When it's more common to share your own opinions of last year's albums you've listened to around the new year time, I had to do this just when April is nearly approaching? Well, better late than never, I guess, so here's another annual list I've quickly put together.

Almah - Unfold
Genre: Power Metal, Progressive Metal
Rating: ***
Standout tracks: Wings Of Revolution, Treasure Of The Gods, Farewell

Alter Bridge - Fortress
Genre: Alternative metal, heavy metal, hard rock
Rating: ****
Standout tracks: Addicted To Pain, Lover, The Uninvited, Fortress

Amorphis - Circle
Genre: Progressive metal with death/folk influences
Rating:…

And so, the 2012 album rating is up! I am a bit surprised that there are many ballad-type songs that come out as stand-out for me but… I guess it's just me in my merry, pensive mood. So here, a list of studio albums, EPs and live albums being released in 2012. I'll update the list in due time, when I've managed to finish listening to those albums I've missed out so far…
Here goes!

The Addiction Dream - Essence
Genre: Art rock, indie rock, progressive rock
Rating: ***½
Standout tracks: Magic, Dark Skies

Adrenaline Mob - Omerta…

So… with another year wrapped up and tons of new songs I've experienced, I could say that this was a real good round! For memory's and for fun's sake, I've listed down a good amount of progressive metal/rock albums and also things sticking outside (sic) that's been released this year. The anticipation value indicated in some albums depict how much expectations I've had for the albums before their release, as well as ratings ending in one of two types whether I might change my mind about later or confirmed.
Ratings do differ between persons, so they represent the way I…

I haven't thought about writing a new list of personal, anticipated releases but when I noticed how so many bands and artists announced the release of their upcoming albums by autumn 2011, I only knew it was worth enough to make another list.

Upcoming releases 2011
August

Psychostick - Space Vampires VS Zombie Dinosaurs In 3D
Genre: Humorcore
Anticipation: ***½

Epysode - Obsessions
Genre: Progressive metal
Anticipation: *** (Not sure what to expect from this concept album but the list of guests are impressive)

Leprous - Bilateral
Genre: Progressive metal, progressive rock
Anticipation: ***

Jorn - Live In Black
Genre:…

So 2011 has approached and like every year a new wave of albums from our favorite and new-found artists/bands have hit our libraries. Personally, it hasn't been as much anticipated album releases since after 2007, due to various reasons such as financial ones. But either 2010 was the point of return for the bands make some noise in the studios again or I've just suddenly increased my exploration of music a lot further.

Below you'll see a list of album releases that I've personally anticipated and listened to, the first ones already mentioned in my previous blogs and the later…

Summer is here and new releases have come and passed through my ears. I've updated the lists of personally anticipated releases both out and upcoming, including genres and personal rating and occasionally personal comments.

Released albums January-May 2010

Demon Hunter - The World Is A Thorn
Genre: alternative metal, metalcore
Personal rating: ***

Lostprophets - The Betrayed
Genre: alternative rock, alternative metal
Personal rating: ***

Meshuggah - Alive
Genre: post-thrash metal, technical metalextreme metal, experimental metal
Personal rating: ****

Myrath - Desert Calls
Genre: progressive metal with oriental elements
Personal rating: ***

Rage - Strings…

…with releases of the bands I consider as my favourites and others I hold significant anticipation for. Among many people, I feel delighted by the collective news since it feels like this year is going to have more anticipated releases of the bands than a few years earlier (2007 was a good year, though). Here I'll list those albums released so far this year, followed by the upcoming releases that have been announced (or hinted) for this year.

Released albums 2010 January-March

Demon Hunter - The World Is a Thorn
Genre: Alternative Metal/Metalcore
Satisfaction level: ***

Lostprophets -…

Stole this meme from another guy. The point is to use the band's song titles as an answer to the questions below. So here's one with one of my all-time favourites: Devin Townsend.

Are you a male or a female?:
Man
(An unknown track, but it's there somehow)

Describe yourself:
The Fluke
(I'm the one and only of my own name)

How do you feel:
Sunshine and happiness

Describe where you live:
Away
(Its lyrics is pretty self-explanatory, if you have it)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Canada
(Damn right I would!)

Your favorite form…

I've just had an idea to a new hobby to kill time, I'm going to put up my band or artist of the month at the end of each month. Starting with October 2009, here are my top 5 from the list of candidates.

1. Devin Townsend, including his other monikers, The Devin Townsend Band and Devin Townsend Project
The metal genious, mad scientist of metal, you name him whatever you want, I've listened to his discography for over 2 years and I'm still trying to get into what's rest of his works. I've finally come to appreciation of…

I've made a list below of albums that deserved my anticipation for what's to come as this blog post was written. Fans of progressive metal, progressive rock, alternative hard rock and stuff related to them may find it useful.

2009 (November-December)
While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose (this is an epic doom metal that doesn't sound so typically doomy like any other bands of this genre. Emotional, soaring and progressive at times, and I'm not even a fan of doom metal)
Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
Anathema - Horizons (it's not solidly confirmed that it'll be released this year,…