King Diamond

Trial- Vessel (High Roller Records)

Hardly a trial to listen to.

There might just be something in the water in Sweden. How else can you explain the sheer number of quality metal acts emanating from the country?

Albatross- The Kissing Flies (Transcending Obscurity)

Some fine traditional metal from India.

Albatross play a brand of traditional metal that, much like the B-movie horror stories they're inspired by, never really loses its appeal no matter how much time passes. 

In Solitude - The World The Flesh The Devil (Metal Blade/Riot)

Frustratingly familiar fayre from these identikit Swedes.
Release Date: 
24 May 2011 (All day)

I mean, it’s a good record and all, but really, does the world need another band that sounds exactly like Mercyful Fate?

Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae (Metal Blade/Riot)

Swedish act Portrait keep it simple and reap the dividends.
Release Date: 
10 May 2011 (All day)

Straight up-and-down heavy metal.

Hell - Human Remains (Nuclear Blast)

A band we thought long lost return with a stunning piece of heavy metal brilliance.
Release Date: 
12 May 2011 - 11:30pm

Jesus H. Christ. I wasn’t expecting this!

Ghost - Opus Eponymous (Metal Blade)

Faceless Swedes release the anonymous Opus Eponymous. And it's marvellous.
Release Date: 
17 Jan 2011 - 11:30pm

It's very rare in this day and age that an album emerges that is so remarkable, so special, and so different that you just have to keep listening to it time and time again.