This Venom album has terrible production and surprisingly punky vocals. The lyrics are cringe-inducing and the songwriting isn’t very good in general, but there are a few cool grooves and nice guitar bits. “Don’t Burn The Witch” and “Sacrifice” probably stood out the most to me on first listen. Compare this to the Be’Lakor album, which has consistently great music and songwriting,
but is marred by unwelcome glass-gargling vocals. Thankfully the vocals are a bit lower in the mix and are toward the less awful end of the extreme vocal spectrum for me, so I’m hoping that I’ll find a way past them through repeated listens, because I’d really like to be able to enjoy this album fully. Regardless, compare these two records and
@Saapanael ’s nominee is the clear victor.
Winner: Be’Lakor
This Megadeth album is a very mixed bag, with a few cool tracks, but a lot of filler and reheated leftovers. I liked it more when it first came out, but repeated listens have not been kind to it. I’m not really a fan of Glen Drover’s style in general — his rhythm playing is nondescript and his solos don’t go anywhere interesting. “Sleepwalker” is pretty good, and “Washington Is Next!” is also good if you ignore the blatant cribbing from “Wasted Years”. “Never Walk Alone...” recycles a lamer version of the riff from “Vortex” and doesn’t really justify its existence. The title track stinks, “Gears Of War” is a recycled so-so track from the video game, and “A Tout Le Monde” is a pointless re-recording of a song that was only 13 years old at the time. “Amerikhastan” is pretty good, but the rest of the tracks are filler. Not a great showing. Compare that to the best record from one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time and the choice is obvious. Sorry, Kidnight666, but I’d vote this way even if it weren’t for own-nominee bias.
Winner: Rush
This Alter Bridge album is pretty strong. I like most of the guitar work and anthemic songwriting on display here. I don’t agree with all of Myles Kennedy’s melody and phrasing choices, but he’s a very good singer. Meanwhile, we have motherfucking Bolt Thrower, who offer up a slab of more traditional heavy metal
with a particularly dire case of the mumps to go with it. Sorry,
@Dityn DJ James, but The Arianadent’s nominee is more varied and is more appealing to my personal taste.
Winner: Alter Bridge
This Judas Priest album is thoughtful and varied, handling rockers and ballads with equal finesse. It takes chances, bridging some of the sounds of the 70s with more experimental vocals and the beginnings of what would become their 80s sound. It’s an important album for both the band and the genre that’s earned its place in history. The Atlantean Kodex album has its appeal, but it can’t stand up to a record of this caliber. Sorry, LoosePerun, but mcForosaapandog’s nominee takes this one easily.
Winner: Judas Priest
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