Best Metal Albums from 2010 – 2019

By Rich Catino 

For this decade I am trying not repeating any of the bands I picked an album from 2000-2009, unless of course they have another noteworthy album to date. 

2010:  

Accept – Blood Of The Nations: First album with new singer Mark Tornillo and it’s a win win.   

Jorn – Dio: The Norwegian Dio, and he does a great set of covers on this album. Jorn even sang with the band Heaven and Hell at a Dio tribute concert. 

Watain – Lawless Darkness: One of the bigger names in black metal from the 2000s, 5th album from the Swedish blasphemers with clear influences from Dissection and Mayhem. 

Y&T – Facemelter: Last album of new songs, and with bassist Phil Kennemore. Guitarist/singer Dave Meniketti the lone living member to this day. 

Pretty Maids – Pandemonium: 12th album from the Danes, another band that still sticking to their guns since the 80s.  

Helloween – Unarmed: Best of 25th Anniversary: Shows the bands scope of variety able to rework their originals into reinterpretations. 

W.E.T. – W.E.T.: formed by Jeff Scott Soto, Erik Mårtensson, and Robert Säll. The band name is made up of the first letters of the groups the musicians: Work of Art (Säll), Eclipse (Mårtensson) and Talisman (Soto). The single ‘One Love’ should have been on the radio in the U.S., but unfortunately you know trendy things are here. 

Overkill – Ironbound: The album they got back to their thrash roots, it’s like Horrorscope meets W.F.O. 

2011: 

Mystic Prophecy – Ravenlord: 7th album from the German heavy metal powerhouse. Call it heavy power metal, no this not the happy sound from the genre. 

House Of Lords – Big Money: Happy to hear that after delivering three strong albums in a row, “World Upside Down”, “Come To My Kingdom”, “Cartesian Dreams”, singer Greg Christian and his current lineup of the Lords did not exhaust all their ideas and creativity.

Powerwolf – Blood Of The Saints: Fourth album from the now hugely popular wolfen power metal Lycans. 

Anthrax – Worship Music: Joey Belladonna is back, he is the voice of Anthrax! Nuff said. 

Evile – Five Serpent’s Teeth: Third album from what is like the sons of Metallica and Destruction. 

Myrath – Tales of the Sands: Incorporating Arabic and Middle Eastern sounds, third album from the Tunisian progressive metal band. 

Anvil – Juggernaut Of Justice: 14th album from the influential Canadian underdogs who even with respect from the metal community, and a documentary, always stuck to what they do regardless of an underground following. 

Whitesnake – Forevermore: There is a reason why David Coverdale is a legend, even with his drive for success at the cost of constant lineup changes, and 11th album “Forevermore” does recapture many great moments of 80’s Snake. Especially that epic title track.  

Ghost – Opus Eponymous (Label: Rise Above Records): Yup, I reviewed Ghost waaay back then. Before the hype and success.  Spooky, occult sounding, part Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, and Blue Oyster Cult. 

Havok – Time Is Up: Total modern thrash classic from the new generation, the title track, ‘Fatal Intervention’, ‘Killing Tendencies’, ‘Prepare for Attack’!!!

Vicious Rumors – Razorback Killers: First three albums are classic, melodic speed metal lead by lone original member left to this day guitarist Geoff Thorpe. 

2012: 

Testament – Dark Roots of the Earth: Yup, second album from Testament for my two recent Metal Hall articles, and the recent 20 years. Chuck Billy, guitar team Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Greg Christian, with Gene Hoglan on drums write another collection of songs that are thrash, but also variety. Like “The Gathering” meets “The Ritual” and “Low”. 

Opera Diabolicus – 1614: Opera Diabolicus was the theatrical project of composer/musician David Grimoire, the music dramatic and dark doom metal with atmospheric, epic and progressive elements. Bands that influenced the music on “1614”; Candlemass, King Diamond, Therion, Dimmu Borgir and Kamelot, plus the album features the talents of drummer Snowy Shaw (King Diamond/ Mercyful Fate, Dream Evil, Therion), Mats Leven (ex- Yngiwe Malmsteen, he can be heard on “Facing The Animal”) and Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil) on vocals/ demonic voices, and produced/mixed by Andy LaRocque (guitar for the King Diamond band).

Accept – Stalingrad: Yes, another Accept album from the recent 20 years. First four songs could have showed up anywhere from “Restless and Wild” to “Metal Heart”. Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann now with a triple guitar attack, has forged ahead recording four more Accept albums all true to form. 

Kreator- Phantom Antichrist: Mighty German thrash legends 13th album still going strong to today. 

Eclipse – Bleed and Scream: Swedish hard rockers bring back the 80s. 

2013:  

Saxon – Sacrifice: After 30 years of making music, their 19th album “Sacrifice”, sees the band hitting hard and heavy with ten headbangers. 2011’s “Call To Arms” was a strong collection of tunes, including elements from the 80s to more recent albums “Lionheart” and “Inner Sanctum”.    

Stratovarius – Nemesis: Third album with a new guitarist, bassist, and drummer, and yes there is life after death. Singer Timo Kotipelto and Jens Johansson (keyboards) picked up the pieces, reformed the band, and continue to make new music and tour to this day. The reason why Strato are one of the Big Four of Power Metal. 

Death Angel – The Dream Calls For Blood: Third album, second of four in ten years. Boy, did they come back fast and furious. 

2014: 

Sanctuary – The Year The Sun Died: As much as I didn’t want to hear the news Nevermore broke up I guess it was a blessing in disguise because the last two albums were a bit redundant in a couple ways, and we got a fresh sounding new Sanctuary album. 

Grave Digger – Return Of The Reaper: Oh yeah the reaper is back, in the ‘Season of the Witch’ and with the ‘Tattooed Rider’!!

Opeth – Pale Communion: First of two from Opeth in this decade, and something very different, a journey through melody. 

Winger – Better Days Comin: Do I really have to keep saying Winger always were much more than the song “Seventeen”. They are so talented they just played the album “Pull” in its entirety at the ProgPower festival. And that’s a power and prog metal festival. 

Suicidal Angels – Divide And Conquer: 5th album from the offspring of Slayer and Kreator. . 

Skull Fist – Chasing The Dream: At the time, and because of this album one of the leaders of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, along with Striker, Enforcer Cauldron.

Freedom Call – Beyond: ‘Heart of a Warrior’, ‘Union of the Strong’, ‘Journey Into Wonderland’, and ‘Coming Home’ spirited feel-good power metal classics. And that’s four, on the 8th album. 

2015: 

Enforcer – From Beyond: 4th album from the NWOTHM band, for fans of mixing speed metal with the twin guitar harmonies, NWOBHM: early Maiden, Priest, Satan, Diamond Head, Cloven Hoof, first two Def Leppard albums. 

Stryper – Fallen: Second album with original members (which is a rarity especially today) brothers Michael (vocals/guitar) and drummer Robert Sweet, guitarist Oz Fox, and Tim Gaines on the bass, continue to do what they did best back in the 80s and deliver heavy guitar riffs with those recognizable twin guitar leads, soaring and screaming vocals, and a pounding (heavenly) rhythm section.

Queensryche – Condition Human: Second album with Todd La Torre on vocals and the guy who saved the Ryche. ‘Arrow of Time’ and ‘Guardian’ a return to form. 

Raven – ExtermiNation : 13th album from the Gallagher bros, you can’t mistake John’s quirky vocal delivery with Mark’s riffing. 

Europe – War of Kings: 11th studio album from the Swedes, no, its not more of “The Final Countdown”. Post 2000’s album more influenced by Rainbow/Purple, and while carrying on with the bluesy hard rock songwriting on the 1991 album “Prisoners in Paradise”. 

Ghost – Meliora: Second album from Ghost this decade, and its deserved. No question why frontman/songwriter Tobias and his nameless ghouls are one of the biggest bands. It’s hard rock, metal, proggy at times, occult sounds, and Abba type hooks and vocal harmonies.

Praying Mantis – Legacy: 10th album, more so AOR rock than NWOBHM, but this album really nicely combines both genres. 

2016: 

Primal Fear – Rulebreaker: 11th album from the German power metallers, best one since “16.6”. But usually, they are reliable and consistent with what they do.

Exmortus – Ride Forth: Melodic technical death thrash metal, akin to Children of Bodom (minus the keys).  

Flotsam and Jetsam – self titled: The start of a great four album run to this day.  

Rob Zombie- The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser: Zombie’s love for 60s, 70s horror and Scifi movies comes thru with each of his albums, artwork, and stage show. Industrial metal with all sorts of sound effects, samples, and grooves you can dance to. 

2017: 

Power Quest – Sixth Dimension: 6th album from one of the few from the new generation of power metal carrying the traditions of Stratovarius. 

Crazy Lixx – Ruff Justice: Swedish glam metal band’s 6th album revives the LA sunset strip music. 

Night Demon – Darkness Remains: One of the leaders of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, bringing back the music of Maiden’s first three albums, Angel Witch, Motorhead, Diamond Head, Satan, and Demon. 

2018: 

Striker – Play to Win:  6th album from these Canadian’s, one of the leaders of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. Big riffs, vocals, harmonies, and hooks. 

Judas Priest – Firepower: Who would have thought they could make a “Painkiller” pt.2. And 45 years after the debut, second album with Richie Faulkner injecting new life into the creativity. 

Riot V – Armor of Light: Second album with Todd Michael Hall, these underdogs never gave up. 16th album since the late 70s. 

Satan – Cruel Magic: Reactivated NWOBHM legends release a solid album honoring the movement they helped start. 

Icarus Witch – Goodbye Cruel World: Yes, there is a NWOTHM. 5th album from the Pennsylvania based band. 

2019: 

Opeth – In Cauda Venenum: Well thought out constructed metal music, always a place for heavy and light moments that are seamlessly strewn together. 

Angel Witch – Angel of Light: Second album of new music since the 2000’s from the revived NWOBHM legends. 

John 5 & the Creatures – Invasion: What a unique talent John is on the guitar, always all sorts of sounds that completely reflects the album’s outer space artwork. 

Hammerfall – Dominion: After a slump for three albums, the hammer falls again with heavier guitars from the Swedish power metal saviors. 

Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual: Not easy to come back from an inconsistent career, different lineups, and a new singer and make a new album that holds up to you NWOBHM classics like 
“Spellbound” and “Crazy Nights”. And another from the early 80s movement still active today. 

Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper – At the Gates: Final album with only original member Steve Grimmett before he passed away in 2022.