So, the time has come for me to finally announce my album of 2006. The process was much easier than I thought, as I already had a winner in my mind, despite the huge number of write-ins for Mastodon’s “Blood Mountain”, but I seem to be the only person who hasn’t listened to that album yet. However, I have put this off long enough, so it’s time I finally got my top 5 out of the way.
5. Trivium – “The Crusade”
Trivium have quickly become the Marmite of the metal community. You either love the Florida-based band, or you hate them. What you can’t deny is that in just a couple of years, they have managed to do what some bands have never done. They stole the show at Download 05 (despite sounding abysmal at 06…I’ve seen the footage, they were shocking and not the same band I saw live earlier in the year), headlined a UK tour and opened for the biggest metal band of them all, Iron Maiden. On repeated listens, Trivium have altered the formula that made Ascendency a sucess and I personally like the album. It threw up a couple of neat surprises, and “Entrance of the Conflaguration” is one hell of a ball-ripping concert opener.
4. Lostprophets – “Liberation Transmission”
Hands up who remembers me saying the Prophets sold out. I remember it too. I think many people, including myself, felt betrayed that the band that showed so much promise on their first release (2001’s “Fake Sound of Progress) changed styles so quickly. But, “Liberation Transmission” was that rare breed, a rock album that actually got good airplay. Perhaps it’s because they are mainstream, but credit to the Prophets, some of the album tracks, such as “Everyday Combat” and “4AM Forever” are actually very, very good tracks. My opinion of the Prophets as a band still sucks, they have still embraced the emo sub-culture much more than I find acceptable, but, let’s face it, they are selling a lot of records, and only when bands stop selling records do they re-invent themselves.
3. Angra – “Aurora Consurgens”
To tell the truth, the hardest part of this survey was figuring which would come #2 and #3. Angra were beaten into three, but this is not a damning of the best thing to come out of Brazil since Rubens Barrichello. After finally getting into gear with their second vocalist Edu Falaschi, Angra have produced yet another album of their own unique style, adding a traditional Brazilian feel to their compositions whilst continuing to be one of the best power metal bands around. Whilst it does not it may not be original, (lets face it, if you don’t like power metal, you probably think every track is drop-D chug-chug-chug dragons and demons, which is complete BS…it’s about war now instead =]), it makes up for it in diversity from the original formula whilst still sticking roughly to it.
2. Blind Guardian – “A Twist in the Myth
BG had an excellent 2006, highlighted by a great US tour with Leave’s Eyes. With some people unhappy with the direction of 2002’s “A Night at the Opera”, Hansi Kirch and his dudes had some fans to win back. I think they did with an impecably produced record that continues to get spins in my CD player. Whilst sticking to the same formula that made BG such a big band in the first place, like Angra, they have deviated into other forms of expression, particularly in lyrics. How many other metal bands could pull off a song about the film “Never, Neverland” quite like BG? For those who are not aware, that’s what the first single “Fly” was based on. ATITM was another stellar effort from some of Germany’s finest.
1. Iron Maiden – “A Matter of Life and Death”
Let’s face it. 2006 will be remembered for the year Iron Maiden took back their throne as Kings of the Heavy Metal/Hard/Progressive Rock genres. A Matter of Life and Death was a bold step for Maiden, they hadn’t done a record basically full of tracks all in the 7+ minute range before. We all know of Steve Harris’s epics, but an album full…by the other band members as well. Many had their doubts. I’d like to point out unlike some people I know, I haven’t damned this album at all. Whilst it’s nowhere near the supremcy of Powerslave (THE greatest heavy metal album of all-time. All those who disagree will be shot), it’s Maiden’s strongest effort since maybe Seventh Son, although I personally felt Brave New World was an excellent album and Dance of Death was a HUGE disappointment with only one very very noteable exception: Paschendale. With a Download headlining appearance rumoured, and the “Golden Years” tour, which will knock the pants off every other tour conducted since Maiden’s own World Slavery (get Live After Death people. Seriously. Best live album ever recorded by any band. Maiden’s best, even if it is 20+ years old and there’s no Fear of the Dark), Iron Maiden will continue to reign as Metal Kings long into 2007.
So, my top 5 in summary:
#5 ~ Trivium – “The Crusade
#4 ~ Lostprophets – “Liberation Transmission”
#3 ~ Angra – “Aurora Consurgens”
#2 ~ Blind Guardian – “A Twist in the Myth”
#1 ~ Iron Maiden – “A Matter of Life and Death”