well i might as well join in... after all... first off let me say that i hate pretty much all the bands in the OP, and i certainly dont like king diamond. so there.
here are some good albums that just recently came out:
Kataklysm - In The Arms of Devastation
Nightwish - Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish
Rhapsody - Live In Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret
Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
Savage Circus - Dreamland Manor
Dimmu Borgir - Stormblast
Also, there are some great tours this here for some really good metal. First and foremost, Dragonforce is making their US debut! If you don't go see them, then you're nuts, they are by far the most talented musicians ever, and pretty much play the fastest music humanly possible. I have my tickets for the SF show.
Dragonfoce:
Fri Apr. 28 - Canada, Toronto, ON, Opera House
Sat Apr. 29 - Canada, Montreal, QC, Medley
Sun Apr. 30 - USA, Worcester, MA, New England Metal and Hardcore Festival
Tue May 02 - USA, New York, NY, Avalon (Note: moved from 1st May)
Wed May 03 - USA, Philadelphia, PA, Trocadero
Thu May 04 - USA, West Springfield, VA, Jaxx
Fri May 05 - USA, Cleveland, OH, Agora Ballroom
Sat May 06 - USA, Chicago, IL, Metro
Mon May 08 - USA, Denver, CO, Cervantes
Wed May 10 - USA, San Francisco, CA, The Pound
Thu May 11 - USA, Los Angeles, CA, Whisky Sold out
The other one I'm looking forward to is the aptly titled "Metal Crusaders 2006". There is a great lineup, KATAKLYSM, VADER, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, SPEED\KILL/HATE, GRAVEWORM and THE ABSENCE. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Graveworm a ton, a fantastic black metal band from Italy. I never thought I'd get a chance to see them, let alone here in the states. again, ill be at the SF show.
May 26 - Montreal, QC @ Le Medley*
May 27 - Toronto, ON @ The Reverb
May 28 - Boston, MA @ The Middle East
May 29 - New York City, NY @ The Knitting Factory
May 30 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
May 31 - Vernon, NY @ Nothing Fancy Cafe
Jun. 01 - Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Ballroom
Jun. 02 - Detroit, MI @ TNT
Jun. 03 - Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
Jun. 04 - St-Paul, MN @ Station 4 (Minneapolis Metalfest)
Jun. 05 - Madison, WS @ Big E's Beach Club
Jun. 06 - Cincinatti, OH @ Bogart's
Jun. 07 - Fayetteville, NC @ Jesters Pub
Jun. 09 - Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
Jun. 10 - St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
Jun. 11 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
Jun. 12 - Tallahassee, FL @ Beta Bar
Jun. 14 - Houston, TX @ The Ballroom/Wharehouse live
Jun. 15 - Corpus Christi, TX @ The Ballroom
Jun. 16 - San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit
Jun. 17 - Arlington, TX @ The Phoenix Music Complex
Jun. 18 - Fayetteville, AR @ The Dart Room
Jun. 19 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory**
Jun. 20 - Denver, CO @ Lliff Park Saloon
Jun. 22 - Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse
Jun. 23 - Corona, CA @ Showcase Theater
Jun. 24 - W. Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory
Jun. 25 - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound
Jun. 26 - Boise, ID @ Imparts
Jun. 27 - Spokane, WA @ Fat Tuesdays Concert Hall
Jun. 28 - Portland, OR @ Rock'n' Roll Pizza
Jun. 29 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Last, but not least, Iced Earth, Children of Bodom and Evergray are going on a US tour. COB just did a US tour, but rather than go back home, they are looping around again. I'm up in the air on this one since every Children of Bodom album gets worse and worse. But, you may just see me there.
April 18 - The Odeon, Cleveland, Ohio
April 19 - Pop's, Sauget, Illinois
April 20 - Metro, Chicago, Illinois
April 21 - The Quest, Minneapolis
April 23 - The Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 24 - Harpo's, Detroit, Michigan
April 25 - Newport Music Hall - lower, Columbus, Ohio
April 26 - Guvernment, Toronto, ON
April 28 - The Medley, Montreal, QB
April 29 - BB Kings, New York
April 30 - Trocadero, Philadelphia
May 1 - Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts
May 2 - Jaxx, Springfield, Virginia
May 4 - Masquerade, Atlanta
May 5 - House of Blues, Orlando, Florida
May 7 - House of Blues, New Orleans, Louisiana
May 8 - Engine Room, Houston, Texas
May 9 - The Back Room, Austin, Texas
May 10 - Deep Elm Live, Dallas, Texas
May 12 - Odgen Theatre, Denver, Colorado
May 14 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
May 15 - Graceland, Seattle, Washington
May 17 - Avalon, San Francisco, California
May 18 - House of Blues, Anaheim, California
May 19 - Cajun House, Scottsdale, Arizona
May 21 - House of Blues, Los Angeles, California
just remember everyone. metal is as broad a genre as everyone else, so nobody should be flamed for liking one band and not liking another. lets just all be happy we listen to stuff thats better than avril or no doubt or something.
and BTW, for god sakes take metallica off the list!