New Videos - 2022 Wrap Up!

Hey, sorry for not posting much this month, but things have been a bit rough for the start of the year, but I know there are good things coming!  At the very least, we have one more videos article to wrap up some of the things from 2022!  Some are from last year, some looking ahead to this year, but they're all worth checking out.

Featuring the singer of Pyramaze, this is some anthemic mid-tempo metal.  While the video itself is pretty minimal, I can't deny the song has some decent catchiness.  The Archives describe the band as power metal, but based on just this single, it's more like a melodic traditional metal.  Maybe they had some more uptempo tracks on their album, so I might check it out at some point.

After enjoying their last album Point of No Return, I knew I would be on board with whatever these Brits do next.  This track has some interesting dynamics, starting with a bit of a jangly riff before bringing in the heavy riffs, with Shane Greenhall vocals really sealing the deal.

Okay so this one feels a little closer to the band's general sound (as best as I'm familiar with it).  However, there is still some of that atmospheric tension of the earlier single, and the bridge builds pretty well.  This last album of theirs might be quite the hard rock highlight for this year.

Here's one I simply overlooked.  I'm not sure how I really missed these guys as I was on board with Atomic Fire Records when they started.  Basically, it sounds like if Beast in Black traded in their synths for more of a symphonic vibe.  It's pretty epic sounding, with some solid power metal chops to back it up.  I may have to come back to these guys when I get a chance.

Another one I missed!  These guys, despite being from France, sound like many German power metal bands, making me think of Gamma Ray and Freedom Call in particular.  I really like all the noodly guitar riffs and solos, while still maintaining the epicness.  

Last Played - October 2020 Part Two!

So I'm finally catching up on some 2020 stuff.  However, I know I've still got plenty I haven't even touched yet!  Hopefully, I'll get to some good stuff before the year is out, especially with AC/DC and Iron Savior coming up.  For now, though, here's what I've been listening to lately!

One Desire - Midnight Empire

One Desire was the band that blew me away back in 2017, which was about when I discovered Frontiers Records.  I really liked their approach to the pop metal 80s sound that made it seem lively and accessible.  It's been three years and they've finally followed up with their second album.  Once again, we get an album that's full of 80s energy, but with a slick, modern polish, which is why I loved the first one.

If there are any differences, there's more variety, I think.  Some songs are on the crunchier side, like "Shadowman" and "Battlefield of Love," while others make more use of acoustic guitar stuff, like "Rio" and "Only When I Breath."  Another track that's pretty solid is "Through the Fire," which starts off like an acoustic ballad, but then builds and builds into this rock epic.  I also think the production is slightly better than the last album (which is saying something!).  I also got a pretty big Europe vibe from some of the tracks.

However, it doesn't get too far away from the anthemic pop metal they established from their first album, so those looking for more of the same will not be disappointed.  One Desire maintains their standard for solid song-writing and rockin' tunes.  

Judicator - Let There Be Nothing

So while I've been checking out various videos, I came across one for this band's new record.  At the time, I wasn't too impressed by the song, but I was curious about a band who sounded a lot like Blind Guardian, but focused on European History.  After a while, I decided to give their latest album a shot, and I have to say I'm quite impressed.  

It tells the story of Belisarius, a great general of the Byzantine Empire, contrasting his military conquests with the his dilemma of dealing with an unfaithful wife.  The lyrics and music are more dedicated to telling a story, resulting in lyrics that can be a little clunky here and there.  However, it's all performed quite admirably, with John Yelland's vocals belting out all the melodrama the scenario provides.  It's definitely an album that demands attention, reading the lyrics as you listen, and maybe looking up a few names on Wikipedia just to understand the context.

While the Blind Guardian comparison is easy to make, especially with Yelland sounding a lot like Hansi Kursch, this band falls a little closer to the US power metal, with a heavy dose of progressive metal, as tempos and moods shift to match the needs of the story.  Still, I enjoyed a lot of it, with plenty of meaty riffs, noodly solos, and awesome vocal harmonies, though I do wonder if the production isn't a little on the muddy side.   As a consequence, the songs do kind of blend together, as there isn't much to differentiate them from each other. However, as an album, it's definitely a solid experience, telling an interesting story with a Shakespearean fervor.

Those Damn Crows - Point of No Return

Hey, remember when I was freaking out about this band a year ago?  I finally listened to their album!  Based out of the UK, these guys provide a very polished post-grunge sound, making me think of the likes of early Daughtry, or The Calling, with a few heavier riffs here and there.

Overall, it's a pretty fun rock album.  Shane Greenhall puts a lot of charm in his vocals, and band keeps songs riffy without really being bogged down with heaviness, making for a rather light listen for hard rock.  A lot of that has to do with the production, which keeps things tight and clear.  They won't be winning any heaviness awards, but they make up for that with some pretty catchy tunes to go along with their mid-level crunch.

However, there isn't in the way of variety.  There's a piano ballad on there, but otherwise, the songs are pretty straight-forward, mostly jamming at a mid-tempo level.  I will say that that band does get riffier as the album goes on, which is interesting.  Stand outs are songs I've showcased before, but also "Send the Reaper," "Long Time Dead," and "King of Second Chances."  Honestly, though, it's a consistent rock album from start to finish.

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I think I still have plenty of time to get a few more of these in before the end of the year.  Still, I can't believe October is over already!  This year has been crazy on multiple levels.  I hope everyone is staying safe and gets the chance to hear some good, uplifting music to deal with the chaos.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - February 2020!

More videos!  Got an interesting mix this time, a little all-over-the-place, really.  Still, if it's great rock, then I'm putting it in!  Check out what I've found this time around!

Let's start off with some proggy hard rock.  Sons of Apollo seem to have found this weird spot between Deep Purple and post-grunge like Alter Bridge, but they really make it work!  

It feels like each song they preview for this upcoming album just convinces me how much I'm gonna need this album in my life!  This one is a little more laid back than others of theirs I've posted, but it still rocks!

While melodic death metal is beyond the scope of this blog, I do enjoy Amon Amarth, and here we have Mob Rules doing a great power metal cover it.  While I don't know if it's as good as Sabaton's cover of "Twilight of the Thunder God," this is a pretty solid track, letting the power metal style provide a different kind of epicness from the original song.

Another one from Dirty Shirley, this time leaning harder on the Coverdale side.  Seriously, this sounds about as Whitesnake as it gets, but that ain't a bad thing!  Full of bluesy riffs and dirty attitude, this is a hard rock song that gets your head banging!  (Well, mine did, anyway!)

Harem Scarem is another band that's been around for decades, but still rocking!  Bridging the gap between AOR and hard rock, this one's really crunchy but has a great chorus.  Another classic band to add to the list of "should listen more to these guys"!

We'll finish this list with another dabble into the realm of melodic thrash metal.  Annihilator has been shredding away for as long as any classic thrasher, and here we see Jeff Waters and company providing chunky riffs with a catchy chorus.  A dark ending to the article, perhaps, but no less fun to listen to!

New Videos - November 2019 Part Two!

As the days get cooler and the dog days of Summer become memory, rock and metal and continues on!  A lot of fun stuff in this list, so turn up the volume and check this stuff out!

When you get a former Nightwish singer and a former Sonata Arctica guitarist teaming up, you know you're getting some very epic, melodic metal!  With the symphonic flourishes being supported by some pulsing synths, this is some anthemic stuff!

Now this is some great AOR!  Work of Art really rocks this one out, bringing a nice balance of synths and guitar to go along with the uplifting tone and lyrics.  A lot of fun!

Another Eclipse track that just sounds huge and rocks right along!  Sitting right in that pop metal sound between Def Leppard and Crazy Lixx, this is some fist-pumping, arena-filling magic here, and blast to listen to!

I think I've since proven that I'm not afraid of getting silly sometimes, and this video is rock silliness personified!  A curious mashup with glam metal band Kissin' Dynamite and the rockabilly outfit The Baseballs, you can tell they had a lot of fun with this one.

Getting back into more dramatic stuff, Diviner just continues to rock my face off!  While this starts off as an acoustic ballad, that just sets up the epicness to come.  Again, Yiannis's vocals are right on point, matching the scale of the huge guitars.  Great stuff!

Another single from Those Damn Crows, and it's more uptempo post-grunge!  I love the energy in this one has, while still being pretty catchy and melodic.  Something tells me I'm gonna like this album once it releases.

New Videos - October 2019 Part Two!

Hey, so I was able to pull together another list before the end of the month!  Of course, I kind of cheated and picked a bunch of power metal songs, but when the stuff is this good, why complain!  Here's one last list for October!!

I warned you this would be heavy on the power metal, and we're kicking off with another NorthTale track.  This group really brings it together with all the staples of classic 90s power metal, with some crunchy riffs for good measure!  I really need to listen to this album already!

Now Freedom Call is part of those power metal hey-days of the 90s, and they're still charging ahead with their speedy, uplifting sounds like they haven't aged a day.  This is another band I should listen to more often!

Twilight Force has more power metal for us, though they are more in the DragonForce and Rhapsody of Fire style than the previous two.  However, anyone familiar with this group knows to expect epic lyrics, massive choirs, and a dramatic flair well-suited for their style of story-telling.  That speedy guitar solo doesn't hurt, either!

Alright, let's break up the power metal with something a little bluesier.  Here we have CoreLeoni, which is another group fronted by Ronnie Romero (how many bands is he in?!).  This has that late 80s, bluesy-metal of bands like Whitesnake and Great White, but with Ronnie's big vocals and some very nice shredding!

Sitting at the nexus of hard rock and post-grunge is Those Damn Crows, a band that doesn't sound like they come from Wales at all!  Full of upbeat, crunchy riffs, and a thick, soaring baritone voice, this is some solid stuff!

Let's wrap this up with more power metal, and this one is a classic!  With Helloween now featuring the return of Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, they're really going all out!  Full of soaring vocal harmonies and epic riffage, it's clear to see why these guys are the origin of power metal, and they're still slaying it today!!  Oh, and just in time for the 31st, as well!