New Videos - December 2021!

Well, here's one last batch of videos for the end of the year.  This is not as long as November's list, but I was pretty busy catching up on albums for 2021.  However, these videos do give us a peek into what 2022 has in store for us, and it's looking pretty good, I think.  Let's get it on!

I don't know how many AOR groups there are anymore (though I do think Frontiers has picked up at least half of them).  City of Lights is another new for me, and I really like how this sounds.  There's a bit of crunch to this one, giving their sentimental 80s vibe some decent heft, while still giving the keyboards an opportunity to shine.

HammerFall are back!  It's a little strange, with the Halloween imagery, but this is some pretty standard heavy/power metal the band is known for.  I do need to get caught up with their latest releases, as I've kind of gotten behind on those.  Maybe I'll do a quick catchup before their 2022 release.

I'm trying to decide if Dynazty was always in the synth metal style (a la Beast in Black) or if this is a shift for them.  Still, it makes for a very powerful, uplifting track that's backed with some crunchy guitars and a soaring chorus from vocalist Nils Molin.

I'm not quite sure where these guys are from as there are a bunch of bands with the name Spitfire (Germany, maybe?), but this one seems to have a pretty solid mix of hard rock and heavy metal that's pretty energetic.  Can't go wrong with some chest-beating, fist-pumping music!

Well, that was pleasant!  A nice prog epic that seems equal parts Billy Sherwood, Jethro Tull, Rick Wakeman, and Pink Floyd.  It also has that laid-back third-wave prog vibe, establishing some nice atmosphere and giving plenty of room for folky organ noodles and a nice guitar solo.

Last Played - November 2021 Part Two!

I think I'm going to end up spending a lot of this holiday season catching up on this year's releases.  I know there are a lot of albums I want to get to, but I'm also starting to wonder how on earth I'm going to decide my Top 5.  While I don't know if I've heard any obvious winners, there has been a good chunk of great music this year, and this article is gonna go over some of them.  Here's what I've been checking out lately!

Dream Theater - A View from the Top of the World

After the band stumbled with The Astonishing, they set out to recenter themselves with Distance Over Time, and largely succeeded.  I felt that the album was adequate, with not much really standing out to me.  Now we have their follow up with this album, and their stated intentions to start exploring again, this time with some heavier, 8-string guitars, which I think helped their songs sound very dramatic and broad in their scope.

Of course, Dream Theater going for heavy isn't necessarily anything new (Train of Thought comes to mind), but I think goal here was to expand their dynamics and tones, which has mostly worked.  Right off, the album starts with some very chunky metal riffs, with "The Alien" and "Answering the Call," setting the tone for the rest of the album, with later tracks adding some interesting symphonic elements.  "Transcending Time" is a curious outlier, surprisingly having a lot of AOR rock energy, and I can't deny that I rather liked it.  However, the center piece is clear the 20 minute epic at the end of the album that has the band really flexing their songwriting muscles.  They really explore a lot of moods on that one, shifting from fast to slow, heavy to light, and back again.  (Par for the course, really.)

Overall, I think this is slightly better than their last one.  The heaviness seems to have brought some energy along with it, and the band do some interesting balancing between heavier and lighter sections.  "Answering the Call" and "Awaken the Master" are probably the best tracks, as I feel they make great use of the heaviness without letting the songs go off the rails too much.  That being said, this is still very Dream Theater, and will likely not appeal to anyone who isn't already a fan.  I admit I'm not a huge fan of them, myself, so take my words with a grain of salt.  Nevertheless, it's a solid showing, proving that this band still have a lot of creative energy in the tank.

Beast in Black - Dark Connection

After enjoying their first two albums, I was pretty keen on hearing what Beast in Black had in store this year.  When the singles landed, the clear switch to a very 80s cyberpunk aesthetic was a bit of a surprise, as they dived deeper into their sonic inspirations.  However, the result is clearly more of the same, for better or worse.

The album has a great opener in "Blade Runner," with some great energy and crunchy riffs.  However, from there, it starts to feel like a repeat of previous efforts.  Some songs are poppy, some are more metal, but all stay within the range the band has covered before.  "One Night in Tokyo" is one of the better ones on the poppy side, "To the Last Drop of Blood" is probably the one that balances the two styles the best, and "Revengeance Machine" has a great "Painkiller" vibe that's kinda ruined by some awkward, profanity-laden narration at the start.  There's a general shift toward more mature, suggestive lyrics as well, so your mileage may vary with that.  The band continues to maintain their solid production and tight performances, however, with Yannis Papadopoulos flexing his dynamic vocals once again.  He gets plenty of opportunities to shift between his lighter and aggressive styles.  Oh, and that Manowar cover is pretty fun.

While it's easy to criticize this as being more of the same, I'm reluctant to do so, as I feel this band is still the best as this fusion of 80s pop and heavy metal (which I have dubbed "synth metal").  I know I certainly don't want them to stop.  However, I do think this is a bit of a step down from the previous albums.  In their attempt to shift the content from fantasy to sci-fi, they tried to be more sophisticated with their lyrics and presentation, with mixed results.  While it's nice to have some epic cyberpunk anthems, it's hard to feel like the band is really stretching themselves.  In the end, it's a decent album, with a few great songs, but not as engaging as their previous efforts.

NorthTale - Welcome to Paradise

So this is a bit of catchup before I do their 2021 release, as I wanted to go into NorthTale's new album with some context of what they had done here.  Honestly, I loved what I had heard from the singles, but then the band just kinda fell off my radar somehow.  To be honest, I feel bad about it, as it's clearly the kind of power metal I love, being very influenced by the styles of Helloween and Stratovarius.

Right off, we start with some high speed, double-kicking power metal, and it doesn't really let up.  Oh, sure, there are power ballads in the middle with "Way of the Light" and at the end with "Even When," but they're kinda forgettable (which is also quite like Stratovarius; I love that band, but I could never get into their ballads).  "Everyone's a Star" is also a bit different, a kind of satirical piece of pop metal.

But everything else is excellent power metal.  I loved hearing a bunch of the singles again, like "Higher," "Shape Your Reality," "Siren's Fall," and "Bring Down the Mountain."  As for rest, "Follow Me," "Time to Rise," and "If Angels Are Real" stood out to me.  Vocalist Christian Eriksson is quite good, providing some epic held-notes, and making me think of Jonas Heidgert of Dragonland.  The guitar solos are incredible, with Bill Hudson throwing in some neo-classical chops here and there, and the keyboards by Jimmy Pitts are right there with him, noodling along like Jens Johansson.

Honestly, this could have been a Top 5 contender for 2019.  This is the kind of power metal that bands should be making more of, in my opinion.  I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but I know it's not the over-the-top style of DragonForce nor the heavier power metal of Iron Savior or Primal Fear.  It's that middle ground where Helloween, Freedom Call, and Stratovarius live, and now we have NorthTale representing the style, and doing it very well!  Great stuff!

The Dust Coda - Mojo Skyline

Hey, remember these guys?  I was digging a lot of their singles earlier in the year, and I've finally taken the time to listen to their new album.  While a lot of retro rock bands lean on the styles of Zeppelin or Sabbath, these guys are going for more of an Aerosmith vibe, and do it well!

This album has three things going for it: First, is the meaty riffs.  Clearly leaning on 70s rock clichés, the production gives them a good amount of heft and power.  They also have a good balance of being catchy and simple.  They won't win any shredding awards, but with hooks this good, my head was bobbing all the way through this record.  Second, their vocalist John Drake really lets it all hang out.  He's got a great, straight-forward rock sound, with just the right amount of grit.  He's as subtle as a brick and it's perfect!  Third, these songs have a ton of energy!  Even though it's mostly settled in a nice, mid-tempo rock groove, these are not passive tunes.  I can see them jumping around all over the stage in my mind as they play these songs.

Basically, I'm saying that I really like this album.  I was a little afraid it would get repetitive, but it really doesn't.  They know how to shake it up a little with some different moods, with things shifting even during the song sometimes.  "Breakdown" is a really good example of this, starting at a mid-tempo groove before going full-on hard rock at the end.  Other stand outs include "Limbo Man," the anthemic "Dream Alright," "Best Believe It," and that super heavy riff on "I've Been Waiting."  Overall, it's a plain straight-up rocking album from start to finish, with no brakes to slow things down.

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Well, that was certainly a fun mix of music!  I have one more article coming before the end of the month, and it's gonna be a bunch of videos, so keep a look out for that.  I don't have much else to say, so until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - May 2021!

It's been a minute since I've done one of these!  Mostly catching up on some older albums from some favorite bands, this one is full of melodic metal!  Here's what I've been banging my head to lately.

Symphony X - Twilight in Olympus

As I was listening to different bands, I was suddenly in the mood for something more shreddy, and I knew Symphony X was a band I wanted to get into more, so I threw on their 1998 album.  I definitely got what I wanted, as the band has a very distinct mix of neo-classical shredding, epic soundscapes, and technical proficiency.

Right off, you get some pretty good songs.  "Smoke and Mirrors" sets the stage by opening with a lightning fast guitar run before getting into some powerprog pyrotechnics.  Russell Allen sounds good, as always, though there are a few moments where I think he's maybe forcing the drama a little.  Still, it's a minor gripe about an incredible voice.

From there, the rest of the album lurches around, with some tracks working better than others.  "Church of the Machine" and "The Relic" have strong Dream Theater vibes, as well as the epic of the album "Through the Looking Glass."  It's not bad, but does feel clunky, as if the technical side took over the songwriting, resulting in a song that doesn't quite have its pieces together.  "In the Dragon's Den" was a pretty solid piece of powerprog, featuring a dual solo with guitars and synths that made me think of classic Stratovarius!  Overall, I enjoyed it, but then the band has always been pretty reliable, at least on the few albums I've heard, so it met my expectations pretty well.

Beast in Black - From Hell With Love

When I reviewed their first album, I said I was kinda down on the songs in the second half, but as I've listened to them more, they've grown on me.  That first album was quite solid, in the end.  In 2019, they followed up with this one, and while I enjoyed the singles from it, I didn't get around to the album until now.  I probably should have listened to it sooner, as it has some great stuff on here.

First of all, this really is more of the same: power metal mixed with 80s synth pop and even touches of Italo Disco.  The thing is, they aren't the only ones doing this anymore, as a number of bands have jumped on the 80s nostalgia train and added synth riffs and arrangements to their metal songs, and I admit it doesn't always work.  However, Beast in Black seem to have it down, as I found myself enjoying this album as much as the last one.  Yannis Papadopoulos remains a great singer, using both is lighter and heavier vocal styles to expand the range of emotions on these songs.  The riffs remain catchy and the synths ease their way in and out of the songs, never feeling forced or overdone, in my opinion.

Stand out tracks are the awesome opener "Cry Out for a Hero," the title track, the anthemic "True Beleiver," and "No Surrender," which sounds a bit more Judas Priest than some of the other stuff on here.  "Oceandeep," is an interesting ballad, going for more of a symphonic, Nightwish flavor.  The other songs didn't seem as strong, but they could grow on me like the first album did.  Still, a great follow up to what was a great album, and I look forward to more of their unique brand of energetic metal in the future.

Sabaton - Carolus Rex

Despite enjoy most of Sabaton, there are a few albums I still haven't gotten to.  This one is a little unique in that the subject matter focuses on a much older war than the band usually covers, that of the Thirty Years War and the Great Northern War of the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly from the Swedish perspective under the rule of King Charles XII, and his crack unit, the Caroleans.  It's a neat bit of history that few outside of Europe would know much about, which makes it pretty novel.

From there, the album proceeds to follow the standard Sabaton progression: epic power metal, sometimes fast and triumphant as they talk about the battles, sometimes anthemic and mournful for the heroes that fall and lives that are lost.  As for songs that stand out, I liked "The Lion from the North" and "Poltava," as they were the more energized tracks.  And their cover of Amon Amarth's "Twilight of the Thunder God" is a lot of fun!

As always, one knows what to expect when listening to a Sabaton album, for better or worse.  While I do enjoy their anthemic style, it does feel like there's some leaning on a formula here.  Still, it's a decent album, and it gets to show that the band has more interests than just World War II.

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It's been kind of an up-and-down year for me so far.  I'm actually rather thankful that I get to listen to music while I work, as it's helped me cope with a lot of things.  (Nothing serious, just the tedium and tension of working at home during lockdown.)  Fortunately, I have no shortage of stuff to listen to!  I'll try to get back on the new releases soon, but until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - February 2020 Part Two!

It's that time again!  This one's definitely all over the place, genre-wise, but it's all great stuff, I promise!  Here's what I've come across this time.

Let's start off with another Beast in Black song to rock your face off!  They really have found that magic balance between power metal epicness and synth-pop energy, each side supporting the other.  Just plain huge!

Yup, another one from Archon Angel.  I'm really feeling the Trans-Siberian Orchestra vibes on this one, making for another epic entry in this week's list.  Zak Stevens really is an underrated singer!

Well, this was a surprise!  When the song started, I thought I know what the first riff was gonna sound like, so when they laid out that swing-step riff, I was totally caught off guard!  Sticking with the groove and keeping things heavy, Dynazty provides something that feels very fresh indeed!

Candlemass find themselves with a new EP and a new singer!  Actually, they've brought back the singer from their very first album, Johan Längqvist, and he sounds great!  Backed by the band's iconic riffs, they sound as huge as ever!  I should really listen to more of this band!

H.E.A.T. provides another great 80s rocker!  This one is definitely more metal than "Rise," giving me some really strong Dokken or Europe vibes.  Solid riffs and vocals, without sacrificing any of the melody, this one demands to be turned up to 11!

Let's end with another rocker from a bunch of 80s masters.  Black Swan really come out swinging with this one, making the classic metal riffs sound fresh and energetic.  I certainly wish this style of much could "shake the world!"

New Videos - January 2020!

Ever since I started doing these articles, I've been blown away by how much that gets released!  I'm still catching up on stuff from 2019 while keeping an eye on what's new.  Here's what I've come across lately!

Amberian Dawn has a long tradition of symphonic power metal, but with this track, it seems they've joined other bands in the synth metal wave.  It's pretty good, but I do wonder if maybe too many bands are trying to go in this direction now.

Meanwhile, Brothers of Metal keep chugging ahead with their Norse-drenched metal.  This one seems to venture closer to mid-tempo power metal, but it remains just as epic and cheesy as you would expect from a band like this.  Manowar would be proud!

So this is a team up of former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon and Jani Liimatainen, known for his work with Sonata Arctica and Timo Kotipelto of Stratovarius, and frankly, those three bands some up what The Dark Element is up to: Symphonic Power Metal of the highest order, and it's great!

Queensryche keeps the videos coming with their brand of melodic prog metal.  Not a lot of surprises considering the band, but I think it's a pretty solid song.

Here's some more prog metal from the supergroup Sons of Apollo.  This one hits nice and heavy as a tribute to a lost friend, complete with an impressive, noodly synth solo!

Growing up in the US, Magnum isn't a band name that comes up, but I've since become aware Bob Catley due to his appearances on Avantasia albums.  However, this new album looks like a great way to get onboard, as this song is great hard rock!