Best albums
1. Raubtier - Det
Finns Bara Krig
Can a small, rather unknown and (to be honest) not very original
band from the darkest North of Sweden make the metal album of the year?
Yes, why not? Raubtier are - for natural reasons - compared to Rammstein
and actually whipped the Germans asses with this debut, consisting of
almost only 'singles'.
2. Powerwolf - Bible
Of The Beast
Whenever I have felt a bit tired or down I have put on Resurrection
By Erection or any of the other catchy church organ flavoured hits on
this classic to be in German metal.
3. Candlemass - Death
Magic Doom
Leif Edling and friends show that they are far from finished with
their mission to spread doom over the world and Rob Lowe does nothing
short of an impressive vocal performance.
4. The Poodles - Clash
Of The Elements
Although I have developed a metal heart though the years I'm still
very week for hit music. This is a collection of catchy melodies that
deserves to actually make it to the top lists.
5. Narnia - Course Of A Generation
New singer German Pascual has added a new dimension to the band and to
that they have made their fastest and hardest record to date.
Runner-ups: Crucified Barbara - 'Til
Death Do Us Party, Immortal - All Shall Fall,
Grave Digger - Ballads Of A Hangman, Clutch
- Strange Cousins From the West, Vader -
Necropolis
Biggest disappointments
- Running Wild said farewell for good.
I can understand if Rock 'n' Rolf has lost the inspiration to write new
songs, but I cannot accept the fact that he will not get his ass out there
and play some immortal classics every now and then. But at least I took
the last chance to see them live at Wacken.
- The trend with playing whole albums live is spreading. First I don't
want the surprise to be spoiled by knowing beforehand which songs will
be played. Second they all chose the wrong album to play. Third, they
always play the hits from that album anyway and the other songs - well,
there is a reason they've never been played live before I guess.
- The new Heaven And Hell album sucked and
their live performances on Sweden Rock and Wacken were just stiff and
dull.
- After five years of waiting, Rammstein
served us old rubbish without the true German soul in it.
- All the cancelled or postponed gigs during the fall: Saxon,
Dio, Mustasch
and Narnia (well they did not cancel, but
changed date so that I had to skip the concert).
Best live concerts
1. Amon Amarth (Wacken
Open Air)
With their full stage set and the usual amount of Viking energy
they made the cold and dark early hour into a hell of a show.
2. Bullet (Sweden Rock Festival)
Their genuine joy and love for their craft is always spreading
to the audience, and this evening was perhaps the best I've ever seen
with them.
3. Blackfoot (Sweden Rock Festival)
For being really old fellows they rock harder than most youngsters.
4. Europe (Sweden
Rock Festival)
Well NOW they are back, rocking like in the old days. What looked
mostly awkward in 2004 had now turned into a professional and emotional
top performance.
5. Metallica (Forum - Copenhagen)
With the stage in the middle, circling around, you got as close as you
will probably ever get these legends. Add to that an always surprising
set list and a nice lightning rig, you got the definite package.
Runner-ups: Rammstein (Velodrom, Berlin),
AC/DC (Ullevi, Gothenburg and Globen, Stockholm,
D-A-D (Wacken Open Air), Running
Wild (Wacken Open Air)
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