Within Temptation:  Mother Earth

The long awaited second release (at least for me) from Holland's own Within Temptation.  This album is different from "Enter" in many respects.  Robert Westerholt's growl vocals are totally absent from this release, but when you have a singer of the quality of Sharon den Adel, who cares?  She ranks up there with Anneke of the Gathering!      The title track begins with an almost Celtic feel with pan flutes.  Also prevalent throughout the album are heavy symphonic keyboards and a string section.  While all the songs are great, there are a number of stand out tracks that take WT into a new direction.  "Our Farewell" is a pretty piano ballad with heart string wrenching vocals.  "Caged" features the most powerful vocal performance of Sharon that I've heard, complete with a choir backup, very reminiscent of Therion.  This by far is my favorite track on the album.  There is also a fantasy theme throughout the album, featured most prominently on "Never-Ending Story", "In Perfect Harmony", and "World of Make Believe".  Fans of the earlier album will definitely get behind this one I feel, as well as gain them new fans.  Yes, there are New Age sounding tracks, but overall this is a beautiful album, dark yet without malice.

Devin Townsend:  Terria

A lot of people are going to be incredibly surprised by this album.  This is Devin unlike you've ever heard him before.  Listening to this album, you begin to understand what I've been telling people for a long time:  Devin is a musical genius.  This is his forth release from his own label Hevydevy records, as well as his most melodic.  While not totally abandoning his trademark screams, he maintains a mellow tone throughout most of the album.  Also present for the first time since the "Cooked on Phonics" album are guitar solos.  I once read that Devin hated doing them, citing that he "wasn't good enough" to bring off a solo.  Thank God he's over that now as I never believed it to be true anyway!      There are no songs that sound like Strapping Young Lad here.  If I had to compare it to one of his other projects, I'd say it's closer to Ocean Machine than anything else.  However, like the rest of his projects, this is a new, unique Devin sound.  It's still metal, but it's more atmospheric.  With every album he releases, Devin continues to surprise and amaze me.  Gene Hoglan is again on drums, which he plays flawless and brilliant (as per his usual).  Also included is a new face in Craig McFarland on fretless bass.  Favorite tracks:  "the Fluke, Nobody's Here, Earth Day, and Stagnant." .

Megadeth:  The World Needs a Hero

The long awaited new album from Arizona's own Dave Mustaine and company.  I read all the hype surrounding it and was right there with my pre-order in May for it's release.  What convinced me to start listening to them after the disaster of "Risk" was the addition of Al Pitrelli and Dave's promise that it was going to be a heavy album, taking up where "Rust in Peace" left off.  Well, it's not totally true.  WNAH is a solid, mature metal album.  It picks up more where Youthanasia left off, which was still a good album.  One thing you DON'T miss at all is Marty Freidman.  Al's solos are just as good, if not better in my own humble opinion (keep in mind I'm jaded because I loved the work Al did in Savatage and TSO).  I would recommend this album to Megadeth fans, but I don't think they will gain a new audience with this.  However, I think it goes a long way to bring Megadeth back into the metal world.  If you wrote them off, check this album out, I think it will surprise you.  To plagerize Mr. Mustaine, "Maybe 'Cryptic Writings' and 'Risk' will just be a bad dream."  Favorite tracks:  "When, Disconnect, Dread and the Fugitive Mind, and Silent Scorn."

Iced Earth:  Horror Show

I'm glad that in a world of bands continually changing their minds as to what is metal, a band like Iced Earth still exists.  These guys are not power metal, or "old school."  They simply are metal, pure ass-kicking in your face metal that I really think they world is lacking.  Since the addition of Matt Barlow on vocals (one of the best singers in the genre) they have continued to impress me.  One of the things that I feel really holds a lot of bands back is the vocalist.  A shitty singer can really ruin a band.  Matt just continues to impress me album after album.      "Horror Show," without a doubt in my mind is one of the best album these guys have put out.  I absolutely loved "Something Wicked" and I feel that this one is right up there with that.  Larry's solos are fantastic.  He was an incredible addition to the band.  His parts on "Im-Ho-Tep (the Pharaoh's Curse) in great.  I don't think they could have done that song with Randall still in the band, but this is strictly an opinion on my part.      The only drawback to this album is the lyrics, in some respects.  They flirt with the realm of cheesiness, but never quite make it over (thankfully).  Steve DiGiogio and Richard Christy presence is felt on this record, but all in all, were not used to full potential.  That's ok since they are hired guns anyway.  This is a pure Iced Earth album, through and through.  Somebody make these guys stars already, they fucking deserve it.  Favorite tracks:  Wolf, Jack, Dracula