As you might have notice this blog plays around the progressive word, The main objective is to help on the promotion of metal and trying to change the perspective metal=noise.
However, Expect the unexpected. Mainly focussed on progressive metal or rock, but easily going to catch some good stuff to bands with only some progressive elements. And sometimes also going totally out of the progressive genre and of metal. Help you discovering what has been done of value around the world in my opinion.
Showing posts with label Progressive Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Progressive Metal. Show all posts
Cheers My friends. Today I decided to bring a band I am listening again on this days, contrarily to other bands I don't know their albums through so I will instead post my favourite songs from what I know from them, this is a Big return to Progressive metal posts.
I will show you two songs the first one has a title a lot of people will find it familiar as it has the same name as one of from Pink Floyd hits, "Wish you were here", However this as too little to do with Pink Floyd apart the progressive thing. I love everything in this song from the vocalists voice to the way the music evolves from start to beginning. A Special Thumbs up to the album cover Which I think is amazing.
The other song is called "Holes In The Sky" is less melodic than the other one but the progressive style remains I think more to what I would expect in some of the Threshold songs with Damian Wilson. I really enjoy it.
The last one is one of my recently found songs from them, called "Stone
Roses Edge", Seems more closer to the first song with more electric
elements with some of Speed and power metal elements as well
Hello those few people who end here like by a parachute, welcome. This is the second part of my Leprous post, today I bring you the 2013 album, Coal
Here we see a clear difference in the way the music is made more long songs, more elaborated, more I would say kissing in some songs the frontier between rock and metal and in other a more agressive style. The voice of Einar Solberg is even more evident here than in Bilateral.
First I show you the official video chosen for this album the Cloak, this song gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it, it alternates more strong moments with other more soft.
the second song I decided to share with you it's called The Valley, here a more harsh song I would say, less melodic than the last one
If Bilateral was a good album this one is far beyond amazing, and it's obvious that my next post will also arrive only in the next Saturday with 3rd and last part of my leprous post, until there check another songs as Chronic or Foe, or others from this amazing album, which are just as amazing
Today I will talk about one of the main stars of Progressive Metal - SYMPHONY X
Formed in 1994 in New Jersey by it's guitarist Michael Romeo. They immense strength comes from several elements, some from the core of progressive metal, others more from prog rock, and a lot of influences from power metal.
The vocals on this band are also amazing, the voice of Russel Allan, today I can say that in my top 10 singers there are two USA singers DC Cooper and Russel Allan
Russel Allan - Symphony X vocalist
Who know my musical roots, will know which album brought me to Symphony X. The divine Wings of Tragedy from 1997. And why? would you ask? because for me is the one where the power metal influence is more clear.
Talking only about one song is really hard, cause being the songs in the album:
1.
Of Sins and Shadows
04:58
2.
Sea of Lies
04:19
3.
Out of the Ashes
03:40
4.
The Accolade
09:51
5.
Pharaoh
05:29
6.
The Eyes of Medusa
05:26
7.
The Witching Hour
04:15
8.
The Divine Wings of Tragedy
20:43
9.
Candlelight Fantasia
06:45
I Can say that all the songs are special on its genre. I started with Of sins and Shadows and Out of the Ashes, probably if you came from Power metal to, this are the ones that resemble more that kind of style.
However The Accolade is really really strong, power guitar and bass but then a lot of emotion put in the lyrics. It's a story for sure. Then recently I discovered Pharaoh, Sea of Lies and The Eyes of Medusa. These 3 are more power progressive metal, you clearly see the pace changing on these songs.
But for me as they say here in my Land, the last ones are always the first.
And Candlelight Fantasia is just too perfect, simply amazing. From lyrics, to music to interconnection of the sounds. A true masterpiece to close a fantastic album. This is the one I will share with you here from this album, it's because of this songs that sometimes hearing a song years later can make a difference. a Song can simply mean nothing to you today, but in some months, years, specially after having the maturity to enjoy that music you simply ignored once, now is the best of all the ones you heard from that album. Trust me when I say, the songs which take longer to enter in your mind through your ears are the ones you will remember later, the other ones that are easily catchy one day or another you will probably grow tired of them, I use the term "musicas orelhudas" in a very direct translation Songs with big ears, are song design to enter our ears not for it's complexity but because it has simple elements that make them easier to remember.
Another album that I also love now, but which I avoided for too much time is Iconoclast from 2011 (don't stop on this two all their discography is worthwhile to be heard. I just have to narrow a bit and I pass directly to another album which is clearly more progressive metal, not so power as before. Here I will share with you also the last song of the album When All is Lost, A continuously changing pace, that will defy a lot of what you conceive as metal or not, as melodic or speedy, another piece of art as Symphony X used us to.
Just to mention another great song, Try Paradise Lost, from the album with the same name, the same album from Set the World on fire, the official videoclip. Hear also both of them and then you also understand that sometimes symphony x, also add heavy sounds to power and progressive metal
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Symphony X - Set the World on Fire (Lie of Lies) Official Album
Adagio
started with a Neo-Classical metal band, with progressive metal
influences. Today they are really more into progressive metal, the
neo-classical is still there however. Adagio are a French band, with
some other vocalists, the best one till today was the British David
Readman. Strong rifs, great keyboard
I really enjoy
their first two albums, Sanctus Ignis, Their debut album is an hymn to
neo-classical style, announced amazing songs that would came.
I will share with you, The Stringless Violin, a true hymn to neo-classical
On
Underworld, for me the biggest Adagio masterpiece the neoclassical and
progressive are in a great symbiosis, creating unique masterpieces that
sill are worth hearing, sadly this was the last album of David Readman
on Adagio. In Underworld, Richard Andersson was replaced on keyboards by
Kevin Codfert that still introduced the piano on Adagio work. About
Underworld read this Reviewhere is a part of that review:
"Even though Forte's guitar work and song-writing skills are fantastic,
he is NOT the high point of this album. That belongs to the vocal
brilliance of Mr. David Readman, who IS the greatest singer alive today,
WITHOUT question. There is no way to describe his sound to someone who
hasn't heard it previously, as there is nobody to compare him too. He
is unique in the vocal world which is saying something. He sings with
such passion and energy that it's almost infective. He turns what would
have just above average neo-classical songs into masterpieces."
The Track list was this one, I only put the track list on this album as it is my favourite of Adagio
1. "Next Profundis" (M: Stephan Forté / Kevin Codfert)
2. "Introïtus/Solvet Saeclum in Favilla"
3. "Chosen"
4. "From My Sleep... to Someone Else"
5. "Underworld"
6. "Promises"
7. "The Mirror Stage" (L: Audrey Bedos)
8. "Niflheim" (instrumental)
9. "Missa Aeterna" (Japanese bonus track)
On Underworld I could show you all the tracks cause all are worth it,
but I will show you the most progressive one, Underworld song, 4 minutes
opening creating the atmosphere to the whole song, a masterpiece of
music, not only of metal, and also found a video which will show you
also another brutal song, Promises:
Archangels in black, I don't know it so well, as David Readman left I
lost interest on the band, however today I went listen and it's worth,
totally worth, however Adagio in this album has more progressive
influence, more heavy sound. The melody was lost a bit.
Stephan Forté - Guitars, Vocal
Franck Hermanny - Bass
Christian Palin - Vocals
Eric Lebailly - Drums
Kevin Codfert - Keyboards
From Archangels in Black I will show you Fear Circus the official video:
Today I will Post the last part of this 4 parts post about Threshold. March of Progress makes a major turning point for several reasons. I think this cover is something simply amazing. In my interpretation is like you're trying to catch something or someone beautiful and interesting that will give you joy, but your hands are tied/chained, so even if you try harder you will never catch what you wanted. In Threshold perspective the message is clear, when you have ideals, ideas and want to follow your decisions, you can't be chained to anything you need to open the chains and try to catch/achieve what you want.
One important thing changed from Dead Reckoning to March of Progress, has I have already said Andrew MacDermott quitted the band in 2007, because of a Kidney problem. Big Mac was readilly substituted for a previous vocalist of the band who entered the formation in 1992 but quitted in 1993, being Threshold vocalist in their first studio album, Wounded Land. As so Damian Wilson entered the band smoothly and fitting well the band.
The band formation form 2009 to now, and crossing March of Progress is:
Karl Groom - lead guitars (1988–present)
Damian Wilson - lead vocals (1992-1993, 1996-1998, 2007–present)
Richard West - keyboards (1992–present)
Johanne James - drums (2000–present)
Steve Anderson - bass (2003–present)
Pete Morten - rhythm guitars (2007–present)
However in 2011 the band received some really bad news, Andrew MacDermott, got worse of his health condition and died with a kidney failure in August 3rd of that year, 2011. It left a feeling of sadness not only in the band, but in all the listeners of Threshold. Mac will always be remembered for all they've done to Threshold, for you to see how amazing is voice was, listen one of my all time favourite from Threshold - Avalon, from Critical Mass album(2002). Is one of my favourite songs, it gives me shivers, The pace is slow, but speeding, and some lines make you think
Returning to March of Progress, Damian Wilson fitted perfectly the band, The next post will be about another project Damian Wilson was involved, that will show you how good he is to. His voice however is different from Mac's voice, is I think heavier, stronger, but can't reach so well the lower notes, so some of the songs that had some doom atmosphere become less powerful with Damian, but allowed them to follow other lines. The music had some evolutions, that accompanied the entrance of Damian. The band knew how to adapt their sound to the new singer without loosing their identity.
The Track list form March of Progress is this one:
"Ashes" – 6:51 (Groom/West)
"Return Of The Thought Police" – 6:09 (Groom/West)
My favorite one from the album is The Hours, made me think a lot, however, the whole album as all the ones before are all simply amazing, one can listen any album from the first to last track and can't feel tired.
Enjoy the videoclip taken from this album, the videoclip was made for a fan made competition asked by Threshold, with some adaptation it became the band official video clip, Staring at the Sun:
This Album ends this Threshold Post, when the new album appears surely I will talk more of them, or if I just want to share any of Threshold songs, even from album I didn't talk about.
As I said the next post will be about another band that counted with several good names, one you can call a super project, with Damian Wilson, Dan Swano, Russel Allen, Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Floor Jansen. This will allow you to figure out of which band am I talking about.
This Tuesday I will post the third part of the Threshold post. The third part for me came with Dead Reckoning, the band would hardly believe that this would be an album that wound bring them more fans, more public, and put Threshold on it's right place. I am one of the ones who knew Threshold only on Dead Reckning, had rediscovered the other albums later.
Dead Reckoning had this current line up and track list
Karl Groom - lead guitars
Richard West - keyboards
Andrew "Mac" McDermott - lead vocals
Johanne James - drums
Steve Anderson - bass
Track List
"Slipstream" – 4:54 (Groom/West) (feat. Dan Swanö)
"This Is Your Life" – 3:41 (West)
"Elusive" – 6:10 (Groom/West) (feat. Dan Swanö)
"Hollow" – 4:00 (West)
"Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams" – 9:46 (West)
"Fighting For Breath" – 8:16 (Groom/West)
"Disappear" – 4:17 (West)
"Safe To Fly" – 5:06 (Groom/West)
"One Degree Down" – 8:33 (Groom/West)
"Supermassive Black Hole" (Bonus Track)* - 3:08
This album makes a turning point in several things, the band follow is political view on lyrics, but now they also had some metaphoric stories and line, gives less linear musics, but as hard ans strong as before. Also some new subjects are added to lyrics, mainly the ones involving, good emotions, trust, partnership, belief. They now create a complete lesson on their songs. On their released single they release a rare thing on metal, at least not so seen, the drummer is a black one and the bassist seems to have any indian background, it's a multicultural band for sure. The Progressive elements are for me more evident than ever, all songs have their paces and rhythms.
On this album, Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity) appears in two songs, ading to that we still count with BIG Mac. However that would change Drastically and dramatically, in 2007 Andrew MacDermott left the band, didn't took long until the bad news came out, he was with somekind of disease in his kidneys. I will tell more on the last part of this Threshold post.
The song I will post was the first one I ever heard from Threshold and here you can see how a matter of trust, love, partnership, belief can be so easily related to a plane departing and all the troubles the plain senses with storms and so ever, and how it relates to any of us. It shows how our troublefree sky of dreams can suddenly become a torment and there is when is really important to have someone to hear us. I will put the Video Version, and right after the normal album version, enjoy. Pilot in the Sky of Dreams
I was thinking. Who should be the first band/music I will post on this blog. And so I decided for one of the bands that I can't get sick of hear any of their songs.
I'm Talking about Amaseffer, one enormous band on progressive metal.
Amaseffermeans People of the Holy Bookin Hebrew, the native language of band's musicians. Their members are:
Yuval Kramer (Dark Serpent, Omb, Reign of the Architect, ex-Prey for Nothing) - Guitars, Bass
Erez Yohanan - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Narration
Hanan Avramovich (Reign of the Architect) - Guitars
And for me the most important,
Mats Leven (Krux, Therion,Candlemass, Adagio, Gus G - Solo Album) on vocals
Their debut album was something marvelous, Slaves for Life from 2008, it's not just a simple album, is a concept album, destined to tell a tale for everyone not only to hear what's happening but also to feel all the story, stories about the biblic events. Even for those who don't value christian values, you will feel embraced by the melody and symphony, in the song
In this album Also Angela Gossow (Ex-Arch Enemy Vocalist) enters on midian song. One very important aspect, is that they mix the oriental music and sounds with ocidental style, making this amazing fusion.
The full alignment was this:
1. Sorrow 02:40
2. Slaves for Life 08:27
3. Birth of Deliverance 11:11
4. Midian 11:47
5. Zipporah 06:10
6. Burning Bush 06:31
7. The Wooden Staff 09:13
8. Return to Egypt 03:25
9. Ten Plagues 11:28
10. Land of the Dead 06:53
Here you can hear Burning Bush, 6th music of Slaves for life album, here you can feel almost every word, it's hard to be indifferent, enjoy the fusion between ocidental and oriental music.
In 2011 the band released a new song,Pillar of Fire , from their next album When the Lions Leave Their Den where the band showd What we could expect in a next album. The band only on last December (2013) revealed they are on studio making the new album, all fans expect the album to be released before 2015.
This is one of my most awaited albums, hope i will not be disappointed.
Here it is pillar of Fire,they keep on an amazing pace, this is still a pre-production sound, we hope the next album, the continuation of the story will be as amazing as the first one
