***AND THE OSCAR GOES TO......*** --- HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP 2016 AWARDS

So, here we are at the end of 2016 with Heavy Paradise's Top lists!!! 2016 was another great year, musically speaking, with tons of great releases. The final decision for the *Top 30 Best Albums* was a hard one to take!! But, as in the previous years, the same here, the top of the top records are the ones that were on a daily basis in my listening section (car, home, mobile....e.t.c.). Before presenting you the final lists, I have to say a huge thank you to Heavy Paradise's readers who once again supported this web-zine that started back in 2009 and continue with the same passion and, I wanna believe, better than ever. I also, wanna thank the bands, artists, record companies and my family who contributed in every way to keep the fire burning!! Thank you!!!!!! 

**HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP 30 ALBUMS FOR 2016** 

1. THE DEFIANTS / THE DEFIANTS 

A great and classic Danger Danger sound in it, this record came out and blew me away!! Great songs, huge hooks and choruses, excellent musicianship and everything here is KILLER!!!!







2. PALACE / MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE 

Top and high quality melodic rock/ Edgy AOR stuff at its best!!!!









3. SEVEN / SHATTERED 

Classy melodic rock!!!









4. NORDIC UNION / NORDIC UNION 

Another killer project (hopefully for another record in the near future) between Erik Martensson (Eclipse) and Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids).










5. VEGA / WHO WE ARE 

Probably their best record to-date and a true melodic hard rock gem!!









6. PRETTY MAIDS / KINGMAKER 

The melodic metal/hard rock kings are back with a killer opus!!! With these guys you know what to expect; quality...quality...quality!!!








7. WHITE WIDDOW / SILHOUETTE 

One of Heavy Paradise's favorite band is back with another masterpiece!!!








8. EDEN'S CURSE / CARDINAL 

This band is gettin' better and better with each album!!!










9. TREAT / GHOST OF GRACELAND

Already a classic album in my book!!!!










10. NIVA / ATMOSPHERICAL 

11. WILD ROSE / 4  
12. CRUZH / CRUZH
13. IMPERIUM / DREAMHUNTER 
14. TANGO DOWN / BULLETPROOF
15. WILD SOULS / GAME OF LOVE
16. CRY OF DAWN feat. Goran Edman / CRY OF DAWN
17. FIRST SIGNAL / ONE STEP OVER THE LINE
18. TYKETTO / REACH
19. KING COMPANY / ONE FOR THE ROAD
20. SUNSTRIKE / READY TO STRIKE 

21. MANTI / DARK OBSESSION
22. VINDRA / MOURNFUL BOY  
23. THE RADIO SUN / OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
24. DANTE FOX / BREATHLESS 
25. ENBOUND / THE BLACKENED HEART
26. HARDLINE / HUMAN NATURE
27. DOG 'N' STYLE / PUB'S CALLING
28, CORNERSTONE / REFLECTIONS 
29. SToP SToP / BARCELONINGHAM
30. CAGE9 / ILLUMINATOR

** HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP 10 TRACKS OF 2016**

1. THE DEFIANTS , "Take Me Back"
2. EDEN'S CURSE, "Sell Your Soul"
3. WILD SOULS, "Dirty Mind"
4. WILD ROSE, "Love Games"
5. WHITE WIDDOW, "Last Chance For Love"
6. SEVEN, "Light Of 1000 Eyes"
7. ENBOUND, "Feel My Flame"
8. TREAT, "Nonstop Madness"
9. VEGA, "Every Little Monster"
10. NORDIC UNION, "Falling"

** HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP FRONT COVER (ARTWORK) OF 2016**

1. Cage9 , "Illuminator"
2. Wild Souls, "Game Of Love"
3. N I V A, "Atmospherical"

** HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP 10 METAL RECORD OF 2016**

Even if Heavy Paradise specializes in melodic rock/AOR/Hard Rock it loves also METAL!!! So, here is a special category of the Top 10 2016's albums of pure melodic (always melodic....) and thunderous metal bliss. This category includes power metal, epic metal, progressive metal, modern metal....and the list goes on and on. So here are the best 2016 metal records for Heavy Paradise :

1. Mystic prophecy, "War Brigade"
2. Thunderstone, "Apocalypse Again"
3. Brainstorm, "Scary Creatures"
4. Rhapsody Of Fire, "Into The Legend"
5. Primal Fear, "Rulebreaker"
6. Circus Maximus, "Havoc"
7. Iron Mask, "Diabolica"
8. Iron Savior, "Titancraft"
9. Temperance, "The Earth Embraces Us All"
10. Amaranthe, "Maximalism" 



** HEAVY PARADISE'S TOP MUSICIAN/BAND OF 2016**





1. At number one, I have Mr. Daniel Flores from The Murder Of My Sweet. No doubt his contribution to the melodic rock scene is valuable (Cry Of Dawn, First Signal, Find Me e.t.c.) and it's an award that imho deserves it.

2. Wild Rose!!! Yes, this Greek melodic rock/AOR sensational keep on releasing solid records without following any trends or music styles. And it keeps doin' this with heart and soul!!! And that's a thing that I like the most in this band.


3. At number three position is/are every single artist/band that works hard to create music for the people, for us!!!! I think that every band/artist/musician out there deserves recognition for the hard work and even if the final result sounds bad or good in our ears don't forget that someone put heart and soul to do this!!!

"That's all for 2016 ladies and gents!!! Another strong year with plenty of good music for every music taste. Once again, a big thank you to each and every Heavy Paradise reader out there and a big thank you to every band/promoter/record label/artist/manager/friend e.t.c e.t.c. ........that helped me to keep Heavy Paradise alive 'n' kickin'  for another year!!!! RAWK ON!!!!! "

Vassilis