Best Metal Release of 2004.
594420
This is without a doubt the sickest batch of songs to be released in a long time. These guys are flawless both live and on tape. I can't stress enough what a major release this is for this band. I predict Lamb of God to be as huge as Slayer.

 Killer CD, every track is ferocious as hell. Grab their others also.
3999484
Chimaira fan for over 12 years, seen live over a dozen times all over the north and southestern US.  They're phenomenal everytime.  This album remains the best release of the year let alone the decade.  This sound was the epitome (in my opinion) of Chimaira during the most tumultuous of times and yet the best release in years (totally underrated) and everyone still tries to justify a change in sound when most of the band left, but then wait it's Chimaira again with Crown of Phantoms and then this album is really just a development to his total metal genius.
1272892
Helloween's 10th studio album, 'Rabbit Don't Come Easy' (2003), is awesome on many different aspects. As if Metallica and Queensryche's old sound hadn't "Died Dead Enough" (in the words of Megadeth), Metallica and Queensryche dove even further into the trash barrel with 'St. Anger' and 'Tribe,' respectively. But 'Rabbit Don't Come Easy' is a true masterpiece, in spite of two new recruits to the band.

This is basically as it says on the front-a return to normalcy. Even though it doesn't sound or end up quite as good as their milestone 'Keeper of The Seven Keys, part 1 and 2' (1987, 1988), it still has the classic power metal sound with some new elements. There is some experimentation on this album, but not in such an extreme way as their 1993 disasterpiece, 'Chameleon'. There is actually a bit of clean reggae guitar on one track, and some sitar playing on two tracks.

The band looks like this: singer Andreas "Andi" Deris, though not as good as Kiske, still can hit those ear-piercing notes. The pair of "ol' faithfuls" (respectively, guitarist Michael Weikath and bassist Markus Grosskopf) have returned again, just as good as ever. The new member of the guitar duo is 27-year-old Sascha Gerstner, who is very skilled. Although their new official drummer is Stefan Schwarzmann, Mikkey Dee of Mercyful Fate and Motorhead performs drum duties on this record.

And now, of course, the three highlights of the record. Opener "Just A Little Sign" is a prime example of how power metal records generally open: fast, frantic, pure speed metal pandemonium. Track 3, "The Tune," is a perfect substitute for the dreaded "Song That Never Ends." And track 8, "Do You Feel Good," is perhaps the only other example of pure speed metal pandemonium on this album. During the solo section, though it may be brief, you can practically feel lightning coming out of the guitar headstocks! If you are a fan of any of Helloween's other stuff (except 'Chameleon'), be sure to pick this album up. Also, check out these other releases by Helloween: 'Walls Of Jericho,' 'Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. I and II,' 'Master of the Rings,' 'Time of The Oath,' 'Better Than Raw,' and 'The Dark Ride.' Avoid 'Chameleon' and 'Pink Bubbles Go Ape,' and this is the perfect Helloween collection.

"Metal Is Forever!"-Primal Fear
3147723
The complexity of this album is amazing, the layering of guitars, the use of screaming and singing, the acoustic guitars and the use of effects all comes together to produce a masterpiece album. One of the best metal albums of the year.
2454866
This is a flat out killer heavy death metal release and one of Jungle Rot's best albums.  Jungle rot is a slower ( they breath a bit and have hammering rythms )  and more groove type death metal.  Been listening to them for years, they are always heavy and Are getting better on every album. They are War-metal in a lot of releases. I can relate well to that type of metal... Better than some of this crud these bands are releasing. I do not see anything negative about this release, i think it is one of the best albums i have heard this year! As a matter of fact i listen to this more than any other release. This and Malevolent Creations album...As a guitarist i do not think some people really get real death metal .I love how they will blast a riff and pound your head. You almost cannot help but slam your head to it. Talkin about how "most human's are scum". I know that's true!  Do yourself a favor and check this album out. It will grow on you instantly! All hail American Death Metal!
461699
I was blown away by this album. Great songs from an incredibly talented band. This is a must have for any metal fans.
3276092
Chimaira's sound is really, nothing new. it combines the retroey thrash of shadows fall, the insane shredding vocals of death and blistering guitar histronics of sepultura. but what it does, is what metal has done recently and must keep on doing-taking the great influences of the past and improving on their best points. track by track-

1. Nothing Remains- 10+/10 by far the best song on the album. starting with a slow, rapidly advancing intro, then all of a sudden, blastbeats and throat-blistering screams of 'NOTHING REMAINS!'...amazing song, with multiple drastic time changes, a lengthy, solid solo and an awe-inspiring chorus. i simply cannot get sick of this song.

2. save ourselves- 10/10 comes very close to being as good as nothing remains. sounds a lot like an 80s thrash anthem with double bass work aplenty. another great chorus and the best solo on the album just makes it better.

3. inside the horror- 9/10 almost as good as save ourselves...the lyrics are good but the guitar riffs on this song just own...especially the first one...catchy and brutal at the same time.

4. salvation 9/10 the only melodic chorus on the album-but don't worry, its not overtly melodic...only a clean vocal harmony over yet more death screams.

5. comatose 9/10 simply rocks. the shortest song on the album, but that doesnt really mean much, its nearly 5 minutes long. a great intro and outro...

6. left for dead 10/10 best lyrics on the album...and great guitar work too.

7. everything you love 10+/10 simply grinds. can you believe the kick drum work on this one? good god...great lyrics too, and a very good solo.

8. bloodlust 8/10 quite long...really the worst on the album (though its not saying much)...notable solo here.

9. pray for all 10+/10 amazing drum work...the song really ends around 4:20 into it, so technically its the shortest on the album. ah well.

10. lazarus 9/10 very very good ending...epic and heavy.

all in all i love this album, and encourage any metalhead to pick it up with an open mind.
2098086
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST HEAVY METAL FROM THE 80's HEAVY METAL ERA !!!
JUST READ EDITORIAL REVIEWS AND IT'S VERY TRUE ABOUT THIS RELEASE!!!
EXCELLENT VOICE AND SPEED !!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL METAL FANS !!!
2207657
Awesome album. This is probably the best new metal album of 2014 so far. The clean vocals actually sound great. Any fan of metal should listen to this. I thought the foreword in the booklet was interesting and worth sharing:
"We aren't born with hatred, judgement, or prejudices. They are woven in the influences we let upon us."
279855
This album by megadeth is absolutely essential for any metal collection but it also helps one understand why metal is still alive and well in 2002 - why metal is so great.  Without this album, a full comprehension in metal can not be achieved.  This album influenced so many bands.  This album blended so many different elements - furiousity, melodic elements,crunchy thrash riffs and dynamic progressive passages.  Almost everything about it screams classic metal and it is classic metal done the right way.  This album set the standards so high, that metal died shortly after.  Well,hehe, that might be a joke, but it's something to think about.  This album provided a base from which good metal could continue to be made.
Marty Friedman is a god on guitar and as soon you hear the periodical appearances of solos on Hangar 18 you will have no doubt as to why that is so.  Holy Wars...The Punishment due opens with its classic intro, walks through acoustics, sharp melodies and absolutely intense thrash.  Take no Prisoners is a true metal barrage and a mosh pit favourite.  Another true stand out track is Tornado of Souls, which has one of the best solos on the entire CD and some of its best melodies.  With the exception of the two last tracks, all songs are ingeniously crafted, with credit to Dave Mustaine, who unleashed his songwriting prowess.  In case you're wondering how the band sounds, well, they sound like Megadeth.  Megadeth can not be compared to metallica or to anything else, especially after this album.
The only downfalls are Dave Mustaine's vocals, the below average production and the track Dawn Patrol.  This might sound like enough to take away a star, but since everything else is beyond perfect, 5 stars will still stand.  The crazy formulas that calculate good metal are almost all in this album.
2846160
Iced Earth is a bizzare mix of thrash and power metal that's sure to please fans of Iron Maiden, Testament, Anthrax, and Pantera. Something Wicked This Way Comes might just be their best record yet. Opening with the  throbbing "Burning Times" (very reminescent of Slayer's  "Postmortem"), SWTWC quickly turns soft. "Melancholy"  is one of the most 'accessible', poppy tunes on the album. This pattern  (heavy song, soft song) continues throughout--providing for a unique  listen. The best songs are: Disciples of the Lie, The Reaping Stone  (Danzigy, with a similar riff to Metallica's "The Thing That Should  Not Be"), 1776 (the best instrumental ever), Burning Times,  Consequences (close to Testament's "The Ballad"), and Watching  Over Me---which is one of the best songs ever written (about Jon Schaffer,  rythm guitarist's, friend, killed in a motorcycle crash). WOM is worth the  price of Something Wicked althogether.
Also, as an added bonus, the last  three songs are concept tunes, about Jon's fictional character, that flow  into one another nicely. IE is slated to release a concept album about him  later on.
Matt Barlow's a great vocalist, whose voice is strange and  unique... drums are good, and Schaffer's rythm playing is the best since  Scott Ian. IF you like metal, pick this up NOOOOOW!
238301
F**K YOU!!! you obviously don't know good metal. Lamb of God deliver the most kick-ass metal i've ever heard. The singer Randy Blythe has an incredible screaming range of vocals and delivers everything from high-pitched shrieks to floor trembling growls. The guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler are phenominal and introduce amazing guitar work. The bassist John Cambell has a fat sound and can easily be heard. The drummer Chris Adler is one of the best out there right now. He delivers pulsing beats and crazy double bass.

Highlights:

Laid to Rest-First single off the album. Very diverse and very heavy. A nice chugging section near the end is just what the doctor ordered.

Now You've Got Something To Die For-The second single off the album. Good-ass drumming and a heavy as f**k breakdown near the end.

Blood of the Scribe-Possibly one of the best off the album. Very diverse guitar-wise and has some of the best drumming I've ever heard come out of Chris.

Break You-An all-around heavy song has nice breakdowns and is heavy as hell. Some really good drumming in this song.

Ashes of the Wake-A killer instrumental with crazy solos and guest guitar work from Chris Poland (Megadeth) and Alex Skolnick (Testament) and some killer solos from Mark and Willie. The 4th Solo (Willie) is my personal favorite because it is a slow and melodic yet dark solo.

Remorse Is For The Dead-My personal favorite off the album. It has a slow and haunting intro that suddenly explodes into a fiery verse riff. And the breakdown is the heaviest breakdown I have ever heard. I love it. This is a killer song and is heavy as f**k.

So if your a fan of good metal, I order you to buy this album no. DO NOT pass this up, it will blow your mind.
3749982
Just a few statements:
This is the one that's in my CD player most often.
Symphony-X is the best progressive metal band in existence.
Russ Allen is the best and most veratile metal vocalist in existence.
Mike Romeo is the scariest guitarist in existence.
Now, to talk about DWoT: This album has great production, and the vocals are well displayed in the mix, unlike Symphony-X's "V".  Although "V" has songs that are more ambitious, DWoT is a better listen for me due to the superior, heavier production.
The only other album that I listen to NEARLY as much is the latest Vanden-Plas, "Beyond Daylight".  Both DWoT and "Beyond Daylight" are, to my mind, almost perfect albums in their own ways.  Again, "V" WOULD be in my CD player constantly as well, if it weren't for the poor showing of the vocals in the mix.
Vanden-Plas' "Beyond Daylight" is a fantastic alternative to Dream Theater fans who might be tired of the pretentious BS and the shrill shrieking that LaBrie sometimes succumbs to.
In comparison, Symphony-X's DWoT is more of an "Yngwie on steroids meets Kansas meets Queen meets Metallica"  kind of CD.  Allen is the kind of metal singer that everyone WISHES they could be.  Take all the best metal and rock singers, roll them into one, and you're on your way to creating Russ Allen.  His influences seem to include, but aren't limited to, Dio, Dickenson, Steve Walsh, Queen, a little Joe Lynn Turner, and strangely enough, he reminds me of the late Carl Albert from Vicious Rumors.
The songwriting on this album is SUPERB, and you'll find yourself singing along in no time.  However, I deliberately said "almost perfect" earlier because of a glaring weak spot.  Namely, I REALLY don't like the keyboard-based orchestral instrumental section during the intro to the title track.  There is an amazing and haunting choral vocal section at the very beginning, but that high is pretty much shattered by the artificial sounding samples of the Holst-Mars ...that immediately follows.  The horns in particular sound like [junk].  Once past this point, however, things improve drastically, and we're back to hearing something magical again.
This band and this CD is like no other, and any comparisons to bands like "Blind Guardian" or other such ilk is misleading and a tragic injustice.  Once you hear Symphony-X, you will be ruined, because almost every other prog-metal band in existence sounds weak in comparison.
See you at the San Fran and Hollywood shows!!!
2609867
This is Iron Maiden at arguably their finest. It is their fourth album and follow-up to their breakthrough "Number of the beast". It's not as well known and is often forgotten, but in my opinion it's not only a better album, but their very best next to "Somewhere in Time". It's much heavier and darker then their three previous albums. It opens with the the long and fast "Where Eagles Dare". The next song is one of my favorite Maiden songs ever, "Revelations". It shows the songwriting talent and ability of Bruce Dickinson rivaling the previously creatively dominant bassist Steve Harris. A great song overall. Great melodies, time changes, solo, and lyrics. Classic Iron Maiden at their best. The folowing song, "Flight of Icarus" was one of the two hits and singles off the album along with "The Trooper". These two songs have very catchy rhythms and chorus', along with great, expected, back to back solo's from Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. "Still Life" begins slowly and is a very good song, with dark creepy lyrics. "Sun and Steel" features another catchy chorus and is followed by the long thematic closing track, "To tame a land". Very heavy, and great guitar melodies. Overall, a great classic album from the masters. Every song is good, no fillers. I would recommend it to anyone who's into Metal. I would by it along with "Number of the beast" first if you're a newcomer to Iron Maiden. It's a little heavier and darker but offers a different side to the band. One of my favorites.
3399676
An impressive debut album. The song "Moonhorse" is a contender for best metal track of the year. Creative lyrics, emotional female vocals, doom guitars and drums yield one of my favorite albums of 2013. There is a bit too much somber, melancholy, and slow parts for my tastes, and a bit more variety would have helped, but what is here is of notable quality. The guitar solo in "Lady in the Lamp" is superbly sorrowful, as is the rest of the song. If you are a fan of 1970's metal, or just good metal, you should enjoy this album.
2686115
Its just awesomely solid.

Metal is Forever is a great openee. Suicide and Mania is just plain sick, this one gets the repeat on my player alot. Straight ahead in your face riff and the chorus is just so..... metal. The Healer, Suicide and Mania, Colony 13, and SoulChaser are the best songs on the cd. But all are above average solid metal butt kicking. Heart Of A Brave has an excellent chorus as wel. While I don't think this one is as melodic as Black Sun which i love, it still gets more player time. i didn't think Sacred illusion was the best song as others have stated but each his own. Sea Of Flames is so Judas Priest in its smash your face in kinda way that its sick.
285997
This is some really great metal here. This album is one of those rare albums that is consistent all the way through. It delivers good tunes from start to finish. Rob Johnson definitely shreds on the 7 string as he usually does. The songwriting on this album is definitely better than their last album Reality in Focus (which is still damn good too). I haven't enjoyed an album this much since The Odyssey from Symphony X.