2018 PM
Description
Quickstats
Playlist Length
0 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes
Playlist Followers
7
Source
Playlist Last Updated
Unknown
Mood
Amped
Track Popularity Rating
Deep
Style
Loud
Average Release Decade
2010s
Main Genre:
Metal
Reddit Info
Reddit Post
I should mention Eternity's End's upcoming release might cause some changes. [*Youtube Playlist of Linked Singles (Bottom Up)*](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyw4af8e2Jq5KENxeL8XrdN9afZ16jFSQ) [*Spotify Playlist (Full albums, in order)*](https://open.spotify.com/user/edledhron/playlist/0KrMdM8ljKrSIqASJqUQHd?si=P9gegl_XRdOHO06IfdJvVw) 10 [**Orion's Reign - Scores of War**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhoECSZuWcY) The album in my list that most matches what the popular concept of power metal has become. It's catchy, bombastic, and fantastical. Anthemic, but there are still some speedy songs in there. Fans of Twilight Force, Gloryhammer, etc. will adore it, as will Sabaton fans. Just plain old good fun in the cheesy power metal sort of way. Good ole cheesy, fun power metal in its purest. 9 [**Angra - ØMNI**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-FfcCUBdTc) This album seemed to be received stronger than Secret Garden. Both to me are decent albums. They both contain moments of Angra's earlier greatness, but are otherwise passable prog power. I will say that I've warmed up to Fabio being in the band, and they gave a great performance at prog power this year. The album played live made me appreciate it more for sure. 8 [**Lovebites - Battle Against Damnation & Clockwork Immortality**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B70JsOpmUGE) This band emerged out of Japan last year, and are quickly rising in popularity. Though a Japanese band, they hold more European influence than most of Japanese bands -- and it's telling that they've done recordings in Finland and have their latest album out on Nuclear Blast. They also trade the typical neoclassical focus of JPM bands for a more riff-centric approach, while still having some symphonic songs that will make fans of bands like Ancient Bards happy. The EP Battle Against Damnation is fantastic, though the album falls off a bit in quality. Was that long of a ballad really necessary at the end? 7 [**Novareign - Legends**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoZCUaPAdOY) Enough with the silliness, let's just have some classic, plain pm. Rawer production, a less proficient vocalist, but these songs are why I like power metal. Just flat out aggressive speed with a melodic vocalist. Oh, and a random acoustic tune thrown in there with sound effects. It's a fairly long album for what it is, but I'm not one to particularly complain about long albums, especially if the songwriting is consistently solid. 6 [**Veonity - Legend of the Starborn**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl4YRmg7Rk0) More good old fashioned pm, this one a little more modern sounding than Novareign with its less raw production, and those soaring anthemic choir-based choruses. There's more keyboard elements here too, But at the core, more of that aggressive speed that I like in my power metal. Similar to Novareign, this one too is a lengthy album with acoustic interludes -- Nightfall in Middle-earth is continuing to have some influence. 5 [**Guardians of Time - Tearing Up the World**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr7ejhltyvc) Noticing a pattern yet? This is one that continues the trend of the last two, and in some ways is a combination of their best elements. The production is cleaner than the others, which may or may not be to your taste, the bombastic choruses continue, but most important are those speedy guitars and drums. Combo breaker, though. This album saves some time by excluding any of those acoustic interludes. 4 [**Visigoth - Conqueror's Oath**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKy1TaeobU) BY STEEEL! BY SILLLVER! Going in a more USPM direction for #4. Less speed, but no less of just plain metal. Catchy riffs, catchy choruses. I know this album was less well recieved than their first, but I've enjoyed it quite a bit. A shorter album too, at around 40 minutes, it does its thing and doesn't overstay its welcome. Anyways, I really hope to be able to see Steel and Silver live some time. 3 [**Dire Peril - The Extraterrestrial Compendium**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYaUY2GNDqM) Oh hey, John Yelland is in another thing. And while Helion Prime didn't make my list this year, Jason Ashcraft is still able to make an appearance. Yes, Dire Peril finally have a full length release out, and man it's great. John Yelland continues here his Hansi-styled choruses full of bloated layered choruses. And you know what? He's getting damned good at it. Not to be outdone, this album is full of headbanging moments thanks to Jason's riffs. The album gets to be a little long as well, but, hey, there's a cool sci-fi story in there to keep the listener interested. 2 [**Judicator -The Last Emperor**](https://judicatormetal.bandcamp.com/track/the-queen-of-all-cities) This is history metal done right. Digging into it, building up a narrative, and complimenting it with music. Not cliches and shallow verses that don't tell you anything. From what I've seen, a fair number of people have said this album is a let down after Expense. Well, I think Judi peaked with that album. The immensely personal and emotional narrative is just something that adds so much, and the music got it completely right. They got the music right here too -- but the concept is a return to the band's use of history as in their first two albums. The emotional impact it can be said has been lessened by a thousand years and a less direct connection to the band. But The Last Emperor is nothing to shrug at, and would be a very strong addition to any band's discography. Strong riffs, catchy choruses, an interesting historical concept which strengthens the album, and a cameo from none other than Hansi. It came close to being another AotY from Judi for me. 1 [**Unlucky Morpheus - Change of Generation**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxN3L2jrrEI) The most overlooked currently active band for their quality. Everything this band has done over the past 4 years has been gold. Unfamiliar with them? This is a great album to start out with because, as its weakest point, it is a compilation album of sorts -- being about an even mixed of new material, singles released since their last album (including a re-recording of one), a couple older songs re-recorded and a couple of covers of another band's songs -- perhaps best thought of as bonus tracks. Though the pacing is somewhat affected by that, damn is it nice to hear Kyobou no Koibito with the band's full line up and current production capabilities. What can I say about this band. Top notch songwriting that retains some neoclassical elements common to the JPM scene, while also taking a more aggressive approach than most others. Fuki's vocals and Jill's violin are the highlights, but some fine guitarwork and drumming here too. I wrote a lengthier review of this album, [which you can read here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/PowerMetal/comments/9jlgq0/album_review_unlucky_morpheus_change_of/)
Upvotes
11
Subreddit
PowerMetal
Reddit Username
Edledhron
Reddit Timestamp
12/20/18 15:54
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