Top 10 Mainstream Metal Albums of 2024

Mainstream Metal is defined here as the middle of the road that does not lean too far in the direction of other genres sludge or black metal that has its own lists. Power Metal and Thrash are the two most common sub-genres, though nu-metal and  Viking metal are both represented as well.  These are not the coolest albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say, After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of 2024.

 The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Mainstream Metal albums of 2024.

10-Kerry King- "From Hell I Rise" 

If you were wondering how much of Slayer was Kerry King, the question is about to be answered. The band had been plugging along without Jeff. Jeff played a role in their writing process, so it depends on what side of the band you hope to hear. Mark from Death Angel is handling the vocals,. This album carries a great deal about what made Slayer great but is still not Slayer. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/05/kerry-king-from-hell-i-rise.html

9-Ghoul- "Noxious Concoctions" 

This album is less raw, and more refined sonically than I have heard from them in the past. They are living up to their creepy persona. The band proves they are more capable than they normally lead you to believe. The drummer really hammers this one home in the best way possible. These guys live at the place where thrash and death metal first met in the mid-80s. This does play to their benefit as it shows that they care about catchy riffs, and writing songs rather than just pummelling you into submission. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/01/ghoul-noxious-concoctions.html

 

8-Witherfall- "Sounds of the Forgotten" 

These guys are one of the few bands doing this sort of thing that gets it right. They do not skimp on the thrash side of the genre, giving them a darker, more aggressive sound. Joesph Micheal took the mantle from Wurrel Dane on the last Sanctuary tour I caught, invoking that classic sound. On this album, drummer Chris Tsaganeas proves himself capable of sitting alongside any metal drummer doing it today. They balance out the flash of the 80s with headbanging grit here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/05/witherfall-sounds-of-forgotten.html

7-High Reeper -"Renewed By Death" 

Here is some classic-sounding metal, that could have rolled out from the late 80s. When they chug they mean it. This is a guitar band, as the drums fall behind their chug in the mix. I'm not normally huge on guitar solos but these guys craft them in a way that compliments the song. They get to the point and don't fuck around. The vocals are belted in a way that sometimes reminds me of Mark from Death Angel. They not only capture an authentic sound but wove it into catchy songs.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/high-reeper-renewed-by-death.html

 

6-Flotsam & Jetsam - "I Am the Weapon" 

In their long career, the band has been consistent in cranking out quality thrash with epic power metal-like vocals, though Eric AK has managed to rein his yodels back with age. Not sure I approve of the version of "No Place For Dusgrace' where they re-recorded them out of existence, but that was then this is now. Though it thrashes in a pretty straightforward manner. Despite having forsaken his falsetto, Eric's voice sounds great. I get why he doesn't do it as it sounds very 80s. These guys continued to fine-tune what they do without being trapped in the sound of an era.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/09/flotsam-jetsam-i-am-weapon.html

                 

5-Borknagar-"FALL" 

The 12th album from these Norse giants hath arrived. It is easy to think of this as the ICS Vortex band, but Arcturus might fit that description better as other singers have claimed the mic. There is the kind of bombast rooted in their black metal history by leading off with screamed vocals and a super aggressive slice with razor-sharp riffing before going into their more progressive side. The more operatic croon of Vortex's trademark soaring bellow drives the songs, even as they  wander off into the majestic wonderment fans know they are capable of,

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-borknagar-fall.html

4-Ihsahn- "s/t" 

The Emperor frontman returns for his 8th solo album, taking his black metal past and running it through a wild, wandering filter of progressive rock.  I think he has proven he would be capable of scoring movies. This album lives up to his ambitions, he has already set the bar pretty high for himself though when you do not weight it against Emperor but measure this album against metal music as a whole certainly more thought-provoking than most. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-ihsahn-st.html

3-Seven Hours After Violet- "S/T" 

If you are going to start up a nu-metal, then it pays to be the bass player from System of Down. He is not going to let you forget where he came from. Some of this lies on the shoulders of Taylor Barber from Left to Suffer. After reviewing two Left to Suffer albums, I  still did not know he could sing like this. You can tell they are influenced by nu-metal, and he was a wise choice as the heavier moments bridge a gap between the metal core of today and the 90s nu-metal.  This album impressed me more than expected, and a great deal of the praise should go to Taylor Barber, who let's face it was going up again Serj when it comes to the expectations of System of a Down fan, they rose the occasion 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/seven-hours-after-violet-st.html

2-Atrophy- "Asylum" 

 The band's 1988 "Socialized Hate" album is an underrated thrash classic.  At 59 years of age, Brian Zimmerman is the only original member. His voice has held up pretty well, and carries the familiar narrative of their earlier work, though he has spent some time thinking about what he did on those albums, as the phrasing is more nuanced. The band Zimmerman gathered seemed to be session players on the fringes of the business, but they stepped up to this opportunity and proved themselves as capable as any thrash band, not only standing up to the band's earlier work but creating hooky songs worth repeat listens which earned it places this high up on the list. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/atrophy-asylum.html

 

1-Crypt Sermon- "the Stygian Rose" 

Taking their  80s-flavored metal down its darker grittier path, not unlike Savatage or Metal Church, the songs benefit from more vocal colors going on this time around. The riffing carries more thrash, as they hit their stride as songwriters.  There are lots of tasteful guitar solos that relentlessly hit you with killer riffs. This album finds them coming into their own, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the albums these songs draw inspiration from.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/crypt-sermon-stygian-rose.html

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The Top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2024...so far

Last year too many journalists tried to erroneously hail hot garbage as the best black metal album of the year,, forcing me to set straight, because such a claim is disrespectful to the genre, so I decided to uphold this mid-year tradition. Just sounding good from a production standpoint is not going to make the cur, since studio magic alone is not what black metal is about. Though I am not looking for something to sound like trash in the name of being cvlt either. I am also not paying homage to bands that are just press darlings for whatever social reason of the day might be. After all, Blackbraid continues to show what he got right about Native representation is being an alcoholic,. I want bands who are effective at creating darkness, so with that said here are the top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2024 ...so far.

10-Litosth-"Cesariana" 

This Black Metal project from Brazil is doing big things on its third album. They are not just hitting you with blast beats, but hitting you with a massive cinematic scope of sound, that is being used to write songs. It carries a similar orchestrated grandiosity as Dimmu Borgir. This might not be seen as cvlt enough for some, but fvck them as these songs go somewhere and have their own sense of identity.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-litosth.html

9-Deadyellow- What Was Left of Them" 

This Philly-based black-gaze outfit seems to have taken notes from Deafheaven when it comes to which influences to sway their sound toward, to nest achieve the best sonic misery set to simmering glory while packing a punch. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/deadyellow-what-was-left-of-them.html

 

8-Compress - "The Final Level of Consciousness" 

This band is pretty impressive they come on strong feeling like "Show No Mercy " era Slayer, but ride a more atmospheric black metal throb. There is an eerie coldness, and while other sub-genres like crust and hardcore have an influence I feel like the darkness prevails making these guys more of a black metal band. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/compress-final-level-of-consciousness.html

7- Ihsahn- "s/t' 

The Emperor frontman returns for his 8th solo album, taking his black metal past and running it through a wild, wandering filter of progressive rock. This is not to say there is not black metal in and of itself.  There are symphonic elements but also hefty syncopated punches, as his knack of labyrinth arrangements continues to create winding passages that twist and turn in odd time signatures. He is not just hitting you with blast beats, and he still uses plenty of clean vocals to contrast his impressive snarl that has not lost any of its power. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-ihsahn-st.html

6-Selbst-" Despondency Chord Progressions" 

This album also has an edge over the average black metal band, as the production is on point. It is almost mixed like a Deathspell Omega album. There is enough tangled chaos to sit back in the shadows of the reverb, but the bulk of the instrumentation is front and center so the sound is not obscured. Some great guitar playing is found amongst this album's tangled shadows. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/05/selbst-despondency-chord-progressions.html

 

5-Borknagar -"Fall" 

The 12th album from these Norse giants hath arrived and it is hard to not think of them as the ICS Vortex band, but Arcturus might fit that description better as other singers have claimed the mic. There is the kind of bombast coloring this album that has its roots steeped in their black metal history by leading off with screamed vocals and a super aggressive slice with razor-sharp riffing to balance out the band's more progressive side. The more operatic croon of Vortex's trademark soaring bellows is also present, to bring the majestic wonderment fans know they are capable of

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-borknagar-fall.html

 

4-Dartkthrone - "It Beckons Us All" 

Thought of as one of the forefathers of second-wave black metal, it's been a minute since they conformed to any genre, and have been digging up the graves of 80s Celtic Frost for the past few albums which have done so with varying levels of nostalgia, Nordic atmosphere, and grimness. The first track makes it evident they have taken their time to dial these sounds in while still being true to who they are as a band. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/darkthrone-it-beckons-us-all.html

 

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3-Vemod -"the Deepening" 

This Norweigan band is not hung up on being trve Norweigan black metal. They blend more folky sounds into the ambiance of their atmospheric tension. There is a dynamic ebb and flow to their sound that allows for atmosphere in a manner that does not pigeonhole them into being just Atmospheric black metal. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-vemod.html

2-Infant Island- "Obsidian Wreath" 

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There is more to this album than writing it off as black-gaze. It also falls on the most extreme end of screamo. Though will more than likely most appeal to fans of black metal and power violence. it builds off the shimmer of wild screaming. I wonder if he is even trying to utter lyrics at this point. Chaotic and still at times deliberate with the kind of dynamic shifts that can make something this unsettled have melodic value, which they manage to do. Even hardcore gang vocals chime in at times. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/01/infant-island-obsidian-wreath.html

1-meth- "Shame"

This band from Chicago taps into the same torment that bands like Portrayal of Guilt dig into. The riffs pound with a sludge-like deliberation, while their singer screams with the unrelenting anguish of someone being disemboweled alive. It is very dark, so much so that it becomes black metal. The chaos being invoked on this album, it feels like blackened sludgecore would be the best description if we needed to tie it down to a genre.

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-meth-shame.html

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Black Metal History Month - Ihsahn : "s/t"

The Emperor frontman returns for his 8th solo album, taking his black metal past and running it through a wild, wandering filter of progressive rock. This is not to say there is not black metal in and of itself. The second song is a more venomous excursion in that. There are symphonic elements but also hefty syncopated punches, as his knack of labyrinth arrangements continues to create winding passages that twist and turn in odd time signatures. He is not just hitting you with blast beats, and he still uses plenty of clean vocals to contrast his impressive snarl that has not lost any of its power. This is a two-disc set that also offers a symphonic version of the album that I need to review here. There are enough symphonic elements in this version to get the point across. 

"Twice Born" is an example of how he blends the symphonic elements, without compromising the aggression. Things ebb down to a more melodic tone for "A Taste of the Ambrosia".  Midway into the song, things get more dramatic.  "Blood Trails to Love" finds him employing the kind of harsher cry that reminds me of King Diamond. One of his earlier influences. This bleeds over into the riff that opens "Hubris and the Blue Devils" which also sounds like something from a King Diamond album. Which coming from me is more of a compliment. The meat of the song is a mathy angular tenque sion. 

The is a more opaque prog sheen over the more melodic 'The Distance Between Us". It works as a song but is not as gripping as the previous songs. The last actual song and not the symphonic outro is a display of cinematic grandiosity.  I think he has proven he would be capable of scoring movies. I will give this album a 9.5, as he lived up to his ambitions. I do not think it is his best solo album, but when measured against metal music as a whole certainly more thought-provoking than most. 

 

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Ibaraki : "Rashomon"

 

Matt from Trivium and Emperor mastermind Ihsahn  collaborated on this album. It is not secret I am more into the Ihsahn side of this equation, which is the half brining more of a progressive side to thing, Trivium just strikes me as Sirrus radio ready mainstream metal. The songs are well written, though not as black metal as press buzzing about this album might lead you to believe.  Things get heavier on the second song, though I am not really blown away by it as when it comes to metal these days this just sounds like a more polished and better version of what is already out there. I would prefer a Ihsahn solo album, the transitions from clean vocals and the typical screaming, is somewhat formulaic. The more screamed vocals even more so, they have almost a more hard-core cadence to them. 

The more melodic "Jigoku Dayu" is an improvement, though I cannot say even in this direction I am not finding my opinion of Matt Heafy swayed. Rightfully so as the song winds up where I assumed it would. He is effective at doing what he set out to do here, what he set to do just is not very original.  It doesn't feel like it flows as well on "Tamashii" . Nergal guests on "Akumu" which is heavier and more focused but offers little surprises. When it's not circling the same angry stomping grounds there are some cool guitar passages on "Komorebi". "Ronin" which features the vocals of  Gerad Way from My Chemical Romance, goes from an almost power metal vocal dramatic to Way's harsher black metal vocals, when people online were surprised by this , it is obvious they did not pay attention to My Chemical Romance's first album.

 Is Heafy is more than just just a decent guitarist? Yes. Does he do anything original ? Not really. Sure things get more progressive by the end of the song , but this is clearly one of those sections that is Ihsahns's doing. The plus side is when Ihsahn makes his presence known it is very tangible, I just wish there was more of that.  Overall I like this more than I would a Trivium album, but not as much as an Emperor one, things sound great, and his singing has improved over the years, but not the most original thing, as even the more melodic parts feel like they are being barrowed from Opeth so i will give this album an 8. 

  

6.9

Ihsahn : "Pharos"

Yes, I am fine with Ihsahn exploring things not black metal. He is a great singer and when he taps into things with more of a 80s pop sense or 90s alternative vibe he does not turn he back on metal dynamics when it makes sense . Sure he might not emplo his black metal scream. This comes closer to what you might expect from Devin Townsend. Now this new mood might work better in some places than others and might flow as a song better than other times., The first track was strong , but the second song does not grab me as it feels too happy for my tastes. So I am ok with what ever stye of music an artist goes in but less willing to compromise on it not being dark. It  is well done for what it is and I respect that , just not what resonates with me .

The tite track swims in the same middle of the road prog ambiance that Opeth has been peddling in recent year. I do like this however better than the previous song and he does find his distortion pedal to shift the dynamics in a big way. With that said it means I like this more than most post- "Watershed"  Opeth.  And now we get to the covers . It is funny because before I went through my email to review this I was listening to Porishead. I like hearing him reach up into his upper register to micmic Beth Gibbons. He does an excellent job with this one .

I am not familar with the Aha song he chose as like most I think we think of them as one hit wonders with little exsistence beyond  "Take on Me".  Einar Solberg of Leperous takes over the vocals for this one. It is fitting as he has a higher ranger in his natural voice . I appreciate even the moments that do not resonate with me as they are not dark enough and will go ahead and give this a 9, though it is not as good as the "Telemark" album he released earlier this year. He is not the only artist that is releasing multiple abums this year due to covid giving more people more time on their hands which is allowing for excursions into places they might not normally wander.

Black Metal History Month- Ihsahn : "Telemark"

This might not be blackest of the month's releases, but there is none more fitting or deserving to b here than my friend Ihsahn, who brings us a new ep that finds him returning to a more metallic place that is not far removed from his band Emperor. This is done with little nostalgia and keeps things in a progressive King Crimson like slant with horns providing jazzy accents. The guitar playing is very thoughtful and balances out the chugs. I will go ahead and say the only moment close to a misstep for me is his choice of covering the Lenny Kravtiz song " Rock N Roll is Dead" which he does give a more King Crimson like touch to . It's just not a song that I feel plays to his strengths. I would even say his cover of Iron Maiden's "Wrath Child" is an odd straightforward one for him, since I know his favorite Maiden album is actually "Seventh Son" . But he got that one and worked his way back.If memory serves me. If you read this blog then you know just because I am friends with someone it doesn't mean I am cutting them any slack. 

What is most metal about this album is the return to his harsher snarl. He has the best voice in black metal so it's cool hearing it put to use again rather than the more Opeth like trade off he has done on his solo stuff in the past. "Nord" straddle the line between prog and metal, with the vocals giving it the tipping point. The arrangements are amazing. He is a brilliant composers, this we know going back to Emperor. Lyrically it's an ode to his homeland. The solo this song is off the charts and he is one of the most under rated guitarists in metal. The title track finds him using some exotic scales that draw from Scandinavian folk music and employing more traditional instrumentation along with the rock set up. It is the album's most melodic moment so far even with the angular metter going on. I am glad to hear him singing in Norse again as well, which he does until the two cover songs. Since it's my native tongue I am always going to prefer this , I thik heavy music sounds better in it, but I am bias. I used to translate it more when I wrote here, ut it got to be as annoying as when an American says to me "say something in Norwegian"  to which I ma prone to reply, "Why don't you speak English properly first for me?"

    The Kravitz cover grows on me. It is however not as a good as the Maiden one because , let's face Lenny is not as good of a song writer as Iron Maiden in the first place. The Maiden is more uptempo and the horns give accents that are a little weird. His vocals fall between snarling and singing. I would prefer to hear him hit some of the notes a little more straight on. The chorus could have been growl and verse sung in place, but it is what is is. I am going to be picky when it comes to Maiden. I will give this a 9.5 , so only rounded down a point for Kravitz. It's a great reminder of one of the fore fathers of  black metal.

This comes out the 14th  on Candlelight Records.

the Top 10 Prog Albums of 2018

It is that time again. If you showed up for wanking and frilly pirate shirts then look elsewhere, so no Dream Theater clones or really anything close.It has to go somewhere not the same noodling album after album. The score from my reviews to help determine the ranking , but also how many times Last FM told me I listened to each album.An album can have all the critical acclaim in the world but if it does not inspire multiple listens then how good can it actually be ?

This year it leans more heavily on the side of between new blood being spilled and  more well established acts .  Rather than posting media of a track from each band I am leaving a link to the review, which will contain Bandcamp or Full Album Streams. Ok enough talking about it, the time has come to dig into the top 10 Prog albums of 2018.

10- Arabrot- "Who Do You Love"

 This album finds the project taking on more more conventional rock slant, even their tendency to drone and the odd touch of quirk to the vocals on the first song, you can also hear traces of Led Zeppelin. The sonic oddities and genre jerking that have been reigned in for the sake of songwriting and are not missed as long as they are keeping this heading in a darker direction. I think this album is such it's own thing that it becomes most endearing over time.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/07/arabrot-who-do-you-love.html

9-Megaton Leviathan - "Mage"

 Another band that has changed this year. When I heard the first track off this album, I thought "Oh My God , they have turned into Jesu" . I am fine with this as I miss Jesu . In other words there is more of a dreamy  shoe gaze haze over this album and it barely touches upon metal, yet it does have rock in it's veins to the point that I am not putting this on an indie rock or post-punk list. It gets a lot of props for the surreal adventure it takes you on.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/11/megaton-leviathan-mage.html

8- Crippled Black Phoenix - "Great Escape"

 This project of Justin Greaves the drummer for Iron Monkey and Electric Wizard, typically embarks on a more psychedelic rock vein. This is still the case with ample doses of progressive rock which is still in the 70s rock zip code. Melodic vocals and a bong laden mood, allow the opening song to coast with the relaxed Pink Floyd like vibe. When it comes to prog rock these guys do it smoother than most.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/12/crippled-black-phoenix-great-escape.html






7-Ihsahn -"Amr"

 The ex Emperor master mind's last few album's drifted further into progressive rock. There are plenty of moments that are not only metal but closer to even black metal,with his choked croak almost picking up where his first solo album left off. Synths are more to the forefront. Not just any synths , but very retro synths that sound like they are from an 80s horror movie. Its a shade better than what most other artists in progressive metal are doing, though the progressive side is what breaks up the dark aggression that we came to know and love him by. The bar is set pretty high and my threshold for darkness is at the level of soul sucking so if you like darker progressive metal it might be your album so far year. I am a step away from being vampiric in my lust for darkness never be quenched by the metal of mere mortals, so take that into consideration

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/04/ihsahn-amr.html


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6-Sigh- "Heir to Despair"

    This band really defines progressive rock. There shit is not a bunch of notes it goes somewhere and actually makes progress. While I was surprised that it sounded like a space age take on Jethro Tull as a metal band, it makes perfect sense. Yes , I know they used to be a black metal band. They are still heavy,

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/11/sigh-heir-to-despair.html

5- Lychgate" The Contagion in Nine Steps" 

 Fans of the band who showed up for black metal might have found this to be jarring. It's also really dark and interesting so if you don't recognize that and want just blast beats so eat more glue and chase it with a bullet. This is not to say I approve of every movement in this shifting landscape of angular chaos. I do approve of the sense of adventure and rebellion against the black metal status quo even at risk of not being black metal anymore.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/05/lychgate-contagion-in-nine-steps.html

4-Vanishing Kids " Heavy Dreamer" 


This band features former members of Jex Thoth and draws influences from a wider web. The over driven guitar waking sluggishly from the hazy murk of occult rock while bathing with lusher atmosphere. Despite the occasional rock god guitar solo that puts it's foot upon on the monitor to remind you where they came from, both the title track and "Without a Sun" both sound like they could have come from 4AD's catalog in the late 80s.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/09/vanishing-kids-heavy-dreamer.html

3- Manes - "Slow Motion Death Sequence" 


 This album finds the band going further in a direction that is more electronic than metal. I like the vocals right from the jump. They are moody and the female vocals remind me of Bjork. While this might not be metal, there are rock elements t with distorted power chords creating a driving pulse. The male vocals continue to get weirder reminding me of Peter Gabriel.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/06/manes-slow-motion-death-sequence.html

2-Voivod- "the Wake" 

 The 14th album from these legends finds them embracing all of their sides. The album takes you through a wide array of dark and melodic places, with more of a proggy "Nothing Face" like drive rather than the thrash aggression of their earlier work.In terms of heavy it's more like "Dimension Hatross" than "War& Pain". Snake's voice sounds great on this album, where many of his peers feel the effects of time. I think while it only comes close to the very peak of the Piggy years , you are talking about the best albums by one of the very best metal bands, so that is a high fucking bat. It does however holds ground against their body of work as a whole and is clear they are not content to fall back into rehashing the past , but continuing to progress.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/08/voivod-wake.html

1-Voices- "Frightened" 


 Former members of Akercocke formed this progressive metal band. The dark sense of melody further into this album with each listen . It has a wide array of vocal colors. The metal core of what these musicians creates from doesn't hamper it from bringing other elements ranging from post-punk to post- hardcore, though I guess these post-men aren't just ringing twice as any other post-sub genre can also be found. This album is very impressive, when I got it back in April it was what I thought to be one of the first contenders for album of the year as I could not imagine someone bringing it in the dark and aggressive fashion these guys do.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/04/voices-frightened.html

The Top 50 Metal Guitarists - 20 to 11

The death of a guitarist I played with turned my thoughts to what makes a good guitarist great. Metal finds the stakes for guitarists high. Shredding can come before playing a fucking song. While all of these guitarists can play a solo, I was also looking for tone, impact on the genre as a whole and how their personalities came through in their playing. So this list of the top 50 Metal Guitarists. If you don't find your favorite guitar player here then know they were just wankers.



20- Kerry King

Sure his solos are formulaic,and has a punk sloppiness to it at times but his playing has a fire to it that helps define the sound of his band. Marrying metal and punk at the cross roads that became thrash. He uses an evil chaos in his playing that made his band darker than the other thrash bands at the time.




19-Ihsahn

His playing goes beyond black metal. Romantic touches of neo-classical gives a more gothic touch to the architecture of his songs.He has branched out to 8 strings for his solo work. More of a shredder than you might expect he will go down as underrated except on this list where he is earning his rightful place.



18-Adam Jones

He doesn't solo in the traditional sense. He does add sonic dynamics where solos would go and is almost jazz like in the way he gives the drums and bass room to breathe. He knows how to keep the tension and get a big arena rock sound when needed. He influenced an entire generation of progressive metal players who live for the groove no matter how complex or simple.


 17-Kirk Hammett

He has some memorable solos. His band is known for their big riffs, but he works around the chugs and gallops owing more of a rock sensibility to his playing that heavy metal thunder. I don't think his band could work without him even though he stepped in to replace Dave Mustaine many moons ago.



 16-Kim Thayll

How could he beat out Hammet you ask? His playing is more creative and darker. He uses up more sonic space to create a sense of unease on his band's earlier work, but is able to solo with the best of them when it is called for. He weaves in noise and chaos while still managing to create grunge anthems that dominated the air waves.




15-Zakk Wylde

He had some big shoes to fill. Rather than living in the shadow of the great players who stood beside he boss before he, Wylde carved out his own sound and brought something new to the table. He could pulls off the Randy Rhodes stuff with his own flair which was impressive live.





14 Arve Isdal

Until you see this guy rock it live you have no idea. He is the prime reason his band almost blew Dimmu Borgir off the stage. They might play viking prog, but his playing keeps the band rooted in the rock side of classic metal.




13- Don Anderson

He can pulls a sweep arpeggio out of thin air, despite the fact he is mainly adding melody to the more post-rock side of his former band Agalloch. I haven't sought out his current project as Agalloch is a moment in time I do not want to put down.



12- Ace Frehely

You wanted the best you got the best. He plays guitar for the hottest band in the land.  Technically he is outclassed by many players ranked lower than him, but chances are they would not have picked up a guitar in the first place if it was not for him.His solo work is also pretty decent for all you rock soldiers who want the Ace back like he told you so.




11- Trey Azagthoth

He took what Kerry King did and sacrificed it to the Ancient Ones. It returned back to this plan as death metal and crushed many souls. The unique twisted on his personification of chaos, sets him aside as his own island in a genre guilty of rehashing the same old grind. He is the Eddie Van Halen of death metal.

 

Ihsahn: "Amr"

The ex Emperor master mind's last few album's drifted further into progressive rock. The opening track of his new album is much more metal, closer to even black meta; when the drums come in. Synths are more to the forefront. Not just any synths , but very retro synths that sound like they are from an 80s horror movie. The metallic momentum doesn't let on the second song  even though it includes clean vocals. The choked croak almost picks up where his first solo album left off. More of the progressive elements begin to return this as well. The title track digs deeper into the more melodic slant the second song hinted at The clean vocals on the verses remind me a little of Elfman's Jack Skellington tone. Like many other progressive vocal approaches the melody is more relaxed and more focused on the grandiose than hooking you in.

"One Less Enemy" finds itself locked in more of a groove before the wretched vocals come in an the music fall into a more staccato pattern behind it. It rides the tension with a dark chug that reminds me a little of King Diamonds heavier solo moments. The haunting melodic throb of "Where You Are Lost an I Belong". The vocals build while the music lays back and gives them room to breathe. "In Rites of Passage" picks up the pace in a more traditional metal manner before going off into some weird electronic passage, while the vocals keep the song's trajectory. On "Marble Soul" things start heading in a more upbeat prog direction with the majestic melodies replacing feelings of melancholy. There is a lot going on with "Marble Soul" it is almost like Pain of Salvation in that regard. The 80s synths lead into " Twin Black Angels. It has a suitable palm muted tension with hushed vocals until it gets to the chorus. The chorus is a little too happy for. Almost to the Dream Theater level of happiness, though less Journey vocally. On the second listen to grew on me a little more.

The album closes with the much heavier black thrashing of "Wake".  This starts as one of the album's heaviest moments, though when the clean vocals come in at the chorus the mood brightens for better or for worse. As the song progresses it gets more progressive and these elements make the mood more grand than grim which might not be where I want it to go. He has certainly band albums that were more progressive. I think the inclusion of 80s synths is a nice touch to make this album stand apart. I'll give this a 9, while it is not his best work, its a shade better than what most other artists in progressive metal are doing, though the progressive side is what breaks up the dark aggression that we came to know and love him by. The bar is set pretty high and my threshold for darkness is at the level of soul sucking so if you like darker progressive metal it might be your favorite album so far this year, I a step away from being vampiric in my lust for darkness that will never be quenched by the metal of mere mortals, so take that into consideration. This comes out May 4th on Candlelight Records.

the Top 10 Progressive Metal Albums of 2016

progressive means to progress, if you are putting out the same album of indulgent noodling I don't care if it is under the guys of a rock opera or not your sound is not evolving you are not progressive. So these are not albums serving as bookends to keyboard solos and are all more focused on the songs than trying to just make musicale bukkake. Many genres are touched on with in this some are more black metal than others some are death metal, some are hard rock, but they all break the mold and embody progressive metal even with out operatic vocals and frilly shirts. Here are the top 10 progressive metal albums of 2016. If you want to hear any of these bands just follow the review links.

10-Fallujah- "Dreamless" 

Here is the follow up to 2014's "The Flesh Prevails". While these guys are technical death metal, they pull it off in such a way that doesn't just come across as dazzling you with chops but create an atmosphere. The first song seems like a movement more than a song on it's own even though I like the fact the carries more ambiance than anything I remember from the first album. "Adrenaline" ebbs down into an almost jazzy landscape, but caters more to fans of death metal as it is about the propulsion. The vocals are forceful growls on the lower side of mid range. A more progressive color is added that creates a more Dream Theater like feel before they blast off into the more rapid fire attack. The drummer is really killing it coming off of fills into punching grooves. The bass player is not too far behind him in terms of prowess. The shredding solos of course reach out and grab, but it's the other textures like the female vocals of Tori Letzer, tossed into this one that make a difference

.http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/fallujah-dreamless.html

 9- Hawkwind- "The Machine Stops"


 Here's a rule... if you are going to throw around a band's name when it comes to influencing other artists you like , then you must review their albums when they are released or you are very simply a poseur. You don't have to like it. As not all band's can keep up the kind of streak that the likes of Bowie and Zappa had. Things have changed since their days Lemmy was in the band. The sci-fi element was not toned down, instead it was allowed to run wild. If you do drugs and are not doing them when you listen to this album, that needs to change. This concept album is based on the Em Forster book of the same name. So here is a case of where this album did not get as much air time from me since I no longer drop acid ...or do any drugs, but if I am going to relapse on the more mind expansive drugs then this would be on tap. I really like how they maintained their sense of identity while dabbling in newer sounds.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/hawkwind-machine-stops.html



8- Thy Catafalque- "Meta"

Katai is back handling things on this own once again. There is more of a conventional metal groove to the opener and less black metal, though the end result is a good song so what genre he is delving into here doesn't really matter much to me.  Katai does get some help by the second song "Siraly" as female vocals coast over the slightly slower than mid-tempo waltz of distorted guitar. Things get a more experimental with bells ringing out before a thrashing attack. This album does take more chances than most metal releases and is not tied hard and fast into a genre it feels the need to play it safe and conform to.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/thy-catafalque-meta.html

7- Hail Spirit Noir- "Mayhem in Blue"


 I loved this band's last album, so I won't lie it's a surprise to hear them go from progressive black metal into groovy 60's tinged black n roll.Some blast beats do crop up, I am not sure I would say they give the end a more black metal feel, I do not that this is going to be a weird ride. The title track finds them bringing back more of the prog feel, and going all out into the wake of Poseidon with Opeth like melodic section before bring some smack down.The sung vocals are well executed and these guys are incredible musicians so it's hard to argue against any of their creative choices so far.


http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/10/hail-spirit-noir-mayhem-in-blue.html

 6- Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas-"Mariner"

 On the 8th release by this band I think it was high time they did something to switch it up a bit so the same old sludge didn't get stale. The first song stays fairly close to home. Though they have opened up a more expansive sound with a greater range of melody.While some of the songs might go to excess in terms of length, they keep my attention . There is not a fast forward classic on this one, some points are just more powerful than others, but it all balances out.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/cult-of-luna-julie-christmas-mariner.html

5- the Von Deer Skulls"- The Rest is Silence"


 They cover a lot of ground in the eight minutes of the first song.If I am really going to nit pick the genre lines, I would say this falls closer to sludge than doom. The slow heaviness places more emphasis on oppression on than mourning. The spoken section going into "the fall of the Raven" makes it clear these guys are from France. The more oppressive mood is the driving force of this song as it lumbers a more droning course.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-von-deer-skulls-rest-is-silence.html

4-Pensees Nocturnes- A Boire et A Manger"

 How experimental do you like your metal is the first question you have to ask when going into this one. French metal bands have never played it safe. This takes that to a new extreme with something you might hear in the Big Easy they pulls from a style of jazz that later influenced the creole jazz of New Orleans influenced Jazz it flips into metal that is noisy and dissonant. This is dark enough to make me happy, but after hearing it called depressive black metal my expectations were something more like Lifelover or Totalselfhatred . Instead of anguish and emoting we get something more like death metal even though there are croon clean vocals that come like something from a Mike Patton project.This is totally original despite the comparisons to John Zorn that could be drawn. The guitar playing might sound disjointed at times, but I think this is all done very purposefully. The blast beats come in spasm like burst lingering when the New Orleans street jazz returns


. http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/02/black-metal-history-month-pensees.html


 3- Ihsahn- 'Arktis"


 Ihsahn has brought back the metal is back in a big way on his 6th solo album.  You won't forget Ihsahn was in Emperor. I suppose he felt he took the experimentation as far as he could without losing sight of where he came from. This makes for an album that is in line with his earlier solo work. Captures more of an Opeth like feel...that is when Opeth actually played metal.The electronic elements are still there just set back behind the guitars. The guys from Leprous are still around with  Einar Solberg, helping out with vocals . Overall he is back here in fine form and proving himself to be one of the best creative minds in metal or any genre.



 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/ihsahn-artktis.html




2- Voivod - "Post Society"

 Voivod has always been light years ahead of their time. Since "Target Earth" the band has locked into a sound that takes the classic tones from "Dimension Hatross " and pushes it forward in a modern production. This ep is the quality of both songwriting and production as "Target Earth" in fact the arrangements might be even more progressive,  like the surreal breakdown on the title track that kicks the ep off. They have always been able to shift in a very organic manner from one movement to the next . What amazes me more upon hearing this is how true they are to their legacy even though half of the original members are not on this recording. Chewy and Rocky did comprise the live band on their last pass through the states with Napalm Death and both really do justice to the Voivod legacy. This is only an ep, but it is Voivod and even there passing fancies are better than what your favorite band can muster


. http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/voivod-post-society.html

1- Purson- 'Desire's Magic Theater"


 While summoning a retro vibe is part of their sound there was more of a hard rock under current to their sound which this new full length turns away from in favor of something that is supposed to be a rock opera aiming for Sgt. Pepper and Ziggy Stardust. Right from the get go it feels like it has more in common with T-Rex before colliding into more of a folkish hippy haze of second hand smoke. They throw a ton of colors at you so it can be overwhelming at first but at the end of the day I found this album stuck and stayed more than the others on this list. So that is why it earned the top spot.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/purson-desires-magic-theater.html

Ihsahn : "Artktis"

Ihsahn has brought back the metal is back in a big way on his 6th solo album.  You won't forget Ihsahn was in Emperor. I suppose he felt he took the experimentation as far as he could without losing sight of where he came from. This makes for an album that is in line with his earlier solo work. Captures more of an Opeth like feel...that is when Opeth actually played metal.The electronic elements are still there just set back behind the guitars. The guys from Leprous are still around with  Einar Solberg, helping out with vocals . I really like the melody that closes in on the song's three minute mark. If you are going go from growls to clean vocals this is the way to do it. "Mass Darkness" finds Matt Heafy from Trivium stepping out of the where are they now files to lend a hand in the shredding department.  It's a darker more ominous song. He is back in full force with the harsher vocals.

There is a punchy almost Deep Purple like riff to "My Heart is of the North" . It really goes into an unexpected place, that almost made me think it was another song. If you think prog is about wanking then you need to learn something and give this album a listen. That's not to say Ihsahn doesn't flex his chops and he has them as one of metal most under rated guitarists. I'm not even going to tell you what happens at the three minute mark. The keyboards on this album are on point and production wise everything is dialed in perfectly. Things take a much darker turn into more Skinny Puppy direction on the incredible "South Winds" which still finds electronica in play but being used in context of what Ihsahn does best. The Opeth like clean vocals do show up, but somehow it all meshes. "In the Vaults" finds more of a tug of war between the influence of black metal and prog metal. The prog wins out.

"Until I Too Dissolve" finds him fighting off the Dream Theater temptation. The awesome chorus of "Pressure" is what really brings it all home and pulls the twisted verses together. "Frail" really takes the concept of being a musical oddity in the right direction.  The Nordic Shining's Jorgen Munkeby to chime in on" Crooked Red Line" . It's cook to hear him play something less spastic than his band, there is more straight up jazz to the melodies here, though it's worked smoothly into the type of dark thinking man's metal that makes up this album.  They balance is tipped into straight up balladry on "Celestial Violence". It kicks in right on time a minute and a half into it, which any longer would have wandered into power ballad territory. When the clean vocals come back in they prove you can really sing in 2016 and still have a sense of commanding power without coming across like you are in Primal Fear. For the sake of this review I am not going to count the bonus track which is the weird spoken word "Til Tor Ulven", it sounds like something from the Metallica & Lou Reed "Lulu" album. The rest of the album kicks ass and finds him back in fine form I'll give it a 10.

Interview: Ihsahn

It was good to catch back up with the Emperor front man, here's what he said...

Wil- I know your latest Album Das Seelenbrechen was an intentional step away from your past solo albums, so how did you go about this ?

Ihsahn - the previous album were heavy, with 8 string guitars and sax, so this time I wanted to stay inspired and out of my comfort zone and go about this like many of the artists I have had an admiration for who express themselves spontaneously. For the more metal albums I have always worn so many hats on the production side of things, all the control leaves little space. So I wanted to go backwards, bring back the black metal atmosphere and try different musical forms. I wanted to explore different chord colors. I would go into the studio in the middle of the night with two lyrics and took them to the drummer and just picked up my guitar and improvised. It is how I imagine Diamanda Galas might create with some of her more vocal works.

Wil - and the drummer on this is the same guy from Leprous ?

Ihsahn- yes , Tobias. It seemed like the most natural choice, after touring with him and having built a dynamic. I can't imagine doing it with anyone else ,as he can play the ore black metal up beat drumming as well as relate to the improvisation.

Wil- Let's talk about "Pulse" it's a very different song for you, how did it come about?

Ihsahn - From the spontaneous way of working, I bought a Moog and made an electronic beat with it and then used it to make a bass line. I also used it for a lot of the bass lines on the albums heavier songs as well. I have listened to a lot of electronic music over the years, and the idea built out of itself.

Wil- You mentioned the Moog, gear wise was there anything else new you tried in the studio?

Ihsahn - I have always like to use new things, this time it was more of a mix from the 8 strings to a hybrid long scale 7 string that Ibenez came out with. I also used a Telecaster, as it is the only way to get that certain twangy sound. I even came back into possession of my first guitar from when I was 10 and used it. I played percussively on old acoustics and sampled that.

Wil- The title references the Nietzsche saying about "art of the ugly soul" was this the theme for the album?

Ihsahn - That word is not a real German word , he put it together and I felt it summed up the feeling that comes from my inspiration. Perception synonymous with abstract, I crave it when I listen to music. To reach the place beyond perception where you loose yourself. That is where those happy mistakes come from, the ego is aside and its nothing technical.

Wil- I think since music  works off vibrations, becomes more conducive to doing that than physical art forms. Did you find improvisation put you in a more meditative space to reach that place ?

Ihsahn- Absolutely, To break off from your own ego and most artists have great egos, myself included, so to loose the conscious side, and express your self without the critical goblin on your shoulder. There is often imagery attached to music but easier to make our own interpretations.

Wil- So what was the lyrical theme for the album?

Ihsahn- I have always written personal lyrics masking them with grandiose images, to hide the personal, so its open to interpretation , rather than leave myself naked. I think as I wrote more spontaneously it came from a more personal state of mind. Some one who is smarter than me said " All art is created from a place between megalomainia and self loathing. It's a roller coaster between the two and it hasn't gotten any easier.

Wil- What challenges do you see the new material creating when you transition to playing it live?

Ihsahn- I think the challenge will be the stage. Most of the shows I have been playing recently are outside festivals and I have been opening with "On the Shores and closing with " the Grave" they are both slow with long sax passages, I think it is necessary to play them, but in the early evening, in the heat every one is drinking cold beer and just having fun. So some if might be more fitting for indoor festivals where it is more experimental and tailor the set for specific performances, so not as much compromise but what is practical.

Wil - With the Emperor reunion coming in 2014, was this in the back of your mind or influence you at all when writing this album ?

Ihsahn - This was finished before those talks came about, but I have always been reluctant to do Emperor, it's no secret I have been rather stubborn as I want my current music to be as relevant as what I have done in the past, though by embracing the attitude of not being in control it took me back to the place from when we were 19 and recorded in the Night Side Eclipse. We just had the intense drive to create with having any experience, so it will be easier from that place to relate to old Emperor and hopefully I feeling so that it can be preformed with the needed intensity.

Wil- One thing we share is a love for King Diamond. There's a trend coming from Sweden with bands like , Ghost and In Solitude who are very influenced by him. What influence has he had on you and how does that continue?

Ihsahn - I grew up listening to Priest and Maiden but then the King Diamond band came and added more of a depth and epic nature of its drama . King Diamond's vocal style is so expressive and has such a range of different voices. Andy Laroque is my favorite guitarist. His tone, playing and expressiveness have all influenced mine. I have listened to Maiden's Seventh Son, album the most, but Them is right behind it.

Wil- Yeah, I always felt King took what they did and gave it a more romantic darkness, that was a big influence to early black and to what Emperor did.

Ihsahn - Yes, he wrote about deliberately about satanism where it had only been skimmed on in a superficial sense. Death metal is one dimensional. Is just aggression . The vocal style is just aggressive, where with a black metal scream it can convey a wider range of emotion. There is aggression, but there is also desperation and melancholy. King Diamond's voice is like that it has a nasty side, but in his lower croon a more mournful sound.

Wil - Speaking of variety in vocal ranges, your's becomes more refined, how do you see yourself growing with it comes to actually singing?

Ihsahn - I have slowly accepted my voice as it is. When I was younger, I never thought about it I just did it and went for it. As I have gotten older, I'm more self aware. It's always been a challenge to like my own voice. So to just sing as it sounds is difficult , with the harsh vocals it's easier to express, like playing with distortion on the guitar. But I write songs where it is necessary and I like building the harmonies, but singing is always difficult.

Wil - Do lesson do you feel you took away from making this album?

Ihsahn - Improved at breaking self imposed barriers. The idea that having the confidence to try something different . I'm a big fan of Radiohead and every one though Ok Computer was great but then they followed it up by changing their whole sound and bringing in computers and making electronic music, though it still sounds like Radiohead. So to be free and trust the process and know that it will happen.

Wil - Well its that time of the month for Halloween, what does this time of year mean for you?

Ihsahn - Oh, I very much enjoy it but it has become about the children.

Wil - Haha, yeah My daughter is three now and one day she wants to be Cinderella the next Batgirl, so we could be buying costumes all month.

Ihsahn - My daughter has been planning Halloween for a year now.

Wil-  Well , looks like we are out of time...

Ihsahn - Always enjoy talking with you ,look forward to talking to you again.