Metal Storm logo
Metal Storm Awards 2006


 
2006 was a very interesting year in Metal: a lot of releases and many by "big names." Now that the voting is over, it is time to announce what albums can truly be called Metalstormers' choice for "Best Album Of 2006" in all the different categories. It were your votes that have decided which albums deserve this title. It is also a high time to make some critical reflections on these results.

A remarkable observation is that "big names" have won in almost every genre. One could ask oneself if this is truly surprising. As striking as it is, some of the "big names" also appear in the Top 10 of Letdown of the year. Among the first six ranks alone, we find one silver second place and three golden winners of the Awards in their specific genre! Take a moment to reflect whether these bands have truly made outstanding albums or if it is their fame and reputation that has helped them on the throne once again crushing contestants on the way. Can a band's name outweigh the quality and effort?

The biggest winners of this third edition of the Metal Storm Awards are Angtoria and Moonspell, the former winning in three categories, the latter in two, and both of them winning all the categories in which they were nominated for! Talk about a remarkable performance. Angtoria has even another silver second place in The Biggest Surprise of the year, close behind Metal Storm's cuddly toy Diablo Swing Orchestra, who came second in both categories they were nominated for.

Another remarkable surprise was the battle in the Death Metal category with Cannibal Corpse taking the win. In addition the Grindcore category was pretty tense between Cattle Decapitation and Whorecore, the former becoming the winner, and with Napalm Death popping up fourth out of the blue without even being nominated! Some of the more convincing winners of their genre this year were Tool, Celtic Frost, Amon Amarth, Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Moonspell, Evergrey and Slayer, who all left a relatively big and sometimes even an impressive gap to gape at by their pursuers.

On a side note, Metal Storm Awards 2006 were also marked by a little "drama" which cannot stay unmentioned. Namely, the Dissection management were not pleased with the nomination of "Reinkaos" in the Melodeath/Gothenburg category, and kindly asked to pull back the bands nomination in that genre. That wish was respected. However, for the completeness of the record, "Reinkaos" ended up 9th as The Biggest Letdown of the year.

In conclusion it must be said that whatever the results, another great year filled with music has passed. Let us treasure the best of it and move on, as 2007 promises to be at least as good as 2006. Hereby, Metal Storm Staff would like to congratulate all the winners and everyone who made it to the awards nominations. No good effort ever goes unnoticed!



The Best Alternative Metal Album



The Best Atmospheric/Symphonic Metal Album



The Best Avantgarde Metal Album



The Best Black Metal Album



The Best Death Metal Album



The Best Doom Metal Album



The Best Extreme Doom Metal Album



The Best Folk/Pagan/Viking Metal Album



The Best Gothic Metal Album



The Best Grindcore Album



The Best Heavy Metal Album



The Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Album



The Best Post Metal Album



The Best Power Metal Album



The Best Progressive Metal Album



The Best Suomi Metal Album



The Best Thrash Metal Album



The Best Cover Song

1. Angtoria - Confide In Me (Kylie Minogue cover) 203
2. Lacuna Coil - Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode cover) 185
3. Stream Of Passion - When The Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin cover) 88
4. Draconian - Forever My Queen (Pentagram cover) 48
5. Vanden Plas - Gethsemane (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover) 43
6. Folkearth - Heathenpride (Falkenbach cover) 39
7. Adagio - Fame (Irene Cara cover) 36
8. Gwar - School's Out (Alice Cooper cover) 30
9. Melechesh - Gyroscope (The Tea Party cover) 27
10. Grave - Them Bones (Alice In Chains cover) 20


The Best Debut Album



The Best DVD



The Best EP/MCD

1. Ensiferum - Dragonheads 169
2. Leaves' Eyes - Legend Land 99
3. Draconian - The Burning Halo 78
4. Jesu - Silver 24
5. Metsatöll - Sutekskäija 21
6. Skyclad - Jig-A-Jig 20
  SpiRitual - Pulse 20
8. Twilightning - Bedlam 15
9. Fejd - Eld 10


The Best Video

1. Moonspell - Finisterra 126
2. Blind Guardian - Another Stranger Me 101
3. Devin Townsend - Vampira 66
4. Negură Bunget - Cunoasterea Tacuta 57
5. Celtic Frost - A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh 51
6. Poisonblack - Rush 40
7. Firewind - Falling To Pieces 28
  SpiRitual - Pulse 28
9. Dream Evil - Fire! Battle! In Metal! 24


The Biggest Letdown



The Biggest Surprise



The Best Drama

This year saw one of the most talked about band name changes for a long time. It was due to copyright and trademark issues that the band formerly known as Rhapsody ingeniously coupled their name with "Of Fire" to reflect the increasing grandiose of their symphonic wizardry.

Will fans ever come to terms with the new name or still persist in calling them by their former name. One thing is for sure and that is "Rhapsody Of Fire" doesn't roll off the quite tongue as well.
With all the previous albums to be re-issued with the Rhapsody Of Fire name on them; fans had better get used to seeing that name.

Luca Turilli stating "The power of the dragonflame will burn brighter than ever before" will probably be remembered for a long time as one of the most power-metal things ever said!