Underrated Metal concept albums

While it’s hard not to love a well realized concept album, the process of creating a singular rock opera is not for the faint of heart. In truth, few acts and releases manage to truly do the notion of them justice. 

It’s simply far too easy for such a lofty goal to get away from its creators. But when a band nails it, it can deliver nothing short of a transcendent experience. 

Here we’re going to be looking at two vastly underrated metal concept albums you’d do well to experience for yourself if you have an appreciation for the latent potential in this format.

Scorpion Child – Acid Roulette (2016)

From around 2005 we witnessed a huge revival of the 70s hard rock sound made popular by the likes of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath which directly contributed to the Trad. Doom genre at large. 

Among those revival acts you’ll find Scorpion Child, who released two albums before disbanding in 2019. Their sophomore release, Acid Roulette, was critically acclaimed for developing the sound of their 2013 S/T album albeit with greatly expanded scope and ambition.

Their decision to make this second release a concept album came from the fact the 70s was a moment when concept and experimental album structures were employed frequently, and to great effect, by rock and metal acts of the period. 

The album’s enigmatic title, “Acid Roulette”, has multiple meanings. It simultaneously alludes to the psychedelic soundscapes it features, refers to a game that appears within the narrative of the album, and last but not least, references the surprising changes of fortune of the album’s protagonist. 

Roulette’s frequent appearance as a metaphor for changing circumstances is a popular trope, and for good reason. This enduring title, with its iconic wheel and table format, is still among the most popular games in brick-and-mortar casinos today. 

What’s more, it has benefited from a minor renaissance on online platforms that cater to digital versions of casino classics, introducing a new generation of tech-aware players to its compelling gameplay mechanics. 

The story of the album follows a man who takes the fall for a murder he does not commit, who resultingly also allows his wife to continue an affair with her lover. Spicy stuff, and a truly intriguing set of circumstances to drive the album’s narrative forward. 

Through-out its 13 track runtime, we explore the protagonist’s emotional state across a one year time period as he processes his feelings over this event and deals with the impact of his sacrifice. 

Acid Roulette displays a maturity of song-writing and sensitivity to complex emotional circumstances we seldom see in the genre much nowadays, and for this reason it makes our list.

Blind Guardian – Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

Fans of this iconic act may reasonably question how anyone could consider their crowning achievement, Nightfall in Middle-Earth, to be underrated. But one must consider that in the grand scheme of things Blind Guardian are still little known beyond the confines of the power metal genre. 

“Nightfall in Middle-Earth” serves up an astounding 65 minute rock opera adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion (for the uninitiated, The Silmarillion is a prequel to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, set thousands of years before the events of those books). 

Through multiple layered vocal tracks, virtuosic vocalist Hansi Kürsch plays multiple characters in dialogue as he guides the listener through the narrative, all set to a blistering drum-track, rapturous guitars and Wagnerian synth-work. 

What’s more, the album features several interludes in which professional voice actors recreate climatic scenes and moments from the story, further adding context, immersion and atmosphere to this already unabashedly ambitious work. 

The sheer density of this album has to be listened to be believed, and offers a rewarding experience even for metal fans unfamiliar with its source material. Of course, there’s no denying that a familiarity with the events it depicts will only augment your enjoyment of this stellar sonic alchemy.