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.
My last post was precisely about Symphony X, so what a better way to restart than with symphony X new material?
Well there are Two Reasons, to which I decided to bring back Symphony X so
soon after my post in late 2014, The first one and most important to me, they are back in Portugal, Lisbon,
on February 28, 2016 and finally a good chance to hear them live, only
dependent of some logistic problems, I went recently to 4 concerts and
always buying something in the merchandising becomes expensive, but so
worthy
The second good reason is the new album Underworld
I haven't heard yet the new album as a whole, I like to hear the albums with ease to detect all there is to detect and because a lot of albums don't enter in our minds at the first audition, so I have so much to hear in these days, that I have to catch an opportunity.
I already heard several times the first lyric video for this album Nevermore, It makes me remember the power on Set the World on fire, and knowing Russel Allen was in a parallel project called Adrenaline Mob, that sound a bit alike this nevermore, A strong and powerful song, check it
Here it is another lyric video, lyric videos are a common thing now, they understood they promote better a song than just the music, another song from Underworld, this song is musically near the sound of When All is Lost, Candelight Fantasia, I love bands wich can produce a wide range of emotions in songs, this one is called Without You
I talked about Adrenaline Mob, a side project from Russel Allen, check this one to, maybe some of you will enjoy it, maybe even more than Symphony X.
At last I am going to share another song from Iconoclast That I am becoming addicted, because of the lyrics, music, and all the musical environment around, the song is called, Electric Messiah, being a fan more of metal guitars than of drums as a lot of people I know, a messiah that's electric, almost like the guitar as the messiah, good connection
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
As I said yesterday, I will talk about a special band, a so called supergroup, STAR ONE.
More or less at the time when I first heard Damian Wilson On Threshold, I saw on Last.fm some other related groups, specially related to Ayreon someway. You may ask, what are the similarity between Star One and Ayreon? well both bands have the same mentor behind
Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
As it happens With Ayreon, here we have a lot of great metal names, but in this case some not so obvious, some still are, I will talk about Victims of Modern Age Album.
The album is basically, a concept one around Ecological warning, the problems faced by internet or interweb if you prefer, the dangers that technology uncontrolled can make. The progressive part is also present, it his in the same music, melodic and symphonic and then becomes more speedy, harsh sometimes or even more electronic influenced. The artists on this album were:
Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon)– guitars, Hammond, mellotron, analog synths, solina strings on all tracks, lead vocals on "Lastday" and "Knife Edge"
Peter Vink – bass
Ed Warby – drums
Gary Wehrkamp – guitar solos
Joost van den Broek – keyboard solos
The track list is this one:
1. "Down the Rabbit Hole" 1:20
2. "Digital Rain" 6:23
3. "Earth That Was" 6:08
4. "Victim of the Modern Age" 6:27
5. "Human See, Human Do" 5:14
6. "24 Hours" 7:20
7. "Cassandra Complex" 5:24
8. "It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive" 5:07
9. "It All Ends Here" (A. "I Think Therefore I Am" / B. "Four Years" / C. "It All Ends Here) 9:46
The song I will share with you, it's called Earth That Was,
it's a post-apocalyptic scenario where Earth lost the battle against pollution and ecological hazards and Men were forced to found an
alternative world, and how it seems a hard battle as nothing is as how
own world.
It's important to keep our ears alert so we don't loose bands and super-projects like this.
