Time to update this and still from 1998 is this album from Iced Earth. There have been a number of Iced Earth entries on the thread and this along with the previous
Dark Saga are two of their very best. This album sways between reflective softer numbers which the band do so well to outright thrashy pummelers which show just how brutal American power metal can really be. This whole thing as always, is heightened by the vocals of Matt 'the beast' Barlow, hell I could listen to this guy singing all day. Also this album has featured at least once on 'Metal Wars' and the old 'Album Wars' threads. I'm certain that by the time my journal reaches 1998 (if it gets there) it will feature this album.
Iced Earth Something Wicked This Way Comes 1998