 | The Scythe by Elvenking
Buy new: £12.98 / Used from: £6.00 Surprising new album from the Italian folksters; "The Scythe" sees Elvenking moving into a heavier, darker direction that simply blows away their competitors.
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 | After Forever by After Forever
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £6.77 In a crowning moment for the Dutch symphonic metallers, After Forever's fifth full length successfully blends crunchy prog metal with high octane symphonics, creating a truly beautiful masterpiece.
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 | NEW PROTECTION by Ride the Sky
Buy new: £11.98 / Used from: £4.50 Ex- Helloween/Masterplan drummer Uli Kusch teams up with Dionysus keyboarder Kaspar Dahlqvist and ex-Tears of Anger frontman Bjørn Jansson in this spellbinding collection of modern power metal.
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 | Isolate by Circus Maximus
Buy used from: £9.69 Norway's answer to Symphony X, Vanden Plas and Twilightning all rolled into one, the sophomore effort from Circus Maximus is a masterclass in progressive songwriting.
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 | Livin' on a Dream by Robin Beck
A groovy slice of melodic hard rock from AOR queen Robin Beck; an album chock full of catchy choruses and outstanding vocals.
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 | Blade of Triumph by Iron Fire
Fourth album from the fiery power metallers, one that recalls the best bits of their past albums whilst uniting their crushing sound with a mixture of Running Wild and Blind Guardian.
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 | New Religion: Limited Edition by Primal Fear
Buy new: £16.59 Latest slab of brillance from the true metal crew; "New Religion" finds the German metal warriors lightening up slightly.
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 | Personal Crisis by Steve Grimmett Band
Buy new: £7.79 Edgy hard rock meets European power metal in this hyper-melodic debut solo effort from the ex-Grim Reaper vocalist.
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 | Somewhere Else by Marillion
Buy new: £9.68 / Used from: £8.58 British prog rock heroes Marillion return with the perfect elixir to their brooding "Marbles" opus.
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 | My New Time by Autumn
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £7.36 Female fronted metallers Autumn crash into the mainstream with an album that crosses the boundaries of gothic metal and progressive rock. Ingenious.
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 | Escape from Twilight by Emerald Sun
Buy new: £12.98 / Used from: £6.09 Quality Greek power/speed metal in the vein of early Helloween, with superb vocals and memorable hooks.
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 | Scarsick by Pain of Salvation
Buy new: £12.69 / Used from: £5.50 Pain of Salvation's return from the depths of "Be"; an album that is more of a prog metal tirade.
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 | Book Of The Dead by Bloodbound
Buy new: £7.79 An electric storm of blistering Swedish power metal, falling inbetween Iron Maiden and Hammerfall at their catchiest.
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 | Ravnenes Saga by Svartsot
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £5.31 A refreshing take on the folk metal genre by these battle-hardened Danes; light, authentic folk meets brutal death metal!
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 | The Divine Conspiracy by Epica
Buy new: £11.98 / Used from: £6.80 Another female fronted band to take the high road; symphonic heroes Epica return with their most progrssive work to date.
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 | 25th Hour by Vision Divine
Buy new: £14.19 / Used from: £19.30 Intelligent prog/power metal from Italy that recalls Labyrinth at their best.
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 | Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £7.28 A soulful masterpiece of beautifully crafted progressive rock that boarders on genius with every listen.
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 | Paramount by Sieges Even
Buy new: £12.69 / Used from: £6.96 Intense, emotional prog rock/metal from the mind behind "The Art of Navigating By the Stars"
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 | Treason Songs by Tourettes
Buy used from: £12.56 Vicious death metal assualt from this Australian female fronted outfit. Fans of Arch Enemy won't go wrong with this.
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 | Blood & Water by Mehida
Buy new: £8.79 / Used from: £6.64 The fantastic new band from former Wingdom keyboard mastermind Mikko Harkin; a wonderful mix of beautiful prog with the melodic theatrics of power metal.
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 | Dead Reckoning by Threshold
Buy new: £11.98 / Used from: £6.69 England's finest prog metallers return with a storming new album of dark, wonderous soundscapes.
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 | Horns of Silence by Spellblast
The best power metal debut of the year by a band influenced by - and similar in style to - the mighty Elvenking.
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 | Mk II by Masterplan
Buy new: £4.96 / Used from: £4.09 Roland Grapow soldiers on without Uli Kusch in this fabulous return to form. "Keeps Me Burning" gets my vote for song of the year.
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 | Virus by Heavenly
Buy new: £12.98 / Used from: £10.40 A fast, pulsating fourth album from the copycat frogs. This French power metal mob continue to swipe every Gamma Ray, Angra and Primal Fear riff, but have at least made a decent album out of it.
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 | Global Warming by Burn
Buy used from: £10.95 The best of British; a cool, smooth album of catchy hard rock that breathes life and is replete with energy.
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