1997 - Best Albums

[Chisel Chin]

My Top 20 best of 1997 (in alphabetical order)

 

Conception - Flow

Bruce Dickinson - Accident Of Birth

Dreamscape - Trance-Like State

Enchant - Time Lost

Fair Warning - Go!

Faith No More - Album Of The Year

Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade Of Gray

The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are

Fu Manchu - The Action Is Go

Sammy Hagar - Marching To Mars

Marillion - This Strange Engine

Pain Of Salvation - Entropia

Axel Rudi Pell - Magic

Savatage - The Wake Of Magellan

Spock's Beard - The Kindness Of Strangers

Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

Ten - The Robe

Vanden Plas - The God Thing

Vanderhoof - Vanderhoof

W.A.S.P. - K.F.D.

 

Highlights include one of my favourite W.A.S.P. albums, very bleak and evil sounding and completely different from their usual style, but I love it (yes, I know a lot of people don't)! Also the first Bruce Dickinson solo album that I liked, as well as a very interesting debut album from new prog metal band Pain Of Salvation. I was also pleasantly surprised by Vanderhoof, the debut from the Metal Church founding member and guitarist which has a nice retro 70s vibe to it. More solid dependable albums from Marillion, Savatage and Axel Rudi Pell, and also a very nice offering from Ten who keep getting better during this early part of their career.

[kourosofsteel3]

Andy Deris-Come in From The Rain

Artension-Phoenix Rising

Axel Rudi Pell – Magic

Casanova-Ticket to The Moon

Cauldron Born-Born of The Cauldron

Conception – Flow

Domine-Champion Eternal

Elegy-State of Mind

Fair Warning - Go!

Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade Of Gray

Frontline-Heroes

Harem Scarem-Believe

Hammerfall-Glory to The Brave

Hexenhaus-Dejavoodoo

Impellitteri-Eye of The Hurricane

Jag Panzer-The Fourth Judgement

John West-Mind Journey

Leviathan-Scoring the Chapters

Narnia-Awakening

Newman-S/t

Pretty Maids-Spooked

Rhapsody-Legendary Tales

Royal Hunt-Paradox

Stratovarius-Visions

Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

Tad Morose-A Mended Rhyme

Ten - The Robe

Yngwie-Facing The Animal

Worth Mentioning

Concerto Moon-Fragments of The Moon

Embargo-The Red Tide

Hanker-The Dead Ringer

Human Clay- U4IA

George Bellas-Turn of the Millenium

New Eden-Through The Make Believe

Pegazus-Wings of Destiny

Sacred Steel-Reborn in Steel

Vitalij Kuprij-High Definition

[zacharyamelie]

Paradise Lost - One Second

Great Big Sea - Play

Noir Silence - Piège

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Great Big Sea - Play

 

Like any good Canadian boy.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

I'm not even sure about this year. Think Out Loud probably has the best album of this lot. However, this was Hammerfall's debut, and arguably best record. Also, Genesis managed to trek on without Mr. Collins, and release an album that is indubitably Genesis.

Genesis - Calling All Stations

John Elefante - Corridors

Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave

Nuno Bettencourt - Schizophonic

Think Out Loud - Shelf Life

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Trouble Is...

Lion's Share - Two

[Geoff]

My list in progress;

1 . Danger Danger - Four The Hard Way - 89

2 . Amaze Me - Dream On - 88

3 . Frontline - Heroes - 86

4 . Emerald Rain - Broken Saviours - 86

5 . Big Mouth - Hands Of Time - 84

6 . Harem Scarem - Believe - 84

7 . Andi Deris - Come In From The Rain - 80

8 . Newman - Newman - 80

9 . Arcara - A Matter Of Time - 80

10 . Jester - Tales From The Boogieman - 76

11 . Essex - D7 - 74

12 . Cholane - Black Box - 74

13 . Diesel Dahl - Recycled - 74

14 . Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge - 74

15 . Britton - Rock Harder - 72

16 . Hugo - Hugo - 72

17 . Fair Warning - Go! - 72

18 . Jackyl - Cut The Crap - 70

19 . House Of Shakira - Lint - 70

20 . Mark Allen Band - Six Interlocking Pieces - 69

21 . Jamilya - Over The Edge - 69

22 . Blackstone - Blackstone - 68

23 . 220 Volt - Lethal Illusion - 68

24 . Balance Of Power - When It Counts - 65

25 . AM PM - Running Out Of Time - 63

26 . Aerosmith - Nine Lives - 63

27 . Greg Rolie - Rough Tracks - 63

28 . Human Clay - U4IA - 62

29 . Kevin Chalfant - Running With the Wind - 61

30 . The Altered - Yours Truly - 60

31 . Treble Charger - Maybe It's Me - 60

32 . Matthew Good Band - Underdogs - 59

33 . Dr Sin - Silent Scream - 57

34 . Holy Soldier - Encore - 55

35 . Sister Hazel - Somewhere More Familiar - 50

36 . Foxxy Roxx - Mixed Up World - 49

37 . Cashmir - Cashmir - 41

38 . Halestorm - Forecast For The Future - 0

[Jez]

Another pretty crappy year for melodic rock in general (even Saga released their worst album ever in 'Pleasure And Pain') and one of the reasons why I was listening to a lot more Prog, Westcoast and other genres from the mid 90's onwards.

 

 

 

Robby Valentine - 4 United

John Elefante - Corridors

Saxon - Unleash The Beast

Joseph Williams - 3

Arena - The Cry EP.

Hugo - S/T

IQ - Subterranea

Jadis - Somersault

Steve Lukather - Luke

Think Out Loud - Shelf Life

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Twenty

Marillion - This Strange Engine

Night Ranger - Neverland

Paul Rodgers - Now

Axe - Five

Jason Scheff - Chauncy

Cheap Trick - S/T (1997)

Street Talk - Collaboration

Stun Leer - Once

Ian Crichton - Ghettos By Design

Terra Nova - Livin' It Up

Threshold - Extinct Instinct

[Monzter]

A rather poor year with three exceptions.

1. Fair Warning - Go! - 100 %
   One of my very favourite albums ever. An album packed full of strong melodies.
2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy - 89 %.
   By many considered to be their best, but my favourite is the brand new mega fantastic "Underworld".
3. Aviator - S/T - 85 %.
   Starts great but has some fillers. "Don't Turn Away" is such a brilliant song.

[Jez]

 

A rather poor year with three exceptions.

1. Fair Warning - Go! - 100 %

   One of my very favourite albums ever. An album packed full of strong melodies.

2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy - 89 %.

   By many considered to be their best, but my favourite is the brand new mega fantastic "Underworld".

3. Aviator - S/T - 85 %.

   Starts great but has some fillers. "Don't Turn Away" is such a brilliant song.

 

 

Aviator is a brilliant disc, but was released in 1986 originally, hence why it's not high up on my list for this year

[kourosofsteel3]

 

A rather poor year with three exceptions.

2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy - 89 %.

   By many considered to be their best, but my favourite is the brand new mega fantastic "Underworld".

 

 

 

I guess you're not fan of prog metal. Another great band killed by NB.

[Chisel Chin]

I guess you're not fan of prog metal. Another great band killed by NB.

NB ?

[kourosofsteel3]

 

I guess you're not fan of prog metal. Another great band killed by NB.

NB ?

 

 

 

Yeah, sorry, Nuclear Blast...

[Monzter]

 

A rather poor year with three exceptions.

 

• Fair Warning - Go! - 100 %

  One of my very favourite albums ever. An album packed full of strong melodies.

• Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy - 89 %.

  By many considered to be their best, but my favourite is the brand new mega fantastic "Underworld".

• Aviator - S/T - 85 %.

  Starts great but has some fillers. "Don't Turn Away" is such a brilliant song.

Aviator is a brilliant disc, but was released in 1986 originally, hence why it's not high up on my list for this year

Ah , sorry, so there were only 2 Great albums 1997,that year just got even worse.

[Monzter]

 

A rather poor year with three exceptions.

 

• Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy - 89 %.

  By many considered to be their best, but my favourite is the brand new mega fantastic "Underworld".

 

I guess you're not fan of prog metal. Another great band killed by NB.

Maybe not my favourite genre, but no 2 is at least no 2.

[Dead Planet]

Amaze Me - Dream On

Aviator - S/T

Bonfire - Rebel Soul

Stan Bush - Call To Action

Cyclone Tracy - One Eyed

D.A.D - Sympatico

Danger Danger - Four The Hard Way

Andi Deris - Come In From The Rain

Frontline - Heroes

Grip Inc - Nemesis

Hammerfall - Glory To The Brave

Helmet - Aftertaste

Hair of The Dog - S/T

Hugo - S/T

Loud and Clear - S/T

Megadeth - Cryptic Writings

Newman - S/T

Pangea - Manchild

Pretty Maids - Spooked

Psycho Motel - Welcome To The World

Ransom - Trouble In Paradise

Shout - S/T

Sinner - Judgement Day

Sun N' Steel - Writings on the Wall

Terra Nova - Livin It Up

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Looks there a bunch of releases I should seek out.

[Gibbo]

Jon Bon Jovi: Destination Anywhere

Catherine Wheel: Adam And Eve

D.A.D.: Simpatico

Del Amitri: Some Other Sucker’s Parade

Final Conflict: Stand Up

Fish: Sunsets On Empire

Sammy Hagar: Marching To Mars

IQ: Subterranea

Ivanhoe: Polarised

Jonny Lang: Lie To Me

Last Chapter: The Living Waters

Mansun: Attack Of The Grey Lantern

Mithotyn: King Of The Distant Forest

Night Ranger: Rock In Japan - Greatest Hits Live

Paradise Lost: One Second

Royal Hunt: Paradox

The Seahorses: Do It Yourself

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Trouble Is …

Star Industry: Iron Dust Crush/New Millennium EP

Threshold: Extinct Instinct

[crazynights]

1-Silent witness- s-t

2-Ten-the robe

3-Helloween-better than raw

4-Malmsteen- facing the animal

5-Danger danger-4 the hard way

6-Hammerfall- glory to the brave

7-Savatage-the wake of magellan

8-Aerosmith-nine lives

9-Nightranger-neverland

9-Y&T- endangered species

10-Andi Deris- come in from the rain

11-Fair warning - go

12-Baton rouge- s-t

13-Pretty maids-Spooked

13-Jestger-tales from the boogieman

14-Whitesnake- restless heart

15-Pangea-Manchild

16-Rhapsody- legendary tales

17-Sammy Hagar -Marching to mars

18-Arcara- a matter of time

19-Royal hunt- paradox

20-Stone soup-spooge

 

I guess that 1997 was better than 1996.l

[Geoff]

Jeez mate, Baton Rouge above Pretty Maids, Jester, and even though I don't love these ones, even Pangea and Whitesnake?

 

I find that Baton Rouge album to be extremely weak. Kind of highlighted everything I grew to really like about Jack Ponti. Horrible production and really bad song-writing being my main issues with it.

[kourosofsteel3]

Buddy, helloween is from 1998. I still remember it, because it was the last cd I bought from a psychical store in my country. Btw, it's still my favorite helloween lp. And the only one from their catalog which wasn't release on vinyl. Obviously, I don't count the crappy German bootleg ( which has 1997 as date of release, lol).

[crazynights]

For Geoff, I still like the songs on the self titled Baton rouge : you can jump alone is my favorite (nice solo), but also Didn'ti,hands of time (surgin) and victims of the night are good, well in my list is on the 12th position and in yours in the 14th, not a big difference mate :-) .

About Jester, I prefer Digitalia to t.f. boogieman, I still believe they were a good band.

For kourosofsteel, you are so right, I didn't check the date on the cd, In Brutal metal is dated 1997. I agree It is the best Helloween cd(Deris era ) toghether with the more melodic "Master of rings".

[Glen]

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

[Geoff]

well in my list is on the 12th position and in yours in the 14th, not a big difference mate :-) .

About Jester, I prefer Digitalia to t.f. boogieman, I still believe they were a good band.

 

Haha, yeah, but please note, my list was still a work in progress when I posted that. Hold on a sec. Just checked and it's currently at 24th spot since my last update. And I assume I still have a lot from 1997 to review? It was a poor year overall, though.

 

Strange you prefer 'Digitalia' to 'TFTBM.' I much prefer the debut.

[kourosofsteel3]

 

For kourosofsteel, you are so right, I didn't check the date on the cd, In Brutal metal is dated 1997. I agree It is the best Helloween cd(Deris era ) toghether with the more melodic "Master of rings".

 

 

Let me clarified it again as much as possible; it wipes the floor with the whole Kiske/Hansen era.

[crazynights]

 

well in my list is on the 12th position and in yours in the 14th, not a big difference mate :-) .

About Jester, I prefer Digitalia to t.f. boogieman, I still believe they were a good band.

 

Haha, yeah, but please note, my list was still a work in progress when I posted that. Hold on a sec. Just checked and it's currently at 24th spot since my last update. And I assume I still have a lot from 1997 to review? It was a poor year overall, though.

 

Strange you prefer 'Digitalia' to 'TFTBM.' I much prefer the debut.

 

It was a fine year for hard rock (imo). For example 1995 and 2000 were worst, I can't find a winner for those years.