I'm afraid this month hasn't been as productive, as I've been dealing with a very persistent cold. Hopefully, next month will be better. Until then, here are some videos that has caught my interest over the past month!
Angel are back, bringing a nice mix of AOR and glam rock that reminds me very much of Europe's early material, and which is a compliment in my book! Something of a nostalgic song as they look back on their past, but it sounds like they can still rock all the same.
Apocalyptica are certainly a unique band in the rock world, with their cello-driven metal, but here we see them venture more into progressive territory, mixing the collage-like imagery with all kinds of mood shifts and tempo changes. Impressive work!
Of course, I can't stay away from power metal. Here is another one from NorthTale, full of that symphonic power metal magic I love! I really should listen to their album, as I've loved everything they've released so far!
More symphonic power metal! Visions of Atlantis takes things on a more cinematic scale, showing some nice vistas to go along with their epic melodies and orchestral swells. Great stuff!
Talk about a band playing it oldschool! RAM is here is bring back the glory days of early metal, carrying vibes of late-70s Judas Priest, Accept, and Riot. With some crazy fast licks and a penchant for over-the-top metal aesthetic, this is a blast, literally and figuratively!
Let's finish with something a bit weird. The prog supergroup Flying Colors is back with a third album, and for their first single, they're messing around with time-signatures and glow-in-the-dark in the same measure. While the video is pretty nuts, the music is an interesting blend of hard rock and jarring rhythms, with a softer section reminiscent of Yes or early Genesis. Nice work, fellas!
We're finally getting into fall, and I'm very thankful! Summer really wears me out, so it's nice to feel things get cooler and crisper again. But enough about the seasons! Let's check check out some rock!
Man, if the first twosingles for Alter Bridge's new album were good, this is straight up epic! It starts off kinda soft but then hits you with a massive riff and just gets bigger from there! Great piece of hard rock!
Visions of Atlantis is another symphonic metal band, going for that epic, dramatic sound. While I know there are a lot of bands like this, this song shows some promise, having a bit of a folky vibe and keeping things accessible and melodic.
Northtale once again bringing that classic power metal sound, like it's 1999 all over again! With shades of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, this is right up my alley. I really need to around to listening to this album!
It's been a while since we talked about First Signal, but here's a newer one from them and it's another great AOR rocker! They're really going for a big, epic sound on this one, and the chorus is very catchy. Who knew the end of the world would be so uplifting?
More Twilight Force! If you've heard these guys before, you know the drill: epic vocals, fast guitar leads, symphonic swells, and cheesy fantasy lyrics!! Seriously, despite the low-budget vibe of the video, this is fun stuff!
Here's another one from The Defiants! Once again, they have that great 80s, Bryan Adams vibe: big chords while still having that laid-back, summery feel. Just turn it up, put the card in cruise-control, and soak it in!
