Once you become a music enthusiast, in order to keep yourself updated, you have to listen to around 50 albums per month. Therefore it’s bloody hard to choose only the best 20. Therefore the second part of the list is nothing weeker than the previous ten in Part 1 and show some incredible pieces from heavy rock to heart touching ambient/pop.
11. Anathema – Distant Satellites
Since 2010 and their album We’re Here Because We’re Here, I tend to place Anathema at the top my lists, as their are simple breathtaking. The latest album showed to me “few too many experiments” but major part of this album is on the same level, as their previous albums. I promote this band anywhere I go and so far everybody, fell in love with them and it doesn’t matter if they listen to rock music or not. Every human being feels the beauty of their music. However I would say that their music si fully understood and enjoyed, if you are going through a personal crisis, or having your heart broken. Than you’ll hear all three singer preaching to you… until you start to cry like a lil’ girl. I don’t blame you ;D
12. KXM – KXM
VIP band #1 – Every musician, would like to reach a level, where you don’t care about the money and you form bands on birthday parties. Enjoy the heavy rock relax project of Korn’s drummer Ray Luzier, King’s X bassist/vocalist dUg Pinnick and Lynch Mob/ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch.
13. Killer Be Killed
VIP band #2 – “F*ck the world and play metal”, one drunk would say. At first you rub your eyes if the line-up is really true: Max Cavalera (Soulfly), Greg Puciatio (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Dave Elitch (ex-The Mars Volta). I don’t have to mention that such a mix of incredible musician will make an adequate album…
14. Within Temptation – Hydra
As a teenager I wanted to specialise in the bands with female singers, not only cause I loved them but after you get to know few hundreds of them, you cover the whole genre. On the other hand, times change, many bands broke-up since and bunch of disasters were formed since then. Not many of us stayed loyal to Within Temptation, but eventhough we might not agree with all their experiments, they are still worth a respect.
15. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Sins Of My Youth
Never give up on the high class rock music, even if you think it’s for the old b*stards. Rock music with rock’n’roll and blues origins is a building block of all heavier genres and in order to grow as a listener, you might want to check the dinosaurs of rock. Last year I would have recommended David Bowie, this year it’s Tom Petty.
16. Markéta Irglová – Muna
I’m not a big fan of music of my home country Czech Republic, but once in a while there is an album, which makes me soooo proud. You may know Markéta Irglová from a movie Once, where they’ve received with Glen Hansard, number of awards. She moved to Iceland in the meantime and gave me a reason, after a while, to recommend a Czech artist to the world.
17. Philm – Fire From The Evening Sun
One of the most unique rock/metal bands I heard in years, including Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer) on drums. Bassplayer Pancho described their music as a “weather forecast on cocain” – confirmed
18. Maybeshewill – Fair Youth
Another post rock pioneers adding brilliantly bits and pieces of electronics and pop. Nothing is as heavy, as post rock bands and with all respect, pop is the highest stage of post rock.
19. Beck – Morning Phase
Grammy for Best Rock Album truly deserved…
20. Evegrey – Hymns For The Broken
I was obsessed with Evergrey for many years, but we all, including many of his bandmates gave up on Tom S. (aassss ;D) Englund few years ago, for many reasons. Ex-members forgave him recently and returned though. I guess I should also work on my forgiving skills…
Extra: Periphery – Clear EP, Animals As Leaders – The Joy Of Motion, Avatarium – All I Want EP, , Behemoth – The Satanist, California Breed – California Breed, Decapitated – Blood Mantra, Devin Townsend Project – Z², In Flames – Siren Charms, The Intersphere – Relations In The Unseen, Triosphere – The Heart of the Matter, Kayo Dot – Coffins On Io,…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – IX, Mono – Rays Of Darkness
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