My general perspective on metal has always been through the lens of good vs. evil, and I’ve tended to get a good mix of both sides into my metal diet, and 2015 certainly delivered a fair share of both. As with any list of greatest albums of any particular category, individual perspective makes for an imperfect result, and limited time caused me to miss a number of truly exceptional albums (Bane Of Winterstorm’s The War Of Shadows II: Upon The Throne of Ravnorakk and Ghost City’s Tragic Soul Symphony were just a couple from the power metal sub-genre alone). But hey, this is why we have so many different perspectives on this webzine. So without further adieu, here’s my Top 30 of 2015!
~30~
Jungle Rot – Order Shall Prevail
“Tyranny that crushes the skull with sound.”
~29~
Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody – Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus
“Parables of a symphonic past and an electric future.”
~28~
“Dark, mystic melodies dedicated to the adversary”
~27~
“The old school meets a few progressive twists”
~26~
Frank Blackfire – Back On Fire
“The return of a former thrash king, scorched denim and leather required.”
~25~
Vanden Plas – Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld II
“Fantastical introspection finds another musical hero.”
~24~
“Society kills itself with a brutal unkindness.”
~23~
Jorn Lande & Trond Holter – Dracula: Swing Of Death
“Partially retro album for an entirely retro concept.”
~22~
“Tony Montana sells power metal to northern Europe.”
~21~
“Kicking up the tempo with the folk.”
~20~
Damnation Angels – The Valiant Fire
“The noble British Samurais return.”
~19~
Beyond The Black – Songs Of Love And Death
“A younger, currently vital and German Nightwish takes the stage.”
~18~
Jupiter – The History Of Genesis
“Animated heroes with a charming cartoon-like zeal.”
~17~
“A Blind Guardian meets with an Elvenking and a powerful plan is hatched.”
~16~
“Middle Earth ushers in a new blackened power.”
~15~
“An Iron Maiden on board the USG Ishimura.”
~14~
Biotoxic Warfare – Lobotomized
“A red spiked thrashing fist to the temporal lobe.”
~13~
Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards
“Where A-grade power metal parody and B-cinema Sci-Fi converge.”
~12~
Obscure Infinity – Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness
“A classic old school death metal throwback in a fresh new blackened coffin.”
~11~
“The true legacy of Sonata Arctica continues under a new name.”
~10~
“The order instills another episode of goodly fear.”
~9~
Black Majesty – Cross Of Thorns
“The majestic lion-hearts crusade on with all the usual trappings.”
~8~
Marius Danielsen’s Legend of Valley Doom – Part 1
“A multitude of the metal faithful have shown up for worship.”
~7~
“Congregating at the grand metallic megalith.”
~6~
Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls
“Upping the irons for the ages.”
~5~
“Where the failings of the human condition lead to triumph.”
~4~
“Raising the gates of all whom oppose.”
~3~
Guardians Of Time – Rage And Fire
“The time keepers set ablaze the heart of iron.”
~2~
“Success is best served by resorting to the timeless.”
~1~
Midnight Odyssey – Shards Of Silver Fade
“Fading into a lofty winter dimension.”































