 | The Blue by Novembre
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $8.94 These guys blew me away with this release - heavy, atmospheric, melodic, beautiful, and harsh - my pick for album of the year.
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 | In Requiem by Paradise Lost
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $8.43 A top-notch gothic rock album from pioneers of the genre - a step-up from the previous release - well-crafted and brilliantly depressing.
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 | Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True by Fair to Midland
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $1.81 Refreshingly original heavy rock from Dallas, TX - they also put on an outstanding live show.
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 | Silent Waters by Amorphis
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $9.65 I truly have nothing but great things to say about Amorphis. This release sees them kicking things up a notch from last year's "Eclipse." Just the right balance of heavy/clean vocals to augment the folk-influenced metal - a very nice ride, indeed.
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 | The Arcane Odyssey by Sear Bliss
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $8.28 One of my favorite epic black metal bands returns with a masterpiece based on their cultural history/folklore. Their use of a horn section throughout the album is a continued nice touch.
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 | Wolves by Deadlock
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $6.00 My favorite melodic death metal release of this year - heavy as you know what, outstanding production, and the addition of a female vocalist contributed to my inability to stop listening to this. I still am.
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 | From These Wounds by Funeral
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $9.98 If you like your doom with clean vocals and crushing riffs, then look no further. This was my introduction to the band, and was consistently played as my background music during XBOX 360 multiplayer matches.
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 | Theogonia by Rotting Christ
Buy new: $12.98 / Used from: $5.93 Wow - did these guys come back with a vengeance. This is their strongest release in years - heavy, nasty, brutal and blackened to boot. Not to be played at family functions - unless your family is really cool.
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 | Formless by Aghora
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.94 Heavy metal that draws on several genres and is occassionally infused with some jazz. Their female vocalist is wonderful. I don't have anything else in my collection that sounds like them - highly recommended.
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 | The Forgotten Goddess by Echoes of Eternity
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $4.30 Ethereal female vocals soaring over heavy/thrash metal. I was captivated the first time I heard them and was also surprised to learn they are from L.A., not Europe. If you've been as disappointed with Lacuna Coil as I have been lately, then you should check EoE out.
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 | Ghost Opera by Kamelot
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $13.71 I've never been a fan of these guys or power metal in general, but this was a pleasant surprise that came upon the recommendation of a friend. I really enjoyed litening to this as a warm-up before getting heavier. They've moved away from the cheese-factor that has prevented me from listening to them in the past. A dark album, and my choice for honorable mention.
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