The Top 100 countdown continues! This time, the albums ranked between 50-26.
50) THERION – Leviathan III
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded in 1987. They have changed massively since then, originally starting out as a death metal band, but have adjusting towards symphonic, slightly progressive metal. They frequently use orchestral elements, choirs, classical musicians, and even acoustic folk instruments at times. Lyrically they offer many stories from different mythologies and practices as well as ancient traditions and writings.
49) THE PRETENDERS – Relentless
Relentless is the 12th album by the Pretenders, which again was born out of collaborations between frontwoman Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Walbourne. Hynde has remarked that this album is how she always wanted the band to sound, with publications like Mojo, Uncut, and Record Collector all heaping praise on it. It is the first Pretenders album I have been truly excited about in well over 20 years.
48) BJØRKØ – Heartrot
The Bjørkø moniker belongs to Tomi Koivussari from Amorphis, and it’s the Finnish guitarist’s solo album. He has enlisted the help of many different vocalists to sing the various songs, of which Marko Hietala (ex-Nightwish/Tarot) is the most known. The album has a huge scope and pulls together a vast range of styles instrumentally, from 1980s rock to more modern metal, and even gothic western elements. It balances anger and melancholy very well.
47) DESCARTES A KANT – After Destruction
This ambitious Mexican art group combines music, theatre, dance, and film to get their creative vision across. When they wrote an album about the death of a romantic relationship a few years ago, they performed the work live as a three-act concert with incorporated theatre and visual metaphors including crime scenes and forensic equipment. The new album has a more direct approach, which does not necessarily mean more straightforward, as they investigate psychic discomfort in a compulsively hyper-communicative but emotionally isolated society – all in musical form. Prepare yourself for something off the beaten track.
46) CRYPTA – Shades of Sorrow
Crypta with a C (the ones with a K were earlier in the list) is an all-female, fierce, intense, death metal band. If early Slayer had an all-female Brazilian counterpart, it would be Crypta. Shades of Sorrow is their second album, and is an unqualified improvement on the first album in almost every sense. Fernanda Lira’s banshee screams and feral roars raise every hair on the neck, while the fierce guitar riffs are spiced with snarling tremolo melodies. The drums might be what I listen out for the most often, adding an incredible level of variety of rhythms, counter-rhythms, fills, patterns, and transitions. Crypta are a finely oiled machine firing on all cylinders. They are likely too extreme for 90% of the Rocking In the Norselands followers, but they will do well if they ever want to tour the Norselands!
45) DURAN DURAN – Danse Macabre
Duran Duran returns with a Halloween-themed album with former guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo guesting. The return of former guitarists gave high expectations, but this is a strange album. The loose concept of songs with scary topics works rather well, but it feels like a hodge-podge of leftovers rather than a new album. There are some new tracks, several cover versions, re-recording of older original materials (and the new version of Nightboat is incredible!), live-in-studio sessions, some guests… The album is not bad at all, but lacks cohesion. It feels a bit all over the place, and like they did this rather than work on a fully new album. Still, many good moments here, and well worth digging out when Halloween approaches.
44) ALICE COOPER – Road
Alice Cooper shows no signs of slowing down, and is already ready with the follow-up to 2021’s Detroit Stories. The 75-year old is probably the only one of his own generation who can still be a credible version of himself as he was 50 years ago. He has not always used his live band on his studio recordings, but he does on the new album Road, which brings a lot of old-style Alice grit to the songs. This is classic rock’n’roll, frequently with a big glint in the eye. Long-time fans will listen with a huge grin.
43) CROWN LANDS – Fearless
These born storytellers perform elegant, clever, progressive rock, inspired by anything from real-world issues, Buddhist practices, or stories from the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. Musically they are one part British electric folk, one part progressive rock, and one part… well, instead of Led Zeppelin, perhaps we could say Greta Van Fleet?
42) GRACE POTTER – Mother Road
Yo sassy blues rock mama is back, and if you don’t behave she’s gonna kick yer ass! Mother Road is Potter’s fifth solo album. Her world-weary voice gives her stories and songs a believability. She’s been around the block, is old enough not to give a damn, and has an intensity and swagger in her delivery that is invigorating. Her music videos that are all set at the Hurricane’s Café diner, filled with amazing characters and interweaving plot points, are worth the price of admission alone.
41) STRAWBS – The Magic of It All
Strawbs are already ready with their follow-up to 2021’s amazing Settlement. In spite of the productivity, everything about The Magic of It All feels like it’s Strawbs’ swansong. The departure of key members, frontman and band leader Dave Cousins’ declining health, the farewell show at Cropready during the summer of 2023… The band has been active since the mid-60s, and everything has its time, but this is a band that has weathered everything and it almost seemed like they would last forever. This album is good, but not quite as strong in my ears as the previous one. It says everything about how much I expect from this band when a spot just shortly above the middle of a Top 100 list feels like a disappointment. My main issue may be that the album is very laidback overall – very, very laidback! – but the quality of the songwriting (and particularly the lyrics!) is still unquestionable. Some great moments here and there elevates the total sum of the offering. Thank you, Dave Cousins and everybody who has been with you through numerous line-ups, for everything you have given.
40) MOON SAFARI – Himlabacken Vol. 2
The first thing that struck me about this Swedish progressive rock band were the harmonies. Complex multi-part vocal harmonies, layered harmonies, delivered in three, five or even six parts. Moon Safari’s use of vocal harmonies are next level. In addition to being great singers, the members are also accomplished instrumental performers, and the music created to underpin their vocals is complex, imaginative time signatures.
39) GRYMHEART – Hellish Hunt
Grymheart from Hungaria is a new band founded in 2022. They combine the energy of power metal with the harmonies of folk metal with the epicness of symphonic metal. The most important element are the catchy melodies – every track contains memorable parts which get stuck in your head. The overall concept and image of Grymheart come from iconic monsters & demon hunter characters like The Witcher, Solomon Kane, Van Helsing, etc., with the songs telling stories about mystical creatures. The hunt is open!
38) NANOWAR OF STEEL – Dislike To False Metal
Heavy metal has always had a sense of humour. From Bad News and Spinal Tap to Steel Panther and Evil Scarecrow, there’s always been a healthy amount of piss-taking around. As such, the rise of Nanowar of Steel has a certain inevitability to it. A self-proclaimed comedy/parody band, the Italians have spent the last 20 years being very silly indeed, showing us that it’s possible to make fun of Manowar while simultaneously making fun of Manowar. The new album appears to be a more serious bid for attention, with more focus going into their songcraft. There is still much to laugh at, but plenty to enjoy on pure musical levels as well.
37) KIRSTEN ADAMSON – Landing Place
Kirsten Adamson’s new solo album brings her a little closer to the Americana influences of her other project The Marriage, but it still very much sounds like her. Her expressive voice combined with lovely finger-picking guitar layers, which are frequently melancholic, provide lovely melodies which are given the space and freedom to soar. The track My Father’s Songs (her father being Big Country’s Stuart Adamson) is particularly poignant. The album is a personal yet inclusive journey through several moods and stories.
36) EMILY BREEZE – Rapture
Bristol based singer-songwriter Emily Breeze has been a name worth knowing for a while now. Her brand of observational, frequently satiric take-no-shit lyrics set to groovy indie beats is sometimes exactly what you need to deal with said shit. The new album is a showcase for slinky, shimmering pop music with a rawness at its heart. Breeze might describe the album best when she said, “it’s a collection of coming-of (middle) age stories whch celebrate flamboyant failure, excess, and acceptance.”
35) BACKSTREET GIRLS – In Lust We Trust
If Backstreet Girls ever wrote a song about themselves, which they will just have to at some point, the first verse might go something like this:
Well, we’re Backstreet Girls and we’re back in town
We’re gonna rock and roll you into the ground
Still writing songs ‘bout rock’n’roll and booze
So boogie down you got nothin’ to lose
Not exactly high poetry, but (for these guys) very genuine, summing up the band to a tee. They have delivered riff-filled, high voltage boogie rock’n’roll since the mid-1980s, and have arrived at their 16th studio album. You always know what you’ll get from them. Just like their inspirations AC/DC, The Ramones, and Chuck Berry, they have found their formula and don’t mess with it. The album still sees some signs of playfulness, although they are in no danger of changing who they are. The documentary about their life as dedicated rock’n’rollers nearly gave my liver a shock. A continual rock’n’roll lifestyle is not for everyone, but fortunately they are still doing it so that we don’t have to.
34) ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION – Golden Age of Music
Arjen Lucassen is by now a legendary name within the progressive rock scene. The Dutch musician, known for projects like Ayreon, Star One, Guilt Machine, his solo works and many others, is back with YET another project. Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution is a full-fledged band, carrying Lucassen’s name for recognition purposes, boasting the typical 1970s rock band format of vocals, guitar, hammond organ, bass, and drums (think Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, and those type of bands). The album plays like a love letter to all of those 1970s rock bands, and it’s hard not to listen with a continual smile on your face.
33) GRETA VAN FLEET – Starcatcher
Greta Van Fleet are back with their third album. It follows the path onward that the second album pointed at with more ambitious levels of songwriting and arrangements, and it’s great to see them take more chances around that style. The ballads or acoustic tracks are conspicuous by their absence this time around. The album is filled with great riffs and epic soundscapes designed to make the songs soar, and as their songs start getting longer and more adventurous, progressive influences of a certain Topographic kind starts emerging. Josh Kiszka’s voice does have a flair of Jon Anderson in it, and is more intense and range-pushing than ever. It’s up to you to decide whether that is a warning or a recommendation.
32) GRANDMA’S ASHES – This Too Shall Pass
How to make this countdown even more diverse? Let’s bring in the French female fronted occult blues rock trio Grandma’s Ashes. I hear a lot of folk inspirations in their music alongside their mediaeval vocal harmonies. They bring in whatever sound a song needs, which allows some of them to lean towards a doom/stoner sound while others have sassy pop influences. This is their debut album and a new acquaintance, and one of the most intriguing albums the past year. Frankly, everything about this album is fascinating, and listening to the album is still a work in progress as I write this.
31) YES – Mirror To the Sky
The last few Yes albums have been all right, but not amongst my favourites. I was not sure this would be able to rise above the level they seemed to be operating on, but a positive first impression has fortunately ended up defining how I feel about it. The album contains more of the genuine prog bravado of vintage Yes, including some lengthy numbers – the title track weighs in at a hefty 14 minutes. It’s tough to see key members passing one by one, and nobody knows how much future there is left in Yes at this point, but this album feels like the start of a new and more promising one.
30) EXCALION – Once Upon A Time
The Finnish power metal band have been some of the best in their genre since 2007, and their debut album Waterlines is still one of my favourite albums in the genre. The new album reminds me why I gravitated to Excalion to begin with. A cracking dose of epic, powerful storytelling with hooks and passionate delivery. The album grows as you get into it and the best tracks are found in the second half.
29) ANGUS McSIX – And the Sword of Power
Angus McSix has arrived to save us all from laser-shooting dinosaurs, unicorn invasions, and fireflies of doom! Irresistable slice of epic, melodic power metal! Angus’ real-life name is Thomas Winkler, who spent a decade in Gloryhammer, from which he distanced himself after his former colleagues disgraced themselves. Embarking on his own journey was a wise move, although he hasn’t made too many adjustments to the music formula he is known for. This solo debut is armed with the focused determination of a man with a point to prove.
28) METALLICA – 72 Seasons
It took time before I managed to get into the new Metallica album. While I enjoyed it from the start, it wasn’t love at first sight. The album is quirky, contains several songs that on first listen feel like they go on too long, and continue pushing the envelope for how progressive the band is. Getting to know it, and gradually getting the songs under my skin, has been enjoyable. Lyrically, James Hetfield has never laid himself so bare. The album is crooning in pain, barking with regret, singing with defiance and displaying an impressive dynamic range. The album is a great combination of youthful fury and adult wisdom.
27) THE COURETTES – Boom! Dynamite
In one way, it’s almost a bit of a cheat to include this album. Boom! Dynamite was released in 2025 as a compilation of new material and older hits & highlights from their catalogue, serving as an introduction to the North American market (although it was released elsewhere too, for good measure). The explosive wife-and-husband rock duo from Brazil (Flava Couri, guitar and vocals) and Denmark (Martin Couri, drums) have been touring nonstop through Europe since 2015, bringing their perfect blend of garage rock, 1960s girl groups, Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production, surf music, and doo-wop to people in the strangest locations. They are a delight to behold, always energetic, showmen to a tee, and you just can’t help but to watch.
26) LIV SIN – Kaliyuga
I am still not over Sister Sin breaking up at the end of 2015. Their frontwoman Liv Jagrell quickly decided to soldier on as Liv Sin, for which all Sinners are very grateful. It was obviously not quite the same – how could it be? – but she has slowly but surely carved her own career, not as much distancing herself from Sister Sin as defining which parts of that sound came from her and refining that. This is her third solo album. The first one was all about the metal, but gradually other influences started creeping into the songwriting, and the new album is getting close to the diversity that also made Sister Sin such a great band. That comparison will probably always be there, and it will always be an unfair one to make, but with Kaliyuga Liv is standing firmly on her own feet with new levels of mature songwriting and a stronger sense of her own identity.
Thanks for following me to the end of part 3 – see you in part 4!
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