Here's some really excellent metal musical choices, what I consider the gems of my musical archive. In descending order of amazing/what got the most emotional response out of me:
#10: Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge. It's epic Scottish pirate metal. It surprised the shit out of me and made me laugh on more than one occasion. Favorite Track: Nancy the Tavern Wench.
#9: Alestorm - Black Sails at Midnight. I include this album because it covers a much greater range than the first album. Favorite Track: Keelhaul
#8: ReVamp - ReVamp. When the band After Forever broke up, the lead singer went on to form an excellent new spiritual successor, and their first album has some awesome guest singers to back up a solid lineup. Favorite Track: Sweet Curse (which features the vocals of Symphony X's Russell Allen.)
#7: Allen Lande - The Showdown. Combines the vocal skills of two amazing artists, Russell Allen and Jorn Lande, in an interesting little "showdown" of two excellent singers. Favorite Track: Showdown.
#6: Celldweller - Celldweller. Okay, this isn't strictly metal, it's more industrial, but bear with me. Much of what I've already posted has excellent talent combined with a storytelling sensibility, which comes across nicely in this album. Favorite Track: The Last Firstborn.
#5: Lunatica - The Edge of Infinity. That sounds like the name of a JRPG, doesn't it? It's another female lead metal band, but not so operatic as many tend to be. Whimsical, fantastical, and engaging, but not really overdone. Favorite Track: Together.
#4: Edenbridge - My Earthdream. This tends to be one of the bands I listen to the most. They are very easy on the ears, very pleasant and energetic. This is my first contact with them, and I would recommend it for anyone who would like some very special, original music in their library. Favorite Track: Undying Devotion.
#3: Arjen A. Luccasen's Star One - Space Metal. Do you like sci-fi movies? Why not have an album dedicated to some of the most popular sci-fi movies ever? An ensemble cast, excellent writing and operatic technique make this super awesome if a bit hard to find: Favorite Track: The Eye of Ra.
#2: Rhapsody (of Fire) - All of the Emerald Sword Saga. "Legendary Tales," Symphony of Enchanted Lands," "Dawn of Victory," "Rain of a Thousand Flames," and "Power of the Dragonflame" are all albums in this series. Epic Fantasy Metal that revives the bardic tradition of storytelling in music. My all-time favorite band. Favorite Track: Emerald Sword.
#1: ARK - Burn the Sun. This is Jorn Lande at his best, possibly outside his collaborations with Arjen Luccasen. The composition, the timing, the performance, and the lyrics all come together to bring vivid imagery to life through some truly elegant pieces of metal mastery. Another difficult find, but for this unique jewel forgotten by time, it's worth the search. Sadly, this is all that remains of the band, they split up to go on to other projects. Jorn himself is all over the goddamn place. Favorite Track: Heal the Waters.
Want some more? Just ask, I've got plenty where that came from.
#10: Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge. It's epic Scottish pirate metal. It surprised the shit out of me and made me laugh on more than one occasion. Favorite Track: Nancy the Tavern Wench.
#9: Alestorm - Black Sails at Midnight. I include this album because it covers a much greater range than the first album. Favorite Track: Keelhaul
#8: ReVamp - ReVamp. When the band After Forever broke up, the lead singer went on to form an excellent new spiritual successor, and their first album has some awesome guest singers to back up a solid lineup. Favorite Track: Sweet Curse (which features the vocals of Symphony X's Russell Allen.)
#7: Allen Lande - The Showdown. Combines the vocal skills of two amazing artists, Russell Allen and Jorn Lande, in an interesting little "showdown" of two excellent singers. Favorite Track: Showdown.
#6: Celldweller - Celldweller. Okay, this isn't strictly metal, it's more industrial, but bear with me. Much of what I've already posted has excellent talent combined with a storytelling sensibility, which comes across nicely in this album. Favorite Track: The Last Firstborn.
#5: Lunatica - The Edge of Infinity. That sounds like the name of a JRPG, doesn't it? It's another female lead metal band, but not so operatic as many tend to be. Whimsical, fantastical, and engaging, but not really overdone. Favorite Track: Together.
#4: Edenbridge - My Earthdream. This tends to be one of the bands I listen to the most. They are very easy on the ears, very pleasant and energetic. This is my first contact with them, and I would recommend it for anyone who would like some very special, original music in their library. Favorite Track: Undying Devotion.
#3: Arjen A. Luccasen's Star One - Space Metal. Do you like sci-fi movies? Why not have an album dedicated to some of the most popular sci-fi movies ever? An ensemble cast, excellent writing and operatic technique make this super awesome if a bit hard to find: Favorite Track: The Eye of Ra.
#2: Rhapsody (of Fire) - All of the Emerald Sword Saga. "Legendary Tales," Symphony of Enchanted Lands," "Dawn of Victory," "Rain of a Thousand Flames," and "Power of the Dragonflame" are all albums in this series. Epic Fantasy Metal that revives the bardic tradition of storytelling in music. My all-time favorite band. Favorite Track: Emerald Sword.
#1: ARK - Burn the Sun. This is Jorn Lande at his best, possibly outside his collaborations with Arjen Luccasen. The composition, the timing, the performance, and the lyrics all come together to bring vivid imagery to life through some truly elegant pieces of metal mastery. Another difficult find, but for this unique jewel forgotten by time, it's worth the search. Sadly, this is all that remains of the band, they split up to go on to other projects. Jorn himself is all over the goddamn place. Favorite Track: Heal the Waters.
Want some more? Just ask, I've got plenty where that came from.
