Awards 2006

For me, 2006 was a much stronger year for great music than 2005. I found myself trimming a lot more killer albums from my list at the end of this year than last year. While it's always hard to finalize a list such as this, it's satisfying to realize that there is a healthy amount of great music for the year to indulge in.

Out of all the years I've had to compile my yearly awards list, this one seems to be the toughest for me. During the first six months of the year, there were very few albums that grabbed me. It's now been another six months and I can still come to the same conclusion.

When I use the term "grabbed", I refer to it as any album that can get some kind of reaction out of me, whether it be positive or negative. Alot of albums I listened to this year did neither.

There could be other factors as to why many releases of 2006 didn't click with me. Time is always a factor; trying to free some of it up in order to really dedicate a fair listen and try to absorb what is being played. There are probably numerous releases that went under my radar that could have well deserved a few spins. Only word of mouth, discussion boards or news of some kind would have helped these appear on my scope.

In any case, I tried to compile my list the best I could. Aside from the top 5, everything else is really in no particular order.....

I also want to thank all of my metal brothers and sisters at Metal Reviews for all of their support and the endless dedication and effort they put into Metal Reviews. I also want to thank the readers for reading the reviews and participating in the discussions.

Here's to 2007! I hope it's better than 2006!

Jeff

Other great albums worth mentioning that didn't quite make my list are Mystic Prophecy's Savage Souls (massive riffs and a killer power metal album), Hammerfall - Threshold (better than the last but still pales in comparison to the first 2), Warmachine - The Beginning Of The End (A local metal act that combines great old school Megadeth/Metallica style metal), SAHG (solid 70's influenced doom) and Shatterpoint (another local rip-your-face-off thrashy metal band).

I'm trying to branch out and sample other metal genres like doom and gothic metal. I'm also taking quite a liking to band's like Cruachan and others that are offering something just a little bit different than the mainstream. My heart is still in the power/prog/traditional heavy metal genres but I guess there's some hope for me yet!!

Once again, I thank the labels and the artists themselves who are invaluable in their efforts in getting us material to review. To the other memebers of the MR team, we are brethern and part of something that is very special to me...I thank all of you for you contributions. Last but not least, I thank you the readers...I'm not much of a forums person but I do read them and respond once in a while. Without your constant input and enthusiasm, there would be no more MR.com.....here's to another 5 years and a great 2007!!

Cheers,

Marty

2006 was a very exciting year for me. I moved in my girlfriend, who is now my fiancee and I'll be getting married in September. I received a very nice promotion at work which resulted in start of a potentially profitable career. All this meant having to completely change the way I managed my time. The result was very little reviews and CD listening. As things settle done this year I hope to return to 1 review a week plus a lot more CD listening. So for all two of you who read my reviews, I'm back. :)

And btw, when the hell is Hollenthon going to release something new??

2006 was a great year for Metal, and if you ask me, especially good for Powermetal.

Rather than comment on the year's releases, i'd like to take this opportunity to send my blessings to everyone who is reading this, especially the Metalreviews team, for being true to what they love. In a world where little comes free, and where trends and music are curbed by profit-hoarding industry, it is truly a beautiful thing to see people driven by a passion for music come together and support that which they love albeit the norm. My hat goes off to all of you, and may 2007 be the greatest year yet for Metal. Cheers!

This was an eventful year for me to say the least. I finally graduated from college and I moved into the "real world." I have a job now (which isn't the greatest in the world, not by a long shot), and am making a little money. Lucky for me, I have good friends, and a good city to live in, or else I'd definitely be going nuts right now.

As for the music! This year wasn't a year of excessive exploration in the the realms of up and coming music. This year was a year of reflection, in which I took most of my time and money to listen and build up a back catalog of old school necessities. So while I didn't necessarily excel at building my 2006 reportoire of knowledge, I think I have bettered my tastes by examining the music that makes this genre great.

I am looking forward to 2007 both in my personal life and for more of a musical exploration. Now that I have returned to MetalReviews, I know with all the bands and albums that roll through here on a weekly basis, that finding new music will be no challenge. As for my personal life? Well, I guess that is a whole other can of worms. Have a good year everyone!

It's been a pretty amazing year for our beloved genre, as I look back it has been a year remarkably free of excessive mainstream tinkering and trends. While the 'emo' movement seems to have carried on in earnest, most of actual metal has thankfully been left to its own devices and while I have a feeling 2007 will see the emo's being replaced by an explosion of power metal kiddies I feel the integrity of the scene will hold out. With the exception of a few bad apples (Bullet for My Valentine, I'm looking in your direction) much of the mainstream metal acts seem to be guiding that section of the genre in a far better direction than has been seen in previous years and I only hope it continues. Talk of trends and scenes aside, the music has spoken for itself with some very good releases from established acts and some utterly incredible ones from relative unknowns. If the future of this genre rests with many of these bands the future is certainly bright. While a few of the old guard have disappointed me this year I feel that there is ddefinately a lot to look ahead to. Some of what I have heard this year has pushed the boundaries of what I would class as music and it's an exhillirating and exciting feeling. The more progressive side of this genre I feel is at times genuinely treading new ground in this medium and it is that sense of discovery and venture into the artistic unknown that keeps me coming back time and time again and consistently reminding me why the extreme fringes of any artform are so very vital. Looking ahead, one thing stands out for me in 2007 and it is comprised of two words. New Metallica. Will this be the final nail in the coffin of a band past their best and a chance for the critics and fans to put the knives they've been sharpening since St Anger to good use? Or will this be a startling return to form from one of the legends of the genre silencing the naysayers and putting them back on the top of the metal heirarchy? Whichever way it goes I seriously doubt you'll hear the word 'average' being batted about, it will be one extreme or the other I feel, I'm already excited.

On a personal note, as I come to the end of 2006 and reflect, I'm happy to say that it has been a year I can look back on and say I did things with my life. I finished the college course I was on successfully, got myself a place on one of the most coveted English Literature courses in the country, travelled to Amsterdam for the first time and solidly made up my mind (for now) about what I want to do with my life. Of course I also drank too much, smoked too much, put on too much weight, saved no money and was a general dick, but that's just my charming 'personality'. I'll grow up some day. I'd like to thank those that really matter (you know who you are) and I look forward to entertaining / pissing you off for another year. In simple terms, you lot fuckin' rule. I'd also like to thank this site and the MR team for providing me an outlet for my oft nonsensical ramblings and suspect opinions. Many of you guys on the team are consitently pleasant to work with and we've got a pretty damn good music site here, It can only get better.

-Al