Metal Church’s ‘XI’ marks the return of singer Mike Howe, who first appeared on 1989’s Blessing in Disguise – a personal favorite.

Metal Meltdowns will explore those moments when my favorite metal and hard rock bands went off the rails. Let’s start with Danzig’s ‘blackacidevil.’

I’ve always been a fan of Zakk Wylde’s acoustic work, and the guitar parts here – both unplugged and electrified – are as solid as they come.

As with the last two albums, Flotsam and Jetsam gives us something a little different here – providing a tasty tribute to metal legends Iron Maiden.

‘For All Kings’ not only stands with my favorite Anthrax records – it’s easily the best complete metal album I’ve heard in several years.

Zakk Wylde’s “Sleeping Dogs” makes a good promise for ‘Book of Shadows II.’ Here’s hoping the rest of the album delivers on it.

This won’t compete with those classic late-1970s and early-1980s records, but it does seem that Hank Williams Jr. has found his way again. It’s about time.

Picking a Best of 2015 list wasn’t easy. A few albums were outstanding, but I sometimes had a hard time finding new music that connected.

Uncompromising, unafraid and utterly cool, the late Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister embodied the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

‘Condition Human’ marks the full return of the Queensryche that I know and love.