Dimmu Borgir (/ˌdɪmuːˈbɔːrɡɪər/) is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means “dark cities” or “dark castles/fortresses” in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The band has been through numerous lineup changes over the years; guitarist Silenoz and vocalist Shagrath are the only original members who still remain with guitarist Galder being a longstanding member.
The Analysis—-
The Unveiling—-The intro to this track is a huge mish-mash of confused Industrial sounds that quickly give way to the classic Dimmu sound that I require in my ears at least once a week. This opening track….at first listen was a throw a way…has become a rel favorite of mine. I love the varied yet predictable sound and the instantly recognizable voice of Shagrath. This has huge ebbs and flows…..I was not won over at first….but combined together…this is a required listen with the release as an entirety.
Interdimensional Summit—-From the very first three notes, you are assured of hat band you are listening to…there is no doubt. Shagrath sounds like he is driven by the music with his voice….the joined voices and the orchestration is like a huge movie for your ears. The surprise hear is the chorus…so addictive and accessible it might de-rail the Black Metal card for this band, This is epic…spectacular and addictive as hell…this will live in your brain for days to come.
Aethric—-Again, truly epic in sound…but more straight forward Metal than the previous two songs. There is a darkness around the edges of this song that I just love. The sound is so layered and huge I shake my head in amazement. The drums are incredible….the guitars are a wonderful wall of sound. Then the chorus smacks you in the face and becomes another instant favorite. This band has a recipe and it works every time for me….fuck the critics…I love the record!
Council Of Wolves And Snakes—-A bit sedate at the onset, the song becomes much more aggressive as it evolves. The sharp and fast guitar blasts are intense….the drums high and fast. Shagrath delivers a demonic vocal that wraps around your soul and turns your heart black. And then again….the chorus erupts and becomes another instant classic….I can’t understand the disdain for this band…maybe I’m an unintentional poser…lol.
The Empyrean Phoenix—-A slight folk feel to the intro to this song, the mayhem kicks in and becomes normal Dimmu after a few seconds. as usual….the drums are outstanding as Shagrath unleashes a hell storm of demonic vocals backed by a mysterious choir of Oh’s in the background….this is huge…epic in sound and a journey all of it’s own. This is a superb track.
Lightbringer—–Deep and dense…..full of layers right at the onset, this makes me feel comfortable and happy that after 8 long years my band has delivered an epic masterpiece. this is a slight mish mash of sounds….the bashing and crashing a bit monotonous after a bit…but the song finally opens up and ushers in a vocal that manages to keep perfect pace with the maddening drums. This is epic…a bit noisier than previous tracks…but fits in on the record rather well.
I Am Sovereign—-Huge layers of sound are piled on layers of sound…creating this dark and frozen landscape that is perfect for this band. The marching vocal and drums are like a prelude to war….the vocal comes at you in this wicked scream that twists your neck around in circles. This is stellar….a huge barrage of symphonic sound….gut vocals,,,and whispered incantations….brilliant!
Archaic Correspondence—-For me, this hearkens back to older days of the band. The drums are so fast and in your face….the guitars are a complete wall of sound….and Shagrath steps forward and is the steerer of the ship. This is epic in sound and construction…..and has a certain melody quality that will stay with you. I love this.
Alpha Aeon Omega—-Nothing spectacular here…all I can say is that the band as a whole, is truly consistent in sound and delivery….you know….at this point what to expect from the Norwegian Gods of Black Metal…this is spectacular…overblown….but accessible and catchy.
Rite Of Passage—-Rather sedate at the onset, this closing track takes a bit to get going but awakes in epic fashion with huge swells of orchestration and guitars. You can almost see the fog around the band as the song plays…it is that epic in sound. This instrumental leaves you with a hungry taste in your mouth….let’s hope it is not another 8 year wait!!!
Ascension is the sixth studio album by the band A Flock of Seagulls, and was released on 6 July 2018.[1][2] It is the first album since 1984’s The Story of a Young Heart that features all four original members. It contains twelve songs (eleven from the first three albums and one new song) rerecorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Analysis—-
I Ran—-Let me say, first off, as a die-hard fan of this band from the very first day, I met this project with trepidation and the slight dread of a possible disaster. Joyously, I announce that this release is a triumph….a return of magic and a new appreciation for old songs I never tire of. Of course, the most famous song of the 80’s, what could you do to improve on it? Wait 35 years…..add oboes…strings and horns and the ageless voice of Mike Score…..that’s what. This is just magical…the song retains every key element as the original…but is even larger in this format. This is really incredible. Like time has never passed.
Modern Love Is Automatic—-This orchestrated version bolsters this track, but still manages to keep the quasi-pop-punk sound of the original. The swirls of the added instruments make the song so much larger…the crisp recording when listened to in headphones, transports you into some other world. Mike Score sounds so good on this recording…no altering of the vocal…no down key delivery….the enunciation is even better than the first go around. This is just fantastic.
Telecommunication—-One of my very favorite tracks from this band…I approached this with caution. But there was no need….the slight re-working makes it faster and edgier than even the original…and back in the day, we thought this song was really something. The jaunty strings and drums from the Orchestra are incredible. This is just a moment in time not to be forgotten…wish everyone could hear this release.
Space Age Love Song—–This has been ‘re-produced’ in the most fantastic fashion possible. I actually prefer this version over the original and countless re-recordings. This is epic…in sound…delivery and spirit…..I can’t say enough good things about this….check out the video at the end of this post….please!!!!
Ascension—-This instrumental is the only new track on this release, but it gives me hope for the future. while it can’t come close to DNA…it still has a very nice updated sound and is catchy to my ear…especially with all he added string…pomp…and circumstance.
Wishing [If I Had A Photograph]—-This remains pretty true to form as the original….there are momentary swirls of grand music…but the song remains remarkably untouched….Score…sounding a bit strained here but still masterful and true to form. You catch every word…his enunciation is so much better these days. A remarkable rendition.
Nightmares—-True to form, the strings that are added to this track manage to make things even more dramatic than originally planned. Score sounds fresh and remarkable in his delivery….the synth lines are still there…..bolstered by the slight swells of strings and woodwinds. This is fantastic.
DNA—-Always a very, very favorite instrumental of mine, I consider this almost pure perfection in the pop world of instrumentals. This remains true to form but becomes even larger and more magnificent. The release would not be complete without this included…after all…this 2:30 won the band a Grammy. Pure magic.
Electric—-This at times, sounds a bit watered down to me…but it was never on my top 10 list. I like the energy of the whole damn thing….I can only imagine that the Orchestra must have had a blast with this recording…it just sounds like fun. The vocal is a little removed….but still sounds like it did 30+ years ago.
Transfer Affection—-This rendition is pure magic. The mellow feel of the song is bolstered by the strings that lie in the background of the song….there are subtle horns that give a body to the song. Meanwhile the synth line remains in overdrive…but never overpowers anything. This is a perfect meld of classic and current coming together to create quite a moment. I will listen to this over and over.
The More You Live, The More You Love—-This track becomes quite literally epic with the strings and the swells of the symphony. The synth line rides on top of the swells of music….but the pieces fit together like a well cut jigsaw puzzle. this was a recording meant for this type of treatment. This is another real high point on this recording….just magical.
Man-Made—-This rendition of the song becomes even darker and melancholy…more ominous and havy on your brain with this recording. The original was always pretty deep in sound and intense….this just grows with the added instrumentation. Another really stand out track on this release. It is amazing how the future has come to pass 30 years on…..maybe the band knew what they were doing after all. This is a must have recording if you are a fan of this band or the 80’s!
Ghost is a Swedish rock band that was formed in Linköping, Sweden in 2006. In 2010, they released a 3-track demo followed by a 7″ vinyl titled “Elizabeth“, and later their debut full-length album Opus Eponymous. The Grammis-nominated album was widely praised and significantly increased their popularity. Their second album and major label debut Infestissumam was released in 2013, debuted at number one in Sweden, and won the Grammis Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album. The band released their third studio album, Meliora, in 2015, to much critical acclaim and high record sales, reaching number one in their home country of Sweden, and number eight in the United States. Its lead single, “Cirice“, earned them the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. The band released their fourth studio album, Prequelle, in 2018.
Ghost is easily recognizable owing greatly to its eccentric on-stage presence. Five of the group’s six members, its ‘Nameless Ghouls’, wear virtually identical, face-concealing costumes. Prior to a 2017 lawsuit filed by former members of the band, lead singer Tobias Forge obscured his identity behind the character “Papa Emeritus”. The character, which consists of Forge in a prosthetic mask and makeup can be best described as a ‘demonic anti-pope’. The Papa Emeritus Character has gone through four incarnations – I, II, III, and Nihil. As of the 2018 album Prequelle and subsequent world tour, Forge portrays a character known as “Cardinal Copia”, who is described as being unrelated to any of the Papa Emeritus characters and whose costume consists of either Cardinal vestments or a black tuxedo alongside a prosthetic mask with black eyemakeup and the multi-colored eyes which had been present in each Papa characte.
Prequelle is the fourth studio album by Swedish rock band Ghost. It was released on June 1, 2018 and produced by Tom Dalgety. The album’s first single, “Rats“, was released ahead of the album on April 13, and as of June, had peaked at number four on the BillboardMainstream Rock Songs chart. The album marked the band’s strongest selling debut to date, landing at number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 66,000 copies in its first week, with 61,000 of those being “traditional” album sales.
Ashes—-Eerie from the onset, this is typical Ghost….turning a harmless nursery rhyme into something twisted and then morphing magically into…..
Rats—-This track…..full of contradictions…lyrically dark and eerie…but the sound is so accessible and listenable. Full of huge harmonies, powerful guitars and an unforgettable melody line, this will lay in tour head for days. The double tracked vocals really wrap the song into the most accessible track they have ever produced. This is phenomenal.
Faith—-A nice powerful soaring guitar intro, the chug chug of the bass line shows up right after the intro. Tobias enters with his accessible vocal….you can catch every word from this band and let it sink into your brain. This is again, full of perfect harmonies and a melody line that is contagious as hell. The middle break of the song is nice….keeping the ‘metal’ cred in tact. This is fantastic…the band has outdone itself with this release.
See The Light—-Such a gentle intro, you just sit back and question how you can possibly categorize this band in any genre. This just does not fit in perfectly anywhere!! There are perfect pop moments hear…as well as pure symphonic metal moments as well. Combine all of this with a pitch perfect vocal and you just sit back and shake your head in amazement. This is just about as perfect as it can get.
Miasma—-Dank, dark and full of an underlying eerie-ness, the intro to this is fantastic. The song kicks into a nice gear shortly after and has many of the metal elements I require from this band. The guitars produce a soaring melody that is infectious and electric. This is pure perfection. A great song placement as well…it ‘breaks’ up the album really well.
Dance Macabre—-Remarkable right from the onset, the track is heavily dipped in the sound of the 80’s while still managing to sound fresh and brand new. The lyrics….the singing….the melody and harmony is so damn addictive and accessible…..for me, one of the best things the band has ever done…this is a magical moment on this release.
Pro Memoria—-Swells of a slight symphonic movement opens the song….dense and layered with musical emotion…you feel like you stepped into a soundtrack. Then Tobias enters and utters Lucifer and you realize the slight hilarity of all the contradictions from this band. This is not a happy-go-lucky song….but the delivery is so damn pleasant you can’t help but to fall in love with the damn thing. Just incredible.
WitchImage—-Returning to a more predictable and familiar sound, the intro begins and falls away to allow for the vocal. the song leans on pop-rock elements at every turn. The harmonies and melody are exquisite…..sounding like an updated Pink Floyd. The magic is the voice and the contradiction of the lyrics….this is so dark….but so damn pleasant. I’m in a whirlwind.
Helevetesfonster—-Exquisite flutes open the track…in the back ground a slight deep rumble lies around. The melody line from the instrument is so damn magical…it lulls you into an almost trance like state. The drums enter…but never enter the beauty of the instrumentation. This is huge….masterful and delivered with an incredible finesse’. There are so many ‘prog’ like movements in this instrumental…..it’s like the glory days of the 70’s Prog movement.
Life Eternal—-Stripped down to almost bare bones, the only instrument at the onset is the gentle keyboard joined with the vocal. The track opens up a bit…but still remains a rather melancholic love song to princes or princesses of darkness. This is superb. I hate to see this all end so soon. A remarkable release.
Their 1980 debut album, Crocodiles, went into the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart. After releasing their second album, Heaven Up Here, in 1981, the band’s cult status was followed by mainstream success in 1983, when they scored a UK Top 10 hit with “The Cutter“, and the album which the song came from, Porcupine, hit number 2 in the UK. Ocean Rain (1984), continued the band’s UK chart success, and has since been regarded as one of the landmark releases of the post-punk movement, with the single “The Killing Moon“.
After releasing a self-titled album in 1987, the next year, McCulloch left the band and was replaced by former St. Vitus Dance singer Noel Burke. In 1989, de Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident. After working together as Electrafixion, McCulloch and Sergeant regrouped with Pattinson in 1997 and returned as Echo & the Bunnymen, before Pattinson’s departure in 1998. The band has been touring since, releasing several albums since the late 1990s, to varying degrees of success.
The Analysis—-
Going Up—-The brilliance of this band live can not be denied. The sound is perfect and the delivery is the best record in the universe. Ian sounds just remarkable. The post-punk energy on this song is addictive…..the music seems to play in a land by itself…..and Ian still seems to sing to himself. This is brilliant.
With A Hip—-Melding from the previous track, this introduction of the band on stage is seamless. Ian sounds like a man half his age. The voice and the powerful band are just incredible. This is a throw back release that sounds like it was recorded yesterday. I love this band!
Stormy Weather—-This is just fuckin magical. Bright and shiny pop music that shines like the sun on a bright sandy beach…allowing you to lose hours at a time daydreaming of a perfect life and a shiny bright future. Ian sounds magical…..wishing I could go back in time and change some things. This was a magical moment in my history for me.
Show Of Strength—-Rapidly going from one song directly to the next, time never diminishes the magic of the music or the time it was produced. For a live recording, the sound is bright and shiny…truly a stellar performance. Ian sounds like a man half his age….it never gets old. This is magical for me.
Bring On The Dancing Horses—-Such a classic track…..full of every 80’s sound you could imagine. The slow and smooth vocal delivery from Ian s literally priceless. The sound here is a bit muddled….but it rises above and lives in your head for days after you hear it. This was a priceless time…..I thank Ian and Co. for such great memories.
The Disease—-Whispering at the onset…..and then the magic clear vocal from Ian…..it still lulls me into a kind of daydream…this is just literal magic. The almost spoken word delivery can be heard….but you hear the audience too…..we know every word. This was a pure genius of a band. A wonderful time full of memories and positive thoughts for the future.
Scissors In The Sand—–Coming alive in a raucous almost punk delivery, Ian is almost drowned out by the instrumentation…but that is ok…because the energy is so damn contagious and catchy. This is a bookmark for me…..a nice cross of what was….and what was to come.
All That Jazz—-Ian has such a fantastic accent when he sings/talks through his songs. This is a bit muddled in sound….but it is the energy of the delivery that is contagious. The drums are fantastic….the guitars right in your face. This is fantastic!
The Back Of Love—-The sound here is so crowded, it is hard to even catch one particular sound….but that is the price of live recordings sometimes. Ian seems pushed way to the back of everything…..but I will take it for posterity…lol
The Killing Moon—-A true classic. Sounding like yesterday. the recording and delivery is wonderful. I feel the smile start inside and I can;t stop it from spreading as Ian sings…and indeed, that is the power of music. This is so magical and well done…I have no complaints.
In The Margins—-A steady guitar hum soars through the song…..takin some of the brightness from the song. But once Ian opens up his mouth….you are again transported to a different place and a different feeling about life. I have such good memoies…they all come back alive….in the margins.
Never Stop—-This is a bit jaunty and fun……the sound although muddled still comes through. The bright keyboard sounds shine through Will’s guitar chords…..it all seems to create a perfect storm.
Villers Terrace—-Such a dirty production sound takes away from the ‘wonderfulness’ of the song a bit….but Ian still shines through with his vocal….at times it is too deep….but live is live.
Of A Life—-Such a classic Echo sound on this song….the sound that really fefined them and made them a stellar part of the Brit movement. Ian sings in a rather joyful way that sucks me right in….I love the memory of the song more than the song itself…if that makes sense. Brilliant!
Rescue—-a classic echo song that sounds even more powerful live. Ian sings in a rather cocky way that makes my inner self smile….I love this trip down memory lane. The chorus never fails to inspire….and the crowd singing along makes it awesome.
The Cutter—-One of the all time stellar hits, this still plays so well in my brain. This was the beginning of so many things…Alternative….Goth…..Mopey Rock……and to this day still defines and out defines all definitions of culture.
Nothing Lasts Forever—-Such a brilliant and poignant song…..this cannot be described by me….because it surpasses all definitions. The sentiment and the vocal literally takes you to another place….This is brilliant…..a band that will live forever.
Lips Like Sugar—-Perhaps the song that defined these iconic lads…..I can’t find joyous enough words to describe my elation. This is the soundtrack of my youth….and my hope for the future.
Ocean Rain—-A fantastic and apt closer, I could not ask for anything more……beautiful…..stark……boisterous and joyous….everything I needed today.
Formed in 1983 as Roxx Regime, the band soon changed their musical message to reflect their Christian beliefs, and the band’s name was also changed to Stryper. They went on to become the first overtly Christian heavy metal band to gain acceptance in the mainstream. In 1983, they signed with major label Enigma Records and released their debut album The Yellow and Black Attack. In the mid-1980s, Stryper enjoyed their most successful period beginning with the release of To Hell with the Devil, which achieved platinum sales status. Stryper went on to release two more gold albums before disbanding in 1992. In 2003, Stryper came out of retirement for a reunion tour and subsequently signed a multi-album contract with Big3 Records in 2005. In 2013 they signed a multi-album deal with Frontiers Records, and have released Second Coming, which includes 14 re-recorded songs from their first three albums and an album, No More Hell to Pay, released on November 5, 2013, and Fallen on October 16, 2015
God Damn Evil is the seventeenth release and twelfth studio album by Christian metal band Stryper, produced by frontman Michael Sweet and released in April 11, 2018.
The Analysis—-
Take It To The Cross—-If you have followed this somewhat iconic band at all, you pretty much no what to expect. I guess my initial and enduring attraction to this band was not necessarily the message…but the voice and the talent of the band. I love how tight they play….and it has not changed in all of these years. The message is the same…but so is the voice and the energy…..very nostalgic…..amazing how well Sweet’s voice has held up. I don’t really care for this chorus…but the multi vocal track is nice.
Sorry—-Fairly sdate at the onset, it seems like production turned down the volume on the whole damn thing. Sweet comes out of the dark with a nice strong and soaring vocal. The chorus is damn addictive…..it sucks you in whether you buy into the message or not. I like the slight blues tinge as well…this is nice.
Lost—-To be honest with you….this reminds me of something that would have fir on Styx Paradise Theater record…the vocal is overly operatic and Broadway tinged. The music is sedate and predictable. Sweet does really scream sometimes…which really pleases me. But this all seems very contrived and theatrical.
God Damn Evil—-A return to a bluesier sound and some incredible vocals, this is like being transported back to 1984. The message remains strong….but the delivery makes it worth listening to over and over again. This is directly sent to our current times and turmoil. I rather like this song…..the delivery is key!
You Don’t Even Know Me—-Classic 80’s riffs open this track….and some fantastic drums! The music reminds me of classic Queensryche at times…..the vocal is a bit off for me at times though. I love the energy of the chorus….this saves the song from becoming obscure.
The Valley—-Fantastic drums and short sharp guitar bursts kick off the track. Sweet enters and sounds so fresh and young with his vocal….you catch every word and the chorus sucks you in. The soaring quality of his voice is remarkable….I love how effortless his vocal sounds. The marching instrumentation makes the song feel huge.
Sea Of Thieves—-At this point of the release, the album begins to suffer from a very same-like quality….everything blends from the previous song…making it seem like a long drawn out operetta. There needs a ballad here or there…or some variety.
Beautiful—-Offering a bit of differential musical delivery, the drums are just stellar here. The guitars are in perfect unison. The vocal sounds a bit to theatrical….but it is passable. Will I listen to this release on a regular basis….no….not even once in a while…I prefer the classic releases.
Can’t Live Without Your Love—-Finally we get a bit of diversity….the song is delivered nicely…..but nothing stands out as fantastic. The chorus IS huge….but it is replayed and over done. I wish there was a little bit more variety.
Own Up—-Nothing new here……at this point it all seems like one long song…..when boredom sets in so quickly that is not a good sign. This sounds like I backed up 6 songs and am going through the same thing again.
The Devil Doesn’t Live Here—-A bit more power Metal to end the release, the message returns. The music is faster and more varied…..the drums are huge. The voice soars and the song has a nice catchy element to it. I like this.
Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, founded in 1999 by lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Burnley and drummer Jeremy Hummel. The first lineup of the band also included guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski. This lineup released two albums, Saturate (2002) and We Are Not Alone (2004), before Hummel was replaced by Chad Szeliga in 2005. The band released two more studio albums, Phobia (2006) and Dear Agony (2009), before entering an extended hiatus in early 2010 due to Burnley’s recurring illnesses.
The release of a compilation album amid the hiatus, Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin (2011), unauthorized by Burnley, brought about legal trouble within the band resulting in the dismissal of Fink and Klepaski. Szeliga later announced his departure in 2013 citing creative differences. Burnley remained the sole member of the band until late 2014, when the current lineup was announced, including bassist and backing vocalist Aaron Bruch, guitarist and backing vocalist Keith Wallen, guitarist Jasen Rauch, and drummer Shaun Foist. The band afterward released Dark Before Dawn (2015) and Ember (2018).
Despite significant lineup changes, the band’s musical style and lyrical content have remained consistent, with Burnley serving as the primary composer and lead vocalist since the band’s inception. The band has commonly been noted for its formulaic hard rocktendencies with angst-heavy lyrics, swelling choruses, and “crunching” guitars. In the United States alone, the band has sold more than 7 million units and yielded three RIAA-certified platinum records, two gold records, and several certified singles, including two multi-platinum, two platinum, and five gold. The band has also produced one number one record on the Billboard 200.
Ember is the sixth studio album by American rock band Breaking Benjamin, produced by lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Burnley. It was released on April 13, 2018. The first single, “Red Cold River“, was released on January 5, 2018. Four additional songs were released prior to the album’s release, including “Feed the Wolf”, “Blood”, “Psycho”, and “Save Yourself”. A music video for “Torn in Two” was released on the same day as the album.
The Analysis—-
Lyra—-Opening the release with a gentle piano interlude, you feel the power building as the song progresses….erupting into…
Feed The Wolf—–There is a remarkable comfort that comes from a very consistent band….such is Breaking Benjamin. This song is familiar and comfortable…but adds a slight aggression and brutal vocal that is a surprise. Ben has a remarkable voice and he sounds fantastic here. I love this.
Red Cold River—-With a subdued intro, the band still has that remarkable familiarity about it. When the rough vocals smack you in the face…you are sent staggering with the controlled aggression. The blend of voices here are fantastic….Ben seems to have found a magical line-up here. There is a lot of ebb and flow in the song…keeping everything interesting and magical.
Tourniquet—-Rather bizarre at the onset, the song develops into a trademark sounding Benjamin track. I love his voice here…there is a crunch to the way he sings sometimes that I just fall over myself for…this is a great example. This is classic Breaking Benjamin…..stands up well next to anything they have ever done.
Psycho—-Diving back head first into a more aggressive guitar sound, the bass line on this track is literally huge. The drums keep perfect pace…..add in the vocal and you are literally transported into a cold Nether-land. This is fantastic…accessible but aggressive…..perfectly delivered.
The Dark Of You—-Dark and ominous at the onset, the song provokes images in your mind’s eye magically. The vocal is smooth, sedate and full of a subtle pain. There is a beauty to this track I just adore. A beautiful dark journey in just a few minutes.
Down—-Returning to a full on onslaught of energetic guitar crunches and a powerful emotive vocal, this is the reason I love this band so much. The compositions are so consistent…..predictable…but delivered with a finesse that keeps me coming back for more. This is excellent.
Torn In Two—-Perhaps the most aggressive song on the release, from the first note, the song is relentless. Even Ben delivers a vocal that sounds a bit demented and evil….heavily dark. the song leaks a 90’s Alt-Rock feel to it….but it has quickly become one of my favorite tracks on this new release. Excellent!
Blood—-Chugging along like a steam engine, the band continues to deliver trademark guitar crunches that wrap around Ben’s vocals like a well oiled machine. This is excellent….consistent but not boring. A great mix of subtle and aggressive.
Save Yourself—-There seems to be such a new energy to the band since the members have changed. I am amazed that Ben can just keep pumping ot these epic tracks…I’m so happy he found the supporting characters to deliver his vision. This is melodic…tight and huge. I love this.
Close Your Eyes—-A really nice soaring lead guitar introduces this track….this sounds like it could have fir perfectly on the first or second release…..I think this has been around awhile…it has that sound of earlier recordings. But that is not a negative….this is brilliant!
Vega—-Ending the release, the band delivers a short but epic outro that leaves you hungry for more…..there is only hope that the wait till next time out last as long. A great release!
Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since Angels Fall First, they did not achieve worldwide fame until the release of the albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002). Their 2004 album, Once, has sold more than one million copies and was the band’s breakthrough in the United States. Their biggest US hit single, “Wish I Had an Angel” (2004), received MTV airplay and was included on three US film soundtracks to promote their North American tour. The band produced three more singles and two music videos for Once, as well as a re-recording of “Sleeping Sun” for the “Best of Nightwish” compilation album, Highest Hopes (2005), before Turunen’s dismissal in October 2005. Her last performance with Nightwish was during a concert recorded for the live album/DVD End of an Era. After the concert, the other members informed Turunen with an open letter that she was no longer a member of Nightwish.
In May 2007, Nightwish announced Anette Olzon as Turunen’s replacement. That September, the band released their sixth album, Dark Passion Play, which has sold almost 2 million copies. The album’s lead single, “Amaranth“, became one of Nightwish’s most successful in Europe. The supporting tour, one of the band’s largest, started on October 6, 2007 and ended on September 19, 2009. The band released an EP/live album, Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places), in March 2009 as a CD/DVD, and their seventh studio album, Imaginaerum, was released globally on various days in late 2011/early 2012.
On October 1, 2012, Nightwish announced that they had parted ways with Olzon and would be finishing the tour with ReVamp and former After Forever vocalist Floor Jansen. In October 2013, Nightwish made Jansen and longtime session uillean pipes player Troy Donockley permanent members of the band, and they were featured in the acclaimed album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, released on March 27, 2015.
Nightwish is the third-best-selling band and musical entity in Finland with certified sales of nearly 900,000 certifiedcopies. The group is also the most successful Finnish band worldwide, selling more than 9 million records and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released five Number 1 albums and thirteen Number 1 singles.
Decades is the seventh compilation album from Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, and contains remastered versions of the original material. It was released on March 9, 2018, which is the same day that they began touring for the Decades: World Tour.
The Analysis—-
The Greatest Show On Earth—-Wow….what can you really say about this epic piece of music? Please note that this ‘song’ clocks in at a whopping 24 minutes in length and plays like a modern day symphony piece. This has complete movements and moods….as the music takes you through a complete set of emotions. The strings and the urgent pace of the underlying music is just fantastic. The song truly plays like a movie soundtrack to me. The vocal that finally erupts at about 6 minutes is not as you would expect if you are a follower of the band…although it does clear and becomes much more clear and epic as it continues. The song…once you get to the meat of the damn thing is addictive as hell. The nice mix between the clean and the rougher vocals keeps your attention. This is epic-ally brilliant.
Elan—-With a brilliant and immediately recognizable intro, the flute that begins the entire thing is just perfect. There is a wonderful mix of metal and beauty all mixed in here together. You would never think such a thing would work…but it does…and brilliantly well. The vocal wraps around your head…while the music gives you a huge energetic boost. This is masterful.
My Walden—-With a huge almost pop inspired intro, the guitars sing in an upward arc that sucks your brain in from the first note. The music settle to allow for the vocal….and then comes right back at you as the chorus smacks your forehead and settles in for a day or so. This recipe works so well…..Tarja was brilliant…..and continues to be so.
Storytime—-Airy and wonderfully constructed, the keyboard ushers in guitars and drums that take the song to a faster and bit heavier sound. The music stays strong despite the entrance of the ‘pretty’ vocal…..the song still comes across as muscular and driving. The voice just soars with a melody of the chorus that is instantly devoured. the strings are incredible…perfectly mixed with huge guitars to create a curtain that you have never seen hanging before…..just brilliant.
I Want My Tears Back—-With Tuomas offering the entrance vocal, the music has a slight bagpipe sound to it that is accessible and addictive. Sometimes the vocal is almost too pretty…..suffering at time like Kate Bush did on some of her recordings. The chorus is huge…full of muscular crashes and guitars and more vocals from Tuomas. This is brilliant when they combine the voices…something I wish they did more often in the early days.
Amaranth—-What can I say about this track that I have not already said. It has had a long life…and still stands the test of time for me. The vocal is so strong and well delivered…matched perfectly with the aggression of the guitars. The combination that this band managed to develop is just remarkable. This is a track that will always be a favorite of mine…especially when the vocal switch happens and the tracks takes on an even more meal direction…this is magical.
The Poet And The Pendulum—-Seeming to meld from the previous track, this is epic in scope and length…..at over 13 minutes long. The track is layered and full of movements that lull you into a dreamy state as you find it easy to become one with the song. This is remarkably well done. I love the swells of the strings…the urgency of the music….the epic soundtrack feel to the symphonic feel. This is brilliance on a piece of plastic to enjoy forever. I love this band.
Nemo—-Another instantly recognizable tracks that will live for a very long time. The voice is like no other…delivered with beauty and practice….the ability to wrap itself around aggression but still remain beautiful is simply amazing. Even though there is all this stuff happening in the backdrop of the song….the voice literally rides on top of everything and remains true…crystal clear and full of beauty. What a band!
Wish I Had An Angel—-Perhaps the most ‘famous’ Nightwish song, this never gets old or sounds aged. I literally love this track to death. This was my introduction to the band and I have never stopped collecting them since then This strikes a chord with me. It combines beauty and power magically well….and still plays like it is brand new to me. A perfect blend of vocals with Tuomas adding in a rougher edge to the song….allows it to become huge. This is brilliant.
Ghost Love Score—-Brilliant in scope…a nice jaunty and masterful intro full of bright strings and swells……matched by a muscular guitar delivery creates a perfect storm. The song takes a nice turn…becoming a bit more metal before falling away for the almost too sweet vocal. But the chorus…a band effort….escalates the song to new highs again. This is fabulous.
Slaying The Dreamer—-Much more Metal right at the onset, this is big and a bit boisterous for this entity. The vocal is even lacking that pretty edge…sounding a bit more aggressive and driving. This is fantastic….the moods come and go…..but you never lose the urgency of the song. This is really nice…I love the great guitars. Tuomas makes this a great freakin track
End Of All Hope—-Beginning like a huge epic symphony movement of voices and sounds, the guitars enter and turn the track into a literal masterpiece. Again, sometimes the voice is almost too pretty for the huge and muscular delivery from the band…but somehow, they always manage to settle things out in the aftermath and deliver a masterpiece of a song. This is a well oiled machine that never seems to fail.
10th Man Down—-Creaking ship sounds and atmosphere take you right into the heart of the song. The music builds slowly…giving you a sense of anticipation….and the entire thing becomes the rhythmic Metal kind of thing. I don’t really care for the vocal here….but it is passable. The chorus vocal is almost drowned out by the aggressive music…perhaps a production misstep…..but still great none the less.
The Kingsslayer —-A nice return to the epic and huge Nightwish sound, the guitars are literally blazing on this joint. There is an urgency and speed to the music that is perfect for me. Even the vocal comes at you as if in an emergency situation. This is a huge song….delivered with perfection and emotion that keeps you on the edge of your seat with energy. Wonderful.
Dead Boy’s Poem—-I hate to say it…but I have to…..there is nothing about this track that inspires or moves me. I’m not really even sure why it is on here…this is not a shining moment for the band…in mu opinion….I remain unmoved.
Gethsemane—-Blazing back with this keyboard heavy track, there is a perfect combination between the keys and the guitars….with the vocal soaring over your head. Again…there is a nice urgency and muscularity to the song….it is full of driving riffs and excellent drums. a perfect storm once again blows from the homeland.
Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean—-Large in sound and filled with driving drums that are just incredible. The male vocal that begins the entire thing is in such sharp contrast that it puts me off a bit. I’m really not into the evil sound of the vocal…it puts me off a bit…sounds more like German Industrial than my beloved band.
Sacrament Of Wilderness—-Here we have a ice return to the more familiar……upfront keyboards and incredible drums…..a huge guitar line that drives the song to new heights…..a vocal that literally soars above your head….it all comes together to create an epic composition….and there I go….in love once again.
Sleeping Sun—-Beautifully constructed and moody, I love this. The vocal is so well delivered…filling you with epic emotions. there is a nice double tracking on the voice that gives the song an even more full bodied sound. This is really nice…..the swells of music suck you into a daze that allows you to daydream and catch every single word at the same time.
Elevenpath—-Beginning a bit dark and mysterious, the song becomes epic with huge guitars and barely a string or oboe to be heard. The vocal…delivered in a deeper tone is really nice…this plays like some huge fairy tale that takes place in the deep forest……oh those foreigners….lol.
The Carpenter—-This takes a bit to get used to…but settles into your brain with remarkable ease. The blend of voices add a new dimension to the song….the low male vocal sounds like an Alternative band from the 90’s…the the chorus hits and everything opens up….this is perfect.
Nightwish [Demo]—-For a demo, it is apparent the vision of the band and of Toumas was clear….because of course he is the true leader of the band without any doubt. the stripped down feel is very nice and leaves me only wanting even more new materail from the band. This has been an epic journey for me….I remain…truly in love with this band.
Ministry found mainstream success in the late 1980s and early 1990s with three of their studio albums: The Land of Rape and Honey(1988), The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste (1989) and Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992), with the former of the two certified gold and the latter certified platinum by the RIAA. The 1996 follow-up album, Filth Pig, was also critically acclaimed but did not repeat the success of its predecessors; the album did, however, earn Ministry its highest chart position on the Billboard 200, peaking at number nineteen. The band has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and performed at several notable music festivals, including participating in the second annual Lollapalooza tour in 1992 and co-headlining Big Day Out in 1995.
Ministry was dissolved in 2008 after 27 years of recording and performing, and Jourgensen had since stated that they would never reunite. However, the band announced a reunion in August 2011, and has released three more studio albums since then: Relapse(2012), From Beer to Eternity (2013) and AmeriKKKant (2018).
AmeriKKKant is the fourteenth studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, which was released on March 9, 2018. It is their first release on Nuclear Blast, and marked the longest gap between studio albums in the group’s entire career; at five years, following From Beer to Eternity (2013). AmeriKKKant is also the first Ministry album without guitarist Mike Scaccia since The Last Sucker (2007); Scaccia died in 2012 but appeared posthumously on From Beer to Eternity.
The Analysis—-
I Know Words—-Would you expect anything less than a Trump sample to open this release…of course not. Al remains as outspoken and political as ever. This is a clear poke at the disaster presidency that America finds itself involved in. This is a bit sparse as far as instrumentation goes…..perhaps setting the mood for the onslaught to come. The vocal samples are wonderfully done and intermixed to form full radical sentences….Brilliant!
Twilight Zone—-With even more trump vocal samples, the music is a bit beefier here and filled with a bit more urgency. While noisy and erratic, this still lacks a bit of power for me. Al finally makes a vocal appearance….sounding less maniacal and a bit pushed to the back of the mix. This does have that nice genuine Industrial sound of days gone by…all in all…not to bad. The point is being made!
Victims Of A Clown—-Melding from the previous track seamlessly, this begins a bit sedate and with strains of Circus music…get the message? Clocking in at over 8 minutes, this takes a very long time to get started. Once the bass heavy music kicks in, the song takes a really nice shape. The lack of urgency on this release is very noticeable though….it used to be Al would rant solid for an entire hour on a release…this just seems a bit uninspired. The ‘chorus’ is nice and muscular….and tings get a bit damn noisy for a bit….like the old days.
Tv 5/4 Chan—-This brief 40 second interlude is a barrage of gunshots, TV sound bites and serves to usher in….
We’re Tired Of It—-This is more like what I have been waiting for on this release….a huge barrage of urgency….aggression and released energy set to a blistering pace. The vocal is louder and more up front….everything smacks you right in the face. The growls and yells are classic…I really needed this.
Wargasm—-Layered once again with sound bite samples and almost undistinguished vocals, the track clears up a bit to allow for the vocal. Burton C. Bell adds vocals to the chorus ala Fear Factory style…giving the album at this point a much needed breath of fresh air. This is a favorite of mine..if just for the clear and concise chorus vocal alone.
Antifa—-Powerful and featuring a driving bass line, this is another favorite track of mine. This again, takes me back to the glory days of the band when they were kings of the Industrial 90’s. This is thick…dense and has a pulsating programmed line that really comes alive in the second bar….driving the song to a new height. This is really nice. A brilliant track…though the vocals still seem really buried underneath everything.
Game Over—-After the previous track, this comes across as a ghost of a song at the onset. There is a nice melody line that travels through the song and makes it a bit more accessible. Of course, the song is full of soundbites from various generals…..and of course THE DONALD…..the layers of music that float over the melody line is pretty unique…..I don’t hate this.
AmeriKKKa—-Ending this release with a track that begins sounding more like a metal song, there are some nice elements along the way. I wish Al had more presence of mind to move his vocals up in these tracks…it sounds like he phoned in everything instead of actually participated. I like the slow, plodding sabbath style bass line…..it gives the track a doom filled atmosphere that appeals to me.
Editors are an English rock band, formed in 2002 in Birmingham. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band currently consists of Tom Smith (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Russell Leetch (bass guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals), Ed Lay (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Justin Lockey (lead guitar), and Elliott Williams (keys, synthesizers, guitars, and backing vocals).
Editors have so far released two platinum studio albums, and six in total, with several million combined sales. Their debut album The Back Room was released in 2005. It contained the hits “Munich” and “Blood” and the following year received a Mercury Prize nomination.
Alongside their critical acclaim and strong success in the charts, Editors have consistently enjoyed sold-out tours and numerous headlining festival slots. Their brand of dark indie rock is commonly compared to the sound of bands such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Interpol, The Chameleons and U2.
Violence is the sixth studio album from British recording group Editors. It was released on 9 March 2018 by PIAS Recordings.
The Analysis—-
Cold—-Full of atmosphere, the music wraps around the vocal remarkably well. This sounds so much like Ian McCullough, I had to double check the release title! The song becomes a bit more full bodied…but the underlying density stays puts and leaves you feeling sad and elated at the same moment. This is incredible.
Hallelujah [So Low]—-Shedding the more familiar sound of the previous track, this has a nice electronic edge to it that gives a full bodied and electric feel to the song. The noise becomes incredible during the second bar…a huge barrage of sound that threatens your headphones…then settles and returns again. A nice unexpected surprise here.
Violence—-A slight ambiance to the intro….the vocal is a nice mix of Ian and Bono…..perfectly in sync with the music and the instrumental mood. Delivering some sharp burst of noise here and there, the quality of the song still remains intact. This is dark…but not as dark as Editors of yesteryear. I still manage to fully embrace every release from these blokes though.
Darkness At The Door—-Again, there is a level of layered noise…but a jangly U2 style music that still remains accessible to long time fans. The vocal seems pushed to the back of the song…I would have preferred it much more i the front of the mix. I don’t dislike this release……but it seems a bit uninspired to me standing next to previous releases.
Nothingness—-A bit more sedate and still, the vocal again brings Ian to my mind and makes me really miss Echo And The Bunnymen. This has a really nice sound to it….perhaps my favorite track thus far…it is full of angst….hurt and melancholy…as well as a powerful accessible instrumentation. I really like this.
Magazine—-Atmospheric and a bit odd at the onset, I keep waiting for the song to truly develop…..as the chorus opens up…it does. The song becomes larger and more accessible….full of a rhythmic line that sucks me in. The vocal…still a bit removed from the front of the song still manages to be powerful. This is nice.
No Sound But The Wind—-Now this…..this takes me back to the beginning sounds of the band when they first began. This is remarkably stark and naked….stripped down and allowing the emotional music and vocal to form the song without a bunch of extra additives. This is just brilliant…a true masterpiece of a song.
Counting Spooks—-Layered and delivered exquisitely, this is again….a song that puts me right where I wanted to be when hearing this release. This is incredible…reminding me of when this band first hit my ears. This is brilliant….I love the consistent sound…all of that earlier noise was not necessary.
Belong—-An odd….drip drip drip of an intro, the beginning of the song is naked and stripped bare of effects and consistent instrumentation. The vocal is deeper and darker….strings wrap around it and show promise of the dark epic qualities of the track. This is classic sounding Editors…I love the naked and vulnerable sound of the whole thing. As the song develops….it becomes a bit noisier and a bit convoluted…but over all this is fantastic. A huge sad affair.
Firepower is the 18th studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. It is the first studio album since 1988’s Ram It Down to be produced by Tom Allom, and the first one with Andy Sneap as co-producer. Music videos were made for “Lightning Strike” and “Spectre”.
The Analysis—-
Firepower—-A pure classic introduction here, carrying the trademark Priest sound in every single note. The guitars are blistering and the drums sound better than I have heard in years. What can be said about Halford and his vocal…this is a 66 yr. old man who defies age and ability. I have not heard him sound this powerful since Painkiller….this is just brilliant!
Lightning Strikes—-With another powerful intro, the band is off and running with a rhythmic driving guitar line that makes the track sound monstrous. The trademark vocal…full of screeching overdubs is just incredible. Faulkner has added a new life and dimension to the band and it is all over tracks like these. Halford always amazes…..there is nothing weak about this….not one note is out of place.
Evil Never Dies—-With a more classic 80’s sound to the intro, Priest refuses to deliver even one weak track on this release. Halford delivers a vocal that seems a bit more comfortable as it begins….but develops into a slight demonic scream. The twin guitar sound is huge and boisterous. This is just classic in every sense of the word. There is even a slight bluesy feel to the track….really nice.
Never The Heroes—-A staccato and almost airy intro slowly introduces a wall of guitar sound that is dense and complicated. The drums are so present on this release…..and Halford, despite his powerful vocal…allows every member of the band to shine in their own right. The chorus is a huge addictive thing that is built for huge arena shows and a sing a long from the crowd. Fantastic!
Necromancer—-Bolstered by the huge wall of guitar sound, the band is playing blistering fast and so incredibly tight. This has a nice slight evil twist to it….made even more intense by the fantastic double tracking that Halford manages to produce in the studio. This is just classic in every sense of the word. Priest has not sounded this good in years.
Children Of The Sun—-A higher tuned guitar intro and a slow plodding pace at the onset you are set up for the Nostradamus type vocal from Halford that is delivered here. The amazing thing…you can catch every single word that Halford passes along to you. The chorus finds either band participation or a perfectly back tracked vocal that makes the song even larger. This has moodiness…power…melancholy and aggression. Perfect.
Guardians—-A nice surprise as a gentle piano/keyboard ushers in the song….filled with an airy atmosphere that is layered with moodiness and beauty. The guitars…in the backdrop soar with beauty and the drums usher in….
Rising From The Ruins—-Still carrying some of the moodiness from the guardian interlude, this again reminds me of something from Nostradamus….An album that I literally adore. I love when Halford sings in that dramatic quasi-theatrical style. This is powerful….musically dense…vocally sonic.
Flame Thrower—-Returning to full on blistering Metal that is slight in blues…full of powerful guitar chords and led behind the scenes by incredible drumming. Halford sounds incredible…singing in an acceptable lower range that is still full of power and vitality. The ability of this band to still deliver after all of these years is literally amazing. I am stunned by this release!
Spectre—-Somewhat of an odd intro, quickly falls away to the classic powerhouse sound of the Priest machine. The guitars…down-tuned a bit…are just a literal wall of powerful sound. Halford enunciates every single word in a classic well delivered vocal style. I love everything about this. Atmospheric in a sense…full of power in another.
Traitors Gate—-Slowing things down…allowing for a bit of a respite…excellent song placement….the song quickly sheds it’s mellow sound and becomes a huge devouring serpent head that wants to snap your neck. The guitars are blistering…full of sharp blasts that just swallow you up. The drums gallop as fast as the vocal lines from Halford. The chorus, addictive as hell will live in your head for days. just remarkable.
No Surrender—-What can I say…..this finds a perfect place on this release…delivering a modern yet somehow classic Priest sound. This is as sing a long as anything Priest has ever released. The crowds will go wild for this track….the remarkable melody line is unforgettable and wraps around the front of your brain. Halford hits some exquisite notes that will live forever.
Lone Wolf—-Dense and thick at the very onset, this becomes a huge guitar swaying bluesy affair that is classic. Halford delivers line after line of lyrics that are understandable and crystal clear. This is remarkable…the quality as the release continues just seems to get better and better. This is terrific.
Sea Of Red—-Ending this release…far to soon, the Priest machine gives us a thoughtful track that just leaves you wanting more and more. Halford delivers a mournful vocal that leaves you sad and full of a melancholy. The theatrical quality of his vocal….it is just incredible. The chorus of the song is HUGE and will play live so very well. This should be single material…it will play well on any Modern-Rock radio station. The Priest is BACK!!!!
My Continuing Journey Through Life And Music 