Retro Reviews - September 2025 Part Two!

Once again, my retro reviews are dominated by my next Top 5 article, and with 2000 coming up, I had plenty of albums to consider.  However, in the end, I decided to review these five, as they are mostly continuations of bands I've been reviewing over the years, which means more power metal!  Instead of breaking these up, I've decided to throw them together, so settle in for a long article!

Helloween - The Dark Ride

After enjoying their latest releases, I figured it was time to try and fill in some of the gaps I had with this band's discography.  I've mentioned before that I've listened up through Better than Raw, and most of it is great power metal.  With this one, the band had retroactively mentioned there was more executive meddling this time, and they went with a bit of a darker, gritter tone.

Things start off with some pretty typical power metal, as tracks like "Mr. Torture," and "All Over the Nations" would have fit in well with any other Helloween album.  Then we get "Escalation 666" and "Mirror Mirror" with both have a much darker tone and mid-tempo chugging, and their lead single "If I Could Fly" feels almost like an alternative rock song.  The rest of the album bounces bounces around these two styles.  While the power metal tracks are classic in style, they do feel a bit less inspired than usual, while the slower, grittier tracks are a mixed bag, but feature some neat ideas.  However, to the band's credit, the album never feels uneven or jarring, the different sounds making the album feel kind of diverse.

Personally, I find the later material on the album to be stronger.  "Mirror Mirror" is an interesting take on the classic fairy tale, then "The Departed (Sun Is Going Down)" and "I Live For Your Pain" are the best of the slower, grittier songs.  Meanwhile, "We Damn the Night" is the best of the power metal side, the epic closing title track features all of this and more.  While this isn't the band at their best, they've certainly had worse, and I think there's plenty to like here, making this more like a dark horse than a black sheep.

AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip

After Ballbreaker, these Aussies seemed to settle into a pattern of putting out an album every 5-8 years, as I'm sure their live show was the more profitable side of their band.  As for this album, they definitely drawn upon the blues rock that dominated their sound in the 70s, making this feel like something of a throw back.

Of course, this is a minor shift, as the band's sound is one of the most unchanging things in the history of rock music, and that's just fine.  Things start of well with the rockin' title track, "Meltdown" and "House of Jazz" have the strongest blues elements on the album, and "Hold Me Back" has this near minimal approach before it builds to its anthemic end.  "Safe in New York City" has some interesting energy, and the blues come back for "Satellite Blues" and "Come and Get It."  I do think the album does lose some steam towards the end, but "Give It Up" is a solid closer.  Overall, it's another AC/DC album, designed to get your headbanging from beginning to end.  I will say, though, that I think this one was better than Ballbreaker, and probably on the upper end of their discography.

For what it's worth, this was the last album I needed to hear to complete my listening of their entire studio discography.  It took many years (long before I started the blog), but I can say with confidence that they've been largely consistent over their entire history. I might at some point create a Retrospective Article, filling in the reviews I need to, but that will probably have to wait until next year sometime.  In the meantime, they remain the band we've always enjoyed, and this album is a good example why.

Rhapsody of Fire - Dawn of Victory

This year was definitely one for power metal, with this one being the third in their Emerald Sword Saga.  In the last album, our hero made it to the tower to find the titular weapon and is now on his way back to face the evil that threatens the land.  Naturally, this means another set of bombastic, high speed power metal!

Musically, nothing has changed at all from the last album.  We get more neo-classical orchestrations to go with all of Luca Turilli's shredding guitars, and Fabio Lione does his best to share the story in his soaring voice.  As for that story, the hero brings the armies together into an alliance against the evil Akron, but when his friend's lover (a princess) gets kidnapped, the vile lord wants the Emerald Sword for himself.  The heroes try to anticipate a trap only to get captured, and the sword falls into the hands of evil, and our main hero is the only one to escape with his life.  I bring up the story here, as the album starts rather triumphant, but the songs get darker and more desperate as it goes (at least for power metal, anyway).  Of course, there are still some strange breaks, like "The Village of the Dwarves" with its folky respite, but most of the time, it's pretty melodramatic theatrics, which the music holds together well enough.

This is one of those albums where the great songs are great, but the rest is pretty forgettable.  I liked the title track and "Holy Thunderforce," as they feature some pretty epic melodies and symphonics, and the massive closer "The Mighty Ride of the Firelord" has a little of everything.  However, the rest of the songs, while not necessarily bad (though "The Bloody Rage of the Titans" was another strange one), they aren't as memorable as those three.  In any case, the band is once again spot on with their orchestrations and arrangements, and certainly sell their operatic pretentions pretty well. 

Iron Maiden - Brave New World

After enduring the two Blaze Bayley albums, it was high time I got back into this band and their reunion with Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith.  However, they decide to hang on to Janick Gers, making the first album with three guitarists.  In fact, this lineup has remained ever since!  In any case, this album is pretty much a return to form for the band, calling upon their 80s majesty.

I know I haven't reviewed any Dickinson album before now, so let's get the obvious out of the way: this man is a great vocalist and frontman.  He's one of the greats for good reason, and he sounds great here.  The rest of the band is definitely back to normal after stumbling through the 90s.  The rhythms and hooks are tight again, and the guitar work is exemplary as always.  Essentially, it's Maiden doing what they do best, which is writing solid, melodic heavy metal, and after the last two albums, it's nearly a relief to hear the crew still have it where it matters.  The long songs have return as well, as the band leans more into their proggy side like "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" or "Alexander the Great."

Listening to this album is like putting on an old pair of comfortable shoes.  While long-time Maiden fans will already know how good songs like "The Wicker Man" and "Blood Brothers" are, but I also rather liked "Ghost of the Navigator" and "The Fallen Angel."  There are no surprises and you know what to expect, but at the same time, you can't help but feel good about it anyway, simply because it's executed well.  As a consequence, the album might not stand up well against their classics, but it makes for a solid return to form, and a new baseline for what follows.

Gamma Ray - Blast from the Past

Just to round things out, I decided to throw this collection on and give it a listen.  Technically, it's a compilation for the band, but a majority of it was recorded, letting the fans pick the songs on their website.  While the songs themselves weren't changed much, there are a few major differences that make this more than just a typical Greatest Hits album.

First is the production, making the re-recorded versions feel more rich and layered, so they feel more in-line with what the band had been doing at the time.  It also gives them a welcome extra punch of power metal.  The other major difference is that the vocals of Ralf Scheepers (now happily working in Primal Fear at this point) were now provided by Kai Hansen.  While some of the re-recorded songs were clearly written with Ralf's hefty vocals in mind, but Kai does well enough, especially on the faster songs that call for his soaring style.  Overall, I don't know if this is a particularly vital release, but definitely shows how Gamma Ray has finally established their style.  Enjoyable, but probably not vital outside of diehard fans.

New Releases - August 2024!

Time to get back on track with some new releases.  I've got another trio of power metal albums, featuring some pretty big bands.  I promise I'll get to other genres as the year goes one, but these took priority for the summer, so here we are.  Raise your hammers, cast your spells, face all comers, and check out these reviews!

HammerFall - Avenge the Fallen

I have admit that doing the Retrospective article got me pretty hyped to hear the new album.  While I do think the band has changed, I do like their newer albums quite a bit.  They always provide a good, epic, fun time, and Avenge the Fallen is no different.  It may seem like more of the same, but there is something to be said for consistency.

Things start off well with the title track, with gang vocals on the chorus.  In fact, this whole album has a lot more gang vocals this time around.  I'm sure fans will be singing those parts when they play these songs live.  The album carries on well enough, with "The End Justifies" starting with some riffing that wouldn't be out of place on some of their first albums, before going to a spacy section that shifts into a different chorus-like part.  I also liked "Hail to the King," with it's slow, 6/8 groove, and both "Burn It Down" and "Capture the Dream" had some interesting ideas.  The ballad "Hope Springs Eternal" isn't the worst, though it does overstay it's welcome a bit, things get understandably dark with "Rise of Evil," and the closer "Time Immemorial" has a bit of an odd style, chugging under the verse, but dropping to a somber tone for the chorus.

Perhaps a bit of a mixed bag, but honestly it's pretty solid all the way through.  None of the songs feel particularly terrible (even the ballad), and their fans have plenty of more anthems to shout to.  I'm not immediately sure how it compares to their other recent albums; I'll probably have to listen to this one a few times to really decide.  However, I'd say they met my expectations pretty well, making another solid chunk of heavy/power metal.

Rhapsody of Fire - Challenge the Wind

The Nephilim's Empire Saga continues as Kreel learns more about his origin and faces a new rival known as the Black Wizard!  Rhapsody of Fire carries on with their majestic style of symphonic power metal, for better or worse.

To be honest, I really struggle to review this band.  I know I have a few times before, but it honestly ends up being a lot of the same: great orchestrations, bombastic style, noodly guitar solos, fantasy lyrics.  And it's still good, but I really struggle to feel invested in what they're doing.  For what it's worth, they do have a bit of a change-up, adding in some raspy black metal vocals, which I think are done by singer Giacomo Voli (there are no other vocal credits, so I think he's doing both).  Still, it only feels like another layer within the bombast.  Even their storytelling feels lackluster, often taking too long to get to where they're going.  They even have a 16-minute song in the middle called "Vanquished by Shadows," that could have been cut in half, as it has a lot of repeating sections.  And then they repeat them again for "Mastered by the Dark."  It's like they just cut out a section of the long song, made it a new track, and called it a day.  

That's not to say I hate what's going on.  There are some good moments.  I liked "Kreel's Magic Staff," and "A Brave New Hope," even if they did have some jarring time-signature shifts, and "Diamond Claws" brought back some folky elements.  Otherwise, I feel like the album just kinds goes in one ear and out the other.  I know Rhapsody of Fire are a pillar in the world of power metal, but I just can't seem to click with them, and their latest album is no different.

New Horizon - Conquerors

After loving their debut album so much that it was my #1 album two years ago, I was very excited to hear what these guys from H.E.A.T. have to offer for their sophomore effort.  I enjoyed their blend of Gamma Ray style power metal and AOR, but they've definitely picked up more symphonic elements, wandering towards the likes of Dragonland, and Twilight Force.

Another major shift is with the lyrics, pulling a page from Saxon's old worn playbook by focusing on a bunch of historical topics for this album instead of typical topics fantasy and triumph (squeezing in Iron Maiden's "Alexander the Great" for good measure).  As a result, the songs feel like history lessons based on quickly reading the associated Wikipedia pages, which has mixed results.  Still, all the shiny production and tight performances are back, and Nils Molin sings his guts out, sounding great.  There are more synths this time around, but they're just another layer among all the orchestrations going on here.  It's solid stuff, but compared to the first album, it does come across as an awkward turn.

I don't necessarily want to be down on a band who wants to expand to new horizons (pun intended), but this album was not an immediate hit like their first one was.  I liked the great opener "Against All Odds," the Kamelot vibes on "Messenger of the Stars," the heavy AOR crunch on "Edge of Insanity," and there's plenty of story-telling here, but I think I need to listen to this one a few more times to really decide how I feel about it.

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/

Anniversary Series - 1997!

I'm going to be honest, this year's article is going to be mostly about power metal, as 1997 was the year HammerFall exploded, bringing with it a massive wave of new bands.  I'll try to include a few others, and if there's anything you think I missed, don't hesitate to let me know.  Now, let's get this anniversary article started!

Let's just start with HammerFall and go from there.  The idea of a band that embraced the clichés of the 80s, added a heavy layer of fantasy and historical themes, and charged with some neo-classical energy was considered pretty novel when their debut album landed.  While I think their next few albums were better, they were off to a great start.  With epic tracks like "The Dragon Lies Bleeding," "Unchained," and "Steel Meets Steel," they established a foundation they and many other bands would build on.

Other power metal highlights from the year include Edguy's second album Kingdome of Madness, Kamelot's second Dominion, the debuts of symphonic titans Nightwish and Rhapsody of Fire, and earlier in the month, I covered Kai Hansen's one-two punch of Iron Savior's debut and Gamma Ray's Somewhere Out in Space.  Finally, there's Visions by Stratovarius, including blazing tracks like "Black Diamond," "Forever Free," and "Legions."  This album would cement the band as one of my favorites from this era!

Progressive metal also had a strong showing.  Not only did Dream Theater give us Falling into Infinity, with the iconic "Peruvian Skies," but Symphony X released The Divine Wings of Tragedy, with the 20-minute epic title-track that builds on John Milton and Gustav Holst, and Vanden Plas provided their own style of prog metal with The God Thing, featuring great songs like "Rainmaker" and "Crown of Thorns."

Of course, it wasn't all metal.  Post-grunge was starting to pick up again, particularly with The Colour and the Shape by the Foo Fighters.  Songs like "Monkey Wrench," "Everlong," and "My Hero would become rock radio staples.  And then there was the iconic debut of Creed with My Own Prison, the first of three great albums that I jammed repeatedly when I was in high school.  At least, when I wasn't listening to the new Yes album Open Your Eyes.  It's no innovator or prog rock triumph by any means, but one I have a lot of nostalgia for as well.

So that's 1997 in a nutshell!  Definitely some great music, and I have more selections below in the Spotify playlist.  Perhaps it's not the robust selection, but it will get better as I explore more music.  Until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - December 2021 Part Two!

Round two of 2021 catch-up!  Some of these bands I haven't really talked about much this year, but some have definitely been lighting up my New Video articles.  With a good split of epic power metal and 80s hard rock, it's been a lot of fun to listen to these!  Here's what I've checked out this time.

Rhapsody of Fire - Glory for Salvation

While I did check out the singles for this album, none of them really excited me enough to share them in my articles.  However, I'm always intrigued by a story, and this band is continuing on with their Nephilim's Empire Saga from their last album.  They also continue their well-established style of symphonic power metal, full of bombast and epicness.

The story picks up with Kreel, a thrall of the evil gods known as the Nephilim, going about doing their bidding and maintaining their tyranny.  After killing a holy prophet and falling in love with his next target, a desert enchantress, he decides to defy his evil lord, but the lord kills the enchantress in retaliation, inspiring Kreel to start fighting back.  I'm assuming the next album will focus on the epic showdown as Kreel takes on his former master.  It's not much of a story, but as always with these things, it's an opportunity to hang some power metal on all the angst and melodrama.

As for the music, it's pretty typical stuff for Rhapsody of Fire.  Plenty of orchestrations to back up Giacomo Voli's vocals and the noodly guitars.  The album does start with some darker, heavier material, culminating with the 10-minute "Abyss of Pain II," before switching to a more upbeat tone for the rest of the songs, which matches the story.  While I've always kind of struggled with Rhapsody of Fire's style, I did feel this one was more on the accessible side than some of their others.  As for stand out tracks, "Terial the Hawk" moves into folk metal territory, "Son of Vengeance" and "Chains of Destiny" were solid power metal songs, and "Abyss of Pain II" is certainly epic, if a bit too long.  Fans of the band will find plenty to like, but outside of that, it's standard story-driven power metal.

Night Ranger - ATBPO

With all these new bands playing in older styles, it's nice to see some of the originals still kicking it.  Night Ranger has always been one of those bands that I consider pretty solid from the 80s, but I've never dug too deep into their catalog.  I did enjoy their last album, though, and here they are back with another set of decent, if predictable, melodic hard rock.

Fans will probably find this to be more of the same from a band who's style was set nearly from the get-go.  The album itself has an interesting flow, as it starts with a lot of energy, gets a little slower in the middle with those ballads, and then finishes with some bigger sounding songs.  Overall, there are some solid rock riffs, nice melodies, decent guitar solos, and a great vocal performance from Jack Blades.  I liked "Coming for You" and "Breakout," as they start the album well.  "Monkey" was a curious stand-out as well, with a bit of a heavier riff than the rest of the tracks.

It's always tough for some of these bands, as it can feel like their best years are behind them.  Rarely, a band can put out a great album later in their career, long after the spotlight has moved on from their style of music.  As a result, some of these later albums, such as this one, come across as a little safe.  Maybe they'll play a song or two when they tour, but otherwise, a lot of this might be forgotten.  That doesn't mean this album is necessarily bad; I definitely like what I heard.  But in the end, this is probably not one many will come back to frequently.

Eclipse - Wired

Speaking of those newer bands playing older styles, Eclipse hit my radar with their last album Paradigm.  I had heard a few singles and liked what I heard, but it wasn't until I heard the album that I was really impressed by them.  Just solid hard rock from beginning to end.  So when I saw more singles from them announcing a new album, I was definitely excited.  Now that I've finally sat down for this one, I can say that it's a solid follow-up, if not quite as strong.

The basics are certainly still here.  The riffs really rock, and the vocals really soar, making for a lot of anthemic stompers and ensuring that the album retains much of the energy and fun of the previous album.  Even the ballads get into it, often starting in somber, acoustic guitar territory before hitting with a big distorted riff out of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra playbook.  However, some of the tracks do feel a little pedestrian at times, and the album doesn't really move much from a mid-tempo pace.

That being said, those are pretty small nitpicks, and any one looking for some solid, wall-of-sound hard rock will find plenty to like.  "Roses on Your Grave" has a bit of a classic Def Leppard vibe, "Saturday Night (Hallelujah)" is a party by itself, "Twilight" is very epic with its added touch of Beethoven, and "Bite the Bullet" has some great, crunchy riffs and an interesting, ominous slide-guitar solo that builds to some more epicness.  I think some of my excitement for this band has been tempered by this album, but I feel I can continue to expect great things from these Swedes.  I should probably dig into their back catalog as well, as I know they've got plenty of albums behind them!

Brainstorm - Wall of Skulls

Brainstorm is a band I was somewhat aware of.  I had listened to their 2011 album On the Spur of the Moment and found it to be some decent heavy/power metal that's typical from Germany.  However, as 2021 got going, Brainstorm suddenly hit with a number of singles that really got my attention!  Now that I'm catching up, this was an album I was definitely looking forward to!

Once the instrumental intro builds up, the album kicks off with tons of power and the rest of the songs do a decent job of maintaining that level of intensity.  The riffs are heavy, but they're also pretty catchy, and the solos are very tight and melodic.  However, the drumming by Dieter Bernert really nails the driving, epic vibe with his fierce double-kicking power.  Overall, this is some pretty gritty power metal, much in the vein of bands like Primal Fear, Metalium, and Bloodbound.

Not every track is a winner, as a few just seem to jog in place, but they're still decent.  Nothing really brings the album down.  The songwriting is especially tight, with no real frills or extensions, just straight-forward power metal.  "Where Ravens Fly" is a great high flying starter, "Escape the Silence" has some seriously pounding drumming, and "My Dystopia" is another fast one that really stood out to me as above the pack.  As for the mid-tempo songs, "Turn Off the Light" and "Glory Disappears" were pretty enjoyable to hear again.  "Stigmatized (Shadows Fall)" had an unexpected bit of groove, surrounded by some interesting 12/8 riffing.

The end of the album kinda tapers off in energy, but doesn't completely lose its steam.  To be honest, this album might be in my Top 5 for this year.  I knew it will be tough to decide what those five will be, and this album has definitely made it tougher!  This is some solid, crunchy, epic music and worth a look from any power metal fan who likes it on the heavy side but somehow hasn't picked this up.

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Alright, I think I've got one more article to pull together before I'm caught up with all I want to hear.  I'm certain that I've listen listened to more current-year albums this year than I have ever before!  Still, when it's all this solid, I can't complain, or at least I shouldn't, right?  Well, onto the last batch!  Until then, rock on!  \m/

Anniversary Series - 2000!

Once again, it's the middle of the month, so it's time for another anniversary article.  This time, 2000!  Once we got over the whole Y2K nonsense, what rocked that year?  I'm here to tell you!

Let's start off with some power metal, as the genre had really its stride by this point.  HammerFall would give us Renegade, with iconic tracks like the title track, "The Way of the Warrior," and "A Legend Reborn."  Nightwish expanded their symphonic stylings with Wishmaster, featuring another great title track, "Deep Silent Complete," and the dramatic number "The Kinslayer."  Other highlights include Rhapsody of Fire's Dawn of Victory, which gave us "Holy Thunderfoce," and Edguy's rerecording of Savage Poetry, which has the epic "Eyes of the Tyrant," a ten minute epic that goes through many different moods.

However, the one power metal album that stands out to me the most is Stratovarius's Infinite.  Building off of the sound of their successful trilogy of Episode, Visions, and Destiny, they add some thicker grit to their guitars and push to even greater heights.  Kicking off with the opening rocker "Hunting High and Low," the album moves through some great tracks.  "Millennium" is another great high-speed affair, "Phoenix" is a personal favorite with some massive riffs, and "Infinity" is probably their best epic track.  Full of speed and grandiosity, this album is pretty much peak power metal for me.

Of course, there were other metal bands doing work at this time.  Trans-Siberian Orchestra's third album gets away from their Christmas carols to give us a new story about the life and death of Beethoven in Beethoven's Last Night.  Melodramatic, but with some nice songs, and the references to classic music are weaved in quite expertly.  Other notable records are Helloween's The Dark Ride, Dark Moor's The Hall of the Olden Dreams, and Rob Halford's return to traditional metal with his first solo album Resurrection. 

Meanwhile, progressive rock was starting to come alive again, with new works from new bands.  While I admit I haven't listened to much from this time period, I did recently listen to Transatlantic's debut album, and thought it was pretty decent.

Finally, another genre that was big at this time was post-grunge.  While most of the stuff I'm familiar with didn't come out this particular year, one big album did, and that's The Better Life by 3 Doors Down.  This has to be one of the best debut albums I've ever heard, and I put it along side Boston's and Asia's first records as a solid rock album, from start to finish.  While "Kryptonite" would be the bit hit single from the record, the rest of the album is just a great, with songs like the crunchy "Loser," the driven "Duck and Run," the touching ballad "Be Like That," and the uplifting "So I Need You."  Honestly, I could have put all eleven tracks of this album on the playlist below, but I tried to keep it to the best.

So that's 2000!  Perhaps not as much variety as I would like, but I'm growing!  Also, if you think I've missed something, speak up!  These playlists are not set in stone, you know!

Last Played - September 2019!

I think September went just as fast as the previous months!  Still, I've been finding time to throw something on here and there.  Here's what I've been listening to this month!

Rhapsody of Fire - The Eighth Mountain

After giving their first two singles praise, I figured I should finally catch up and listen to the latest Rhapsody of Fire has to offer.  Known for their bombast and storytelling, the band seems set to start a new story they’re calling “The Nephilim's Empire Saga.”  Likely, this is where their next handful of albums will focus on, given their history of writing and pacing.

To be honest, I admit I have a hard time with Rhapsody of Fire.  Their music is epic and full of melodic leads and great solos, and the vocals are always performed with drama and power (though Giacomo Voli does have some big shoes to fill, he does admirably here).  The Eighth Mountain proves to be more of the same, so you would think this is right up my alley.

I think my issue is with the delivery of the lyrics.  Some of the grammar is a little rough, and the vocal melodies just sort of lay there on top of the song, without really resolving in a satisfying way.  It’s like they have too many words, so they just tack a note on them and put them anywhere, resulting in melodies that don’t really stick.  (I remember having the same problem with Dragonland earlier in the year.)  Don’t get me wrong, the lyrics aren’t a deal-breaker, but it does bring things down a little for me.

Still, there are some highlights to be found.  “Rain of Fury” is probably the best song on the album, and I can’t help but wonder if “White Wizard” isn’t an homage to the late Christopher Lee, who gets a posthumous cameo at the end of the album.  Other tracks that stand out are “The Courage To Forgive” and “The Legend Goes On.”  Overall, just bombastic, symphonic power metal from beginning to end, proving that Rhapsody of Fire has no plans of slowing down or changing course.

Sabaton - The Great War

Sabaton is back to do what they do best: epic power metal about military history.  Naturally, given the title, this one is about World War I, going over some of its most famous battles and individuals, as well as some of the themes that come from studying this particular conflict.

Still, that doesn’t really get in the way of all the huge, pompous, fist-pumping chords and choruses.  This is still very much Sabaton to the max.  Songs like “Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” “82nd All The Way,” and “Fields of Verdun” show that there is no slowing this metal machine down.

There are a few pieces that stand out, though.  “The Red Baron” has more of a bouncy rhythm, and does some interesting things with a hammond organ, while “The End of the War to End All Wars” has a full-on choir handling the chorus, giving it more of a Rhapsody of Fire vibe.

For what it’s worth, it’s not all glory and victory this time around, as they do touch on the tragedies of the war and lives lost, in their own way.  Sabaton also wants to honor and respect those who have served and lost their lives in these conflicts.  “Great War,” “Fields of Verdun,” “The Attack of the Dead Men,” and especially “The End of the War to End All Wars” all address the various themes of destructive tactics, shell-shock, chemical weapons, and the sheer totals of lost lives, including civilians.  Adding a very church-like arrangement of “In Flanders Fields” at the end is a nice touch.

That being, the music stays very much in Sabaton’s wheelhouse, providing a massive metal sound without getting too moody or doomy in nature.  Sabaton want to have fun with the material as much as they wish to respect it.  It’s an odd balance, but one that’s served them well throughout their career.  If you’re on the same wavelength, this is a very good album, full of all the epicness only Sabaton can provide!

Tanith - In Another Time

Man, talk about a throwback!  While there are a handful of bands taking on styles of rock from the past, this album really does sound like it comes from 1975!  Between all the folklore references and fantasy story-telling (to say nothing of the album art looking like it was pulled from an early D&D manual), this band really do sound like they are “In Another Time.”  Jokes aside, though, there is a lot more than just nostalgia going here with their eclectic mix of old-school metal and prog.

To start off, I do hear bits and pieces of bands like Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, and early Rush, but with the male/female vocal harmonies, a comparison to Fleetwood Mac feels appropriate as well (though Cindy Maynard is very different from Stevie Nicks).  Still, between all of this, they have a sound that is unique, full of melodic passages and groovy caveats.  

The first thing that stands out are those vocals.  While the harmonies do happen, there is also a lot of trading off, where Cindy will sing one line and Russ Tippins the other, making for some interesting back-and-forth.  They also have an interesting tendency to really mix up their song-writing.  They’ll set a tone, but half-way through, they’ll change the tempo or the time signature, shaking things up in a rather proggy way.  And in between, there are all kinds of noodly guitar leads and solos, all of which happen in songs that are still only 4 or 5 minutes long!

Of course, it’s not all mysticism and magic, as some of the songs are more philosophical and nature (and they even have one based on a NASA project!).  Still, it makes for a rather delightful experience to hear rock songs that really do sound like they come from not just a different era, but even a different ethos entirely!  Definitely more than a novelty, I’ll be excited to hear if they do anything more in the future!

Yes - The Ladder

I was actually planning on having one more new album on this article, but then I learned that Yes’s The Ladder just passed its 20 year mark, and I had to stop everything and listen to it again.  This album came out when I was in high school, and as a budding Yes fanatic, it was amazing!

The album really is a unique piece of work, seemingly interested in pushing forward while still retaining much of the sound that has made Yes such a great band all these years.  I really do feel that they brought together all of their experience to make something that sounded fresh and yet timeless at the same time.  Listening to it again only served to reinforce that feeling.

What was new was, first of all, how well I knew the album.  I was humming along with every melody, thumbing every beat, singing every lyric.  I also noticed the sheer positivity the album provided, with songs like “It Will Be A Good Day” and “I’m Alive” sounding like motivational speeches, and “Face to Face,” “Finally,” and “New Language,” just bursting with energy and joy.  Even the ballad “If Only You Knew” and finale “Nine Voices” come across as very sincere while still sounding huge.  I was smiling the whole time.

I love this album, and I said as much when I talked about Yes on my Big Three article last year.  While it may not be the most celebrated or popular of their albums, I really do think this is the best thing they’ve done in a long time, before or since.  A gem of an album that, unlike me, hasn’t aged one bit.

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I'm still trucking along, it seems.  Not posting as often as I would like, of course, but at this point, I'm not too disappointed.  I think I will have one more video list before the month ends.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - January 2019 Part 3!

That's right!  January gets three parts!  But when there's just so much great music out there, I gotta keep sharing it!!  Anyways, let's see what I've come across this time!

Beast in Black certainly know how to lay it on thick!  Powered by huge 80s synths, epic guitars, and Yannis's vocals, this is cheese I can get behind!

More power and fury from Rhapsody of Fire!  What we get this time is an incredible thrust of speed, energy, and technical wizardry.  While it may be nothing new from these Italians, that isn't a bad thing here!

Well, this is a change of pace!  Here we have a very jazzy piece from Soen, stepping away from their Tool-esque chops for something a little more Pink Floyd (it's the keyboards, really).  Moody, mellow, and played with sincerity.

Uriah Heep is another band I know little about, unfortunately, but I like how this one rocks.  Very much a 70s metal vibe, with crunchy riffs and raging hammonds, it's proof that old rockers don't need new tricks to keep rocking!

Evergrey have another album coming out, and while I've listened to some of the other early singles, this is the first one I've liked.  Nice and moody, with some decent crunchy riffs.

Oh, look!  Another Herman Frank video!  I don't know if I like this one as much as the other two, but it's pretty solid.  This is probably the album I'm looking forward to the most at the moment!

New Videos - December 2018, Part 2!

You know, the more I look around, the more alive the whole rock and metal scene feels!  It's so great to know there are so many good bands out there still making great music!

I admit that I'm not as familiar with Rhapsody of Fire as I should be, but I do know they've been making story-driven symphonic power metal for 20 years now, and it would seem that their epic tales will go on.  Their new singer sounds great on this fantasy epic!

So, apparently, the lead singer of Dimmu Borgir has been doing this band on the side for years, going for more of a Motorhead approach to metal.  As it turns out, this is from what they've claimed will be their last album.  Uptempo riffs and a good-time feel will make you feel like roaring out on that motorcycle one more time!

Hey, remember last week when I was psyched over the Herman Frank last week?  Here's another one!  This is more of a slow-paced stomper with a great shout-along chorus that would have filled arenas in the 80s.  I think I'm really looking forward to this album!

Well, this is a bolt out of the blue!  I admit I don't have much knowledge of the Japanese metal scene, but I know there are a handful of power metal bands out there like this  (Galneryus comes to mind).  Very impressive!

Of course, we can't have one of these lists without some good old-fashioned AOR!  Full of anthemic lyrics, heavy guitars, and huge synths, this one from Find Me fits right next to Journey and Night Ranger for that classic 80s sound.

Let's finish this one off with something special.  And by that, I mean viking Manowar.  This is so campy and cheesy that I can't help but smile!  While the video might look pretty laughable, the music is pretty solid and epic.  For those who don't take their metal so seriously.