Anniversary Series - 2001!

The middle of the month means another anniversary article!  Once again, I'll mostly be relying one what I've listened to instead of being a comprehensive look at the year.  Fortunately, I have a lot for 2001, so let's get into it!

Once again, power metal comes up big, with some great albums from bands that would go on to do big things.  Let's start with Kamelot and their album Karma, which is a great follow up to their previous album, pushing the band to even bigger heights with songs like "Forever," "Wings of Despair," and the title track.  They even start to push their concept-based songwriting with a three part epic called "Elizabeth."

Speaking of storytelling, 2001 would give us the debut of Tobias Sammet's Avantasia with The Metal Opera.  While only having the first part of the story, it would kick start a run of albums telling all kinds of stories over the years, and their first is an excellent one, featuring tracks like "Breaking Away" and "The Glory of Rome."  We'd also get great power metal from Edguy's Mandrake (highlights include "Tears of the Mandrake," "Golden Dawn" and "Nailed to the Wheel) and from Sonata Arctica's Silence (which has "Weballergy" and "Wolf & Raven").  Just a great year for power metal.

The other big genre would be post-grunge, with two of its biggest acts releasing big albums.  Creed provided Weathered, and album that I think brings their gritting side with their radio-friendly side together very well, something I covered in that retrospective I wrote earlier this year.  The other big release came from Nickelback, with their breakout album Silver Side Up, which provided big hits like "How You Remind Me" and "Too Bad," though I think their deeper cut "Money Bought" is just as good.  Another kind of big album was the debut of Andrew W.K., I Get Wet, ensuring that Parties would always be Hard from then on.

Finally, I just want to bring up Yes's Magnification.  It's an interesting album because instead of having a keyboardist (as is standard for the band), they went with a full-on orchestra.  The songs have some fascinating variety, and it's probably the closest they have come to recapturing the majesty of their 70s material.

So that's 2001.  Kind of dedicated to some specific genres, but it's what I'm familiar with from this year, and definitely worth checking out.  As always, if there's something I've missed let me know.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - March 2021 Part Two!

Oh, look!  More videos!  Got a bunch of great stuff here, and once again, a little bit of everything.  There's just a lot to look forward to, and catch up on, this year!  Let's get into it!

I know I'm a bit behind on this one, but I can see what everyone was talking about.  Definitely a different tone from our "Party Hard" hero.  Still, despite the dramatic approach, it's over-the-top in a way only Andrew W.K. can provide.  I don't know if this is a new direction or just a one of song, but I can't deny it has a lot of rocking power in it.

Despite a major lineup change, Frozen Crown sound as good as ever.  Of course, with vocals like Giada Etro's, you'd want to keep a band around her!  It might not be anything particularly new, but when it's played this well, I can't complain.  Nice solo work from new member Fabiola Bellomo as well!

The more I hear these guys, the more impressed I am.  This one has a more uplifting vibe, while being completely technical out the wazoo!  The run at about 2/3rds of the way in is incredible, with Petrucci and Rudress playing together so tightly!  Definitely masters at work here!

Another modern pop metal from Sweden, I guess these guys have been around for a while and are making a comeback. They have a gritter approach to their sound, with some chunky riffs, but they keep the anthemic chorus and noodly solos you'd expect.  Solid stuff!

Here's another one from W.E.T.!  While they're clearly building off of the 80s AOR template, I feel like they've really pushed it further than just homage.  Maybe it's just a production thing, but this feels pretty fresh to me.  I really need to listen to more of these guys.

Yep, back to the Italian Prog Metal.  Like the other one of theirs I shared, this one is more on the melodic side, like a fusion of power and prog metal.  I'm not complaining, though!  Very epic stuff, especially with the double-kicking drums and "Ramon" Messina coming back to do vocals.