Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

November 2023

1. Strapping Young Lad - "Imperial" from Alien (2005)

2. PAIN - "Revolution" from Revolution (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. In This Moment - "Godmode" from Godmode (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Rammstein - "Zeit" from Zeit (2022)

5. Danzig - "Sacrifice" from Danzig 5: Blackacidevil (1996)

6. Fall of Because - "Life is Easy" from Life is Easy (1999)

7. Misery Loves Co. - "My Mind Still Speaks" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

8. White Zombie - "Electric Head, Part 1 (The Agony)" from Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

9. Genitorturers - "Sin City" from Sin City (1998)

10. 16volt - "Motorskill" from Wisdom (1993) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. OLD - "Marzuraan" from Lo Flux Tube (1991) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Fear Factory - "Soul Hacker" from Genexus (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. HEALTH - "CHILDREN OF SORROW" from CHILDREN OF SORROW (2023)

14. Static-X - "Z0mbie" from Z0mbie (2023)

15. Celldweller - "ShutEmDown" from Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 02 (2012)

16. Sybreed - "The Line of Least Resistance" from God is an Automation (2012)

17. Illidiance - "Breaking the Limit" from Damage Theory (2010)

18. Minority Sound - "Hate Circulation" from Drowner's Dance (2015)

19. T3CHN0PH0B1A - "Abduction Starfleet" from Grave New World (2008)

20. Aborym - "Mental Striken Terror Action" from With No Human Intervention (2003)

21. ASP - "Furst der Finsternis" from Horrors - A Collection of Gothic Novellas (2023)

22. Hanzel Und Gretyl - "Aufweiderschen" from Uber Alles (2003)

23. KMFDM - "WWIII" from WWIII (2003)

24. Tyrant of Death - "Nuclear Nanosecond" from Nuclear Nanosecond (2013)

25. Die Krupps - "Road Rage Warrior" from V - Metal Machine Music (2015)

26. Andrew Hulshult - "Keepers of the Gate" from Dusk (Original Game Soundtrack) (2018)

27. Godflesh - "The Infinite End" from Post Self (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Acumen Nation - "Bleed for You" from More Human Heart (1997)

29. 2wo - "Bed of Rust" from Voyeurs (1998)

November 2023

1. XavlegbmaofffassssitimiwoamndutroabcwapwaeiippohfffX - "Bone Saw" from Gore E.P. (2016) [submitted by Daniel]

2. Lorna Shore - "Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer" from Pain Remains (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Mental Cruelty - "Obsessis a Daemonio" from Zwielicht (2023)

4. Gravemind - "Deadspace" from The Deathgate (2017)

5. The Browning - "Poison" from Poison (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Dagames - "Die Die Die" from Die Die Die (2016)

7. Any Given Day - "Unbreakable" from Unbreakable (2023)

8. Parkway Drive - "Vice Grip" from Ire (2015)

9. Polaris - "Nightmare" from Fatalism (2023)

10. Amaranthe - "Viral" from Manifest (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Kingdom of Giants - "Burner" from Passenger (2017)

12. Sikth - "In This Light" from Death of a Dead Day (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Trivium - "Sickness Unto You" from What the Dead Men Say (2020)

14. All That Remains - "Dead Wrong" from For We Are Many (2010)

15. Left to Suffer - "Consistent Suffering" from Feral (2023)

16. Demon Hunter - "The End" from Outlive (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Every Time I Die - "Revival Mode" from Ex Lives (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Of Mice & Men - "Purified" from The Flood (2011)

19. Invent Animate - "Naturehold" from Everchanger (2014)

20. Termina - "Blood Echo" from Dysphoria (2021)

21. Rising Insane - "Demons" from Demons (2023)

22. Annisokay - "Monstercrazy" from The Lucid Dream (Er) (2012)

23. Hollow Front - "Letting Go" from Letting Go (2023)

24. Heart of a Coward - "Around a Girl (in 80 Days)" from Hope and Hindrance (2012)

25. Johnny Booth - "Follower" from Firsthand Accounts (2019)

26. Knut - "Shine" from Leftovers (1997) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "The Running Board" from Calculating Infinity (1999)

28. Converge - "Drop Out" from You Fail Me (2004)

29. Frontierer - "Tumoric" from Unoxidized (2018)

30. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "Sammy Jankis" from Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

31. Betraying the Martyrs - "THE VEIL" from GODSPEED (2023)

Here's my review summary:

You know how much I like when bands are in a transitional phase through albums. This once-metalcore/hardcore band Code Orange is already making their way towards alt-/industrial metal, and although Forever and Underneath will share the reign in that transition, The Above is an amazing continuation! The band that would go on to perform massive tours and even a WWE concert started off as an underground high school band from Pennsylvania named Code Orange Kids. After releasing their debut Love Is Love/Return to Dust, they dropped "Kids" from their name and showed the world what they're capable of in I Am King and Forever. Then Underneath showed them adding a more industrial/alternative flavor to their metal/hardcore. With The Above, they drop the hardcore violence and let their new form emerge. Throughout these 14 songs that alternate between rock-on alt-metal to electrifying industrial metal, with some bits of their earlier metalcore/hardcore, lead vocalist Jami Morgan performs moody whispering and savage screaming while guitarist Reba Meyers adds in her clean singing. The other two guitarists Eric "Shade" Balderose and Dominic Landolina can pull off harmonic chords and brutal riffing. The rhythm section consisting of Max Portnoy (from Tallah, and the son of Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy) and bassist Joe Goldman has undeniable groove. And early on in this journey is a killer anthem in which the one and only Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins performs his signature nasal singing over an ominous bridge. The Above continues Code Orange's imagination in different eras. They look back at the past, stand by the present, and plan out their future, checking out different styles to add to their own. Their song delivery has always been in great display as they go above and beyond!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Never Far Apart", "Take Shape", "A Drone Opting Out of the Hive", "Splinter the Soul", "Grooming My Replacement", "But a Dream...", "The Above"

For fans of: Circle of Dust, Northlane, Tallah

My review from 3 years ago: https://metal.academy/reviews/17393/22547

These guys can deny the genre status of the style they popularized, but this is a prime example of modern djent:

Wow, they do sound similar! I honestly can't tell if that one's a coincidence or influence. Now here's another song (from a children's show!) that uses a similar riff to "Children of the Grave", but most likely an influence:

Good luck with your new job, Daniel!

An 11-minute progressive epic with different vocal/guitar styles contrasting well:

Prog/alt-metal with a groove-powered breakdown perfect for some live moshing:

Anyone who has deemed Slipknot as strictly nu metal probably hasn't heard their thrashier songs like this strong highlight:

Scathingly killer extreme thrashy nu metal:

Although it is likely to be a coincidence, it doesn't seem that way. The Vanusa riff sounds like if Black Sabbath recorded "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" 3 years prior, before Tony Iommi started downtuning his guitar.

Battle-ready nu/alt-metal that fits well for the shows and movies that use this single:

Definitely some inspiration in the instrumentation for "Paranoid", though the Half-Life track has more of a hard rock/garage rock sound.

Yep, I agree that it's definitely inspiration. I also found out that the bridge of "Children of the Grave" (2:21) also took inspiration from "Mars":

Apparently, "Mars" also inspired "The Imperial March" and "Imperial Attack" themes from Star Wars, with "Venus" inspiring "The Force Theme".

A few lists I decided to make. Here's my top 10 of the 1980s:

1. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss (1988)

2. Voivod - Killing Technology (1987)

3. Voivod - Nothingface (1989)

4. Godflesh - Godflesh (1988)

5. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends (1986)

6. Watchtower - Control and Resistance (1989)

7. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly (1985)

8. Annihilator - Alice in Hell (1989)

9. Sadus - Illusions (1988)

10. Godflesh - Streetcleaner (1989)

My top release for each year of the 80s:

1980: Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

1981: Riot - Fire Down Under

1982: Scorpions - Blackout

1983: Metallica - Kill 'Em All

1984: Voivod - War and Pain

1985: Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly

1986: Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

1987: Voivod - Killing Technology

1988: Voivod - Dimension Hatröss

1989: Voivod - Nothingface

And my top 10 of the 1970s:

1. Scorpions - Taken by Force (1978)

2. Riot - Rock City (1977)

3. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)

4. Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)

5. Deep Purple - Deep Purple in Rock (1970)

6. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

7. Riot - Narita (1979)

8. Scorpions - In Trance (1975)

9. Scorpions - Virgin Killer (1976)

10. Scorpions - Lovedrive (1979)

The next time I update my metal releases per year list, I'll extend it to around 1975/1976.

So those 3 Riot albums really show their hard rock/heavy metal sound for me, even though their is some debate over their first two albums being metal. If I'm ever up to making an exploration through another metal band starting out in the 70s, I might continue this thread later. But I'm done here for now...

Memorable riffing is another outstanding piece of early 80s speedy heavy metal:

Fire Down Under is the album that really baby-sealed their heavy metal sound, after their first two hard rock/metal albums. Here are my thoughts:

Speed was a new and fresh idea in the early 1980s, with some metal albums paving the way for other bands kickstarting speed/thrash metal in its full form. Fire Down Under is one of those albums. Vocalist Guy Speranza charges through with charisma and strength, while guitarist Mark Reale has glorious fun in his metal soloing and rhythm. They certainly have the essential for all those rock-on songs and speedier tracks. It's just upsetting that both an amazing vocalist and a master-mindful guitarist are gone from this world. Once again, RIP... Carry on through the fight!

4.5/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

The more metallic direction is already taking shape in many songs in Narita, especially in this explosive piece of early speed metal that is the title instrumental:

Well at least Narita has some earlier metal riffs, with some songs hinting at their later speedier sound. Here are my thoughts:

The members of the band continue to impress fans of their sound. The vibrant energy shows their motivation. They continue their hard rock/heavy metal sound with slightly more metal emphasis. There are even songs that hint at the direction they would take in their next album Fire Down Under. Yep, Narita already has some songs heading there with the searing soloing of Mark Reale and the mighty vocals of Guy Speranza. RIP those two awesome musicians along with original guitarist L.A. Kouvaris who wrote some lyrics for Narita but passed guitar duties to Rick Ventura who's also quite great. Jimmy Iommi keeps up the bass pumps, while Peter Bitelli stays steady behind the drum kit. While there are a few songs that lean into a catchy rock sound, the more metallic direction is already taking shape in many others, especially in the explosive piece of early speed metal that is the title instrumental. The American heavy metal scene was starting to form, and Riot was ready to enter it. So if you're up for the challenge in Narita, buckle up! It's gonna be a heavy flight....

4/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

A graceful catchy heavy metal tune without ever going too far into the mainstream:

I decided to continue this project with one more band from the 70s, this one I actually once enjoyed for their later US power metal albums, Riot. I'm just gonna look back at their albums with original vocalist Guy Speranza, starting with their debut...

To paraphrase a Honeymooners quote, they're a RIOT! One of the earlier American heavy metal bands, Riot was formed in 1975 in New York City. Their mascot is a buff warrior with a baby seal face, apparently suggested by one of the producers' girlfriend who fought against animal poaching. Riot would then become synonymous with classic heavy metal in America and battle against record labels who don't allow what they want but give them what they don't want. Their debut album Rock City already shows the band rolling through. Those guitars rise up high in raging speed of the dynamic duo Mark Reale and Lou A. Kouvaris, in perfect balance with the memorable vocals of Guy Speranza. 3 talented band members, sadly long gone. RIP... Also noticeable is the attention-grabbing bass of Jimmy Iommi and the speedy driving drums of Peter Bitelli. The band can make graceful catchy tunes without ever going too far into the mainstream, though there are a couple tracks where they lean toward more of a bluesy Aerosmith kind of sound. With Riot's heaviness that would be cranked up later, Rock City proves that the band can light up the world today as they had in the late 70s!

4.5/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

Here's an example. Check out the small riff fiddle that occurs multiple times throughout this Converge song (first time at 0:23):

And then a highly similar small riff fiddle throughout the outro of this My Dying Bride song (first time at 7:18):

The more suspicious conspiracy theorists out there would think:

But I think YES! Two different bands, genres, and songs, one similar riff fiddle.

The founding trio is whole again! The other two being the two Johns, Petrucci and Myung. And of course, don't forget James Labrie and Jordan Rudess.

Their attempt to turn an acoustic Native American ballad into an long epic ends up failing and sounding too draggy:

The ultimate epic of the Tarja era of Nightwish, greatly blending together all the album has already offered:

Nightwish is one of the most popular symphonic/power metal bands today, and was an essential band for me long ago. I could listen to this band while playing RuneScape, which fits well with the fact that one of the first song I've discovered from this band in this album was used in a video for that game. Here are my thoughts:

Once I had a dream of what metal would sound like with lots of TSFH-like orchestration, and this was it when I discovered this nearly a decade ago. Today I feel like I had been too optimistic. As varied as this album is, I'm starting to think the orchestra overpowers the metal. But what else is there from a full orchestra? Despite the orchestral overdose, many songs stay heavy, and founding keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen is able to display his own synth work. But let's get over the whole "selling out" nonsense... There are plenty of heavy anthems, and while I enjoy the orchestration in many of the tracks, it's when they rely too much on the orchestration without balancing it out with the metal, and ends up sounding too draggy. But when the metal and the orchestration have the correct balance, that's what creates the magic. All in all, I would consider this album the weakest in my revisit trip, but I would never consider Once or Nightwish super-bad. However, there are some things I might object to. The production and style is a bit over-the-top, but still mostly enjoyable. I would recommend this album for any fan of gothic-infused symphonic power metal. It is different from their earlier material, yet worth trying this bombastic rollercoaster. Though this is Tarja's last ride...

3.5/5

And that's it for the bands I have in mind for this thread. If I have any more in my mind, I'll continue this thread, but that's all for now, metal folks!

I'm fine with rapping in a few metal genres, but in symphonic metal?! Nope! I'm outta here!

An epic upbeat piece of symphonic gothic metal, featuring the operatic soprano singing of ex-Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen, which simultaneously made me interested in both Within Temptation and Nightwish:

Although my symphonic power metal roots can be traced back as early as Kamelot, Within Temptation was the first band to make me up to losing my strictness in staying in power metal and allow me to start exploring full-on symphonic metal, with one song even directing me to Nightwish! The symphonic metal chain was just beginning for me. Here are my thoughts:

Unlike those other bands that I discovered via their earlier releases, I was hooked to Within Temptation via this album Hydra, only weeks after its release. The music is pretty good here. Vocalist Sharon den Adel sings nice melodies, though she doesn't have her earlier power that other female singers have. As the metal instrumentation stand their ground, the symphonic keys and orchestra lift it up in cinematic atmosphere. Beautiful, right? You just gotta admire how well the band can diversify their sound. Here we have a symphonic metal/rock sound that often dives into their earlier gothic metal and their later pop/alt-rock, all while making sure their fans know that it's the same Within Temptation as before. The album almost has the same "metal opera" vibe as Avantasia, with only 4 songs having Sharon's beautiful voice as the sole singing style. 4 of the other have different guest singers, and two of them work well while the other two don't. And the remaining two songs have some background growling by guitarist Robert Westerholt, in clear prominence for the first time since the band's gothic doom debut Enter. The atmosphere doesn't greatly catch your attention as it should have. Despite all that, Hydra is an album for new fans and die-hard collectors. With Temptation could still stand strong and not lose steam, at least until their subsequent albums that would show a highly different era for the band....

3.5/5

And because how divisive the album's style is, here's a quick genre analysis:

1. Let Us Burn - Symphonic metal/symphonic rock

2. Dangerous - Symphonic metal/heavy metal

3. And We Run - Symphonic metal/symphonic rock/rap metal

4. Paradise (What About Us?) - Symphonic metal/gothic metal

5. Edge of the World - Symphonic rock/symphonic metal

6. Silver Moonlight - Gothic metal/symphonic metal

7. Covered by Roses - Symphonic metal/alternative metal

8. Dog Days - Symphonic rock/pop rock/alternative metal

9. Tell Me Why - Symphonic metal/gothic metal/power metal/melodic metalcore

10. Whole World is Watching - Alternative rock/pop rock/symphonic rock

Primary genres: Symphonic metal, symphonic rock

Secondary genres: Gothic metal, alternative metal, pop rock

Having to revisit this poor flow-damaging ballad almost made me wanna cry more than just a little in agony:

An 11-minute epic highlight for metal opera project Avantasia:

Avantasia is what introduced me to the ambitious idea of multi-musician/vocalist metal opera concept albums, and it was because of ex-Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan in the first track that I ended up stumbling upon this band and entering the metal opera world. Here are my thoughts:

Tobias Sammet's Avantasia started off with two Metal Opera albums in the early 2000s. The albums have many guest musicians and artists from bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Virgin Steele, Stratovarius, and Within Temptation. They were, just WERE, an essential part of my power metal discoveries. After reforming with a 2007 two-EP series Lost in Space, the album promoted by those two EPs had arrived... 2008's The Scarecrow was hitting the charts in not just Germany but other European countries also, such as Czech Republic, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland. The different sound and atmosphere replaced earlier fans with new ones. It's more of a blend of hard rock and power metal, with guests coming from bands of both genres. A great album with monumental vocalists! Sammet made a new lineup for the album which consists of himself performing bass and vocals, ex-Heaven's Gate members Sascha Paeth and Miro on guitars and keyboards, respectively, and Kiss drummer Eric Singer. Some guitar solos were provided by Gamma Ray guitarists Henjo Richter and Kai Hansen (though I wish Hansen could've also done some vocals) and Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker. As for the guest vocalists, it was because of ex-Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan in the first track that I ended up stumbling upon this band and entering the metal opera world. Other vocalists from big bands include Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Bob Catley (Magnum), Amanda Somerville (Aina), Alice Cooper, and Oliver Hartmann (ex-At Vance). This bombastic hard rock/power metal album also has a bit of classic heavy metal, soft rock, pop rock, and a couple ballads. Hard rock and power metal songs are the main course of this meal, and most of that part of the meal is what I really like. However, the softer appetizers disrupt the flow, often not fitting well with the heavier vibe, with the exception of the closing track that ends things smoothly as another highlight. All in all, The Scarecrow is a strong comeback for the band, the first part of the Wicked Trilogy continuing in their 2010 albums The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon. The album is a bit uneven with a couple weak tracks and Sammet getting more vocals than one of the guests and vice versa. Nonetheless, a very solid metal opera album....

4/5

And because how divisive the album's style is, here's a quick genre analysis:

1. Twisted Mind - Hard rock/heavy metal/power metal

2. The Scarecrow - Hard rock/Celtic rock/symphonic metal/power metal

3. Shelter From the Rain - Power metal/speed metal/hard rock

4. Carry Me Over - Hard rock/pop rock

5. What Kind of Love - Pop rock/soft rock

6. Another Angel Down - Power metal/heavy metal

7. The Toy Master - Hard rock/power metal

8. Devil in the Belfry - Power metal/hard rock

9. Cry Just a Little - Acoustic rock/soft rock

10. I Don't Believe in Your Love - Hard rock/heavy metal

11. Lost in Space - Pop rock/hard rock

Primary genres: Hard rock, power metal

Secondary genres: Heavy metal, pop rock, soft rock

Looks like your list is restored with a different name: https://metal.academy/lists/single/261

Whew! An epic list like this shall not be lost.

The ultimate anthem for this band that started off as a spin-off to DragonForce:

Around the same time as I discovered Dragonland, I also discovered this band that started off as a spinoff to DragonForce. Power Quest was formed by keyboardist Steve Williams who had just left DragonForce when they still had the name DragonHeart. A couple other DragonForce members were also in Power Quest; guitarist Sam Totman in the debut, and ex-vocalist ZP Theart in the demo. This association encouraged me to make my power metal interest a reality. Here are my thoughts:

Power Quest's debut Wings of Forever has some similarity to DragonForce's Valley of the Damned released next year, though here's what different from DragonForce's debut. Wings of Forever is a bit humble of a start for Power Quest. I mean, there is the technical speed that is what many power metal bands were doing 20 years before today, but this band does it all without having to expand their resources. The band had trouble find an actual drummer, so they instead used a drum machine with the nickname "Scott Michaels". It sounds quite realistic, but it gives the album less organic strength. A real drummer would've made this a perfect offering. While DragonForce is known for their fast headbanging songs with the length extended by their solos, Power Quest seems to have more focus on epic-sounding atmosphere to cover that length which can make things slightly uneven, though they would have less of that issue in later albums. The atmosphere is created by Steve Williams who also bring the keys up to the front stage alongside the melodic guitar wizardry by Sam Totman to get you hooked. Other guitarist Adam Bickers is Sam Totman's soloing buddy for this album, just like Herman Li but without any 8-bit tricks. Many of the songs have pure electric guitar melody right in the face! The versatile vocals of Alessio Garavello have great harmony. I guess ZP Theart would've probably made some songs sound more like DragonForce, but Alessio is the real star here. Williams' keyboards range from smooth ambience to serene beauty to swift soloing, and he's able to show the lengthy side of his earlier writing in the longer epics. His writing evolution started out from his time with DragonForce, and when he worked with Sam Totman and ZP Theart (demo only) among other members in Power Quest's debut, and their DragonForce influences show, though not proven until next year with the release of Valley of the Damned. By then, Totman and Bickers had already left the band, and the last thing Totman could do for Power Quest was add in some soloing contributions to their second album Neverworld. As the band's tenure went on, so many different instrumentalists and vocalists took the place of those who were leaving, which further turned the band towards a different path. While it ended up giving the band a more mature identity of their own, the time when they were known as a DragonForce spin-off should be remembered. Whether being original or identical, the quality is what's worth this album being added to your power metal collection!

4.5/5

I probably wouldn't have gotten into the more symphonic side of power metal without accidentally discovering this album's glorious title track in a video that was wrongly credited to DragonForce as the band. This is NOT that video:

I probably wouldn't have gotten into the more symphonic side of power metal without accidentally discovering this album's glorious title track in a video that was wrongly credited to DragonForce as the band. Here are my thoughts:

Fixing some mistakes from their debut, Dragonland's second album Holy War has energetic progression, as orchestral keys and guitar fury slam through clay-cracking bass and pounding drums, alongside the sweet vocals of Jonas Heidgert, as if the entire band is a dragon. A Rhapsody (of Fire)-influenced dragon! Heidgert stands out as another amazing vocalist in the power metal league. His unique delivery is out of this world. Almost every track has majestic glory and blazing power metal speed, but what causes this album to not be as perfect as I used to think it was is a power ballad that starts too soft and insincere, though it gets much better when it speeds up. Also the Japanese edition and deluxe reissue comes with an upbeat cover of a Limahl hit, plus two useless acoustic interludes that are better left alone. This is a more enjoyable improvement from their debut, performing their sound with fantasy pride and not too much cheesiness. I miss out on my youthful days of loving this band to the max, but I need to stay true to my mature evolution. Nonetheless, Dragonland have done well in pleasing fans of power metal!

4.5/5

Cool backstory behind your metal roots, Xephyr! Avantasia and Nightwish were two of my entryway bands into symphonic power metal and symphonic metal. Same Avantasia album even! Around that time, a teacher in this homeschooling center I was in (remember, I was a teen back then) told me about Dream Theater, a band she really likes, but I wasn't interested in progressive metal yet. That was, until I discovered Ayreon and that project's sci-fi prog-metal opera albums got me hooked, so shortly after, I listened to more of Dream Theater, and progressive metal (albeit the melodic kind that I was into back then but not now) became my third dominant genre in my past metal interest (after power metal and symphonic metal). And it was great that I finally got interested in Opeth 3 years before today, though I probably should have 5 years prior, but hey, I felt too young for the harsher stuff back then. Also my brother found this Plankton AI cover of Tool's "The Pot" recently, which is both awesome and hilarious:

Well done, Xephyr!

Some nice moments, but too much of a cheesy love ballad, and why the f*** sneak it in as the second full song of this power metal album?!

Battle-ready power metal to lose some of this album's cheese for a little more seriousness:

Dragonland was one of my first power metal discoveries AFTER DragonForce. This band introduced me to two things in metal I was already familiar with elsewhere; the orchestral symphonics of Two Steps From Hell and medieval fantasy concepts similar to RuneScape, the Elder Scrolls, and Lord of the Rings. And it all started with an accidental encounter with a song from the album after this one. Here are my thoughts:

Nowadays, while I do enjoy these fantasy concepts, I begin to realize their lack of original inspiration. The Dragonland Chronicles saga has the same ol' "leaving your loved ones to go to a war you end up falling in" idea, which my fantasy-loving teen self thought was epic, but now it's a little too cheesy for me as a heavier more serious adult. As much as I enjoy the catchy melody and vocals, the lyrics factor in the cheesiness, and they only work well during the more serious moments in which they allow you to really imagine the stories comfortably, such as the marching of the enemies, an epic battle, and subsequent tragic falls. The cheesiness isn't the only problem with a few of the other tracks, they seem to be oddly placed, like adding in a love ballad as the album's second song and a speedy cover of a classical piece in the middle of the tragic climax. But despite all that, The Battle of the Ivory Plains is a 50-minute adventure any power metal fan should check out. And you should read the story within the lyrics for the full Dragonland Chronicles experience. I just don't feel the same amount of epic brilliance from this band and album as I had 10 years ago....

4/5

Before I somewhat randomly decided to pick up a Black Sabbath compilation from the local library, I didn't really listen to much music outside of the stuff in video games and Joe Satriani. I liked it, so then I picked up more compilations by Dream Theater, Iron Maiden and Megadeth. The first actual album I picked up to my memory is Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage, which I enjoyed somewhat at the time, but even then I found it a bit one note. From there I found I got into power metal and started listening to Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2 and Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth. I also somehow decided to listen to Testament - Dark Roots of the Earth, I can't actually remember if I listened to any thrash albums before it, but it made more of an impression at the time than Master of Puppets. The first album I actually bought as opposed to just borrowing from the local library was Grim Reaper - See You in Hell/Fear no Evil, which I purchased because it was on a list of top 50 metal releases and I couldn't get it from the local library. In retrospect, I probably should have tried to get Satan - Court in the Act off the same list, but that's retrospect, neither album was anything but good.

I guess then I would say...

1. Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage (2006)

2. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2 (1988)

3. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

4. Testament - Dark Roots of the Earth (2012)

5. Grim Reaper - See You in Hell (1984?)

Same first ever album discovery as me! Nice one, Morpheus! Though I didn't discover Blind Guardian until two or three years after that DragonForce album, and I still haven't gotten into Helloween's discography beyond their 80s era.

As I've mentioned before, I began my entire metal journey 10 years ago with power metal. I started with one band, then discovered two bands, then 3 bands, etc. Just like bacteria, my metal interest has been expanding from one to multiple, when it comes to bands and genres, with my interest in some bands/genres dying out and getting resurrected. Anyway, here are the first releases I've discovered from each of the first 5 bands I've discovered in my very first metal genre power metal, as I recall:

1. DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage (2006)

2. Power Quest - Wings of Forever (2002)

3. Dragonland - Holy War (2002)

4. Kamelot - Epica (2003)

5. Avantasia - The Scarecrow (2008)

I'll give the Power Quest, Dragonland, and Avantasia albums some revisiting and reviews (I didn't include the DragonForce and Kamelot albums because those reviews are already done) to not only get back in touch with those releases but also to fully detail how I discovered those bands. I'll journal my progress in a separate thread (to not interfere with this one), and maybe decide whether or not to continue rediscovering my power metal past. Time to re-plant these roots!

Ok, there's a bit of progressiveness in here, but this is mostly a blues rock filler track, with Geoff Tate's vocals attempting to be the track's saving grace but ultimately failing:

Pretty much the only truly progressive metal song in Queensryche's 90s era, and one of only two metal songs in Promised Land:

I used to not like "Silent Lucidity" because of how popular it is for a non-metal song, but after listening to Extreme's "More Than Words" that was released in the same year, I've realized that the beauty of a song for me doesn't always come from metal. I find myself a little more accepting for non-metal songs from metal artists being popular singles. But this album's other ballad, I cannot accept, a weak-a** way to head out despite the cool electric chorus: