Some bands truly like that balancing act – and most are good at it, too. That gallivanting about those gazillions of metal flavors to concoct something of their own making. They don’t necessarily invent anything new, but those records often hit you with a rock-solid metal avalanche.

Records of substance that provide that metallic manna any metalhead craves. The real thing, not watery remnants of a thing called metal long ago.

Often you find those pieces with bands featuring some fantasy theme that can range from Tolkien’s brave warriors to unicorns in space. And they’re fun to listen to until … [...] Click to raid more!