1. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls
If it wasn't enough for Bruce Dickinson to be struck down with cancer, Iron Maiden produced their most extravagant album in their history. Theres good reason it sits at the top of many a poll this December, its a great album
Erik Martensson's Eclipse are at the other end of the melodic rock spectrum to Blood Red Saints. More raw power and edge to their music, they are the 2015 Oxford Dictionary meaning of 'anthemic rock'. Not a shit song on the album, its slayed me from the off. A HUGE album!
If you thought that 2013s Earth Rocker was a belter then Psychic Warfare continued where it left off and then some. Full of huge riffs, Clutch do it without much fuss and make it seem oh so easy.
Theres probably good reason why they broke up a few years back. Their return has been a great one. Wonder Days is their best since their debut. Wonder Days (the song) is one of THE BEST songs in its own right in 2015.
Wilson is probably Britain's finest export of Prog Rock. Scrap that, just rock in general. He has been positively scintillating since the demise of Porcupine Tree, and Hand.Cannot.Erase goes from Prog to metal and back (in just one song). Its bleak, broody, moving, heavy, industrial and most of all immersive.
Awad continues his great journey, this time bringing in stalwarts Arjen Lucassen and Anneke Van Giersbergen on top of Ostura's Elia Monsef. Its a complicated concept piece, telling a compelling story. An enlightening piece of work
Its a contrast to the joint winner of my 2015 list, but BRS are more 'classic' 80s AOR than anyone else on this list and they are a brand new band. Thanks to the dulcet tones of Pete Godfrey, and the superb songs (no fillers here folks) they deserve all the plaudits. Superb 80s slice of AOR
OK its not exactly an AOR album as such, its a defining album for Romeos Daughter. They could have given up the ghost since reforming , but like their friends FM, they choose to plough through the field and make new music that is probably their most consistent and best work to date. They should be the darlings of Radio 2, but for some reason are overlooked, and that is a huge travesty.
I am a tad biased when it comes to my beloved FM, but they wouldn't be in here if it wasn't any good (my proof - the disappointing Overland Ousey album). FM are in a very rich vein of form and this is one of their best pieces of work and sits close behind Indiscreet and Tough It Out, its that good!
Looking for an AC/DC size hole to fill in 2016 (which is most likely thir last year) then Screaming Eagles are ready and waiting like a rock Polyfilla waiting to fill that hole for ya! Huge riffs, great songs, great singer.
Others worth a definite mention and JUST missing out on a Top 10 place are....
Age Sten Nielsens Ammunition - Shanghaied
V0id - Keep Fighting
Tremonti - Cauterize
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