Anniversary Series - 1994!

This year is certainly a tough one to write about.  While there was plenty going on in rock and metal, it was mostly in genres I generally don't cover on this blog (like pop punk or death metal).  That being said, I think I've got enough to scrape a few paragraphs together to try and cover the year without resorting to a handful of reviews.

Naturally, grunge was still big.  Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden put out some reelases to their diehard fans, with Soundgarden in particular having a massive hit with "Black Hole Sun."  However, this year would also serve the biggest blow with the death of Kurt Cobain.  Almost acting like a turning point for the genre, more radio friendly bands like Bush and Our Lady Peace would move the genre into the post-grunge era.

Prog would end up having an interesting year as well.  Classic bands like Yes and ELP (among others) would put out albums, showing they still have what it takes, while Pink Floyd released Division Bell, marking the end of an era (as it was the last album for them for many years).  Progressive metal was picking up, however, with Dream Theater leading the charge with Awake, their celebrated follow-up to Images and Words.  With newcomers like Vanden Plas and Symphony X following in their wake, prog metal was clearly on the way up.

Meanwhile, power metal was starting to come together.  Stratovarius would be in a state of transition with Dreamspace, but the big story was the comeback of Helloween.  Picking up new singer Andi Deris, the band returned to their speedy, melodic roots with Master of the Rings, one of my favorite albums of theirs.  Finally getting past their experimental phase, they laid out epic tracks like "Sole Survivor" and "Where the Rain Grows," anticipating the explosion of power metal that would soon follow.

So it's not much, but it's something, and there's certainly more in the playlist below, so check that out.  If I've missed something, let me know in the comments below.  Meanwhile, I'll keep carrying on, putting out articles as often as time permits.  Until then, rock on!  \m/

New Videos - July 2023!

Wow, this summer is going faster than I expected!  I know it's been dang hot for everyone, but hopefully we can endure for another month or so.  In the meantime, I've got another handful of excellent new songs for you to check out.  

Despite enjoying some of Noveria's singles in the past, I never did get around to that album, and now they have another one coming out!  They've still got that technical riffing and epic sound, this time with a bit more of a symphonic flair.  Italian melodic prog metal really is a distinct and fascinating sound!

Yup.  Another Anthem single.  This one definitely aims for more of a Painkiller vibe with that double-kicking bass drum and driving chugs.  Also, that guitar solo is pretty solid.  I'm starting to think I need to get into this band sooner rather than later, as their singles are surprisingly consistent.

Is it bad that the most I knew about this band is that they were the reason Herman Li & Co. changed their name to DragonForce?  Well, it turns out they've got a solid heavy/power metal sound, much like Grave Digger.  With a catchy chorus and some solid guitar work, this single might inspire me to give them a shot now that they've got a new album coming out.

Yup.  More Primal Fear.  This one is definitely a mid-tempo stomper, getting to their classic metal roots.  So far, Ralf and company seem to be keeping their consistent quality with this one.  While it's definitely much like what they've done before, I'm still looking forward to their new album. 

So I guess earlier in the year, some of the guys from Vanden Plas started this side-project that's more of a hard rock/heavy metal group.  Finally catching up on it, I think they have a solid sound, though I think I could hear Andy Kuntz sing over just about anything.  In any case, it's got some crunchy riffs and decent melodies, with some synth layers behind it for good measure.  Check it out!

Anniversary Series - 1997!

I'm going to be honest, this year's article is going to be mostly about power metal, as 1997 was the year HammerFall exploded, bringing with it a massive wave of new bands.  I'll try to include a few others, and if there's anything you think I missed, don't hesitate to let me know.  Now, let's get this anniversary article started!

Let's just start with HammerFall and go from there.  The idea of a band that embraced the clichés of the 80s, added a heavy layer of fantasy and historical themes, and charged with some neo-classical energy was considered pretty novel when their debut album landed.  While I think their next few albums were better, they were off to a great start.  With epic tracks like "The Dragon Lies Bleeding," "Unchained," and "Steel Meets Steel," they established a foundation they and many other bands would build on.

Other power metal highlights from the year include Edguy's second album Kingdome of Madness, Kamelot's second Dominion, the debuts of symphonic titans Nightwish and Rhapsody of Fire, and earlier in the month, I covered Kai Hansen's one-two punch of Iron Savior's debut and Gamma Ray's Somewhere Out in Space.  Finally, there's Visions by Stratovarius, including blazing tracks like "Black Diamond," "Forever Free," and "Legions."  This album would cement the band as one of my favorites from this era!

Progressive metal also had a strong showing.  Not only did Dream Theater give us Falling into Infinity, with the iconic "Peruvian Skies," but Symphony X released The Divine Wings of Tragedy, with the 20-minute epic title-track that builds on John Milton and Gustav Holst, and Vanden Plas provided their own style of prog metal with The God Thing, featuring great songs like "Rainmaker" and "Crown of Thorns."

Of course, it wasn't all metal.  Post-grunge was starting to pick up again, particularly with The Colour and the Shape by the Foo Fighters.  Songs like "Monkey Wrench," "Everlong," and "My Hero would become rock radio staples.  And then there was the iconic debut of Creed with My Own Prison, the first of three great albums that I jammed repeatedly when I was in high school.  At least, when I wasn't listening to the new Yes album Open Your Eyes.  It's no innovator or prog rock triumph by any means, but one I have a lot of nostalgia for as well.

So that's 1997 in a nutshell!  Definitely some great music, and I have more selections below in the Spotify playlist.  Perhaps it's not the robust selection, but it will get better as I explore more music.  Until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - January 2021!

Sorry for the lack of posts this month.  January has been pretty hard on me, health wise, so I've slowed down quite a bit.  Still, I have a few albums here that I've heard lately, with the theme of 90s metal!  Let's go!

Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond

I've started reading The Silmarillion this year, and that kinda got me into a Blind Guardian mood again, so I listened to this album, probably best known for having the ballad "The Bard's Song," which would in turn give the band the nickname "The Bards."  Even from the start, I can tell this is better than their last album, as the songwriting is tighter and stronger.

At this point, the band certainly have their sound, and it definitely feels like power metal now, though there is still plenty of the older speed/thrash style, making for some pretty gritty, dark-sounding stuff.  However, there's plenty of great riffs and melodies, often at quite high speeds.  And as usual, Hansi is just killing it, whether he's singing alone or with some great vocal harmonies.

As always, the songs are inspired by all kinds of fantasy literature, as well as sci-fi film and television, and even one based on a video game.  This really is the band of nerds and for nerds, as as a nerd, I can certainly appreciate it!  I quite liked "Time What is Time," "Journey Through the Dark," and the title track.  It's easy to see why these guys became such an inspiration to so many other power metal bands that followed!

Vanden Plas - Far Off Grace

Vanden Plas is a band I keep telling myself I should listen to more, as I've only listened to their first two albums and only a handful of other tracks.  They always sound great, like a Dream Theater lite that isn't as obsessed with extended songwriting or overly long solos.  So I threw in their third album to expand my knowledge of them.

The first thing I noticed was that the production is the little thin, with the percussion sounded like they weren't recorded in the same room, the bass drums feeling especially clicky.  Still, it's a minor gripe for what is a pretty solid album of melodic prog metal.

The band definitely show their skills, with plenty of curious time-signature changes and lots of moody shifts.  Andy Kuntz in particular really stands out.  He's always been a great singer, and that's still true here.  His voice is so iconic to me, giving a lot of depth to the songs, but still focused on singing well instead of any kind of over-the-top emotional performance.  The rest of the band performs well, with some pretty neat solos here and there, especially the one in "Far Off Grace."

However, the album didn't blow me away like some of their others.  Decent songs, but the only one that really stood out was "Inside of Your Head," with some interesting segments that flow well and a really catchy chorus.  The covers at the end are a nice touch, but don't really add to the album, either.  Overall, it's solid work, and I'm glad I have more Vanden Plas to consider, but I don't think it's quite as strong as Colour Temple or The God Thing.

Iron Maiden - The X Factor

I'm still working my way through this legendary band's discography, and I've finally reached the first of two controversial albums.  After Bruce Dickinson decided to leave, they found Blaze Bayley to be their replacement, a move that frustrated a lot of their fans.  As they began to put material together, they felt like they were wrangling with number of variables, coming up with the title for the album (as well as having a bit of a clever pun on it being their tenth studio release).

Right off, this is definitely much darker material than usual for the band.  Part of it has to do with Bayley's voice being more of a baritone, but the production overall has a bit of a muddy, meaty tone, and the lyrics certainly deal with different kinds of bleak material, ranging from madness and frustration, to the human heart at its darkest.

The result, however, is quite a mixed bag of meh.  The big problem I had was it felt like they were trying to redo "Fear of the Dark" 8 times over, making the album feel very monotonous.  The songs are also overly long, often having mellow intros, into mid-tempo chugging for the verses, into up-tempo sections for the solos, then back down again.  As such, the songwriting does feel a bit predictable and more filler than substance.  As for Bayley's voice, I don't think it's bad, but it is a rough match for the material.  There were a few times I wished we had Dickinson singing this stuff at an octave higher.  The solos were good as well, though I suppose saying that an Iron Maiden album has good guitar work is like saying water is wet!

Overall, what was once a tight and dramatic band seems to have gotten flabby and safe with this one.  I do think "Sign of the Cross" is decent, and "Judgement of Heaven" stood out to me just for being a different kind of song from everything else, in a good way.  However, I can see why fans would be so down on this album as it really does feel like a 90s band imitating Iron Maiden than anything particularly authentic.

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I'm still slowly working on my Top 5 for 2020, and like I thought, it's been tough deciding what should go in.  Hopefully, my health will improve and I'll be able to work that out soon!  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - November 2020!

More videos!  The good stuff just never seems to stop coming out.  Here's another handful as we get into November, featuring a good mix of styles.  Turn it up!

Yup, another one from Spirit Adrift.  This one starts off with a kind of bluesy groove, thanks to the bass, before going into a stompy doom/heavy metal track.  I really liked the little licks the guitarists played here and there.  I clearly need to give this album a listen because I'm liking everything I'm hearing from it.

This is a completely new group, offering up some symphonic power metal, much in the vein of later Kamelot or Serenity.  The band name is a bit of a mouthful, but Marco Pastorino's vocals really soar over everything.  Perhaps not a great track, but certainly shows promise.

Black Stone Cherry is another one of those groups that I keep seeing around, but just haven't gotten to.  Here, they have a kind of southern-fried post-grunge, making for a solid rock, short, effective rock song.  I know I've been wanting to dig into these guys for a while, and I suppose now is better than never.

I've always been a fan of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and that Twisted Sister Christmas album, so the opportunity for a new Christmas metal album appeals.  Of course, there's a chance it could be bad, but this certainly isn't!  Giving some classic carols a symphonic power metal boost, this one is right for the season!

I've been listening to a few tracks from these guys, and they seem to be proggy power metal in the vein of Kamelot and Angra.  The riffs certainly have a more technical feel, but singer Vasilis Georgiou is definitely channeling Roy Khan for some dramatic heft.  Neat stuff!

Vanden Plas may have a style they stick to, but I can't deny that they know how to work it.  Melodic prog metal is a style that's been working for them for years, and it works again here on this one.  Always such a good balance between being crunchy, epic, technical, and soaring.

New Videos - October 2020!

I feel like these last few months are gonna be nuts for me.  So much material to cover, so little time!  Hopefully, I'll be able to cover all that I want to before the year ends.  In the meantime, here's some new stuff I liked.

Starting off with something a little different, Lunatic Soul is a side project for the singer of Riverside, and it seems he's got some interesting vibes for this one.  It starts off kinda folky and moody, but it ends up building to this rather energetic ending that still feels moody and cinematic.  Fascinating piece of music for sure.

Of course, I'm not going to ignore the new AC/DC.  It sounds pretty standard, much like their material on Rock or Bust or Black Ice.  Solid, mid-tempo blues rock like the boys have been playing for over 40 years.

Here's Spirit Adrift again, and it's still kinda different from the other two I've featured.  This one starts off with more of a rockin', NWOBHM vibe before hitting the halfway mark and going for classic Black Sabbath for the second half.  Already, this album seems to quite the variety.

Pyramaze is another band I've seen around, but never heard.  This seems to be more on the melodic prog side, with a heavy dash of melodrama, like Evergrey or Darkwater.  Supported by some symphonic elements, it's a pretty solid, slow-paced piece of epic metal.

I can't believe Vanden Plas is back with another album.  I never did get around to their last one!  VP has always walked on the melodic side of prog metal, and this is no different, though they do throw in some mixed meter for good measure.  I'm rarely disappointed by these guys.

Let's close this one out with some nice AOR.  I guess Michael Palace has been bouncing around the Frontiers Records catalog for a while, and it shows.  This is 80s-tastic and anthemic as anything else that label has released.  Nothing new, but it's a nice, crunchy track of a style that definitely doesn't get enough attention these days.

New Videos - November 2019!

Well, I'm hoping to finish the year strong, so I'm going to try and put out more stuff in the next two months.  I hope I haven't jinxed myself!  Anyways, here's some of the new stuff I've been enjoying lately.

Kind of picking up from where we left of last time, here's more power metal!  This trades in speed for a more epic scope, adding in some pulsing synths for that extra layer.  Definitely slick, catchy, and a lot of fun!

Eclipse seems to be riding the line between melodic metal and hard rock, and it's some very solid, anthemic stuff!  Balancing softer verses with harder choruses and some nice riffage in-between, this will put your fist in the air in no time at all!

NEW YES MUSIC!!  This is the first new material we've had in 5 years.  Now, as it turns out, this is part of an EP of material written and recorded around 2010, so it's Benoit David singing.  Honestly, though, this sounds pretty good, and if the rest is just as solid, I can't wait to get my hands on the rest!

Covers are always a risky thing.  Sometimes they can fall pretty flat, but this is a very solid take on a song from a classic AOR band.  Perfect Plan maintain the classic 80s sound while bringing it up to date sonically.  Nice work!

Vanden Plas!  When I first came across these guys, I considered them a kind of "Dream Theater-lite" (not in a bad way!), but over time, I've been able to really get a feel for their iconic prog metal sound, and nothing has really changed with their new material.  Big, melodic, and a blast to listen to!

One more piece of metal from Moonlight Haze, this one really mixes the genres.  It's a bit proggy, very symphonic, a dash of power metal, and some synths for good measure, but it all sounds great together!  Tying it all together is some great melodies and very strong vocals!