2005
in retrospect! Kimmo: I started my last year's rambling saying that "2004 was a rather average year". It didn't get that much better in 2005 when it comes to the quality of albums released, but overall, the attitude towards hard rock and metal seems to have changed. Finland's always been a rather pro-metal nation, but in 2005 I think the positivity toward HR and metal has reached an all-time high. According to IFPI Finland (The Finnish National Group of IFPI, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), about 30% of the top20 domestic sellers could be classified as metal or hard rock. Not too bad!
Urban: What about 2005? Well, not that many "9" ratings during the year, (not a single 10 as usual), but a whole truckload of "8"s. Something which only made it more difficult to come up with a best of list (due to the multiple choices and several hardrock and rock genres).
My hat off to Magnus Karlsson and his two excellent melodic metal albums. I never been a big fan of Last Tribe though and his songwriting skill kind of surprised me with the CD's of Starbreaker (featuring Tony Harnell of TNT fame) and Allen/Lande (featuring Jorn Lande of Masterplan and Russell Allen of Symphony X). I've been listening to his latest work (the Tony O'Hora CD - 2006) and it's already kind of predictable tho'(karlsson's klister?).
I must say that I'm mostly disappointed with the AOR releases of 2005. Sure, you had the fine rock of Blanc Faces, Bruce Turgon, Shy, but it's obvious that it's more about quantity than quality in 2005. Ehem, The Stratovarious and Hammerfall releases didn't add much of quality either for that matter. I'm sure Sanctuary must be shaking their heads in disbelief. First they pass out millions of $$$$$ to Stratovarius, then you get a completely new line-up, nervous breakdowns, knife attack, and a really dodgey "comeback" album. No wonder they're going broke nowadays... we're talking about the biggest failure in hardrock of the century. The A&R person [I'm not going to name him, but he used to work with Journey ;-)] did a great work, I'm sure.
Nocturnal Rites produced their best album release ever, Coheed And Cambria shocked the world with their morbid sci-fi story, Dream Theater killed'em all, and the Judas Priest comeback wasn't "too shabby" after all (they ended up on #18 on my personal list). But to be honest... we all expected something bigger and better by the Metal Gods. The biggest surprise? well, maybe Crashdiet as they managed to top the charts in Sweden with their 80's sleaze and outfit. Kreator were the Enemy's Of God (#14 on my personal list), and even Deep Purple did good (#17).
The MOB is a supergroup consisting of Doug Pinnick (King's X), Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Tim Drury (The Eagles, Whitesnake), and Kip Winger (Winger, Alice Cooper). I have no idea why people didn't like it as much as I did??? Me thinks (Popeye) it's a great CD that ended up at #10.
THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2005:
1. Allen - Lande: The Battle (Frontiers)
RockUnited.Com review: "Russel Allen (Symphony X) and Jorn Lande (Masterplan, Millenium, The Snakes, Yngwie Malmsteen, solo, etc), head to head - with the aid of some of the most excellent Melodic Metal songs of the year. Indeed, this CD also belongs to that special category that holds no real filler whatsoever."
TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2004, POSITIONS 2-25:
2. Crashdïet - Rest In Sleaze (Universal)
3. Gotthard - Lipservice (Nuclear Blast)
4. Dream Theater - Octavarium (Atlantic)
5. Starbreaker - s/t (Frontiers)
6. Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
7. Masterplan - Aeronautics (AFM)
8. Shadow Gallery - Room V
9. Sha-Boom - The Race Is On (DF Records)
10. Blanc Faces - s/t (Frontiers)
11. Bruce Turgon - Outside Looking In (Frontiers)
12. James LaBrie - Elements of persuasion
13. Zeno - Zenology 2
14. Sentenced - The Funeral Album
15. Riverside - Second life syndrome
16. Jay Miles - 9 Hours (MTM Music)
17. Highland Glory - Forever Endeavour
18. Thunderstone - Tools Of Destruction
19. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
20. Stratovarius - s/t
21. Pallas - The dreams of men
22. Kamelot - The Black Halo (Sanctuary)
23. Journey - Generations (Frontiers)
24. Hanoi Rocks - Another Hostile Takeover
25, Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV (Sony/Columbia)
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personal album charts of the team! |
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Kimmo:
2. Allen - Lande: The Battle (Frontiers) 3. Nocturnal Rites: Grand Illusion (Century Media) 4. Philip Bardowell: In The Cut (Frontiers)
5. Khymera: A New Promise (Frontiers)
6. Blanc Faces: s/t (Frontiers) 7. Crashdïet: Rest In Sleaze (Universal)
8. Zeno: Zenology 2 (MTM Music)
9. Turgon, Bruce Outside Looking In (Frontiers) 10. Masterplan: Aeronautics (AFM) (Frontiers) 11. Starbreaker: s/t(Frontiers) 16. Hartmann: Out In The Cold(Frontiers) The songs of 2005: 1. Gotthard - Anytime Anywhere Disappointments: 1. Stratovarius - s/t
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Urban:
2. Allen/Lande - The Battle (Frontiers)
3. Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV (Sony/Columbia)
4. Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion (Century Media)
5. Waltham - Waltham (Rykodisc)
6. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (Century Media)
7. Crashdiet - Rest In Sleaze (Universal)
8. RPWL - World Through My Eyes (InsideOut)
9. Starbreaker - Starbreaker (Frontiers)
10.The MOB - The MOB (Frontiers)
11.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy (SPV)
Disappointments: Stratovarius - S/T
Pointless live albums: 1. Queen + Paul Rodgers - Return Of The Champions
Best or Worst? Lyrics of 2005: 1. System Of A Down - Vicinity Of Obscenity
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Bandi:
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Satu:
11. Dream Theater: Octavarium (Atlantic)
22. James LaBrie: Elements Of Persuasion (SPV)
31. Dreamland: Future's Calling (Dockyard 1) BUBBLING UNDER:
MISSED 2005 AT LEAST:
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Martien:
Best song:
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