Last Played - 2023 Roundup!

Here's the problem: there are too many albums I want to listen to, and not enough time to listen to them all.  Maybe if this were a full-time job, I could do it, but I'm definitely not to that level at all.  Still, I wanted to at least give some time to all things I listened to, even if it wasn't as much attention as the albums in my regular Last Played articles, so here are a bunch of mini-reviews.  To be honest, it's a lot of bands carrying on their sound, resulting in a lot of albums that were good, but not amazing.  Here's the rest of what I listened to for 2023!

Vega - Battlelines

Vega has been an interesting band to follow.  I started with Only Human, which I loved for it's cheesy 80s anthemic rocking.  Grit Your Teeth saw the band keep their style but loosen up in a good way.  However, Anarchy and Unity felt like a shift into more 90s or 2000s alternative rock.  It wasn't bad, but certainly different.  So how is Battlelines?  It's pretty similar to Grit Your Teeth, honestly.  The production isn't as thick as it was on Only Human, but otherwise, it's another solid set of melodic hard rock.  The opener "Heroes and Zeroes," and "Embrace the Grey" have some good energy in particular.

DGM - Life

This is one I wish I could have given more time, as their last album was my number one choice for 2020.  However, it's hard to deny that Life isn't more of the same as what was on Tragic Separation.  Of course, this means more chunky, syncopated riffing in the guitars, more catchy, AOR-style choruses, and more great soaring vocals from Mark Basile.  This is clear from the beginning as they start with their lead single, and the rest of the tracks carry on just like that.  Sure, they shake it up here and there with some clean piano or an a cappella section, and they throw on some appropriate synths for "Neuromancer," but otherwise, they remain pretty consistent.  Unfortunately, there wasn't much that stood out compared to what I've heard them do before.

Sorcerer - Reign of the Reaper

After Lamenting of the Innocence blew me away a few years ago, I knew I had to keep an eye out for what Sorcerer would do next.  Once again, we are back into the weird blend of big doomy riffs and melodic shredding solos.  This time, I feel like there's an increase in classic metal (which maybe isn't a surprise after doing an EP of covers during the lockdown).  I continually got vibes of Judas Priest, Saxon, and Rainbow, which were blended very well into their wall-of-sound approach to doom.  Anders Engberg soars over everything, and Kristian Niemann and Peter Hallgren bring another excellent set of heavy riffs and shreddy solos.  If there is a difference, I feel like the songs are more uplifting and heroic.  It's not something across the album, but I did pick up on it here and there, and I found it pretty refreshing, actually.  While I don't think it's quite as good as Lamenting, it's about on par with The Crowning of the Fire King and is another solid release from a band who clearly has their own stamp on the epic doom genre.

Final Strike - Finding Pieces

This is the new project by Christian Eriksson, formerly of NorthTale and Twilight Force.  Bringing along a few mates from NorthTale, this group sets out to do power metal in a very classic way.  I know I enjoyed two of their singles, and I'm hearing everything from Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Edguy to even bits of Hammerfall and Stratovarius.  Eriksson sounds solid, and the guitarwork by Martin Floberg is full of noodly shredding and uptempo riffing.  While they do change things up, occasionally having a mid-tempo stomper, it's mostly high speed, double-bass-kicking anthems.  "Finding Pieces" and "Freedom" remain as good songs, and I also enjoyed the closer "Turn of the Tide."  However, this year has had some excellent power metal, so I will have to give it a few more listens to decide how well it stacks with the competition.

Eclipse - Megalomanium

Eclipse makes no major changes, but why fix what isn't broken?  While Paradigm remains my favorite of theirs, this is another solid set of rock songs, though they have pushed more in an anthemic direction (if a song simply named "Anthem" wasn't a clue already!).  However, in an effort to sound big, I think they've lost some of the meat, especially since the opening tracks do feel a little lackluster.  They even lean into pop punk a little with songs like "Got It" and "The Broken."  However, things pick up with "Children of the Night," starting with a riff that could have come from Bark at the Moon, and the second half of the album gets back into some solid rocking.  Overall, they haven't fallen into a slump as they continue to provide good, energetic tunes.

Tanith - Voyage

After enjoying two of the singles, this album is certainly a solid follow-up to their debut, carrying on their Thin-Lizzy-meets-Blue-Oyster-Cult style of rock.  However, some of Russ Tippins' NWOBHM background has slipped in, as I sometimes thought of Iron Maiden's Killers, with some galloping guitar rhythms.  Still, their of 70s fantasy lyrics powered by cosmic descriptions still makes them feel like something from another time.  Tippins provides plenty of old-school fretwork on his guitar, and Cindy Maynard continues her role of vocal counter point, though this album has a lot more of them singing together.  While a few songs get into some proggy or atmospheric sections, most of the album has a lot of solid, straight-on rock, making for a pretty consistent listen.  I don't know if this is better or worse than their debut, as it's close, but this certainly confirms what they started, making them a pretty unique band in the current rock music landscape.

New Videos - April 2023!

Man, it's been a busy month.  Still, I found a handful of interesting bands to go over for this set of videos, some new to me, some classic.  I'm covering quite a range of genres with this one, but that doesn't mean they all don't deserve to be played at max volume!

Yup, more Tanith.  This one definitely has more of a mellowed-out 70s jam vibe, with less of the mystery and mystique.  Still, it's a decent rocker that settles into a comfortable space, with some interesting overlapping vocal lines.  I've definitely been looking forward to their album, and I plan on getting to it soon.

Weapon (alternatively known as Weapon UK) is actually an oldschool NWOBHM band that never really got off the ground in the 80s.  But thanks to classic metal bands finding new audiences in the age of the internet, they've had something of a revival in the 21st century.  While I've never heard of them before, this clearly has the band pushing into heavy/power metal territory, and I can't deny that it's rather catchy.  

I admit I haven't played the Soul Reaver games (though I've heard good things), I definitely know good power metal when I hear it.  The song-writing gives me some Blind Guardian vibes, how it goes back and forth between aggressive and melodic passages.  I'll have to catch up with these Finns at some point.

The Dust Coda are back again, and they're starting with another high energy blues rock anthem!  It doesn't seem like they're changing things up much, but I'm okay with that, as their first two albums are some very solid retro rock, and I'll be happy to take a third!

It might be silly to call a nine-minute song a "single," but this is the second one Yes has given in anticipation of their new album next month.  It has some nice melodies and shifts, but it pretty much stays in this chilled tone the whole time, making me wish for a little more punch.

Going from light prog rock to melodic thrash might just be the biggest stretch I've done on a New Videos article!  While I'm not quite sold on their new singer, Metal Church does know how to bring the riffs and the fretwork that inspire a solid, headbang-worthy track.

New Videos - March 2023!

While I've been listening to a lot of classic stuff lately, I haven't completely ignored what's coming out now.  There are some pretty exciting releases in the near future, if this collection of songs is any indication, with plenty of rock and metal to look forward to.  

Trust Excalion to bring the uplifting power metal!  Starting off with an epic wail, they once again pull off the triumph and epicness one would expect from these Finns.  Strong, anthemic melodies and a great, catchy chorus, this is power metal at its finest.

I'm glad to see Tanith is coming back!  Their unique blend of NWHOBM and 70s metal made them a stand out when they released their debut album four years ago (where did the time go?!).  This track seems to have some extra noodly guitars, but otherwise, their Thin Lizzy meets Fleetwood Mac vibe remains strong.

I can't believe it's already been 2 years since The Quest came out (well, okay, it's more like 18 months).  And now my favorite band is moving on once again to a new album, now with Jay Schellen as the drummer (though I understand some of Alan White's drumming made it to this new album).  Anyways, the song seems to retain the lush layers of the last album, but I don't know if the song-writing holds the song together all too well.  Still, it does show a band willing to try a few things, as there are some interesting affects being used.  Here's hoping the album has more going on than just this.

These days, it feels like most AOR is starting to all sound the same, so when a track stands out, it really does, and this one has some great energy.  Some nice riffing and the huge production give this new single from First Signal an extra brightness that feels like a step above the rest.

I admit that I dropped the ball on my Kamelot catch-up, so I don't know when I'll be getting to their newest album, at the moment.  However, between all the solid symphonic flourishes, I noticed that this track has some of that classic power metal sound in it, which gets me pretty excited.

Here's another group where their new album is already out and I haven't gotten to it yet!  Once again, Lovebites "stand and deliver" on their contagious sense of energy.  Even when they throw in a chunkier riff, like at the beginning of this one, they don't let up on the double-kicking power metal fury in the end.

While the third single for Metallica's new album was lackluster, I rather quite liked this fourth one.  It shifts easily between high-speed and mid-tempo sections, and while it may not necessarily feel innovative, it maintains its energy well, and Hammett's second solo was pretty good, making me think of some of his stuff from Ride the Lightning.

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 - May 2019 Part Three!

More videos!  There's been a lot of great music coming out lately, and I'm glad to share it with you all.  Got quite the mix this time, with some artists coming back and a few news I hadn't heard of before!

I can't help it!  Sabaton makes great power metal, and they always seem to find neat things to sing about!  While the video does get a bit grim (though it is World War I they're talking about), the infectious, epic melodies Sabaton is known for are all on point.  Check it out!

Tanith is back with another single for their new album.  Once again, rocking that 70s prog/metal vibe, this really has that classic touch.  It shifts from mood to mood, and yet, it's never jarring, or feels like it's trying to do too much.  Classic rock to a T!

We're rocking it old school this time, as we have The Rods back with a new album.  I guess they've been rocking since 1980, and it sounds like they haven't changed much.  Despite them being from the US, this has a massive NWOBHM sound with a lot of bass!

More old-school metal!  Got another Paragon video, and this one is pure 80s speed metal, with some very flashy solos and epic riffs.  Just great, break-neck metal that you can't help but headbang to!

More Diviner, more epicness.  Once again, great riffs, huge vocals, and a grand sense of musical scope.  It just sounds huge!  This one has more of a prog metal vibe, like Vanden Plas.  I like it a lot!

Let's finish off with a great piece of driving AOR.  With a big chorus and great riffs, this one really soars, like a good AOR should do.  The lyrics might not be much, but it has great production, and Dino just really let's it out!

New Videos - April 2019 Part 3!

One last set of videos before we finish the month of April.  We've got a good mix of things here, ranging from classic 70s rock, to 80s anthemic sounds, to 90s power metal.  Check it out!

Whitesnake is back with another album of sleazy hard rock.  While the first few singles were just okay, here we have them really piling on the 80s anthemic sound.  With the shout-style chorus, they almost sound like Def Leppard!

Enforcer is here to revive the classic sound of metal from the early 80s, full of energy and speed, and not much else.  And I mean that in a good way!  Seriously, this is about as straight-forward and classic as it gets!

I can't help it!  If it's fast, epic, and melodic, I'm gonna love it!  Here we have Frozen Crown, a newer power metal band from Italy, and this song is giving me a massive last 90s power metal vibe, like Stratovarius or Edguy or Fourth Legacy era Kamelot!  Amazing!!

The album this one comes from is titled In Another Time, which is very appropriate for this piece 70s metal.  Adding in some folky and proggy elements, this sounds somewhere between early Rush and early Rainbow, but with dual guitar leads like Kansas!

Well, this is different.  Taking their progressive metal roots and adding in a dash of anthemic 80s sounds, Mind Key makes it a great track of epic melodic metal.  Aurelio Fierro Jr's voice is what really holds it together, having that right mix of gritty and charismatic elements.  Italy knows how to make some great prog!

Let's end with another throwback rock artist, The Vintage Caravan.  This trio seems to live in the late-60s, early-70s, calling up vibes one would get from Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, and Blue Oyster Cult.  Between the smooth vocals and psychedelic noodling, there's a lot to like here!