Lonestar's Top 50 Album Thread v 2.0 - #1!!!!!!!!!!

[lonestar]

I hinted at it in the top 50 tracker thread, but I figured making an OP will commit me to it. I got the list, and I'll just do write ups on the fly. Guess we'll see how it goes...

So...My last one was in 2012, when I was brand spanking new to DTF and had a whole fucking world of music waiting to be discovered. The last list was heavy on 70s and 80s classics, with a good deal of DT, Marillion, and of course IQ. I had just begun writing for Lady Obscure Music Magazine, so was just getting hit with that tidal wave of albums, and was also testing the waters with band names I kept seeing here over and over. Keep in mind, my days before DTF were very isolated, I didn't even venture on the internet before then and was oblivious to a great deal of music culture...I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

But with a curious nature and a shit ton of free time that came with sobriety (being a drunk is a 24/7 job man, literally), and an endless stream of albums, my musical library expanded exponentially. So for this list, I have a few parameters... all artists were ones I tried around or after my first list was compiled. Secondly, unlike my other list, I am sticking to one album per artist, so this list will be 50 unique artists, though crossover projects do count. (like listing DT and JLB solo for example).

For reference, here is my first list...

50- Pete Townshend- All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes
49- Montrose-Montrose
48- Demon- British Standard Approved
47- The Plimsouls- Everywhere at Once
46- The Kinks- Give the People What They Want
45- Pat Benatar- Crimes of Passion
44- Dream Theater- A Dramatic Turn of Events
43- The Who- Who Are You
42- Rush- Exit Stage Left
41- Blind Melon- Blind Melon
40- Styx- Pieces of Eight
39- Tesla- Five Man Acoustical Jam
38- Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin II
37- The Beatles- Abbey Road
36- The Who- Tommy
35- Triumph- Just a Game
34- Tool- Undertow
33- Fish- Fortunes of War
32- Metallica- Master of Puppets
31- Rush- 2112
30- Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon
29- Mechanical Poet- Woodland Prattlers
28- The Who- Who's Next
27- Marillion- Misplaced Childhood
26- Yes- Relayer
25- Dream Theater- Scenes from a Memory
24- Pink Floyd- Wish you Were Here
23- Pete Townshend- Empty Glass
22- IQ- Frequency
21- Marillion- Brave
20- Peter Gabriel- Us
19- Yes- The Yes Album
18- Rush- Moving Pictures
17- Styx- The Grand Illusion
16- Beyond the Bridge- The Old Man and the Spirit
15- The Grateful Dead- Europe '72
14- Dream Theater- Images and Words
13- IQ- Subterrenea
12- Yes- Yessongs
11- Iron Maiden- Number of the Beast
10- Boston- Boston
9- Rush- Signals
8- The Kinks- One for the Road
7- Triumph- Allied Forces
6- Pink Floyd- The Wall
5- The Who- Quadrophenia
4- Dream Theater- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3- Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans
2- IQ- Ever
1- Marillion- Clutching at Straws


I'll keep track of the new list in the second post. Looking forward to this... I'll get this bad boy started tomorrow...

[lonestar]

The Story So Far...


50- Aeternam- Ruins of Empire
49- Gloryhammer- Tales from the Kingdom of Fife
48- Kaipa- Vittjar
47- Karnya- Coverin' Thoughts
46- Lalu- Reset to Preset
45- Amahiru- Amahiru
44- After Forever- Invisible Circles
43- The Deadstation- Episode 01- Like Peering into the Deepest Ocean Abyss
42- Sun Caged- The Lotus Effect
41- Deadly Circus Fire- The King and the Bishop
40- Asterism- Dawn
39- Bloodywood- Rakshak
38- Shineback- Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed
37- The Omega Experiment- The Omega Experiment
36- Nuclear Power Trio- A Clear and Present Rager
35- Spiritbox- Eternal Blue
34- Thank You Scientist- Stranger Heads Prevail
33- BABYMETAL- Metal Resistance
32- Secret Sphere- Portrait of a Dying Heart
31- Nightwish- Imaginaerum
30- Maestrick- Unpuzzle!
29- BAND-MAID- Unseen World
28- Absolute Priority- Hunter
27- Periphery- Periphery III- Select Difficulty
26- Mystery- Dear Someone
25- Between the Buried and Me- Automata I,II
24- Thoughts Factory- Lost
23- Pyramid Theorem- Pyramid Theorem
22- Frost*- Milliontown
21- Destrage- Are You Kidding Me? No.
20- Orphaned Land- Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
19- Headspace- I Am Anonymous
18- Senri Kawaguchi- Dynamogenic
17- Porcupine Tree- Fear of a Blank Planet
16- Amorphis- Queen of Time
15- Kingcrow- In Crescendo
14- Silent Memorial- Retrospective
13- Ostura- The Room
12- Caligula's Horse- In Contact
11- Voices from the Fuselage- Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
10- Anciients- Voice of the Void
9- Gacharic Spin- Gacharic Spin
8- Flaming Row- Elinoire
7- Steven Wilson- The Raven that Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
6- Anathema- Weather Systems
5- TesseracT- Altered State
4- Speaking to Stones- Elements
3- Allegaeon- Apoptosis
2- Nemophila- Revive
1- Haken- The Mountain

[lonestar]

#50 Aeternam- Ruins of Empire (2017)




This is one of those bands I actually discovered by seeing them open for someone else, Orphaned Land to be specific. It was a four band bill, they were the first, and man did they floor me. A symphonic folk metal outfit out of Quebec, I'd say they sound a good deal like Amorphis, but with a great deal more flare and fun. They definitely don't take themselves too seriously, but beneath the boisterous exterior is some serious musical chops. The strong folk vibes are paired with solid guitar leads and a vibrant rhythm section. The lead singer specifically has some serious talent, seamlessly flowing from soaring clean vox to intense growls. Ruins of Empire is a great display of their work beginning to end, with really no skippable moments. Also, these guys have the best album art, I was so bummed they were sold out of shirts when I saw them (it was the last show of the tour, even the Orphaned land shirt I got was the display one)

Top songs- Damascus Gate, The Keeper of Shangri-La, Fallen is the Simulcrum of Bel, Praetor of Mercury

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUS5FIZYuc

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

That first list is invalid due to the absence of Marbles.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Oh man, Ruins of Empires is easily a 9/10 album for me. Fastasic Melodic Death Metal with some prog and Arabic folk music mixed in.

Great start to the list!

[lonestar]

That first list is invalid due to the absence of Marbles.

I think Marbles would be like my #4 or #5 H era album, I just am not totally blown away by it like everyone else is. For me it'd be Brave- FEAR- This Strange Engine and then going into a dogpile of Sounds/Hour Before/Marbles Etc...

Oh man, Ruins of Empires is easily a 9/10 album for me. Fastasic Melodic Death Metal with some prog and Arabic folk music mixed in.

Great start to the list!

Yeah, you can imagine my reaction going to see Orphaned Land and getting my money's worth out of the opener. Granted, Orphaned Land kicked all sorts of ass, the show even made my best concerts list, and a good deal of that was because of Aeternam's performance.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The first two Aeternam albums are my favorite, at least partially just because I've spent a lot more time with them, but the later ones are all excellent as well.  I'd never really thought of the Amorphis comparison, I'll have to ponder that one.  Aeternam is much faster, more technical, more symphonic, and leans more heavily on the eastern influences, but they do have some of the other genre mixture and contrast elements going on. 

I didn't even venture on the internet before then and was oblivious to a great deal of music culture...I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

Poor guy, nowhere is safe.   

[lonestar]

I think Amorphis is just a starting point for peeps to think of, as you said, Aeternam scratches a few different itches for sure. Amorphis will probably be making an appearance later in the list, love that band.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

The first two Aeternam albums are my favorite, at least partially just because I've spent a lot more time with them, but the later ones are all excellent as well.  I'd never really thought of the Amorphis comparison, I'll have to ponder that one.  Aeternam is much faster, more technical, more symphonic, and leans more heavily on the eastern influences, but they do have some of the other genre mixture and contrast elements going on. 

Yeah, I'd say Moongod is just a tad better, but they are both amazing albums. I haven't had a chance to listen to the one that was just released a couple months ago, but I'm sure it will be good too.

[wolfking]

Following just because of the jab at Tim in the second paragraph of the OP! 

I don't know this band.

[Cool Chris]

Keep in mind, my days before DTF were very isolated, I didn't even venture on the internet before then and was oblivious to a great deal of music culture...I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

This was me for a long time as well. I didn't read music magazines, didn't have many friends, and the ones I did liked different music, and while I got on the internet fairly early, it was a long time before I used it as a tool to explore and expand my musical horizons.

Nice to See Quadrophenia so high on the 2012 list.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I don't know this band.

You'd probably dig this band.

[twosuitsluke]

Great to see a new Top 50 thread. I read so many of these threads when I first joined DTF, it helped give me a real understanding of people's tastes. It seems like it's been years since there's been one!

I always wanted to finish one (I did start one 4 years ago  ). Maybe after my roulette I'll revise my list and get back to it.

Never heard of this band/album, but I'll give it a spin.

 

[wolfking]

I don't know this band.

You'd probably dig this band.

I will sample.

[jingle.boy]

I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

I'll do my part, and at least sample the songs you offer up - this could be your last chance to convert me on growls 

[lonestar]

I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

I'll do my part, and at least sample the songs you offer up - this could be your last chance to convert me on growls 

I'm gonna gather you're very familiar with at least half the list already.

[lonestar]

#49 Gloryhammer- Tales from the Kingdom of Fife (2013)




First day of vacation, and my ass is still up at 4am...guess it's time for an update.


Now I'm not a huge power metal fan, it always seemed to cheesy for me, so it's definitely a great irony that the absolutely most cheesy of them all, British band Gloryhammer, would make an appearance on the list. I initially received this album for review at Lady Obscure, and will be the case for a good deal of the list, and it didn't click with me (I actually believe another author reviewed it, but I had the files in my library). It wasn't till a few years later, when I was doing a full library listen, that I revisited it, and man did it click. There's nothing about this band that screams talent, they aren't gonna challenge anyone for technical awards or start new genres, but fuck me if this isn't one of the funnest albums out there. I'd say for that year, probably 2016 or something, when it did click, this ended up being in the top spots on my Spotify, and that for me is definitely an indicator that it should be on this list. I can't count the times I had the opening track absolutely cranking in my car, me singing at the top of my lungs. This was cemented by seeing them live opening for Alestorm, holy shit what a blast that show was. The only time I did, and ever will, see someone dressed up as a gnome crowd singing and crowd surfing. (here is video of the gnome singing... https://www.facebook.com/oskirules/videos/1734351669996266 )

Favorite songs- The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee, Amulet of Justice, The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlhQZFTvAn4

[Podaar]

I'm usually into anything you recommend, lonestar. But, I couldn't make it through 20 seconds of that link. I wondered who could write such music, then I looked up images of the band. 

Holy shit, they look like a highspeed cosplay accident!

[lonestar]

I'm usually into anything you recommend, lonestar. But, I couldn't make it through 20 seconds of that link. I wondered who could write such music, then I looked up images of the band. 

Holy shit, they look like a highspeed cosplay accident!

 

Yeah, they're definitely not my usual flavor, but damn did this one own me for a spell.

[King Postwhore]

2 I've never listened to.

[jingle.boy]

I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.

I'll do my part, and at least sample the songs you offer up - this could be your last chance to convert me on growls 

I'm gonna gather you're very familiar with at least half the list already.

So, that Aeternam track was mucho bueno ... 'cept for the growls.  Shockingly, I'm not much of a Gloryhammer fan, but will drop the needle on this one too.

[jingle.boy]

Gloryhammer was very thick with the Viking/Fantasy/Cheese Power metal ... as was to be expected.  I dug that album - not sure how much I'll come back to it, but it was up my alley.  If I gave it enough time, I'm sure it would be up there with Rhapsody/Dawn of Veeektooorrreeeeeee!

[lonestar]

I keep remembering albums, which speaks to my level of organization and to the amount of artists I'm dealing with. It's not bad when it's a lower level one, but out of the blue remembering a top ten album is something else.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Epic cheese for #49 eh? I've never listened to Gloryhammer, but I am aware of them. I believe their keyboard player is also the vocalist of Alestorm.

I'll give this album a spin.

[Sacul]

I'll prob not recognize most stuff here but I'll follow anyway

[lonestar]

Epic cheese for #49 eh? I've never listened to Gloryhammer, but I am aware of them. I believe their keyboard player is also the vocalist of Alestorm.

I'll give this album a spin.

Yes he is, I think he started Gloryhammer cause Alestorm wasn't cheesy enough 

[twosuitsluke]

So I checked my Last.fm and I listened to a few Gloryhammer albums back in 2019 (including thos one). I don't really remember much about but I'll give it another spin and report back.

I feel like I'm a bit like you. I find power metal to be really cheesy (duh) and outside of my entry level bands/albums I don't listen to a great deal. When it hits right though, it really does hit. I have found a few power metal albums I like recently though, like Angel of Salvation by Galneryus and Infinite by Stratovarius 

[lonestar]

I think I got 3 more that would fall in the power metal blast radius, but Gloryhammer is definitely the purest of the batch.

Jingle is well familiar with all 3...

[twosuitsluke]

Nice! I'll stay tuned.

Out of interest did anyone see the controversy over Alestorm/Gloryhammer members last year, relating the leak of some of their group chats?

[lonestar]

Nice! I'll stay tuned.

Out of interest did anyone see the controversy over Alestorm/Gloryhammer members last year, relating the leak of some of their group chats?

I caught waves of it, with Thomas the singer being ousted from the group. Wasn't too sure of details, but it must've been pretty bad

[wolfking]

I don't know this band.

You'd probably dig this band.

I will sample.

Yeah, this is pretty damn good.

[wolfking]

Gloryhammer are pretty decent.  I have one if their albums and it's a solid outing.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I'll have to admit that I've mostly pre-written off Gloryhammer.  Most of the power metal I've liked in the last couple decades has been of the darker and heavier variety, and Gloryhammer has a reputation for being of the lighter, cheesier, sing-songy type.  But I'll give a few tracks a spin and see how it goes. 

[nick_z]

I have previously sampled a couple of albums from Aeternam (not this one yet). I think it was the one that came out this year, and the one prior...My impression was that they were super-talented, but there wasn't a ton that truly stuck with me. Probably requires some more investment of time listening...

Gloryhammer I have seen mentioned quite frequently, but I haven't explored them yet. I don't mind some cheese from time to time, I might try soon

[TAC]

Keep in mind, my days before DTF were very isolated, I didn't even venture on the internet before then and was oblivious to a great deal of music culture...I was like a musical version of Tim if that makes sense, just dense in all aspects.