12. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

This one is great. I agree that Lowe works better with this band than Messiah, and I'm a huge (har har) Messiah fan.

20. Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day

Top prog metal release of the year. Good call on the libertopian screed.

45. Delain - April Rain

This is definitely catchy. I prefer the debut. It's a bit more progressive and has stronger staying power.

87. Fool's Game - Reality Divine

Decent enough power metal. An atheitopian screed.

89. While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose

Very good album, but not very memorable. Whenever I listen to it, I wonder why I don't listen to it more.

Abstrakt Algebra - s/t (1995)

Classic

Ark - Burn the Sun (2001)
Ark - s/t (1999)

These are both very good, but I think they're a bit over-rated in these parts.

Candlemass - Tales of Creation (1989)

A classic.

Fifth Angel - s/t (1986)

A classic, but this is more like AOR than anything else. Surprised you like it.