Another year, another top 10. Of course, this is based only on what I've heard this year (and may be updated in the future if something worthy has escaped my notice, like Amon Amarth somehow did during 2008).

The Top 10:
1. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Since I started making annual Top 10s in 2002, Dream Theater has been second-best three times, always coming out with something outstanding (with the possible exception of Systematic Chaos), but something just as special edged them out. This year was no exception, living up to the extremely high expectations…

Sun 17 May – Paganfest II

Damn, what a great show that was. Not only were all the bands top-notch, but the turnover was probably the most efficient I've seen. Swashbuckle hit the stage right on time at 7:00, did their 30 minutes, and Blackguard's set started at 7:42. I stopped paying attention to the start and end times after that, mainly because I never had a chance to wonder how long it had been taking.

The reason I went was to see Korpiklaani and Moonsorrow - when I saw the lineup for the first time I almost cried,…

Another year, another top 10. It's been kind of a light year, not as many of my favorites had new releases as last year, particularly compared to last year, but still some really good stuff out of what did come out.

1. Korpiklaani - Korven Kuningas
This is the fourth straight year these guys have realeased an album, but while it didn't seem like they had much time to put this together, nearly all of the songs are among the best they've done. After being disappointed by last year's Tervaskanto, it's great to see them back at the top…

So, after much procrastination, I am finally posting the top ten albums that I consider to be the best of last year. Nearly all of my favorite bands had a release this year, so it has been tough settling on which ten should make the list.

I'd have to admit that I found several of the most anticipated releases to fall short of my expectations, but a few managed to meet my lofty expectations. On top of that, a handful of unexpected gems came through as well.

1. Moonsorrow - Viides Luku - Havitetty
I'm a sucker for long, epic…

Fri 5 Oct – Finntroll with Blood of Cain

There were four opening bands scheduled for tonight's Finntroll show at the Key Club in Hollywood, none of which I had heard of before, so it was going to be interesting to see if any of them were any good. There was also concern that with so many bands playing before them, the headliners who I really wanted to see might have had a disappointingly short set.

However, after Blood of Cain, a death metal band from Chino, CA, started their set at 8:30 (a half hour later than the…

It's been a damn good year so far, and it's only looking to get better. Nearly all of the top-tier folk metal bands have had a release, including Moonsorrow, Finntroll, Ensiferum and Korpiklaani, and now we're getting some top-tier progressive metal as well with Dream Theater and Symphony X. Enough to have a pretty strong TOP TEN already less than halfway through the year.

1. Moonsorrow - V: Hävitetty
Simply outstanding. Truly music of epic proportions. Moonsorrow has always delivered the best viking metal around, and only seem to be getting stronger and more profound with each release.

2. Finntroll…

Well, I don't have much to say about 2006, certainly wouldn't call it one of the best years for music, but at least a few old-reliables managed to come out with something to keep things interesting.

1. Voivod - Katorz
Coming out a year after Piggy's death, this album features guitar tracks that he recorded on his laptop in the last months of his life, and revealed their existence to Away only a few days before he succumbed to his cancer. It was his wish to fulfill his record contract, so the rest of the band faithfully completed the songs…

That's right, not a typo, I'm talking about 2004 here, the year before last. You see, I sometimes take a while to get around to things. I'm still working on 2003.

So, as far as I'm concerned, here is The Best Albums of 2004 I've Heard By Now:

1. Finntroll Nattfödd
For the longest time, I've had this at #2. I just realized that I've been listening to this one a lot more often recently. Not just because it's shorter, either. This is a truly brilliant album that opened me up to an entirely new world of music (folk metal)…

I'm sure there's a ton of crap I missed, but nonetheless, here is the Best of What I Did Hear That Was New During 2005:

1. Moonsorrow - Verisäkeet
I had first heard of this band after going nuts over Finntroll midway through 2004, but it wasn't until 2005 when I finally heard anything from these guys. As soon as I heard the first few minutes of "Raunioilla" I knew these guys were something special, and "Kivenkantaja" quickly became my retroactive best of 2003. Lo and behold after going crazy for that and all their earlier stuff, I learn that…