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Here it is.. My top 10 albums of 2009. First of all, let it be known that I'm not exactly good at writing this kind of thing so i'm gonna keep it fairly short and sweet... So lets begin!! :D

10. Primal Fear - 16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)

9. Elias Viljanen - Fire-Hearted

8. Celesty - Vendetta

7. Alestorm - Black Sails at Midnight

6. Saidian - Evercircle

5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

4. Stratovarius - Polaris

3. Adagio - Archangels in Black


...and down to the final two. I had a really hard time choosing between these two albums as my album of the year. They are two of my favourite albums of not just this year, but of all time...


2. Saratoga - Secretos Y Revelaciones

1. Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays


.................................................................................................................................

So that's my top 10 albums of 2009, overall it's been a great year for metal in my opinion, especially for Power/Prog metal. None of my choices for the top 10 were down to me struggling to think of 10 albums that I even liked from this year (which would have been the case in 2008 if I had written a top 10 journal), I love all of the albums in my list, right from 10th position to 1st.

...Even though Saratoga settled for my 2nd place this year, Secretos Y Revelaciones is probably my favourite Spanish language album of all time! I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves power metal with lightning fast guitar solos, powerful ballads and huge, catchy choruses! You don't even have to understand Spanish to love this album, although it helps if you do!! xD


On to Sonata Arctica and their 'The Days of Grays' album, this album has recieved a lot of criticism from a lot of their fans and it is quite a change in sound even from Unia, but there's just something about the overall 'feel' of the album that just makes it that little bit more special than the others in my opinion.. I've been a fan of the band since early 2002 in between the release of Silence and Winterheart's Guild and I've loved all of their albums so far (although Reckoning Night and Unia took a little while to open up to me), I think if someone had told me at the beginning of the year that Sonata would have a new album in September, I would have correctly guessed it would become my album of the year, not because of fanboy-ism or any of that crap but just because I genuinely love every album they've released so far!!


So that's my top album list of 2009, with 2010 hopefully seeing releases from some of my favourite bands such as Angra, Symphony X, Mägo de Oz, Labyrinth, Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian, Freedom Call and Avantasia, it seems that next year could be just as good for metal as this year, potentially even better!!

...Until next time!

1. How did you get into 29?
Týr - Hmm... Dunno, accidentaly, I think. I was looking for a good bands when I tried to extend my music library and I found them somewhere...

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
Disturbed - Indestructible, I'll never forget my reaction as I first heard it... 'Damn, it's fuckin' great! I'll listen this song once again!'

3. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Norther - Actually I own N

4. What is your favourite song by 15?
Battlelore - Ocean's Elysium

5. What is your favourite song by 5?
Entombed - Tough one, tie between Bringer of Light and Seeing Red

6. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Children of Bodom - Yeah, Kissing the Shadows

7. What is your favourite song by 10?
Acid Drinkers - Actually Blues Beatdown

8. What is a good memory you have with 30?
Arch Enemy - I helped to build blog about Angela Gossow ^^

9. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Rhapsody of Fire - Hmm... Unholy Warcry

10. How many times have you seen 25 live?
Krisiun - Never.

11. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Finntroll - They've got crazy titles, so I don't remember ^^

12. What is your favourite album by 11?
Soilwork - Again tough one... A Predator's Portrait

13. Who is a favourite member of 1?
System of a Down - Serj, of course!

14. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Blind Guardian - It's my dream to see them live... No, have never seen them.

15. What is a good memory with 27?
No 27! ^^

16. What is your favourite song by 16?
Marilyn Manson - Disposable Teens

17. What is your favourite album by 18?
AC/DC - Back in Black

18. What is your favourite song by 21?
No 21!

19. What is the first song you ever heard by 26?
Tie between Nile and Symphony X...
The Burning Pits of the Duat/The Damnation Game

20. What is your favourite album by 2?
Hunter - HellWood

21. What is you favourite song by 3?
In Flames - Scream

22. What is you favourite song by 8?
Slayer - Actually Show No Mercy

23. How many times have you seen 17 live?
Forefather - 0

24. What is the worst song by 12?
Bad Religion - Too much to write ;]

25. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
Ensiferum - I'm not sure, but I think it was Wanderer

26. What is you favourite album by 7?
Falconer - Northwind

27. What is your favourite song by 24?
Mastodon - Blood and Thunder

28. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy?
Alestorm - Yeah! Keelhauled, Wenches & Mead!

29. What is your favourite album by 4?
Metallica - ...And Justice for All

30. How many albums do you own by 20?
Tie again! Pro-Pain/Iron Maiden
0/1, Fear Of The Dark

Repost with your top 30! ;)

Yes I have some things to do but I don't want to, so I'm writing another meme-like blog XD


1. How did you get into 29? Evanescence
From the theatrical trailer of Daredevil xD I listened to Bring Me To Life in the radio too, but never paid it much attention until I knew Going Under. That was when I decided to listen to them.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? Kari Rueslâtten
Don't really remember ^^U

3. What’s your favorite lyric by 33? Stream of Passion
Out in the Real World without any doubt.

4. What is your favorite album by 49? Emma Shapplin
I like both of her albums almost the same!! I should say Carmine Meo because my most favourite song, Cuor Senza Sangue is from it =P

5. How many albums by 13 do you own? Visions of Atlantis
None at the moment

6. What is your favorite song by 50? Dead Can Dance
In Power We Entrust the Love Advocated

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? Elvenking
A Poem for the Firmament u_u

8. What is your favorite album by 15? Ayreon
Mostly The Dream Sequencer. Most of my personal favourites are there.

9. What is your favorite song by 5? Enya
The Memory of Trees

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? Sirenia
Euphoria *_*

11. What is your favorite album by 40? The Cranberries
Mmmhh Bury The Hatchet I think =)

12. What is your favorite song by 10? Tristania
Pale Enchantress <3

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? Hans Zimmer
The beautiful Gladiator Soundtrack makes me think about my high school years =)

14. What is your favorite song by 38? Alestorm
Captain Morgan's Revenge :D

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? WANDS
AWAKE

16. How many times have you seen 25 live? Loreena McKennitt
None ;_____; she MUST come to Mexico dammmmn ¬¬

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? Leaves' Eyes
Into Your Light, I think

18. What is your favorite album by 11? Theatre of Tragedy
Aêgis is very near perfection.

19. Who is a favorite member of 1? Blind Guardian
I should say Hansi Kürsch because I met him and spoke with him a little haha, but I love all members, and of course Thomen even if he's not in the band anymore. They make a GREAT team.

20. Have you ever seen 14 live? Emilie Autumn
No U_U

21. What is a good memory involving 27? Haggard
One of my first symphonic bands!! :D brings back good old memories n_n

22. What is your favorite song by 16? The 3rd and the Mortal
Why So Lonely *_*

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? Stratovarius
Black Diamond

24. What is your favorite album by 18? Tori Amos
Little Earthquakes!!! *_*

25. What is your favorite song by 21? Dimmu Borgir
Eradication Instincts Defined

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? Nightwish
Come Cover Me

27. What is your favorite album by 3? Within Temptation
Mother Earth forever and ever <3

28. What is you favorite song by 2? Sarah Brightman
Deliver Me

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? Abney Park
All the Myths Are True

30. What is your favorite song by 8? Era
Enae Volare Mezzo

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? Draconian
No one =/

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? Kalafina
serenato

33. What is your favorite album by 12? Xandria
Kill the Sun *_*

34. What is the worst song by 45? Epica
I should choose Cry for the Moon because in my opinion it's one of their most OVERRATED songs and I think they've made lots of better songs!! And it's not bad. But I'm sick of that haha

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? Mark Mancina
Diva omfgs!!!! It was instant love!! (and the thing that made me decide to watch Blood+ xDD)

36. What is your favorite album by 48? Tiamat
Skeleton Skeletron :D

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? Angtoria
None.

38. What is your favorite song by 36? Helium Vola
Selig

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? Alberto Cortez
Pobre mi Patrón xDDD

40. What is your favorite album by 7? Edguy
Hellfire Club. In my opinion their fuckin very best album!!! :') I actually loved the album before being a fan of the band!! XD

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? Dark Sanctuary
Mmmh none o_O its a very depressive band xD

42. What is your favorite album by 41? Aesma Daeva
Dawn of the New Athens

43. What is your favorite song by 24? The Gathering
In Motion #1 is THE song =)

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? Orphaned Land
Mmmh I don't think so xD

45. What is your favorite song by 35? Ophelia's Dream
Ladonna Wosh <3

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? Autumn
Skydancer *_*

47. What is your favorite album by 4? Lacuna Coil
Comalies forever *_*

48. Who is a favorite member of 37? Gregorian
I don't know XDDD

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? Forever Slave
Don't really remember

50. How many albums do you own by 20? After Forever
None =/

1. Rhapsody of Fire
2. Ensiferum
3. Wintersun
4. Luca Turilli
5. 植松伸夫 (Nobuo Uematsu)
6. Finntroll
7. Luca Turilli's Dreamquest
8. Kamelot
9. Amon Amarth
10. Norther
11. Falconer
12. DragonForce
13. Blind Guardian
14. Captain Dan & The Scurvy Crew
15. Turisas
16. Alestorm
17. X JAPAN
18. Eluveitie
19. Korpiklaani
20. Cruachan
21. Jeremy Soule
22. The Black Mages
23. HammerFall
24. Epica
25. Elvenking


What was the first song you ever heard by 6?
Maktens Spira! I heard it on the pre-show of an excellent podcast called Blue Plz! Many thanks to Totalbiscuit for introducing me to this band.


What is your favorite album by 2?
Ensiferum


What is your favorite lyric that 1 has sung?

And this is then the epic end
Of the legendary tale
Of the one who found the light
And the dragonflame inside
Of the tragic rain of a thousand flames
Of the town's defenders who faced (real) pain
Of symphonies of enchanted lands
Of whispers of love and hate

The dawn of victory can breathe in the wind
And this would mean the great rebirth
Reborn, the one who's giving his life
...the towns lying on the ground
Be one, (be one!) of us, (of us!)
And act as all the prophecies want...
To mountains and valleys, to fire and snow,
To sun, moon and wisdom rise your soul...
It's the call!

Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness

Hard decision though, Luca writes a lot of great lyrics.


How many times have you seen 11 live?
None. Not my top-priority, but would be nice, of course.


What is your favorite song by 7?
Gothic Vision


What is a good memory you have involving 20?
Well, it sort of led me into folk metal - which is awesome.


Is there a song by 3 that makes you sad?
Death and the Healing
One of my favourite songs - it's got a melancholic feel to it, I love it.


What is your favorite lyric that 14 has sung?
Hurm. I guess Sea Monsters:

"You hear stories of monsters in the waters
Endless counts of horrific manslaughters
sailors tell tales of beasts in the sea
but what they don't tell ya, it's that the worst it's in me."

Can't find any lyrics, so It'll have to do for now. Not too sure about that last line.

What is your favorite song by 19?

Vodka!
Vodka!
Vodka!


How did you first get into 22?

From playing Final Fantasy-games. Nobuo Uematsu makes the score, so I investigated - and found his side-project.


What was the first song you heard by 21?

Reign of the Septims


What is your favorite song by 4?
King of the Nordic Twilights


How many time have you seen 10 live?
Again, none, but I'd very much like to. Well, actually, I'm not too sure about their new singer, I'd have to hear him sing before deciding, I guess.


What is a good memory you have involving 13?
The Bard's Song - In The Forest

NEED I SAY MORE?


Is there a song by 23 that makes you sad?
Never, Ever


What is your favorite album of 15?
Battle Metal
Though, their second one is almost as good.


What is your favorite lyric that 9 has sung?


The enemies are in disarray ride them down as they run
Send them to their violent graves, don't spare anyone
Dead and wounded lie all around see the pain in their eyes
Over the field an eerie sound, as we hear the raven's cry

Cry of the Black Birds


What is your favorite song by 8?
The Shadow Of Uther


What is your favorite song by 16?
Over the Seas
I know.


How many times have you seen 5 live?
None. :( I'll definitely go if he performs nearby, though.


What is your favorite album by 12?
Valley Of The Damned


What is a good memory you have involving 25?
Can't really remember any. The Divided Heart is a good song, though.


What was the first song you heard by 18?
Inis Mona
Awesome.


What is your favorite song by 17?
ART OF LIFE - actually, I like the live version from 1993 better.

Really though, I cannot stress enough how absolutely awesome, fantastic and perfect this song is, my all-time favourite song BY FAR.


What is your favorite album by 24?
Design Your Universe


How many of your top 25 have you seen live?
Kamelot. I've seen Simmone Simmons live at the same concert, so I guess that's almostEpica. :)

Alright, I'll probably edit this later, as it's horribly written, and it's actually quite late.

A
Airbourne
Alestorm
Arch Enemy
As I Lay Dying
Avenged Sevenfold
B
C
Caliban
Children of Bodom
Crematory
D
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
E
Ensiferum
Equilibrium
F
Fall of Efrafa
Fear Factory
Finntroll
G
H
Hatebreed
Holger Burner
I
In Extremo
J
Job for a Cowboy
K
Killswitch Engage
L
Legion of the Damned
M
Mambo Kurt
N
O
Opeth
P
Q
R
S
Sabaton
Samsas Traum
Soilwork
Subway to Sally
T
U
Unearth
V
W
X
Y
Z

Manfestoo's top albums (overall) 1. The Beatles - The Beatles [White Album] (Dis (743) 2. The Residents - Commercial Album (693) 3. Frederic Chopin - Favorite Piano Works by Vladimir Ashkenazy (641) 4. Lemon Demon - Dinosaurchestra (446) 5. Dashboard Confessional - A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar (421) 6. Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Beethoven's Last Night (410) 7. The Beatles - Abbey Road (393) 8. Andrew Sisters - The Best Of (383) 9. Spinal & Steen - Tot Het Ontbindt ft. Spinal (376) 10. Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees (373) 11. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (352) 12. Sonata Arctica - Unia (339) 13. Lemon Demon - View-Monster (332) 14. The Beatles - Revolver [UK] (331) 15. Dashboard Confessional - MTV Unplugged Live (319) 16. Sonata Arctica - The End of This Chapter (294) 17. Tenacious D - The Pick of Destiny (293) 18. Within Temptation And The Metropole Orchestra - Black Symphony (290) 19. Dashboard Confessional - Swiss Army Romance (279) 20. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica (275) 21. Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (265) 22. Frank Sinatra - Birth Of A Legend (259) 23. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth (256) 24. Richard Cheese - I'd Like a Virgin (249) 25. Various Artists - The Meanest of Times (244) 26. The Beatles - Let It Be (240) 27. Yann Tiersen - Amélie (240) 28. Dashboard Confessional - The Places You have Come To fe (237) 29. Dashboard Confessional - The Wiretapes volume 1 (234) 30. Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich - The Ballets: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker (CD6/6) (230) 31. Sonata Arctica - Silence (229) 32. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (225) 33. Cage the Elephant - Cage The Elephant (224) 34. Frank Sinatra - Concepts Disc 3 (223) 35. Richard Cheese - The Sunny Side of the Moon (221) 36. Abney Park - Lost Horizons (219) 37. Richard Cheese - Tuxicity (206) 38. Soundtrack - Pennies from Heaven [Original Soundtrack] Disc 1 (204) 39. Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest of Times (195) 40. Sonata Arctica - Songs of Silence (193) 41. Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge (190) 42. Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich - The Ballets: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker (CD5/6) (178) 43. Tenacious D - Tenacious D (174) 44. Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night (174) 45. Sonata Arctica - Successor (173) 46. Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild (164) 47. Richard Cheese - Silent Nightclub (161) 48. Alestorm - Black Sails at Midnight (153) 49. Richard Cheese - Lounge Against the Machine (145) 50. Richard Cheese - Aperitif for Destruction (144)

Ahnengrab
Alestorm
Concept Insomnia
Delain
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Einherjer
Ex Deo
Farin Urlaub Racing Team
Heavenfall
Korpiklaani
Moonsorrow
Mourning Engines
Seventh Avenue
Sonata Arctica
Swashbuckle
van Canto
Winterborn

United States (54):
Dream Theater
Metallica
Hollywood Undead
John Mellencamp
Eagles
Megadeth
Symphony X
Liquid Tension Experiment
Santana
Mötley Crüe
Avenged Sevenfold
Van Halen
Skid Row
W.A.S.P.
Fates Warning
Platypus
Poison
The Jelly Jam
Dio
Slayer
Creedence Clearwater Revival
KISS
Bon Jovi
Aerosmith
Shadows Fall
Spinal Tap
Stryper
Liquid Trio Experiment
Winger
Harold Faltermeyer
Escape the Fate
Alice Cooper
Racer X
Eminem
Dokken
Trivium
Survivor
A Day to Remember
Beatallica
Jeff Wayne
Toto
Kenny Loggins
Paul Anka
Tenacious D
Vince Neil
Bowling for Soup
Chroma Key
John Williams
Extreme
Blue Öyster Cult
White wizzard
Alcatrazz
Steel Panther
Michael Jackson

United Kingdom (28):
Whitesnake
Bad Company
Free
Bullet For My Valentine
Rainbow
Gary Moore
Muse
DragonForce
Iron Maiden
Thunder
Deep Purple
Rory Gallagher
Saxon
Wham!
Queen
Discharge
Napalm Death
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Diamond Head
Lostprophets
Bill Bailey lol
Thin Lizzy
Led Zeppelin
Feeder
Every Word Is Yours
David Coverdale
Eric Clapton
Alestorm

Germany (5):
Scorpions
Helloween
Axel Rudi Pell
Johann Sebastian Bach
Ludwig van Beethoven

Sweden (4):
Yngwie Malmsteen
Europe
Opeth
Pain of Salvation

Italy (2):
Rhapsody (Of Fire)
Ennio Morricone

Denmark (2):
Mercyful Fate
King Diamond

Canada (1):
Bryan Adams

Austria (1)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

France (1)
Pipo & Elo

Unknown (1)
The String Quartet

Finland (1)
Turisas

Austrialia(1)
AC/DC