The Metal-Rules.com Best of 2002

#11. Halford - CRUCIBLE
2 Reviews: [1], [2]

#12. Rhapsody
POWER OF THE DRAGONFLAME
Review: - Power of the Dragonflame

#13. HammerFall 
CRIMSON THUNDER
2 Reviews: [1], [2]

#14. Agalloch - The Mantle
3 Reviews: [1],[2], [3]

#15. Manowar
WARRIORS OF THE WORLD
3 Reviews: [1], [2], [3]

#16. Primal Fear - BLACK SUN
Review: BLACK SUN

#17. Opeth - Deliverance
Review: NA

#18. Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s Star One - SPACE METAL
2 Reviews: [1], [2]

#19. Dark Moor - THE GATES OF OBLIVION
Review: THE GATES OF OBLIVION

#20. Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
Review: In Their Darkened Shrines

#21. Down - Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
Review: DOWN II

#22. Onward - REAWAKEN
Review: REAWAKEN

#23. L.A. Guns - WAKING THE DEAD
2 Reviews: [1], [2]

#24. Motörhead - HAMMERED
Review: HAMMERED

#25. King Diamond - ABIGAIL II
2 Reviews: [1], [2]

#26. Pegazus - THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN
Review: THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN

#27. Shadows Fall - THE ART OF BALANCE
Review: THE ART OF BALANCE 

#28. Sinergy - SUICIDE BY MY SIDE
Review: Suicide By My Side

#29. Amon Amarth - VERSES THE WORLD
Review: VERSES THE WORLD

#30. Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
Review: Resurrection Through Carnage

EvilG

1. Rhapsody - POWER OF THE DRAGONFLAME

One of the most loved and hated metal bands seems to be Rhapsody. I don't base my personal likes or dislikes around what some call heavy metal or will call melodic rock. I know what I like and Rhapsody again delivers on all fronts with their heaviest and most aggressive album so far. I know Rhapsody isn't for everyone, and that's fine…just don't try to shove your elitism on me.

2. Sinergy - SUICIDE BY MY SIDE

3. Primal Fear - BLACK SUN
4. Dream Evil - DRAGONSLAYER
5. HammerFall - CRIMSON THUNDER
6. Pegazus - THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN
7. Onward - REAWAKEN
8. Soilwork - NATURAL BORN CHAOS
9. Dark Moor - THE GATES OF OBLIVION
10. Luca Turilli - PROPHET OF THE LAST ECLIPSE
11. Thy Majestie - HASTINGS 1066
12. Into Eternity - DEAD OR DREAMING
13. W.A.S.P. - DYING FOR THE WORLD
14. Dark Order - THE VIOLENCE CONTINUUM
15. Halford - CRUCIBLE
16. Tobias Sammet's Avantasia - THE METAL OPERA PART II
17. Nocturnal Rites - SHADOWLAND
18. Seven Witches - XILED TO INFINITY AND ONE
19. King Diamond - ABIGAIL II
20. Freternia - A NIGHTMARE STORY

Disappointments

Timo Tolkki - Hymn To Life
This un-metal hymn to somethingoranother is my biggest letdown of the year since Stratovarius are one of my favorite bands.

Yngwie Malmsteen - ATTACK!!
Although I liked this album, it is not the style of writing I prefer from Yngwie. I much prefer his albums that do not sound like ECLIPSE or the other more commercial sounding albums.

Steel Prophet - Unseen
This is once again not what I wanted to hear from Steel Prophet. I think this album has its moments, but some of the weirdness on here wasn't up my alley.

Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage
Again, an OK album from a band I like. However this was a step down for them and was not the direction I personally wanted the band to go in. I was hoping for something more along that lines of ENLIGHTEN THE DARKNESS.

Best New Band

Dream Evil was an easy choice for me this year with their 80's metal styled album DRAGONSLAYER. There is no other album by a new band that I've listened to as much this year as this.

Best DVD
Motörhead - 25 & Alive 'Boneshaker'
Live At Brixton Academy

This DVD has it all from the great concert to the bonus features.
(Honorable mention goes to HammerFall - The Templar Renegade Crusades, Megadeth - Rude Awakening, and Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio).

Rick

1. Onward – Reawaken

I didn’t expect that this CD would be my #1 when I first listened to it. It was a solid disc but I filed it away without a second thought. Then one night I needed a disc for the car and grabbed REAWAKEN. I had an EPIPHANY!! The magnificence of this disc was revealed to me! Toby Knapp and Michael Grant and company created an exceptional disc of traditional metal that struck a nerve with my inner metalhead!

2. Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia – The Metal Opera Part 2

It was hard to choose a number one CD for 2002 and this CD came in a very close second. The Metal Opera Part 1 was my #1 CD of 2001 so I was expecting great things from this album from the get go. It delivers without being a carbon copy of Part I. I know it's not cool to like power metal right now but frankly I don’t care. This is an excellent CD and deserves the attention that it is getting.

3. Dream Evil – Dragonslayer
4. Blind Guardian – A Night at the Opera
5. Hammerfall – Crimson Thunder
6. Tad Morose – Matters of the Dark
7. Riot – Through the Storm
8. Thunderstone – Thunderstone
9. Shadowkeep – A Chaos Theory
10. Firewind – Between Heaven and Hell
11. Primal Fear – Black Sun
12. Luca Turilli – Prophet of the Last Eclipse
13. Rhapsody – Power of the Dragonflame
14. Symphorce – Phorcefulahead
15. Sinergy – Suicide By My Side
16. Pegazus – The Headless Horseman
17. Shadows Fall – The Art of Balance
18. Soilwork – Natural Born Chaos
19. Nightwish – Century Child
20. American Dog - Red White Black and Blue

Disappointments

Geoff Tate
Being a big fan of Queensryche and Tate I was hoping for a release that would put Tate back on top of the metal heap and remind us all why he is one of the best vocalists in the genre. What I heard was a total load of pop crap that wasn’t even fit for a beer coaster in any metal household.

Tribe of Judah
After the Van Halen debacle I figured Gary Cherone was due for a good CD. He basically put the last incarnation of Extreme back together, minus Nuno Bettencourt, yet this CD gave Tate’s solo disc a run for its money when I was looking for a Frisbee to have a game of catch with my dog. Unfortunately my dog won’t put shit in his mouth so the game had to be cancelled.

Halford – Crucible
I thought RESURRECTION was a pretty good comeback and I figured once the band gelled the next disc would be a masterpiece. Instead we get a down tuned sludgy gurgling mess that almost sent me to my local home hardware store to buy Rob a hammer and 3 nails.

Best New Band

Dream Evil released their first CD DRAGONSLAYER in 2002 and it was a monster disc. Producer Fredrik Nordstrom stepped out from behind the mixing board and along with newcomer Gus G. and veteran Snowy Shaw proceeded to make one of the best traditional metal CDs of the this new century.

Best DVD
HammerFall – The Templar Renegade Crusades
HammerFall are one of those bands that you either love or hate. Personally I love them and I won’t apologize for it. This is the second Video/DVD from the band and it’s a great mix of bootleg, behind the scenes and professionally produced material. A must have for any HammerFall fan.
(Honorable mentions go to Motörhead - 25 & Alive 'Boneshaker': Live At Brixton Academy and Iron Maiden – Rock in Rio)

JP (Just Power)

1. Manowar - Warriors of the World

 Manowar are the definition of metal. This stood unchallenged as my #1 pick from the day I heard it.

2. W.A.S.P.- Dying for The World

From the beginning, Blackie has 
never let me down.

3. Star One - Space Metal
4. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
5. U.D.O. - Man and Machine
6. Bathory - Nordland Part I
7. Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera
8. Doro - Fight
9. Dream Theater - Six Degrees
10. Eidolon - Coma Nation
11. HammerFall - Crimson Thunder
12. Iron Mask - Revenge is My Name
13. King Diamond - Abigail II
14. Lord Belial - Angelgrinder
15. Rage - Unity
16. Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
17. Stormwarrior - S/T
18. Thor - Triumphant
19. Thy Majestie - Hastings 1066
20. Vehemence - And God Was Created

Disappointments

Def Leppard - X
I made the amateur mistake of believing the band hype that this was a return to form. They can't even get the name of their own album right.

Geoff Tate
He has such a natural talent but for some reason refuses to use it anymore. Shame.

Primal Fear - Black Sun
Not bad, but when not one tune is able to match the glorious majesty of "Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove' the bonus track from Nuclear Fire, I'm disappointed.

Artension - Sacred Pathways
Maybe my expectations were too high but it was not the shred fest I was led to believe this super-star act is capable of.

Riot - Through The Storm
Too slow, too dull. Where is the spirit, the passion the dragonfire? They can do better.

Best New Band

Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
This was my most difficult and agonizing choice. It came down to a last minute heart-breaking coin toss. Some would argue there is no fate, only the power of will, but in this case destiny was on Dream Evil's side. Sorry Star One, in my heart, you are tied.

Best DVD
Manowar - Hell on Earth- Part I
Even though this came out late, late 2001, I didn't see it until Jan 1st 2002. No other DVD was able to touch it this year.

Best Concert
GWAR with Three Inches of Blood. Calgary, Alberta October 30th.

Michael De Los Muertos

1. Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion

2. Agalloch - The Mantle
3. Mastodon - Remission
4. Manowar - Warriors of the World
5. Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
6. Luca Turilli - Prophet of the Last Eclipse
7. Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
8. HammerFall - Crimson Thunder
9. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
10. Amon Amarth - Against the World
11. Opeth - Deliverance
12. Avantasia - The Metal Opera, Part II
13. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
14. Falconer - Chapters from a Vale Forlorn
15. Primal Fear - Black Sun
16. Timo Tolkki - Hymn to Life
17. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
18. Timo Koltipelto - Waiting for the Dawn
19. StormWarrior - S/T
20. Red Wine - El Fin de los Tiempos

Disappointments

In Flames - Reroute to Remain
Hypocrisy - Catch 22

Best New Band
StormWarrior

Best DVD
Jag Panzer - The Era of Kings and Conflict

Luxi Lahtinen

1. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness

2. Demigod - Shadow Mechanics
3. Immolation - Unholy Cult
4. Pathos - Katharsis
5. Sirenia - Sixens and Sevens
6. Nightwish - Century Child
7. Sentenced - The Cold White Light
8. Ram-zet - Escape
9. Corporation 187 - Perfection in Pain
10. Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus - Rajaportti
11. Halford - Crucible
12. Hatesphere - Bloodred Hatred
13. Malevolent Creation - The Will To Kill
14. Hate Eternal - King of All Kings
15. Solitaire - Rising to the Challange
16. Mercenary - Everblack
17. Rapture - Songs for the Withering
18. Satanic Slaughter - Banished to the Underworld
19. Mannhai - Evil Under the Sun
20. Annihilator - Waking the Fury

Disappointments

In Flames - REROUTE TO REMAIN
The new In Flames album REROUTE TO REMAIN. What in the world were these guys thinking when they were composing songs for this album? I have to admit I was originally expecting a slightly different - more of a good´n´ old In Flames sounding album from these Gothenburg maestros of melo-Death Metal than a bunch of songs that basically lack power and catchiness - those essential elements that should make a metal album stand out. So sad if this will be the direction they have decided to head toward in the future with their next efforts.

Best New Band
Solitaire
This is a straight, well-written quote from the band´s official biography which pretty much tells more than well what Solitaire is made of:

"Solitaire, since the day of the band's foundation, has always aimed their music only on one direction - fast, straight forward Heavy Metal. Mixing together influences from both Traditional British Metal as well as 80's style Speed & Thrash, Solitaire's brand of music offers a treat for every Heavy Metal fan, whether you're into classic guitar duels and piercing vocals of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, raw straight forward live feeling of Exciter or pure aggression and high bpm's of Slayer and Kreator".

Amen to all that. Solitaire have themselves spoken the words of wisdom and knowledge…

Best DVD
Death - Live in L.A.
Simply awesome footage probably from one of Chuck´s last gigs captured on video, containing some of the best songs Chuck had ever penned for his band Death. Even if the whole DVD is such a great entertainment to watch, it kind of makes you feel sad due to Chuck´s tragic death. Probably the best music DVD I will get to witness… EVER!!! 

Waspman

1. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera

2. W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World
3. Avantasia - The Metal Opera Pt. II
4. Dark Tranquility - Damage Done
5. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
6. Nightwish - Century Child
7. Opeth - Deliverance
8. Agalloch - The Mantle
9. Dio - Killing the Dragon
10. Pain - Nothing Remains the Same
11. L.A. Guns - Waking the Dead
12. Beyond the Embrace - Against The Elements
13. Deride - First Round Knockout
14. Alabama Thunderpussy - Staring at the Divine
15. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
16. Converge - Jane Doe
17. Shattered Realm - Broken Ties...Spoken Lies
18. Manowar - Warriors of the World
19. Anarion - The Journey Begins...
20. Poison - Hollyweird

Disappointments

Danzig - 777 I Luciferi
Well, "Kiss the Skull" was promising, but the rest of this album is about as dull as you can get. ZZZZZZ....

Cadaveria - The Shadow's Madame
With the pedigree of the band members, you'd think that they could come up with something that was mildly interesting. You'd think, but you'd be wrong.

Opera IX - Maleventum
Same old, same old. Their last album was promising, but this is just lame black metal posturing.

Timo Tolkki - Hymn to Life
Umm, OK then. Less solo pap, and more Stratovarius please.

Geoff Tate - Geoff Tate
The less said about this the better. You were never metal? You liked Ultravox? Good, you can go and join them in whatever musical hell they were banished to.

Best New Band
Beyond the Embrace
It's not just Europeans who can play blistering melodic death metal anymore.

Anarion
Thunderous power metal from Down Under! This year's Lost Horizon.

Best DVD
Superjoint Ritual - Live in Dallas, 2002

Arto Lehtinen

1. Dimension Zero - Silent Night Forever

2. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
3. Nile - In Their Blackened Shrines
4. Rob Halford - Crucible
5. Hatespread - Bloodred Hatred
6. Six Feet Under - True Carnage
7. Dio - Killing The Dragon
8. Motörhead - Hammered
9. Hate Eternal - King of All Kings
10. Bathory - Nordland I
11. Nightwish - Century Child
12. Soilwork - Natural Born Killer
13. King Diamond - Abigail II
14. Pain - Nothing Remains The Same
15. Down - II
16. Darkthrone - Plaguewielder
17. Destroyer 666 - Cold Steel…Of An Iron Angel
18. Napalm Death - Order Of The Leech
19. Rotten Sound : Murder Works
20. Satyricon - Volcano

Disappointments

Manowar - Warriors Of The World
A few decent tunes, but the rest of it didn't get me convinced.

Best New Band

KILLER GIGS IN SWEDEN and GERMANY and above all damn COOL guys!

Best DVD
Candlemass - Documents Of Doom
(of course the Metal-Rules.com staff are on the DVD as well)

John (Night Of The Realm)

1. Nightwish - Century Child

I debated long and hard with myself over which album would claim top honors for 2002, and in the end, the choice is no easier for me. Several albums, including Luca Turilli, Dark Tranquility, and W.A.S.P. all had equally valid claims to the title, releasing some of the best albums in their careers. Nightwish, being my second favorite band ever, takes the top slot for 2002 for their best work since Oceanborn.

2. Luca Turilli - Prophet Of The Last Eclipse
3. Dark Tranquility - Damage Done
4. W.A.S.P. - Dying For The World
5. Summer Dying - Beyond The Darkness Within
6. Onward - Reawaken
7. Agalloch - The Mantle
8. Immortal - Sons Of Northern Darkness
9. Avantasia - The Metal Opera Pt. II
10. Doomsword - Resound The Horn
11. Armageddon - Three
12. Symphony X - The Odyssey
13. Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera
14. Rhapsody - Power Of The Dragonflame
15. Dreamtale - Beyond Reality
16. Manowar - Warriors Of The World
17. Fatima Hill - Aion
18. Moonsorrow - Voimasta Ja Kunniasta
19. Sirenia - At Sixes And Sevens
20. Mob Rules - Hollowed Be Thy Name

Disappointments

Thyrfing - Vansinnesvisor
After Valdr Galga and Urkraft, I was hoping for another Viking metal masterpiece from Thyrfing, but instead, here is an album lacking any emotion, dropping the epic flair for a noiser sound. Sorry, Thyrfing. You lose.

Steel Prophet - Unseen
Steel Prophet have had a great run these past few years since releasing the excellent Dark Hallucinations in 1999, but Steve and co. really hit a snag with this uninspired piece. In addition to poor production, the songwriting is flaccid and listless. I'm hoping this great band can rebound in the next year or so.

Best New Band
Summer Dying
I would be ashamed of myself if I did not go to my local Detroit scene for this one. This young bunch of musicians operates a very professional outfit, and has been on fire since the birth of the band in 2001. In addition to writing, recording, and releasing their self-financed debut, the band has toured extensively, and opened locally for such acts as Iced Earth, In Flames, Witchery, and Lacuna Coil. Here's to the continued success of this great band in 2003. (Runners Up: Insision - Beneath The Folds Of Flesh, Dreamtale - Beyond Reality)

Ice Maiden

1. Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion

2. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
3. Paragon - Law of the Blade
4. Agatus - The Weaving Fates
5. Luca Turilli - Prophet of the Last Eclipse
6. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
7. Manowar - Warriors of the World
8. Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
9. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
10. Avantasia - The Metal Opera Part II
11. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
12. Sirenia - At Sixes and Sevens
13. Amon Amarth - Versus the World
14. Twisted Tower Dire - Isle of Hydra
15. Megiddo - The Atavism of Evil
16. Majesty - Of Swords & Sorcery
17. Vhaldemer - Fight to the End
18. Nightwish - Century Child
19. Warlord - Rising Out of the Ashes
20. Opeth - Deliverance

Disappointments

In Flames - Reroute to Remain
I still believed in them after Clayman. I believed in them even when they told the crowd at Wacken to "Jump, jump." I can no longer believe in them.

Freedom Call - Eternity
I hate to say it, but this is just toooooo flowery, even for my tastes.

Best DVD
Rhapsody
(included in Special Edition of Power of the Dragon Flame)

Best Live Album
Mago de Oz--Folkertergeist

Best Concert Experience
Wacken 2002
(followed closely by ProgPower 2002)

El Cid

1. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done

My favorite band of all time, Dark Tranquillity have managed to complete the transition and evolution (so far) of the band in this album. The melodies and intense songwriting on this album simply blow me away every time I listen to it, it wasn't an easy choice, but it's the best album of 2002 in my books.

2. Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
3. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
4. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
5. Armageddon - Three
6. Amon Amarth - Versus the World
7. Opeth - Deliverance
8. Agalloch - The Mantle
9. Nightwish - Century Child
10. Cosmosquad - Squadrophenia
11. Serberus - Descension
12. Manigance - Ange ou Démon
13. Nile - In their Darkened Shrines
14. Zimmer's Hole Legion of Flames
15. Vader - Revelations
16. Tobias Sammet's Avantasia - The Metal Opera Pt II
17. Winds - Reflections of the I
18. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
19. Darkane - Expanding Senses
20. Arcturus- The Sham Mirrors

Disappointments

Dimension Zero - Silent Night Fever
Just not even close to what I expected after PENETRATIONS THROUGH THE LOST WORLD. Huge disappointment, the album is mediocre at best.

Hypocrisy - Catch 22
:,(

Best New Band
Bloodbath
Easy pick, Bloodbath is by far the best new band of 2002. Resurrection Through Carnage is a milestone.

Best DVD
Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio
(Runner up: Death - Live in LA)

Pete Healey

1. Primal Fear - Black Sun

2. Halford - Crucible
3. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
4. Pegasus - The Headless Horsemen
5. Motorhead - Hammered
6. Riot - Through The Storm
7. Spiritual Beggars - On Fire
8. Nashville Pussy - Say Something Nasty
9. Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage
10. Wolf - Black Wings
11. Dio - Killing The Dragon
12. Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland
13. Brand New Sin - S/T
14. Iced Earth - Tribute To The Gods
15. Black Label Society - 1919 Eternal
16. Down - Down II
17. Seven Witches-Xiled To Infinity And One
18. W.A.S.P. - Dying For The World
19. Sentenced - The Cold White Light
20. HammerFall - Crimson Thunder

Disappointments

Superjoint Ritual: Use Once And Destroy
Being a fan of Phil's other bands, Pantera and Down respectively, Use Once and Destroy has it's metal moments, but a little too hardcore for me.

Best New Band

Best DVD
Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio
(Runner up: Motörhead - 25 & Alive 'Boneshaker' Live At Brixton Academy)

Marko Syrjälä

1. Annihilator - Waking The Fury

The album of the year from one of my all time favorite bands!

2. Ted Nugent - Craveman
3. DIO - Killing The Dragon
4. L.A Guns - Waking The Dead
5. Paradise Lost - Symbol Of Life
6.Hughes Turner Project - HTP
7. Halford - Crucible
8. Yngwie Malmsteen - Attack!!
9. Sentenced - Cold White Light
10. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
11. W.A.S.P. - Dying For The World
12. Rage - Unity
13. Motörhead - Hammered
14. King Diamond - Abigail II
15. Blaze - Tenth Dimension
16. Poison - Hollyweird
17. Nightwish - Century Child
18. Doro - Fight
19. U.D.O. - Man And Machines
20. UFO - Sharks

Disappointments

Manowar - Warriors Of The World
What the hell has happened here!? Weak songs, cover songs etc.... ?! This "masterpiece" took six years to complete. The last album from Manowar that I'll buy!

Def Leppard - X
This one needs no explanation. Their worst album so far.

Best New Band

BEST DVD
Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio
(Others: Paradise Lost - Evolve, Judas Priest - Live In London, Accept - Blast From The Past. Un-metal: The Cult - Live Without Fear)

CrashTest

1. Symphony X - THE ODYSSEY

2. Pain of Salvation - REMEDY LANE
3. Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One - SPACE METAL
4. Blind Guardian - A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
5. Dream Evil - DRAGONSLAYER
6. Shadows Fall - THE ART OF BALANCE
7. Tobias Sammet's Avantasia - THE METAL OPERA, PART 2
8. HammerFall - CRIMSON THUNDER
9. Black Label Society - 1919 ETERNAL
10. Dio - KILLING THE DRAGON
11. Bloodbath - RESURRECTION THROUGH CARNAGE
12. Rage - UNITY
13. Opeth - DELIVERANCE
14. Agalloch - THE MANTLE
15. Blaze - TENTH DIMENSION
16. W.A.S.P. - DYING FOR THE WORLD
17. Halford - CRUCIBLE
18. Threshold - CRITICAL MASS
19. Lacuna Coil - COMALIES
20. Manowar - WARRIORS OF THE WORLD

Disappointments

Halford - CRUCIBLE
The album is good, hence it finds it's way into my personal top 20. However, following on the heels of RESURRECTION and LIVE INSURRECTION, it pales in comparison. I was expecting a much bolder statement by the Metal God.

Dream Theater - SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE
When SCENES FROM A MEMORY came out, I had real hope that DT would finally get back to writing good music again, instead of just throwing something together by sheer talent alone. However, the guys are so busy with all the side projects and bands, that DT itself suffers. Message to the band, either break up or stop doing all the damn side projects.

Best New Band

Keith McDonald

1. Black Label Society - 1919 Eternal

2. Brand New Sin - S/T
3. Bon Jovi - Bounce
4. Def Leppard - X
5. LA Guns - Waking The Dead
6. Dokken - Long Way Home
7. Tribe of Judah - Exit Elvis
8. Poison - Hollyweird
9. In Flames - Reroute to Remain
10. Doro - Fight
11. Halford - Crucible
12. Gilby Clarke - Swag
13. Stephen Pearcy - Social Intercourse
14. Opeth - Deliverance
15. W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World
16. Down - Down II
17. Motörhead - Hammered
18. Truth of Fiction - S/T
19. Dio - Killing The Dragon
20. Superjoint Ritual - Use Once and Destroy

Best New Band
Truth of Fiction

Best DVD
Overkill - Wrecking Everything Live

Iced Death

1. Malevolent Creation - 
The Will To Kill

2. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
3. Internecine - The Book of Lambs
4. Immolation - Unholy Cult
5. Decapitated - Nihility
6. Visceral Bleeding - Remnants of Deprivation
7. Necrophobic - Bloodhymns
8. Behemoth - Zos Kia Cultus
9. Insision - Beneath the Folds of Flesh
10. Cannibal Corpse - Gore Obsessed
11. Nile - In their Darkened Shrines
12. Defleshed - Royal Straight Flesh
13. Beheaded - Recounts of Disembodiment
14. Diabolical - A Thousand Death's
15. Deranged - Plainfield Cemetary
16. Bloodbath - Resurrection through Carnage
17. Dies Irae - The Sin War
18. Kataklysm - Shadows & Dust
19. The Crown - Crowned in Terror
20. Tankard - B-Day

Best New Band
Internecine
Eric Rutan left Morbid Angel so he could focus 100% on Hate Eternal. I say Jared Andersson should leave Hate Eternal to focus 100% on Internecine.

Disappointments

Annihilator - Awaking The Fury
What happened? Sure, their last album wasn't thrash. But it still had good songs, something I can't say about this album. And what's up with the awful guitar tone?

Best DVD
Overkill - Wrecking Everything
Great sound, decent playlist, flawless performance, good camerawork, kind of lame audience (MOVE). The extra disc with interviews and old footage is a super great bonus! Buy!

Wisco

1. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness

2. Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance
3. Down - Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
4. sHEAVY - Synchronized
5. King Diamond - Abigail II
6. Dio - Killing the Dragon
7. Danzig - 777: I Luciferi
8. W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World
9. Blaze - Tenth Dimension
10. Warhammer - Curse of the Absolute Eclipse
11. Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip: Volumes 1 & 2
12. Bewitched - Rise of the Antichrist
13. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
14. Tad Morose - Matters of the Dark
15. The Chasm - Conjuration of the Spectral Empire
16. Insomnium - In the Halls of Awaiting
17. HammerFall - Crimson Thunder
18. Mastodon - Remission
19. Dimension Zero - Silent Night Fever
20. L.A. Guns - Waking the Dead

Disappointments

Halford - Crucible
For me, this is the only disappointment of the year worth mentioning. Just 2 years ago, Halford's Resurrection topped my list. However, Halford's latest output doesn't even come close. I juggled with this album for awhile...liking some of it, disappointed with most of it, wanting to like it, etc., but in the end most of it just seems flat, uninspired and trendy. It's not mallcore, let's get that straight, but it's not exactly Screaming for Vengeance either. Many of you would reply that Rob Halford shouldn't have to adhere to an old school Priest style, but wasn't that what Resurrection was all about? Didn't he claim to be done with all of the useless experimentation? Didn't he claim that he had realized that "screaming heavy metal" was what he excelled at and was most comfortable with? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I read plenty of Resurrection era press, interviews, etc. and that's what I recall. I honestly believe that Rob Halford is the one and only Metal God. In my opinion, he has the most pure, perfect and intense voice that metal has, thus far, produced. I just wish he'd apply that voice to the right material.

Best New Band
Insomnium
These Finnish metallions carry the spirit of early In Flames, yet push forward with a sound of their own. Definitely a band to watch.

Best DVD
Jag Panzer - The Era of Kings and Conflict

Chris Hawkins

1. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera

2. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
3. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
4. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
5. Down - II A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
6. Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance
7. Hatebreed - Perseverance
8. Poison the Well - Tear From the Red
9. Enslaved - Monumension
10. Mastodon - Remission
11. Daylight Dies - No Reply
12. Sinergy - Suicide By My Side
13. Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness
14. Hate Eternal - King of All Kings
15. Burnt By the Sun -Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution
16. Today is the Day - Sadness Will Prevail
17. The Crown - Crowned in Terror
18. Lamb of God - New American Gospel
19. Hypocrisy - Catch 22
20. Nile - In their Darkened Shrines

Best New Band
Mastodon

Best DVD
Neurosis "A Sun that Never Sets"

Mosquito

1. Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness

2. Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera
3. Agalloch - The Mantle
4. Star One - Space Metal
5. Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
6. Avantasia - Metal Opera II
7. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
8. Novembers Doom - To Welcome The Fade
9. Luca Turilli - Prophet Of The Last Eclipse
10. Wolf - Black Wings
11. Moonsorrow - Voimasta Ja Kunniasta (Of Strength And Honour)
12. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
13. Lake Of Tears - The Neonai
14. Rhapsody - Power Of The Dragonflame
15. Bathory - Nordland I
16. Amon Amarth - Versus The World
17. Nightwish - Century Child
18. Vintersorg - Visions From The Spiral Generator
19. Hammerfall - Crimson Thunder
20. Mercenary - Everblack

Disappointments

Opeth - Deliverance
I don't know, it just doesn't seem up to par with Still Life and MAYH. It wasn't a bad album, but I was just hoping for something more. Here's hoping for Damnation!

Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland
I really love this band, this one just didn't do it for me though.

Scanner - Scantropolis
So far, I haven't heard a Scanner album that captures the magic of Hypertrace. This one just doesn't cut it.

Kotipelto - Waiting For The Dawn
I love Stratovarius, but this just isn't good. Sorry Kotipelto. I'd also like to say Tolkki was a better singer.

Best New Band

Although you would think this is either a Dio cover band or a generic Power Metal band, it's kinda far from that. Although it's Power Metal, its CLASSY Power Metal. Talk about catchy! I cannot wait for their new album due sometime in 2003.