Last Played - October 2020 Part Two!

So I'm finally catching up on some 2020 stuff.  However, I know I've still got plenty I haven't even touched yet!  Hopefully, I'll get to some good stuff before the year is out, especially with AC/DC and Iron Savior coming up.  For now, though, here's what I've been listening to lately!

One Desire - Midnight Empire

One Desire was the band that blew me away back in 2017, which was about when I discovered Frontiers Records.  I really liked their approach to the pop metal 80s sound that made it seem lively and accessible.  It's been three years and they've finally followed up with their second album.  Once again, we get an album that's full of 80s energy, but with a slick, modern polish, which is why I loved the first one.

If there are any differences, there's more variety, I think.  Some songs are on the crunchier side, like "Shadowman" and "Battlefield of Love," while others make more use of acoustic guitar stuff, like "Rio" and "Only When I Breath."  Another track that's pretty solid is "Through the Fire," which starts off like an acoustic ballad, but then builds and builds into this rock epic.  I also think the production is slightly better than the last album (which is saying something!).  I also got a pretty big Europe vibe from some of the tracks.

However, it doesn't get too far away from the anthemic pop metal they established from their first album, so those looking for more of the same will not be disappointed.  One Desire maintains their standard for solid song-writing and rockin' tunes.  

Judicator - Let There Be Nothing

So while I've been checking out various videos, I came across one for this band's new record.  At the time, I wasn't too impressed by the song, but I was curious about a band who sounded a lot like Blind Guardian, but focused on European History.  After a while, I decided to give their latest album a shot, and I have to say I'm quite impressed.  

It tells the story of Belisarius, a great general of the Byzantine Empire, contrasting his military conquests with the his dilemma of dealing with an unfaithful wife.  The lyrics and music are more dedicated to telling a story, resulting in lyrics that can be a little clunky here and there.  However, it's all performed quite admirably, with John Yelland's vocals belting out all the melodrama the scenario provides.  It's definitely an album that demands attention, reading the lyrics as you listen, and maybe looking up a few names on Wikipedia just to understand the context.

While the Blind Guardian comparison is easy to make, especially with Yelland sounding a lot like Hansi Kursch, this band falls a little closer to the US power metal, with a heavy dose of progressive metal, as tempos and moods shift to match the needs of the story.  Still, I enjoyed a lot of it, with plenty of meaty riffs, noodly solos, and awesome vocal harmonies, though I do wonder if the production isn't a little on the muddy side.   As a consequence, the songs do kind of blend together, as there isn't much to differentiate them from each other. However, as an album, it's definitely a solid experience, telling an interesting story with a Shakespearean fervor.

Those Damn Crows - Point of No Return

Hey, remember when I was freaking out about this band a year ago?  I finally listened to their album!  Based out of the UK, these guys provide a very polished post-grunge sound, making me think of the likes of early Daughtry, or The Calling, with a few heavier riffs here and there.

Overall, it's a pretty fun rock album.  Shane Greenhall puts a lot of charm in his vocals, and band keeps songs riffy without really being bogged down with heaviness, making for a rather light listen for hard rock.  A lot of that has to do with the production, which keeps things tight and clear.  They won't be winning any heaviness awards, but they make up for that with some pretty catchy tunes to go along with their mid-level crunch.

However, there isn't in the way of variety.  There's a piano ballad on there, but otherwise, the songs are pretty straight-forward, mostly jamming at a mid-tempo level.  I will say that that band does get riffier as the album goes on, which is interesting.  Stand outs are songs I've showcased before, but also "Send the Reaper," "Long Time Dead," and "King of Second Chances."  Honestly, though, it's a consistent rock album from start to finish.

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I think I still have plenty of time to get a few more of these in before the end of the year.  Still, I can't believe October is over already!  This year has been crazy on multiple levels.  I hope everyone is staying safe and gets the chance to hear some good, uplifting music to deal with the chaos.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - October 2020 Part Two!

I'm back with some more videos!  Definitely got a good mix of things this time, including prog, power, AOR, and even something dark to finish things off.  Let's get started!

I admit I hadn't heard of this band before, but I guess they've been around for 20 years already.  They seem to be a blend of prog rock and metal, going back and forth between solid crunching and nice atmospheric sections.

Frontiers Records seems to crank these kinda bands out like clockwork, but here's another AOR melodic rock group from them, and I can't deny that they've got this nailed down.  Solid rock with great synths backing it up, sounding like the early 80s never left.

Man, I need to sit down and listen to this album.  DGM always satisfies.  This one is more uplifting and has more of a rock vibe, but that doesn't make it any less of a melodic prog metal epic.  Great stuff, once again.

I can't believe Iron Savior is already putting out another album.  I really enjoyed their last one, and this looks to be more of the same: double-kicking, riff-laden, melody-driven, epic power metal.  I'm definitely excited!

Vanishing Point may be from Austrailia, but they fit right in that Italian Prog Metal style.  Chunky riffing, tight melodies, epic vocals, orchestral sweeps, it's got it all.  Looks like this is another band I'll have to dig into.

Let's finish with something spooky!  Blue Oyster Cult is back with a new album after nearly 20 years, and this cut features their darker side quite well.  Melodramatic, with a rather rocking bridge that shows some nice fingerwork from the guitarists, it makes for a moody tune that works well for this Halloween-themed month.

Anniversary Series - 2010!

It turns out that I haven't actually listened to that many albums from 2010, so I'm doing things a little differently.  I'm going to treat this like a Last Played article, but with a focus on 2010 specifically.  That way they won't clutter up the normal Last Played articles with albums I'm just going to end up talking about here anyway.

Of course, I did have a handful of songs for my Spotify playlist before I made this decision, mostly stuff from Accept's Blood of the Nations, which I reviewed back in June.  Such a great album!  I've also threw in a handful of others, such as Grave Digger singing about Scottish Clans, a few tracks from Disturbed and a sludge metal band called Sonic Brew, and "Screaming Eagles" and a few others from Sabaton's Coat of Arms.  Now on to the reviews!

Amberian Dawn - End of Eden

Before they picked up synth-pop and were covering ABBA songs, Amberian Dawn was a more straight-forward symphonic power metal band whose first album I enjoyed very much.  It felt like Stratovarius with Nightwish's orchestra behind them, and I still consider it one of the best power metal albums ever made.  Their second one was more of the same, but not as strong, I think.  And now I've picked up the third one for this anniversary article!

Right off, I notice a greater emphasis of classical styles in the orchestrations (including an entire non-metal symphonic track), which makes the songs sound much more dramatic.  However, at the same time, I think there's too much emphasis on atmosphere and storytelling, resulting in less catchy and memorable songs.  River of Tuoni had some really catchy choruses and riffs, but I haven't heard them make a comeback at all.  The lyrics are also a little clunky, as the cadence and melodies don't seem to match very well.  I know I've had similar problems with Dragonland and Rhapsody of Fire.

That's not to say this album is bad by any means.  There's still plenty of epicness, and they do spice it up a bit by varying the tempo and the mood.  For example, "Ghostly Echoes" has a more gothic tone, with some pretty chunky mid-tempo riffs and "War in Heaven" has a doom metal quality to it.  The solos are also pretty solid, featuring some pretty high-speed fingerwork on both the guitars and keys.  It's solid stuff, but I don't know if I could say there are any real stand-outs.  (And, unfortunately, this album isn't on Spotify for some reason, so I can't include any of it in my playlist below!)

First Signal - First Signal

So after the members of Harem Scarem decided to break up and work on other things, singer Herry Hess worked with Frontiers Records to create First Signal, a band focused on that classic 80s AOR sound.  I know I've featured a few of their more-recent tracks here, but I thought I'd listen to their debut for this anniversary article.

And it's a solid piece of work.  There's a really good balance between the synths and guitars, without one dominating the other.  Hess himself is great, as he definitely sounds comfortable and confident with this style of music.  As is the case with these things, the songs are pretty predictable.  A few rockers here, a few ballads there, some nice solos, nothing really explosive or experimental, but of course that isn't the intention.  I'm sure it was a pleasant surprise for Harem Scarem fans at the time.  I don't know if there is anything particularly amazing, though "This City" is a good opening track, and "Naked Desire" has a thicker crunch in its guitars that I liked.  It's fun while it's on, making for some easy-going melodic rock.

Haken - Aquarius

Haken is another one of those bands where I had heard a lot of good things, but never got around to.  So for this article, I thought I'd listen to their first full-length album, which happens to be a concept album about a mermaid who gets caught and shown around in a carnival, only to end up being the savior of the world from a massive flood.

Right off, this is definitely jazzier than most other prog metal bands, incorporating a lot of different sounds.  I also had impressions of Evergrey, Dream Theater, Rush, The Flower Kings, and even Rick Wakeman.  It's really a curious mix of jazz-fusion, prog rock, and metal, like a rock soup.  That being said, none of it feels too jarring or schizophrenic, even when the calliope kicks on for some of the carnival parts.  It also even throws in some harsh vocals for the first two songs, and I was kind of expecting more of those as they seemed to be representing narrative turns in the story.

As for that story, while certainly aiming for a melodramatic tragedy, some of the details feel a little out of order.  For a moment, I wasn't sure if "Eternal Rain" should be before "Aquarius" in the timeline.  Then again, maybe fixating on it misses the point, as much of the lyrics seem to settle on the abstract side, especially towards the end.  I think the flood still happens, but the mermaid sacrifices her life so that her blood will force humanity to evolve so that they can live in the seas now.  Maybe?

Anyways, it works for making some solid prog metal.  Even for all the jarring shifts in tone within the songs, they all still seem to fit the story well, in their own way.  Of course, they also allow ample opportunities for plenty of soloing and mixed-meter sections to show the band's skills, and they are quite talented.  This is definitely an album I'll need to listen to a few more times to really unpack it, but first impressions are quite good.

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Well, that was a little different. Hopefully I'll have more for 2010 when this cycle of years comes back in 2025. In the meantime, check out the playlist below and let me know what tracks you think I missed. Until then, rock on! \m/

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.

Last Played - October 2020!

Oh, look!  Another Last Played!  I can't believe its October already.  I need to get cracking on those new releases.  In the meantime, here is some stuff I've listened to lately.  Lots of straight-forward, fight-pumping rock!

Accept - I'm a Rebel

Despite being familiar with their sound and history, I haven't really listened to many of Accept's albums.  While I'm way past my 1980 anniversary article, I felt like giving this a shot anyway.  At first, it's obvious that the band doesn't quite have their iconic sound, but it's still a decent chunk of rock, sitting comfortably between AC/DC and NWOBHM, with a dash of disco.

I'm not kidding.  Both "Save Us" and "I Wanna Be No Hero" have this disco beat, with the bouncy bass lines.  I'm guessing it's an attempt to capture the success of Kiss's "I Was Made For Lovin' You," and they're not as bad as you'd think.  Another curious factor is, despite having the iconic Udo Dirkschneider (even this early, his voice has a lot of charisma), they have two songs sung by the bassist Peter Baltes.  He's not bad, in fact, though he's given the acoustic ballads, which end up being just okay.

The main impression is a band being pressured for a more mainstream sound, but the result is a pretty forgettable album, though Wolf Hoffmann does have some solid solos on here.  Even the title track, which happens to be a song written for AC/DC (they recorded it but never released it), feels lackluster.  Only "Do It" sounds like the kind of metal the band would later be famous for.  Still, it's fun while it's on, if nothing else.

AC/DC - Rock or Bust

Speaking of AC/DC: there's news breaking about a new album coming from the Australian rock masters.  As I was going over those details, I realized that I hadn't listened to their last album, Rock or Bust.  I know I rather liked a lot of Black Ice, as I felt the band captured their classic style very well, so I was curious to see how much of that carried over, despite the six year gap.

Of course, the band has a sound as regular as the tide: straight-forward blues rock designed to be as distilled and toe-tapping as possible, and this one is no different.  If there is any distinction, Rock or Bust is shorter than any of their other albums, and that Malcolm Young didn't perform on it, as he had retired due to his health.  However, he gets plenty of song-writing credit, as he was working on these songs with Angus while they were touring. The band decided to have his nephew Stevie take over on rhythm guitar.  However, I don't think I can really tell a difference.  With stuff this simple, it's more about the song-writing anyway.

Like I mentioned when I reviewed Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, there may not be much point in reviewing an AC/DC album.  There certainly are some catchy songs, like "Rock or Bust," "Baptism by Fire," and "Sweet Candy" that have the punchiness of Black Ice, and "Dogs of War" is nice, gritty take on their style.  As for the rest, it's pretty standard stuff, but not really their strongest effort.  As expected, it's solid rock that shows the band isn't quite out of gas yet, and here's hoping that their next one proves the same.

Eclipse - Paradigm

I can't believe it took this long to get this album.  I was excited for this nearly a year ago.  Still, better late than never, I guess.  What we have here is some really great hard rock, built off of the 80s AOR mold, but isn't afraid to get metal in the riffing from to time.

The first thing I noticed was the production which gives the songs a ton of punch.  They all sound massive, and beg to be turned up.  The band is all on point, with vocalist Erik Mårtensson really giving his all on these songs, carried by the massive riffs and rhythms backing him up.  While I knew that "Viva La Victoria," "Mary Leigh," and "Delirious," were solid songs, but I didn't expect the rest of the album to be just as good!  The album just has this driving energy all the way through.  Even the slower songs like "Shelter Me," "When the Winter Ends," and "Take Me Home" rock pretty hard.  I also want to point out "United," "The Masquerade" as highlights.

Seriously, this could have been a Top 5 contender for 2019.  I had a blast listening to this, and I'm sure I'll be listening to it more, as well as digging into this band's discography.  If their albums are even half as good as this, it will be worthwhile.  Quality hard rock from top to bottom.

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Well, that was some pretty fun stuff.  Like I said earlier, I'm planning on hitting the 2020 releases here at the end so look forward to that.  In the meantime, I hope you are all staying safe and well.  Until next time, rock on! \m/