This was a very tough list to make this year as there were quite a few solid releases that were all roughly at the same level of quality. Not a huge gap between numbers 5 and 1. Also not a huge gap with the albums that didn’t make the top five.
5. Spiritual Beggars – Sunrise to Sundown
Such an underrated band. Hard Rock at its best.
4. Charred Walls of the Damned – Creatures Watching Over the Dead
Ripper once again strikes gold.
3. Killswitch Engage – Incarnate
Another solid release.
2. Necromancing the Stone – Jewel of the Vile
Just wanted to add that I originally checked these guys out because of their name. I thought it was a funny reference to the two 1980 movies (Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these guys were way more than just a silly band name. Great musicianship.
1. Anthrax – For All Kings
Not quite as good as Worship Music, but still an unbelievable release. One of the few bands out there that seem to be getting better with age.
This is such a grossly underrated album. Unbelievably well written songs with some of Slash’s best guitar work. Most of these songs sound like they belong on a follow-up to Appetite for Destruction. Though Eric Dover does a great job on vocals, I think if Axl had sung on this album, it could have been packaged as a GNR release. It would have been huge. Regardless, a supergroup that consists of 3 GNR members (Slash, Matt Sorum, and Gilby Clarke), Mike Inez from AIC, and Eric Drover from Jellyfish is a must own for any hard rock fan. Beggars and Hangers On What do you want to be (live) Back and Forth again (acoustic)
In light of all the crap going on in the world over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself listening to some of my more aggressive CDs. One positive, is that I’ve “rediscovered” a couple of bands I hadn’t checked out in some time. At the top of the list is Chimaira. They released several solid albums before calling it quits. Unfortunately, there was only one album with Kevin Talley on drums.
Check out two of my favorites below.
Nothing Remains (breakdown at the 4:00 minute mark is awesome)
Salvation
Lacuna Coil is a cool band that I often forget about until I decide to bust out one of their older albums. Only after I listen to them do I realize that there is some repetitiveness to their sound which is probably why I don’t own more of their releases. Still, they’re worth checking out. Below is their biggest hit.
So last weekend, I introduced my kids to The Ramones. Based on the frequent changes of “Hey! Oh! Let’s go!” I’d say it was a success.
Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Sedated
Beat on the Brat
The new Anthrax is awesome….almost as good as Worship Music (I still slightly prefer the latter). Regardless, these last two albums might be my favorites with Belladonna in the band.
\m/
Breathing Lightning
Blood Eagle Wings
Spiritual Beggars is such a grossly underrated band. Michael Amott is best known for Arch Enemy and Carcass, but his work on these albums is equally as awesome.
Title Track
Hard Road
No Man’s Land
After a couple of listens, I can say pretty confidently that the new Killswitch Engage album is as awesome as I had hoped it would be. So far, these are my top 2 tracks.
Hate by Design
The Great Deceit
I'm a day late on my Music Monday post this week, but here are my Top Three Songs by Simon and Garfunkel.
As a side note, despite how awesome some of their music was/is, they also have a bunch of dudes (e.g. Feeling Groovy).
3. Cecilia
2. The Boxer
1. Sound of Silence
Man, this new Megadeth album is unbelievably good. Not a weak track on it.
The Threat is Real
Conquer or Die
That time of the year again . . . my top five albums released in 2015. This was probably the hardest list I’ve done since I started my blog. I could honestly shuffle most of these albums around depending on the day and my mood (except my number one). I mean that in a good way as they are really solid releases.
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Winery Dogs – Hot Streak
5. Trivium – Silence in the Snow
4. Armored Saint – Win Hands Down
3. Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls
2. Nightrage – The Puritan
1. Clutch – Psychic Warfare
It’s not all Rock/Metal here. The original is great, but this is one of the few cases where I prefer the cover.
The new Clutch album is awesome (naturally). Already one of my favorites.
X-Ray Visions
Son of Virginia
A very underrated band from the punk/glam era that few people ever talk about. Trash is a particular favorite of mine.
Personality Crisis (Live)
Trash (Live)
One of my favorite bands. Such an amazing album…one of the few ones I can listen to on repeat for several days and not really care.
Gyroscope
Dialogue with Stars (Instrumental)
Worlds Within the Margin
A band that no longer gets talked about enough. Probably my two favorite songs from them. . .
Live Forever
Don’t Look Back in Anger
Youtube has been a blessing as far as exposing my kids to great music. They would rather watch either an old music video or a live performance than just listening to a CD or a Slacker/Pandora station.
Queen has been heavy in the rotation as of late. Unbelievable band.
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