2011 Metal & Hard Rock Albums

Sepultura's twelfth studio album, from June 2011, their first for Nuclear Blast, and a record about time.

Opeth's tenth album, from September 2011, made without a single death growl and turned towards the progressive rock of the 1970s.

The Haunted's seventh album, released on 16 March 2011, twelve tracks running 42:21.

Dir En Grey's eighth album, from 2011: fourteen tracks running 67:31, recorded between 2010 and 2011.

Saxon's nineteenth album, released on 3 June 2011. The chorus of "Back in '79" is sung by fans invited into the studio.

The fourth album by Iceland's Solstafir, out in October 2011: a double record, six songs on each disc.

The second album by Cambridge's Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, from 2011: self-released, and the record that broke them.

The third album by Tunisia's Myrath, from October 2011, built on Arabic scales and melody inside progressive metal.

Deafheaven's debut, released by Deathwish Inc. in April 2011: four songs, recorded in four days.

The eighth Septicflesh album, from April 2011, recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

DRAGONLAND's fifth album, released in 2011 after a five-year gap since Astronomy. The third chapter of The Dragonland Chronicles saga, it completes the story of the first two albums and was released by AFM Records; many regard it as the band's masterpiece.

A Japan-only album of newly re-recorded early Praying Mantis songs, made for the band's thirtieth anniversary and released by King Records on 21 December 2011 as KICP-1598. Eleven tracks.

Heraldic Device is Anthem's thirteenth studio album, released on 6 July 2011. It was their last studio record for Victor Entertainment and the high-water mark of the line-up with Eizo Sakamoto and Hirotsugu Homma.

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.

Produced by Jack Douglas, with Lemmy Kilmister and Lucinda Williams guesting; Classic Rock magazine named it Album of the Year.

Recorded in Stuttgart with Mat Sinner producing and Achim Köhler engineering, it reached number 65 on the German album chart. Rage drummer André Hilgers and Alex Beyrodt play on it.

The fifth studio album, which reached number 10 on the Billboard 200. "Curl of the Burl" was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards.

A 2011 album given over to songs by other artists.

A third album released in Japan ahead of the rest of the world — and the Tokyo show that May became the live record Blinded by Tokyo.

The fourth album, produced by Fredrik Nordström and the first with drummer Roel van Helden — and the band's first German chart entry, at No. 23.

Determination joins Aldious’ bright twin guitars, speed-driven rhythm and soaring vocals into melodic metal with real lift.

Amaranthe's self-titled debut defined the band's sound, crossing female clean, male clean and harsh vocals over metal with an electronic edge.

Beneath lets Amoral move between heavy-metal riffs, hard-rock songcraft and progressive turns.

The Beginning of Times wraps Amorphis’ mythology-rooted atmosphere in melancholy melody, weighty guitar and soft keyboard color.

Worship Music brings together Anthrax’s cutting thrash riffs, bouncing groove and commanding choruses to balance tradition with a modern punch.

Khaos Legions is built around the Amott brothers’ sharp twin guitars, Angela Gossow’s ferocious vocals and heavy, precise rhythm.

Atmosphere layers Bad Habit’s soft-edged vocals, full choruses and glossy keyboards into the warmth associated with Scandinavian AOR.

Hell Yeah! puts Black ’n Blue’s catchy choruses, thick guitar riffs and good-time rock-and-roll spirit up front.

Chickenfoot III brings Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith together around thick riffs and a free-breathing sense of performance.

Relentless Reckless Forever sends Children of Bodom’s fast guitar riffs, neoclassical keyboards and rough vocals forward at full speed.

Deconstruction packs Devin Townsend’s extreme heaviness, complex turns, humor and unease into one ambitious work.

Ghost uses acoustic guitar, soft vocals and ambient-like sound to create Devin Townsend’s quieter, open-air side.

A Dramatic Turn of Events is a turning-point album for Dream Theater, introducing Mike Mangini through intricate meters, precise ensemble work and large-scale melody.

Knock You Down is a hard-rock record built around Dynazty’s thick guitar riffs, energetic beats and instantly singable choruses.

Age of the Joker by EDGUY: track list, Spotify player and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Evanescence’s self-titled album layers heavy guitar, electronic texture, Amy Lee’s striking voice and piano to update the band’s dark appeal for a new moment.

Full Circle revisits FireHouse songs through new performances, bringing the band’s bright melodies, soaring vocals and lively guitar back into focus.

American Capitalist uses low chugging riffs, heavyweight beats and forceful vocals to push Five Finger Death Punch’s direct modern-metal impact.

Phoenix Rising brings Galneryus’ fluent guitar, shining keyboards and high-reaching vocals together in power metal with a distinctly Japanese melodic sense.

Sounds of a Playground Fading retains melodic-death guitar language while moving In Flames toward a more direct, modern sound.

The Landing carries Iron Savior’s science-fiction atmosphere through steel-edged riffs, fast rhythm and heroic choruses.

Eclipse brings Neal Schon’s guitar further forward, supporting Journey’s arena-rock melodies with a tougher riff foundation.

The Path of Totality pairs Korn with dubstep and EDM producers, placing the band’s heavy riffs directly against the impact of electronic sound.

Nine Lives uses soft vocals, tasteful keyboards and emotional guitar to portray the warmth of Scandinavian melodic rock.

Unto the Locust expands Machine Head’s groove-metal weight through low growling riffs, complex rhythm and long-form drama.

Tokyo Jukebox 2 continues MARTY FRIEDMAN's cover project, widening the selection of Japanese pop and anime classics played on his singing guitar.

Thirteen combines Megadeth’s slicing riffs, restless rhythm and Dave Mustaine’s dry, sardonic vocal character.

Metamorphosis layers Mercenary’s heavyweight guitar, melodic leads and clean-to-harsh vocal contrast to show the band’s strength amid change.

What If... lets the reunited Mr. Big members play to each other’s strengths across catchy rock songs and emotional ballads.

Ravenlord puts Mystic Prophecy’s hard guitar riffs, heroic choruses and powerful vocals at the front of a traditional power-metal record.

Here and Now uses thick guitar, heavy beats and instantly memorable choruses to deliver Nickelback’s arena-ready hard rock directly.

Somewhere in California reaffirms Night Ranger’s American hard-rock identity through bright choruses, lively twin guitars and colorful keyboards.

Imaginaerum layers Nightwish’s orchestra, choir, heavy guitar and Anette Olzon’s voice into a fantasy narrative about dreams and memory.

Dedicated to Chaos uses dark sound, irregular rhythm and electronic texture to move Queensrÿche somewhat away from a conventional metal template.

Animal Attraction packs Reckless Love’s flashy guitars, bouncing beats and instantly chantable choruses into bright, compact songs.

From Chaos to Eternity layers orchestra, choir, speed metal and narration to bring Rhapsody of Fire’s long-running fantasy story to a large-scale close.

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

Show Me How to Live reunites Royal Hunt with D.C. Cooper, reconnecting André Andersen’s grand keyboards, melodic guitar and dramatic vocals.

Comeblack pairs new SCORPIONS recordings of the band's signature songs with covers of the 1960s and 1970s rock classics that became its roots.

Shy layers expressive vocals, polished guitar and full choruses into mature British melodic rock.

Balls Out delivers Steel Panther’s oversized eighties glam-metal riffs, flashy solos and giant choruses with full commitment to humor.

Elysium layers Stratovarius’ shining keyboards, fluent guitar and high-register vocals into power metal that combines speed with emotion.

Iconoclast joins Symphony X’s low, heavy guitar riffs, complex rhythm and Russell Allen’s powerful vocals to push the heavier side of progressive metal.

Twisted Wires & the Acoustic Sessions... is a reconstruction-type work on which TESLA re-illuminated past songs with present-day playing and production…

Ritual layers The Black Dahlia Murder’s cutting riffs, icy melodies and feral vocals into extreme metal with high tension.

Performocracy uses The Poodles’ large choruses, melodic guitar and bright keyboards to create polished Scandinavian hard rock.

Samsara uses shadowed melodies, heavy guitar and restrained vocals to create dark, emotional gothic metal.

In Waves crosses Trivium’s sharp thrash riffs, breakdown weight and melodic choruses to display the band’s range.

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

Rockaholic is built around Warrant’s catchy choruses, easy-moving riffs and positive rock-and-roll feel.

Forevermore layers Whitesnake’s blues-rooted thick riffs, weighty arrangements and David Coverdale’s expressive voice.

The Unforgiving builds on a narrative concept with Sharon den Adel’s clear voice, heavy guitar and electronic accents.