Sorry for not posting for so long. Been busy with real life. Now it's time to talk Metal.
I was playing
the train game online with
Rich the other night and we were talking about some of the metal bands I've been listening to lately and he asked me to send him a list. So y'all get to see it, too. As some of you know,
I was a metal head in high school and then spent the next 15 years after that in pursuit of the perfect power pop music (even though it had already been found at the start of those 15 years -
Jellyfish). Anyway, come 2005 and I realize that you just can't take the Metal out once you've got it in you. So here's what's been spinning here lately, Metal-wise:
Porcupine Tree -
In Absentia (2002);
Deadwing (2005);
Fear of a Blank Planet (2007): I am forever indebted to
Dave R. for introducing me to my new favorite band. Besides the albums I mentioned, there's an extensive back catalog. They're not entirely metal... more like Progressive Rock Fusion with Metal elements. At times they can rock very hard and at other times play some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. If you only hear one track: "Blackest Eyes" from In Absentia. For a perfect example of the beauty in their music, check "Lazarus" from Deadwing. Cool recent
interview with Steve Wilson:.
Dream Theater -
Octavarium (2005);
Systematic Chaos (2007): These two latest albums from the kings of Prog Metal are pretty different from each other, but both of them are really good. Octavarium is criticized by certain members of the fan base as being too soft with references to Coldplay and U2 influences. I don't see it. "Panic Attack" is probably the most kick ass song I've heard from 2005. The new album opens up with a completely amazing first 5 minutes. The middle section of the album will need to be listened to more to absorb it, but the bookend tracks (which are actually part 1 and part 2 of one epic song) are great, heavy and technically amazing Prog Metal.
Kamelot -
Ghost Opera (2007): I'm not speaking specifically about the new album here, but this band is really growing on me. They sound like Scandinavian Power Metal, but are actually from Florida. They've been around for something like 12 years already. Any of the last four albums are worth a listen. There's some really fast, sometimes progressive, always powerful metal here. Their vocalist is great, too. Reminiscent of some of the great voices like Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson, but without going too far into the "Hey, I could also be an opera singer!" moments that some of the Scandinavian guys like to do.
Candlemass - These guys made a name for themselves in the '80s as being the absolute heaviest metal band on earth. Think Black Sabbath, but much heavier, thicker and about 100 times more gloomy. Epic Doom Metal at its best (their first album is titled "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus"). The reason I note them here is that just back in 2005 they got back together and put out a
self-titled album. I haven't gotten too far into this album, but I remember the first track "Black Dwarf" being incredible. I just found out that after the 2005 reunion, Messiah Marcolin (vocalist) left again. There's a new album out this year with a different vocalist called "
King of the Grey Islands", but I haven't heard it yet.
Symphony X - I once cataloged these guys in my brain rather quickly as "yet another new Prog/Power Metal band". So then I never took the time to get into any of their albums. But... Oh My Goodness! The newest album,
Paradise Lost completely blew me away! This is currently my heavy rotation disc. It's stuck in the CD player in the car (I've been making lots of trips to Lowes lately). If you've spent any time with European Prog, Power or Symphonic Metal, you might have noticed the trend of bands that are early in their careers using that cheesy synthesized orchestra sound to try and orchestrate their ambitious epics. While the idea might be great, the cheesy sounding synth orchestra completely ruins the experience. Not so with Paradise Lost. This thing opens with an instrumental overture-type of thing that uses, what sounds like, an aggressive, huge, real orchestra and then launches into some of the fastest, crunchiest, heaviest riffing ever. It's awesome! The whole album (except one power ballad) is fast, aggressive, and, literally, heart pounding to the core. This must be listened to loud! I can't remember the last time a metal album blew me away so hard that I thought I might get injured listening to it. And, again I was surprised to find that this European sounding band was from the States (New Jersey).
Megadeth - has become interesting to me again because a few years ago, Dave Mustaine found Jesus. And also because Megadeth has broken up and re-grouped several times. The newest album "
United Abominations" is the second one since Mustaine's "conversion". He's firmly planted his sites on all things political and "current events". No more skull and devil music, just very biting commentary on the state of things with some kick ass riffs and solos. I can't say that either of these are exciting me as much as Symphony X or Kamelot, but if you ever were a Megadeth fan, you need to check out the last two albums (the prior one being called "
The System Has Failed").
(This is getting long and I've been working on it off-and-on for a few days. In the interest of time, I shall be more brief going forward)
Manowar - Still around, still the self-proclaimed Kings of Metal has a new album out this year that begins an "album cycle" in which each album will be dedicated to a different god of war. This year's album is called, simply, "
Gods of War". Haven't heard this one yet, but the lead reviews at that Amazon link are not promising.
Ozzy's new album has 10 tracks, 4 of which are worth repeat listens: "I Don't Wanna Stop", "The Almighty Dollar", "Silver" and "Civilize The Universe".
Adagio - I've got "
Sanctus Ignis" from 2001. This is really good symphonic metal with a really interesting all-instrumental cover of "Immigrant Song". From allmusic: "A good many bands seem to be intent on merging classical/symphonic styles with heavy metal. This group does a much better job than many at it. The central reasons that their music seems more immediate is that they appear to have a genuine interest in the classical end of things"
Diablo Swing Orchestra - "
Butcher's Ballroom". This is bizarre and must be heard to be believed. The three words in the name of the band are not just random... they are purposeful. This is dark, devilish swing music done heavy metal style with a beautiful female operatic vocal and demonic growling to boot. It sounds absolutely ridiculous the way I describe it, but it's actually good. I can guarantee you haven't heard anything like this. There's also an outrageously preposterous back story created for the band going back to 1501 in Sweden.
Read it here. While there, listen to Balrog Boogie.
Avenged Sevenfold - you may have heard of (they've been pushed heavily at mainstream outlets).
Actually good.
Narnia - This is good power metal with some progressive tendencies. It's a Christian band if that makes a difference for you. Nothing stellar really stands out, but all their albums were keepers for me.
Balance of Power - Another good, but not quite stellar, Christian Power/Prog metal band. Lots of promise. I'll be keeping tabs on them.
Atomic Opera's "
For Madmen Only" came out in 1994 and really sounds just like
King's X. So give that a shot if you're jonesing for some more of that sound. The first song "Joyride" is awesome and at least two others are really good ("Blackness" and "New Dreams"). From allmusic: "The third and least well-known band to emerge from Texan producer Sam Taylor's prog-metal stables (the first and second were King's X and the Galactic Cowboys, respectively)."
Here are some other bands that I intend to check out soon:
Thalion (symphonic metal)
Dragonland (from allmusic's review of their "Starfall" album: "a total throwback to the old-school power metal of the '70s and '80s — and this grandiose, elaborate effort (which is full of stereotypical dungeons-and-dragons lyrics) gets a great deal of inspiration from progressive rock as well"
Dragonforce ('80s style Power Metal)
Frameshift's "An Absence of Empathy" (Prog Metal with Sebastian Bach on vocals)
Shadow Gallery (more prog rock, than metal)
Stratovarious (prog metal)
Royal Hunt (prog metal)
Freedom Call (melodic, prog-tinged German power metal)
Ok, there you go. Knock yourself out and let me know what you like.
Come June 23, I know what I will be picking up, my copy of Dream Theater's 10th studio album, Black Clouds and Silver Linings. In addition to the standard CD version, Dream Theater will also release a vinyl LP and 3 disc special edition CD (one CD of instrumental mixes of the album and one with six covers).
Additionally, Dream Theater will headline the Progressive Nation Tour. The bill is better for the European edition (Bigelf will be with them for one thing), but the U.S. line up is nothing to dismiss. I am currently checking out Beardfish (watch for a review soon) and have been very impressed.
The Jelly Jam. For those of you not familiar The Jelly Jam is a project that drew together nearly the complete line up of Platypus. Tabor (King's X), Myung (Dream Theater), and Morgenstein (The Dixie Dregs) returned sans the keyboards of Derek Sherinian. The result is fantastic. As a long time King's X fan, I have enjoyed Tabor's solo and side project work. The Jelly Jam is the self titled first release for this line up. Though not nearly new (released in 2002), I have just managed to get a copy a few months ago. What a mistake it was to not get this sooner. The first few times through the album was familiar. It had a distinct King's X feel that I could not decide if I appreciated or not. The same harmonic flair can be found throughout the album, especially on one of my favorite tracks "Under the Tree". The more I listened the more I grew to just love this album. The crown jewel is of course the self titled song on the self titled album, The Jelly Jam. This instrumental romp showcases the musicianship of the collected masters and justifies the existence of such a prog rock supergroup (why can't they have a show on VH1). The Jelly Jam is a well crafted album that fans of Dream Theater and King's X will greatly love.
"Octavarium" has taken me from "casual observer" to "Dream Theater fan"! So, being only loosely familiar with any of their other output, I might sound like I'm talking out of my butt to you other fans out there. But, to me, this album feels like the guys said, "Let's make an album where we just wear all our influences on our sleeves and pay homage to the greats!". You've got keyboard solos a la Yes's Rick Wakeman and a section near the 17-minute mark of a 24-minute song that brings to mind 'Apocalypse 9/8' from Genesis's "Supper's Ready". That song also directly references "Supper's Ready", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Cinema Show" and other classic songs in the lyrics. There's also a 4 minute "sound scape" intro that pays homage to Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" intro. And, dangit, if "Panic Attack" isn't the most kick-ass metal riff-orgasm I've heard in a long time. Highly recommended! I'd order you to get it if I were your dictator. Just one thing... while I think the whole album is great, the last four tracks strike me as stronger than the first four... so don't give up on this too soon without playing tracks 5 - 8.
I've never taken the time to check out Coldplay, although everything I hear about them seems to indicate that I'd like them. I've given the new "X & Y" album a cursory listen while doing other things (like eating dinner, surfing the web, etc.). It's gotten my attention as something I really want to dig into deeper. I think I'm going to enjoy it. Perhaps you Coldplay fans can leave some comments about how this new one fits into the Coldplay discography.
I'm sorry. I haven't jumped on The White Stripes bandwagon. Not yet anyway. A casual listen to their older stuff has not left me wanting much more. I prefer to hear an effort put into making music that sounds good, not just raw garage shenanigans. I can (and do) appreciate the good things about The White Stripes... the spontaneity, the energy, the songwriting, and all that. And just based on that I'd tell you I like them. But, I don't particularly care to listen to their music very often because of the way it sounds. That might sound strange, but that's just how it is with me. But... I'm listening to "Get Behind Me Satan" right now and... I like it! It sounds cleaner and more focused to me. Obviously, I need to give the previous albums another chance. I don't think fans will be let down at all. Rich, chime in and let me know what you think.
I know you have all been sitting around wondering what has become of good old Sebastian Bach. Well since attempting a foray into musical theater, Mr. Bach has lent his voice for the latest Frameshift album. The only reason I even found anything on Frameshift is that the first album they put out featured James LaBrie of Dream Theater fame. I have only taken a listen to a couple of samples from progrockrecord.com, but what little I have heard is interesting. You can hear for yourself what the former Skid Row font-man sounds like today here:Frameshift: The Absense of Empathy
After a few recommendations, I picked up 2002's In Absentia and was impressed. Now with the release of Porcupine Tree's Deadwing I would really call myself a fan. The album is a creative combination of Dream Theater guitar work, Coldplay style contemplative melody, and lyrical explorations worthy of either of the Anderson's, Ian or Jon. What impresses me the most is the smooth competence with which these various musical sources are folded into each other. Excellent craftsmanship is evident as songs move from the crunch of guitars to moments of tranquil reflection. This is an album and a band that is worth a listen. Pull out you headset sit back and take it all in, there is enough depth to keep you digging for days.
In Absentia (2002)
I have been a fan of Dream Theater since their 1992 Images and Words, so I am naturally looking forward to the June 7 release of Octavarium. I will certainly get it and will let you all know if it lives up to their status as pro-metal masters.
