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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jun 13, 2014 3:50:50 GMT
My new favourite thing Spotify has ever said to me: "You listened to Eluveitie recently. Want to try Slayer?" I'm trying to listen to Countdown to Revenge by Hollow Haze because it has Fabio Lione in it, but I seem to have broken Spotify . The volume is set to almost nothing and I can't change it. Edit: The Ulcerate album was pretty good.
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JadedKitteh
Marvin The Paranoid Android
Living the sleep is optional lifestyle
Posts: 57
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Post by JadedKitteh on Jun 15, 2014 2:41:30 GMT
Hmmmm... This is an interesting thread! I must admit, I've not had much exposure to the genres posted about so far, at least not since before kidlets... I'll have to take some time this week to actually listen to all of the above links. I've a pretty eclectic taste in music (I'll listen to anything except country - I draw the line at listening to whining about the truck and the dog and the girl).
I'm not sure much of what I currently listen to would qualify as "metal" as described above (I think most of what I like falls somewhere on the rock spectrum - does Halestorm count kinda sorta?), though I do enjoy getting raised eyebrows and shocked expressions from people when music comes up as a topic. I guess not too many people believe that someone as quiet and "nice" as I tend to be in work and formal settings will enjoy things like Tool, Korn, Volbeat, NIN and 5FDP. *shrug* My husband and I get floor tickets most summers they tour here, and I relish showing off the bruises I pick up from the mosh pit. I love the startled expressions from random strangers, too, when I'm in a mood and have a favored cd blasting as loud as it can from the car.
I hold a special place in my heart, too, for older classics like Pink Floyd, Concrete Blondes, Violent Femmes, Janes Addiction, Sublime and so on... It really depends on what mood I'm in and what I want to accomplish.
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jun 15, 2014 4:36:37 GMT
Long reply post forthcoming, so I'm putting my submission up here. Tides of Awakening [Album] by Tyranny - Currently listening to this, and so far, it's a pretty fantastic brutal funeral doom metal! Recommended if you like Colosseum, Nortt, Evoken, etc.
I'll listen to anything except country - I draw the line at listening to whining about the truck and the dog and the girl. *applause* (Why don't we have an applause smily? I must RECTIFY this!) Once I do, hopefully the below will be replaced! ::applause:: YES. This. So much this. I can appreciate most forms of music, but I absolutely detest country...and when it comes down to what I like, I don't like most popular music because it isn't metal enough for me. Yeah, I'd say Halestorm counts -- it's more poppy than the stuff on this thread, but it's metal. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music, let alone metal, and what's on this thread is a pretty narrow spectrum of the entire genre: mostly it's either blackened/funeral doom metal or progressive metal, which are like two needles in a needlestack. Not that that's what the thread is limited to, by any means -- all metal is up for grabs! Funeral doom is just my favorite genre! I actually am not into Korn, Volbead, NIN, and Five Finger Death Punch much, but hell yeah, Tool is AWESOME. I've been holding out hope since 2011 that they'll put out a new album, but with Maynard Keenan being so busy with Puscifer, his vineyard and APC, I don't know if they will. I heard rumors in the middle of this year that a new album is 'in progress', but you know Tool -- they LOVE to mess with their fans. :-P I'm guessing I get it from my father's side of the family, but I'm not 100% sure about that. No one else seems to remotely share my musical taste. My aunt was quite surprised when I told her what I listen to, because she didn't expect it of me. I know what you mean: people see me as a short, quiet, shy woman...or "nice girl", and I'm a '90's child to boot, so no one expects me to make references to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, etc. songs (or to know where 'If ya don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can ya have any pudding if ya don't eat yer meat?' comes from), let alone listen to anything as brutal as metal. They're always quite surprised when the death metal vocals kick in. I would LOVE to see the expressions on my coworkers' faces if I told them what was playing on my phone while I work. XD Once I met a writing buddy through NaNo, and after several lengthy email exchanges, and some hours and hours of im conversations, I mentioned that I was a Doctor Who fangirl, and he was really surprised to find out I was a girl. I had a whole string of metal bands listed in my 'musical taste' section in NaNo, so he thought I was a guy! Well, I make up for it by being completely oblivious to most of the pop culture references that people of my generation "should" understand. Simon and Garfunkel followed by Scar Symmetry followed by Soundgarden followed by Solitude Aeturnus? Hell yes. I do what I want!
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jun 15, 2014 4:41:20 GMT
Does this mean we have an opportunity to spam links to well-established favourite bands as well as random new discoveries? Because Poisonblack! Scorpions! Dark Tranquillity! Kamelot! Helloween!
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jun 15, 2014 5:45:00 GMT
Yyyyyyyeeeeeessssss? :-D In fact, should we just make a complete list for just such occasions? The following are Spotify links. Unless specified otherwise, all the other albums of the following bands are also excellent as well. This in no way sums up my musical taste. It's just a mix of some of the ones I'm constantly referencing on this forum, as well as the gateway albums that got me into metal in the first place. Oh, I forgot to mention -- all of these work better if listened to as an entire album rather than random songs. - Arch Enemy - Death metal, slightly more on the melodic side, but still straight up death metal, with catchy melodies and riffs that hook you right away. I've included the two albums that first grabbed me here, but they're all worth listening to.
- Epica - Operatic death metal. Recommended for Kamelot fans, or any sort of operatic or melodic death metal fans. This band is one of the main culprits for getting me into death metal. Making use of a symphony orchestra to back their sound, they get compared to bands like Nightwish a lot. Epica, however, is rather heavier and is more DM as opposed to power metal, and unlike Nightwish, makes use of Beauty and the Beast singing: death metal vocals combined with clear operatic vocals. Their two oldest albums (not mentioned here) are good, but are much more low key. Still good, but listen to them after these. Warning: Stay AWAY from their 5th album, Requiem for the Indifferent. I mean, not that one can't listen to it for the sake of completeness, but it is by far their worst effort. I can't even say whether the songs all sound the same, because after five listens, I still don't remember what they sound like, other than...indifferent. In This Order:
- The Quantum Enigma - newest, most tightly composed, and probably most accessible. Even though this is their latest (6th) album, I'd say listen to this first for newcomers, because it is the most stylistically evolved. They've taken a slightly more progressive twist with this one, but it works for the music. Epica change their sound slightly every album or two, and what they completely floundered in attempting with RFTI has now matured and blossomed, and oh, is it a treat for the ears.
- The Divine Conspiracy - The first inklings of what is now their current sound is evident in this, their 3rd album. If you liked TQE, and you like this, you'll probably like most Epica music. Be warned, though, this is a drastic shift from their first two albums (not mentioned here), so it is not as cohesive as the rest.
- Design Your Universe - You'll either love it or hate it. An evolution of the sound and concepts embodied in TDC, DYU is an epic metal experience that will either kick your face in and have you lying on the floor weeping cold tears at the beauty of it all, or in misery, wondering whyyyyy Epica, whyyyy? Considered by many fans to be Epica's masterpiece. (If the people on Amazon count as "many" fans? And my personal feeling, if Epica continues to take the time to work together and develop the new sound they (terribly) introduced in RFTI and (THANKFULLY) matured in TQE, we might eventually have another DYU on our hands! *grins gleefully, crosses fingers*)
- Kamelot - Symphonic metal - In This Order (these are my favorites, but the others are good too). Sometimes you'll see me make Kamelot references, or fangirl over Tommy and Roy. These albums are the culprits.
- Epica - Not a coincidence. This is the album after which the aforementioned band Epica named themselves. It is EPIC. Enter a power metal concept album rife with Faustian darkness and a symphonic assault filled with wonderful melodic hooks, beautifully brought to life with tight composition...and Roy Khan's voice will melt your face.
- The Black Halo - Comparisons to the Epica album are inevitable, not the least because this is the sequel, and completes the tale of Faustian darkness...and killer as Epica is, The Black Halo not only continues the fantastic journey through demons, darkness, and disillusionment, and thwarted dreams, but promises to best it. 'March of Mephisto' kicks off with a killer riff that will eat your soul, and then it only gets better from there. Roy Khan continues to melt faces!
- Silverthorn - Sadly, Roy Khan left, but the vocals of Tommy Karevik (of Seventh Wonder fame) do the band's style justice. This is Kamelot's first album with him, but it is no less dark and epic.
- Dark Fortress - Blackened death metal - There are four albums, but these are with the current singer, and they're better. Also, did I mention Morean? He does the vocals here, but he also composes the music. The guy is a frickin' genius. Let's just say that many excuses for listening to completely random things boil down to 'it's got Morean in it.' Also worth mentioning: his other band Noneuclid, for which he composed the music. For their newest album Metatheosis, he also did the vocals. Well worth checking out, because it's killer. Dark Fortress is a raw, dark, mysterious journey through the paranormal realm. But oh no, don't be thinking vampires and ghosts. No, this is the realm of abandoned wraiths, the story of the birth of the universe, philosophy, and nightmares that live in the void. If we talk about death metal and necromancy in our stories, it is all Dark Fortress's fault.
- Scar Symmetry - slightly technical death metal. One of my favorite of their albums, although they're all excellent.
- Avantasia - Power metal. This is just one, but they're all excellent.
- Bathory - Just these. These are more melodic, with cleaner vocals. The rest are more black metal, and the production is really poor. Some like it that way, but I couldn't get into them. These, though...the roughness merely brings to life the vision of an ancient time when life was a lot simpler...and a lot more bloody.
- Hammerheart - One of the greatest metal albums ever, and if you listen to only one or two out of this entire list, this must be one. Birth of Viking metal. If I HAD to choose ten metal albums to take with me to a desert island, and I didn't have the option of sneaking in my Spotify subscription and a mobile device with an internet connection, this would be one of them. The production quality is not quite as polished as more "popular" music, but two minutes of letting your ear drink in the passion of the vocals and the majesty of the music, and you'll completely forget about it. He's one of those singers whose voice is actually a little weak, but I don't think there's anyone else even with a better voice who would have made this as much of a masterpiece. This isn't just an album. This is a 3D painting, a world, a story caged in a sonic landscape.
- Twilight of the Gods - Sequel to Hammerheart. Not as good, but still worth listening to. Actually, these are a trilogy; the first is Blood Fire Death, but I don't like BFD as much.
- This. Beyond the Crimson Horizon by Solitude Aeturnus. -- One of my favorite genres: doom metal -- This in no way sums up the genre, but the thrash influences and clean vocals make it a bit more accessible, as the genre takes a bit of getting used to if you're accustomed to more conventional music. This is a sonic masterpiece. Like much doom metal, the tempo stays slow (for metal)...but never boring. Turning fantasy into song, the music hangs on the ear like a still, setting sun. Thrash and slight Middle Eastern influences set an atmosphere, but it isn't atmospheric. Like a dancing monolith, it's heavy, but never ponderous. Also, Rob Lowe's vocals are FANTASTIC, and add an entirely new dimension to the music. If you like this check out Into the Depths of Sorrow and Alone too. ItDoS is their first, and it has a similar sound, but it's less developed. Alone is their latest album, coming after a series of others which deviated from the styles of these, and it reverts to this sound. It has some good riffs and hooks, but I can't help but feel that Alone seems a little more "clean" and "readily packaged", and so I sort of like Beyond the Crimson Horizon just a little better.
I think I'll stop here because if this list isn't already obscenely long, it soon will be (and that's considering that I left some of the ones Siana mentioned OFF the list even though they're my favorites too!)
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jun 15, 2014 13:47:28 GMT
Okay, my turn . PoisonblackMy favourite band. Of Rust And Bones (their fourth album) is my favourite because keyboards and 'invisible'. Everything from Lust Stained Despair (second album) onwards is awesome. SentencedThe Cold White Light and The Funeral Album are the two I listen to regularly. Poisonblack and Sentenced are both so-called 'Gothic metal' (rock/doom?) and have my ultimate fangirl obsession in common: this guy. (Not a Spotify link.) KamelotA second mention for them because my favourite is the live album One Cold Winters Night. I have very particular (probably weird) tastes in production/mixing and OCWN appeals to me a lot more than the studio albums. HelloweenStart with Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy and go forward in time. The current lineup plays what I'd call straight-up heavy metal, with some brilliant drumming and guitars. Dark TranquillityVery complex melodic death metal. No, 'nice' totally isn't the right word. If I had to go to a desert island for three months and I could only take ten metal albums (mentioned in another thread somewhere, at least one of Fiction, We Are The Void or Construct would end up in my luggage. SatyriconEr... deathened black metal? It's sort of black metal only catchy and with higher recording quality. Can't go past their most recent album Satyricon if I'm handing out recommendations. The drums are f-ing amazing! If there weren't live videos around, I'd be convinced Frost was cheating. ScorpionsI actually don't know where to start with Scorpions. They've been going since the early seventies and... what's on Spotify, anyway? Eye II Eye is one of Toby's favourite albums. Crazy World has the song 'winds of change' on it. No Blackout or Love at First Sting, though, which is a shame because those are probably my favourites. Comeblack has a good version of 'rock you like a hurricane' on it. Amon AmarthDeath metal. Not actually viking metal, although their lyrics are about Vikings and Norse mythology. I'm inclined to advise starting with Twilight of the Thunder God. It has the coolest songs. ----- Most of the time, these bands plus Dark Fortress are my writing playlist. I spend a lot of time looking for new stuff, but this is my heavy metal comfort zone. (Note: all links except the picture of Ville are to Spotify.)
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jun 15, 2014 22:42:36 GMT
Weeeeell, since you've added commentary, I went back and added some to mine...guess it will make more sense why I picked those bands. :-P
I have heard Satyricon referred to as 'black 'n' roll', because they use black metal instrumentation, song structure, and vocals, but their riffs are cleaner and more polished and resemble rock more than metal riffs.
I listened to the latest Arch Enemy album, War Eternal.
Well and so, I know that Alissa does have good range, but she doesn't shift gears as fluidly as Angela, so her growls come across as less organic. I'll miss Angela's sudden shrieks, but Alissa's vocals are a powerhouse that bring a lot of energy for an installment that boils down to more straight-up headbanging. So, if you like that, you'll like this.
I will say that the eponymous song and single they put out, War Eternal, is one of the weakest songs on the album. Instrumentation-wise, AE still have it. They are still the same band: the same catchy riffs, and punishing brutality. However, it is clear that their sound has moved on from the more melodically textured/varied material they had in Rise of the Tyrant and prior works, has stepped through the bridge of the more "regular" chugs of Khaos Legions, and has further evolved into the tighter (and to me, slightly less raw and more formulaic, more uniform) sound they have in WE. Still feral, though, and I still enjoyed what melodic interludes there were, though I still can't help that it feels more 'packaged' and 'produced'.
On the whole, though? They have some excellent songs (Time is Black!), some okay for headbanging, and some utterly forgettable. Then again, that's what I thought about Khaos Legions, but that one grew on me. Worth listening to this album at least once, because even given my terrible attention span, and given that there's more straight-up headbanging than with previous efforts, I still remember what the songs sound like. But...I'd recommend listening for yourself. This is still growing on me, and it will probably take me a few more listens to fully pick up on anything I missed that will take me to either side of the fence.
Stupid Spotify, taunting me with "available" tracks, and then telling me that it's not available in my region!
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jul 6, 2014 22:35:51 GMT
Four years after 'alley cat' there's finally a new Seventh Wonder video . Gotta say, though - weird costume choice.
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jul 6, 2014 23:06:43 GMT
Oooooh, new Seventh Wonder album is coming, according to one of the band members...and it's going to be heavier than before! Can't say I'm not pleased about that. But what's with the jazzpop outfits? BringbackthetightblackbuttondownsTommyLeaving this here: Words That Go Unspoken [Album] by Akercocke - It's a mix of death metal, black metal, and prog influences. I can't really use our usual '____ened ____ metal' formula, because it's no more one than the other. It tends to use a sort of death metal backbone, and switch styles. Well worth listening if you like even any one of those styles! I wasn't bored. :-D
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jul 8, 2014 14:48:39 GMT
I was listening to the album A War of our Own by Dutch band Stream of Passion. It's sort of power/symphonic metal in a style similar to Epica's The Quantum Enigma. Gets kind of 'samey' by halfway through, though. Was Akercocke in the 'Ikea or death?" quiz?
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jul 9, 2014 12:58:33 GMT
Yes, as was Taake (mentioned in some previous post somewhere). Both are excellent.
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jul 11, 2014 1:16:02 GMT
I decided it's time to finally get around to listening to Serenity's 2013 album War of Ages. Less than 2 minutes into the first track, I remember why I haven't listened to it before - I like my backing vocals to be done by actual backing singers, not just by layering the lead singer's voice. Too digital .
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jul 11, 2014 5:28:16 GMT
I couldn't possibly resist checking out someone called Goatcraft playing music they call 'necroclassical', so... All For Naught by Goatcraft. It's a very dark, heavy neoclassical album and I'm really struggling to come up with comparisons. It's sort of like if you take the heaviness of an extreme metal band, then strip out every instrument except the keyboards. Definitely not 'too digital', at any rate .
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Jul 14, 2014 4:41:42 GMT
Have we had this anywhere before? Live performance of 'paranoid alkaloid' by Noneuclid with Morean on vocals.
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Post by Jᴀy V. Aꜱᴛᴇʀ 💀🐍 on Jul 17, 2014 5:33:38 GMT
I could swear I linked to Taake before this, but I think I never did. So, in that last mention, this is what I was talking about. Noregs Vaapen [Album] by TaakeThis is quite excellent melodic black metal. I came across this album when Spotify's black metal radio played the song Myr, which has a frickin' banjo in it. Black metal. Banjo. Brain broken. It works, though! No, despite the banjo, it's not progressive, just straight up melodic black metal. Yes, Taake is from the Ikea or Death quiz.
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