Grave Digger – The Clans Will Rise Again (2010: Napalm)

More Scottish war lore,
more blade sharp riffs which kick ass,

Uncle Reaper thrives!

http://www.grave-digger-clan.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Clans-Will-Rise-Again/dp/B003XIO7ZK

Blind Guardian – Follow the Blind (2005: Century Meuda - a reissue of 1989: No Remorse)

Youngsters lack finesse
but show signs of later peaks;

raw but quite tasty.

http://www.blind-guardian.com/discography/albums/

Orphaned Land – The Never Ending Way of OrWarrior (2010: Century Media)

Deft style shifts show how
intricate great bands can be;

stellar on all counts.

http://www.orphaned-land.com/releases.html

Rough Silk – Walls of Never (1994: Mausoleum)

Clunky rock’s trying,
turgid Queen thefts all the more -

“toxical” apt term.

http://www.rough-silk.com/lyrics_wallsofnever.php

Vain – Fade (1997: Polystar/Saraya)

Trippy art reads true,
past sleaze gets Cure makeover;

No Respect whine stays.

http://www.davyvain.com/discography.htm

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=324&CDName=Fade

Dokken – Hell to Pay (2004: Sanctuary)

Quirky mix aside,
Don’s clan relives gloried past;

too bad wear/tear shows.

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=44094

Fire Merchants – S/T (1989: Medusa)

Everyone else shreds,
why not Zappa-esque progsters?

Jazz tones meet Satch style.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1520

Amon Amarth – The Avenger (1999: Metal Blade – reissued 2009)

Raging Viking horde
stick to trusty battle plan –

rage, fight, die, repeat.

http://www.amonamarth.com/

Candlemass – King of the Grey Islands (2005: Nuclear Blast)

Like sprints in soft sand,
doom’s steady gait’s a work out;

tires but pleases by end.

http://www.candlemass.se/candlemass/discography/king-of-the-grey-islands/

Aeternitas – Le Danse Macabre (2004: Serpena)

Gothpra musical
passing start, drudging middle,

misery by end.

http://www.aeternitas.info/3.html

Marty Friedman – Introduction (1996: Shrapnel)

Tokyo fave ratchets
down shredding for mellow-dic,

nears new age status.

http://www.martyfriedman.com/media_discograph_soloalbum.php (and scroll your way down)

Another Animal – S/T (2007: Universal)

Ugly Kid Whit goes
a-grunging with Godsmackers;

tré in vein of Layne.

http://www.myspace.com/anotheranimalxxx

Soulfly – Primitive (2000: Roadrunner)

Max drifts farther nü,

sailor-tongued yet says nada;

spoiled from what was.

http://www.soulfly.com/board_posts/primitive