Lake of Tears – The Neonai (2002: Black Mark)

eclectic cover

chaotic goth/pop/rock blur

defies pigeonholes

http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Lake_of_Tears/The_Neonai/10191

Avantasia – Metal Opera Part II (2002: Nuclear Blast)

Bat Out of Bombast

fondue cheez of powerprog,

déjà vu once more

http://tobiassammet.com/eng/music/AvantasiaMetalOpera2.php

Archetype – Dawning (2004: Limb Music – a reissue of 2002 self-release)

poor dude’s Iced Earth spends

nights on Brocken in Riots

decent powerprog

http://forever-rock.de/en/product?info=39

http://www.myspace.com/archetypetheband

Freedom Call – Eternity (2002: SPV/Steamhammer)

Happy pill handfuls

for Hello(Gamma)ween ilk;

speedy n cheesy

https://www.facebook.com/FreedomCallOfficial

http://www.spv.de/_BRIDGE/products.php?product=72962

Dark Tranquillity – Damage Done (2002: Century Media)

Swede melo-death runs

bit harsher than peers in kind

still a fun listen

http://www.darktranquillity.com/music/damage.html