Top 5 of 1995!!

Still making progress on these articles, but it's gonna be tight if I want to get through all of them before the end of the year.  As for this one, 1995 was definitely a curious time, as genres were evolving and expanding.  As usual, I should explain that I can't listen to everything, and these lists are pretty subjective to me.  However, after listening to a bunch of albums (including ones I didn't review), I felt these were the five that stood out the most.

5. The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures

I'll admit that third-wave prog rock can be a mixed bag sometimes, as I feel they tend to lean a little too much into jazz fusion for my tastes.  However, Roine Stolt and his buddies really went big for their (kinda) debut album, really capturing the whimsy and mystery of those classic 70s styles.  It's not perfect, but it does establish some decent atmosphere with slick passages and melodies throughout.

4. Paragon - World of Sin

After reviewing it last week, I did wonder if this might not sneak into the Top 5 somewhere.  Compared to the other two I reviewed, this one felt the most complete and consistent, with their wearing their Metal Church influences on their sleeves for their brand of power metal.  While they haven't quite reached their full potential (and the great vocalist Andreas Babuschkin hadn't shown up yet), it's a debut that certainly demands attention.

3. Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side

At this point, Blind Guardian is firing on all cylinders, nailing their peculiar mix of power, folk, and speed metal.  The title track, "Bright Eyes," and "I'm Alive" are highlights for me, and I know this album has plenty of acclaim in the power metal fandom.  It's only below the others as I think they're stronger and have more of the power metal style I prefer, but that I still think this is a great album in the genre.

2. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free

Losing Ralf Scheepers may seem like a big deal, but Kai Hansen really steps up to the mic and discovers that he has a good voice for this concept album about freedom and oppression.  It's also when the band really embraces their power metal sound, helping to establish the genre along with their contemporaries.  The album does get a little clunky here and there, but honestly, these are nit-picks, and certainly not enough to prevent it from getting such a high placing.

1. Stratovarius - Fourth Dimension

While they wouldn't have their iconic lineup just yet, it can't be denied that Stratovarius really starts with this album.  I love "Against the Wind," "Distant Skies," and "We Hold the Key," and the rest of the album isn't too shabby.  Timo Kotipelto's soaring vocals and Timo Tolkki's neo-classical guitars really come together to make some solid stuff, and the first of a string of excellent power metal albums!

Top 5 of 1990!!

I admit I'm kind of in catch-up mode, at this point, as I do want to make sure these Top 5 articles stay within their intended year, so I admit I didn't listen to everything I could have for 1990.  And I'm afraid this may be the case for the next few, but we'll have to see.  In any case, 1990 is a curious year, as it was one where rock and metal were in transition, like I mentioned in my Anniversary Article.  A few honorable mentions include that Blue Tears album I just reviewed, and Megadeth's Rust in Peace.  However, with my tastes, there really aren't many surprises here.  Here's my Top 5 of 1990!

5. Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World

While their first two albums are some curious speed metal, this album is the one where they start to forge their iconic power metal sound.  Great tracks like "Welcome to Dying" and "The Last Candle" help this album be a landmark in the genre's history before it would explode later in the decade.

4. Gamma Ray - Heading For Tomorrow

Upon relistening to this one, I'm discovering that I'm fond of it more than I expected.  While this may have been Kai Hansen's first album away from Helloween, his iconic riffing and song-writing is all over it, and with Ralf Scheepers on board, it makes for a delightful collection of melodic metal.

3. Dio - Lock Up the Wolves

Looking back at my recent review, you'd think I was relatively unimpressed with it, but upon considering it for this list, I can't deny Dio's consistency.  It may not have any major hits, but I'll take a solid album of B's over one with a few A's and too many D's.  

2. AC/DC - The Razors Edge

The comeback album for these Australian titans of hard rock.  It's not flashy, or particularly fresh, but the production finally captures them at their best, playing iconic, anthemic, fist-pumping tracks.  It's not perfect, but the highlights, like the unforgettable "Thunderstruck," help raise this album to #2.

1. Judas Priest - Painkiller

However, the #1 album was not hard to pick.  It's Judas Priest doing what they do best: rocking faces off and rolling over listeners with powerful, catchy, excellently-played heavy metal.  After a few lackluster releases in the late 80s, the band came back roaring with their new drummer Scott Travis!  While this era wouldn't last very long, it definitely made an impression to anyone that listened to it, ensuring that classic metal can be as timeless as anything else.

Anniversary Series - 1998!

So I thought about doing a regular Anniversary Article for this year, but I noticed that most of what I'd end up covering was just power metal.  Now, sure, there were other things going on, but between HammerFall, Edguy, Stratovarius, Kamelot, Nightwish, Helloween, and Symphony X, the genre would have definitely dominated the article.

And yet, as I was looking around, I discovered there were three more power metal albums that were kinda important that I hadn't listened to before.  So yeah, we're doing epic fantasy metal anyway!  I figured instead of talking about how much I love Legacy of Kings or Oceanborn for several paragraphs, having some reviews would be the better choice.  Turns out 1998 was just simply an incredible year for power metal!

Rhapsody (of Fire) - Symphony of Enchanted Lands

While I have reviewed some of this iconic band's more recent albums, I haven't talked much about their discography as I haven't listened to much of it.  I did listen their first album before I started this blog, but I found it to be just okay.  However, this article gives me a chance to follow up with their second album, and I think it's quite the improvement.

As usual, the band has a story tell: a chosen hero of the northern lands is on a quest to find the legendary Emerald Sword from a gothic tower so that he can defeat the evil armies of the black lord that are threatening the Enchanted Lands.  Oh, and he rides a dragon through most of it.  So at least the cover art is on point.  Musically, it's another exercise in symphonic power metal bombast, with layers of orchestrations boosting the guitars, bass, drums, and vocals to another level of melodrama.  While these orchestrations are clearly synthesizers, they don't sound to bad, making me think of a 90s PlayStation RPG, and they work to give the album the fantasy charm they need.  The one thing that did stand out was all the classical music stylings, invoking the likes of Mozart and Bach for some sections, while others featured more medieval folk music elements.  The tone and tempo can also change at the drop of a hat, sometimes, making for a chaotic listen.  Nevertheless, the power metal was still there, with plenty of double-kicking bass drums and shredding solos.

For what it's worth, I wasn't bored with it, even if it's pretty much the same sound that the band has been doing for decades now.  While none of the individual songs stuck with me, it mostly holds together as it tells this chapter of the Emerald Sword Saga, flowing from section to section pretty well.  It's easy to hear how this influenced later bands like Dragonland and Twilight Force, with its melodramatic and operatic pretentions.  I don't know if the band will ever be one of my favorites of the genre, I can certainly appreciate the effort they make, with their complex arrangements and dedication to telling their stories.

Angra - Fireworks

Given that I've listened to their first two albums now, their third lined up quite well to be reviewed for this article.  And since I enjoyed those so much, I was looking forward to the last of the Andre Matos era of the band.  Unfortunately, I don't think this one is as strong as the others.

For what it's worth, there certainly are some interesting ideas, as they blend their power and prog influences into something more cohesive across the album, combining the high speed riffing with some mixed meter sections.  However, this ends up making the songs feel kind of sloppy and disorganized.  The production was a bit iffy as well, as it would get a bit muddy from time to time, and the drums lacked the impact of the earlier albums.  I liked moments here and there, but there really wasn't a song that felt strong all the way through.  I'm even a tad disappointed that "Mystery Machine" had nothing to do with Scooby-Doo.

With Bittencourt and Loureiro, there's plenty of solid riffing and shredding the album, and Matos sounds solid, though maybe a touch less inspired as before.  The songs are certainly dynamic, often shifting tempos mid-track, and showing both their high speed technical work as well as their melodratic side with more ballad-like segments.  "Wings of Reality" is a decent opener, showing their diversity of ideas, and "Speed" is a solid uptempo closer.  However, as a whole, I feel rather lukewarm about the album.  Maybe I just got my hopes up too high after enjoying the first two.

Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth

After having enjoyed their recent album, even getting into my Top 5 for last year, it was time to get back to the grind through their discography, and once again, this article gave me a good chance.  This album is probably the best known and most highly acclaimed from the band by fans, and I can see why, as there is a maturity here that wasn't on the previous albums.  While I don't know if I'll call it a power metal masterpiece (as my favorites still loom large), they definitely pushed themselves to new places with this one, going for big concept and giving it their all.

While this band has certainly covered fantasy literature before, this one is a full-on concept album based on the stories of the First Age of Middle-Earth as told in the Silmarillion (yes, I have read the book, so I knew what these songs were talking about).  It's not a comprehensive retelling, as there are so many stories there, but it covers a lot of the bigger moments, starting with a flash-forward to Morgoth's imminent defeat before going back over what led up to this moment.  Chronologically, it jumps around a bit, but thematically, it focuses on the themes and emotions of the stories rather than the plot or details.  The result is a lot of songs about revenge and tragedy, with the occasional bittersweet triumph, and the music follows it all perfectly.

Once again, the band have outdone themselves musically, drifting from epic orchestral bombast to somber ballad to aggressive metal riffing to folk melodies.  Oh, and a heavy dash of Queen, of all things.  The lyrics are often layered like "Bohemian Rhapsody," and the guitars throw in a handful of Brian May-isms here and there.  André Olbrich guitar solos are also a stand-out, often shreddy, but never losing the melodies and hooks, and occasionally throwing in a folky lilt.  And Hansi Kürsch lays it all out, going from somber to epic to triumphant to tortured all through the album, matching the emotions of the stories they're telling.  "The Eldar" in particular stands out as an example of his range, as at first it's just a soft piano ballad before he explodes with energy and emotion at the end.  If there are any hiccups, I'd say it's with the songwriting.  While some of it is great, there are times where they suddenly shake things up with some odd transitions and mixed meter segments, making some of the songs a little too chaotic for their own good.  The little interludes also feel a little excessive, but I don't think they interrupt the flow the album much.

I won't deny that, as a big nerd, I have been kind of looking forward to hearing this album, as how often have there been epic concept albums based on the works of Tolkien, let alone the Silmarillion?  I definitely enjoyed this romp through Beleriand, with "Into the Storm," "Mirror Mirror," "Time Stands Still," and "When Sorrow Sang," as the stand out tracks for me.  Overall, it's a solid album, and probably their best that I've heard so far, but I've still got another five albums to check out.  There's still just so much to look forward to!

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So there you have 1998.  I'm sure there were other good or important albums that came out this year, but as a massive power metal fan, I couldn't help myself, I guess.  As always, there's a playlist below, as well as a comment section if you feel like I've missed something from the year.  Until then, rock on! \m/

Top 5 of 2022!!

Yup, it's that time of year again.  I've been relistening to everything from the past year that I reviewed, and I have to admit that it was a pretty solid year.  However, as I was comparing and sifting these albums, these are the five that stood out the most to me.  Putting them in order from fifth to first was quite the challenge as well, as they're all pretty good.

Of course, some pretty good stuff had to get dropped.  While HammerFall and Hammer King put up good efforts, they didn't quite make the cut, as I think there were better power metal performances this year.  Beriedir was another close one, but it couldn't make its way in.  It's just my opinion, but I really do think these five are the ones that edged out everything else, so here's my Top 5 of 2022!

5. Birth - Born

While this band may have come from the remains of Astra, they have carried on their classic, spacy prog rock sound.  Filled with great 70s atmosphere and neat little guitar noodles, it's a great album for letting music just surround you so that you can soak in it.  

4. Iron Allies - Blood In Blood Out

This is probably the first surprise of my list.  While this list did have some solid competition, I couldn't deny that Herman Frank, David Reece, and company had really put together a solid classic metal album.  With so much classic metal experience on board, perhaps it was inevitable, but it was never a guarantee it would be this good.

3. Borealis - Illusions

In terms of prog metal, there were some splendid music, but I think Borealis stood out more than the others.  Between the songwriting and the production, this album is lush and layered in a way that really brings out the emotions.  Very bombastic and cinematic, I knew this one was going to be in my top 5 when I first heard it.

2. Blind Guardian - The God Machine

I admit I'm still pretty new, relatively speaking, to these German legends of power metal, but with their latest album, it's quite clear that they aren't all just whimsical fantasy ballads.  They really brought the heavy but they didn't lose an ounce of their epicness, making for one of the best power metal albums of the year, and I know I'm not alone in that.

1. New Horizon - Gate of the Gods

Better than HammerFall?  Better than Sabaton?  Better than Blind Guardian?  Yes, I really do think so.  For a debut album, these guys do a lot of things right, making me think of the classic 90s sound of Helloween and Gamma Ray, and as such, it hits all the right notes for me.  While I know the two guys on the project have other bands to work in, if they decide to make a follow up to this, it will definitely get my attention!

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Well, that was certainly not easy, and now that there's a new year upon us, I have to do it all over again!  Seriously, though, it's been fun doing this year after year, giving me an opportunity to check out what's new and to champion what I think is the best!

Looking ahead, things are already feeling pretty stacked.  Twilight Force, Arctic Rain, Lovebites, Rick Wakeman, Kamelot, and of course Metallica, there is plenty more to look forward to.  It's starting to feel like I don't have enough time to really give them all justice!!  However, I plan on continuing to plug along, so I'll get to them when I can.  Until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - September 2022!

Well, the heat hasn't quite faded off yet, so I still have plenty of reasons to stay indoors and jam to some new albums (among the several other reasons/excuses I use).  In any case, got a trio of some pretty solid stuff here: two power metal epics sandwiching a really fascinating collection of psychedelic rock.  Here's what I've been listening to lately!

Blind Guardian - The God Machine

While I've been working my way through Blind Guardian's discography, I admit I'm pretty ignorant of what the band has been doing lately.  However, based on remarks around the web, this album seems to be a return to the 90s albums, so maybe I'm listening to this at the right time!

Once again, the bards are here to tells a bunch of stories, drawing inspiration from the Witcher and Stormlight Archives to Battlestar Galactica and the origins of the universe.  As for the music, they retain much of the foundation the band has established, focusing on interesting riffs, quirky song structures, layered arrangements, and Kürsch's iconic vocals.  However, I will say that much of this album definitely feels darker than most of what I've heard from the band.  There doesn't seem to be any of the folksy whimsy that gave their sound that extra dash of fantasy, instead focusing on darker, heavier themes and moods.

That's not to say the album is bad by any means.  There's plenty of great guitar work here, especially with the aggressive riffing on "Violent Secrets," "Architects of Doom," and "Blood of the Elves."  However, I was quite surprised by the atmospheric "Life Beyond the Spheres" and how dynamic it was.  Overall, it's a solid album from Blind Guardian, but I do think I need to listen to it some more to really dig into everything that's here.

Birth - Born

I admit that my knowledge of psychedelic rock is pretty limited, outside of classic Pink Floyd or bands that sound like them, of course.  So reviewing this might be a little out of my expertise, but I won't grow if I don't try, right?  In any case, this band is something of a successor to another band called Astra, which I admit I haven't gotten to either.  However, when Birth's debut album started popping up in my circles, and I heard some of it, I knew I had to make it a priority to listen to it!

With those big Hammond organs, comparisons to Pink Floyd are pretty easy to make, but I feel like they have dashes of early Yes (circa The Yes Album), Emerson Lake & Palmer, and even Deep Purple in here.  "Descending Us" made me think of "Child of Time" in particular.  However, I don't think the band leans on their influences too much, instead seeing them as an inspiration for the layering, songwriting, and production of their songs.  "Born" starts things well, with lively organ and guitar playing.  "For Yesterday," the longest track on the album, is definitely a fascinating journey through all kinds of layers and musicality.  The bassist Trevor Mast is also on point with some very catchy, jazzy grooves, notably on "Born" and "Cosmic Tears."  This is a very nice, rich set of jams that don't feel any need to rush things. 

This style of retro rock is definitely aiming for a specific audience, and there's a good chance that most of that crowd has already heard this and written their own reviews.  I think what sets this album apart from some of the others (like, say, Seven Planets or Monkey3) is a greater emphasis on lush prog rock orchestrations, and they work very well, taking the listener on a wild but familiar journey.  I can definitely imagine this music would be great to hear live as the band and the audience just kind of vibe together.  If those Astra albums are anything like this, I've clearly been missing out!

Hammer King - Kingdemonium

I'm quickly realizing that Hammer King is a band that, like Sabaton or their weapon compatriots HammerFall, you know what you're getting when you start a new album.  Once again we are in the realm of hammers and kings and the combination thereof, and while I really enjoyed their self-titled last album, I was hoping their next offering would be just as good.  Unfortunately, despite some solid songs, Kingdemonium doesn't have quite same level of energy.

There's still plenty here to recommend, though.  The lyrics are completely cheesy, but they're delivered with gusto by Titan Fox V, as always.  The guitar tone is pretty solid, with plenty of leads and riffs, though I do think the solos are a little less interesting.  However, the bass playing of Günt von Schratenau really comes out on this album, which is nice to hear.  I quite liked "Pariah Is My Name," "Kingdemonium," and "Guardians of the Realm,' as I felt they retained much of what worked last time.  Most of the other songs generally stay at a mid-tempo pace.  They're not bad, but don't quite retain my attention as much.  The closing epic "Age of Urizen" with its 12/8 gallop ends the album pretty well, though.

Saying "It's more of the same" often comes across as a criticism, but sometimes it can be a good thing, and Hammer King clearly have something worked out, as their style still feels very fun and fresh.  It's also pretty consistent in quality, so fans of the band and of power metal in general will find plenty to like.  However, Kingdemonium doesn't have the same momentum as last year's album, so I do feel a little bit let down, overall.

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Despite having heard more than a handful of albums for 2022, I don't know if I've got a clear #1 contender yet.  There's been a bunch of solid stuff though, so I expect my Top 5 is going to be tough again, this year.  I suppose that's not a bad thing, though.

Coming up, I've got another Anniversary Series article for 2007, which will mainly be reviewing another group of albums, as I haven't listened to much from that year, and the 2012 article will be the same, I'm afraid.  Still, plenty to look forward to.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - June 2022!

The end of the month means it's time to catch up on some new videos!  Plenty of power metal with this one, but I got a few rock tracks in there for good measure.  I'm getting pretty excited for a lot of these albums showing up later this year.  Turn these up!

Let's start with something fast and crunchy!  Between this and "Violent Shadows," Blind Guardian have definitely been getting back to their older, speed metal days, but I'm here for it.  This is some epic shredding and once again Kürsch's vocals bring the heft to bring the song alive.

To be honest, I kind of expected The Secret to be Alan Parsons's last album, based on some of the themes there, but I guess he's got more ideas to share.  Tapping into Tommy Shaw is an interesting choice, though it's still a solid performance.  A bit of a hard rock vibe, though, making it a curious listen that might be a sign of whatever the legendary engineer has in mind for the future.

Birth is definitely tapping into that classic psychedelic rock style, providing this 9 minute single that sort of meanders about, but in a good way.  It largely made me think of Pink Floyd's more laidback, folkier songs, like on Obscured By Clouds.  A solid jam, with good atmosphere.

Dragonland are back after ten years!  Instead of continuing their fantasy story, they're doing a sci-fi concept album, but they retain much of their symphonic power metal style, specifically the stuff they did on their album Contact, which had some sci-fi stuff on it as well.  It's like they haven't missed a beat!

Wow!  I had no idea HammerKing would be coming back so quickly!  I guess they had a bunch more HammerFall-flavored power metal to share.  Not that I'm complaining!  Their last album easily made to Top 5 for last year, and if it's going to be more of the same, I'm very much on board!

I saw this group pop up earlier in the year, but I thought they would be more folky or black metal, so when I discovered that they were symphonic power metal, I did a bit of a double take.  I'm not quite sure if I have a solid feel for the band from this song alone, as it veers between Rhapsody of Fire orchestral bombast and Iron Maiden-style hooks, but I can tell this has some interesting potential.

New Videos - May 2022!

End of the month means it's time for another batch of videos!  I think there's a lot of great stuff here, mostly metal, but there is some rock in there for good measure.  There's certainly a lot of stuff to look forward to this year, that's for sure.  Check these out and see if you agree!

Another champion of the melodic prog metal style, Seventh Wonder's new single is pretty standard for the style, but it works!  Tommy's vocals remain expressive, the band show some dynamic playing and songwriting, and it's even a bit catchy!  I'll have to find some time to catch up on more of their stuff!

Yet another track from new symphonic metal band Shield of Wings.  I really like their sense of scale with their songs, making me think of Antti Martikainen in a way.  They also use some harsh vocals (from the keyboardist, I believe), but they're mostly in the background to add a bit of extra spice, which is interesting.

I featured this band back in November, and it's taken this long to get to their next song, and I enjoy this one as much as the last one.  I got Twilightning vibes from this track this time, but that's a good thing.  It just means that this is some solid power metal I'll need to take the time to check out.

After a three year gap, Tobias Sammet is back with another Avantasia album, and for the lead single, he's tapped into the incredible Ralf Scheepers to join him on vocals.  While there are some of the typical symphonic flourishes one expects, this song mostly stays in the heavy/power style that fits Scheepers like a glove.

After some controversy and a new singer, GloryHammer carries on their quest to be the cheesiest power metal band in the world.  While they may still have their tongues becoming permanent residents in their cheeks, I can't deny they still have a knack for some catchy melodies and epic vocals, and newcomer Sozos Michael seems to be fitting right in.

While GloryHammer continue crafting their own stories, Blind Guardian has once again found another novel to inspire new epic tunes of their own.  Building off of the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Kürsch and company have crafted yet another bomastic epic, with some pretty solid guitar solos.  Perhaps nothing new, but when they do it this well, I can't complain.

Good heavens, Moonlight Haze has been prolific.  Once again, they're back with their catchy symphonic metal, featuring quite the flurry of notes to kick this one off.  This really does have a lot of good, uplifting energy, with some great singing by Chiara Tricarico.

Harry Hess is back with more First Signal, and this track has some great rocking energy.  Great use of layers for something really driving and anthemic.  I know AOR can get a little samey, but I think this is a great example of how to make this genre really stand out. 

Last played - July 2021!

This heat is still bearing down on me, but I was able to put on some new tunes this past month.  I've got some new stuff and a classic power metal album, this time around.  Here's what I've checked out lately.

Orden Ogan - Final Days

While I had heard good things about this band, I had never sat down and listened to an Orden Ogan album before this one.  I had liked the singles for this as they came out, as I felt they had some promise, but now that I've listened to the whole thing, I feel kind of underwhelmed.  Not that it was bad, just less than what I was hoping for.

I understand the band generally does concept albums, and this is no different, focusing on an apocalyptic war between humanity and the AIs that have taken everything over, mostly by pitting people against each other.  The result is an interesting mix of power and prog metal, with Evergrey being a good point of reference.  I felt the lyrics were pretty depressing as well, often focusing on the inevitability of humanity's failure, which felt odd with the more dramatic, anthemic layers they were building.  And those layers are lush, with lots of symphonic strings as well as some square-wave synths to amplify the sci-fi aesthetic.

However, the songs feel kind of lackluster.  There's some decent riffing and noodly solos, but it just kinda plods along, mostly at mid-tempo pace.  "In the Dawn of the AI" and "Hollow" had some decent energy, and the ballad duet with Ylva Eriksson on "Alone in the Dark" was nice, but otherwise, not much really stood out to me.  Maybe I'll check out their earlier albums to see if they are better, but for now, this is some pretty mediocre power metal.

Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side

Let's go from modern power metal to a power metal classic!  I'm still working my way through Blind Guardian's catalog, but I knew a few tracks from this already, mostly the title track (which is great!).  At this point, they're clearly hitting their power metal stride, with some great riffing and double-kicking drums.

However, there are still a few stumbling blocks.  The production isn't as clear as it could be.  I felt the drums would get muddy at times, blending with the guitars.  It does create a nice wall-of-sound effect, but I guess I'm used to clearer production for my power metal.  Also, the lyrics feel a little clunky, which has been normal for the band thus far, but there are times where some of the word choices will throw me out of the song.

That being said, Hansi Kürsch is crushing it, really giving his vocal chords a work out!  I wondered if his throat didn't get soar from all that harsh singing he was doing!  As for the rest, the band remains quite talented, with some solid solos from André Olbrich.  There's also a decent amount of variety, with some folky ballads and mid-tempo stompers.  The standout tracks were the title track, "I'm Alive," and "Bright Eyes," though the album was largely pretty good overall.  It's easy to hear how influential this band was on the years of power metal to follow.

Arc of Life - Arc of Life

It took me some time, but I've finally put together my thoughts on the new Yes spin-off project: Arc of Life.  While it has a few proggy moments, most of this seems to fit into the AOR vibe of the Yes album Open Your Eyes, which makes sense given that Billy Sherwood was heading up this one, both in the songwriting and production.  However, despite all the talent on hand, it feels like Sherwood's production is smothering everything.

It's certainly a dynamic album with a good variety of tones and moods, but things aren't as tight as they could be, as the songs tend to float on by rather than feel unified.  The production doesn't help much as it's going for something more atmospheric and broad, but this just makes the instruments feel muddled and lost in the mix.  Dave Kerzner is a great keyboardist, but I never felt like I got to hear him much outside of contributing to the general wall-of-sound.  The songwriting is a little clunky as well, with parts not quite working together, and some sections just kind of lingering longer than they need to.  It mostly feels like a collection of sound collages inspired by 80s and 90s Yes, instead of properly structured songs.  Finally, Sherwood takes the lead vocals on most of the tracks, and it made me wonder why they even bothered to bring in Jon Davison (who I would have liked to hear more of).

That's not to say that the album is completely bad.  The vocal harmonies are lush, and there are plenty of layers to spare.  It's just feels like it's hard to really grasp what's going on and sometimes the lyrics are hard to make out.  I admit there really isn't much to recommend, but "You Make It Real" is a decent AOR track, and "Therefore We Are" represents the best of the proggy side of things.  Maybe I just got my hopes up too high for this one.  Here's hoping the Yes album that comes out later this year fares better.

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I apologize for cramming everything in here at the end of July.  I've got one more New Videos article that I'll put up before the end of the month, and then maybe I'll get back to a more regular schedule.  There is still plenty I'm looking forward to for the second half of this year, and I'll try to get to as much as I can.  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/

Anniversary Series - 1995!

Well, I'm making some serious progress on these, now that we're in July!  As we move further in time, rock music really begins to separate out into its genres and communities, making it difficult to really say anything conclusive about the time period as a whole.  As such, these articles are going to focus more on what I've listened to, and therefore be less comprehensive and historical in nature.  Still, there's plenty to talk about for the year of 1995!

Let's start things off with some power metal, as the genre was really starting to come alive by now.  Blind Guardian released Imaginations from the Other Side, Gamma Ray finally got things together for Land of the Free (which I reviewed here), and Stratovarius would find their voice in Timo Kotipelto and give us Fourth Dimension, the first in a long string of great albums.

1995 would be a big year for prog rock.  Pink Floyd's big final tour would result in the Pulse live album, with the iconic blinking light on the spine.  King Crimson continued their unique complexity with Thrak, and Roine Stolt, after the success of The Flower King, would bring together the band The Flower Kings and produce their debut album, which I reviewed earlier this year.

Prog metal would be no slouch either, with Ayreon releasing their debut, Symphony X following up on their debut by introducing the great Russell Allen to the world with The Damnation Game, and Dream Theater expanding their songwriting with the epic "A Change of Seasons," released as an EP.  However, the big surprise was Savatage suddenly coming back with Dead Winter Dead and the hit single "Sarajevo 12/24," the song that inspired the Trans-Siberian Orchestra project.

Of course, atlernative rock was still a big deal at this time, but grunge was making its shift into post-grunge.  Dave Grohl would bounce back with the debut of the Foo Fighters, Candlebox released Lucy, and Alice in Chains had their self-titled third album.

Just to round things out, Van Halen would carry on with Sammy Hagar with the successful Balance, Iron Maiden had The X Factor with their new singer Blaze Bayley, and AC/DC released Ballbreaker, proving that the older styles of rock and metal hadn't gone anywhere.

So that's 1995.  As usual, there's a playlist below, and I'm sure I've missed some good stuff, so don't hesitate to give me recommendations!  Until then, rock on! \m/

Anniversary Series - 1990!

As the year moves along, I hope everyone is staying safe.  In the meantime, this series carries on, into the year 1990!  Another year of transition, much like 1980, with some genres coming to a close while new ones are picking up to take their place!

However, the year would kick of with the familiar sound of glam metal, as Slaughter would release their debut album Stick It To Ya, with the big song "Up All Night."  In fact, glam and pop metal would have a pretty good year over all, with Poison's Flesh and Blood, Steelheart's debut, Ratt's Detonator, Warrant's Cherry Pie, and Jon Bon Jovi's solo debut with Blaze of Glory.

The rest of metal weren't sitting back either.  As thrash metal became more mainstream, Megadeth would find greater popularity with Rust in Peace.  Chock full of big tracks like "Holy Wars," "Hangar 18," "Tornado of Souls," and the title track, songs the band still play live today, it was a release that was hard to beat.  Even Judas Priest got in on the thrash action with Painkiller, letting Halford really go wild with the vocals.

Power metal, while still a long ways off from its peak, would find a few solid releases.  Kai Hansen, after breaking off with Helloween, would start Gamma Ray, with their debut album Heading For Tomorrow coming out this year.  Blind Guardian would release Tales from the Twilight World (which I reviewed at the end of last year), would show them shifting into their iconic style of melodic leads and epic vocals.

Of course, there was a new style developing out in the northwest of the US.  While grunge and alternative rock wouldn't completely take over, bands like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden would laying down the groundwork for the explosion that would follow in the next few years.

Meanwhile, classic rock fans would have plenty for them as well.  After Tommy Shaw left Styx, he ended up forming Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent and Jack Blades of Night Ranger, who's debut album would put them on the map in a big way.  Of course, Styx weren't sitting back, releasing Caught in the Act to some acclaim.  This year would also give us AC/DC's The Razor's Edge, best known for "Thunderstruck" and proof that classic styles still had power to blow the minds of rock fans everywhere.

As the year drew to a close, glam metal would end up having the last say, with the Scorpions releasing Crazy World with the track "Winds of Change," reflecting to the changing times in Europe.  The genre itself would have a major shake up with Tesla's live acoustic cover of "Signs," a sign itself that glam metal had really gone about as far as it could go.

And that wraps up 1990, though my playlist below has a few extras, as always.  Again, if there's anything you think I left out anything, let me know!  Until then, rock on! \m/

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/