Maiden33's Top 25 Albums of 2011

[The_jman]

Originally Posted by MPF

I'll say from 4 to 1:

Pagan's Mind
Symphony X
Evergrey
Riot

I would have had from 4-1 pagans mind, riot, evergrey, and symphony x, but you could be right.

[SomewhereInTime72]

Originally Posted by The_jman

the 4 remaining have to be symphony x, evergrey, pagan's mind and Riot, not necessarily in that order.

Good call.

[Maiden33]

#4: Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy


I've loved Pagan's Mind for a few years now, and think they're one of the best new bands of the past dozen years. Their albums Celestial Entrance and Enigmatic : Calling were amazing offerings of epic, sci-fi themed celestial Progressive Metal, but despite a few of the band's best songs, the 2007 album Gods' Equation was a big letdown for many fans. That coupled with the long wait for a new album had some, including myself a bit worried. All those doubts were laid to rest upon listening to this. The band have opted for a bit more of a melodic, straight-forward approach than ever before, as heard on tracks like "Walk Away in Silence", but still retain most of what made their previous albums great. This band is just great, with each member pulling their weight to make one outstanding and fairly unique sounding package - but ultimately the standout star for me is again guitarist Jorn Viggo Lofstad, who is one of the most underrated players in the world if you ask me.

Featured Track: "Intermission"

[Maiden33]

#3: Evergrey - Glorious Collision


Everyone here should know by now that Evergrey are one of my favorite bands. I think their first 5 albums are an almost unparalleled streak of awesomeness almost no other band has ever achieved - but in 2006 things took an ubrupt turn with their album Monday Morning Apocalypse which many (myself included), didn't particularly care for. In 2008 they released Torn, which was a step back in the right direction, but ultimately was still a step short of the quality I expected from an Evergrey album as a whole. This album has seen the band completely return to their glory of the past, but in a completely fresh way. This album is not simply a return to form, nor is it reliving their former glories. The band has managed to create an album here that almost plays like a "Best Of" album done with all new songs, if that makes any sense - it's sort of a mixture of their classic sound (for example, "It Comes From Within" really reminds me of something off Solitude Dominance Tragedy), with a really successful approach to their newer sound mixed in. There's more keyboards than on the past two albums, the guitar work is more memorable, the riffs are better and not so seemingly pre-occupied with being as heavy as possible, and the songs are just a bit more memorable. The band notably changed 3/5 of its lineup before recording this album, and I must say that I think these changes were for the best. I think it removed a lot of the peripheral influence I didn't care for and allowed Tom S. Englund and Co. to make a very fresh and incredibly powerful new album and absolutely assure the future of this band.

Featured Track: "Leave it Behind Us"

[ravenheart]

Originally Posted by The_jman

the 4 remaining have to be symphony x, evergrey, pagan's mind and Riot, not necessarily in that order.

Not that it's predictable or anything

[MPF]

Originally Posted by ravenheart

Not that it's predictable or anything

*Said way way into the top 4*

[ravenheart]

Most of the list could have been predicted if order were set aside.

Come on Jeff, throw us a curveball and pull out a thrash album for #1

[DethMaiden]

I'm just wondering how he has room for Riot, Symphony X, and Fucked Up.

[ravenheart]

Originally Posted by DethMaiden

I'm just wondering how he has room for Riot, Symphony X, and Fucked Up.

Simple. Riot aren't in because their album is boring

[Maiden33]

Originally Posted by ravenheart

Simple. Riot aren't in because their album is boring

I don't want to get into a big spiel about this, but to most simply sum up how I feel:

The Riot album has everything about it that makes a great Riot album in my eyes. I love Riot. Thusly, I love this album. I don't really think I should need to defend it beyond that.