Most Anticipated Heavy Metal CD Releases Of 2008

1. Judas Priest

We now know that Nostradamus will be a double CD. It's a concept album with choirs and orchestras and Judas Priest has been working on it for quite a while now. They hope to hit the road sometime this summer, and the CD should be out near that time.

Update: Released June 18, 2008
Judas Priest - Nostradamus Review

2. Metallica

Touring this summer in Europe pushed back Metallica's follow-up to 2003's St. Anger. The Rick Rubin produced and still untitled CD should hit the shelves sometime in 2008. It will be the first CD will new bassist Rob Trujillo, and the sound is said to be more old school.

Update: Released September 12, 2008
Metallica - Death Magnetic Review

3. Slipknot

May of 2004 was the last Slipknot CD of original material. The band members have been busy with other projects, but they are finally getting back together and we should see a new CD by the end of 2008. The question is, has it been too long and have their fans moved on to other things? There's always a danger when waiting so long between releases, and it will be interesting to see if Slipknot still has the commercial drawing power they did a few years back.

Update: Released August 26, 2008
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone Review

4. Testament

It's been a tough road for Testament the past few years. Vocalist Chuck Billy battled cancer and won. The band is rejuvenated and ready to unleash their first studio CD since 1999. It's called The Formation Of Damnation and is slated for release in April of 2008. It will be great to hear what the thrash pioneers bring to the table.

Update: Released April 29, 2008
Testament - The Formation Of Damnation Review

5. Mastodon

Mastodon's last CD was Blood Mountain, and it was named the best CD of 2006 by this site and many others. They are set to go into the studio in early 2008 and should have a new album out by the end of the year. Their last few albums have been outstanding, and expectations are sky high for their next release.

Update: Pushed back to 2009

6. Opeth

After being scheduled for a late 2007 release, Opeth has pushed back their latest CD to early 2008. I recently spoke with frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, and he was excited with the direction the music is taking. It will be Opeth's first CD without guitarist Peter Lindgren, who left the band and was replaced by Fredrik Åkesson from Arch Enemy.

Update: Released June 3, 2008
Opeth - Watershed Review

7. In Flames

Swedish melodic death masters In Flames are set to release their ninth full-length studio album. 2005's Come Clarity was very successful and their fan base keeps increasing. If they can keep the momentum going with this next CD, it could send their popularity into the stratosphere.

Update: Released April 1, 2008
In Flames - A Sense Of Purpose Review

8. Dragonforce

Dragonforce has been around for a while, but 2006's Inhuman Rampage took them to another level. Their guitar wizardry and non-stop partying have taken them around the globe during the past couple of years. This is a crucial album for the group. If it's successful it will keep them among the elite, but anything less and they could drop back down amongst the masses.

Update: Released August 26, 2008
Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown Review

9. Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil usually takes several years between CDs, and their last CD Karmacode was released in 2006. It was their most successful so far, and they've been touring the world drawing legions of new fans. I'd be surprised if they get their next CD recorded and released by the end of 2008, but that's the schedule at this point.

Update: Pushed back to 2009

10. Anthrax

After their successful reunion with Joey Belladonna, Anthrax once again split with the singer. It was just announced that a complete unknown named Dan Nelson will be their new vocalist. Guitarist Rob Caggiano also rejoins the band on guitar. There are a lot of skeptics that think Anthrax should have just called it a day, so it will be interesting to hear if they will prove the critics wrong. They are currently writing a new CD and it should be released sometime before the end of 2008.

Update: Pushed back to 2009

11. Other Bands Scheduled To Release New CDs In 2008

In addition to the 10 listed above, there are a bunch of other anticipated CDs slated to be released in 2008. Here's a partial list: 36 Crazyfists, All That Remains, Bleeding Through, Boris, Bullet For My Valentine, Cattle Decapitation, Children Of Bodom, Cryptopsy, Deicide, Disturbed, Exodus, Firewind, Gamma Ray, God Forbid, Gojira, Gorgoroth, Hate Eternal, Korpiklaani, Meshuggah, Mudvayne, Nachtmystium, Necrophagist, Soilent Green, The Sword, Sworn Enemy, Trivium, Unearth, Walls Of Jericho.