Heavy Metal 2010s Albums

Nucleus, released worldwide on 29 March 2019, gathers Anthem songs re-recorded with English lyrics throughout. It followed the band becoming the first Japanese act signed to the German label Nuclear Blast, and it is the record with which they began addressing an audience outside Japan.

The album by BAND-MAIKO, the alter-ego project that swaps the maid conceit for a maiko one: seven songs layering Kyoto dialect and Japanese-instrument colour over the band’s usual hard rock.

A two-song single issued the same day as "glory", pairing the title track with "Smile".

A full-length that expands BAND-MAID’s expressive range, balancing wider melodies with hard-driving performances.

A two-song single issued the same day as "Bubble", pairing the title track with "hide-and-seek".

Battle Beast's fifth album, from March 2019, the second written around Janne Bjorkroth after Anton Kabanen's departure.

The major-label debut on avex, made by a line-up that had just gained guitarist AYUMI and drummer NATSUMI.

Humanicide shows Death Angel preserving the sharp identity of Bay Area thrash while making its arrangements and weight even more exacting.

Diamond Head's eighth album, from May 2019, the second with Rasmus Bom Andersen singing.

Kill or Get Killed unites Iron Savior’s science-fiction imagery, steel-edged riffing and heroic choruses into a single forward drive.

A sixteenth studio album that turned out to be the last before Ronnie Atkins' illness was made public.

The Verdict condenses Queensrÿche’s hard-metal drive and progressive-rock shading into a notably focused set of songs.

The band's third full live album — a late-November 2017 show in Aalborg, Denmark, captured without Raven knowing a tape was running.

The first SINNER album with a permanent second voice, Giorgia Colleluori, alongside Mat Sinner. Ricky Warwick and Ronnie Romero guest on it, and Dennis Ward co-produced and mixed.

The twelfth studio album, released by Mighty Music on 22 November 2019. Eleven songs running from "Worlds Apart" to "Sail On".

Blue Lightning has Yngwie Malmsteen facing the blues and classic-rock music at the roots of his style through a mix of covers and originals.

An early release that documents the origin of BAND-MAID’s maid concept and rock-band direction.

A two-song single: the title track, written as an anime theme, backed with "Screaming".

A decisive hard-rock statement whose title mirrors BAND-MAID’s ambition to reach audiences beyond Japan.

Despite its title, Grimmest Hits is not a compilation but Black Label Society’s tenth studio record, packed with the band’s heaviest strengths.

Reach for the Sky turns Blindman’s live-bred unity as a newer lineup into a precise tenth studio album.

Seven songs opening on an instrumental title track, made in the years when the band's reputation in Europe was hardening.

The sixth Bullet for My Valentine album, released worldwide by Spinefarm on 29 June 2018. It brings programming and keyboards well forward and is the first record made with Jason Bowld as a full member. The Japanese edition adds seven tracks — piano versions and a live recording among them — for eighteen.

Dir En Grey's tenth album, released on 26 September 2018, recorded at Studio Sunshine.

Ghost's fourth studio album, from June 2018, built on the Black Death and the Middle Ages; it entered the Billboard 200 at number three.

Gus G.'s third solo album, recorded as a trio with Dennis Ward on vocals, bass and keyboards and Will Hunt on drums, and produced by Ward and Gus G. together. It includes a cover of Mark Knopfler's "Money for Nothing". The Japanese edition (KICP-1908) runs to fifteen tracks, two of them recorded live in 2017.

The sixth album and the last with Iuri Sanson — released weeks after the mass departure was announced, and so the closing chapter of the band's first era.

Firepower reignites the heavy-metal language Judas Priest established over decades with a muscular, contemporary sound.

The sixth album, their first German top ten at number 7, and the year they were named Best German Band at the Metal Hammer Awards. Avalon issued the Japanese edition as MICP-11427 with one bonus track.

Rise to Glory -8118- is the twenty-seventh Loudness album, released simultaneously worldwide on 26 January 2018 — through Ward Records in Japan and earMUSIC in the US and Europe. It was their first American release since On the Prowl in 1991.

A four-song, 21-minute mini-album built on the idea of fighting the fate one is handed, including a pair of songs drawn from Rachmaninoff.

Clockwork Immortality expands the speed-metal and power-metal strengths Lovebites showed on their debut into a larger scale.

Damned If You Do shows the stability of Metal Church in the Mike Howe reunion era through traditional heavy-metal form.

Onmyo-za's twelfth album, from June 2018, the harder half of a pair released on the same day.

The seventh album, produced by Jens Bogren and a German No. 1 — the turning point that produced “Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend.”

Apocalypse pursues the pleasures of traditional power metal with complete commitment around Ralf Scheepers’ fierce high voice and Mat Sinner’s heavy bass.

Armor of Light finds Riot V making the Riot legacy of speed metal, twin guitars and melody even more secure after the loss of Mark Reale.

Saxon's twenty-second album, released on 2 February 2018. "They Played Rock and Roll" is for Motorhead; the album reached five in Germany.

Play to Win brings Striker’s speed-metal attack and eighties hard-rock chorus sense into one of the band’s most buoyant balances.

A studio album released in 2018.

Steelfactory finds U.D.O. returning to direct, heavy metal with a strong sense of performing unity.

Reidolized (The Soundtrack to the Crimson Idol) revisits the songs of W.A.S.P.'s classic The Crimson Idol with the current band and modern production.

The Rise of Chaos delivers Accept’s steel-hard riffs and large choruses with present-day weight.

Unlimited Diffusion expands Aldious’ ornate twin guitars, speed and clear vocal character into a more colorful melodic-metal setting.

Engraved is Anthem's sixteenth studio album, released on 21 June 2017. It is the second record made by the line-up that brought back Yukio Morikawa and added Isamu Tamaru, and it followed the thirtieth-anniversary tour that marked three decades since their 1985 debut.

A double A-side single pairing "Daydreaming" and "Choose me" with "Play"; both title songs received official music videos.

A key album that clarifies BAND-MAID’s hard-rock direction while connecting musicianship with catchy songwriting.

A four-track EP led by the advance single "IGNITE," cut during the band's touring years abroad.

Six delivers the pleasures of traditional heavy metal in a direct burst of thick riffs and large choruses.

Immortals shapes mythic storytelling into Firewind’s fast power metal and dramatic melody.