Unfold all reviews My music CDs

• Abba The Album
• Abstrakt Algebra Abstrakt Algebra
• After Forever Remagine
• After Forever After Forever
• Amorphis Tuonela
• Anacrusis Manic Impressions
• Anathema A Fine Day to Exit
• Anna Ternheim Separation Road
• Angel Dust Bleed
• Angra Holy Land
• The Arcane Order The Machinery of Oblivion
• Arch Enemy Burning Bridges
• Arch Enemy Wages of Sin
• Arch Enemy Anthems of Rebellion
• The Ark Burn the Sun
• Artension Forces of Nature
• A.S.A.P. Silver and Gold
• Autumn Altitude
• Ayreon The Final Experiment
• Ayreon Actual Fantasy
• Ayreon Into the Electric Castle
• Ayreon Flight of the Migrator
• Bel Canto Shimmering, Warm and Bright
• Behemoth Evangelion
• Bel Canto Retrospect
• Black Jester Welcome to the Moonlight Circus
• Black Sabbath Headless Cross
• Black Sabbath Tyr
• Black Sabbath Dehumanizer
• Black Sabbath Cross Purposes
• Blind Guardian Battalions of Fear
• Blind Guardian Tales of the Twilight World
• Blind Guardian Imaginations From the Other Side
• Blind Guardian Nightfall in Middle-Earth
• Blind Guardian A Night at the Opera
• Blind Guardian At the Edge of Time
• Blue Murder Blue Murder
• Cacophony Speed Metal Symphony
• Candlemass Dactyus Glomerata
• Coheed & Cambria Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV
• Conception Parallel Minds
• Conception In Your Multitude
• Conception Flow
• Control Denied The Fragile Art of Existence
• Cradle of Filth Dusk... And Her Embrace
• Cradle of Filth Cruelty And The Beast
• Cradle of Filth Midian
• Cradle of Filth Damnation And A Day
• Cradle of Filth Nymphetamine
• Cradle of Filth Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
• Crimson Glory Crimson Glory
• Crimson Glory Transcendence
• Crimson Glory Strange and Beautiful
• Crimson Glory Astronomica
• Damn the Machine Damn the Machine
• Darkstar Heart of Darkness
• Dark Tranquillity Skydancer / Of Chaos and Eternal Night
• Dark Tranquillity The Gallery
• Dark Tranquillity The Mind's I
• Dark Tranquillity Projector
• Dark Tranquillity Haven This is my favorite DT album. Both song-writing and playing is exceptional with plenty of crunchy guitar riffs, beautiful melody lines and memorable hooks in every single track. Yes, this is one of the rare discs where there isn't a hint of a filler or sub-standard song. On the contrary, the songs are short enough to never be repetitive and leaves you wanting more, which perhaps is the reason I play this record over and over again.

  The trademark Dark Tranquillity style is evident everywhere – seamless changes between heavy and soft passages, blistering guitar playing, and tasteful drumming with lots of finesse. On top of this, the keyboards and other electronic elements are superbly done and really add another dimension to the music.

  Unlike Projector there isn't much clean singing on this record but don't let that stop you from experiencing what is arguably one of the finest moments of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal. This gets my highest recommendations!

  Stand-out tracks: All.

  Video of The Wonders at Your Feet (live recording):

• Dark Tranquillity Damage Done
• Dark Tranquillity Character
• Dark Tranquillity Fiction
• Dark Tranquillity We are the Void
• Deadsoul Tribe The Dead Word
• Death Human
• Death Individual Thought Patterns
• Death Symbolic
• Death The Sound of Perseverance
• Def Leppard High 'n' Dry
• Def Leppard Pyromania
• Defyance Amaranthine
• Demons & Wizards Demons & Wizards
• Demons & Wizards Touched by the Crimson King
• Dickinson, Bruce Tattooed Millionaire
• Dickinson, Bruce Balls to Picasso
• Dickinson, Bruce Skunkworks
• Dickinson, Bruce Accident of Birth
• Dickinson, Bruce The Chemical Wedding
• Dickinson, Bruce Scream For Me Brazil
• Dio Holy Diver
• Dio Sacred Heart
• Dio Dream Evil
• Dio Dio's Inferno - The Last in Live
• Dio Killing the Dragon
• Disarmonia Mundi Fragments of D-generation
• Divine Regale Horizons
• Dream Theater When Dream and Day Unite
• Dream Theater Images and Words
• Dream Theater Live at the Marquee
• Dream Theater Awake
• Dream Theater Subconscious
• Dream Theater Metropolis pt 2: Scenes From a Memory
• Dream Theater Through Her Eyes
• Dream Theater Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
• Dream Theater Train of Thought
• Dream Theater Octavarium
• Edge of Sanity The Spectral Sorrows
• Edge of Sanity Crimson
• Edith Merely Daydreams Debut album from Swedish artist Edith Backlund. This is as good as it gets when it comes to pop music! Songs are very varied in both tempo and orchestration, spanning from powerful up-tempo choruses to slow and intimate pieces. Regardless of its form, Edith's vocals sends shivers down my spine out of sheer emotion and talent. All tracks are written by Edith herself, and although several of them have radio hit potential, to me the lasting quality of the album lies in the completeness and diversity of the whole package. The excellent production (must have been expensive!) and gorgeous booklet show that much work has gone into creating this gem. Buy now and be sure to tell your friends!

  Stand-out tracks: Close Behind, Much To Cry About, Waste Another Day, Burn Me and Blind Me, Drown (and pretty much the rest!)

  In mid-2006 I was fortunate to attend one of Edith's live shows (Palace, Norrköping) and also talk to her afterwards. During the entire gig I stood a couple of meters from the stage, keeping eye contact with Edith and her band most of the time. Needless to say it was an awesome concert, without question the best of the year.

  Video of Much To Cry About:

  Video of Waste Another Day.

• Elan Firestorm
• Eldritch Headquake
• Engine Engine
• Engine Superholic
• Eternal Tears of Sorrow Sinner's Serenade
• Europe Secret Society
• Evanescence Fallen
• Evanescence The Open Door Follow-up to the highly successful Fallen album, and before I got this one I was a bit worried that the magic would have been lost in the 3+ years since the previous release. Luckily my concerns were completely unfounded – this is a fantastic record! In fact, I'd say the best moments on The Open Door are the greatest Amy Lee has produced to date. Just listen to the wonderful pre-chorus and chorus guitar/vocal interplay starting at 0:49 in Cloud Nine (gives me goose bumps every time), the head-banging groove of the verse in The Only One, or the hauntingly beautiful break around the two-minute mark in Lacrymosa.

  I've read some reviews claiming that the songs are too similar and lack melody hooks, but nothing could be further from the truth. Quality music like this deserves a couple of listening sessions before you can appreciate all details, but it's time well spent.

  Stand-out tracks: Sweet Sacrifice, Weight of the World, Cloud Nine, The Only One, Your Star.

  Recording of Cloud Nine:

• Evergrey Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy
• Evergrey In Search of Truth
• Evergrey Recreation Day
• Evergrey The Inner Circle
• Evergrey A Night to Remember
• Evergrey Monday Morning Apocalypse
• Explorer's Club Age of Impact
• Fates Warning Night on Bröcken
• Fates Warning The Spectre Within
• Fates Warning Awaken the Guardian
• Fates Warning No Exit
• Fates Warning Perfect Symmetry
• Fates Warning Parallels
• Fates Warning Inside Out
• Fates Warning A Pleasant Shade of Gray
• Fates Warning Still Life
• Fates Warning Disconnected
• Fates Warning FWX
• Gabriel, Peter Hit
• Gamma Ray Land of the Free
• The Gathering Mandylion
• The Gathering Nighttime Birds
• The Gathering if_then_else
• Graveworm Engraved in Black This represents something new for me, namely my first black metal album. I must start by saying that I don't care one bit for the lyrical themes associated with this genre, but luckily one can enjoy the music regardless when it's as good as Engraved in Black. (Now, I haven't read the lyrics for this particular album so I don't know if it's typical or not.)

  Intense drumming, plenty of keyboards and of course a wall of guitars make this an energetic listen. Of course, if every musician was playing full blast at all times it would become pretty monotonous, but that isn't the case here. Tempo shifts, acoustic intermissions, beautiful keyboards which add texture as well as carries the melody, frequent double-bass pedalling and similar treats complement the excellent song-writing. The last part deserves to be emphasized because this is high-quality work from start to finish. Definitely recommended for those into complex metal.

  Stand-out tracks: They are all great, but the opener Dreaming Into Reality with its delightful ending is especially noteworthy.

• Graveworm Collateral Defect
• Green Carnation Light of Day, Day of Darkness
• Helloween Walls of Jericho
• Helloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I
• Helloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
• Helstar A Distant Thunder
• Helstar Nosferatu
• Hollow Architect of the Mind
• Iced Earth Burnt Offerings
• Iced Earth The Dark Saga
• Iced Earth Something Wicked This Way Comes
• Iced Earth The Glorious Burden
• Iced Earth The Crucible of Man
• In Flames Whoracle
• In Flames Colony
• In Flames Clayman
• In The Woods Omnio
• Iron Maiden Iron Maiden
• Iron Maiden Killers
• Iron Maiden Number of the Beast
• Iron Maiden Piece of Mind
• Iron Maiden Powerslave
• Iron Maiden Live After Death
• Iron Maiden Somewhere in Time
• Iron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
• Iron Maiden No Prayer for the Dying
• Iron Maiden Fear of the Dark
• Iron Maiden A Real Live One
• Iron Maiden A Real Dead One
• Iron Maiden The X Factor
• Iron Maiden Brave New World
• Iron Maiden Dance of Death
• Iron Maiden Women in Uniform / Twilight Zone
• Iron Maiden Can I Play With Madness / The Evil That Men Do
• Iron Maiden Clairvoyant / Infinite Dreams
• Iron Maiden A Matter of Life and Death Prior to getting this one I read a couple of reviews which all raved about the record being a return to old-style Maiden form. Later when I got to hear soundclips I wasn't too impressed but figured that seven-plus-minute songs couldn't be easily conveyed in short snippets. Now the sad fact is that hearing the complete album hasn't changed my opinion for the better. There's plenty of opportunity for Song-Trim® – endless slow intros and outros that drain songs of the energy and tempo they sorely need. At least the opener Different World, being the only track under five minutes, is above par with its nice riffing. Despite owning this record for several months (at the time of writing this) I haven't had the patience to listen through it more than a handful of times. Hopefully it will grow on me, but the outlook is dim.

  Stand-out tracks: Different World, The Pilgrim.

  Video for Different World:

• Jade.Ell Promises and Prayers
• Jade.Ell Methods (of a Hostage Negotiator)
• Kamelot The Fourth Legacy
• Kamelot Karma Roy Khan takes the spotlight here with a delicious performance. His style takes the edge of the galloping power metal that lies beneath; in my opinion Kamelot treads a thin line between cheesy keyboards and meaty power riffs, but aside from a handful of exceptions they pull it off successfully. The keyboards provide nice textures and sets the mood wonderfully for Khan's vocal lines to soar above. He's getting big help from song material that is really catchy, soloing and bridges that are immensely gratifying (The Spell at 3:15 and onward – yeah, and The Light I Shine on You at 2:47 – YEAH!) and robust rhythm work by the band.

  In the end it's the tried and true Kamelot recipe so nothing breaks the mold, but what we get is masterfully executed. I play this disc quite often to immerse myself in Roy's smooth and pleasing voice. Those who don't yet know what I'm talking about should absolutely listen to the Karma clip below for this reason alone.

  Stand-out tracks: The Spell, Karma, The Light I Shine on You, Elisabeth: III Fall From Grace.

  Video of Karma from their official live DVD:

• Kamelot Epica
• Kamelot The Black Halo
• Kamelot Poetry for the Poisoned
• Keep of Kalessin Kolossus
• Kingdom Come Hands of Time
• Kingdom Come Bad Image
• Kreator Enemy of God
• Kreator Hordes of Chaos
• Lane, Lana Queen of the Ocean
• Lane, Lana Secrets of Astrology
• Leaves' Eyes Vinland Saga
• Lethal Programmed
• Lethal Your Favorite God
• Malmsteen, Yngwie Odyssey
• Malmsteen, Yngwie Alchemy
• Manitou Entrance
• Manowar Louder Than Hell
• Marillion Brave
• Masterplan Masterplan
• Masterplan Aeronautics Jorn Lande (who since has left the band, sadly) is maybe the best reason to get this disc. The music is power metal with crunchy rhythm guitars, speedy drumming and flashy solos, but Jorn's vocals adds a smoothness and soothing quality that makes this album special.

  Both drums and guitars are handled by ex-Helloween members, but on this record they offer more intricate and rewarding performances than I can recall ever hearing from them in their former band. The instrumental part starting at 1:50 in Crimson Rider and culminating in a mind-blowing solo layered on top of some blasting drum beats is but one of the magic moments on the album; the first minute and a half of the closing Black in the Burn is equally captivating.

  German power metal is admittedly a genre filled with derivative bands and stereotypical songs, but Aeronautics stands heads and shoulders above its counterparts.

  Stand-out tracks: Crimson Rider, Back For My Life, Dark From the Dying, Falling Sparrow.

  Video for Back For My Life (with some soloing edited out):

• Masterplan MK II
• McLachlan, Sarah Solace
• McLachlan, Sarah Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
• McLachlan, Sarah Surfacing
• McLachlan, Sarah Afterglow
• McLachlan, Sarah Laws of Illusion
• Megadeth Rust in Peace
• Megadeth Youthanasia
• Megadeth Cryptic Writings
• Megadeth Risk
• Merchant, Natalie Tigerlily
• Merchant, Natalie Ophelia
• Moore, Gary We Want Moore
• Moore, Gary Run For Cover
• Moore, Gary Wild Frontier
• Moore, Gary After the War
• Mr Big Mr Big
• Mr Big Lean Into It
• Mötley Crue Mötley Crue
• Nevermore Dreaming Neon Black
• Nevermore Enemies of Reality
• Nightwish Once
• Nightwish Dark Passion Play
• Nocturnal Rites Tales of Mystery and Imagination
• Opeth My Arms, Your Hearse
• Opeth Still Life
• Opeth Blackwater Park
• Opeth Deliverance
• Opeth Ghost Reveries
• Osbourne, Ozzy Bark at the Moon
• Osbourne, Ozzy The Ultimate Sin
• Osbourne, Ozzy No Rest for the Wicked
• Paradise Lost Draconian Times
• Plumb Chaotic Resolve
• Porcupine Tree In Absentia
• Pretty Maids Red, Hot and Heavy
• Psychotic Waltz Into the Everflow
• Psychotic Waltz Mosquito
• Psychotic Waltz Bleeding
• Queensr˙che Queensr˙che
• Queensr˙che The Warning
• Queensr˙che Rage for Order
• Queensr˙che Operation: Mindcrime What can I say that hasn't already been said or written about this one? Generally considered one of the best metal albums of the '90s, and I can only agree. To start with, almost no song follows the standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus formula, and that alone gives this record a unique vibe. Next, it's hard to look past the twin-guitar riffing and soloing which bests practically anything Maiden has recorded. And of course Geoff Tate delivers in spades with a top-notch performance. No doubt one of the cornerstones of any serious metal fan's record collection! Also, don't miss the DVD Operation:LIVEcrime which shows the band playing the full album live.

  Stand-out tracks: Spreading the Disease, The Mission, Breaking the Silence, I Don't Believe in Love, Eyes of a Stranger.

  Video of I Don't Believe in Love:

  Audio clip of Electric Requiem / Breaking the Silence.

• Queensr˙che Empire
• Queensr˙che Promised Land
• Queensr˙che Hear In the Now Frontier
• Queensr˙che Operation: Mindcrime II
• Radakka Malice and Tranquility
• Ratt Out of the Cellar
• Redemption The Fullness of Time
• Redemption The Origins of Ruin
• Rotting Christ A Dead Poem
• Royal Hunt Paradox
• Royal Hunt Paradox/Closing the Chapter
• Royal Hunt The Mission
• Sanvoisen Soul Seasons
• Savatage Hall of the Mountain King
• Savatage Gutter Ballet
• Savatage Edge of Thorns
• Saviour Machine Saviour Machine
• Saviour Machine II
• Scar Symmetry Symmetric in Design
• Scar Symmetry Pitch Black Progress What do you get if you mix thundering bass and guitars, both death-style and clean singing, world-class drumming and highly accomplished song-writing? This record, that's what! Already from the opener The Illusionist it's clear that this will be a remarkable listen, and the rest does not disappoint in the least. Both vocal styles are handled by the one and same singer, Christian Älvestam, and he is one of the reasons this Swedish act rocks hard.

  The songs are chock-full with intelligent melody hooks, often displaying a great variation not only between tracks but also within each one. Silk-smooth choruses are joined by aggressive parts in perfect combination. And did I mention the guitars? This is a treasure chest for air guitarists! Just listen to The Kaleidoscopic God with its cool chops – the soloing at 2:30 is no less than divine, and the evil riffing at 4:43 is pure genius.

  If it isn't obvious by now how I rate this record, let's spell it out: run, don't walk, and buy right away! You can thank me later.

  Stand-out tracks: The opening triplet of The Illusionist, Slave to the Subliminal and Mind Machine, Dreaming 24/7, The Kaleidoscopic God, Oscillation, The Path of Least Resistance, Deviate From the Form.

  Video of The Illusionist:

• Scar Symmetry Holographic Universe
• Scar Symmetry The Unseen Empire
• Scorpions Savage Amusement
• Septic Flesh Sumerian Daemons
• Shadow Gallery Carved in Stone
• Shiva Desert Dreams
• Siam Prayer
• Sieges Even A Sense of Change
• Sinergy Beware the Heavens
• Sinergy Suicide by my Side
• Skull No Bones About It
• Stratovarius Episode
• Stryper Against the Law
• Superior Behind
• Superior Ultima Ratio
• Symphony X The Divine Wings of Tragedy
• Symphony X Twilight in Olympus
• Tad Morose Matters of the Dark
• Talisman Humanimal
• The Tea Party Transmission
• The Tea Party The Interzone Mantras
• Therion Vovin
• Therion Live Gothic
• Therion Sitra Ahra
• Threshold Psychedelicatessen
• Threshold Extinct Instinct
• Trivial Act Mindscape
• Trouble Manic Frustration
• User User
• Veni Domine Fall Babylon Fall
• Veni Domine Material Sanctuary
• Veni Domine Spiritual Wasteland
• Virgin Steele Noble Savage
• Virgin Steele Age of Consent I remember hearing The Burning of Rome once on radio when I was young (praise Rockbox, the best metal radio show ever!) and then went looking for this album for a long time without finding it. Finally I stumbled on a copy in a used record shop in Stockholm and paid a tiny sum of SEK 20 or so – I would gladly have forked over ten times as much by that time! Nowadays the album has been reissued so locating it shouldn't be a problem, though the current version has its tracks reordered and possibly some new songs added.

  Basically a straight-ahead rock/metal album with no big surprises, save for the amazing riff which the aforementioned track is built on. Yeah, that one is an all-time classic, and the song itself epic in style with a really nice build-up from the start to the chorus. If only they had trimmed the ending a bit, but who am I to complain? All guitar solos on the record, varying from speedy to emotional, are nicely done and often joined by a second guitar before the song resumes. A funny thing I noticed is that almost every track starts with David DeFeis giving a scream in one way or another... yeah!

  Stand-out tracks: On the Wings of the Night, Chains of Fire, The Burning of Rome, Lion in Winter.

• Virgin Steele Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Part 1)
• Virgin Steele Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Part 2)
• Virgin Steele The House of Atreus (Act 2)
• Warlord And the Cannons of Destruction Has Begun...
• W.A.S.P. WASP
• W.A.S.P. The Headless Children
• W.A.S.P. The Crimson Idol
• W.A.S.P. Unholy Terror
• Watain Lawless Darkness
• Within Temptation Mother Earth
• Within Temptation The Silent Force
• Within Temptation The Heart of Everything

Concert DVDs

• At the Gates The Flames of the End
• Ayreon Star One - Live on Earth
• Dark Tranquillity Live Damage
• Death Live in L.A.
• Dream Theater Metropolis 2000: Scences From New York
• The Gathering In Motion
• Iced Earth Alive in Athens
• Iron Maiden Rock in Rio
• McLachlan, Sarah Mirrorball I got this DVD before any of the CDs, and in retrospect I can say this was a good thing. The reason for that is that the live versions are much more satisfying than the corresponding studio recordings of each song, mainly due to the heavier guitar-driven playing. In comparison the albums sound tame which is unfortunate given that the songs themselves are very good.

  This is one of my favorite concert DVDs, all categories. Both picture (4:3 only, no widescreen) and sound (stereo and DD 5.1) are excellent. Most importantly, the song selection includes a lot more tracks than the Mirrorball CD version so be sure to get this one. Sarah's singing is as close to flawless as can be asked for live, and the skilled band produces a warm and enveloping sound that fits the songs perfectly. All in all, a wonderful rock concert!

  In 2004 I saw Sarah live for the first – and so far only – time (Circus, Stockholm). It was every bit as good as the DVDs, and to my great joy she even played Silence which is a rare happening. I hope I'll get another chance some time.

  Video of Possession from a live apperance:

  A recording of Fumbling Towards Ecstacy from another concert.

• McLachlan, Sarah Afterglow Live
• Opeth Lamentations
• Queensr˙che Operation:LIVEcrime
• Queensr˙che Live Evolution
• Therion Live Gothic