atkins – One Shot
- Evergrey – Escape of the Phoenix
- Venues – Solace
Matt Zaniboni
- Dropkick Murphys – Turn Up That Dial
- Exodus – Persona Non Grata
- Iotunn – Access All Worlds
- Trivium – In The Court Of The Dragon
- Rivers of Nihil – The Work
- Gojira – Fortitude
- Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined
- Capra – In Transmission
- Go Ahead And Die – Go Ahead And Die
- Mouth for War – Life Cast In Glass
- Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
George Dionne
- The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
- Eclipse – Wired
- SickWalt – Shove n’ Love
- Todd Michael Hall – Sonic Healing
- Ricky Warwick – When Life Was Hard & Fast
- W.E.T. – Retransmission
- Signal Red – Alien Nation
- Sweet Oblivion Feat. Geoff Tate – Relentless
- Chez Kane – Chez Kane
- Laurenne/Louhimo – The Reckoning
- Save The World – Two
Bryce Van Patten
- Helloween – Helloween
- Immortal Guardian – Psychosomatic
- Dream Theater – A View From the Top of the World
- U.D.O. – Game Over
- Brainstorm – Wall of Skulls
- Burning Witches – The Witch of the North
- Northtale – Eternal Flame
- Michael Schenker Group – Immortal
- Labyrinth – Welcome to the Absurd Circus
- Secret Sphere – Lifeblood
- Epica – Omega
Séverine Peraldino
- Ravenous E.H – Hubris
- Amon Sethis – Part 0: The Queen with Golden Hair
- Blaze Bayley – War Within Me
- Thy Row – Unchained
- Kryptos – Force of Danger
- Gojira – Fortitude
- KK’s Priest – Sermons of the Sinner
- Existance – Wolf Attack
- Epica – Omega
- Mustasch – A Final Warning – Chapter 1
- Moonspell – Hermitage
2020
The official Metal Express Radio top 11 list of 2020
Stig G. Nordahl
Scott Jeslis
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Igorrr – Spirituality and Distortion
- Sons Of Apollo – MMXX
- John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity
- The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic / Cenozoic
- Pallbearer – Forgotten Days
- Testament – Titans Of Creation
- Enslaved – Utgard
- Sepultura – Quadra
- Finntroll – Vredesvävd
- Derek Sherinian – The Phoenix
- My Dying Bride – The Ghost of Orion
Bryce Van Patten
- Primal Fear – Metal Commando
- Burning Witches – Dance With The Devil
- John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity
- Nightmare – Aeternam
- Dynazty – The Dark Delight
- Paralydium – Worlds Beyond
- DGM – Tragic Separation
- Deep Purple – Whoosh!
- Biff Byford – School of Hard Knocks
- Fraser Edwards – The Architect
- Nightfear – Apocalypse
Daniel Waters
- Fates Warning – Long Day Good Night
- Two Minutes To Late Night – Covers Vol. 1-6
- Testament – Titans Of Creation
- Kvelertak – Splid
- Sepultura – Quadra
- Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God
- Hazzerd – Delirium
- Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains
- Havok – V
- Armored Saint – Punching The Sky
- Nightwish – Human :II: Nature
Dan 'Ena' Enqvist
- Dynazty – The Dark Delight
- H.E.A.T – II
- Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God
- Pyramaze – Epitaph
- Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall – We Are The Night
- Soilwork – A Whisp of the Atlantic
- Dark Tranquillity – Moment
- Primal Fear – Metal Commando
- Testament – Titans Of Creation
- Firewind – Firewind
- Dirty Shirley – Dirty Shirley
Matt Zaniboni
- Metallica – S&M2
- Testament – Titans Of Creation
- Body Count – Carnivore
- Devildriver – Dealing with Demons Pt. 1
- Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God
- Sepultura – Quadra
- Mindwars – The Fourth Turning
- Warbringer – Weapons of Tomorrow
- Hatebreed – Weight of the False Self
- Deadrisen – Deadrisen
- Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man
George Dionne
- Stryper – Even the Devil Believes
- Thundermother – Heat Wave
- H.E.A.T – II
- Traveler – Termination Shock
- Lionheart – The Reality of Miracles
- Deadrisen – Deadrisen
- Palace – Rock and Roll Radio
- L.A. Guns – Renegades
- Wreck-Defy – Powers That Be
- Jeff Scott Soto – Wide Awake in My Dreamland
- Milan Polak – Can’t Please Everyone
2019
The official Metal Express Radio top 11 list of 2019
- Dream Theater – Distance Over Time
- Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual
- Queensrÿche – The Verdict
- SOTO – Origami
- Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind
- Candlemass – The Door to Doom
- Evergrey – The Atlantic / Flotsam and Jetsam – The End of Chaos / Death Angel – Humanicide
Scott Jeslis
- Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual
- SOTO – Origami
- Dream Theater – Distance Over Time
- Joe Stump – Symphonic Onslaught
- Lord Divine – Facing Chaos
- Walls Of Blood – Imperium
- Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood
- Stargazer – The Sky Is The Limit
- Diviner – Realms Of Time
- Toxikull – Cursed And Punished
- Astralium – Land Of Eternal Dreams
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Tool – Fear Inoculum
- Periphery – Periphery IV: HAIL STAN
- Opeth – In Cauda Venenum
- KORN – The Nothing
- Evergrey – The Atlantic
- Candlemass – The Door to Doom
- Spidergawd – Spidergawd V
- Jordan Rudess – Wired for Madness
- Marco Sfogli – Homeland
- Queensrÿche – The Verdict
- Devin Townsend – Empath
Stig G. Nordahl (no particular order)
- Overkill – The Wings of War
- Queensrÿche – The Verdict
- Tony Mills – Beyond the Law
- Noveria – Aequilibrium
- Lugnet – Nightwalker
- Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual
- Exhorder – Mourn the Southern Skies
- Walls of Blood – Imperium
- Stargazer – The Sky is the Limit
- Evergrey – The Atlantic
- Flotsam and Jetsam – The End of Chaos
Dan Enqvist
- As I Lay Dying – Shaped By Fire
- CyHra – No Halos in Hell
- Beast In Black – From HELL with LOVE
- Killswitch Engage – Atonement
- The Ferrymen – A New Evil
- Pretty Maids – Undress Your Madness
- Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky
- Upon A Burning Body – Southern Hostility
- Crashdïet – Rust
- Any Given Day – Overpower
- The Dark Element – Songs the Night Sing
Jaime Lee Poulos
- Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind
- Clutch – Bad Decisions
- L.A. Guns – The Devil You Know
- Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood
- Flotsam and Jetsam – The End of Chaos
- Dream Theater – Distance Over Time
- Steel Panther – Heavy Metal Rules
- Alter Bridge – Walk The Sky
- Anthem – Nucleus
- Sabaton – The Great War
- Diviner – Realms of Time
Bryce Van Patten
- SOTO – Origami
- Dream Theater – Distance Over Time
- Michael Schenker Fest – Revelation
- Queensrÿche – The Verdict
- King Diamond – The Institute
- Death Angel – Humanicide
- Dave Ellefson – Sleeping Giants
- Hammerfall – Dominion
- Dragonforce – Extreme Power Metal
- Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual
- UFO – Strangers in the Night
Jerry Alperin
- Lord Dying – Mysterium Tremendum
- Candlemass – The Door to Doom
- Cloak – The Burning Dawn
- Death Angel – Humanicide
- Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind
- King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Infest the Rats’ Nest
- Spirit Adrift – Divided By Darkness
- Angel Witch – Angel of Light
- Lo-Pan – Subtle
- Alcest – Spiritual Instinct
- Wormwitch – Heaven That Dwells Within
2018
The official Metal Express Radio top 11 list of 2018
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Saxon – Thunderbolt
- Michael Romeo – War Of The Worlds // PT. 1
- Borealis – The Offering
- Michael Schenker Fest – Resurrection
- Ascendant – A Thousand Echoes
- Seventh Wonder – Tiara
- Dynazty – Firesign
- Bonfire – Temple of Lies
- My Regime – Peek Through the Pines
- Tad Morose – Chapter X
Daniel Waters
- Voivod – The Wake
- Ascendant – A Thousand Echoes
- Sin Theta – No Allegiance
- Dark Hound – The Awakening
- Witherfall – A Prelude To Sorrow
- My Regime – Peek Through The Pines
- Sonic Prophecy – Savage Gods
- Against Evil – All Hail the King
- Last Pharaoh – The Mantle of Spiders
- Fantasy Opus – The Last Dream
- Judas Priest – Firepower / Dee Snider – For The Love of Metal / Lizzy Borden – My Midnight Things
Bryce Van Patten
- Michael Schenker Fest – Resurrection
- Saxon – Thunderbolt
- U.D.O. – Steel Factory
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Seventh Wonder – Tiara
- Impellitteri – The Nature of the Beast
- Riot V – Armor of Light
- Kamelot – The Shadow Theory
- Stratovarius – Enigma: Intermission II
- Sirenia – Arcane Astral Aeons
- Graham Bonnet Band – Meanwhile Back in the Garage
Dan Enqvist
- Borealis – The Offering
- W.E.T – Earthrage
- Light The Torch – Revival
- Manimal – Purgatorio
- Our Hollow, Our Home – In moment/ /In memory
- Parkway Drive – Reverence
- Dynazty – Firesign
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Primal Fear – Apocalypse
- LANDMVRKS – Fantasy
- Tad Morose – Chapter X
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Between the Buried and Me – Automata II
- Icefish – Human Hardware
- DevilDriver – Outlaws ‘Til The End, Vol. 1
- TesseracT – Sonder
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Amorphis – Queen of Time
- Tad Morose – Chapter X
- Saxon – Thunderbolt
- Borealis – The Offering
- Alien Weaponry – Tū
- Bonfire – Temple of Lies
Scott Jeslis
- Michael Romeo – War Of the Worlds // PT. 1
- Fifth Angel – The Third Secret
- Saxon – Thunderbolt
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Dream Child – Until Death Do We Meet Again
- Michael Schenker Fest – Resurrection
- Dee Snider – For The Love Of Metal
- Brainstorm – Midnight Ghost
- Halcyon Way – Bloody But Unbowed
- Lipz – Scaryman
- Leader Of Down – Cascade Into Chaos
Stig G. Nordahl
- Michael Romeo – War of the Worlds // PT. 1
- Electric Boys – The Ghost Ward Diaries
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- Saxon – Thunderbolt
- Ascendant – A Thousand Echoes
- Bonfire – Temple of Lies
- Borealis – The Offering
- The Dead Daisies – Burn It Down
- Tomorrow’s Eve – Mirror Of Creation III – Project Ikaros
- Conception – My Dark Symphony
- Striker – Play To Win
Jerry Alperin
- Sleep – The Sciences
- YOB – Our Raw Heart
- Judas Priest – Firepower
- High On Fire – Electric Messiah
- Sundrifter – Visitations
- Corrosion of Conformity – No Cross No Crown
- Anvil – Pounding the Pavement
- All Them Witches – ATW
- Satan – Cruel Magic
- Black Viper – Hellions of Fire
- My Regime – Peek Through The Pines
Petar Chobanov
- C.T.P. (Christian Tolle Project) – Point Blank
- Perfect Plan – All Rise
- Radiant – Radiant
- Seventh Wonder – Tiara
- Luca Princiotta Band – Rough Blue
- Dynazty – Firesign
- Lords Of Black – Icon Of The New Days
- Michael Romeo – War Of The Worlds // PT. 1
- Axel Rudi Pell – Knights Call
- Marty Friedman – One Bad M.F. Live!!
- Sunstorm – Road To Hell
2017
Stig G. Nordahl (no particular order)
Scott Jeslis
Dan Skiba
- Adrenaline Mob – We The People
- Bloodbound – War Of Dragons
- Alice Cooper – Paranormal
- Pretty Boy Floyd – Public Enemies
- John 5 – Season Of The Witch
- Deep Purple – Infinite
- Cellador – Off The Grid
- Suicide Bombers – Suicide Idols
- Rex Brown – Smoke On This
- Black Star Riders – Heavy Fire
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Marty Friedman – Wall of Sound
- Spidergawd – Spidergawd IV
- Sepultura – Machine Messiah
- Wintersun – The Forest Seasons
- Vintersorg – Till Fjälls, Del II
- Adagio – Life
- Pain of Salvation – In The Passing Light of Day
- Intervals – The Way Forward
- Rage – Seasons of the Black
- Operation: Mindcrime – The New Reality
Maxxxwell Carlisle
- Ayreon – The Source
- Beast In Black – Beserker
- Striker – Striker
- Santa Cruz – Bad Blood Rising
- Sweet & Lynch – Unified
- Place Vendome – Close To The Sun
- Firewind – Immortals
- Bloodbound – War Of Dragons
- Battle Beast – Bringer Of Pain
- Xandria – Theater Of Dimensions
Christian Homma
- Beyond the Black – Lost in Forever (Tour Edition)
- Beast in Black – Berserker
- Eskimo Callboy – The Scene
- Grumpynators – City Of Sin
- Adrenaline Rush – Soul Survivor
- Trivium – The Sin And The Sentence
- Unleash The Archers – Apex
- Starbynary – Divina Commedia: Inferno
- Xandria – Theater Of Dimensions
- White Skull – Will Of The Strong
Stevie Shred
Zac Halter
- Unleash The Archers – Apex
- Liv Sin – Follow Me
- Power Trip – Nightmare Logic
- Iron Flame – Lightning Strikes The Crown
- Sleazy Roxxx – Topless Suicide
- Threshold – Legends Of The Shires
- Dirty Thrills – Heavy Living
- Stormbringer – Born A Dying Breed
- Spirit Adrift – Curse Of Conception
- Demon Eye – Prophecies And Lies
Daniel Waters (no particular order)
- My Regime – Deranged Patterns
- Kreator – Gods of Violence
- Silius – Hell Awakening
- Kickin Valentina – Imaginary Creatures
- Arthemis – Blood-Fury-Domination
- Shadowside – Shades Of Humanity
- Striker – Striker
- Troubled Horse – Revolution On Repeat
- Band Of Spice – Shadows Remain
- Night Demon – Darkness Remains
What a great year for Metal considering there were so few “legendary” acts with new material…I could name a dozen albums off the top of my head that I enjoyed nearly as much.
Jerry Alperin (no particular order)
- Overkill – The Grinding Wheel
- Pagan Altar – The Room of Shadows
- Power Trip – Logic
- The Obsessed – Sacred
- Cannabis Corpse – Left hand Pass
- Colour Haze – In Her Garden
- Hellchamber – MKII
- Cloak – To Venomous Depths
- Magda Vega – Destroyer
- Vulture Industries – Stranger Times
Dan Enqvist
- Cyhra – Letters To Myself
- The Dark Element – The Dark Element
- Eclipse – Monumentum
- Arch Enemy – Will To Power
- Trivium – The Sin and The Sentence
- Stone Sour – Hydrograd
- Oz – Transition State
- Jorn – Life On Death Road
- Cloven Hoof – Who Mourns For The Morning Star
- Brother Firetribe – Sunbound
Dan Tungesvick (no particular order)
2016
Stig G. Nordahl
- Megadeth – Dystopia
- Metal Church – XI
- Resurrection Kings – Resurrection Kings
- Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
- Glenn Hughes – Resonate
- Flotsam And Jetsam – Flotsam And Jetsam
- Gojira – Magma
- Fates Warning – Theories of Flight
- Fractal Cypher – The Human Paradox
- Utopia – Mood Changes
Scott Jeslis
- Resurrection Kings – Resurrection Kings
- Megadeth – Dystopia
- Section A – Wall Of Silence
- Anthrax – For All Kings
- Jim Breuer And The Loud & Rowdy – Songs From The Garage
- Iron Mask – Diabolica
- Flotsam And Jetsam – Flotsam And Jetsam
- InnerWish – InnerWish
- Graham Bonnet Band – The Book
- Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
Dan Skiba
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Anciients – Voice of the Void
- Devin Townsend Project – Transcendence
- Obscura – Akróasis
- Last in Line – Heavy Crown
- Megadeth – Dystopia
- Cult of Luna with Julie Christmas – Mariner
- Ihsahn – Arktis
- Dissona – Paleopneumatic
- Rhapsody of Fire – Into the Legend
- Abbath – Abbath
Christian Homma
- Far Beyond – A Frozen Flame Of Ice
- Dynazty – Titanic Mass
- Xandria – Sacrificium
- Sabaton – The Last Stand
- Freedom Call – Master Of Light
- Aeternitas – House Of Usher
- Stojar – At Twilight Of Battles By The Hammer Of Thunderstorms
- Hevidence – Nobody’s Fault
- The Kreoles – Psycho
- Deathless Legacy – Dance With Devils
Dan Tungesvick
- Megadeth – Dystopia
- Freedom Call – Master of Light
- Sabaton – The Last Stand
- Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
- Herman Frank – The Devil Riders Out
- Iron Mask – Diabolical
- Anthrax – For All Kings
- Far Beyond – A Frozen Flame of Ice
- Sixx:A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed
- Pretty Maids – Kingmaker
2015
Stig G. Nordahl
- Annihilator – Suicide Society
- Lamb Of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang
- Symphony X – Underworld
- Queensrÿche – Condition Hüman
- Operation: Mindcrime – The Key
- Venom – From The Very Depths
- Level 10 – Chapter One
- Reverence – Gods Of War
- Divided Multitude – Divided Multitude
- Maya – The Prophecy Is Broken
Scott Jeslis
- Black Star Riders – The Killer Instinct
- Impellitteri – Venom
- Raven – ExtermiNation
- Blackwelder – Survival Of The Fittest
- Worldview – The Chosen Few
- Eldritch – Underlying Issues
- Reverence – Gods Of War
- Symphony X – Underworld
- The Winery Dogs – Hot Streak
- Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying To Live
Dan Skiba
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Leprous – The Congregation
- Periphery – Juggernaut: Alpha/Omega
- Blind Guardian – Beyond the Red Mirror
- Enslaved – In Times
- Slayer – Repentless
- Baroness – Purple
- Sikth – Opacities
- Motörhead – Bad Magic
- Faith No More – Sol Invictus
- Helloween – My God-Given Right
Maxxxwell Carlisle
- Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
- Impellitteri – Venom
- Stryper – Fallen
- Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
- Galneryus – Under The Force of Courage
- Stratovarius – Eternal
- Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody – Prometheus
- Lynch Mob – Rebel
- Primal Fear – Rulebreaker (the 2015 singles)
- Queensrÿche – Condition Hüman
Frank Jaeger
- Armored Saint – Win Hands Down
- Subsignal – The Beacons Of Somewhere Sometime
- Caligula’s Horse – Bloom
- Sadist – Hyena 9
- Riverside – Love, Fear And The Time Machine
- Pentagram – Curious Volume
- Agent Fresco – Destrier
- Year Of The Ghost – The Unspeakable
- Leprous – The Congregation
- Satan – Atom By Atom
The following made it to two lists or more
- Motörhead – Bad Magic
- Annihilator – Suicide Society
- Impellitteri – Venom
- Reverence – Gods Of War
- Symphony X – Underworld
- Black Star Riders – The Killer Instinct
- Queensrÿche – Condition Hüman
- Slayer – Repentless
- Leprous – The Congregation
- Helloween – My God-Given Right
2014
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Xerath – III
- Animals As Leaders – The Joy of Motion
- Sebastian Bach – Give ‘Em Hell
- Fallujah – The Flesh Prevails
- Insomnium – Shadows of the Dying Sun
- Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds
- Of Mice & Men – Restoring Force
- Slipknot – .5: The Gray Chapter
- Devin Townsend Project – Z²
- Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon
Stig G. Nordahl
- Winger – Better Days Comin’
- Cloven Hoof – Resist Or Serve
- Sebastian Bach – Give ‘Em Hell
- Exorcism – I Am God
- Teramaze – Esoteric Symbolism
- Dynazty – Renatus
- Kayser – Read Your Enemy
- Chrome Division – Infernal Rock Internal
- Skull Fist – Chasing The Dream
- Malrun – Two Thrones
- Night Ranger – High Road
- Slash ft Myles Kennedy – World On Fire
- Evenomed – Evil Unseen
- Darker Half – Never Surrender
- Judas Priest – Redeemer Of Souls
- Messiah’s Kiss – Get Your Ball Out!
Scott Jeslis
- Red Dragon Cartel – Red Dragon Cartel
- Adrenaline Mob – Men Of Honor
- Dynazty – Renatus
- Gus G. – I Am The Fire
- Brainstorm – Firesoul
- Epica – The Quantum Enigma
- Skull Fist – Chasing The Dream
- Night By Night – NxN
- Confess – Jail
- Amberian Dawn – Magic Forest
- Triosphere – The Heart Of The Matter
- Unisonic – Light Of Dawn
- Divine Ascension – Liberator
2013
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
- The Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us Is the Killer
- Man the Machete – Idiokrati
- Kvelertak – Meir
- Extol – Extol
- Alice In Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
- SAHG – Delusions of Grandeur
- Audrey Horne – Youngblood
- Killswitch Engage – Disarm the Descent
- Iwrestledabearonce – Late for Nothing
Stig G. Nordahl
- Alter Bridge – Fortress
- Kingdom Come – Outlier
- Annihilator – Feast
- Lawless – Rock Savage
- Karnya – Coverin’ Thoughts
- Queensrÿche – Queensrÿche
- Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
- Artillery – Legions
- Audrey Horne – Youngblood
- Trouble – The Distorion Field
Not to forget the albums from: Deadlands, Deep Purple, DGM, Extrema, Heimdall, Jupiter Society, Saffire, Shatter Messiah, Shotgun Revolution, TesseracT, Vandroya
2012
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Borknagar – Urd
- Enslaved – RIITIIR
- Ihsahn – Eremita
- Gojira – L’Enfant Sauvage
- Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud
- Storm Corrosion – Storm Corrosion
- Meshuggah – Koloss
- Lamb of God – Resolution
- Katatonia – Dead End Kings
- Kråke – Conquering Death
Stig G. Nordahl
- Prong – Carved Into Stone
- Fatal Smile – 21st Century Freaks
- Lamb Of God – Resolution
- Van Halen – A Different Kind Of Truth
- Flying Colors – Flying Colors
- Herman Frank – Right In Your Gut
- Mos Generator – Nomads
- Stone Sour – House Of Gold And Bones pt1
- Adrenaline Mob – Omertà
- Trail Of Murder – Shades Of Art
Dan Skiba (alphabetical order)
- Adrian Weiss – Big Time
- Lillian Axe – XI: The Days Before Tomorrow
- M!SS CRAZY – GR!P
- Persian Risk – Once A King
- Stephan Forte – The Shadows Compendium
- The Sacrificed – III
- Vengeance – Crystal Eye
2011
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruction
- Machine Head – Unto the Locust
- Opeth – Heritage
- Nergard – The Beginning (EP)
- Jolly – The Audio Guide To Happiness (Part 1)
- Benedictum – Dominion
- Magic Pie – The Suffering Joy
- Pagan’s Mind – Heavenly Ecstasy
- Mr. Big – What If…
- DevilDriver – Beast
Dan Skiba
- Electric Boys – And Them Boys Done Swang
- Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
- Myrath – Tales Of The Sands
- Tony MacAlpine – Tony MacAlpine
- Lance King – A Moment In Chiros
- Saxon – Call To Arms
- Pagan’s Mind – Heavenly Ecstasy
- Metallica – Beyond Magnetic
- Transit Poetry – The 5th Element
- Anthrax – Worship Music
Honorable Mention from 2011:
- Overdrive – Angelmaker
- Pegazus – In Metal We Trust
- Riot – Immortal Soul
- Sebastian Bach – Kicking & Screaming
- Silverdollar – Morte
- Stratovarius – Elysium
2010
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Alter Bridge – AB III
- Deftones – Diamond Eyes
- Blind Guardian – At The Edge Of Time
- Paul Gilbert – Fuzz Universe
- Opeth – In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall
- Therion – Sitra Ahra
- Ratt – Infestation
- Manifest – Written In Blood
- Pretty Maids – Pandemonium
- Accept – Blood Of The Nations
Dan Skiba
- Rage – Strings To A Web
- Helloween – 7 Sinners
- Motörhead – The Wörld Is Yours
- Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
- Halford – Halford IV: Made Of Metal
- Powerglove – Saturday Morning Apocalypse
- Innerwish – No Turning Back
- Angra – Aqua
- Gamma Ray – To The Metal
- Krokus – Hoodoo
2009
Kristian Singh-Nergård
- Votum – Time Must Have A Stop
- Parallel Or Ninety Degrees – A Can Of Worms
- Jolly – Forty-Six Minutes, Twelve Seconds Of Music
- Illusion Suite – Final Hour
- Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition
- Jorn – Spirit Black
- Vindictiv – Ground Zero
- Reece – Universal Language
- Daedalus – The Never Ending Illusion
- Beardfish – Destined Solitaire
Dan Skiba
- Powerman 5000 – Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere …
- Vinnie Moore – To The Core
- Halford – Halford 3: Winter Songs
- Slik Helvetika – Hafnium
- Rammstein – Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da
- Lion’s Share – Dark Hours
- Primal Fear – 16.6: (Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead)
- Tango Down – Damage Control
- Vision Divine – 9 Degrees West of the Moon
- Queensrÿche – American Soldier
Andreas Nergård
Lior Stein
2008
Kristian Singh-Nergård
Andreas Nergård
- Sylvan – Posthumous Silence The Show (DVD)
- Seven Steps To The Green Room – Step Into My World
- Silent Call – Creations From Another Path
- Tempestt – Break ‘em On
- Elevener – When Kaleidoscopes Collide
- Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad
- Tony Mills – Vital Designs
- Axxis – Doom Of Destiny
- Dark Sky – Empty Faces
- Judas Priest – Nostradamus
Allyson B. Crawford
- Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
- Alice Cooper – Along Came a Spider
- Lynam – Tragic City Symphony
- Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles
- Bullet for My Valentine – Scream, Aim, Fire
- Britney Spears – Circus
- Black Tide – Light from Above
- Tonight You Rock – All Comes Down to You
- Sammy Hagar – Cosmic Universal Fashion
- Buckcherry – Black Butterfly
Joshua Turner
Metal
- Opeth – Watershed
- Dominici – O3 Part III
- 3 – The End Is Begun
- Anew Revolution – Rise
Rock
- Moon Safari – Blomljud
- The Tangent – Not As Good As The Book
- Neal Morse – Lifeline
- The Third Ending – The Third Ending
- Karmakanic – Who’s the Boss in the Factory
- RPWL – The RPWL Experience
Dr. Dimitris Kontogeorgakos
- Metallica – Death Magnetic
- Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles
- Blaze Bayley – The Man Who Would Not Die
- Exmortus – In Hatred’s Flames
- Judas Priest – Nostradamus
- Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God
2007
Kristian Singh-Nergård
Andreas Nergård
Frode Johnsrud
- Pagan’s Mind – God’s Equation
- Dimmu Borgir – In Sorte Diaboli
- Circus Maximus – Isolate
- Kamelot – Ghost Opera
- Within Temptation – The Heart Of Everything
- Andre Matos – Time To Be Free
- Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
- Manowar – Gods Of War
- Helloween – Gambling With The Devil
- Pink Cream 69 – In10sity
Per Olav Heimstad (alphabetical order)
- Sebastian Bach – Angel Down
- Bon Jovi – Lost Highway
- Chris Cornell – Carry On
- The Cult – Born Into This
- Gipsy Pistoleros – Wild, Beautiful, Damned
- Grady – A Cup of Cold Poison
- Richie Kotzen – Return of the Mother Head’s Family Reunion
- Led Zeppelin – Mothership
- Megadeth – United Abominations
- Satellite Party – Ultra Payloaded
Torgeir P. Krokfjord (alphabetical order)
- After Forever – After Forever
- Anaal Natrakh – Hell Is Empty And All The Devils Are Here
- Circus Maximus – Isolate
- Dark Tranquility – Fiction
- Deathspell Omega – Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum
- Entombed – Serpent Saints
- Mayhem – Ordo Ad Chao
- Pain Of Salvation – Scarsick
- Symphony X – Paradise Lost
- Therion – Gothic Kabbalah
Jacky Linville
- Dimmu Borgir – In Sorte Diaboli
- Scorpions – Humanity
- Sabastian Bach – Angel Down
- Vintersorg – Solens Rötter
- Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
Neon Blonde
- Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
- ASKA – Absolute Power
- Saxon – The Inner Sanctum
- Gamma Ray – Land of the Free II
- Primal Fear – New Religion
- Helloween – Gambling with the Devil
- Pink Cream 69 – In10sity
- Silent Force – Walk the Earth
- Iced Earth – Framing Armageddon
- Megadeth – United Abominations
2006
Andreas Nergård
- Nightwish – End Of An Era (live)
- Whitesnake – Live In The Still Of The Night (DVD)
- Blind Guardian – A Twist In The Myth
- Slamer – Nowhere Land
- Jorn – The Duke
- Saxon – The Eagle Has Landed 3 (live)
- Fair Warning – Brother’s Keeper
- Axel Rudi Pell – Mystica
- Rage – Speak Of The Dead
Zoltan Koncsok
- A.C.T. – Silence
- Spock’s Beard – Spock’s Beard
- Gogol Bordello – Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike
- 3 – Wake Pig
- Ureas – The Naked Truth
- Paatos – Silence of Another Kind
- Kim Wilde – Never Say Never
- Wig Wam – Hard to be a Rock’n Roller… in Tokyo
- Wuthering Heights – The Shadow Cabinet
- Mike Oldfield – New Times
Frode Leirvik (no particular order)
- The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra
- The Flower Kings – Paradox Hotel
- Umphrey’s McGee – Safety By Numbers
- Vanden Plas – Christ O
- Motorpsycho – Black Hole/Blank Canvas
- Paatos – Silence Of Another Kind
- GPS – Window To The Soul
- A.C.T. – Silence
- Tool – 10 000 Days
- Frequency – When Dream And Fate Collide
Frankie Riester
- Billy Talent – II
- Black Stone Cherry – Black Stone Cherry
- Empire – The Raven Ride
- Saga – Trust
- Danko Jones – Sleep Is The Enemy
- Sunstorm – Sunstorm
- Amplifier – Amplifier
- The Answer – Rise
- Jorn – The Duke
- Platitude – Silence Speaks
- Tool – 10 000 Days
- Benedictum – Uncreation
- Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam
- 30 Seconds To Mars – A Beautiful Lie
- Lordi – The Arockalypse
- Iron Maiden – A Matter Of Life And Death
George Fustos (no particular order)
- Joe Satriani – Satriani LIVE!
- Joe Satriani – Super Colossal
- Tool – 10 000 Days
- Billy Sheehan – Prime Cuts
- Iron Maiden – A Matter Of Life And Death
- Kingdom Come – Ain’t Crying For The Moon
- Rebel Meets Rebel – Rebel Meets Rebel
- Shadow’s Fall – Fallout From The War
- Krokus – Hellraiser
- Amon Amarth – With Oden On Our Side
Jeremy Juliano (no particular order)
- Talisman – 7
- Metal Church – A Light In The Dark
- Richie Kotzen – Into The Black
- Krokus – Hellraiser
- Guano Apes – The Best & The Lost Tapes
- Saratoga – The Fighting Clan
- Evergrey – Monday Morning Apocalypse
- Tool – 10 000 Days
- Beyond Fear – Beyond Fear
- Primal Fear – Metal Is Forever
Gary McLean (alphabetical order)
2005
Laios Vasileios (no particular order)
- Angra – Temple of Shadows
- Hammerfall – One Crimson Night
- InnerWish – Silent Faces
- King Diamond – The Puppet Master
- Rage – Soundchaser
- DragonForce – Sonic Firestorm
- Helloween – The Dark Ride
- Therion – Vovin
- Blind Guardian – The Forgotten Tales
- Iced Earth – Something Wicked this Way Comes
Ross Swinton
- Dark Tranquility – Character
- Dark Age – Dark Age
- Darkest Hour – Undoing Ruin
- Trivium – Ascendancy
- Nile – Annihilation Of The Wicked
- Dew Scented – Issue VI
- The Black Dahlia Murder – Miasma
- Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
- Galloglass – Heavenseeker
- Annihilator – Schizo Deluxe
- Akercocke – Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone
Jason Sagall (alphabetical order)
- Arthemis – Back from the Heat
- Atheist – Elements [Remastered]
- Beyond Twilight – Section X
- Black Label Society – Mafia
- Circus Maximus – The 1st Chapter
- Kamelot – The Black Halo
- Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
- OHM – Amino Acid Flashback
- Pagan’s Mind – Enigmatic: Calling
- John Petrucci – Suspended Animation
- Mike Portnoy – Prime Cuts
Odd Inge Rand
- Kreator – Enemy Of God
- System Of A Down – Mesmerize
- Bullet For My Valentine – The Poison
- Alice Cooper – Dirty Diamonds
- Helloween – Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
- Dream Theater – Octavarium
- L.A. Guns – Tales From The Strip
- Hellacopters – Rock & Roll Is Dead
- Wednesday 13 – Transylvania 90210
- Stonegard – Arrows
- Hanoi Rocks – Another Hostile Takeover
Anne-Lene Rodahl (no particular order)
- Mötley Crüe – Red, White and Crüe
- Tommy Lee – Tommyland: The Ride
- Hanoi Rocks – Another Hostile Takeover
- Society 1 – The Sound That Ends Creation
- Turbonegro – Party Animals
- Extrema – Set the World on Fire
- Nightmare – The Dominion Gate
- Malice In Wonderland – Malice In Wonderland
- Audrey Horne – No Hay Banda
- Bratz – Rock Angelz
Metal-Katie
- Robert Plant – Mighty Rearranger
- Hanoi Rocks – Another Hostile Takeover
- Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground
- Dug – Emotional Animal
- King’s X – Ogre Tones
- Mötley Crüe – Red, White and Crüe
- Killswitch Engage – (Set This) World Ablaze (DVD)
- Hanoi Rocks – Lightnin’ Bar Blues – The albums (box set)
- Spock’s Beard – Octane
- Opeth – Ghost Reveries
Tina Victoria Strand Hogsdal
- Hanoi Rocks – Another Hostile Takeover
- Turbonegro – Party Animals
- Staind – Chapter V
- Queen Of The Stone Age – Lullabies To Paralyze
- System Of A Down – Mesmerize
- Tommy Lee – Tommyland: The Ride
- Candlemass – Candlemass
- Dream Theater – Octavarium
- TNT – All The Way To The Sun
- Stonegard – Arrows
George Wagemann
- Nocturnal Rites – Grand Illusion
- Kamelot – The Black Halo
- Disturbed – Ten Thousand Fists
- Children of Bodom – Are You Dead Yet?
- Sonata Arctica – Reckoning Night
- Gamma Ray – Majestic
- Sevendust – Next
- Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
- Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
- Stratovarius – Stratovarius
Lars Steffensen
- Meshuggah – Catch Thirtythree
- Fear Factory – Transgression
- Dream Theater – Octavarium
- Opeth – Ghost Reveries
- Cloroform – Cracked Wide Open
Christian Mannsbart (no particular order)
- Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
- Corrosion of Conformity – In the Arms of God
- Dead Soul Tribe – The Dead Word
- Sieges Even – The Art of Navigating By The Stars
- Black Label Society – Mafia
- System of a Down – Mezmerize
2004
Scott Jeslis (no particular order)
- The Ring – Tales From Midgard
- Ring Of Fire – Lapse Of Reality
- Saxon – Lionheart
- Twilight Guardians – Wasteland
- Blind Date – S/T
- Soul SirkUS – World Play
- TNT – My Religion
- Joe Satriani – Is There Love In Space?
- Metal Church – The Weight Of The World
- Derek Sherinian – Mythology
Desley Hemmingsen (no particular order)
- Nocturnal Rites – New World Messiah
- DIO – Master Of The Moon
- Dungeon – A Rise To Power
- Motörhead – Inferno
- Pagan’s Mind – Infinity Divine
- Tømmermenn – Tolv Tonn
- Feinstein – Third Wish
- Nightwish – Once
- Griffin – No Holds Barred
- Iced Earth – Glorious Burden