MetalTalk BEST OF 2017s
31st December 2017
A very happy 2018 to all our readers and here's our writers' Best Of 2017s. There was a lot of ties this year and the winners won by the smallest of margins which just goes to show what a rich year it was for our music.
BEST BAND: INGLORIOUS
After the massive tsunami of excitement with their monster self-titled debut album, Inglorious have done the business again with another killer record, 'Inglorious II', which was followed by a highly successful headline tour. The arenas may still be a few albums away, but in the meantime you can enjoy seeing them up close and personal.
2. CATS IN SPACE
A veritable supergroup of musicians, they've got two studio album out already, 'Too Many Gods' and 'Scarecrow', and a live album, 'Cat Alive!', due in February. This band started out aiming for the stars and they're well on their way to getting there thanks to support tours with Deep Purple, Thunder and (the mighty) Status Quo but every time I see them supporting I think it won't be long before they're selling out arenas in their own right.
3. A tie between Black Sabbath, Shattered Fortress, Avatarium, Rogga Johansson and Accept.
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BEST GIG: NO AWARD THIS YEAR
Every single one of our writers chose a different first, second and third gig this year so it's the biggest tie we could possibly have. Just shows you what a great gigging year 2017 was.
BEST ALBUM: BLACK STAR RIDERS - 'HEAVY FIRE'
Since Black Star Riders produced their debut album, 'All Hell Breaks Loose', back in 2013 they've set about creating a dynamic and impressive back catalogue of original work. This continued with the 2015 follow-up, 'The Killer Instinct', built on the success of their debut but it was with the 'Heavy Fire' album in February that the band really came into their own for me. "All killer and no filler," may be an old adage, but it perfectly sums up the 'Heavy Fire' album.
2. BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - 'BCC IV'
Behold the fourth instalment of the New Testament of the four horsemen of the Black Country apocalypse. A rock album hewn from the hardest granite and etched with deep volcanic grooves that erupt with unbridled fire and brimstone, trampling underfoot all that dare to stray into its path. Compared to the preceding trilogy of albums from the fantastic four, there's a heroic continuity of style and sound that continues to draw heavily from the rich well of 70s classic rock with the modern heavy soulful edge. Surely one of the best hard rock albums of the year, a precious amalgam of the Voice Of Rock, the lord of the strings, the caligula of keys and the son of the God Of Thunder.
3. INGLORIOUS - 'II'
This second album from Inglorious is packed full of delicious hard rock songs that have matured as well as a fabulous malt whisky.
BEST FESTIVAL: WACKEN
Everything about Wacken 2017 was glorious and in fact, it wasn't just the best festival of 2017, it was the best festival of all time. An amazing line-up and a throughly amazing time. See you there again the first weekend of August.
BEST VIDEO: NO AWARD THIS YEAR
Same as for Best Gig, every single one of our team chose something completely different. It still hasn't killed the radio star though...
BEST NEW BAND: CELLAR DARLING
Less than a year after Cellar Darling formed, they had signed with Nuclear Blast, released their debut album, toured with Delain and Lacuna Coil and played Summer Breeze and really stamped their mark on the burgeoning Euro Metal scene. This is the sound, indeed.
So that wraps up our 2017 awards and now it's time to get on with 2018, which is already looking like it will be one the best years ever. Here's our writers' individual awards.
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