Top 5 of 2023!

Top 5 Time!  This past year has been pretty all over the place in terms of the quality of rock and metal I heard.  While I didn't listen to everything I wanted to, I still got to several albums, and narrowing them down to just 5 was difficult!  I know I've said that in years past, but usually, upon multiple listens, they shake out and it becomes pretty clear.  NOT THIS YEAR!  I think I had a five-way tie at one point, and I even considered expanding the list to a Top 10, but I finally got nit-picky and was able to narrow it down.

Speaking of which: honorable mentions!  Sorcerer nearly made it, and Twilight Force was in consideration early on, but I felt their albums weren't as consistent as the ones below.  Silver Bullet even had an outside chance, as their album started to grow on me a little the more I listened to it.  However, when all was said and down, I couldn't put them in when I compared them to these five.  Let's get this started!

5. Metallica - 72 Seasons

I know.  I'm surprised, too.  But after listening to everything else this year, I cannot deny that Metallica has created something that holds up on multiple listens.  While it still is a bloated album, going for too long, there is a lot that works.  It's certainly not a return to glory, but the chunky Metallica riffs and melodies, powered by Hetfield's personal lyrics, makes for a pretty solid album.

4. Arctic Rain - Unity

As for melodic rock, Arctic Rain knocked it out of the park early in the year.  While I heard some interesting rock albums, these Swedes knew exactly what they were doing, and did it well.  It's also an improvement over their solid debut, making this band one to keep an eye on for the future.

3. Lovebites - Judgement Day

However, I can't deny that power metal really dominated the year for me.  It may not be as good as Electric Pentagram, but Lovebites still has it where it counts, providing some very bombastic songs, full of high-speed riffing and incredible solos.  Definitely another fun album from these Japanese girls.

2. Kamelot - The Awakening

I don't know if I can really say Kamelot is "back," as it's pretty clear they've combined their old and new sounds together.  However, I can't deny they've made a great album, full of symphonic grandeur.  While Lovebites might be more fun, Kamelot edges them out with their lush production, dramatic songwriting, and Karevik's excellent voice.

1. Iron Savior - Firestar

However, when it came to deciding number one, I had no problems at all.  Once I heard Iron Savior's latest, I was delighted.  I know it's just more German power metal, but they do it so well!  They've found the perfect blend of gritty riffs and soaring melodies, and I love it!  As far as I'm concerned, Firestar is everything right about power metal in 2023.

Last Played - March 2023!

It's taken me a bit of time to get back up to speed, but I think I'm finally ready for another year of rock and metal.  As always, I plan on checking out both new and classic releases, and this article is no different.  This time I'm starting off with some bombastic metal before mellowing out towards the end with some comfy blues rock.  I always try to get some good variety when I write up these Last Played articles.

Twilight Force - At the Heart of Wintervale

I remember when Twilight Force showed up around 10(!) years ago as being a big new power metal band.  However, their debut album left me underwhelmed, and so I set them aside for a while.  After starting this blog, though, I've started to enjoy some of their singles.  Between the high-speed fretwork of DragonForce and the symphonic bombast of Rhapsody of Fire, Twilight Force seems to have found their own little niche in the power metal spectrum.

The epicness is at high levels right from the start, as things kick off with some high-speed power metal, and outside of some interludes, they don't really let up.  Anyone looking for intense melodies, noodly guitar solos, massive orchestrations, high-speed rhythms, and epic vocals backed by choirs will find plenty for their needs and more.  Still, Twilight Force isn't just a knock-off of other bands, as they do have a distinct sound.  Not to get too nitty-gritty about it, but if Rhapsody of Fire leans more into classical opera, then Twilight Force feels more like a Disney musical, and to be honest, I think I prefer it.  Half the time, I was wondering when Michael Bolton was going to sing about "going the distance," and I mean that as a compliment!  (One of Disney's more underrated songs, in my opinion.)

Still, this is some pretty cheesy stuff, with each song telling a kind of mini-epic.  Those not on board with fantasy tropes from numerous video games and tabletop RPGs will probably find little to like.  However, that's very much my wheelhouse, even if it does get a little difficult to take seriously.  The longer tracks are a little too bloated, but I liked the high-energy stuff in the songs "Twilight Force," the title track, and "Sunlight Knight" (Latin jazz section, notwithstanding).  I know it's still early in the year, but this is a strong start for the power metal genre.  It will be interesting how well anyone else will do compared to this.

Kamelot - Haven

I know folks are probably talking about the new Kamelot album, but I wanted to get caught up on their last two albums before I took on their latest, so here we are.  As far as I'm able to tell, this one doesn't have a concept behind it (though I could be wrong), and given how much it leans into the symphonic metal style, it's very similar to Ghost Opera, for better or worse.

Once again, we have plenty of lush orchestrations matched with some solid riffing and Tommy Karevik's dramatic vocals.  In fact, he sounds quite a bit like Roy Khan on this album, making sure that the lyrics have the necessary theatrical heft.  Oliver Palotai gets in a few keyboard solos along side Thomas Youngblood's iconic guitar work, giving them a bit of a Stratovarius feel.  However, I do feel like the band has streamlined their songwriting this time, as there really aren't any of the proggy touches that have defined some of their work.  Like Ghost Opera, it's focusing on a much more straight-forward symphonic metal style, with standard structures and ideas, resulting in an album that feels a little more by the numbers.

That's not to say the album is bad or boring.  "Fallen Star" and "Insomnia" do a great job of establishing the tone and atmosphere of the album, while "My Therapy," "Beautiful Apocalypse," and "Revolution" bring some heavier riffs, and "Under Grey Skies" is a nice ballad featuring Charlotte Wessels, who was with Delain at the time.  I also liked "Veil of Elysium" and "Liar Liar" for bringing back some of the classic uptempo Kamelot energy.  However, I do wonder if perhaps I'm clinging too much to the hope that they will go back to power metal, and so I'm left feeling that this album is solid dramatic stuff, but not really blowing my mind the way the Khan albums did.

Arctic Rain - Unity

Arctic Rain was a highlight for me when I listened to their debut a few years ago, taking the AOR sound further than most other artists in the style do.  So when I saw they were working on a follow up at the beginning of this year, I put it quite high on my to-listen list.  Once again, it's more 80s-styled hard rock, with big riffs and synths designed to fill arenas, or at least your headphones.

However, I do think there is a stronger emphasis on the guitars this time, as they have some pretty metal licks here and there.  While there is certainly plenty of Night Ranger and Europe vibes on these songs (the ballads are especially cheesy), on some of the uptempo songs, Magnus Berglund clearly put in some grittier, crunchier work this time around.  Not rest of the band is slouching here, by any means: I do think they've all pushed themselves just a little more this time.

Of course, this is just picking at the details.  Compared to the field, this is still very much the same, high quality hard rock that the first album provided.  The opener "One World" is a pretty solid start, and songs like "Fire in My Eyes" and "Peace of Mind" have some really good energy.  "Kings of the Radio" is a pretty fun one as well, as it has tons of references to classic rock songs and bands, showing respect to their influences.  Overall, it's another excellent set of melodic rock, and here's hoping they carry on like the heroes that inspired them.

David Gilmour - David Gilmour

Despite being a massive Pink Floyd fan, I haven't really listened to much of the individual members' solo albums.  Sometime after the release of Animals, David felt like he wanted to do something on his own, and the result is his first solo album.  Understandably, it sounds like a 70s version of A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell.  While he does get some help with drums and bass, and brings in the classic female singers on a few songs, it's very much Gilmour's show, and that's perfectly fine by me, as I've always loved his guitar playing.

To say that it sounds like Pink Floyd might feel redundant, but there is a difference here that can only be described as a more content tone.  Gone is the tension and anxiety of Animals and The Wall, in favor of something that's more chilled and laidback, with maybe a dash of aloofness.  However, that describes Gilmour to a T, if I'm being honest.  So perhaps there aren't any surprises, but what isn't there does help elevate this album as feeling more than just some Pink Floyd b-sides.  It just kinda grooves along pretty easily.  The synthesizer-heavy "Deafinitely" is probably the closest to classic Pink Floyd the album gets.

Of course, Gilmour is on point with is playing.  There are plenty of blues riffs and licks all over, and his solos are as iconic and beautiful as ever.  The album definitely leans into the blues as a whole, as there are bits of harmonica and jazzy organ in there, creating a great mood across the album.  I liked the instrumentals "Mihalis" and "Raise My Rent," and "Short and Sweet" was a nice, reverb-heavy jam.  While I have listened to On An Island, I found that to be a little too chill, and comparing it to Gilmour's debut, I like the debut more, as it still has a stronger blues-rock backbone to it.  While it may not be as grandiose as the material he would be best known for, it's still a very solid album that I enjoyed all the way through.

New Videos - November 2022!

I admit it's been a bit of a slow month for me, and I feel like I've gotten behind again on new releases like I did last year, but I'm still trucking along alright on other things like this.  Definitely had some fascinating new videos get released lately that I'm pretty excited to talk about.  Next year looks like it's going to be one busy year for rock and metal, but I suppose that's not a bad thing!  Anyways, here's some new videos for you all!

Despite their popularity, I admit I haven't really heard Godsmack outside of a handful of songs, but I'm always up for some good melodic rock.  This song definitely has more atmosphere than I was expecting, and has a nice little groove here and there.  Given that this may be their last album, they might be trying for something bigger than usual.

Beriedir is a band I've been seeing here and there over the year.  They share a lot of qualities with their fellow Italian prog metal peers, though I think they have a stronger dramatic flair to their songwriting.  I know this is one I have on deck to review, so keep an eye out for more about them!

Well, this is quite the bolt out of the blue!  I knew they were working on new stuff, but I had no idea they were this close to being done with a new album!  I like the song, as I feel like it has a lot of that old-school, Motorhead-inspired energy.  However, I was pretty underwhelmed by Hardwired... despite a punchy lead single, so we'll see how their new album really turns out next year.

After enjoying their debut album a few years ago, I'm glad to see these guys are back with more melodic rock.  While it's pretty standard (if crunchy AOR) stuff, they play it with great energy, and that synth solo is pretty wild.  I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more of these guys!

I mostly learned about Simon Collins through Sound of Contact, and when that band moved on without him as In Continuum, it seemed he disappeared from the prog rock world.  However, now he's back with former Sound of Contact guitarist Kelly Nordstrom on a new project.  The song is definitely spacey, but it shifts well between the heavy riffs and ambient sections.  Certainly worth a look.

After enjoying their last album, it seems Big City is back for more of their curious blend of prog and glam metal.  While the chorus is full of 80s anthemic pomp, the riffing certainly leans closer to proggy or even power metal territory, with double-kicking drums!  They definitely have a unique blend of sounds and its on full display with this new single of theirs.

Last Played - November 2020!

Things are definitely getting cold now!  However, I'm still keeping on with new releases, as well as an old classic, for this article of Last Played.  Impressive stuff, to be sure.  Here's what I've listened to lately.

Arctic Rain - The One

I have to admit I should be thankful to Frontiers Records for finding these AOR bands across the world and bringing them to the world's attention.  I really do feel like they bring back a lot of the fun for rock music, and Arctic Rain is another solid entry in their catalog.

Hailing from Sweden, this band provides a mix of early 80s AOR with some of the shinier pop metal of the same decade.  Think Night Ranger or Def Leppard mixed with some synths you'd expect from Journey or Asia.  While the vocals do take center stage (Tobias Jonsson gets tons of space to shine), there really is some solid crunchy riffing from guitarist Magnus Berglund, which I wasn't expecting honestly.  Made the album rock a little harder than most of the AOR I've heard.

That being said, there aren't any real surprises, but the album holds together pretty well.  I quite liked the uptempo tracks, such as "Breakout," "Lift Me Up," and "Take Me To Your Heart," but there are also some great anthemic tracks, like "Lost," and "Madeleine."  Overall, it's a solid album that's consistent in keeping the energy high all the way through.

AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

While I am trying to catch up on 2020 releases, I still get the hankering for something classic.  This time, I threw on some more AC/DC, partially in anticipation of their new album, and partially because it's hard to go wrong with the boys from Australia.  

Of course, like I said in the past, reviewing AC/DC is probably pretty pointless.  We already know what to expect, so instead, I'll just focus on what I think stood out on what is my first listen of this record. Once again, I've listened to the international version, which has a slightly shorter version of "Problem Child" instead of "Crapsody in Blue."  (I'll have to dig up that track later somewhere.)

The big songs here are "Let There Be Rock," with Bon Scott evangelizing the origins of rock music and a bunch solid solos from Angus; and "Whole Lotta Rosie," a song that really speaks for itself, honestly.  Additionally, I felt "Dog Eat Dog" was pretty solid, and could probably fit right in on Back in Black. "Problem Child" is good again, though I don't know if it really helps this album.  The rest is pretty standard stuff.  I don't think this album is as strong as some of their others. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was probably better overall, I think.  Still, it's got some classics and certainly doesn't hurt their catalog by any means.

DGM - Tragic Separation

After enjoying the three tracks they released in the past three months, I knew this album would have to be a priority for me this year.  I admit I've only listened The Passage from them before this one, but these Italian prog metalers really know how to balance technical chops with melodic epicness, centered around Mark Basile's emotional and dramatic vocals.

The talent this band has is on full display.  Basile is laying it all out there, sounding massive all the way through.  Simone Mularoni's guitar riffs are technical and chunky, as usual.  I don't know if they're the most memorable riffs, but they are amazing to listen to in the moment.  Of course, this being prog metal, there's also tons of layers: keyboards, strings, guitar harmonies, it's all here, and the production ensures that it sounds amazing.

If there are any problems, it's that the band pretty much sticks to one tone all the way through.  "Surrender" breaks things up a little by having more of a rock vibe, and "Curtain" is an instrumental closer that's nearly just cinematic ambience.  Still, if this kind of melodic prog metal is your thing, DGM has it in spades.  From the great opener "Flesh and Blood," this album has tons of great songs.  Other stand outs are the title track, "Stranded," and "Silence."  Just solid epicness from beginning to end, and highly recommendable.

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I think I'm going to try and get at least two more of these articles before the end of the year.  That should give me plenty to consider for my Top 5 article, though that DGM album is a strong contender already!  Of course, it will have to compete with what Lovebites and Rick Wakeman released earlier, and we still have AC/DC and Iron Savior coming up!  I don't know if I've heard a clear winner like Monkey3's Sphere from last year, but it should be an exciting list nonetheless.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - September 2020 Part Two!

Well, I've been kinda inconsistent.  I end August with two "Last Played" articles, then start September with two "New Videos" articles.  Whatever, things are finally getting cooler, and I've got a bunch of new rock and metal videos for you!

Let's start of with some power metal.  This gives me some very big, The Fourth Legacy era Kamelot vibes.  Dramatic, and a bit dark, but plows ahead at full force, and letting the music do as much of the talking as the lyrics.

Okay, this one is doomier, at least at first.  It unleashes its massive, Sabbath-y riff to start, but once the song is about half-way, there's this jump, and we're suddenly in Iron Maiden territory, with the dual lead solos and all.  Then it's back into the doom riff, but more epic.  Great song!  I'm going to have to check more of these guys out!

I've seen this band around, but I think I'm finally onboard.  The video of the band members racing on the track got pretty silly, but this one better fits their style, which is classic power metal (like Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica) but with more modern symphonic touches.  Very epic!

So I guess the guitarist of Frozen Crown decided to do a sideband that's more traditional metal with some rock qualities to it.  Big and gritty, with some nice vocals. Solid stuff.

Looking at the description, this band seems to be moving to more of a blues-rock style of post-grunge.  I can't say I'm familiar with their older stuff, but this song has some nice dynamics to go along with the crunchy riffs.

Let's finish with another Arctic Rain track.  Once again, it's 80s-tastic, with melodic guitar leads, soaring vocals, layered synths, and a big chorus.  Sort of has a mix of Journey and Def Leppard vibes, this is AOR done well.

New Videos - August 2020!

I don't intend to talk much about my personal life, but my microwave broke last weekend, and it's been an interesting week putting together meals until I can afford a new one.  Using the stove and oven in the middle of August isn't exactly great, but you know what is?  Rock and metal music videos!  Here's what I got!

Yup, another Primal Fear track.  I wasn't sure about this one at first, with the quieter verses, but then the chorus comes in and Scheepers is back at full volume, and the song starts to click.  I suppose it's a heavy, crunchy ballad?  Solid work, regardless.

High Spirits is one of those bands who call back to the hard rock sounds of the early 80s: a bit Night Ranger, a bit old-school Judas Priest ("Heading On The Highway"), and a lot of upbeat rockin' feels.

DGM are a great Italian prog metal group who's last album, The Passage, was an incredible discovery for me.  Here, in anticipation of their next album, they do it all over again, with all kinds of technical chops buoyed by epic choruses and melodic splendor!

Landfall is a new bad from Brazil, and this track seems to have found the middle ground between soaring AOR and driven pop metal.  Huge vocals, chunky riffs, and a solid 80s rock attitude!  Definitely a promising sound from these guys!

Yup, more AOR.  This one really doesn't do anything particularly amazing, but just plain feels comfortable.  Lots of warm nostalgia for that early 80s, happy rock and roll.  Very much like Find Me or The Defiants.

We're gonna finish this one with something a little different.  Heathen are a classic Bay-Area thrash metal group and this definitely has the chops.  But this also has a melodic side often found in that particular style.  Very crunchy without getting too gritty.