Lo-Pan – Salvador
I actually quite liked their debut, but this one isn’t grabbing me in the same way. Songs seem shorter, and they’ve definitely dialled down the heavy, opting for a slightly less distorted desert rock/grunge sound.
Reviews – Audio
Wall of Sleep – When Mountains Roar
Even Dehumanizer was gloomier than this. That being said, if Balls to the Wall/Metal Heart era-Accept or those mid-80’s Scorpions albums are your thing, you might not mind this modern slice of throwback Euro metal.
Conflicted – Never be Tamed
If you like your power metal on the heavier side (Symphony X, Kamelot) this one is recommended. Never Be Tamed is a varied debut that should be on every progressive/power metal fans’ want list in 2011!
Buzzov*en – Revelation:Sick Again
If you’re familiar with Buzzov*en, you pretty much know what to expect here, and you’re going to love tracks like “Never Again”, “Symptom”, and “Junkie” . If you’re not familiar with the band, Revelation: Sick Again is as good a place to start as any of their other albums. Mean-spirited, drug-and-booze-fueled Southern hatesludge that blazed the trail first. Rock solid.
Augury – Concealed
Bound in a new digipak format, featuring updated artwork, a remastered sound and two new bonus tracks consisting of demo tracks to their 2009 album, Fragmentary Evidence, Concealed still has the same crushing effect today as it did seven years ago.
Pentagram – Last Rites
Last Rites is the album that many of us had hoped Pentagram would someday make but never thought they would. It is heavy, hooky and one of the nicest surprises of 2011.
Argus – Boldly Stride the Doomed
Boldly strides Argus, lookout!
Dying Fetus – Infatuation With Malevolence (reissue)
Relapse has remastered the album and it sounds phenomenal compared to the original. The instruments are crystal clear and the drums and bass have more weight to them giving the music more depth.
Timo Tolkki – Saana: Warrior of Light Pt. 1
Metal it ain’t but as far as music and letting your artistic side loose, Timo Tolkki has done a fantastic job with this album. It really is beautiful.
Turisas – Stand Up and Fight
Thematically, Turisas sustain their mostly historical bent with eyes turned toward Byzantium, though any storytelling takes back seat to the triumphant tone and exultant crusade invoked by the music itself.