Mercyful Fate

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?

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.

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.