4X: Extreme Essentials

Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra

Taking symphonic metal to a new level, this album features more than 100 musicians including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Schola Cantorum Choir.  This might be my favorite extreme release of the year.

Dimmu Borgir – Gateways

Reviews:

Absurd History 4.5/5

Metal Storm 8.0

Angry Metal Guy 3.5/5

Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier

The British pioneers continue their streak into this new decade with another solid release, proving why they are still relevant over 30 years into their career.

Iron Maiden – Satellite 15…The Final Frontier

Reviews:

BBC

Pop Matters 8/10

Rock Sound 8/10

Volbeat – Beyond Hell / Above Heaven

I’m not really sure this qualifies as extreme music, but this Danish band share the same magazine pages and websites as the rest of these bands, so I figure they must belong here.  Influenced by Elvis and Johnny Cash as much as by Slayer and Metallica, they are definitely unique.

Volbeat – Fallen

Reviews:

Sputnik 5/5

The Number of the Blog 4.5/6

Lords of Metal 79/100

Black Label Society – Order Of The Black

Sometimes more of the same isn’t a bad thing and that really rings true with this 8th album from Zakk Wylde‘s blues-infused southern metal band.

Black Label Society – Crazy Horse

Reviews:

Rock Sound 8/10

Sputnik 4/5

Metalholic 8.1

Tags: abrahadabra, beyond hell/above heaven, black label society, black metal, crazy horse, danish, dimmu borgir, elvis metal, fallen, gateways, hard rock, heavy metal, iron maiden, melodic black metal, metal, norwegian, nwobhm, order of the black, progressive metal, rockabilly, satellite 15, southern metal, symphonic black metal, the final frontier, volbeat

This entry was posted on October 7, 2010 at 9:26 am and is filed under Albums, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.