Last Played - September 2021!

Time for some album reviews!  I'm finally catching up to some new releases, and this time, it's all power metal!!  There's been some solid stuff released this year, and it's great to hear that this style still has a lot going on in it.  Here's what I've listened to lately!

Paladine - Entering the Abyss

Well, I said was going to get this one, and here we are!  Just as a recap, Paladine are a power metal band that focus their songs on the D&D Dragonlance setting, which is what got my attention in first place.  Right off, there really isn't much that's different than the last album, but the production is definitely better, as things are more balanced between the performers.

Once again, we're back into tracks that are kinda crunchy, kinda melodic, kinda epic.  Blind Guardian and classic Dream Evil feel like the main reference points, especially with Protonotarios's grittier vocal delivery.  However, these songs are pretty straight-forward power metal, providing a lot of the same vibes multiple times, I feel.

Overall, it's not bad, as it is all generally solid, but the only real stand-out tracks for me are "Entering the Abyss" and the speedy "Hourglass in the Sky."  Still, fans of the D&D franchise will find plenty to enjoy, and I'm sure power metal fans will dig the solid atmosphere and slick guitar leads.

Helloween - Helloween

I've been a fan of Helloween for a while, but I haven't really caught up with their more recent releases (I've listened to everything up through Better Than Raw).  Combined with the fact that they've brought back both Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, after touring so successfully together, I wasn't sure quite what to expect.  I should have figured that it would feel a lot of classic Helloween, which made me pretty happy.

Sure, some of the songs are on the longer side, due to some intros and prog-lite shifts, but otherwise, anything that one could expect from a Helloween album is all here.  The riffs are catchy and melodic, the solos are absolutely spot on, and the double-kicking makes me think it's late-90s power metal all over again.  As for the vocals, everyone is on point, though Kai doesn't take too many leads, focusing more on his guitar work.  However, they do this one section together on "Fear of the Fallen" where they trade words, and it's amazing!

The album is pretty solid power metal from top to bottom.  "Fear of the Fallen" is an incredible track that goes back and forth between high-tempo shredding and more mellow parts.  "Mass Pollution" is very anthemic.  "Indestructible" has a solid, traditional metal vibe.  And "Skyfall" is a great epic like "Halloween" all over again, with a dash of Bowie's "Space Oddity" for good measure.  The rest of the tracks are decent as well, without ever getting tedious or monotonous.  This might be the best album I've heard this year, so far!

Antti Martikainen - Carmina Gloria

I'm not quite sure when it happened, but I discovered Antti when I came across a track or two of his Northern Steel album on YouTube, I instantly loved it.  Epic folk metal that really felt like it was made for his homeland of Finland.  Nearly 2 hours of solid awesome.  So when I discovered he was busting out his guitars again for another album, I knew I had to give it a listen.

Much of what made Northern Steel so great is here as well, though the folky elements are mostly gone, replaced for a more straight-forward symphonic metal approach, with a few dashes of power metal.  However, given the theme of crusaders, there are a few middle-eastern style sections with exotic ouds to expand the soundscape, allowing for a bit of variety as well giving the music even more lush layers to work with.  Meanwhile, the guitars are on point, with some huge riffs and leads that are very melodic and tasty.  And its hard to go wrong with track names like "Metal Crusade" and "Claymore in the Face"!

If there is a problem is that it insists a certainly level of intensity throughout.  While it does have dynamics from section to section, it maintains its epic tone from beginning to end, so it might be a bit much for some folks, especially with the longer tracks.  However, I enjoy it quite a bit.  I don't know if this will hit my Top 5, but it's a lot of fun to listen to and have on in the background.

Hammer King - Hammer King

When I first heard "Hammerschlag," I knew this would be an album I couldn't ignore.  Featuring solid mix of heavy and power metal, this album actually has more going on than one might assume from the album art and power metal name.

First off, I'm just going to say it: they sound like HammerFall, and I mean that in a good way.  However, it's definitely an older HammerFall style, making me think of albums like Glory to the Brave and Legacy of Kings, where the leads were more noodly and the songwriting more expansive.  Fortunately, these guys are not just a clone, as they bring in a few other influences, like the Iron Maiden-like leads on "Into the Storm," the Manowar-esque epicness on "King of Kings," and the Savatage/TSO vocal rounds at the end "Atlantis (Epilogue)."  There's also a good variety in tempo and tone, helping to break things up.

This stuff is really up my alley, as HammerFall is the band that got me into metal.  I'm not sure of the acoustic outro "Holy" was really necessary, though, as "King of Kings" was a solid closer.  My favorites from this album are the solid opener in "Awaken the Thunder" and of course the memorable, anthemic "Hammerschlag," and the rest of the album keeps it pretty classic.  It's a solid effort, one that makes me think I should dig into their back catalog.  If I do, you'll be sure I'll review it!

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Well, that gets a few off my plate, but there are certainly others, including a few still to come out this year, like Dream Theater and Yes.  Hopefully, I can get caught up on all the ones that I want to hear before the end.  However, that will make the Top 5 for this year harder to choose!  A good problem to have, I suppose.  Well, until then, rock on!  \m/

Last Played - June 2021!

Well, the heat only seems to have gotten worse.  I feel like this will be a long summer.  A good time to be indoors and listening to some new rock and metal.  Here's what I've been checking out lately!

Nickelback - Curb

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I do think Nickelback have become over-hated.  They’ve always had a pretty solid, crunchy hard rock sound, in my opinion, and I decided to give their very first album a listen.  While it’s not bad, it’s very much a product of its 1996 release date.

Some things are pretty familiar, such as the thick guitar tones and Chad Kroeger yarling through it all (which I've never minded), but their sound and songwriting haven’t quite developed into their own style yet, certainly leaning into the now-classic Seattle Sound.  Pearl Jam is probably the largest influence, though there are a few moments that make me think of early Foo Fighters as well, and a few tracks lean more into punk rock.  It’s certainly a blend of alternative rock styles from the mid-90s.

There are some good riffs and interesting moments here and there, but not much really stood out.  Some of it is dark and moody, other times it’s more jumpy and energetic, so it's a bit of a messy album, but at least it’s not the same ideas over and over.  It's was fun to hear how the band started early on, with their influences shining through, but as an album, it’s just kinda okay.

Robin McAuley - Standing on the Edge

Robin McAuley is one of those journeymen who wandered through many bands in the 80s, making a name for himself, but never really settling with a single band, and he’s continued that pattern in recent years.  After reconnecting with Michael Schenker for a few albums, then joining Black Swan, he has followed up with his first solo album in more than 20 years.

Unsurprisingly, it’s largely mid-tempo rock songs reminiscent of his time as part of the McAuley-Schenker group in the late 80s.  The riffs are actually pretty chunky, and the synths and organs add some nice layers, all of which work to provide the ideal backdrop for McAuley’s vocals.  Honestly, he sounds great here, his voice giving authority to what might be some pretty standard lyrics.  None of it is awful, just kinda pedestrian, but when they’re sung by someone this good, it’s hard to complain.  It’s almost like he hasn’t aged at all!

The album is pretty by-the-numbers, but that’s to be expected with something like this.  The tracks that stood out to me were the ones I’ve featured before on the New Vidoes articles on this blog: “Thy Will Be Done” (which is a solid opener), “Standing on the Edge,” “Say Goodbye,” and “Wanna Take a Ride” remain good rockers, with “Chosen Few” being rather punchy, kinda like AC/DC, and "Running Out of Time" being a nice, uptempo closer.  A little heavier than most AOR, but as an album, it flows pretty well, and proves that Robin still has it, making for a pretty good listen.

Paladine - Finding Solace

When I came across this band earlier in the year, I figured, as they only have two albums, I'd start with their first one.  It's a bit of a rough listen, as the production has some quirks, but otherwise, it's a solid, if clunky, collection of power metal.

These guys really like their DragonLance lore, as all their songs are drawn from that D&D universe.  I'm only a bit familiar with it, having read the Chronicles trilogy when I was in high school, but it works as a sufficient core to build epic songs around, even if the lyrics don't don't always gel.  Sonically, they sound very much in the heavy/power realm, much like early Dream Evil, Metalium, or Warrior Path, with a dash of Iron Maiden for good measure.  However, it does have some first album drawbacks.  The songs are probably too long for what they are, and the drums sound a bit too forward in the mix and very clicky.

Still, these are minor problems.  Nick Protonotarios is a good vocalist, mostly going for a gritty epicness, not unlike Herbie Langhans or Henning Basse, and there is plenty of solid guitar work and solos.  They also have a folky acoustic ballad or two to mix things up a little.  However, the only tracks that stood out were "Master of Present & Past," and "Metalizer," which has a strong Firepower-era Judas Priest vibe.  Still, they show plenty of promise, and I'll be sure to listen to their second album later this year!

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I don't really have much to add this time around.  I pretty much intend to just keep going, doing my semi-regular articles, listening to more music, and not let the heat of summer get the best of me.  Until then, rock on!  \m/

New Videos - April 2021!

I'm starting to catch up on newer releases again, and it's definitely thanks in part to these video articles.  I love finding out new bands or classic bands putting out new material.  This one is a little heavy on the power metal, but I found some great stuff and had to share it!

Let's start with something nice and crunchy!!  Warrior Path straddle the line between traditional heavy metal and power metal, making for something that's epic, but still very grounded.  This song also features a lot of catchy little riffs, kinda making me think of early HammerFall or Dream Evil.

I'll admit my feelings about Greta Van Fleet are complicated (in fact, I'm working on an article dedicated to my thoughts on their music), but I want to wait to the new album first before publish that.  In the meantime, while other singles have left me lukewarm, this one builds quite nicely, actually.  Here's hoping their new album has more solid material like this.

More epic power metal, again like old Dream Evil or Edguy.  However, the fact that all their songs are based on the D&D setting of Dragonlance is what stood out to me, as I remember enjoying those books when I was in high school.  Melodic and crunchy, with great vocals from Nick "The Metalizer" Protonotarios.

Another single from this upcoming Robin McAuley solo album.  This one is more at ease, going for a middling tempo, but still has a decent crunch on top of the acoustic guitars.  It's pretty standard AOR, but Robin's vocals really kick it up a notch, I think.

This just kinda popped up on my YouTube subscriptions, and I didn't know what to expect at first.  However, as I put it on, I was surprised to hear power metal in the vein of classic HammerFall.  Chunky, with a foot in traditional metal, and gang vocals on the chorus, this is some epic stuff!  Hammerschlag indeed!

After touring with their 3 vocalists/3 guitarists lineup for a few years, we finally get to hear some of the new stuff they've been cooking up, and it's pretty classic Helloween.  A bit odd to have a 7 minute "single edit" of a 12 minute epic, but it's fun and a bit proggy, with the calmer, "Space Oddity" moments between all the blast beats.  I'm definitely excited for this album, and this song only makes the wait harder!