Pentagram - Day of Reckoning (2005: Peaceville - a reissue of 1987: Napalm/Dutch East India)

Doomsters plod way for
brethren decade plus after;
shows age, vision, class.

http://www.burningshed.com/store/peaceville/product/255/984/

Nightwish - Angels Fall First (1997: Spinefarm)

Opera voice reigned in
on first melodic rock try;
still seeking their niche.

http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=1

Onslaught - In Search of Sanity (1989: London)

Grim Reaper's voice guides
C-tiers up to B-minus;
clunky yet alright.

http://www.onslaughtfromhell.com/discography.html

Mordred - In This Life (1991: Noise)

Funk vibes, Marshall stacks,
snotty sneers, past-due shelf life;
rocks but way dated.

http://mordredtheband.blogspot.com/2007/02/in-this-life-1991-noise-records.html

Motorhead - Another Perfect Day (1983 Bronze)

Robbo joins , brings in
the most melody ever;
miss Snaggletooth's snarl.

http://www.imotorhead.com/d_07.cfm

Annihilator - Waking the Fury (2006: Locomotive - a reissue of 2002: SPV)

Riffs a-plenty chug
Priest/thrash forward & upward;
more tone than tune though.

http://www.annihilatormetal.com/html/discography.html

Destruction - Metal Discharge (2003: Nuclear Blast)

German thrash champs pound
frenzied blitz of riff and snarl;
weird mix mild drawback.

http://www.destruction.de/lyrics_4_en.html

Judas Priest - Nostradamus (2008: Epic)

Aimed high, fell short.
Turgid, stinking mess of dull
plods, duller ballads.

http://www.judaspriest.com/Nostradamus/default.asp

Poisonblack - Escapextasy (2003: Century Media)

Sentenced side project
h(a)unts same melodic gothcrypts;
like Ville's voice more.

http://www.poisonblack.com/?page=releases

Chinchilla - Take No Prisoners (2004: Armageddon)

Power aplenty,
edge and drive thrive far more than
ludicrous band name.

http://www.chinchilla.rocks.de/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=7

Armored Saint - March of the Saint (1995: Metal Blade - a reissue of 1984 Chrysalis)

Naive, cheezy fun,
over the top songs, style, art
crank despite thin tone.

http://www.districtlines.com/5730-March-Of-The-Saint-CD/Metal-Blade-Records

Demons & Wizards - Touched by the Crimson King (2005: SPV)

Try two tries too hard
as urge for epic slogs all;
liked yet first one slays.

http://www.demonsandwizards.de/albums.php

Rest in Peace - Stares on Reality (2000: Black Cat)

Synth-prone power prog
hurt by singer's cat-yowl slips;
a shame really...

http://rip.site.free.fr/stares_on_reality.html

Scorpions - Eye II Eye (1999: Koch)

Dance-pop Scorps' concept
horrific as end result;
an epic stinkbomb.

http://www.the-scorpions.com/english/discography/records/eye_to_eye.asp

UFO - You Are Here (2004: SPV)

By the boards blues rock
by old dudes churning along;
bit dull, cheer the try.

http://www.ufo-music.info/albums.htm

Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallisus (1986: Black Dragon - reissued 2002 Candlelight)

Early stage doom holds
merit despite growing pains;
fledgling takes still soar.

http://www.candlemass.se/candlemass/discography/epicus-doomicus-metallicus-1986/

Reverend Bizarre - Harbinger of Metal (2003: Spikefarm)

More Sabbath doomspawn
lumbers, drones, lumbers some more;
drum solo a bit much.

http://www.spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=41

Yngwie Malmsteen - Unleash the Fury (2005: Universal)

Same ol' Yngwie,
shreds split meager verses, mark
one solo from next.

http://www.yngwiemalmsteen.com/discography.html

Arcturus - Sideshow Symphonies (2005: Season of Mist)

Avant-garde follies
intrigue, challenge, tweak, and please.
Top shelf musicians.

http://www.myspace.com/arcturusnorway

Sister Sin - Switchblade Serenades (2008: Victory)

Eighties rekindled,
power chords with chick vocals.
Better than should be.

http://www.sistersin.com/cms/music/