1.Xandria - A Prophecy of Worlds To Fall
Oh god, not generic gothic chorus intro, please no…cue 1 minute of people "Aaah-ing". Cue typical metal riffs. Oh Hello Tarja…oh wait, that's not Tarja, that's new vocalist of Xandria singing bored, accompanied by generic metal riffs and transitioning into generic operatic refrain. Repeat that for 7 boring minutes and you have the first track of this album….Not. A. Good. Start.
Verdict: 2/5

2.Xandria - Valentine
More generic guitarwork, more generic operatic Nightwish-y vocals, more generic chorus. Another entirely flat and stale song without any dynamic or energy, focused way…

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1. Amaranthe - Leave Everything Behind
Pretty strong opener track, which introduces a delicious genre-confusion right from the start. We are greeted by a pretty usual power metal guitarwork and then it all gets confusing. Three different vocals really lend themselves nicely in this song and blend together. VERY strong refrain. Arguably the most "power-metal-y" song of the whole album. Frankly I do not have ANYTHING to compare this to. There are traces of Keldian, that do not overwhelm the uniqueness of the song, there are traces of Scar Symmetry and even power metal classics like Stratovarius mixed…

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Leftovers from 2009:
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MOSH - Bastard

Surprisingly aggressive and awesome album by this power rock, stoner rock band

Tracks worth mentioning: Rage Within, Everybody Hates a Bully, Liar

5/5
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Dejafuse - Dejafuse

A decent effort by former Autumn vocalist. MOre autumn feel at least, than in the lackluster newest album from Autumn…

Songs worth mentioning: 2Faced, Exploring, State of Being

4/5
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2010
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Marc Rizzo - Legionnaire
Decent instrumental album. Nothing that special but still a good listening experience.\

3/5

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Orden Ogan - Easton Hope

Promising yet flawed work…

Introduction:
Okay I'll try to be as objective as possible, however I can say for sure that I had no high hopes for this album. After a huge and poptastic fail of The Scarecrow, I don't know if I should hate Tobias or feel sad for him.
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Avantasia - Stargazers
Good intro. Then it devolves intro generic power metal. Overall track is a bit better than Wastelands.
Rating: 6/10

Avantasia - Angel of Babylon
Decent intro changes into generic part with tobias vocals. Catchy, dynamic and good refrain, which reminds me a bit of old, good avantasia.
Rating: 7/10…

Introduction
Okay I'll try to be as objective as possible, however I can say for sure that I had no high hopes for this album. After a huge and poptastic fail of The Scarecrow, I don't know if I should hate Tobias or feel sad for him.
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Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony
Hard-rocky silly intro, then a few seconds of tobias impersonating Kamelot then a few seconds of epicness of R.Allen. then BonJovi Chorus. Repeat again. Cue random solo and random alternative instrumental.
Rating: 4/10

Avantasia - Wastelands
Generic Power metal track used as filler material. Typical unimpressive lyrics…

Stratovarius - Polaris

Easily one of the best released this year. Stratovarius makes a strong comeback with awesome album, proving that Tollki was not what made Stratovarius Stratovarius.

Starting with a bit more progressive SymphonyX-meets-Dream-Theather song "Deep Unknown", Stratovarius members knock you back with talent force and unchallenged melodies. Tracks "Blind" and "Forever is Today" are classic Stratovarius, while "Falling Star" has the capacity of being next "Hunting High and Low".

The Ballads are awesome too. Cruel yet interesting hystorical lyrics in "King of Nothing" or emotional and sincere vocals in "Somehow Precious" and "when the mountains fall" - you…

Vision Divine- 9 Degrees West of the Moon
Total fail. The band was way more progressive and interesting with previous vocalist. With the current one it feels like its "just another power metal bands". Lyrics are worse than before too.
2/5

Adagio - Archangels in Black
Awesomeness covering the genres of Progressive Metal, Power Metal and Melodic Death Metal. Will for sure go into top 5 albums of this year, I think.
4/5

Sirenia - The 13th Floor
Ah and to think that I once liked this band. Just goes to show on how bands go commercial thanks to…