The following albums were voted to be the best of 2006 by Metal Covenant’s staff, with the exception of Mat and Tim who didn’t participate this year. The list you see below is the result of a spectacular metal-year, with several magnificent releases. In fact, we even had to use a magnifying glass to separate the two top-albums, which proves that the competition has been tougher than ever. Read on and find the result of the Metal Covenant vote. //Niklas

	1. Wuthering Heights - The Shadow Cabinet Excerpt from the review: Everything on this album, in all areas, have since the last album swelled out and expanded and every development is to the better. It is a bigger and mightier sound landscape, it is more melodic, there is more and better guitar harmonies, the vocals of Nils Johansson are of course yet again outstanding - everything is absolutely top notch. I can not find one single second on this album that I in any way can critizise, as it is all there for a purpose and every single note makes a vital contribution to the whole picture. Read the full review »»
	2. Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side Excerpt from the review: With this release, Amon Amarth marks the absolute highlight of their career so far, and it surpasses the up until now "best album" Vs. The World with several notches. The general style is basically the same as before and there is no risk mistaking this for any other band than Amon Amarth. This is in fact one of the better albums in the past years and Amon Amarth must now be considered one of Sweden's absolute best bands ever and that says a lot since the competition is razorsharp, to say the least. Read the full review »»
	3. Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death Excerpt from the review: Iron Maiden meticulously triumph once again with another magnum opus of majesty and might for the greater good of All That Is. This band of brothers fly the flag of freedom assuring that these colours don't run to the hilt. The divine dichotomy denotes that the meaning of life is a matter of death. With an incandescent fervor, brighter than a thousand suns, the legacy lives on. Read the full review »»
	4. In Flames - Come Clarity Excerpt from the review: How do you follow up two succesful albums like Reroute To Remain and Soundtrack To Your Escape without repeating yourself? Well, with Come Clarity, In Flames have gone back to their roots and yet managed to develop their sound. There isn't a single weak track on the album, and the material is almost as strong as on the masterpiece Clayman. It contains hit singles, ballads, killers and must be considered as one of their best albums so far. Read the full review »»
	5. Enter The Hunt - For Life. Til' Death. To Hell. With Love. Excerpt from the review: Somehow, it feels like this album speaks directly to me, the dark suggestive rhythms and songs that completely make you forget about time and space. Enter The Hunt's music could easily be called introverted but still it feels so naturally simple as the music is feeding on emotion. It is progressive and experimental music based on heavy riffing but what is most important is that Enter The Hunt generates a constant flow in their music that sucks you in. Read the full review »»
	6. Persuader - When Eden Burns Excerpt from the review: What is impressive about Persuader is the extremely even quality of the songs. From the first to the last track there are melodies and hooks that tempt you to listen again, and again. And for each time the compositions grow a bit. It is almost impossible to choose your favourites - you want them all. Other bands would probably kill to have one of these choruses on a record. Persuader has ten of them. Read the full review »»
	7. Amorphis - Eclipse Excerpt from the review: A lot of effort on Eclipse has been put down on the melody lines through the entire composition and a verse or bridge can work as the song's trademark as well as the chorus. Thanks to the fantastic melody work I have found myself humming along with the music every single time and I can't stop since it's so addictive. Eclipse surpassed my expectations greatly and I really hope they will continue working together with this line-up. If you give the album the chance it rightfully deserve I'm sure you will be greatly rewarded also. Read the full review »»
	8. Machinae Supremacy - Redeemer Excerpt from the review: There aren't many bands today that can say that they have their own sound, but here "unique" is just the right word. Keyboard-melodies that could have come from an Amiga-shooter are mixed with heavy guitars, and awe-inspiring solos fuse together with epic arrangements. Plus, videogame-composer Chris Hülsbeck is just a big influence as, say, Iron Maiden. Machinae Supremacy obviously have the melodies, the image and the attitude to take them far, far away. Read the full review »»
	9. Bloodbound - Nosferatu Excerpt from the review: Bloodbound play classic heavy metal with full focus on catchy riffs, plenty of melodies and especially strong refrains. There is not one single song on the album that does not contain a very catchy and powerful chorus, and when all is accompanied by a great and solid rhythm section the result can not be anything else than really, really good. Both the band and the songs have enough personality to stand out and feel like something more special and extra than just another metal band. Read the full review »»
	10. Dissection - Reinkaos After serving seven years in prison for murder, Jon Nödtveidt returned to the music-scene with his Dissection, with the eagerly awaited release Reinkaos. During his time behind bars he must have decided that it was time to move away from Dissection's typical brand of black metal that made the two prior albums The Somberlain and Storm At The Light's Bane instant classics, because this time melodic death was the weapon of choice. This altogether impressive album marked the end of the band, something that was confirmed further when Nödtveidt tragically commited suicide in August this year. (sorry, no review)

Runner ups:

11. Sodom – s/t
12. Trivium – The Crusade
13. Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May
14. Heavenly – Virus
15. Tankard - Beauty And The Beer
16. Fate – V
17. Sabaton – Attero Dominatus
18. The Haunted – The Dead Eye
19. Evergrey – Monday Morning Apocalypse
20. Bullet – Heading For The Top

Individual toplists for 2006:

Tommy »»
Thomas »»
Hawk »»
David »»
Niklas »»
MettleAngel »»