Roughly half a century has passed since—according to the scriptures—the gods created heavy metal. And the gods saw the iron music, that it was good — and they clearly demanded it be played louder than hell itself…
Who would have said back then, fifty years ago, that this marginal genre, which at times turned downright pop and yet still refuses to breathe its last as a mere cult curiosity… that the teachings of a few reactionary, long-haired youths in leather and chains would still be stirring intense emotions in the year 2025! So, instead of flying cars, this is what we got. Should we be concerned?
Anyway, the other day on Facebook I ran into some metal patriarchs lamenting that things get worse every year (their words, verbatim), posting the very few metal albums they considered merely decent. Still, if you ask me — which you don’t, hence the site — the music that came of age in the ’80s and was transmuted in the ’90s, feeding the undersigned with uplifting choruses and goosebumps, remains remarkably resilient. In other words, I came across a number of albums I truly loved and singled out from a large output that passed through my speakers. The ones the metal patriarchs posted as the few worth remembering this year don’t make it into my final list — which means, twice over, that… (quod erat demonstrandum)
An unofficial Top 10 heavy/power metal list
1. Fer De Lance – Fires On The Mountainside
Formed: December 2018, Chicago, USA
Second full-length album
Manowar once taught us that “Like a man is a mountainside / Greatness waits for those who try,” while Bathory spat out the unholy lines “To enter your mountain / Go into your mountainside / To enter one’s mountainside / Will take its man.” Well, Fer De Lance saw fires burning on those very mountainsides, and the result is as metal-inducing and spellbinding as the album cover itself. The absolute peak of the genre, if you ask me.
2. Black Sword Thunder Attack – Black Sword Thunder Attack
Formed: 2002 (?), Kalambaka, Greece
Debut album
Bill Tsamis passed away four years ago, but the spirit of Warlord and Lordian Guard is still alive here, on the Thessalian band’s debut album. Inside, you’ll find everything from brand-new tracks to compositions dating back to twenty-year-old demos. They nail everything required for cult status: biography, artwork, production, sonic pathways… Everything is exactly as it should be for a new album that could easily sit on blogs dedicated to dusty ’80s gems.
3. Castle Rat – The Bestiary
Formed: October 2019, Brooklyn, USA
Second album
Oh, and if there’s anyone ready to roast bands who prioritize image over music, it’s me! But here, following a very strong debut, Castle Rat become even doomier, even more epic, galloping through a world of mythological creatures and emerging triumphantly victorious. Commercially, they have the full package and — by Riley Pinkerton’s armpit hair — I’m even willing to forgive the fact that they have a fifth member who contributes nothing musically and exists solely for stage presence!
4. Wings Of Steel – Winds Of Time
Formed: 2019, Los Angeles, USA
Second album
“Gates Of Twilight” (2023) was one of the best heavy metal debuts of the decade. “Winds Of Time,” as its title unintentionally gives away, takes more time to open up than its predecessor — but it doesn’t fall short in the slightest. Once again, the spotlight is stolen by the incredible vocalist Leo Unnermark, who walks a tightrope between Rob Halford and Geoff Tate, injecting passion into highly melodic compositions. Wings Of Steel are a steamroller that will only grow bigger in the heavy metal fields — mark my words.
5. Helms Deep – Chasing The Dragon
Formed: 2017, Florida, USA
Second album
At first glance, this reeks of… cheese from miles away. A band name lifted from Middle-earth’s famous fortress, an album title that’s slang for drug use (taken literally here, obviously), and artwork featuring a dragon in space wearing a turbine-powered spacesuit! Putting all that aside, we’re talking about a massive album, with relentless guitar bombardment and piercing high-pitched vocals, walking in the footsteps of glorious US Power Metal (think Riot) or NWOBHM/Speed Metal (think Satan).
6. Owlbear – Feather And Claw
Formed: 2020, Boston, USA
Second album
When Katy Scary, Leona Hayward, Estee Slaughter, and Jeff Taft decided to form a heavy/power metal band inspired by the famous Dungeons & Dragons hybrid monster and fantasy fetishism in general, one wouldn’t exactly say the ceiling was… divine. With their second album, they surpass themselves, delivering something with one massive strength: extremely catchy guitar and vocal melodies that, over time, glue themselves to your speakers and refuse to leave.
7. Seven Sisters – Shadow Of A Fallen Star Pt. 2
Formed: 2013, London, UK
Fourth album
Set against a classic sci-fi backdrop of dying stars, space travel, and cosmic entities, Seven Sisters and Kyle McNeill present the second part of their story. Classic ’80s heavy metal reigns supreme. Yet, as one might easily guess, progressive hints lie buried beneath the eternal ice. Their appearance at Up The Hammers was excellent as well.
8. Vigilhunter – Vigilhunter
Formed: 2024, Turin, Italy
Debut album
The most US Power Metal we heard this year comes from north-western Italy. To be fair, every now and then some records pop up that convincingly tackle the notoriously difficult-to-pull-off US Power/Prog style of early Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, and the like. That alone is enough to earn these bands a place in our hearts — especially this one, led by Alex Panza of Hitten (and more recently Jack Starr’s Burning Starr).
9. Idmon’s Aegis – Under The Auspices Of Idmon
Formed: 2022, Athens, Greece
Debut album
Under the aegis and prophecies of Idmon, the seer of the Argonautic Expedition, Athens-based Idmon’s Aegis embark on journeys bathed in the twilight of the epic, the barbaric, the warlike, and the mythological. The Mosalos–Varsamis duo has already impressed us along similar paths with Wrathblade. Beyond the Manilla Road clouds, the direct references to Slough Feg are an unexpected asset of “Under The Auspices Of Idmon.”
10. Dolmen Gate – Echoes Of Ancient Tales
Formed: 2021, Lisbon, Portugal
Second album
Two out of two stunning covers — let’s start with the obvious. Bathed in moonlight, they do not play depressive doom metal, as one might expect from the imagery. Instead, they place all their power in epic heavy metal, skillfully balancing melody and dynamic riffing to tell their heroic tales.
Bonus Playlist: ’20s Heavy Metal Songs @ Spotify
Shuffle play please!
A playlist by me.
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