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I have yet to hear Portrait, Unorthodox and a bunch of others I'm expecting to rule. Some definite top notch metal in 2008:

Apostle of Solitude - Sincerest Misery
The Lamp of Thoth - Portents, Omens & Dooms
Revelation - Release
The Wandering Midget - The Serpent Coven
Procession - demo
Fall of the Idols - The Séance
Darkthrone - Dark Thrones and Black Flags (just no going wrong here)

plus many forgotten and not yet heard. 'twas a good year, aye. except maybe for that thrash revival thing. now why can't that money go to bands that were not formed yesterday? on the other hand I wouldn't like to see bands I love marketed and marketing themselves like that..

time for final votes!

as implied earlier, GRAND MAGUS - Iron Will gets mine. being a sucker for hymnal stuff, this hit me like a hammer blow! "Silver into Steel", song of the year as well.

close second the multi-mentioned PORTRAIT s/t - some others follow closely - WITCHFINDER GENERAL, JUDAS PRIEST, OPETH deserve being mentioned.

as for records that have not originally been released 2008, I must second those who brought up PAGAN ALTAR - Mythical & Magical, which I haven't heard before the vinyl version came out this year. however, this is an album of the decade for sure. can't remember how long I haven't heard such exceptional music, far beyond greatness (and beyond metal, too).

I hereby add the ENFORCER "Into the night" album to my list. It has some unbelievable guitar shredding and tightness.

'pataphysicien wrote:I have yet to hear Portrait, Unorthodox and a bunch of others I'm expecting to rule. Some definite top notch metal in 2008:

Apostle of Solitude - Sincerest Misery
The Lamp of Thoth - Portents, Omens & Dooms
Revelation - Release
The Wandering Midget - The Serpent Coven
Procession - demo
Fall of the Idols - The Séance

Wow, you must really like things slow and depressive. I bought that second Fall of the Idols album from I Hate at a record fair. It's an improvement from the first one, the guitar tone is a lot more colorful and melancholic. The songs are quite nice too, I just wished that Fall of the Idols had had a vocalist because it's not that fun all instrumental. I know, they have a guy that's talking and barking and moaning some lyrics throughout the songs, but that doesn't count, it would be really cool if they just found a singer.

The Wandering Midget album was actually a big disappointment for me. I have the first cd with their demos, called "I am the Gate", and it really rules. For some reason the debut full length just never gets under my skin. I have played 25 times for sure and tried different angles, it just does not happen.

Speaking of finish doom metal, I think the Lord Vicar album blows the above two away.

THRASHER BE wrote:adx - division blindée
bob catley - immortall
crystal viper - the last axeman
energy vampires - s/t
helstar - the king of hell
metal church - this present wasteland
motörhead - motörizer
seventh avenue - terium
Zimmer's Hole - When You Were Shouting At The Devil...We Were In League With Satan

no order

I loved the ADX album too first couple of listens, but I've tired of it and can see lots of weaknesses now. Hope it has more of a lasting value to you.

Still like it.
I also add the new gama bomb, lich king and hellhound. Not original but i still loved it.

I didh't hear a lot of bands from this year,but i think Etrus Grave-Masters Of Fate along with Cast Iron-Leather & Metal ep and Enforcer-Into The Night are among the best releases from this year.I would definetely put the fabulus Serpents Saints-Leather Lucifer ep,but that's in the end of 2007,so it can't make it on the list,hehe

It is near enough the end of the year I think I can draw up a definitive list of my best albums.

In no order:

Esoteric - The Maniacal Vale
Revelation - Release
The Gates of Slumber - Conqueror
Lamp of Thoth - Portents Omens & Dooms
Skepticism - Alloy
Grand Magus - Iron Will
Apostle of Solitude - Sincerest Misery
Dead Congregation - Graves of Archangels
Ironsword - Overlords of Chaos


I also enjoyed this year the new Judas Priest, Testament, Ross the Boss, Bob Catley and Starbreaker albums.

For me the best record this year is ENFORCER "Into The Night"

Allright, here's my coherrent, final top ten of the year 2008:

1) Portrait - Portrait
2) The Lamp of Thoth - Portents, Omens and Dooms
3) Manilla Road - Voyager
4) Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn
5) Judas Priest - Nostradamus
6) The Gates of Slumber - Conqueror
7) Seamount - Seamount
8 ) Circle II Circle - Delusions of Grandeur
9) Ironsword - Overlords of Chaos
10) Sabaton - The Art of War

Honourable close contenders: Lonewolf, Overdrive, Grand Magus, Enforcer, Jon Oliva's Pain, Lord Vicar, Ereb Altor.

Disappointments of the year: Isole, Iced Earth.

1º IRONSWORD - Overlords of Chaos
2º PORTRAIT - Portrait
3º ENFORCER - Into the Night
4º TESTAMENT - The Formation of Damnation

1. IRONSWORD ”Overlords Of Chaos”
2. PHARAOH “Be Gone
3. THE GATES OF SLUMBER “Conqueror”
4. ENFORCER “Into The Night”
5. THE LAMP OF THOTH “Portents, Omens & Dooms
6. BATTLEROAR “To Death And Beyond”
7. PARADOX “Elecrify”
8. TESTAMENT “The Formation Of Damnation”
9. PORTRAIT “Portrait”
10. TEMPLE OF BLOOD “Overlord”

PORTRAIT, IRONSWORD, ASSEDIUM, THE GATES OF SLUMBER, ENFORCER... Hell... Very good year!

Another year where I won't catch up with all the cool releases for years to come! (traveling is the excuse this year) Though it's fun in a way as judging by the lists here there is a lot to look forward to hearing!

What did I manage to buy? IRONSWORD 3rd album... not bad, although not kicking my arse as much as the previous, MANILLA ROAD enough said, LONEWOLF my cd skips like a schoolgirl because they're so fast, PORTRAIT cool eurosteel sounding/mercyful fate worship! all worth a listen but nothing really blew me away.

Heard a track and want: The Lamp, Pharoah, Paradox, GOS, Enforcer...

I can't believe noone is mentioning etrus grave,did noone like it or did it get unnoticed? best release of 2008 by FAR for me

MassOfKthulu wrote:I can't believe noone is mentioning etrus grave,did noone like it or did it get unnoticed? best release of 2008 by FAR for me

What does it sound like, Kyr? I've heard some other praising comments as well, but haven't listened to it myself yet.