Last Played - December 2019!

Well, things really slowed down here at the end of the year.  I admit my health got a bit rough for December, but I was still listening to stuff, old and new!  Here's what I've been listening to lately!

Darkwater - Human

After being so impressed with their singles they released back in February, I finally took the time to listen to their whole album, and was satisfied to learn that the rest is almost just as good.   While listening to it, the riffing and noodling of the guitars and keys were much like Dream Theater, the wall of sound and emotional tone similar to Evergrey, with the dramatic flair and character that of Kamelot (especially in the vocals!).

That’s not to say the band doesn’t have a sound of their own.  Much of their tone has more of a repentant, striving, returning-home vibe (as opposed to Evergrey’s juxtaposition of hope and despair), giving their dark moods and chunky riffs a driving feeling with a lot of momentum.  The opening “A New Beginning” really sets the tone, with other tracks just building on it from there.  “Reflection of a Mind” has some very good, abstract story-telling, and “Light of Dawn” is a great, triumphant closer.

If there are any issues, it’s that they really do stick to one tone and one tempo the whole time, and anyone expecting any musical explorations beyond the likes of Dream Theater or DGM may be disappointed.  However, this didn’t bother me, as I’m more interested in execution than I am in innovation, and this is a really well-made and well-realized album.  Just plain solid!

Blind Guardian - Tales From The Twilight World

As I’m listening to new stuff, I’m also taking the time to fill in some gaps in my music experience, and Blind Guardian is a big one!  You’d think, with my love of all things power metal that I’d be completely into this band, but I’ve only listened to a bit of their early stuff.

To fix this, I threw on their third album, Tales From The Twilight World.  First of, this really is a continuation of the speedy, thrashy style from their first two albums, but I can hear the subtle shifts towards the familiar power metal sound, mostly in songs like “Welcome to Dying” and “The Last Candle.”  They also dabble in more proggy song-writing, particularly with “Lost in the Twilight Hall.”  And while fantasy is not unfamiliar material with the band, they really do dig into literature for this album, building songs off of Dune, Steven King, Dragonlance, and Lord of the Rings (with a ballad, naturally).

As for the music, Hansi Kürsch really is undeniable.  His vocals are so iconic and so strong, carrying the songs along at full volume.  The guitars and drums are solid as well, if not as memorable, pounding along at a furious pace.  I don’t know if this is material I will go back to often, but it’s easy to see this as one of the many prototypes of power metal before the genre took off in the mid 90s.

Iron Savior - Kill Or Get Killed

After enjoying their various singles throughout the year, I finally put in the full album, and right from the get-go, it’s full-speed ahead!!  Iron Savior has been blasting power metal since the heydays of the late 90s with a focus on science fiction storytelling, and this latest album shows no slowing down!

To be honest, there really isn’t any real innovation to be heard.  This really does feel like a sci-fi Blind Guardian, and a lot of that has to do with Piet Sielck’s vocals sound a lot like Hansi Kürsch.  The guitars and drums crunch along as one would expect, with plenty of vocal harmonies in the choruses and dual guitar solos.  It’s all pretty standard stuff.

Despite this, I can’t deny I enjoy the heck out of this!  I’m not sure what it is about the Germans, but they have a knack for crafting catchy melodies to go along with their riffs, and making things unbelievably epic!  Stand out songs include the title track, “Roaring Thunder,” “Stand Up and Fight,” “Heroes Ascending,” and “Never Stop Believing.”  Just plain great power metal!

Vanilla Fudge - Vanilla Fudge

Just like when I decided to review a Caravan album, I had a headache one day and in the mood to lose myself in some new music, so I decided to listen to Vanilla Fudge’s debut album.  I had been a little aware of their unique style of psychedelic rock, but after listening to this, I really got a feel for how they do things.

And how they do things is to have a massive hammond organ, strong vocal harmonies, and a slower pace that allows them to really feel the groove and explore around, often filling in gaps with drum fills, noodly mini-solos, and other jam-styled bits.  That being said, they do feature some interesting variety.  “People Get Ready” has near-church-like vibe, like a hymn, while their classic “You Keep Me Hanging On” is an absolute banger when they get going, and their version of "Eleanor Rigby" is very haunting.  It’s not the tightest of performances, but it does have a very live sound for a studio album, really showing how well connected and fluid they are.  These guys must have been amazing live.

Doing mostly covers is an interesting choice, but they really do make the songs their own with their half-tempo style and psychedelic chops.  The result is a raw, hard-rocking jam of an album that’s more interested in playing it loud without losing the groove.  

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Well, this will likely be the last article I do for the year.  It's been an interesting year, though, as I got to listen to and discover a lot of new bands and music.  There are some things I want to do differently, maybe be less focused on new releases, but I do intend to carry on, one way or another.

First of all, I do think I'll do a Top 5 list for what I did listen to from last year.  I'm also thinking about doing some retrospectives of a given band's discography.  Otherwise, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

I hope you've all had a good holidays, and I'll see you next year!  Until then, rock on!  \m/

New Videos - December 2019 Part Two!

Slipped a bit, but I'm back with some more rock and metal for you.  Hopefully, these tracks will keep you warm as winter really sets in.

Man, the 80s are really being mined for all kinds of things!  Fortunately, the song is a really catchy piece of AOR, with Outland really leaning hard on those synths for hooks!  I don't mind, as this still rocks pretty hard!

Epic doom metal is a genre I really should listen to more, as they really know how to make a song sound huge, and this is no different, with Sarah Ann's vocals soaring over everything!  Smoulder is pretty new to the scene, but they rock the doom as well as Candlemass or Visigoth!

Pattern-Seeking Animals has been slowly releasing videos for nearly every song of their prog rock debut.  This one caught my ear for having some nice, upbeat melodic hooks (despite the dour lyrics!) and a classic 70s vibe.

Stormwarrior is a peculiar band, playing blazing fast power metal, but focusing all their lyrics on Norse mythology and classic Viking culture.  In the end, they've created a pretty unique style for themselves, and this new song shows them carrying on with that style.  Fun stuff, if you can handle the high speed shredding and pounding!

A new video for Find Me's latest album.  Like I said in my review, this is very solid AOR, full of anthemic vocals and synths.  This song actually has a pretty decent guitar solo, but the rest of the guitars really do sit back in mix overall.  For those who like their rock synth heavy.

Finishing how we started with some more AOR.  Edge of Forever has been rocking for quite a while, and their experience shows.  With the crunchy guitars and layered vocals on the chorus, it's the perfect kind of uplifting that makes this genre shine!

New Videos - December 2019!

Well, one month left, and a lot of rock and metal to cover!  I'm hoping I can put out as many articles as I did in November (that was a productive month!), so that I'll have a lot of momentum when the new year starts!  In the mean time, here's some new stuff I've come across lately!

More power metal?  Yeah, I know, but I can't help it!  Especially when it sounds like 90s Stratovarius or Edguy!  Full of high-speed riffing and melodies, Frozen Crown is pure epicness!

A team-up of a bunch of AOR guys, we got a nice, hard rockin' song that seems to fit just between rock and metal.  I admit W.E.T. is another new one for me, but I guess they've been making albums for a few years, and if it all rocks like this, I'm gonna have to do some digging!

More of The Ferrymen!  Here we have a real melodic cruncher with some lightning fast solos to spice it up.  Along the way, Ronnie Romero provides his epic vocals that push this song that much further.  Turn this one up!

Another great piece of melodic metal from Nordic Union!  Ronnie Atkins is just as epic as Romero (and has been for much longer!), and the guitars just crunch right along with him.  Great stuff from these guys once again!

Going for more of a folky style of symphonic power metal is Cathubodua, this is the right mix of crunchy guitars, orchestral sweeps, and epic female vocals!  Perhaps a bit melodramatic, but this is definitely for those who miss the classic Nightwish sound, like myself.

Let's finish with something fun!  GloryHammer is a band that's been around for a while, providing some of the cheesiest power metal this side of 1992 (it's complicated).  While their songs can be quite over-the-top and silly, this one doesn't go too far into weirdness territory, making for some pretty solid metal.

New Videos - November 2019 Part Three!

Happy Thanksgiving!  (In the US, anyway.)  I've been able to really dig through some new videos lately, so you get a fourth article this month!  Anyways, here's another mix of tunes for you feast on, whether you're celebrating the holiday or not!

We're starting off with a bit of an odd one.  Phil Campbell, best known for his contributions to Motorhead, has teamed up with Alice Cooper to give us a hard rocking song about . . . golf?  And swords, I guess.  Not really sure, but it is fun, and full of energy.

Crystal Viper is another band that flew under my radar, but here they serve up a nice track of 80s metal, with some symphonic touches, but this is more rockin' than your standard female-fronted band.  A bit like Saxon and other NWOBHM bands, but with some nice polish and flair added.

The minute this starts, there is no question that Judas Priest is at the heart of this band's influences.  Much like White Wizzard, these guys are wearing their early 80s metal heart on their sleeves, and it sounds great!

Of course, if you know me, I can't stay away from power metal for long.  Excalion is here with some late 90s charm, sounding like Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica, but with more keyboards and a deeper-voiced singer.  Very solid!

More Italian Prog Metal!  This one really kicks off hard and fast, and keeps up the pace with some very intense, crunchy riffs.  Then the epicness kicks in when the huge vocals and massive synths.  Awesome stuff!

To finish off, we're bringing back CoreLeoni and their Whitesnake-style of 80s rock, this time with a cover of a Gotthard classic.  Once again, Ronnie Romero charms his way through the song that would make David Coverdale proud, all backed up the classic riffs and solos you would expect from this kind of music.

New Videos - November 2019 Part Two!

As the days get cooler and the dog days of Summer become memory, rock and metal and continues on!  A lot of fun stuff in this list, so turn up the volume and check this stuff out!

When you get a former Nightwish singer and a former Sonata Arctica guitarist teaming up, you know you're getting some very epic, melodic metal!  With the symphonic flourishes being supported by some pulsing synths, this is some anthemic stuff!

Now this is some great AOR!  Work of Art really rocks this one out, bringing a nice balance of synths and guitar to go along with the uplifting tone and lyrics.  A lot of fun!

Another Eclipse track that just sounds huge and rocks right along!  Sitting right in that pop metal sound between Def Leppard and Crazy Lixx, this is some fist-pumping, arena-filling magic here, and blast to listen to!

I think I've since proven that I'm not afraid of getting silly sometimes, and this video is rock silliness personified!  A curious mashup with glam metal band Kissin' Dynamite and the rockabilly outfit The Baseballs, you can tell they had a lot of fun with this one.

Getting back into more dramatic stuff, Diviner just continues to rock my face off!  While this starts off as an acoustic ballad, that just sets up the epicness to come.  Again, Yiannis's vocals are right on point, matching the scale of the huge guitars.  Great stuff!

Another single from Those Damn Crows, and it's more uptempo post-grunge!  I love the energy in this one has, while still being pretty catchy and melodic.  Something tells me I'm gonna like this album once it releases.

Last Played - November 2019!

Oof, it's been a while since we've had one of these.  Been in a bit of a 70s mood lately, so I threw in some classic 70s material.  Here's what I thought:

Journey - Evolution

I’m sure like many of you, I’ve heard all of Journey’s big hits over and over again, but I admit I’m much less familiar with their deeper cuts, so I figured I would give Evolution a spin.  I have to admit, being used to the anthemic vibes of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways,” this was a little different.

The first thing that stood out to me was how bluesy the album was.  After a nice opening instrumental, the album starts with “Too Late,” and the classic “Touchin’, Lovin’, Squeezin’”, with “Sweet and Simple” showing up shortly later.  “Too Late” in particular has some very nice guitar work from Neal Schon.

The rest of the album is a little more familiar: big riffs, catchy melodies, and tight vocal harmonies.  However, toward the end, with “Daydream” and “Lady Luck,” there seems to be a pretty strong Led Zeppelin vibe, with some crunchy riffs and Steve Perry doing some Plant-like vocalizations.  That’s not to say they’re bad songs; in fact, I enjoyed them quite a bit.  It’s just not the Journey I’m used to, I guess.

Overall, I was surprised and pleased by the variety, and how 70s it sounded. It’s like they wanted to have a record that honored a great decade of rock music.  Maybe not amazing, but very nice, indeed!

Led Zeppelin - II

Speaking of Zeppelin!  When I saw that this album had just reached its 50th anniversary, I decided to throw it in for fun.  While it is certainly known for its classic radio hits, the album really does have some strength all the way through.

Listening through it this time, what stood out most was all the dynamic mood shifts and tempo changes.  While “Whole Lotta Love” has that well-known free jazz section in the middle, lesser-known tracks like “What Is and What Should Never Be,” “The Lemon Song,” and “Ramble On” also has these proggy elements, going back and forth between softer, folky moments and the harder riffs.  Even “Thank You” goes on a hammond-y journey towards the end.

Of course, this album also cements Zeppelin’s place in the world of hard rock.  Jimmy Page’s riffs hit hard when they need to.  Starting off with the iconic riff from “Whole Lotta Love,” the lightning guitar work in “Heartbreaker,” the super bluesy “Bring It On Home,” and the aggressive, straight-forward “Living Loving Maid,” this album is chock-full of hard-rockers that really get you out of your seat.

Of course, this album isn’t all Jimmy Page, as John Bonham and John Paul Jones do great work throughout as the rhythm section.  Jones in particular has some really catchy, funky basslines, especially on “Ramble On.”  And any drummer worth their salt is familiar with “Moby Dick,” Bonham’s percussive magnum opus.

It’s easy to see why this band just exploded the way they did with material this strong.  While they were clearly building on a solid blues foundation, this album teases the grandeur the band would soon be known for with later epics like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Kashmir,” and “Achilles Last Stand.”  Definitely a classic album from start to finish, without a doubt. 

Queen - Queen II

Continuing on from my review of Queen’s first album, I gave Queen II a spin as well.  It really is fascinating to hear some of these deeper tracks, especially when it feels like the band is exploring ideas and concepts that would pay off later.  Queen II is curiously divided between its “White Side,” which features material written by May and Taylor, and its “Black Side,” which is all Mercury, and it’s interesting to compare the two.

The White Side is more straight-forward in its style, going for riff-heavy rock numbers, giving it a very Led Zeppelin vibe, and even May himself admits that!  However, it’s more than just the riffs, providing some interesting acoustic parts as well, blended together with May’s iconic guitar layers.  None of it is particularly bad, but it does seem to lack the personality Queen is known for.

The Black Side has Mercury’s trademark theatrics, and really pushes the progressive side of the band, as the songs rise and fall to the stories being told.  You can really hear the band stretching themselves to meet the imagery that Mercury is imagining, setting the stage for their better known songs.  It’s hard not to hear “Ogre Battle” and “The March of the Black Queen” as antecedents of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  

Overall, the band really is making the most out of the studio this time, full of panning effects and textures and layers that would come to define Queen.  They also seemed to have picked up a few ideas from Pink Floyd as well, as the songs sometimes transition into each other in curious ways.

For all the influences they seem to bear, though, this is definitely a Queen album through-and-through.  You just can’t find vocal harmonies like that anywhere else!  While I don’t know if this album really shines through on its own (I may need more time with it, as it really is quite dense!), it definitely is a landmark in the band’s growing style.

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Only three this time, but they did end up being longer than usual.  I guess I had a lot to say about these albums. 

I think I'll try to focus on newer releases, as the year is winding down, so expect more Last Played articles.

In the meantime, there are some things changing in my personal life (switching to a better job!), so that may shake things up for a bit, but I'm still going to keep putting these out as often as I can.  Until then, rock on! \m/

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!

New Videos - October 2019 Part Two!

Hey, so I was able to pull together another list before the end of the month!  Of course, I kind of cheated and picked a bunch of power metal songs, but when the stuff is this good, why complain!  Here's one last list for October!!

I warned you this would be heavy on the power metal, and we're kicking off with another NorthTale track.  This group really brings it together with all the staples of classic 90s power metal, with some crunchy riffs for good measure!  I really need to listen to this album already!

Now Freedom Call is part of those power metal hey-days of the 90s, and they're still charging ahead with their speedy, uplifting sounds like they haven't aged a day.  This is another band I should listen to more often!

Twilight Force has more power metal for us, though they are more in the DragonForce and Rhapsody of Fire style than the previous two.  However, anyone familiar with this group knows to expect epic lyrics, massive choirs, and a dramatic flair well-suited for their style of story-telling.  That speedy guitar solo doesn't hurt, either!

Alright, let's break up the power metal with something a little bluesier.  Here we have CoreLeoni, which is another group fronted by Ronnie Romero (how many bands is he in?!).  This has that late 80s, bluesy-metal of bands like Whitesnake and Great White, but with Ronnie's big vocals and some very nice shredding!

Sitting at the nexus of hard rock and post-grunge is Those Damn Crows, a band that doesn't sound like they come from Wales at all!  Full of upbeat, crunchy riffs, and a thick, soaring baritone voice, this is some solid stuff!

Let's wrap this up with more power metal, and this one is a classic!  With Helloween now featuring the return of Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, they're really going all out!  Full of soaring vocal harmonies and epic riffage, it's clear to see why these guys are the origin of power metal, and they're still slaying it today!!  Oh, and just in time for the 31st, as well!

New Videos - October 2019!

I'm afraid this month hasn't been as productive, as I've been dealing with a very persistent cold.  Hopefully, next month will be better.  Until then, here are some videos that has caught my interest over the past month!

Angel are back, bringing a nice mix of AOR and glam rock that reminds me very much of Europe's early material, and which is a compliment in my book!  Something of a nostalgic song as they look back on their past, but it sounds like they can still rock all the same.

Apocalyptica are certainly a unique band in the rock world, with their cello-driven metal, but here we see them venture more into progressive territory, mixing the collage-like imagery with all kinds of mood shifts and tempo changes. Impressive work!

Of course, I can't stay away from power metal.  Here is another one from NorthTale, full of that symphonic power metal magic I love!  I really should listen to their album, as I've loved everything they've released so far!

More symphonic power metal!  Visions of Atlantis takes things on a more cinematic scale, showing some nice vistas to go along with their epic melodies and orchestral swells.  Great stuff!

Talk about a band playing it oldschool!  RAM is here is bring back the glory days of early metal, carrying vibes of late-70s Judas Priest, Accept, and Riot.  With some crazy fast licks and a penchant for over-the-top metal aesthetic, this is a blast, literally and figuratively!

Let's finish with something a bit weird.  The prog supergroup Flying Colors is back with a third album, and for their first single, they're messing around with time-signatures and glow-in-the-dark in the same measure.  While the video is pretty nuts, the music is an interesting blend of hard rock and jarring rhythms, with a softer section reminiscent of Yes or early Genesis.  Nice work, fellas!

New Videos - September 2019 Part Two!

Well, got this in just in time!  As the month wraps up, I've got some more videos for you, full of the rock and metal that's new and fresh!  Check them out!

Oh my!  More Sabaton!  I've actually listened to this whole album finally, and this tribute to Sergeant York is one of the best tracks on The Great War.  Just a lot of fist-pumping fun!

This upcoming album just sounds better and better with each new song!  Alter Bridge just keeps crunching on with their icon hard rock sound, and this is some of the best I've heard all year!  If the rest of their album is as good as this, I can hardly wait!

Jeff Lynne is back with his iconic mix of rock and symphonic pop!  Going as Jeff Lynne's ELO, the song has a nice, laid-back quality.  With the tight vocal harmonies and orchestral staging (and the title!), the really does feel like a callback to the classic Out of the Blue album.  If only the production wasn't quite so muddy.

For all the metal I talk about here, it might be strange to bring up Huey Lewis, but I can't deny his music just puts a smile on my face.  Here, they sound like they haven't missed a step from their pub-friendly doo-wop/blues rock they played in the 80s. While their new album is still in the works, this definitely shows promise!

Some of the fun of doing this blog is discovering bands I might not have otherwise.  Kobra and the Lotus is a good example.  I guess they've been around for about 10 years, but I don't think I've heard them before this video, but it sounds like I've been missing out!  Here we have an epic hard rock song with some very nice cinematic flourishes!  And if this is their standard sound, I'm going to have to follow up on them!

The Ferryman is another Magnus Karlsson project, featuring Ronnie Romero on vocals, and it really crunches along like a German Allen-Lande.  Big and epic, with Romero's voice really soaring while maintaining strength and power.  Great stuff!

Last Played - September 2019!

I think September went just as fast as the previous months!  Still, I've been finding time to throw something on here and there.  Here's what I've been listening to this month!

Rhapsody of Fire - The Eighth Mountain

After giving their first two singles praise, I figured I should finally catch up and listen to the latest Rhapsody of Fire has to offer.  Known for their bombast and storytelling, the band seems set to start a new story they’re calling “The Nephilim's Empire Saga.”  Likely, this is where their next handful of albums will focus on, given their history of writing and pacing.

To be honest, I admit I have a hard time with Rhapsody of Fire.  Their music is epic and full of melodic leads and great solos, and the vocals are always performed with drama and power (though Giacomo Voli does have some big shoes to fill, he does admirably here).  The Eighth Mountain proves to be more of the same, so you would think this is right up my alley.

I think my issue is with the delivery of the lyrics.  Some of the grammar is a little rough, and the vocal melodies just sort of lay there on top of the song, without really resolving in a satisfying way.  It’s like they have too many words, so they just tack a note on them and put them anywhere, resulting in melodies that don’t really stick.  (I remember having the same problem with Dragonland earlier in the year.)  Don’t get me wrong, the lyrics aren’t a deal-breaker, but it does bring things down a little for me.

Still, there are some highlights to be found.  “Rain of Fury” is probably the best song on the album, and I can’t help but wonder if “White Wizard” isn’t an homage to the late Christopher Lee, who gets a posthumous cameo at the end of the album.  Other tracks that stand out are “The Courage To Forgive” and “The Legend Goes On.”  Overall, just bombastic, symphonic power metal from beginning to end, proving that Rhapsody of Fire has no plans of slowing down or changing course.

Sabaton - The Great War

Sabaton is back to do what they do best: epic power metal about military history.  Naturally, given the title, this one is about World War I, going over some of its most famous battles and individuals, as well as some of the themes that come from studying this particular conflict.

Still, that doesn’t really get in the way of all the huge, pompous, fist-pumping chords and choruses.  This is still very much Sabaton to the max.  Songs like “Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” “82nd All The Way,” and “Fields of Verdun” show that there is no slowing this metal machine down.

There are a few pieces that stand out, though.  “The Red Baron” has more of a bouncy rhythm, and does some interesting things with a hammond organ, while “The End of the War to End All Wars” has a full-on choir handling the chorus, giving it more of a Rhapsody of Fire vibe.

For what it’s worth, it’s not all glory and victory this time around, as they do touch on the tragedies of the war and lives lost, in their own way.  Sabaton also wants to honor and respect those who have served and lost their lives in these conflicts.  “Great War,” “Fields of Verdun,” “The Attack of the Dead Men,” and especially “The End of the War to End All Wars” all address the various themes of destructive tactics, shell-shock, chemical weapons, and the sheer totals of lost lives, including civilians.  Adding a very church-like arrangement of “In Flanders Fields” at the end is a nice touch.

That being, the music stays very much in Sabaton’s wheelhouse, providing a massive metal sound without getting too moody or doomy in nature.  Sabaton want to have fun with the material as much as they wish to respect it.  It’s an odd balance, but one that’s served them well throughout their career.  If you’re on the same wavelength, this is a very good album, full of all the epicness only Sabaton can provide!

Tanith - In Another Time

Man, talk about a throwback!  While there are a handful of bands taking on styles of rock from the past, this album really does sound like it comes from 1975!  Between all the folklore references and fantasy story-telling (to say nothing of the album art looking like it was pulled from an early D&D manual), this band really do sound like they are “In Another Time.”  Jokes aside, though, there is a lot more than just nostalgia going here with their eclectic mix of old-school metal and prog.

To start off, I do hear bits and pieces of bands like Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, and early Rush, but with the male/female vocal harmonies, a comparison to Fleetwood Mac feels appropriate as well (though Cindy Maynard is very different from Stevie Nicks).  Still, between all of this, they have a sound that is unique, full of melodic passages and groovy caveats.  

The first thing that stands out are those vocals.  While the harmonies do happen, there is also a lot of trading off, where Cindy will sing one line and Russ Tippins the other, making for some interesting back-and-forth.  They also have an interesting tendency to really mix up their song-writing.  They’ll set a tone, but half-way through, they’ll change the tempo or the time signature, shaking things up in a rather proggy way.  And in between, there are all kinds of noodly guitar leads and solos, all of which happen in songs that are still only 4 or 5 minutes long!

Of course, it’s not all mysticism and magic, as some of the songs are more philosophical and nature (and they even have one based on a NASA project!).  Still, it makes for a rather delightful experience to hear rock songs that really do sound like they come from not just a different era, but even a different ethos entirely!  Definitely more than a novelty, I’ll be excited to hear if they do anything more in the future!

Yes - The Ladder

I was actually planning on having one more new album on this article, but then I learned that Yes’s The Ladder just passed its 20 year mark, and I had to stop everything and listen to it again.  This album came out when I was in high school, and as a budding Yes fanatic, it was amazing!

The album really is a unique piece of work, seemingly interested in pushing forward while still retaining much of the sound that has made Yes such a great band all these years.  I really do feel that they brought together all of their experience to make something that sounded fresh and yet timeless at the same time.  Listening to it again only served to reinforce that feeling.

What was new was, first of all, how well I knew the album.  I was humming along with every melody, thumbing every beat, singing every lyric.  I also noticed the sheer positivity the album provided, with songs like “It Will Be A Good Day” and “I’m Alive” sounding like motivational speeches, and “Face to Face,” “Finally,” and “New Language,” just bursting with energy and joy.  Even the ballad “If Only You Knew” and finale “Nine Voices” come across as very sincere while still sounding huge.  I was smiling the whole time.

I love this album, and I said as much when I talked about Yes on my Big Three article last year.  While it may not be the most celebrated or popular of their albums, I really do think this is the best thing they’ve done in a long time, before or since.  A gem of an album that, unlike me, hasn’t aged one bit.

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I'm still trucking along, it seems.  Not posting as often as I would like, of course, but at this point, I'm not too disappointed.  I think I will have one more video list before the month ends.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - September 2019!

We're finally getting into fall, and I'm very thankful!  Summer really wears me out, so it's nice to feel things get cooler and crisper again.  But enough about the seasons!  Let's check check out some rock!

Man, if the first two singles for Alter Bridge's new album were good, this is straight up epic!  It starts off kinda soft but then hits you with a massive riff and just gets bigger from there! Great piece of hard rock!

Visions of Atlantis is another symphonic metal band, going for that epic, dramatic sound.  While I know there are a lot of bands like this, this song shows some promise, having a bit of a folky vibe and keeping things accessible and melodic.  

Northtale once again bringing that classic power metal sound, like it's 1999 all over again!  With shades of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, this is right up my alley.  I really need to around to listening to this album!

It's been a while since we talked about First Signal, but here's a newer one from them and it's another great AOR rocker!  They're really going for a big, epic sound on this one, and the chorus is very catchy.  Who knew the end of the world would be so uplifting?

More Twilight Force!  If you've heard these guys before, you know the drill: epic vocals, fast guitar leads, symphonic swells, and cheesy fantasy lyrics!!  Seriously, despite the low-budget vibe of the video, this is fun stuff!

Here's another one from The Defiants!  Once again, they have that great 80s, Bryan Adams vibe: big chords while still having that laid-back, summery feel.  Just turn it up, put the card in cruise-control, and soak it in!

New Videos - August 2019!

Phew!  Just in time for the end of the month!  I know I have so much more to catch up on, but at least here are some videos for August!

More Italian Prog Metal!  Hollow Haze brings a great, symphonic stomper with "Destinations," going big like good prog should do!  Very melodic and catchy, with moments where the orchestra really helps build things up.  Good stuff!

Alter Bridge is back with their blend of hard rock, alt metal, and post-grunge.  Again, I feel bad for having not gotten back into this band.  This song just has more of the same big riffs, soaring vocals, and introspective tone that I've always liked from Kennedy, Tremonti, and company.

Airbourne is back with another slab of blues-rock.  Frankly, it's hard to go wrong with what works, and we have another great rocker from these Aussies.  Not that there was any reason to doubt, as these guys know how to rock!

Yes, I know I already reviewed the Monkey3 album, but I don't care!  This stuff remains amazing!  Their eclectic mix of psychadelic, stoner, and post-rock cannot be denied!  This one is not as long and starts off rather acoustic, but that's only the set up for the banger this song becomes!

While this Rhapsody of Fire spin-off has been releasing singles for a while, this is the first one that really got my attention.  Here we have Turilli / Lione Rhapsody exploring more abstract, nearly science fiction concepts.  However, that symphonic power metal sound remains very intact, full of high-speed riffs and epic choruses backed by massive choirs!

I feel like I don't cover enough classic-style progressive rock around here.  Pattern-Seeking Animals is a side project featuring current and former members of Spock's Beard, and while I'm not familiar with the Star-Trek-inspired band, I know good melodic prog when I hear it.  A bit Yes, a bit Genesis, but very light and floaty.  Not bad!

Last Played - August 2019!

I think August is going faster than July did!!  Still, I've been trying to catch up on a bunch of the new releases.  Here's what I've been playing lately!

Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild

Taking a look at the cover art, you’d think it would be just chock-full of cheesy 80s anthemic rockers, and while you wouldn’t be wrong, when they’re this good, it just doesn’t matter!  Crazy Lixx is a band dedicated to keeping that classic pop metal sound alive, and they sound great on their latest record, comparable to the best of Def Leppard or Scorpions.

Of course, there are some pretty predictable songs, like “Wicked” being a straight-forward rocker about the wild life, and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is the kind of power ballad that dominated the radio in the late 80s.  However, if this kind of stuff was going to bother you, you’re listening to the wrong record.

What really stands out is the heart and passion these guys have for this sound.  This isn’t some half-baked effort to capitalize on a minor trend, but a band who makes the most of what made this kind of music great in the first place.  With so many fist-pumping anthems, especially “Break Out,” “Silent Thunder”, “Terminal Velocity,” and “Never Die (Forever Wild),” it’s hard to not just headbang along with a massive smile on your face.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as a dead genre, where nothing more worth saying with a certain style of music.  There is always room for high-quality, well executed rock music in my books, and Forever Wild knocks it out of the park. 

Paragon - Controlled Demolition

I was pretty impressed with Paragon’s two videos from earlier, so I figured I’d throw in their new album on and get a full dose of their sound.  What I got was more of the same: crunchy, heavy, thrashy, Accept-inspired German metal!

This being my first experience with a Paragon album, they certainly know how to lay on the riffs.  Whether they’re stomping at a mid-tempo pace and powering ahead with high speed thrashers, it’s non-stop crunching from beginning to end.  And on top of it all is Andreas Babuschkin’s vocals, sounding very Udo-like, full of soaring power and strength. 

Some tracks do stand out, though.  First, you have “Reborn” and “Mean Machine” really blowing things up at the beginning, but later tracks like “The Enemy Within” and “Black Widow” maintain that power.  In the middle is the 8 minute epic “Deathlines,” which starts off with a slower vibe, but eventually kicking into double-speed madness before settling back in that earlier, haunting tone.  Other tracks are not as strong, but don’t drag the album down, making the album feel fairly solid from beginning to end.

Much like it’s cousin “Fight the Fear” by Herman Frank from earlier in the year, it’s straight ahead metal, though Paragon does provide a thrashier vibe.  Definitely a blast to listen to when you want that Teutonic metal sound!

Monkey3 - Sphere

I know I joked about having posted half the album in my video posts, but I really was impressed with what I found.  Finally, I decided to give the whole album a go and listen to the other half.  To be short, it’s just as good!  

On the videos, I made reference to their Pink Floyd influence, but as I’m taking in the whole thing, I’m also hearing bits of Tool, post-rock, doom metal, along with all the psychedelia they’re throwing around.

However, their biggest trademark is their sheer wall-of-sound approach to song-writing.  These guys sound gigantic!  Not a single corner of your headphones will feel empty once they get going.  Even with the beginning of “Ida” starting as something of an acoustic ballad eventually gives way to outright sonic force.

Another thing I liked about the album is how liberating it felt.  As opposed to Tool with their angst-filled brooding, Monkey3 have more of a lighter, flying feel.  It really gives me the impression that these songs would be an absolute blast to play live, as the musicians have all kinds of room to noodle and explore.

If there is a potential flaw, it’s that the album doesn’t really have a lot of diversity in tone.  While each song is memorable in its own way, they all go for the same tone throughout the album.  It’s certainly not a bad thing for a band to stick to their sound, but those looking for more variety in their albums may find this one a little single-minded.

However, for me, this stuff was amazing.  From the explosive “Spirals” to the epic “Ellipsis,” I was completely blown away.  Seriously, I think this is the best album I’ve heard this year so far!  Full of passion and great musicianship, this is clearly a band I need to listen to a lot more!!

Find Me - Angels In Blue

To round things out, I decided to listen to some old-fashioned AOR.  While Journey will likely always be the reference point for this kind of music, Find Me look to build on that foundation by having more emphasis on synths, a sharper production, and putting the drummer right next to the vocals in the mix.

Of course, the singer is always going to be center of this kind of music, but the guitars really do feel like background music and don't really do that much soloing.  While it's not a bad choice, it's definitely something I noticed listening through the album.  The lyrics are also that specific kind of sentimental one expects from this kind of music.  Nothing awful, but nothing really noteworthy.

However, if you're in for some anthemic rockers from the early 80s, it's hard to go wrong with what Find Me is providing here.  While the songs do kind of blend together, it is pretty fun to listen to while it's on.  Like I said earlier, there is no such thing as a dead genre, and as long as we have bands like this providing new, solid AOR, that will remain a fact.

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It's been fun to finally catch up on some new releases, but I know I'm still struggling to make new articles for this blog.  While I'm not giving up on it, I don't think I can really make any promises regarding the frequency of my output.  I think I can do a videos post before the end of the month, but we'll have to see, as this week is going to be busy for me.

Still, I'm glad to talk about some new stuff, and hopefully even more great rock is around the corner.  Until then, rock on!  \m/