We Have The Power – The Top 25 Power And Power-Related Albums Of 2024

“You mock my pain!”

“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

We Have the Power is a unique pain. One of life’s good pains, fortunately—like soreness from some good exercise. It looms every year around August, and in the early stages I always look forward to mining the furthest depths in hopes of discovering the unexpected gems, the ridiculous surprises, and the flat-out horrors. Throw it all our way: the good, the bad and the ugly, because all of it is proof of life and evolution. Sure, in a lot of ways it’s a predictable quest, because many enduring bands are rather conservative in their ways (sigh), but there are always interesting side-adventures and unpredictable twists and turns, which is what keeps me coming back every year.

There are some… difficulties involved with We Have The Power, of course, most of which grapples with the sheer amount of music that needs to be assimilated. But even that isn’t the worst hardship to endure.

Figuring out where to draw hard lines with regard to genre bending, on the other hand… NOT ALWAYS EASY, because we (the royal we, and hopefully many of you) appreciate the bands that know how to hazard new frontiers. In the end, as long as it finds some way(s) to appeal to the fans at large—the dignified denizens that populate, say, ProgPower Fest, for example—then it will be considered for WHTP. In other words, expect to once again see everything from the symphonic, neoclassical, progressive, epic and hard rockin’ realms, and obviously sizable doses of pure Euro and classic USPM as well. A big, happy, energetic, optimistic, potent and, um, nerdy family that’s primed and ready to ignite our lives with advantageous adventurism. Sounds great, no? As predicted, life and times circa 2024 could really use an extra dose of hopefulness, and you will find that in most all of the albums listed below.

Before we get down to the nitty gritty, though, there’s one other unique difficulty that quickly needs to be addressed: Despite its strength and overall glory, you will not see Glyph’s mighty debut Honor Power Glory below. It was a great album that I proudly supported throughout the band’s indiegogo campaign, but the fallout with lead vocalist R.A. Voltaire (not looking to get into the particulars here) has tarnished things enough that I haven’t actually been able to listen to the album since the specifics of his sacking were fully brought to light. The band handled the unfortunate situation swiftly and strictly, and I applaud them for it, but catch me on the next release when someone new puts a voice to Glyph’s majestic form of power. Until then, I love the other guys in the band, and I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

THIS YEAR’S TRENDS!

First and foremost, one of the year’s more curious courses—something that rings true for all of metal this year, in my opinion—involved being exposed to a lot of ‘good not great’. Not to say what’s listed below falls short of great, but this is the first year in quite some time where my top three weren’t already pretty much decided before plowing into the rest of the 250+ albums. So, it was more of a scrum in 2024, and the battle for the last five spots was particularly brutal and came down to the finest details. If your choruses were too repetitive? OUT. Lyrics too embarrassing? SCRAM. Drummer plays like he drank too much gravy from the spigot at lunch? SAYONARA, CHUM. You get the picture.

BUMMER THING IN 2024: Power metal artists relying more on AI.

Of all the colorful branches of heavy metal, power might actually be embracing the influence of AI the most. And before we move forward, let’s just understand that calling all of this [waves arms at album covers] “artificial intelligence” is actually a stretch, as more often than not it’s just a case of a sophisticated hodgepodger / collager that relies entirely on swiping existing art without the artists’ permission. That’s a big ol’ can of worms to face, though, and this really isn’t the time or place to start digging at it. It’s just something I’d rather not see grow more prevalent than it already is, because it comes across as lazy and cheap, which I’m guessing most of the artists would rather not have attached to their hard work. That said, I also understand that not everyone has the means to find or pay actual artists, and no one wants to rely on the neighbor’s kid to draw a dragon eating a paladin for their album cover. Wait… that actually sounds amazing.

GOOD THING IN 2024: Fewer power metal releases with umpteen guest vocal spots.

GREAT THING IN 2024: Bands touring more in support of their releases.

HELL YEAH THING IN 2024: Bands releasing fewer albums that clock in at over an hour long.

Man, aren’t good things the greatest? Let’s keep focusing on the good. And if I could underscore one more positive trend in power metal for 2024, I would be remiss if I didn’t throw the TOTAL CHAMPION REIGNING SUPREME award to USPM / ‘power metal with strong trad metal influences’, because they showed up big this year. That’s not to say the other branches didn’t produce excellence, but the bands leaning more on the trad side of things were strongest across the board, and that’s definitely reflected in the list below.

Right! 34 countries across the globe provided 280 combatants for the ring, and the following list represents the upper crust of the total thrust. So, LET US GET TO THE POWERFUL POWERING.

And welcome to Last Rites list season!

THE TOP 3 EPS OF 2024

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3. Kronoceptor – Exordium

[Cover artwork: Designlara Artwork] It’s not often you stumble on a power metal band via a primary member’s involvement in another project that happens to play a technical form of death metal, but here we are. Inhuman Remnants and their Solipsis EP from 2018 was the recommendation, and it eventually lead me to the symphonic majesty of Kronoceptor by way of sharing a member by the name of Tommy Gough. My Solipsis experience was all well and good, but the discovery of Exordium very literally blew my head through the ceiling shortly after hitting play. A 17-minute ‘single’ packed to the gills with a tantalizing science fiction theme, loads of symphonic grandeur, drama out the ying-yang (without beating you over the head with smarminess), and a vocalist who kinda sounds like the lost cousin of our fallen brother Tim Aymar from Pharaoh? Buddy, I am in. I’m so in my head’s still spinning now six months later.

Style: Symphonic Power
Country: Australia
Sample: “Exordium”
Label: Independent
Release date: April 26
Bandcamp: Kronoceptor

2. Kiuas – Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus

[Cover artwork: Uncredited / likely AI] I’ll tell you what, it’s been a minute since a Kiuas release has swirled around my power sphere and refused to let go. Honestly, probably since the band’s 2005 debut full-length, the extraordinarily excellent The Spirit of Ukko. I wouldn’t go so far as to say what the band produced following that record was flat-out weak, but it did feel somehow less… fantastical. Less welcoming, and with a stronger emphasis placed on jumping right into your face. Maybe I just missed the ‘storytelling’ aspect of the band? Well, Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus certainly rights that ship again, as the now reunited (after closing up shop back in 2013) Kiuas deliver their first concept album (EP) with all the original members back in the game. The result: A notably immersive return to the old ways that will absolutely appeal to anyone else who’s been in a similar boat as me for the last two decades. In fact, Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus is such a rewarding slice of 18 minutes that I’m not even going to complain about the use of AI art for the cover… much.

Style: Back to the Business of Pure Power
Country: Finland
Sample: “From the Anchorage”
Label: Independent
Release date: March 1
Band website: Kiuas

1. Lovebites – Lovebites II

[Cover artwork: Uncredited / likely NOT AI] At some point Lovebites just has to stumble, no? Not today, though, my friends. Not today. Today, we are here to discuss how Lovebites II delivers yet another 25 minutes of peerless incendiary power that’s just relentless with its ability to blow heads right off our dang-ol’ shoulders. I understand why this band so often gets compared to compatriots Galneryus—both play the Euro style of power with an emphasis on a savant level of skill from every player—but Lovebites is less concerned about underscoring that neoclassical symphonic edge and more interested in just… yeah, throttling the listener with speed, heaviness and an unmatched level of explosive power, all of which is delivered in spades here. If you can find some way to attach a complaint to Lovebites II, you’re probably one of those people who irons their jeans.

Style: Incendiary Power
Country: Japan
Sample: “Soul Defender”
Label: Victor
Release date: August 28
Band website: Lovebites

THE TOP 25 FULL-LENGTHS OF 2024

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25. Cathubodua – Interbellum

[Cover artwork: Jelle Von Loo]

9.999 times out of 10, when faced with the prospect of a new symphonic power album that features a corseted woman behind the mic, one can expect the album to be: 1) As dramatic as the telenovela interpretation of the recent Janes Addiction reunion tour, and 2) Longer than a Pixar movie. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as symphonic metal’s intention very often underscores precisely those elements to great and exaggerated effect. But it’s refreshing when you come across something in this particular sphere that’s essentially the antithesis of that, which is precisely the case with Cathubodua and their sophomore effort Interbellum. To be clear, it’s not like Cathubodua is… undramatic, they just dial it down a bit, and vocalist Sara Vanderheyden balances her choral delivery with a very satisfying slice of heavy metal grit, which marches seamlessly alongside the epic and, at times, surprisingly aggressive storm laid down by the rest of the band. The result is a moderately more extreme-sounding symphonic power album that—say whaaaaaaa?—delivers the full narrative in the time it normally takes to listen to a Cro-Mags album. A deep and delectable win!

Style: Symphonic
Location: Belgium
Sample: “Amidst God”
Label: Massacre Records
Release date: February 23
Band website: Cathubodua

24. IronFlame – Kingdom Torn Asunder

[Cover artwork: Mike Hoffman]

USPM stalwarts IronFlame are nothing if not consistent, so while there certainly won’t be any awards thrown their direction for innovation throughout Kingdom Torn Asunder, you can always expect to find more than a few things from each full-length to bedazzle that dusty ol’ boiled leather tunic you pull out for special metal shows.

Full-length number five is a straightforward affair—no keyboard battles, fantasy samples or extravagant intros / interludes—but the likelihood that Crom hates bells & whistles is fairly high, so bonus points are awarded to anyone who appreciates an album that just gets right down to business and never really relents. Brass tacks: If a mid-paced collision between Manowar and Dawnbringer sounds like a great idea to you, and you dig guitar solo dueling as much as you do the sound of steel high-fiving steel, Kingdom Torn Asunder will definitely win your heart in 2024.

Style: Pure USPM
Location: USA
Sample: “Shadow of the Reaper”
Label: High Roller Records
Release date: July 26
Bandcamp: IronFlame

23. Nemedian Chronicles – The Savage Sword

[Cover artwork: Mario López]

Each and every year we get at least one or two challengers that step to the table with a sound that parallels Blind Guardian enough that you’d have to be a deaf guardian to not hear the similarities (swisssshhhh). Not the worst offense, as Blind Guardian obviously smokes, but it’s become predictable enough that we may want to start handing out a yearly Blind Guardian Achievement Award. Well, this year’s winner of the BGAA is France’s Nemedian Chronicles, a band that clearly owes a lot to their Vettern aus Deutschland, but they also (thankfully) manage to mix in a fair bit of other influences—splashes of Gamma Ray, touches of Grave Digger, et al.—to help distance The Savage Sword a bit. I would definitely say the record gains momentum as it gallops along, with notable highs hitting with the one-two punch of the title track and “Black Lotus – the Curse of Thog,” and it also makes excellent use of an abundance of mood and tempo shifts, both song-to-song and inside the album’s longer tracks. Plus, you know, we of the power metal community are fairly easy marks for virtually anything Robert E. Howard-related, so Nemedian Chronicles and The Savage Sword clearly have that going for them as well. Basically, if you if you don’t mind bands that hide their influences about as well as Igor hides his hump, you will find loads to love with this very worthy debut.

Style: Guardian Power
Location: France
Sample: “The Savage Sword”
Label: No Remorse Records
Release date: February 23
Band website: Nemedian Chronicles

22. Hyloxalus – Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole

[Cover artwork: Kory Torgerson]

What, um… What have we here? Is this another one of those albums that’ll end up condemning me to wear the ol’ “BIG FAT CHEATER” sandwich board for allowing its entry into the arena? Hyloxalus (named for a poisonous frog, which is amazing) tag their style as “symphonic power,” but Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole is an extremely different beast compared to your typical Kamelots, Nightwishes and Epicas. The album is indeed symphonic, with keys adding a touch of the requisite grandiosity to the corners, but it’s a tag that’s mostly warranted due to vocalist Nina Laderoute’s operatic approach. Again, not much can be considered ‘typical’ about Hyloxalus and their methods, but Landeroute sounds damn-near alien front to back on this record. Not quite Fifth Element / Diva Plavalaguna kind of alien, but more along the lines of… WE ARE BORG, thanks to the sinister tone that perpetually drifts in the backdrop. And the music that accompanies her is equally unique, traversing power, thrash and prog realms with turns on a dime. I realize this sort of out of left field, but I can’t help but equate my overall reaction to Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole to the first few times I listened to fellow Canadians DBC and their terrifically unique Universe album back in 1989: “I don’t really know how to categorize what I’m hearing, but I love what I’m hearing, and I look forward to returning to what I’m hearing for the foreseeable future.”

Style: Errrr, uhhhhh
Location: Canada
Sample: “Undead in Ward 6”
Label: Independent
Release date: January 26
Bandcamp: Hyloxalus

21. Vision Divine – Blood and Angels’ Tears

[Cover artwork: Augusto Silva]

I suppose if you’re blessed enough to be granted an afterlife as an angel with access to swords, you’re probably not going look like James Corden after mowing through five rows of Chips Ahoy, no? Seriously, when was the last time you saw this many chiseled pecs on a power metal album cover? Okay, probably like ten minutes, thanks to power metal’s fondness for making us feel as if we’re about to step into a romance novel. And that’s reinforced further by the fact that Vision Divine hails from Italy. Easy, now: It’s a compliment coming from a country where the average citizen opts for a wheat bun for a foot-long sandwich because of its “health benefits.”

Point being, the cover and title of Vision Divine’s 9th full-length kiiiiind of makes me fear where these angels tread, because I can’t tell if this is supposed to be a romance story or if said angels are pissed off about the fact that I also own Deicide albums. In a weird way, though, the cover is somewhat fitting for what Vision Divine delivers here: Kinda churchy, notably glorious, and with just enough brawn to separate limbs from torso. The band does bring the heaviness, and they certainly know how to tack a potent form of aggressiveness to the blueprint, even if they sound like they do so with the first three buttons of their shirts undone. The leads—guitar and keyboard—on this record are (once again) nothing short of inspiring, and vocalist Ivan Giannini is so fricken good at being a vocalist that my own vocal chords have decided to protest because they’re mostly used to ask Siri where the closest burrito shop happens to be. Bummerville: Giannini has apparently very suddenly and sadly announced that his is leaving the band, so weep the blood and tears of all the angels whilst letting Blood and Angels’ Tears wash over you time and time again.

Style: Unbuttoned Shirt Power
Location: Italy
Sample: “Preys”
Label: Scarlet Records
Release date: September 20
Bandcamp: Vision Divine

20. Savage Oath – Divine Battle

[Cover artwork: Adam Burke]

Full transparency: I walked away from initial spins of Divine Battle a touch disappointed. Yes, I realize it’s strange to start a blurb for an album that’s managed to hit a best of list with a negative point, but that jot of disappointment is rooted in the fact that the band’s previous 2023 demo handily whooped my ass, and Divine Battle didn’t quite have the same effect right from the gate. One of the principal obstructions to this ‘full ass whooping’ is a consequence of having the one and only Dan Swanö master the demo and not the full-length, which results in the latter feeling a little less vigorous with the riffs. That being said, it’s not like Divine Battle sounds as if it fell out of someone’s ass: There’s a clear and walloping bass presence up and down these seven hymns, the leads light up the sky like a nighttime comet, and Brendan Radigan’s voice sounds, of course, as top-shelf as one could ever hope to hear in our genre today. There’s just a pinch less punch behind those riffs, and that takes away from the overall Savage Oath potential—a potential that, honest to goodness, doesn’t even have a visible ceiling from where I’m currently standing. (Full transparency part deux: I am lying down.)

In summation, Divine Battle is one of the year’s best albums, but based on the strength of the demo, I expected it to walk away with this year’s crown. NEXT TIME, if the band lets me live long enough to hear full-length number two.

Style: USPM
Location: USA
Sample: “Night of the Knight”
Label: Postmortem Apocalypse
Release date: March 15
Bandcamp: Savage Oath

19. Orden Ogan – The Order of Fear

[Cover artwork: Dan Goldsworthy]

At this point in their career, Orden Ogan always manages to straddle a pretty thin line between making a list like this and… well, waiting until next time to take another very practical shot. They endure as one of the more consistent pure Euro power metal bands currently kicking about, but personally, I prefer the material that underscores a little more darkness and classic heavy metal heaviness, which is precisely what’s on tap with their ninth full-length, The Order of Fear. There’s still plenty of unduly honeyed catchiness and bright melody to satisfy the sweetest of teeth, but it feels like there’s a little more chew to The Order of Fear—a juiciness that leaves a little blood in the mouth, I guess you might say. The result sounds like a peculiar midpoint between a band like, um, Orden Ogan and the more modern face of Amon Amarth. Is The Order of Fear destined to top your tippy-top favorites of 2024 if you’re not the ultimate O.O. toady? I’m guessing not. Will the songs hook you enough to look forward to returning whenever the Ogan mood strikes your heartiest of hearts? Yoooouuuu bet.

Style: Pure Power
Location: Germany
Sample: “The Order of Fear”
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Release date: July 5
Band website: Orden Ogan

18. Greyhawk – Thunderheart

[Cover artwork: Angela “GrimmuzA” Grymuza]

One of the things I truly appreciate about a record like Thunderheart is how it manages to exist inside this unique sphere where theatrical USPM realizes that not all hair metal sucked. I equally enjoy how the band’s method of cramming seemingly disparate things together ends up reminding me of the days when my friend and I used to mix up the parts of a few vehicle models and then build some highly glued Mad Maxed Thunderfuck Truck that we’d then take out into the woods to blow up. For their part, Greyhawk’s Thunderfuck Truck is a really fun mish-mosh of Omen, classic Falconer and… I dunno… Girls Girls Girls, and this time I definitely do not want to blow up the results.

Sadly, this is the last time Greyhawk will sound just like this. Well, probably, because vocalist Rev Taylor has decided to hang up his power helm in favor of literal opera pursuits, and his voice is a huge part of Thunderheart’s success. No need to panic, though, as Greyhawk is thundering forward with a new vocalist, and there’s really no reason to not expect great things to come because this collective understands how to write catchy, energizing power that’s as melodic as the summer days are long.

Style: Theatrical Party Power
Location: USA
Sample: “Rock & Roll City”
Label: Fighter Records
Release date: April 2
Bandcamp: Greyhawk

17. Concerto Moon – Back Beyond Time

[Cover artwork: Yutaka Kawase]

I don’t mean to be needlessly rude, but there’s an avenue out there for some sort of thesis that explores the inverse relationship between bad artwork and kick-ass music that forever seems to flourish inside the realm of Japanese power metal. “ALL WHO JUDGE BOOKS BY THEIR COVER, DO NOT ENTRY” is a phrase that comes to mind, and as you can tell by the full caps, it’s shouted with great enthusiasm. Crux of the point: The artwork for Back Beyond Time kinda blows, but at least it’s not AI? I hope? Thankfully, the music exploding behind that golden blowout more than makes up for the assault on the eyes, due in a large part to sole original member Norifumi Shima’s everlasting devotion to producing a form of power that begs the question, “What if Yngwie had just admitted that he listened to Ritchie Blackmore instead of Paganini 24/7?” Bonus points to Concerto Moon for continuing to emphasize THE SCOOT in those riffs, something they’ve pretty much managed to do across the board for all sixteen (!!!) of their full-lengths. P.S. Holy crap, a Japanese power metal album that’s on bandcamp!

Style: Neoclassical Power
Location: Japan
Sample: “Story of My Life”
Label: Walküre Records
Release date: May 1
Bandcamp: Concerto Moon

16. Achelous – Tower of High Sorcery

[Cover artwork: Silvana Massa]

Achelous’s brand of power metal is a bit of genre bender, but that only serves to strengthen the band’s uniqueness when stacked against the rest of this year’s contenders. The power part of the equation is notably epic with symphonic touches, but there are numerous instances where Tower of High Sorcery showcases a very doomy inclination, which immediately conjures comparisons to, say, the latest (and very fine) return from Russia’s Scald, or certainly the epic doom strut from a band like Malta’s totally under-appreciated Forsaken, and also the equally underrated Memory Garden. Anyway, the marriage between epic doom and power isn’t exactly new, but Achelous’s decision to mix in a strong nod to the latter era of Iron Maiden, particularly Dance of Death, gives Tower of High Sorcery a pretty unique footprint. But yes, you need to be down with deceleration, which might be a sticking point for some. Those willing to jump in will be rewarded by endless hooks, though, and I particularly love how well Achelous manages the storytelling aspect that’s so often prevalent in this style of power. Additionally, guest vocalist Anastasia Megalokonomou sounds flipping amazing.

Style: Doomy Power
Location: Greece
Sample: “Dragon Wings”
Label: No Remorse Records
Release date: March 22
Bandcamp: Achelous

15. Unleash the Archers – Phantoma

[Cover artwork: Dusty Peterson]

{Presses ‘send’ on brand new video and goes to bed}

{Wakes up to the sound of villagers burning down the house}

Where were you the day Unleash the Archers decided to wreck the internet by releasing the video for “Green & Glass?”

In case you remain unaware (is that possible if you’re reading this list?), the vid in question used “AI models trained on the licensed artwork of Bo Bradshaw” in an effort to illustrate and expand on the album’s themes that explore artificial intelligence and a sentient AI protagonist sorting out the shabby messes left behind by we somewhat sentient humans. An interesting idea that… didn’t really work, as the models that were intended to only borrow / collage Bradshaw’s work didn’t really end up doing so. WHAT’S UP, EVERY SCIENCE FICTION HORROR STORY EVER. Suffice to say, tempers exploded, and after the dust finally settled and most of us finally gave Phantoma a proper listen or twenty, we suddenly realized,“Hey, this is a pretty goldarn good album!” YES, ALL OF US. YOU OUT THERE, AND ME IN HERE.

Phantoma is quite a good record because it’s largely Unleash the Archers being Unleash the Archers. It’s not as pop experimental as Abyss, and it’s not quite as epic and explosive as Apex (granted, not much really is), but it’s a bright, aggressive when it needs to be aggressive, and Brittney Slayes continues to prove she’s one of the best vocalists out there in metal today. I happen to think the album starts to drift a bit in the second half, but even an 8/10 UtA record is something that’s undoubtedly worthy of celebration.

Style: Pure Power with Very Natural Intelligence
Location: Canada
Sample: “Green & Glass”
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: May 10
Bandcamp: Unleash the Archers

14. Seven Spires – A Fortress Called Home

[Cover artwork: Tuomas Välimaa]

I assume there are at least a handful of readers out there who are wondering how in the blue bonk an album like A Fortress Called Home even makes it to a list like this. I get it: Would Seven Spires circa 2024 even be in the power conversation if they’d never released the very excellent Emerald Seas back in 2020? PPPFFFffffffudge if I know. Point of fact: At this point you’re more likely to get a high-five for introducing a Dimmu Borgir fan to A Fortress Called Home than, say, a Kamelot fan. Is that possible? It seems possible. Basically, the Seven Spires sound continues to push boundaries further and further into more extreme kingdoms, but there’s still enough of a relation here to believe the band sprouted from a progressive symphonic power seed before everyone fell victim to some force that turned their blood black.

Confession: Seven Spires sort of lost me with 2021’s Gods of Debauchery, so I tempered my expectations rolling into full-length number four. Somewhere around the 5-minute mark of “Love’s Souvenir,” however, I found myself completely swept up in the full and tremendous drama of this album’s dark and twisting narrative. Yes, I think the record could use a touch of editing when an early number like “Impossible Tower” slugs along for 6 minutes, but there always manages to be something dressing up the corners that keeps me pinned to the action, and I will always appreciate the fact that every Seven Spires player gets time in the spotlight, INCLUDING the bass player, which seems rare for this style of metal.

Yes indeedy, vocalist Adrienne Cowan continues to dramatically take center stage (odd little side note: I would be less enthusiastic if the clean and harsh vocals were split between different members), but it’s truly the full Seven Spires collective that’s responsible for making A Fortress Called Home one of the more remarkable extreme progressive symphonic records of 2024 that—and I will indeed die on this hill—continues to find unique ways to connect with the power community.

Style: Enthrone Power Triumphant
Location: USA
Sample: “Architect of Creation”
Label: Frontiers Records
Release date: June 21
Band website: Seven Spires

13. InnerWish – Ash of Eternal Flame

[Cover artwork: Giannis Nakos]

InnerWish? Allow me to tell you about my inner wish. Mad Men’s Joan Harris and I are sharing an ice cream cone when our clothes sudd… Wait, am I… typing out loud again?

Hey! I’m not sure you guys are aware of this, but by and large Greece really knows how to do heavy metal. There are a number of reasons for this wondrous truth, but one of the key factors is certainly rooted in the fact that Greek bands so very often remember to »respect the roots«, no matter which branch of metal is being pursued. Consequently, there’s generally not a lot of fucking around with extravagant decoration, and you can always expect: 1) RIFFS, and 2) Some form of sweet, sweet melody. Kind of a given with power metal, no? One would certainly hope so. Melody? Generally never an issue. But I don’t know how many times I’ve walked away from a modern power metal record wondering WHERE THE LIVING HELL ARE THE RIFFS. InnerWish understands this problem, so they generally pack their albums with two or ten times the recommended dosage of riffs, and then they pile more riffs on top of that just for good measure. That’s Ash of Eternal Flame in a tidy and beautiful nutshell.

In truth, this record would’ve landed even higher on this list, but the band would do themselves a serious favor by remembering that less is often more—no one really needs a power metal record to reach over the hour mark in 2024. Weird to complain about too much goodness, yes? Yet here I am… again.

Style: Pure Power
Location: Greece
Sample: “Sea of Lies”, featuring Hansi Kürsch!
Label: Reining Phoenix Music
Release date: November 8
Band website: InnerWish

12. Lords of Black – Mechanics of Perdacity

[Cover artwork: Felipe Machado Franco]

If you’re here reading this list, you’re probably aware of Frontiers Records and their penchant for chucking darts at their roster list in hopes of conjuring a new band that will catch the ears of the power / prog / hard rock elite. This rarely produces anything most of us would consider offensive, but it does seem to result in a number of one-and-done projects and stacks of AOR upstarts that sound pretty dated. Not the worst transgression, obviously, but it takes something pretty special to truly stand out amongst the herd. Oh, hello, Lords of Black. What perfect timing for your grand entrance!

You know these guys, right? Spearheaded by principal songwriter / guitarist Tony Hernando and Frontiers Records permanent elite status member Ronnie Romero? In general, Lords of Black is in the business of consistency, and that consistency mostly involves the band producing good power metal that typically fits within the Frontiers Records time-tested canon. This album, though—this album feels a little more special. Sure, Romero’s track record (which includes time spent in Rainbow) is impressive enough that he could probably submit 40 minutes of nothing but him yelling at the TV during The Great British Baking Show and Frontiers would release it, but he and Hernando definitely decided to dig extra deep to produce something that just flat-out kicks ass. There’s just so much ground covered here: Power, prog / power (the 11-minute “A World That’s Departed” is fantastic), hard rock and some radio-friendly material that—holy fricken moly—somehow doesn’t sound AOR, like the wonderfully catchy “Obsession of the Mind” and “Can We Be Heroes Again,” the latter of which almost sounds like something the Screaming Trees would release. Bottom line: Mechanics of Perdacity just smokes, and this might be the best thing Romero and Hernando have attached their name on to date.

Style: Pure Power
Location: Spain
Sample: “Can We Be Heroes Again”
Label: Frontiers Records
Release date: March 15
Band website: Lords of Black

11. Sonata Arctica – Clear Cold Beyond

[Cover artwork: Niko Anttila / Eskatomega Art]

“Sonata Arctica is back!”

How many times have you read a sentence similar to that and wondered, “W… Were Sonata Arctica ever gone?”

Maybe it just feels like the band occasionally warps out of our universe because of all the knuckleballs Tony Kakko seems to love throwing, but they have, in fact, always been around (since the beginning of time!), with the four years between Clear Cold Beyond and Talviyö being the longest stretch between full-lengths.

Okay, true, “back” is probably intended to insinuate that the band is “back to their old and generally preferred antics,” which equates to a style of punchy power that essentially put Finland on the power metal map. For the most part, Kakko’s experimentation over the years has been met with… mixed results, so hearing a record like Clear Cold Beyond that keeps the eccentricities to a minimum (not gone, though) does feel strangely fresh, and having sat with the record for the better part of the last nine months, I think most of us would be comfortable stating the following: If you love the classic era of Sonata Arctica, you will find oh so much to love about Clear Cold Beyond.

Maybe you were hoping the album would land higher? Well, it might have if the momentum set out from the jump carried all the way through the second half, but I do think the album’s highest moments—which, admittedly, are pretty bloody high—hit with the opening foray of “First in Line,” “California” (catchiest power metal song of the year?) “Shah Mat” (WONDERFULLY moody and engrossing), “Dark Empath” and “Cure for Everything” (that riff around 1:30!) Still, the fact that the boys can still step up to the plate and deliver a record this energetic, bright and gratifying feels magnificent. So… yeah, welcome back?

Style: Sonata Arctica Is Back Power!
Location: Finland
Sample: “California”
Label: Atomic Fire Records
Release date: March 8
Band website: Sonata Arctica

10. Galneryus – The Stars Will Light the Way

[Cover artwork: Who the hell knows]

Are… Are we really planning on complaining about “Galneryus on cruise control?” Are we? I mean, clearly we are, as that’s precisely the theme that continues to ratchet up whenever a new album drops from Syu & crew lately. But does it really make a lick of sense to grumble about incendiary power like this that—oh my word, okay, yes—invariably sounds extremely “Galneryus?” Do you also complain about receiving consistently good head? Do you secretly wish your next pizza would taste more like how a burning diaper smells? Does it really chap your rear when your favorite show doesn’t throw in a season where two characters endlessly tussle with the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope? WELL THEN TAKE A BREAK FROM GOODNESS, SOLDIER. Walk away from consistent and virtuous glory and realize that head and great pizza continue to occur while you’re out there watching reruns of Friends alone on your crappy couch. Then, once you realize how silly you’re being, thou shalt return to persistent magnificence with a newfound appreciation.

The Stars Will Light the Way is yet another very fine Galneryus album—BIG, FLASHY, LAVISH and HEROIC to the tenth power—and I very much appreciate its subtle variations, like the hard-rockin’ kick of “Lost in the Darkness,” or the weirdly enjoyable ballad “Crying for You,” which throws in just enough Dokken to save the day. Furthermore, it’s been a good long while since Galneryus has ended a record on a three-song high as lofty as “Voice in Sadness” (wow), “I Believe” (double wow) and “Life Will Go On.”

Keep pounding Galneryus into my veins, please.

Style: Galneryus On Beautiful Cruise Control
Location: Japan
Sample: “The Reason We Fight”
Label: Warner Music Japan
Release date: September 25
Band website: Galneryus

9. Fellowship – The Skies Above Eternity

[Cover artwork: Péter Sallai]

I find it mildly amusing that the small amount of feedback I’ve seen so far regarding album number deuce from this UK crew mostly deals with the impression that The Skies Above Eternity is a darker affair compared to the band’s extraordinarily well-received debut. Yyyyyyeeeaaaaaahhh, I suppose it is a bit darker, but it’s also darker in a similar way that the film Labyrinth is darker than, say, The Neverending Story: A smidge darker in overall tone, but there’s still puppets flopping about.

What is certain: Fellowship has managed to avoid the sophomore slump, as everything you enjoyed about The Saberlight Chronicles can be found in spades swirling and dashing about inside The Skies Above Eternity. Depending on how you look at it, though, that could also be the record’s biggest flaw. In other words, Fellowship isn’t being very adventurous with album number two. But hey, if your debut lands with the impact of an anvil to the top of Wile E. Coyote’s dome, why fix what ain’t broke, right? Consequently, the record still manages to hit a lot of very high highs: The vocals are still great (and still very ‘Broadway lights’), the leads are still impossibly precise and fiery, and full uplifting glory continues to be executed with a surgeon’s precision. Plus, The Skies Above Eternity does the deed in a very tidy 42 minutes, and it does so without dragging a soppy ballad draped in chiffon into the narrative.

Bottom line: The Skies Above Eternity is a top-shelf follow-up to the über splashy Saberlight Chronicles, but I’m guessing I’m not the only one hoping album number three finds interesting ways to broaden the adventure.

Style: Theatrically Caped Power
Location: United Kingdom
Sample: “Hold Up Your Hearts”
Label: Scarlet Records
Release date: November 22
Bandcamp: Fellowship

8. Triton Project – Messenger’s Quest

[Cover artwork: Disturbing Grace Design (probably AI)]

I haven’t seen many (if any) people attach the ‘power’ tag to Triton Project’s very impressive debut, and I understand why: This is as proggy as a progressive metal album could ever hope to prog without Frank Zappa floating through on a cloud with a 32-stringed guitar strapped to his back. But a definable power appeal still exists here, both in the way Messenger’s Quest draws comparisons to a band like Symphony X and in the way the album transports the listener to fantasy realms stacked with witches, demons and queens. So, definitely stronger on the progressive end of the spectrum, but with the added bonus of something akin to the early Fates Warning narrative to broaden the allure.

Do you get itchy when halfwits like me describe albums as “ambitious?” Well, when a debut record offers up two songs clocking in at over 20-minutes and another reaching well past 10-minutes, “ambitious” is a rather obvious descriptor. I would worry more about that if the chief architect behind Triton Project wasn’t a piano player, though. Wait… why? Because of a classical music connection? Symphonic structure? Sure, let’s go with that. Of course, I have no idea if this project’s mastermind, Tanpaway “Title” Suttipong, sits around wondering how to work Chopin into heavy metal, but Messenger’s Quest definitely delivers that sort of vision where a winding, crescendoing, kaleidoscopic sense of adventure is underscored. And Title’s choice to farm out the guitar / vocal roles to a proven progressive player like Sean Thompson (Odd Logic) certainly bolsters the boldness of this elaborate voyage.

Innovation Award
Style: Progressive As Balls
Location: Thailand
Sample: “The Key”
Label: Independent
Release date: February 23
Bandcamp: Triton Project

7. DGM – Endless

 [Cover artwork: Travis Smith]

Italy’s DGM has a habit of straddling the lines when it comes to We Have the Power. That straddling has a bit to do with the fact that their releases occasionally fall just outside the top 10% of the year’s total accumulation, but more often it’s because what they produce ends up being too proggy to sneak through the door. In truth, the power element has increased as the band continues to endure the years (without a single original member), but album number twelve actually reverses the trend back in the prog direction, making its appearance here even more puzzling. Well, as I’m sure you’re now aware: I don’t really care. I mean, I do care, but there’s just too much good going on inside Endless to let DGM pass, and there’s still just enough of a Symphony X / Pagan’s Mind-styled prog / power touch that you CANNOT BURN ME AT THE STAKE for allowing its inclusion.

If you’re at all familiar with DGM, you know to expect a strong Dream Theater influence, both in song structure and especially in the way singer Mark Basile manages to conjure images of James LaBrie. What’s new in 2024, however, is the band’s decision to incorporate piles and piles of progressive music from across several genres and multiple eras, and that really adds to Endless’s depth and durability. It still sounds like DGM, but fragments of Kansas, Styx, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Jethro Tull, Threshold and even Opeth color the corners, and you can definitely tell the band had a grand ol’ time figuring out how best to incorporate new gear such as flutes, violins and hammond organ.

“WAIT, OPETH,” roared the excited masses

Hey, if I’m lyin’ I’m fryin’—check out “The Wake,” and prepare to high-five me for the full duration of its stately 7.5 minutes.

Style: Progressive
Location: Italy
Sample: “Solitude”
Label: Frontiers Records
Release date: October 18
Band website: DGM

6. Sunburst – Manifesto

[Cover artwork: HALO Creative Design Lab]

We Have the Power didn’t exist back in 2016, but an earlier interpretation of it did, and it included Sunburst’s killer debut inside the top 10 that year. That was largely based on the merits of guitarist Gus Drax, who first snared my attention because of his stellar work on Paradox’s excellent Pangea, also landing in 2016. Here’s a snippet of what I had to say about Fragments of Creation back then: “Occasional tenderness and orange juice brand name aside, Sunburst’s Fragments of Creation admirably balances punch & pleasantness into an impressive debut that should ping on any fan of the genre’s radar.”

Well, here we are 8 years later and the biggest change in the Sunburst camp appears to be… A new bassist. Well, that and the fact that the band has managed to take that successful design from 2016 and pushed it to beautiful new heights. So, yes, everything a person could have loved about Fragments is still present and accounted for on Manifesto, but it’s all expanded and splendidly refined. The hooks hit deeper, the moods are more diverse, the intricacies are more… intricate, and Dax has clearly NOT spent the four years between releases using his guitar as a coat rack (my Lord, the leads on this record).

Bottom line: Manifesto admirably balances punch & pleasantness into an impressive sophomore release that should ping on any fan of the genre’s radar, but this time TO ELEVEN.

Style: Progressive Power
Location: Greece
Sample: “Samaritan”
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Release date: June 14
Bandcamp: Sunburst

5. HammerFall – Avenge the Fallen

[Cover Artwork: Samwise Didier]

I’ll tell you what, it sure is strange hearing death metal and industrial elements folded into the HammerFall blueprint in 2024. Once that settles, however, Avenge the Fallen really starts to hit its stride.

[falls down several hundred flights of stairs].

I AM SORRY, I HAVE LIED. Yes, lucky number thirteen from this ageless Gothenburg quintet sounds exactly as you might imagine: LIKE FRICKEN HAMMERfALL. But Avenge the Fallen finds its way to this year’s list because it manages to do HammerFall better than HammerFall has managed to do HammerFall for about, ohhhh, 24 years. Best thing since Renegade? You bet. And some might even argue it’s the best record the band has done since their seminal debut. How? Why? What the hell did they eat for breakfast before heading into the studio?? Beats the hell outta me, pardners. Maybe they all just simultaneously found a lost and crumpled lax / 1k kroner in their leather pants and rode into the studio in the tip-toppiest of moods. Whatever the reason, Avenge the Fallen delivers the flippin’ goods, and those goods equate to catchy, bright, anthemic odes to crushing your doldrums into dust. You know, like classic, kick-ass HammerFall. Glory to the brave!

Style: HammerFall
Location: Sweden
Sample: “The End Justifies”
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release date: August 9
Band website: HammerFall

4. New Horizon – Conquerors

[Cover artwork: Eric Philippe]

“Speed management… G-Force… LET’S RUN IT.”

{hurtles down a steep hill on a dangerous homemade luge and straight into an Apalache camper}

In case you’re unfamiliar with Criterion Collection films, that’s a vital snippet from Hot Rod, the classic 2007 biopic about an aspiring stuntman named Rod Kimble. Rod doesn’t follow trends, because his life is 100% governed by his own unique vision, and that vision requires a soundtrack that’s as big, bold and blaring as the stunts he’s attempting. Are you gonna jump every van from the local Pull-A-Part with the bloody Arctic Monkeys as your soundtrack? Not if you want to stay out of the ER, you’re not. This is where New Horizon comes into the picture. A record like Conquerors packs all the power, pluck and glory a person could ever hope to experience as a soundtrack to bold (possibly reckless) endeavors, and the fact that the two primary New Horizon members—Jona Tee of Crowne / H.E.A.T. and Nils Molin of Dynazty—have years of experience with infusing a strong sense of AOR into a metal blueprint only serves to amplify the necessary OOMPH that begs these songs to peel out from a huge arena. And speaking of bold, the decision to close the album with an absolutely magnificent cover of Iron Maiden’s “Alexander the Great?” Well, not exactly ‘first human to eat an oyster’ bold, but it is close!

Style: pAORwer
Location: Sweden
Sample: “Daimyo”
Label: Frontiers Records
Release date: June 14
Band website: New Horizon

3. War Dogs – Only the Stars Are Left

[Cover artwork: The Knight at the Crossroad by Victor Vasnetsov]

War Dogs is a young band from Elche, Spain that sounds as if the members came into heavy metal listening to The Right Stuff™, then mined for The Right Stuff™ when it came time to dig a little deeper into the underground, and are now playing The Right Stuff™ when it finally comes time to deliver their own goods. Now, whether or not they managed to watch the film The Right Stuff somewhere in-between all that goodness seems somehow unlikely, given their clear fondness for decidedly un-spacey things such as halberds and war horses, but I could of course be wrong. (Side note: Halberds & War Horses in Space would be a fine name for a power metal album.)

Right… So, what exactly is The Right Stuff™ as it relates to Only the Stars Are Left? Well, it basically amounts to loads of classic USPM in the style of Manowar and Virgin Steele, which then leads to more epic hammerers such as DoomSword, Crescent Shield and IronSword, and then finally concludes with War Dogs launching an ideal amalgamation of all those bands into something that’s as EPIC and POWERFUL as an Eric Adams screeeaaaam from Into Glory Ride.

I would say Only the Stars Are Left is a fairly straightforward affair, but War Dogs does a really great job of varying the pacing and atmosphere across the full 48 minutes. Plus, the leads top to bottom here are nothing short of amazing.

Gus Grissom: “Fuckin’ A, bubba.”

Style: USPM with The Right Stuff™
Location: Spain
Sample: “Riders of the Storm”
Label: Fighter Records
Release date: October 15
Bandcamp: War Dogs

2. Warlord – Free Spirit Soar

[Cover artwork: Velio Josto]

‘Twouldn’t feel right to kick off this blurb without quickly addressing the controversy surrounding the release of Free Spirit Soar.

Synopsis: What would Warlord be without guitarist William J “Destroyer” Tsamis, who very unfortunately passed away on May 13th of 2021. The roundabout answer is… Sorta nothing? Tsamis was the driving force behind the band and the principal songwriter, HOWEVER… co-founder / drummer Mark “Thunder Child” Zonder (A-Z, ex-Fates Warning and too many other bands to mention) was also there from day one, and without his gumption concerning business acumen and networking, Warlord likely would never have reached the public at large. In other words, this was very much a partnership, and I am of the opinion that Zonder’s presence here makes up for the fact that, you know, we’re addressing a ‘new’ Warlord album that, outside of some Tsamis guitar work tastefully blended in from old demos, does not actually involve our beloved “Destroyer.” So, yes, very much a case of “this is an endearing tribute to the man,” and I wholeheartedly believe Tsamis would be extremely pleased with the way Zonder and crew addressed what was left of his residual work.

I… sort of hated the idea of this album at first, because it didn’t seem possible for this interpretation of Warlord to recapture the sacred magic of Deliver Us, a release I hold close enough to my heart to include it alongside Queensrÿche and Sortilège as the holy trinity of All-Time Great trad EPs. Furthermore, I was upset at the prospect of hearing anything Warlord-related without the Tsamis name credited for all the moving parts. Again, to be clear, these songs are largely pieced together from stacks of unfinished Tsamis demo material, but welding it all together and coming up with lyrics and vocal melodies (outside of the Lordian Guard songs that bookend the record) was primarily done by vocalist / producer Giles Lavery, who surely deserves some sort of medal for his efforts. Suffice to say, the fact that this record exists is testament to a lot of hard work from a number of dedicated Tsamis friends / admirers, but my bullheadedness still won out for months.

Then one day, the album’s second track “The Rider” hit me like freight train—mowing me over with its playful melody and hammering home the notion that it will ultimately stand as my favorite power metal tune of 2024. A unique form of joy is attached to the hook of “The Rider.” It’s not quite pop, but that keyboard lick is dangerously infectious, and it stuck to what’s left of my brain matter for weeks on end. Boom: The record firmly planted a foot in the door, and I have since found myself very much enjoying the slicing, dicing and absorbing of the remaining songs on a wonderfully personal level. The keyboards in particular, and the way they engage with Eric Juris’ superb guitar work, really capture an elder energy that makes the record feel as if the band ripped it from the room of a Warlord freak circa 1984. The full journey is dark and mystical, but the ever-present tunefulness Tsamis so thoroughly mastered is a constant salvation, and now I sit here wondering why on earth I waited so long to allow myself to enjoy it.

In the end, given some rather challenging circumstances, I think these fellows nailed the intention behind Free Spirit Soar. That being said, if they decide to move forward for whatever reason, I do hope they modify the name in some way.

Soar free, Bill! You are missed!

Style: USPM ELITE
Location: USA
Sample: “Conquerors”
Label: High Roller Records
Release date: May 10
Bandcamp: Warlord

1. Saber Tiger – Eliminated

[Cover artwork: Nooooo clue]

I am a ‘physical product or GTFO’ sort of music fan that was dragged kicking and screaming into the digital world via a slow acculturation at the hands of promos and bandcamp. Now that I’m here and have taken the next leap into a premium streaming service, I cannot believe it’s taken this long for me to embrace the sheer convenience of it all. Yes, I still vastly prefer the haptic satisfaction of an LP / CD / cassette, but before jumping into Apple Music I never could’ve hoped to explore, dissect and digest the vastly under-appreciated (here in the US) metal scene from Japan because, by and large, Japanese bands—or rather, their labels—have never seemed to care that much about reaching these United States. As a result, I have spent decades watching long-standing bands such as Anthem, X Japan, Dead End and Saber Tiger from the outside and wondering if I would love them as much as I do the handful of Japanese acts that somehow DID find their way into US bins 30+ years ago: Loudness, E-Z-O and (perhaps surprisingly) Genocide Nippon.

All of this is my way of pointing out that Saber Tiger’s Eliminated probably wouldn’t be on this list if I didn’t have a streaming service, and that, my friends, is a shame. Japanese metal largely sidesteps bandcamp, and very few distros (if any) bother carrying physical copies. Case in point: If I wanted a physical copy of Eliminated, which I do, my only choice Stateside is to swallow my pride and pay Jeff Fricken Bezos $44 for the privilege of having the CD hurled at my front porch. A quick look at Discogs reveals three CD copies available from the same distro for $88, $94 and $104. That’s… Frustrating, especially considering the quality of the material in question, which is obviously the reason we’re here.

Why should we care about Eliminated? I suppose that answer largely depends on which flavor of power typically blows your hair back these days. Bouncy Euro power this is not. Epic dragon-slaying power is also a NOPE. And despite the ‘progressive metal’ tag on Metal Archives, Saber Tiger is a distant cry from bands such as Kamelot and Dream Theater, or even classics like Fates Warning and Queensrÿche. What Saber Tiger is, however, is a wonderful amalgamation of classic US power in the vein of Armored Saint, Chastain and Fifth Angel, filtered through the Japanese scene’s penchant for bending the rules via a virtuosic approach to playing. The 10¢ review: If you love classic metal riffs and leads like I love classic metal riffs and leads, and you also love it when those classic metal riffs and leads are gilded in power’s predilection for enthusiastically pounding VIRTUOUS ENERGY into our overworked veins, there is no reason you shouldn’t love Eliminated with your entire heart.

Akihito Kinoshita!!! He’s been the driving force behind Saber Tiger for over four decades, and the man has not lost an ounce of his six-stringed vigor in all that time. Honestly, I don’t understand how his name isn’t known as well as so many of the other guitar greats of metal that have braved decades of playing, but it probably has something to do with the lack of exposure discussed above. Kinoshita plays the sort of leads you’d expect George Lynch to fire off while straddling an active volcano, and he riffs just as hard as fellow Japanese maestros Syu and Midori Tatematsu / Miyako Watanabe. Fittingly, he surrounds himself with a revolving door of top-shelf musicians who always end up matching his level of play and dynamism. The 2024 result: 54 minutes of largely high octane bangers packed to the rafters with leads, hooks and a perhaps surprising amount of blitz, and done so in a way that: 1) manages to showcase every player’s top-shelf skill, and 2) explores classic power in a manner that allows all sorts of other styles to embellish the corners. So, expect thrash, hard rock and prog to make appearances, and trust that it will be folded into the Saber Tiger design in a way that makes it all not only fell welcome, but as if it germinated very organically. Eliminated very simply jams, and the wealth of influences that make up the full picture ensures the listener an engaging experience each time it’s taken out for a spin, which does wonders for longevity.

Suuuurrrrre would be nice and great and amazing to have the actual physical product in my hands, though.

Style: USPM By Way Of Japan
Location: Japan
Sample: “Madara No Tori”
Label: Walküre Records
Release date: September 15
Band website: Saber Tiger

———

«»

2024’s Full List of 280 Contenders (Bandcamp links provided where applicable):

Absolon – The Blood Seed
Abysswalker – A Spire at the Gates of Heaven
Achelous – Tower of High Sorcery
Adamantra – Act III: Pareidolia of Depravity
Adventus – Lo que trajo el viento
Aeon Gods – King of Gods
After Infinity – After Infinity
AfterTime – Arcane Horizons
Aihisna – 深淵のディアボロス
Alestorm – Voyage of the Dead Marauder EP
Alterium – Of War and Flames
Ana – The Art of Letting Go EP
Ancient Curse – Dimension 5
Anette Olzon – Rapture
Anga – Straight to Hell EP
Anubis – Dark Paradise
Anvil – One and Only
Aquelarre – Antares EP
Aquelarre – Aldebarán EP
Arania – Whispering Embers
Arcane Tales – Until Where the Northern Lights Reign
Aria Inferno – Insignificance
Asgard Warriors – Sombras del alma
Asterise – Tale of a Wandering Soul
Astral Doors – The End of It All
Astronomica – The Awakening
Athena XIX – Everflow Part 1: Frames of Humanity
Attacker – The God Particle
Aura Ignis – Marcando tu destino
Auro Control – The Harp
Avenguard – A Tear of Hope EP
Avenguard – Break the Chains EP
Axel Rudi Pell – Risen Symbol
Axxis – Coming Home
Bad Marilyn – Eye of the Snake
Bane of Havoc – Resistance
Battle Tales – Greed of a King
Binary Creed – Leash of Noise
Black Sun – Black Sun
Black Wings – Whispers of Time
Bloodorn – Let the Fury Rise
Boguslaw Balcerak’s Crylord – Endless Life
Brothers Of Metal – Fimbulvinter
Captain Hawk – Ghosts of the Sea
Carmeria – Tragédie d’amour
Cathubodua – Interbellum
Chrysalïd – Breaking the Chains
Cloven Hoof – Heathen Cross
Concerto Moon – Back Beyond Time
Coventhrall – Legacy of Morfuidra
Crystal Viper – The Silver Key
Curse Breaker – Taking the Crown EP
Curse Guard – Origins EP
Dagorlath – Apocalipsis
Dawn of Destiny – IX
DGM – Endless
Dialith – Alter EP
Die For My Sins – Scream
Distant Past – Solaris
Draconicon – A Symphony of Pestilence
DragonForce – Warp Speed Warriors
Dragonspell – На границе миров
Dragony – Hic Svnt Dracones
Drakkar – Spread Your Wings
Dream Evil – Metal Gods
DreamGate – DreamGate
Dreamweaver – Sign of the Ancient Flame EP
El Reno Renardo – Regreso al metalverso
Elettra Storm – Powerlords
Elfensjón – Zenith
Elvellon – Ascending in Synergy
Embrace of Souls – Forever a Part of Me
Emerald Eye – Night Without Day
Empires of Eden – Guardians of Time
Eregion – Non Omnis Moriar
Ërendil – Songs of Ancient Magic
Esclavitud – Stronger than a God
Eternal Breath – Road to Insanity
Ethereal Dawn – The Tales of the Winterheart EP
Ethereal Flames – Myths and Legends of Our Land
Europica – Part Two
Evergrey – Theories of Emptiness
Everrime – One
Eveth – Sellando el destino
Factory of Art – Back to Life
Fatal Fire – Arson
Fate Gear – The Vanguard of Hades EP
Feline Melinda – Seven
Fellowship – The Skies Above Eternity
Fire Action – Until the Heat Dies
Firewind – Stand United
Flashback of Anger – Prisoner of War
Flotsam and Jetsam – I Am the Weapon
Forja – Món Oblidat
Forlorn Hope – Valour – Part I EP
Freedom Call – Silver Romance
Frozen Crown – War Hearts
Galneryus – The Stars Will Light the Way
Gauntlet Rule – After the Kill
Glorius – Renacer
Glyph – Honor. Power. Glory.
Greyhawk – Thunderheart
Grimgotts – The Time of the Wolfrider
Hammer King – König und Kaiser
HammerFall – Avenge the Fallen
Hartlight – As Above, So Below
Haunter – Tales of the Seven Seas
Heroes of the Gauntlet – Tales from the Maze EP
Hextar – Doomsayer
Hizaki – The Zodiac Sign
Holy Dragons – Fortress
Holy Mother – Rise
Holy Shire – Invincible
Hyloxalus – Make Me the Heart of the Black Hole
Hypersonic – Kaosmogonia
Idol Throne – A Clarion Call
Ignitor – Horns and Hammers
Impellitteri – War Machine
Imperia – Dark Paradise
In Vain – Back to Nowhere
Infinite Corridor – Serpent Gate
InnerWish – Ash of Eternal Flame
Innocence Lost – Oblivion
Iron Echo – Forged in Fire
IronFlame – Kingdom Torn Asunder
Irthangaz – La maldición de Irthangaz
Ivory Tower – Heavy Rain
Jonathan Young – Helldivers Heavy Metal
Kamijo – Violet Dawn EP
Kingcrown – Nova Atlantis
Kiuas – Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus EP
Klynt – Thunderous
Knightsune – Fearless
Kraamola – Ідол
Krilloan – Return of the Heralds
Kronoceptor – Exordium EP
Lay of the Autumn – Of Love and Sorrow
Leaves’ Eyes – Myths of Fate
Legions of the Night – Darkness
Leyendas de Cierzo – De cierzo y Carcosa
Liv Moon – Circle of Life
Lords of Black – Mechanics of Predacity
Lords of the Trident – V.G.E.P. EP
Lost in Grey – Odyssey into the Grey
Lovebites – Lovebites EP II
Lunage – Tales from the Forgotten Lands
Lutharo – Chasing Euphoria
Mad Hatter – Oneironautics
Mägo de Oz – Alicia en el Metalverso
Mana Diagram – Light of the Destiny EP
Manticora – Mycelium
Marble – T.I.M.E.
Marcel Verand Memorias de un Despertar – Reclama tu Libertad
Marcel Verand Memorias de un Despertar – Ira & Traicón
Martin Templum Domini – The Dark Matter
Mediera – Storytellers of the Middle Age
Melodius Deite – Demonology
Messiah of Fire – Distant Lands and Inner Reflections
Metal de Facto – Land of the Rising Sun – Part 1
Metalite – Expedition One
Milford Mocs & Gunther Cucs – Cremem los putos bancs
Millennial Reign – World On Fire
Minstrelix – Minstrelics
Mourning Divine – Be Free – No More Masters
Myrath – Karmav
Naoki Morioka – Modernize EP
Nemedian Chronicles – The Savage Sword
New Horizon – Conquerors
Night Hearth – La noche de los sueños perdidos
Nightmare – Encrypted
Nightwish – Yesterwynde
Nocturna – Of Sorcery and Darkness
Northwind Saga – The Mythical Ring EP
Nurcry – Renacer
Oathbringer – Tales of Valor
Opera Magna – Heroica
Opus Magnum – Fairy of Death EP
Orden Ogan – The Order of Fear
Orion Child – Aesthesis
Orkhys – Legends
Ousiodes – The Forest
Outworld – Sky Keeper
Outworld – Way of the Samurai
Pandora’s Key – Yet I Remain
Paragon – Metalation
Paralydium – Universe Calls
Parfaitarmour – Diabolics
Patxa – Just Heavy Metal
Perseus – Into the Silence
Pirate Hymn – Explorer
Pirate Queen – Ghosts
Power Castle – Spanish Steps
PowerCross – The Lost Empire
Powerwolf – Wake Up the Wicked
Project Arcadia – Of Sins and Other Tales
Project R.I.P. – Phoenix EP
Questing Beast – Birth
Rage – Afterlifelines
Rata Blanca – Rock es Rock! EP
Re-Arise – Revive
Release the Titans – Odyssey
Rhapsody of Fire – Challenge the Wind
Riot V – Mean Streets
Ruthless – The Fallen
Ryujin – Ryujin
Saber Tiger – Eliminated
Satra – Sand of Time
Savage Oath – Divine Battle
Savage Wizdom – Who’s Laughing Now
Scanner – The Cosmic Race
Sebastien – Quo Vadis
Serafín Mendoza – Un nuevo despertar
Serious Black – Rise of Akhenaton
Seven Kingdoms – The Square EP
Seven Spires – A Fortress Called Home
Seventh Dimension – Of Hope & Ordeals
Severed Angel – Skyward
Shadows of Steel – Twilight II
Shiver of Frontier – Spirits Rising EP
Silent Winter – Utopia
Simone Simons – Vermillion
Sinner’s Blood – Dark Horizons
Sirius – A Quest for Life
Sirius – Fly High EP
Sky Wolves – Forgotten Tales
SkyEye – New Horizons
Sleeper’s Keep – Tales Beyond the Past
Sonata Arctica – Clear Cold Beyond
StarChaser – Into the Great Unknown
Stargate – Escaping the Illusion
Stilverlight – Dead Souls
Storia – Revenant – The Silver Age EP
Stormborn – Zenith
Stormhunter – Best Before: Death
Stranger Vision – Faust – Act I Prelude to Darkness
Strevellna – Revoldom
Striker – Ultrapower
Subfire – Blood Omen
Sunburst – Manifesto
Symakya – Project 11: The Landing
Synthwalker – Cruciform
Tears of Tragedy – Wonder Arts
Tezza F. – Key to Your Kingdom
The Grandmaster – Black Sun
The Lightbringer – Seven Thrones
The Resilient Dream Project – Te recordaré EP
Theragon – Lumina EP
Thornbridge – Daydream Illusion
Throne of Thorns – Converging Parallel Worlds
Thunder and Lightning – Of Wrath and Ruin
Timeless Fairytale – A Story to Tell
Timo Tolkki – Classical Variations and Themes 2: Ultima Thule
Triddana – Breaking from the Field
Triton Project – Messenger’s Quest
Triumpher – Spirit Invictus
Tungsten – The Grand Inferno
Turbokill – Champion
Týr – Battle Ballads
Unleash the Archers – Phantoma
Valhalla – Memories of Yggdrasil
Valkyria – Indómito
Valkyrie’s Fire – Ascension EP
Veil of the Serpent – Gallery of Sin
Velvet Darkness – Rise EP
Veonity – The Final Element
Vhäldemar – Sanctuary of Death
Vision Divine – Blood and Angels’ Tears
Visions of Atlantis – Pirates II – Armada
Voice – Holy or Damned
Voodoo Kiss – Feel the Curse
Warlord – Free Spirit Soar
Whiteabbey – Words that Form the Key
Wind Rose – Trollslayer
Windrow – Deus Universi
Winterborn – Break Another Day
Witherfall – Sounds of the Forgotten
Xeneris – Eternal Rising
Zenobia – Borraré tu Nombre EP
Zenobia – Melodías encantadas
薔薇の宮殿 – Picaresque

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