Kiss - Sonic Boom (2009: Kiss Records)

Bag of hammers dumb,
19th try shows that practice
doesn't make perfect.

http://kissonline.com/sonicboom/

Rush - Vapor Trails (2002: Atlantic)

Typical midrange
mid-tempo, middling Rush tracks;
fine excuse to tour.

http://www.rush.com/v4.html

Isis - Wavering Radiant (2009: Ipecac)

Prefer art soundscape
moments to the gruff and growl;
Makes me think of Hum.
http://www.isistheband.com/#/releases/

Savage Circus - Of Doom and Death (2009: Dockyard 1)

Though some bemoan as
Blind Guardian tribute band,
damn fine songs throughout.

http://www.dockyard1.com/savagecircus/releases.asp

Mediaeval Baebes - Mistletoe and Wine (2003: Nettwerk)

Ideal project
for one trick fillies; add amp
and Napalm would drool.

http://www.mediaevalbaebes.com/disco.html

Various Artists - Excelsis: A Dark Noel (1995: Projekt)

Bleak the halls jet black
for woe come all ye dismal;
nice prevails naughty.

http://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00062

The Gathering - Always (1992: Foundation 2000)

Pre Anneke tracks
hodge-podge of bush league swings;
pales to what's to come.

http://www.gathering.nl/discography/ (scroll down to Always)

Be'lakor - Stone's Reach (2009: self-released)

Melodic death
melds trebly synths with tech riffs;
Year end top ten? Yep.

http://www.myspace.com/belakor

Heorot - Ragnarök (2007: Stygian Crypt Productions)

To the last flute note
folk metal conformity;
Nothing new, sounds fine.

http://www.heorotband.com/history.html

Sting - If On a Winter's Night (2009: Deutsche Grammophon)

History buff Sting's
breathy vocals might be true
but blight the folk faire.

http://stingwintersnight.com/music/

Bonus haiku:
Songs of winter! Not
Christmas! Late autumn release
reads quite cynic(s)al(e).

Wolf - The Black Flame (2006: Prosthetic)

Honor the old guard,
young Swedes embrace metal's past;
Cheeze factor runs deep.
http://www.wolf.nu/

Death - Individual Thought Patterns (1993: Relativity)

Intricate prog/death
never lets up musically;
Damn, these guys are good.

http://www.emptywords.org/IndividualThoughtPatterns.htm

Swashbuckle - Back to the Noose (2009: Nuclear Blast)

Grind to thrash pirate
tales with tongue firmly in cheek;
Could be worse/better.

http://www.swashbuckle.info/maindeck.html

Rhino Bucket - The Hardest Town (2009: Acetate)

Shameless Bon Scott blues
'n' groove worship rides again;
Decades pass? Same game.

http://www.acetate.com/bands/rhinobucket/index.html

Them Crooked Vultures - S/T (2009: DGC/Interscope)

Bouncy jumpy quirks
of whim invite yet distance;
want more Cream/Zep tracks.

http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/us/music/them-crooked-vultures

Halford III - Winter Songs (2009: Metal God Entertainment)

Leather-n-studs X-mas
tidings akin to fruitcake;
a gift no one wants.

http://www.robhalford.com/wintersongs/

the Gathering - Home (2006: The End)

Anneke's last with
band that spawned a thousand clones;
Lilith Fair goth pop.

http://www.gathering.nl/discography/

Ayreon - The Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000: Inside Out)

Sci-fi concept with
galaxy of prog/Floyd leaps;
abort the mission.

http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ay_albums_um.html

Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us (2009: Century Media)

Depresso-Brits hone
tones of toil and tumult;
damn finely at that.

http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/discography/albums/faith-divides-us-death-unites-us.html

Trail of Tears - Bloodstained Endurance (2009: Napalm)

Tag-team clean/harsh tones
propel gothly black see-saw;
ride worth trip to park.

http://www.trailoftears.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=12

Nox Arcana - Blackthorn Asylum (2009: Monolith Graphics)

Dark soundscapes set mood
for Hammer film-ish spook show.
Same haunt on repeat.

http://www.noxarcana.com/blackthorn-history.html

Pelican - What We All Come to Need (2009: Southern Lord)

No vocals* for blends
of melodic, sludging, grooves;
like Sabbath-spawn jazz.

http://www.hydrahead.com/pelican/news.php

*one song sings
the rest stay wordless
no big change

Eluveitie - Evocation I: the Arcane Dominion (2009: Nuclear Blast)

Folk metal unplugged
lets the growl have a night off;
somber yet solid.

http://www.eluveitie.ch/img/evocation_detail.jpg

Billy Idol - Devil's Playground (2005: Sanctuary)

Departs past glories
but retains sneering image;
tame to today's ears.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Playground_(album)

(yes, I recognize that using a Wikipedia link is sad, but I found no discography page at the Billy Idol website to reference - Wiki or Amazon - take your pick...)

Korpiklaani - Karkelo (2009: Nuclear Blast)

Beer tents and Finn lore
via Marshall stacks at 10.
Mad love for this band.

http://www.korpiklaani.com/index2.html

Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts (1979: Columbia)

Drug-addled battles
be damned, blues grooves locked, loaded.
No hits? No worries.

http://www.aerosmith.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400034

Craig Goldy - Better Late Than Never (1995: Shrapnel)

Praise the spirit but
rue the product. Would Goldy
even listen thrice?

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=147088

Iron Savior - Dark Assault (2001: Noise)

Side project-itis
afflicts power metal pros;
lyrics trite to spew.

http://www.iron-savior.com/releases_2001_dark_assault.php

Octavia Sperati - Grace Submerged (2007: Candlelight)

Goth gal and guitars;
gritty yet pretty makes up
for blink-and-gone length.

http://www.myspace.com/octaviasperati