Metal Renaissance
January 30, 2007 by Jo Minor
We are witnesses to a renaissance in Metal.
The year 2006 was the turning point for the whole of the Metal genre, and this year we will be truly grateful for some of the best album releases in the works now. In 2006, we saw rather significant comebacks from the older (and bigger) names in Metal - Slayer’s Christ Illusion (and the world tour that followed) was a tremendous return-to-the-roots affair, Iron Maiden’s A Matter of Life and Death was, beyond doubt, one of their best efforts in recent years, Amon Amarth’s brand of Viking Metal got even better with the release of With Oden On Our Side, and Deicide’s The Stench of Redemption was a Death Metal masterpiece, by all means.
We were also treated to the salivating news of legendary bands like Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Megadeth and Metallica working on new material to be released this year. Judas Priest - arguably the biggest Metal outfit out of Britain save for Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath - is still working on their concept album, based on the trials and tribulations of the mystic Nostradamus, who has mysteriously predicted some of the biggest events in history hundreds of years before they actually happened. This should be something to look forward to!
America’s greatest hope of heavy metal Iced Earth currently in the studio, tidying up their double album affair based on the story present in the Something Wicked This Way Comes album - and knowing them, there will be no lack of quality in those upcoming albums!
Veterans of the thrash metal scene Metallica and Megadeth are both working on their albums, and it will be no surprise as to which band will win the hearts of the die-hard metal fans with release of their albums. While Metallica has all but submerged beneath the waves of their commercial success and over-inflated egos, Megadeth is still - and just barely, at that - staying afloat, holding their heads just above the rising waters. Personally, I think that both releases will be forgettable.
Fledglings of American Metal Lamb of God came out with a remarkable effort last year as well. Their album Sacrament was critically acclaimed by fans and the snobbish media alike, and was a sign of considerable improvement. Sacrament takes them a notch higher than other wannabes - like Shadows Fall - who claim to be the next best thrash metal band. While we welcome their overall improvement, we hope the limitless amounts of commercial success they have been getting lately won’t affect their musical ventures.
We were also treated to some pleasant reunions - black metal warriors Emperor and Immortal announced their reunion, and subsequently, live show dates, to the thunderous cheers of black metal aficionados worldwide. This only bodes well to the Metal scene, as these bands have proven, time after time, how amazing they are - and indirectly hold the flames of black metal burning bright. We hope to see many quality releases from them as well!
Even better, we recently heard that one of Metal’s greatest singers Ronny James Dio will once again team up with the members of Black Sabbath (sans Ozzy Osbourne, of course) under the name of Heaven and Hell - named after the breakthrough black Sabbath album with Dio on vocals - and have already scheduled their tour dates. This unprecedented reunion is just what we need to see some traditional Metal of the highest quality on stages around the world. Truly remarkable!
Another great Metal vocalist, Phil Anselmo of Pantera fame, will be touring with his band Down. Due to the tragic slaying of ex-Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, Phil was on a hiatus and his return to live performing will only enhance the state of the Metal scene today.
Let’s hope for even better breakthroughs this year!
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