BUCKCHERRY - 15 - "ALBUM OF THE YEAR" (Import)
12 months after it's Japanese release - Buckcherry's 'come-back' album, still delivers one the best rock releases of 2006 and is definitely worthy of the - 'Album Of The Year'! (9/10)
DREAM EVIL - United (Import)
Definitely, the best traditional metal release of the year - with meaty riffs a plenty, with easily their most consistent and power packed release to date! METAL! (9/10)
POISON BLACK - Lust Stained Despair (Import)
Angst ridden, Goth Rock at it's finest with meaty riffs, well constructed tunes, that are light years ahead of the pack - blowing away powder puffs like HIM, The 69 Eyes, etc! (9/10)
EUROPE - Secret Society (Frontiers)
The most surprising release of 2006 - Europe proved beyond all doubt that they are a very good, melodic hard rock band with plenty to offer! A quality product! (9/10)
KROKUS - Hellraiser (AFM)
The veteran Swiss rockers return with an album full of vigor, bite and some dam catchy songs that should appease all who love 'em! A good consistent release! (8/10)
HOUSE OF LORDS - World Upside Down (Frontiers)
Probably one of the classiest, melodic rock releases of 2006 - with an album that is definitely a 'first class' product - all the way! (8/10)
PRETTY MAIDS - Wake Up To The Real World (Frontiers)
Another excellent release in the melodic rock stakes, that easily rubs shoulders with the best of the genre
with a near perfect product! (8/10)
PAUL STANLEY - Live To Win (Universal)
28 years after his debut solo album, the starchild of KISS returns with a modern sounding product - that is almost as good as his brilliant debut solo recording from 1978?! (8/10)
EVERGREY - Monday Morning Apocalypse (Nuclear Blast)
Talk about a excellent album, with not a dud song within earshot - EVERGREY produce one of the years' finest hard rock releases! (8/10)
SLAYER - Christ Illusion (Sony)
The veteran US masters of thrash metal, return with their strongest album in years proving that there's still plenty of life in this powerhouse outfit! (8/10)
PRIMAL FEAR - The Very Best Of ... (Nuclear Blast)
One of Germany's finest ever traditional metal bands - releases a jam packed album full of the bands' best material, delivering on all fronts! The 'bonus' disc featuring "legend" covers is a definite must! (8/10)
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES - Deuce (Import)
The 2nd strong album for this US band - originally released in 2005, finally gets released in Europe in 2006 and it's still sounds just as good today! Forget Guns 'N Roses - this is the real deal, with countless ass-kicking hard rock songs! (8/10)
SHARK ISLAND - Gathering Of The Faithful (Frontiers)
A decade after their 'legendary' release - the coolest sounding band on the planet, returns with more of the same - first rate melodic hard rock of the highest calibre! (8/10)
BEYOND FEAR - Beyond Fear (SPV)
Talk about throwing down the gaunlet, Tim 'Ripper' Owens - delivers a stunning debut platter that easily outshines his previous UK bands' recent inspid return! (8/10)
SLADE - The Very Best Of ... (Universal)
The British 70's glam-rock 'legends' - serve up a smorgasboard on this excellent double disc of the bands' very best tunes that made them a household name - brilliant! (9/10)
DRAGONFORCE - Inhuman Rampage (Roadrunner)
Powermetal to the extreme - this wonderfully frantic excursion, showcases a band that is simply outstanding in their field and are set to conquer the world! (8/10)
DREADNAUGHT - Dirty Music (Roadrunner)
Back after a few years away, this Melbourne based hard-assed rock band delivers the best 'Australian Rock album of the year' - mean, nasty and throughly enjoyable! (8/10)
SKID ROW - Revolutions Per Minute (SPV)
Following up their reasonable 2003 return, the new release sees a vibrant, attitude filled and more consistent product - to some the band have never sounded better! (7/10)
WARRANT - Born Again (SPV)
Despite their main songwriter and original singer being absent, the original band plus new vocalist - Jamie St. James come up with a fairly cohesive return - that far outshines the hideous, "Belly To Belly" (1996) disaster! (7/10)
STRYPER - Reborn (Frontiers)
Back with an updated and modern approach, highlighted by those wonderful harmonies - Stryper rock hard and almost pull off a wonderous return - almost! (7/10)
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Shot To Hell (Riot)
An extremely cohesive and dare I say it - commercial sounding product for Zakk Wylde with all the usual excellent elements on board. Personally, "Mafia" is still his best - as far as I'm concerned and this product is not quite up to that standard! (7/10)
RHINO BUCKET - And Then It Got Ugly (Acetate Import)
Just when you thought it was safe, along comes the 'Buckets after 14 years to re-inflict their brand of dirty rock & roll - and some of us just LOVE it! (7/10)
TYRANT - Live Bootleg (Tyrantula)
Tasmanian veteran hard rockers - caught blazing through a set of their 'classic' metal anthems with a hunger and rabid in-your-face attitude! (7/10)
HAMMERHEAD - Stiff (Independent)
Tough sounding debut for the new Tasmanian hard rockers with plenty of bite, substance and a couple of cool tunes in tow! (6/10)
QUEENSRYCHE - Operation Mindcrime II (Rhino Impoort)
The thinking man's metal band returns with a valiant effort that unfortunately doesn't quite reach the heights of it's original namesake, but it's their strongest release since, "Empire" (1990)! (7/10)
BIG COCK - Big Cock (Driver Wild Import)
The second helping of Big Cock is almost as satisfying as their debut platter, with more songs about love,
sex, good times and dirty girls - what more could you ask for?! (7/10)
CHEAP TRICK - Rockford (Import)
The veteran US power pop band still sounds fresh and wonderful today, as it did back in the late 70's with an excellent all round product! (7/10)
HAMMERFALL - Threshold (Import)
Without a doubt, the bands' most cohesive and consistent release to date and is another traditional album, that almost fires on all cyclinders! (6/10)
VENGEANCE - Back In The Ring (SPV)
The Netherlands oufit dishes up a fairly solid album, full of 'old school' hard rock that should please all those who love AC/DC, Accept, etc.! (6/10)
GOTTHARD - Made In Switzerland (Nuclear Blast)
Why this band aren't MASSIVE - really does bewilder me as they have a sheer class that many others could only wish for, a very good LIVE release! (7/10)
MOTORHEAD - Kiss Of Death (SPV)
Strong, unrelenting, uncompromising - hey, it's another Motohead release and Lemmy and the lads deliver a good album, not a killer but good! (7/10)
SAXON - The Eagle Has Landed III (SPV)
Biff & the boys give us Eagle # 3 and while it's a good all round release with heaps of hits - the production unfortunately, is not to the standard of 'Eagle II' - which lets it down somewhat! (7/10)
DEATHSTARS - Termination Bliss (Nuclear Blast)
A tough, angry Goth flavoured release with tons of substance, good songs and creative ideas make this a good strong release for Goth rock fans! (7/10)
METAL CHURCH - A Light In The Dark (SPV)
Far stronger effort than their previous release - with tons of good tough tunes, that should impress their loyal fans! (7/10)
UFO - The Monkey Puzzle (SPV)
Classic British rock at it's finest, it seems all is now finally settled in their camp with another good release by this veteran UK outfit! (6/10)
AXEL RUDI PELL - Mystica (SPV)
There's no denying, the man is definitely a gifted guitar player but this time around the songs are just not up to the high standard of his previous release! (6/10)
POISON - 20 Years:Greatest Hits (EMI)
Love 'em or hate 'em - the glam rockers who broke a million girls hearts are still dishing up their party anthems to a dedicated following! (7/10)
THE ANSWER - Rise (Import)
The first decent band out of Ireland since THIN LIZZY - forget U2, these guys are serious contenders with an excellent sounding release! (7/10)
PURE INC. - A New Day's Dawn (AFM)
From the land of cuckoo clocks, chocolate, Krokus and Gotthard - comes this well rounded oufit with an impressive album that' slighly reminiscent of CREED?! (7/10)
ROADSTAR - Grand Hotel (Import)
A good album that showcases a band with class, finess and a refreshing hard rock sound that should please all who hear it, definitely worth your hard earned money! (7/10)
MEATLOAF - Bat Out Of Hell III (Import)
Third time lucky? I don't think so! While it is a well made record, they'll never ascertain that 'magic' that made the original - the MEGA success it was! Woeful! (3/10)
DEF LEPPARD - Yeah (Universal)
Watered down cover songs are not what I want to hear from this once, marvelous 80's rock superstar band - absymal! (3/10)
IRON MAIDEN - A Matter Of Life And Death (EMI)
No doubt a strong release, posssibly their best in over a decade - but they simply can't quite, regain that magic spark of their 'hey day' era! (6/10)
TOTO - Falling In Between (Riot)
The years most bland and boring release .... (2/10)
MANOWAR - The Sons Of Odin (EP) (SPV)
Love the band, but this is rather ordinary by their standards - I hope the up-coming album is far more superior?! (5/10)
SOUL RELIC - Love Is The Lie We Both Believed (Import)
Goth inspired pop rock that works on a couple of songs - the rest, ho hum! (5/10)
TRIVIUM - The Crusade (Roadrunner)
Some call them the new Metallica? Yes, they do sound reminiscent of those 'early years' - albeit with a modern sound that works exceedingly well! (5/10)
TONY MARTIN - Scream (SPV)
The ex-Sabbath singer tries to motor along with a couple of tunes having a Sabbath/Rainbow groove but there is more misses than hits! (5/10)
WINGER - IV (Frontiers)
Disappointing return that doesn't match their previous efforts, such a shame - maybe next time?! (5/10)