TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2015

What a year for heavy metal! So many albums were released this year and putting just 10 on this list was the hardest thing but here it is my list of the ten best album of 2015!

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2015

1.Spillage- Spillage

-And my number one pick is the debut record from Heavy Metal group Spillage from Chicago, Illinois. This record kicked my ass around the world and back when I first heard it. Its raw yet nice production is very pleasant on the ears and Tony Spillmans ability to write these insanely catchy riffs and Chris Martins superb heavy drumming is just what made it my number one album of the year!

2.Night Demon- Curse OF The Damned

-The debut record from these NWOBHM worshipers out of California and damn I was hooked on this record after the first song. These guys just know how to craft amazing sounding “true heavy metal” tunes it’s a great record from a new band to remind us how great 1980-83 was. Also, the production is something I’ll brag about all day.

3.Venomous Maximus-FireWalker

-The second release from these guys and easily their best. It combines melodies from bands like Maiden and the Heaviness of Sabbath for a record that is a force to be reckoned with.

4.Electric Revolution-Character Is power

-This band from Kenosha I have dug for a while and I recently just got to hear their first full length all the way through and wow it exceeded all my expectations. Check em out their 70’s inspired groovy rock is all anyone could ask for.

5.Chris Holmes-Shitting Bricks

-one of my favorite guitarists of all time is back with a dirty as hell, gritty rock n roll release that may not break new bounds but it is damn fun and very spinal tap at points. Either way I love it and so should any old school wasp fan.

6.Pentagram-Curious Volume

-The legendary doom group is back with a new album well newish as it features a lot of older written songs but it is still a great, heavy throwback to the 70s and Bobby Liebling still has a voice that is as heavy and haunting as ever.

7.W.A.S.P-Golgotha

-WASP impressed me with this one. It still has a lot of catchiness to it and reminds me a lot of Headless Children which isn’t a bad thing.

8.Uncle Acid: Night Creeper

-The fourth release from the Psych/Doom quartet and it is still as haunting and heavy as ever. Truly one of the best bands in the rising retro doom genre

9. Motorhead: Bad Magic

-This album another straight great release from the loudest band in the land. Even through their troubles they still manage to crank out great tunes and still show that just because you age doesn’t mean you need to slow down.

10. Iron Maiden: Book Of Souls

-This album really made my list for the fact that Iron Maiden still know what they were doing, even if I wasn’t totally sold on it. There are some great songs on this album and plus its freakin Iron Maiden.

Album Review-Ghost: Meliora

Meliora is the third album by Swedish gothic rock/metal band Ghost and was released on August 21^st, 2015. My history with Ghost goes way back to when their first album hit. I like many others was taken away by how much it sounded like a mercyful fate album with a mellower singer. They also really capitalized on their live stage show and still do as well. Their second album dropped soon after and it had a lot more 60s pop elements that kind of alienated me a bit but the album still had some great songs. Aster their covers e.p I kind of got away from the Ghost craze as they kind of went to a more gothic overtone that I didn’t find enjoyable as much. However when this album dropped I figured I have to give it a try and maybe I’ll be a fan once more.

Track Rundown

1.Spirit- Opening with this very gothic cathedral sound with a sci fi overtone, Ghost open with a very melodic rock sounding feel. Honestly this opener feels really boring it doesn’t feel like it has a lot of power behind it especially when the last two albums had such powerful openers. The vocals feel like they are trying to be too eerie at times where they feel too buried in the mix. An okay opener, but skippable to me.

2.From the Pinnacle to the Pit- I like the bass that opens this song and the eerie guitar melodies as well. The only problem I have is Papa Emeritus’ vocals just don’t really do it for me and I think it is because I have grown tired of the eerie vocal style. The chorus is pretty good but again feels like it lacks some kind of real punch to it. An improvement over the first song yes but lets see what else there is on this album.

3.Cirice- I like the acoustic approach in this track more with the piano behind it in the beginning. I feel this song has more of the appeal that the first album had with more powerful riffing to it as well. But the vocals just annoy me Its just how they are sung.  It just doesn’t feel like it fits to me it feels like it’s trying to be two things at once but it doesn’t work in my opinion. A good track in the Instrumental department.

4.Spoksonat- I like this short piece its actually my favorite thing on the album for how ominous it feels and how melodic it is.

5.He Is- I like this intro it is very catchy and atmospheric and the vocals are very well done here as well. They feel more strong than I feel they did before. This song is great because it fits Ghost’s style the most on this album I feel it is just beautifully done.

6.Mummy Dust- This song immediately turns back into heavy territory and I like the bend in the main riff it feels really strong catchy to me. The vocals try a whispering feel to them and It works great as well. This is the best heavy track on the album in my opinion.

7.Majesty- At the beginning of this song I thought I was listening to Deep Purple with such a strong organ presence it’s pretty kickass sounding. It’s a pretty ok rock song I just can’t really tell where it is going at points like in the chorus it doesn’t quite feel like it got there.

8.Devil Church- A very church choir piece that is very short and I like it but it feels like a filler more than a full track.

9.Absolution- I like the Sabbath-ish riff here and again it reminds me of their earlier material without trying to add more to it. It isn’t very memorable but it is a pretty okay song it’s got some good beats and is pretty catchy during the verses.

10.Deus In Absentia- This is a very pop proggish sounding rock song with a lot of overlapping melody’s and different sounds. It doesn’t have a lot of guitar presents and the keys take more of an up-front approach to it. It’s an okay closer it does some neat things but doesn’t do much for me.

Overall, I give this album a 5.5 out of 10. Really I am torn on this record because I like maybe half of it. I just don’t feel like it is really a “heavy metal” album like everyone keeps classifying it as. It is more of a dark gothic prog rock album with some hints of metal influences. It has some very cool things going for it but I feel like the band I really got into in the beginning is something quite different and it doesn’t do it for me. If you are a fan, then don’t listen to me and keep being a fan they aren’t popular for nothing.