Top 5 of 2025!!

Once again, I'm later than everyone else as I wanted to give everything I could a shot to get into this list.  I admit it's been a crazy year for me, as I wasn't as consistent at reviewing new releases as I wanted to be, while getting in over my head with the retrospective Top 5s!  Still, I think I was able to check out a solid chunk of what last year had to offer, allowing me to share my Top 5 of 2025 with some confidence!  As usual, power metal dominates the year with some very solid releases, but there are a few honorable mentions to throw in.  The Ferryman had an outside chance with Iron Will, and Helloween's Giants and Monsters ended up not quite making it, despite some very good songs.  With those out of the way, let's get into this thing!

5. Sabaton - Legends

Sabaton have really cemented themselves as a band that does their own thing, and usually does it well.  While the World War I themes were starting to wear a little thin on that last album, the band decided to not bother with a big concept album, and I think it has helped them regain some energy and squeeze themselves into this list.  It may be churlish of me to put this over the veterans Helloween, but I will take an album that's consistent all the way through than one full of highs and lows.

4. Crazy Lixx - Thrill of the Bite

The odd one out in this list, but this album made me smile all the way through!  While they aren't doing anything new or innovative, they definitely know how to make their style of throwback glam metal just dominate your speakers.  Sometimes, you just want a good, fun rock 'n' roll album, and Crazy Lixx has that in spades!

3. Primal Fear - Dominiation

Another incredibly consistent band that had a bit of a drop of lately, but seems to be returning with strength in 2025.  Perhaps their new rhythm section helped improve their execution, but Scheepers, Karlsson, and Sinner really pulled together a pretty good album this time.  Not as good as Rulebreaker, but solid enough to get onto this list.

2. Dragonknight - Legion

Certainly the sleeper of the year, I really can't find much fault with this album.  There's certainly plenty of symphonic power metal to compare this debut album to, but these guys have pulled off a well-executed album, being bombastic enough to be fun, but not losing themselves in overly complex or melodramatic songwriting.  It's just the right mix that helps it stand out over the others.

1. Majestica - Power Train

It might be silly, but I can't deny that what Tommy and his buddies have done is write probably the greatest love letter to power metal I've ever heard, not only respecting their elders but also finding a decent amount of variety in these tracks to mitigate any repetitive elements.  I think it also helps that they clearly just love doing this kind of music, and that passion is what pushes this album above the rest for 2025.

2025 Wrap Up Part Two!

I admit I'm really cutting this one close, but I wanted to make sure that my review of the year wasn't just all metal!  I've got some prog rock as well as some AOR for this one, which might be a little contradictory, but these albums are all worth checking out.  Here's what I've finally gotten around to!

exo-X-xeno - Luminous Voyage

So this is a bit of a weird one.  A few years ago, I had heard that a man named Craig Maher had put together a prog rock project that featured Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen of Yes, and Patrick Moraz, who was Yes's keyboard player for Relayer.  I admit I was moderately intrigued by that, but then I heard nothing for quite some time.  Recently, while picking through some of my spam emails, I discovered that I had signed up for their newsletter and saw that they had finally released their album last June!  So figured I had better check it out before I was finished with the year!

Listening to this is a bit of an odd experience.  The best way I'd describe the music that it's like that era of late 70s Genesis where Phil Collins has just taken over on vocals, but they haven't gone full pop yet, but then pushed through Yes's 90125 to make it more lush.  Craig Maher is not a bad singer, but I do think there are a few weak spots.  His guitar playing is quite good, though, as it's more in the melodic school of Ian Bairnson.  Billy Sherwood seems to be channeling Drama-era Chris Squire, as he has some very energetic basslines, and Schellen is right there with him on the drums.  However, Patrick Moraz feels like the weak link.  He has some good keyboard runs, but some of his synth choices are odd, and sometimes sound cheap.  "At Water's Edge" is a good example of this.  However, I think the biggest problem is the production.  While it's not bad, it does feel a little uneven.  Billy's bass might be a little too loud, and it feels like everything needs some more polish to help it feel like the instruments are working together, though I'm not smart enough to know what's missing.  I just know that it's off somehow.

The songwriting is decent enough, though.  "Vitrivian Man" is probably the best song, as it feels like they really put a lot of thought in putting that one together, "Reaching for Beyond" has some nice ideas, and "Live Life" has good energy as the closer.  I don't know if this album really makes the most of its promise, but I could see this being a decent starting point for a new prog project.  If they do more, I will certainly be curious.

Spock's Beard - The Archaeoptimist

So going from their first album to their latest is certainly quite the leap, especially since only Alan Morse and Dave Meros are the only two members who have remained.  (Though Ryo Okumoto joined shortly after the first album, making him the third longest member of the band.)  This time, the band worked with someone named Michael Whiteman, resulting in some pretty solid prog rock.

Sonically, this seems to be between Marillion and Haken, with the melodic sensibilities of the former with the creative transitions of the latter.  Despite the fact that it's all I've listened to, comparing this to their first album would be pretty unfair as they have clearly matured since then.  In fact, maturity might be the key word for this whole thing.  Nothing feels particularly excessive (for prog anyway), letting sections drift a little, but not too far.  "Invisible" is a good starter for what to expect, but I think "Electric Monk" is a little stronger as a song.  The title track is the album's 20-minute epic, telling a story about a post-apocalyptic future about a father who teaches her about the past, inspiring her to become a good leader in the future.  The closer "Next Step" is another rather optimistic number that sings about leaving the past behind, featuring some neat transitions and dynamics.

Overall, I liked a lot of it.  I don't know if I have much to say about the performances other than they're pretty solid.  Okumoto definitely plays around his synth tool box, drawing on influences ranging from Keith Emerson to Isao Tomita, but otherwise, this is some pretty good third-wave prog from a band who clearly has the experience to do it well.  I know that this is a pretty huge gap in my prog knowledge, but this album gives me hope that it will be one worth filling.

Crazy Lixx - Thrill of the Bite

Making a hard switch from prog rock to glam metal, this band has been pretty reliable lately in providing some solid, 80s-inspired hard rock, and their latest is more of the same, in the best way possible!

While there has always been a small cinematic quality in their sound, I do think this album they lean much harder into the schlocky movies of the 80s (if the album art wasn't a clue).  Nearly all the songs are about darker, edgier subjects while keeping that decade's iconic glam metal sound, feeling like a blend of Def Leppard with Ozzy's or Mötley Crüe's shock rock approach.  Of course, this is a subtle thing, as they are still rocking hard like the MTV hits that inspired them, and they rock it well.  The album kicks off with the very upbeat "Highway Hurricane," and blasts its way through to the end, with no ballads to bog things down at all!

I think the main difference that makes this band stand out compared to others in the same style is that Crazy Lixx has the right energy.  They know they're being kinda cheesy and campy, but they also love this stuff and embrace it like fans, which allows them to find the fun in what they're doing.  The production is spot on, and the band plays with so much precision and gusto, I can't help but smile through most of this album.  While I could make some nitpicks, this is definitely Crazy Lixx at their most pure, and I don't think I'd want it any other way!

W.E.T. - Apex

I can't believe it's been nearly five years since I'd heard anything from this band.  I enjoyed their last album enough that it got a spot in that year's Top 5 article.  While I'm sure these guys were busy with other bands over the years, they've come back together for another round of AOR, and once again, it's a solid set of songs.

Night Ranger comes to mind again for this band, finding that sweet spot between Journey and glam metal.  Whitesnake comes to mind as well when the band gets a little bluesy.  Henriksson provides more crunchy riffs and melodic solos, and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto is joined by Eclipse's Erik Mårtensson on a few songs, making this album feel more like an Eclipse album than the last one did.  However, these are minor details as the band rocks together quite well as usual.

The album starts well with "Believer" and "This House Is On Fire," both being good uptempo rockers, "Nowhere to Run" has a nice groove, "Day By Day" is a crunchy closer with good energy, and the rest of the album carries on its melodic rock path much like the last one did.  Again, what could have been some standard AOR is bolstered by the band's passion for this kind of music, making it quite the cut above the rest.  I don't know if it will make my Top 5 for the year, but it's definitely a highlight of the previous year that I should have gotten to sooner.

Last Played - December 2021 Part Three!

Merry Christmas!  Here's a handful of reviews for your present!  Seriously, though, this month has been a ride, catching up with all these albums.  Here we've got a good mix of pop, power, and heavy metal, along with Vega's new release.  Let's get into it!

Vega - Anarchy and Unity

Vega have been a pretty solid band when it comes to more melodic hard rock.  Only Human was solid 80s anthemic cheese that I loved.  Grit Your Teeth loosened things up a bit and let the band feel around a little more, which I liked, but Anarchy and Unity might have taken things a little too far.  While I liked the early singles, now that I've listened to the album, this band has shifted slightly.

It's definitely a little strange compared to the previous two, as the keyboards seem to take a backseat to a more guitar-and-vocal focused approach.  While the guitars are pretty thick and chunky, giving some great rock riffs, the song-writing and production felt much more modern.  The comparisons I kept making was to anthemic alternative rock bands of the 2000s, like Daughtry, The Calling, and the Goo Goo Dolls.

That being said, there's some solid stuff on here.  "Beautiful Lie" and "Sooner or Later" are a great start to the album, with big riffs and a great uptempo vibe.  I also liked "Bring the Riot," which had a bit of a punk rock vibe.  They also try to mix it up, such as the finger-snapping jazzy grove on "C'mon" and an interesting shift in the middle of "Live For Me," where it changes from a power ballad to a straight-up rocker for one very shreddy solo before dropping back into power ballad territory.  "2Die4" is also a strange one, trying a few different dynamics than I'm used to for these guys.  

To be honest, I think I'm a little disappointed.  After I loved the other two so much, I guess maybe I got my hopes up.  Perhaps I should take it as a sign that the band are trying to push themselves, and sometimes you have to stumble to really know what works and what doesn't.  It's still a decent album, with a lot of anthemic rockers, but this had less of an impact on me, overall.  

Victory - Gods of Tomorrow

Victory started in the mid-80s, and despite getting an international hit or two, generally got overshadowed by other German bands like Scorpions and Accept.  Herman Frank joined in 1986 and stayed with the band until they disbanded in the mid-90s.  However, they reunited in 2003 with Frank, and the lineup has generally changed around him since then, including a lot of members from Frank's solo band.  At first, I just thought he had joined a long-running band, but looking over the history, this has pretty much become another Herman Frank solo project in all but name.  As such, the music bears a lot of similarities to Frank's solo albums, and to much of the classic German metal sound established by bands like Accept and Sinner.  

Because of this, I was going in with the expectation of some solid riffing and rockin' vibe, and this album doesn't disappoint.  If there is any difference between this and Frank's recent solo works, I think this is a little closer to 80s rock rather than metal, but it's a pretty subtle difference.  Think AOR, but with a German metal vibe.

Honestly, though, it's not a major deal.  While the album is a little long and there really isn't anything particularly new or innovative going on, it rocks pretty well, occasionally pushing into faster territory with songs like "Gods of Tomorrow," "Rising Force," and "Into the Light."   "Love & Hate" and "On Fire" has a lot of classic Accept vibes, and the album never loses its classic metal energy.  I think I actually like this more than Herman Frank's own album from earlier in the year.  It will be interesting to compare the two as I prepare for my Top 5 of the year.

Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal

Crazy Lixx was one of the bands I discovered in 2019, quite enjoying their 80s pop metal style so much so that they crept into my Top 5 for that year!  While I anticipated this one pretty deeply, I expected to get more of the same, and they certainly haven't disappointed.

Once again, we're deep in the style that made household names out of Def Leppard, Dokken, and Whitesnake.  Full of big, cheesy anthems and arena rockers, these guys haven't lost a step in their 80s-drenched cinematic vibe.  As usual, the uptempo tracks stand out to me, such as "Rise Above,"  and "Street Lethal."  I also liked "Reach Out" and "One Fire - One Goal" with their AOR-heavy elements, and some tracks aren't afraid to get bluesy at times as well.  The album ends with some longer songs, with the closer being a 7-minute epic "Thief in the Night," which a decent mid-tempo rocker with a more dramatic tone.  I also noticed a greater presence of synthesizers on the album overall, though they're mostly used to give the tracks a bigger, AOR-like feel, a la Europe or Night Ranger.

While Forever Wild was a bit on the long side, this one is definitely tighter, with 2 of its 11 tracks being short instrumentals.  That being said, there's plenty of variety, which makes the album feel like it uses its time well.  I don't know if this one is better than the last one, but it's pretty dang close in quality.  However, just as I said about the last album, this one proves that the glam/pop metal style is still relevant and worth listening to!

NorthTale - Eternal Flame

After being reminded that this band exists and enjoying their first album so much, I was excited for their follow up.  While they retain their classic power metal style, they definitely shift their sound more, experimenting with a lot of different things.  However, they seem to be at their best when they build upon the styles of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica.

Right off, the album kick starts with some high-speed power metal with the great opener "Only Human." From there, the band really starts to try some things.  "Wings of Salvation" has a symphonic tone in a 6/8 style, "Future Calls" features Kai Hansen and his son Tim so it has some strong Helloween elements, "The Land of Mystic Rites" pulls out some flutes and Latin folk vibes which made me think of classic Angra, and then "Midnight Bells" and "In the Name of God" were on the heavier side, the former making me think of Brainstorm or Primal Fear, and the latter having the bass-heavy grooves of Metalium.  The closer is a symphonic outro that doesn't feature metal at all.  It's a nice piece of music (making me think of symphonic Final Fantasy arrangements), but it is a bit of a strange ending.  The rest of the album, however, stays in the Stratovarius zone, and I found I enjoyed those songs most of all.

Like I mentioned on an earlier article, their new vocalist Guilherme Hirose sounds a lot like Timo Kotipelto, and I wonder if that was a deliberate choice.  The solos trade back and forth between the keyboards and the guitars, only strengthening the Stratovarius comparison.  That's a good thing though, as classic Stratovarius is some of my favorite power metal, so I'm pleased to hear a new band write these kinds of songs.  I think my favorite songs were "Future Calls" and "Only Human," and I thought the 11-minute epic "Nature's Revenge" was solid as well.  Overall, though, I don't know if this album is better than the first one.  I'd have to listen to them more to really decide.  That being said, if you're looking for quite the smorgasbord of power metal, this album certainly delivers.

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Well, that's the year wrapped up.  While I know I didn't get to everything I could have, I think I hit all the releases that I wanted to, so I don't have many regrets.  That being said, when I was looking over my charts, I found that I have listened to and reviewed 28 albums this year!  I don't know if I've ever listened to that much new music within a calendar year!  Figuring out my Top 5 is gonna be quite the challenge!  We'll see what I decide when that comes out at the end of January.

I plan on having on more article before the end of the year, catching up on some new videos.  Otherwise, I plan on having a cozy holiday week, and I hope you all have that as well.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - November 2021!

Let's finish off the month with another set of videos!  Now that I'm planning on doing only one of these a month, it does make the article on the longer side, but I assure you, these are all great tracks.  It's mostly power metal this time, but I've got a few others in there to mix it up.

Yup, more German heavy/power metal.  However, I get a very strong Queensryche vibe, but that may be just because vocalist Denis Brosowski makes me think of Geoff Tate.  Still, it's got a decent 6/8 gallop that really carries the song, adding to the dark, epic tone.

So a pair of folks who used to work together in the band H.E.A.T. decided to come together for a power metal project, and they definitely have a mix of classic and modern influences.  It's a promising start, and a project I'll have to keep an eye out for in the future.

Once again, Crazy Lixx and their nostalgia-heavy pop metal sound find their way onto one of my articles.  This one has a lot of energy, and has some great gang vocals in the chorus.  This track, along with many of the other singles, is giving me a lot of high hopes for the new album.

So Sorcerer has been staying busy by doing some covers and releasing them as singles.  While the others have been interesting, this one stood out to me as really fitting their style.  Vocalist Anders Engberg really soars, just like he did on their last album.  Kinda slow and epic, their take on the Saxon classic is a little safe, but very solid.

NorthTale keeps coming with great, high-speed power metal, and they've definitely added some symphonic elements on this one.  Of course, it helps to get power metal legend Kai Hansen and his son involved, just to add that extra level of epicness.  It's a great track that makes me look forward to their new album, which I still need to get to.

I guess Lovebites is going on hiatus, after their bass player left.  So they're filling a gap with a compilation album that features this new song as a single.  Naturally, it's a high-speed power metal stomper with plenty of melodic leads and harmonies.  While the future of this band may be uncertain, this single is a fitting tribute to their career thus far.

Wolfmother kinda surprised everyone with a new album out of the blue, and I've been listening to pieces of it.  Unsurprisingly, they've still got that very 70s metal vibe, with noodly guitar solos straight off of a Rainbow record.  Expect a review of this from me soon!

So the founder of Nuclear Blast started a new label called Atomic Fire, and after bringing over a handful of artists, they've signed some new ones, including these guys.  This song is some solid power metal, somewhere between DragonForce and Stratovarius, with a bit of the Legend of Zelda in the solo, for good measure.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them next year.

I remember stumbling across Power Quest in 2011, when they released Blood Alliance, and I thought they were a pretty decent band, much in the vein of DragonForce.  I haven't kept up with them recently, but it seems they've carried on without a hitch, despite nearly a new lineup.  Uplifting power metal is always welcome around here.

After blessing us last Christmas with a power metal adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Majestica seems to have pulled together a few more tracks (including this one) for an Extended Version this year.  While the song follows the same formula of telling the story while using a classic Christmas song as a base, it's still a pretty solid tune, much like the rest of that album.

New Videos - September 2021 Part Two!

I know I'm cutting it close, but here's one more for September before we dive deeper into the stacked autumn season.  Definitely got a good variety here, so there's sure to be something for everyone. 

Between Worlds is another Frontiers Records project, this time revolving around Ronny Munroe, a metal singer who has been kicking around for a few decades, with well-known stints in Metal Church and TSO.  Here it seems to be leaning into a symphonic rock/metal project that has some decent crunch and some potential, along with a catchy chorus.  I'll have to keep an eye on this one.

Kissin' Dynamite is always good for a fun song, and this is no different.  Finding a nice groove between 80s rock and metal, it's not surprising that it's uplifting and anthemic.  Surprisingly, this is for an album not coming out until January, which seems a little early, but I suppose it will serve as a good start for 2022.

Carrying on with more 80s cheese, Crazy Lixx is back with more Def-Leppard-style pop metal.  After enjoying their last album so much, I'm definitely interested in more from them.  While "Anthem for America" was a little weird, this one is much more straight-forward, with a mid-tempo rocking vibe that feels nice and laid back.

It's been a while since I've listened to Ronnie Romero.  I kinda forgot this was one of his bands as well.  The music is some pretty straight-forward melodic metal with some dramatic heft, but it's Romero who really shines with his iconic vocals.  Overall, a satisfying track.

I clearly need to get caught up on Tremonti's solo band, as this stuff is really solid.  It does wander into alternative metal territory with that very crunchy opening riff, which isn't necessarily outside of Mark's wheelhouse (I still remember "Bullets"), but the chorus falls back into classic post-grunge, allowing for some decent juxtaposition that doesn't feel too jarring.

Wow, this has massive Stratovarius vibes!  This makes me think of classics like Visions and Destiny.  Even vocalist Guilherme Hirose is reminding me a lot of Timo Kotipelto.  High speed riffing with nice neo-classical touches throughout, this is power metal done well!

Top 5 Albums of 2019!

Sorry that this took so much time to come out.  I wanted to spend some time relistening to some albums to really determine where they fit.  I admit I didn't listen to as many albums last year as I wanted to, but I figured I had enough to put together a decent Top 5.

Anyways, that's enough excuses!  Let's get started!

5. Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild

Call it a token entry for the retro style, but I can't deny that this really is pure 80s fun.  Taking what made bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Motley Crue so big and giving it their own spin, this is an album full of anthemic rockers that have plenty of energy.

4. Darkwater - Human

Full of atmosphere and proggy chops, this one really stood out as being very different.  Henrik Båth gives his all to these songs in a way that really reminds me of Roy Khan, and the rest of the band supports him with a wall of sound that's just massive.  Solid, symphonic prog metal.

3. Iron Savior - Kill or Be Killed

No real surprise to see this here.  Classic power metal always get my attention, and Iron Savior have deliver a top-notch album with this one.  While it doesn't really do anything new, it does lay on the epicness thick and does it well.  Full of anthemic choruses and massive riffs, it's a blast from start to finish!

2. Paragon - Controlled Demolition

I'm actually rather surprised this one made it to the list.  While I liked the videos they released, and felt the album was solid after the first listen, I didn't expect this one to grow on me so much.  Just chock-full of great riffs and epic vocals, it's gritty, old-school heavy/power metal that really grabs the ear and doesn't let go!

1. Monkey3 - Sphere

And yet, despite all the metal, this is the album that really blew me away.  Monkey3's unique blend of psychedelic, stoner, and post-rock elements create a wall of sound that feels liberating and yet emotional, and full of moments where the band just gets to jam for a bit.  A complete album, solid from top to bottom, with all kinds of highs and lows, this was my favorite album I heard all year.

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Now, this list is by no means final.  As I said, I didn't listen to everything I want to last year.  I'd recommend keeping an eye on my "Best of 2019" Spotify playlist, as I'll continue to add songs to it.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to another great year of rock and metal, and I've got some interesting ideas for articles coming soon!  Until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - August 2019!

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

Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild

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

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

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

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

Paragon - Controlled Demolition

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

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

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

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

Monkey3 - Sphere

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find Me - Angels In Blue

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

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

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

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

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

New Videos - June 2019!

Well, after such a busy April and May, I seemed to have slumped a little.  Don't worry, I have plenty of content coming down the pipeline, but first, let's cover some new videos.  Turn it up!

I know it might seem strange to start with a ballad, but this one does have quite a bit of heart behind it, even if it is broken!  Soaring vocals from Herry Hess along with a symphonic vibe really help this one soar.  Get out the lighters

Crazy Lixx is at it again, with another anthemic 80s-styled rocker!  With that epic, glossy Def Leppard vibe, these guys bring the fun for their brand of glam metal, and it just sounds amazing!  Having a few fighter jets flying around blowing things up doesn't hurt either.

What's this?  More AOR?  Why not!  Here we have Hardline again rocking like it's still 1982, and that's a good thing!  This has all the drive and adrenaline a good rock song like this needs!

Have I mentioned how impressed I've been with Italian Prog Metal lately?  Here's another great epic, though it's a little closer to traditional metal, but full of melodic leads and epic synths.  Still, great stuff!

And now for something a little different.  Monkey3 is known for their modern take on psychedelic rock and just like the last song I featured, this is full of atmosphere and intensity.  The fact that this is live doesn't affect the sonic weight and power of what they have going here.

Man, these guys can play!  I know I've posted them here before, but I can't help it!  So intense while still being melodic and catchy!  Once again, big Megadeth vibes, without feeling derivative, this is just another dose of great metal!!

New Videos - April 2019!

April showers bring . . . rock videos?  That seems to be the case.  We've got a curious collection of songs here, but they all stand out in their own way.  Check them out!

Another single for Alan Parsons's upcoming album, and I think this one is a little better than the first one.  Parsons is really channeling his mid-80's sound with these ballads.  My only concern, now, is if the album is going to be nothing but ballads.

One thing you can say for Neal Morse is that he's prolific.  Here we have the first single of his rock opera about the life of Jesus Christ, and it seems to be a quick blast 70s rock similar to Deep Purple and Kansas!  I suppose there have been weirder ways to tell Bible stories.

Jon Anderson of Yes also has a solo album coming out, and if this single is anything to go by, it might not be heavy on the rock, it is very Jon Anderson!  The video is cute in a dorky way, but it's his voice that carries the song, which is to be expected.  Fun stuff!

Grand Magus has been pounding out their brand of heavy/doom metal for a while, and here we have them blasting out something epic.  I've always been a fan of epic doom metal, and this sounds great!  Nice and crunchy!

More epicness!  Here we have Battle Beast giving us a song about the Mongols!  Noora really gives her all with this power metal track, but then again, I suppose at this point that's to be expected!  

And to finish things off, let's go with some Crazy Lixx!  This band really proves that glam metal can still sound great, with some catchy riffs and a sing-along chorus.  It's like the 80s never ended!  (And I mean that in a good way!)

New Videos - February 2019 Part 3!

I feel like these video articles are all I'm doing these days, but I can't help sharing all the cool music I'm finding!  I promise I'll get to other types of articles, but for now, let's check out some great rock music!

Let's start off with another one from Anthem.  As I mentioned before, this Japanese band has been going for a while, but this video is for their first major international album, so their pulling all the stops.  Great piece of speedy metal!

I know I post a lot of metal here, but I can't deny the power of good AOR, and I'm thankful for labels like Fronteirs Records and their mission to give this kind of music an opportunity to shine.  Here's another uplifting, 80s-style epic from Find Me, and it doesn't disappoint!

Sticking with the 80s for a moment, here we have epic 80s hair metal coming from Swedish glam rockers Crazy Lixx.  While they may not have the classic pedigree of Def Leppard or Dokken, they have the right sound and attitude to for it!

Saint Vitus seems to be coming back, bring their style of old-school doom metal with them.  While the intro seems different, that middle section and is pure Sabbath-y, with crunchy riffs and a wailing, haunted guitar solo!

Here we have another piece of melodic progressive metal from Darkwater.  After this song and the previous one, between the atmosphere, the riffs, and the synth solos, this is sounding like an album I shouldn't miss!  

Let's wrap things up with some Queensrÿche.  As expected, they bring their classic 80s style with some solid riffing and great melodies to go along with their message.  Todd La Torre really shines on this one!