Ghost - Meliora

Ghost - Meliora (2015)
Universal

This may be the album of the year for me. Yeah, I know, some Swedish clowns dressed up as the Pope, and God knows what? Really? Yup! Klas Åhlund, the pruducer (of  Teddybears Sthlm fame) really knows how to make a pop album. But aren't Ghost supposed to be heavy metal? Yeah, maybe, but with this kind of pruduction there's no metal left. Except for some stolen Slayer riffs and wimpy Manowar drum beats:) I love every song of this masterpiece of an album. If I wasn't allergic to the vinyl trend I'd buy the limited LP+12" (with an exclusive bonus track) in a heart beat!

The Night Flight Orchestra - Skyline Whispers

The Night Flight Orchestra - Skyline Whispers
(2015) Coroner Records

I thought I had mentioned The Night Flight Orchestra's debut CD on this blog back in 2012, but I guess I must've missed it? I really liked their high speed hard rock sound then (think Kiss with no time to loose!), and I like their sound even more now. This is a fabolous second CD, and it's just perfect as my music taste has shifted into retro sounding rock'n'roll (don't worry it's just a late summer habit of mine!).

The Dagger - The Dagger

The Dagger - The Dagger (2014)
Century Media

Oh, heavy metal? That's not the most frequent genre on this blog. I do love metal, but I don't seem to find any new bands of interest. I find the current power metal trend really tiresome and I've lost almost all interest in death metal. Black metal and the "new" occult rock movement may still bring me some joy. But this is something different. The Dagger sounds like an updated 1978 heavy metal band, maybe like a cross between Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy (the twin guitars!) with heavy Dio influences. This album couldn't have been made in 1978, though. There's far too many inluences from the last two decades here. Certainly worth checking out if heavy metal's your thing!

Queens Of The Stone Age ‎– ...Like Clockwork

Queens Of The Stone Age ‎– ...Like Clockwork
(2013) Matador

A new, laidback, CD from Queens Of The Stone Age. And it's a grower! No immediate hit songs, but a great record to listen to. I like both Josh Homme's unique kind of riffing and strange song structures.

Black Sabbath - 13 2CD

Black Sabbath - 13 2CD (2013)
Vertigo

I didn't think much of this reunion album. Sure, Black Sabbath was always best with Ozzy on vocals. But it's not the 70ies now. Old men shouldn't try to rock!
Much to my surprise I've found that I like it nevertheless.
I don't think it's a good idea to buy the limited 2CD edition of this album. The first six songs on the original album are good, the rest of the songs are just fillers.

Grand Magus - The Hunt

Grand Magus - The Hunt (2012)
Nuclear Blast

Grand Magus released this album earlier this summer, but I almost forgot about it because of the similar release date on Candlemass' last album. But here it is. I'm sorry to say that they can't live up to my high expectations. Both this and 2010's "Hammer Of The North" is a step down from their two best albums, the 2005 "Wolf's Return" and the 2008 "Iron Will". But they still make great heavy metal. It's a good album, but I expected better. If you buy the limited edition you get three bonus demo tracks with their old drummer and a patch.

The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre

The Devil's Blood -
The Thousandfold Epicentre (2011)
Ván

I really dig this kind of retro metal. Ghost are my absolute favourites, but The Devil's Blood are also quite good. I didn't have any high hopes about this record, though. I thought that the "Fire Burning" single, released prior to this album, wasn't sounding promising at all. I find that the song fits the album concept much better. I am even beginning to like this track now! Maybe it shouldn't have gotten a single release?

Krux - Krux III He Who Sleeps Amongst The Stars

Krux - Krux III He Who Sleeps Amongst The Stars
(2011) GMR

Now it's time for some doom metal. I've listed mostly electronic music for some time, but I enjoy many other genres. This is kind of  an all star project with Candlemass' main man Leif Edling at the wheel. If you liked Candlemass' Last album, the 2009 "Death Magic Doom", you will most likely love this album. It's not pure doom metal, but the songs are real heavy.

Twisted Sister - Under The Blade

Twisted Sister - Under The Blade (1982)
Secret / Demolition / Armoury

Even though 1983's "You Can't Stop Rock'n'Roll" is my favourite Twisted Sister album, this is the one I've been listening the most to. There are a couple of different editions of this release. The one on the album cover is the most recent (Armoury, 2011), and in my opionion, the best. It's a remastered version of the 1982 original mix. It also features the "Ruff Cuts" EP and a live track as bonus, plus a bonus live DVD.
The 2006 Demolition edition features the 1985 re-mix and bears no note on being remastered.
The real gem is the 1985 Secret edition including the1982 original mix. But I think the Armoury edition sounds way better!

KYPCK - Nizhe

KYPCK - Nizhe (2011) 

Yellow House Recordings

KYPCK are back! And yet again they deliever the perfect soundtrack to a post nuclear holocaust movie. I'm going to enjoy this Russian-singing doom metal album together with Dmitrij Gluchovskij's praised post holocaust novel "Metro 2033". I hope they will be a perfect match!

Ghost - Opus Eponymous

Ghost - Opus Eponymous
(2010) Rise Above

What can I say that haven't already been said about this fabolous record? I can only agree to the all the praises it have gained. It sure sounds a bit like both The Devil's Blood and Mercyful Fate, but you already knew that! Fortuneately Ghost adds a bit of their own sound as well, therefor I don't consider this as being a cheap copy. Get it now!

In The Colonnades - Scrap Metal Value

In The Colonnades -
Scrap Metal Value (1991)
CBR

This is maybe the most classic of all Swedish rock albums released in the nineties. The sound is heavy, almost heavy metal - but without any of the metal clichés. And it has got the coolest organ in the history of rock. If you can get hold of this album (released on the classic Swedish Chicken Brain Records (CBR) or the German SPV/Rebel Records), don't hestite - Buy it!

Metal Church - The Dark

Metal Church - The Dark
(1986) Elektra

I haven't heared all of Metal Church's discography. With three stand-out tracks this is clearly the best of the their three first albums, wich happens to be the albums I own. My personal favourite "Ton Of Bricks" opens the album and that is probably one of the best metal songs ever! The album continues with another really strong song "Start The Fire". The semi-hit "Watch The Children Pray" is a  good, epic ballad-like, song.

Running Wild - Black Hand Inn

Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
(1994) Noise

My summer obsession with pirate metal continues. This time it's a strange mix with aliens and pirates. Just ignore the spoken intros on two songs. The rest of the album is a true classsic - complete with almost black metal-like atmosphere and guitar on some songs. Trve pirate metal!:)

Running Wild - Death Or Glory

Running Wild - Death Or Glory
(1989) Noise

My Running Wild-theme continues, this time with their best album from their pirate period (wich of course lasted through-out their whole discography - except their two first albums). Just listen to "Tortuga Bay" or "Riding The Storm" and you'll understand why I think so good of this album. The re-recording of "Chains And Leather" is another jewel here. Buy, buy, buy!

Running Wild - Blazon Stone

Running Wild - Blazon Stone
(1991) Noise

I've been listening a lot to Running Wild this week (and some of the previous weeks, too!). It's hard to choose a favourite album from their big discography. "Blazon Stone" is maybe not the obvious choice, but I felt that I hadn't listened to it as much as I should. Now I have! It's a great "power" metal album - but not power as in "power metal", like Hammerfall, Rhapsody (Of Fire) and the likes...

Bigelf - Cheat The Gallows

Bigelf - Cheat The Gallows
(2008) Custard

I've been listening to alot of retro-sounding records the last couple of weeks. Bigelf's a band I've been knowing about, but not actually listened to, for a long time. This album differs a bit from their earlier work, the organs have almost completely been replaced by strings and brass. I liked their 2003 "Hex" album, but this new sound is even better. They've taken their evil Beatles and Black Sabbath offspring to a new level.

Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin

Ozzy Osbourne -
The Ultimate Sin
(1986) Epic

This is a long lost and forgotten jewel of an album. I realise I haven't even listed any of Ozzy's solo albums here on the blog. That's a shame, because the self acclaimed "Prince Of Darkness" has been recording a great deal of awesome albums throughout his career. The album is maybe most commonly known for the single "Shot In The Dark", but it has a great deal of good songs. Check it out!

W.A.S.P. - K.F.D.

W.A.S.P. - K.F.D. (1997)
Sanctuary/Victor

This is probably the most underrated W.A.S.P. album and I can't see why. Personally I think "Helldorado" is the worst W.A.S.P. album ever. Sure, it doesn't really sound like the W.A.S.P. we're used to, but it's aggressive and cool - even a bit industrial. The songs "Kill Fuck Die", "Killahead", "Kill Your Pretty Face", "U" and the eerie "The Horror" are all classics! If you buy the Japanese version you'll get the track "Tokyo's On Fire" but sadly you'll lose "Little Death" and the crappy "Fetus". This album is a must have if you're feeling aggressive.

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
Limited CD/DVD (2009)
Nuclear Blast

I've been reading so many good review about this album. Finally I've found the time to listen to it (and of course, finally I've been motivated enough to buy it!). This is a great and varied doom metal album. The new singer, Robert Lowe, has a great voice and fits the Candlemass sound perfectly! I really enjoyed his previous band Solitude Aeturnus' two first albums back in the early 90's. I don't know why I haven't listened to them since then. Maybe I need to check them out now? This limited edition includes a DVD wich I haven't had the time to watch yet. It also includes an unlisted bonus track, an edit of "Lucifer Rising" I think.