Speed Metal 2010s Albums

An orchestral album billed to Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra, released in November 2019: no electric guitars, and a sequel to a Markus Heitz novel.

DragonForce's eighth album, from September 2019: part of it was recorded live on Herman Li's Twitch stream, with Epica's Coen Janssen on keyboards.

Overkill's nineteenth album, released in February 2019: the first with drummer Jason Bittner, and number five in Germany, their best chart placing there.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

For the Demented centers Annihilator on thrash-metal sharpness while layering Jeff Waters’ intricate guitar work and uneasy melody around it.

DragonForce's seventh album, from May 2017, and their longest studio record, closing its run with the eleven-minute "The Edge of the World".

Kreator's fourteenth album, from January 2017, and the first to enter the German chart at number one in thirty-two years.

Overkill's eighteenth album, released in February 2017: the first mixed by Andy Sneap, with a cover painted by Travis Smith.

Seasons of the Black places Rage’s power-metal speed and thrash sharpness inside a darker tonal world.

The self-titled Striker record joins the band’s speed-metal sharpness with approachable hard-rock hooks in a very concentrated form.

The Devil Strikes Again reunites Rage’s speed-metal sharpness, heavy riff pressure and technical development in one aggressive flow.

Stand in the Fire brings together Striker’s speed-metal guitar attack, energetic beat and memorable choruses.

Suicide Society pushes Annihilator’s sharp thrash picking and memorable songcraft at the same time.

Blind Guardian's tenth album, from January 2015, made with three choirs and two orchestras.

My God-Given Right fills Helloween’s power metal with racing riffs, bright melody and a touch of playful humor.

Released on 28 August 2015 and a UK No. 10, Bad Magic is what the band themselves call "the 23rd (and final) studio album". Warner Music Japan issued the Japanese pressing the same day as WPCR-16754.

The thirteenth album, paid for in part by a Kickstarter campaign that took over $27,000, and rolled out across territories through SPV/Steamhammer in April 2015.

A covers album made as a reward for the Kickstarter backers who helped fund ExtermiNation; the band's own site files it as a bonus release rather than a studio album.

Decadent drives U.D.O.’s traditional heavy metal through hard guitar riffs, steel-like vocals and direct rhythm.

Blind Rage sharpens Accept’s hard-chopped riffs, precise forward rhythm and shouted vocal attack.

DragonForce's sixth album, from August 2014: the first made with an outside producer, Jens Bogren, away from the band's own studio.

Empire of the Undead delivers Gamma Ray’s power metal with fast riffs, clear melodies and a cosmic sense of scale.

Redeemer of Souls brings Judas Priest’s classic heavy-metal language into the present with authority.

The Sun Will Rise Again is the twenty-sixth Loudness album, released through Universal Music Japan on 4 June 2014 — the first studio record made after the band set up its own label in 2013. A remixed US edition followed in 2015.

Overkill's seventeenth album, released in July 2014 with the Japanese edition first: number 31 on the Billboard 200, the highest placing of their career.

Unleash the Fire carries Riot’s history forward with renewed energy and a full commitment to traditional metal.

City of Gold fires off Striker’s sharp riffs, energetic drumming and fist-raising choruses in rapid succession.

Feast is built around Annihilator’s cutting riffs, tense rhythm work and technical guitar playing.

Straight Out of Hell delivers power metal’s exhilaration through fast rhythm, bright sharp guitars and soaring choruses.

Motörhead's 2013 album, released on 21 October on their own UDR label. Fourteen tracks, with official videos for "Heartbreaker", "Electricity" and "When the Sky Comes Looking for You".

Steelhammer delivers traditional heavy metal through U.D.O.’s steel-hard riffs, forward-driving rhythm and instantly recognizable vocal character.

Stalingrad drives Accept’s sharp guitar riffs, marching rhythm and commanding choruses into a concentrated statement of traditional metal weight.

DragonForce's fifth album, from April 2012, and the first with Marc Hudson, the singer the band chose by audition after ZP Theart's departure.

Kreator's thirteenth album, out on Nuclear Blast in June 2012 and a defining record of their later melodic period.

2·0·1·2 is the twenty-fifth Loudness album, released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 22 August 2012, in the band's thirty-first year. The first pressing carried a bonus disc.

Overkill's sixteenth album, released in March 2012 and recorded at D.D. Verni's own Gear Recording Studios; it reached number 77 on the Billboard 200.

21 joins Rage’s cutting guitars, tight rhythms and constantly changing structures into power metal that is aggressive yet intelligent.

Armed to the Teeth uses cutting twin guitars, speedy drums and big choruses to deliver youthful traditional metal.

Eve to Dawn is the twenty-fourth Loudness album, released on 14 September 2011. Akira Takasaki described it as guitar-driven and more aggressive than King of Pain, which had been built around the drummer. It reached No. 36 on Oricon.

Immortal Soul combines Riot’s sharp twin guitars, speedy rhythm and powerful high-register singing to renew the heat of traditional US metal.

Rev-Raptor puts U.D.O.’s hard riffs, forceful drums and Udo Dirkschneider’s unmistakable raspy voice at the front of traditional metal.

Blood of the Nations finds Accept rebooting the classic heavy-metal frame with Mark Tornillo and a modern sense of weight.

Annihilator is a self-titled dose of Annihilator’s cutting thrash riffs, complex rhythm and Jeff Waters’ distinctive guitar spark.

Blind Guardian's ninth album, released in July 2010 and made with an orchestra from Prague: number two in Germany, their best placing there to that date.

To the Metal! puts Gamma Ray’s racing riffs, heroic choruses and Kai Hansen’s forceful vocal style directly in front.

7 Sinners pushes Helloween toward a more aggressive power-metal attack with fast riffs, rougher rhythm and large choruses.

King of Pain is the twenty-third Loudness album, released on 19 May 2010. It was the first full album with Masayuki Suzuki as drummer and reached No. 21 on the Oricon chart.

Released on 14 December 2010, The Wörld Is Yours was the first Motörhead album on their own Motörhead Music / UDR. Warner Music Japan issued the Japanese pressing on 9 March 2011 as WPCR-50301.

Overkill's fifteenth album, from January 2010: the first under their Nuclear Blast deal, mixed by Peter Tägtgren, and on the Billboard 200 after 17 years.

Strings to a Web combines Rage’s hard riffs, speed and multi-part large-scale construction.

Eyes in the Night is Striker’s youthful traditional-metal debut, powered by sharp guitar riffs, racing rhythm and high-reaching vocals.