Since Metal Meltdown's inception in late 1997, I have always paused at the end of the year to count down my favorite releases of the moment. Looking back at these lists would surely cause me to reevaluate both which albums are missing and the individual rankings, and for that reason each list is simply presented here as it was given to the radio audience at the time.
Top 22 Albums of 2008
1) Volbeat - Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood
2) Rage - Carved in Stone
3) Falconer - Among Beggars and Thieves
4) Sabaton - The Art of War
5) Mercenary - Architect of Lies
6) Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God
7) Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus
8) Avantasia - The Scarecrow
9) Testament - The Formation of Damnation
10) DragonForce - Ultra Beatdown
11) Power Quest - Master of Illusion
12) Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge
13) Death Angel - Killing Season
14) Firewind - The Premonition
15) Satyricon - The Age of Nero
16) Stormwarrior - Heading Northe
17) Black Tide - Light from Above
18) Judas Priest - Nostradamus
19) Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
20) Brainstorm - Downburst
21) Squealer - The Circle Shuts
22) Tiamat - Amanethes
2) Rage - Carved in Stone
3) Falconer - Among Beggars and Thieves
4) Sabaton - The Art of War
5) Mercenary - Architect of Lies
6) Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God
7) Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus
8) Avantasia - The Scarecrow
9) Testament - The Formation of Damnation
10) DragonForce - Ultra Beatdown
11) Power Quest - Master of Illusion
12) Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge
13) Death Angel - Killing Season
14) Firewind - The Premonition
15) Satyricon - The Age of Nero
16) Stormwarrior - Heading Northe
17) Black Tide - Light from Above
18) Judas Priest - Nostradamus
19) Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
20) Brainstorm - Downburst
21) Squealer - The Circle Shuts
22) Tiamat - Amanethes