I don't typically stack-rank until the end of the year, but here's what I've purchased, saved on Spotify (which means either their just ok, or too short and I'm not dropping $11 for a 40 minute album), and still TBD.
Purchased:
Xandria / The Wonders Still Waiting - this is what Nightwish should sound like.
Kamelot / The Awakening - as good as Silverthorn... certainly better than their last two efforts.
Redemption / I Am the Storm - despite having 2 covers, this smokes
Crown Lands / Fearless - if you need a Rush fix, load this up
FreeFall / Hunt the Flame - more memorable than the last release
Mystery / Redemption - they are always an instant purchase for me
Ray Alder / II - Ray sounds incredible
Fifth Angel / When Angels Kill - an unexpectedly excellent concept album
Sacred Outcry / Towers of Gold - glorious prog/power
Lovebites / Judgment Day - RJ cracked me with these girls
Saved: (most are excellent, but too short).
Rexoria / Imperial Dawn
Infinite & Divine / Ascendancy
Stargazer / Life Will Never Be The Same
Demons Down / I Stand
Air Raid / Fatal Encounter
Galneryus / Between Dread and Valor
Ad Infinitum / Chapter III - Downfall
Floor Jansen / Paragon
Creye / III: Weightless
All of My Shadows / Eerie Monsters
Revolution Saints / Eagle Flight
Evermore / In Memoriam
One Desire / Live with the Shadow Orchestra
Teramaze / Dalla Volta - disappointed this was only 1/2 new material
Winger / Seven
Tygers of Pan Tang / Bloodlines
Silver Bullet / Shadowfall
Andy James / Fury From Above
Mystic Prophecy / Hellriot
Tulip / The Perpetual Dream
Pyramaze / Bloodlines
Stray Gods / Olympus
TBDIce Age / Waves of Loss and Power - first half starts slow, but 2nd half is as good as their first 2 (from 20 years ago)
Third Eye / Vengeance Fulfilled - Tiago Masseti (who I adore from Daydream XI) on the mic, but musically it's so-so
Extreme / Six - I liked very much
Ashrain / Requiem Reloaded - I think King recommended this to me
Karfagen / Passage to the Forest of Mysterious - Frost* meets Moon Safari ... fans of either should definitely check this one out.
Entering Polaris / ATLANTEAN SHORES
Entering Polaris / AND SILENTLY THE AGE DID PASS
Arjen Lucassen's Supersonic Revolution / Golden Age of Music - Arjen's getting too samey. I liked it, but I've heard it all before.
Derrick Trafecante/Derek Sherinian / Lost Tomorrows - I never would have thought I'd like anything with DS more than DT
Project Roenwolfe / Project Roenwolfe - Some classic Metal here.