It is done—The Metal Observer’s convent has come to an end, and the votes have been cast. Enter to find out who survived the fire and emerged victorious!
Click on the band – album for the review link (if applicable). Click the cover art for music.
T W E N T Y – N I N E
Witherscape
The Northern Sanctuary
“One of the best amalgamations of prog and death of the year, if not the decade.”
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T W E N T Y – N I N E
Perturbator
The Uncanny Valley
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“Dark electro wave that will chill the bone marrow.”
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T W E N T Y – S E V E N
Devin Townsend Project
Transcendence
“Continuing his continued continuation.”
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T W E N T Y – S E V E N
Dark Funeral
Where Shadows Forever Reign
“Seven years have passed, the funeral is still as dark.”
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T W E N T Y – S I X
Ihsahn
Arktis
“As expansive and genre-pushing as ever.”
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T W E N T Y – F I V E
Fates Warning
Theories of Flight
“Striking an excellent balance between progressive mastery and grand accessibility.”
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T W E N T Y – F O U R
Twilight Force
Heroes Of Mighty Magic
“Sailing the bombastic power metal dragon in its full soaring grandeur.”
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T W E N T Y – T H R E E
Chthe’ilist
Le dernier crépuscule
“The nightmarish soundtrack to Lovecraftian horror.”
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T W E N T Y – T W O
Anthrax
For All Kings
“The band’s most engaging album in years.”
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T W E N T Y – O N E
Alcest
Kodama
“A partial return of old elements boost Alcest’s latest into the future.”
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T W E N T Y
Moonsorrow
Jumalten aika
“One of the most truly progressive metal bands out there, Moonsorrow continue to forge on and push boundaries.”
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N I N E T E E N
Mithras
On Strange Loops
“Take brutal death metal and go into space, taking 70s prog and 80s glam and voila, here are Mithras.”
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E I G H T E E N
Death Angel
The Evil Divide
“Death Angel continue to belt out high quality thrash, returning with some of the most balanced material yet.”
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S E V E N T E E N
Forteresse
Thèmes pour la rébellion
“One of Quebec’s finest with a historic and tight effort.”
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S I X T E E N
Megadeth
Dystopia
“Taking queues from various eras of their career, Megadeth are back on top of the game.”
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F I F T E E N
Epica
The Holographic Principle
“Complex and heavy, the album cements Epica’s place as one of symphonic metal’s premier acts.”
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F O U R T E E N
Oranssi Pazuzu
Värähtelijä
“A suffocating experience, the album is both bizarre and rewarding.”
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T H I R T E E N
Theocracy
Ghost Ship
“A sweeping ride through the storms of epic power metal.”
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T W E L V E
Deathspell Omega
The Synarchy Of Molten Bones
“A visceral outlash that harkens back to the band’s seminal ‘FAS’ album.”
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E L E V E N
Demon Bitch
Hellfriends
“Leaning towards the more eccentric side of the American power metal scene, Demon Bitch deliver their very own kind of retro.”
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T E N
Darkthrone
Arctic Thunder
“While visiting a heavier past, the Norwegians still never look back.”
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N I N E
Harakiri for the Sky
III: Trauma
“A complete package, HFTS’s third is a slab of depressing, yet beautiful post-black metal.”
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E I G H T
Saor
Guardians
“With the folk instruments playing a stronger role, ‘Guardians’ is Saor’s most well-rounded album to date.”
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S E V E N
Insomnium
Winter’s Gate
“Not many bands can pull off a 40-minute song, but these Finns do it masterfully.”
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S I X
Thrawsunblat
Metachthonia
“One of the biggest surprises of the year, these Canadians melt folk, black, heavy, progressive and other metal like no other.”
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F I V E
Cobalt
Slow Forever
“With a massive slab of American black metal, Cobalt convince their fans after a 7-year hiatus.”
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F O U R
Borknagar
Winter Thrice
“Underlining the Norwegians’ status as one of metal’s truly progressive bands, ‘Winter Thrice’ seamlessly fits into their gem-studded back catalogue.”
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T H R E E
Inquisition
Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith
“Consistency is key for Inquisition, improving around the edges, but staying as pitch black at the core.”
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T W O
Ulcerate
Shrines of Paralysis
“Sheer unearthly and often unnatural might.”
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O N E
Vektor
Terminal Redux
“Technical thrashcore to twist your brain into a nebula!”
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