I trust my colleagues will update you on the likes of black metal, death metal and all the other genres of metal that permeate this scene like the sprawling architecture of Los Angeles. I, on the other hand, want to circle back to something I brought up in my review of Visigoth’s The Revenant King: that 2015 will be the year of power metal; the year that true heavy metal returns in all its cheesy, original glory; the year that age-appropriate music becomes available en masse and à la mode for all of us elder statespeople of metal. How’d that play out? Let’s see:

Only three full months into 2015, we’ve already had beer-guzzling releases from Visigoth, Night Demon, Crypt Sermon and many, many more. Perhaps stoner metal’s absorption of a more classic rock feel has opened the door for men to once again act like real men and slap on some spandex, stuff their underwear full of fake cock and hit those damn high notes!

Visigoth astounded us with their Dungeons & Dragons-themed album and its speed, groove, and goldmine of vibrato-laced high notes from vocalist Jake Rogers. (Not to mention a king-slaying video.) Night Demon rolled the clock back to a trio-length, engine-revving, tire-squealing 80’s metal sound, making me wish I had a large group of beer-slamming pals to hang out with. (Alas, I do not.) Then there was Crypt Sermon’s debut, Out of the Garden, which fell upon us from the battlefield hills of Pennsylvania in late February. Their moderate-length tunes took inspiration from stoner metal, doom and fantasy metal to create a truly unique blend of the classic heavy.

Which brings me to what should be the most exciting aspect of 2015: young people are once again producing age-appropriate music—music that is appropriate for members of the old guard to feel comfortable blasting. No longer do we fogeys have to find our fellow elders to watch a true, screaming heavy metal performance, with male vocals so screechy you’d think their balls were in a vice grip. Now we can see people with all the energy we used to have, who can get on stage with a healthy lower back and bang out forty-five minutes of quality head-banging, powerful heavy metal. Being mature is cool again! We did it!

Anyway, below are my top 10 releases from Q1—the only exception being Minsk’s The Crash & The Draw, which I heard during Q1, but which drops on April 7. (My bending of the rules to include this one here should tip you off as to how good it is.) Although there are only three “heavy metal” records in there, those releases are setting a tone for what I envision will be a year rife with classic metal hitters. Break out the beer and leather—somebody’s getting crazy in the parking lot tonight!

1. Archgoat – The Apocalyptic Triumphator
2. Leviathan – Scar Sighted
3. Dead in the Manger – Cessation
4. Night Demon – Curse of the Damned
5. Visigoth – The Revenant King
6. Hæthen – Shaped by Aeolian Winds
7. Die Like Gentlemen – Five Easy Lies
8. Porta Nigra – Kaiserschnitt
9. Minsk – The Crash & The Draw
10. Crypt Sermon – Out of the Garden

-Manny-O-War

Live. Love. Plow. Horns Up.