The tough part about picking the best from 2004 was the fact that there were tons of albums released at the end of December and the first of January.  I had a hard time determining which ones would qualify for 2004 and which ones would qualify for 2005.  So, what I've done is this....every album that says 2005 as the copyright date will have to wait until 2005 to be in the contest.  There are two exceptions.  Holy Blood's new album Waves are Dancing says 2004 as the copyright date, but it wasn't available at all until January.  So I'm leaving it until the 2005 list.  Also, Antestor's new album The Forsaken says 2005 as the copyright date, but this album was pretty widely available as early as November 2004 and I even reviewed it in November.  So that album is going to be in the 2004 list.  Enjoy my picks and feel free to disagree.

Best Albums of 2004

  1.  Antestor - The Forsaken

  2.  Sanctum - Let's Eat

  3.  Sympathy - Arcane Path

  4.  Antestor - Det Tapte Liv

  5.  Frosthardr - Makteslos

  6.  Eluveitie - Ven

  7.  Veni Domine - IIII: The Album of Labour

  8.  Royal Anguish - Tales of Sullen Eyes

  9.  Renascent - Demons' Quest

10.  Dark Endless - Dark End Times

11.  Paramaecium - Echoes from the Ground

12.  Parakletos - Offerlammets Makt

13.  Holy Blood - The Wanderer

14.  Seventh Avenue - Eternals

15.  Vaakevandring - s/t

Honorable Mention:  

Demon Hunter - Summer of Darkness

Shadows of Paragon - s/t

Pale Horse - Until the Last Seal is Opened

Dead to Fall - Villainy & Virtue

Zao - The Funeral of God

Yeti - Niflheim

Best Songs of 2004:

  1. Antestor - As I Die

  2.  Antestor - Vale of Tears

  3.  Yeti - Spirits of Old

  4.  Sympathy - Lord of All Terrors

  5.  Frosthardr - Death, My Relief

  6.  Eluveitie - Lament

  7.  Renascent - Son of God

  8.  Royal Anguish - Twisted Angel

  9.  Seventh Avenue - Eternals

10.  Paramaecium - Echoes

11.  Parakletos - Se Guds Lamm

12.  Holy Blood - In the Lake of Fire

13.  Dark Endless - Night Whispers Blood

14.  Veni Domine - Inner Circle

15.  Vaakevandring - To Find Eternal Peace

Best New Band of 2004:

  1.  Eluveitie

  2.  Renascent

  3.  Dark Endless

  4.  Parakletos

  5.  Holy Blood

  6.  Shadows of Paragon

Best Album Cover/Artwork/Packaging of 2004:

  1.  Antestor - The Forsaken/Det Tapte Liv (Digipak/Black Box Combo)

  2.  Vaakevandring - s/t

  3.  Sympathy - Arcane Path

  4.  Demon Hunter - Summer of Darkness

  5.  Eluveitie - Ven

  6.  Sanctum - Let's Eat (Digipak)

  7.  Frosthardr - Makteslos

  8.  Dead to Fall - Villiany & Virtue

  9.  Dark Endless - Dark End Times

10.  Shadows of Paragon - s/t