1. NOCTURNAL RITES "Tales Of Mystery And Imagination" (*****)
2. NIGHTWISH "Oceanborn" (*****)
3. GRAVE DIGGER "Knights Of The Cross" (****1/2)
4. SAVATAGE "The Wake Of Magellan" (****1/2)
5. B. Dickinson "The Chemical Wedding" (****1/2)
6. PRIMAL FEAR s/t (****1/2)
7. RUNNING WILD "The Rivalry" (****)
8. ICED EARTH "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (****)
9. JAG PANZER "Age Of Mastery" (****)
10.ARIA "Generator Of Evil" (****)
11.HELLOWEEN "Better Than Raw" (****)
12.HAMMERFALL "Legacy Of Kings" (****)
13.LABYRINTH "Return To Heaven Denied" (****)
14.BLIND GUARDIAN "Nightfall In Middle Earth" (****)
15.SINNER "Nature Of Evil" (****)
16.SENTENCED "Frozen" (****)
17.MUNDANUS IMPERIUM "The Spectral Spheres Coronation" (****)
18.DEATH "The Sound Of Perseverance" (****)
19.STRATOVARIUS "Destiny" (****)
20.EDGUY "Vain Glory Opera" (***1/2)


BEST LIVE:  STRATOVARIUS "Visions Of Europe" (*****) / RIOT "Shine On" (*****)




1998 BEST SONGS COUNTDOWN

30.SENTENCED "Farewell"
29.MUNDANUS IMPERIUM "Unborn Breaths In Silence"
28.DEATH "Flesh & The Power It Holds"
27.ELEGY "Unorthodox Methods"
26.ANGEL DUST "Border Of Reality"
25.LABYRINTH "Lady Lost In Time"
24.HOLY MOTHER "The Rats Keep Running"
23.VIRGIN STEELE "Mind, Body, Spirit"
22.RHAPSODY "Emerald Sword"
21.HOLLOW "Crusaders"
20.IRON MAIDEN "Futureal"
19.R. Zombie "Dragula"
18.STRATOVARIUS "Destiny"
17.ICED EARTH "The Prophecy"
16.SINNER "Some Truth (Had Better Left Unknown)"
15.PRIMAL FEAR "Nine Lives"
14.HAMMERFALL "At The End Of The Rainbow"
13.JAG PANZER "Iron Eagle"
12.BLIND GUARDIAN "Mirror, Mirror"
11.GRAVE DIGGER "The Curse Of Jacques"
10.GALLERY OF MASKS "Gallery Of Masks"
9. SHADOW GALLERY "War For Sale"
8. SAVATAGE "Paragons Of Innocence"
7. HELLOWEEN "Handful Of Pain"
6. ARIA "Deceit"
5. NIGHTWISH "Stargazers"
4. NOCTURNAL RITES "Lost In Time"
3. EDGUY "Vain Glory Opera"
2. B. Dickinson "Book Of Thel"
1. RUNNING WILD "Fire And Thunder"

1998 AWARDS