Cd Reviews

Ok, LOTS of ground to cover today, I will be making individual posts per album. I am listening to them at "work" and reviewing them as I go. Might not finish today so it is my weekly project.

First up we have Avantasia: The Flying Opera. This is an amazing package for any fan of Edguy/Avantasia. It is the Live DVD from their 2008 Wacken appearance... at least I think it is Wacken. I thought Wacken was a German venue, but he keeps telling the crowd, "Thank you Czech Republic!".... so I don't know if they spliced footage from two different dates.

It also includes a documentary of how Avantasia came to be, their small hiatus and their return in 2006 with the Scarecrow album. I was very pleased with the documentary as it showed a reflective side of Tobias Sammet I thought he had lost some time ago. I know it is impossible to know artist just through their albums, but seeing his transformation from a long-haired androgynous teenager to a drag queen version of Alice Cooper was concerning to me, specially with the route Edguy has gone on. But in the interview he is humble, reflective, thankful to his collaborators... quite touching and insightful on the workings of the project.

It also includes the show on two CDs... again, massive package. The real impressive thing is how many people he was able to get to do the show. Obvious omissions include Michael Kiske, Alex Holzworth and Henjo Richter. But Andre Matos, Cloudy Yang, Amanda Summerville, Sasha Paeth, Oliver Hartman, Jorn Lande, a Cameo by Kai Hansen and a very cool Bob Catley from Magnum[i/]. I LOVE this old guy, he is fucking funny and theatrical on stage, but his voice is amazing. What I really like about the DVD is you can see every single performer is having a blast on stage, genuine joy and it is contagious.

The material is from the first two Metal Operas and the Scarecrow with only one song, Promised Land being from the recent albums, specifically Angel of Babylon. If you're a Power Metal Fan like myself this is a must.

Here is a vid of Catley's rendition of The Story Ain't Over from the Lost in Space EP. One I used to own and returned because it offered little in terms of new material. After watching this DVD I am kicking myself for that because I failed to notice this little gem.

This is a fan vid, but it is good enough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwqL1M_s6YE
 
Onhell said:
"Thank you Czech Republic!".... so I don't know if they spliced footage from two different dates.
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They did, some songs are from Wacken, some songs are from Masters Of Rock in Czech Republic.

Onhell said:
The material is from the first two Metal Operas and the Scarecrow with only one song, Promised Land being from the recent albums, specifically Angel of Babylon.
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Promised Land was first recorded for Lost In Space EP, and this show was recorded before The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon were released. (I write this just in case you haven't heard that version ;))
 
I don't remember that version, but the booklet says, "original version found in Angel of Babylon" rather than the Lost in Space EP. Thanks for the clarification!
Amorphis' The Beginning of Time. This is yet another concept album based on a Finnish myth. I have a love/hate relationship with this album and in fact I've had a love/hate thing for Amorphis since Skyforger. One of the reasons I love Amorphis is because they experiment, grow, try new things as weird as they might come out. Ever since Tomi Joutsen joined the band starting with Eclipse the band has embarked on a new direction and has stayed the course. that is a more mellow, moody/melancholic piano driven sound. Nothing wrong with that, in fact I LOVE it. Eclipse and Silent Waters are fantastic albums, but by the time Skyforger came along I just thought... "oh more of the same," and The Beginning of Time is like that... at first. Tomi is a fantastic Singer, the new Keyboardist, Santeri Kallio, does a good job and the album is definitely a grower. Out of the four recent albums I keep going back to Silent Waters the most, but I have a new found appreciation for Skyforger and The Beginning of Time also takes a bit of time.

One of the songs I am stuck on is You I Need and the title track is fantastic, great bass on it.

Here are links to each:
You I need:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rs-or7As0k&ob=av3e
The Beginning of Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avzHjTMn06U&feature=related
 
As I said on the other thread, Song Of The Sage is my favorite. Every album from "Tomi era" is better than the previous one IMO. Of course, all of them are fantastic, and are full of great catchy songs.
 
Hammerfall's Infected

This is a really odd album in a good way. At first I stayed away from it, because it is the first album to NOT feature "Hector," their knight mascot, on the cover or have the name of the band in that elegant font. Instead it looks like dripping blood and you have a "zombie hand" trying to break through. The back has a picture of the band members in zombified poses... The only zombie related song is the first one, however.

I did not know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Co-produced by the new guitarist this album is more "chuga-chuga" and less "meedly meedly diddly deeee." if that makes ANY sense. It has a heavier sound that is very welcome. Song writing wise... well, it's Hammefall, I definitely don't buy their cds, because they write great lyrics. Gone are the knights and kings and instead we get a song about a zombie, an unintentionally funny song about the Day of the Day (they sing Dia de los Muertos/Los Angelitos IN Spanish... fucking funny), and classic sing-a-long Hammerfall about banging your head.

Again, surprisingly good album, I like the heavier sound, it is still melodic and I am loving B.Y.H (Bang Your Head), which was one of the singles and Redemption.

Redemption: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8pDeSglB7A
 
To be honest when I first saw that One More Time video clip I thought it was really horrible.But after listening to the cd and focusing on the music I was surprised on how much I liked that riff.It was right there from the beginning.It's heavy, it's catchy and most of the album goes like that.There are a couple of songs that sound like fillers but that's about it.
Patient Zero, B.Y.H., One More Time, The Outlaw, Dia De Los Muertos are all nice songs and that ballad which is actually a cover is very well done.

Cans was right when he just asked people to give the album a chance before they judge it, it really is a nice effort.As far as the production I think it might the best one on a metal album this year.It is heavy as it should be, yet fresh and clean.It might still be a bit early with a lot of albums to be expected in this year but I can see it entering my top-20.
 
Cornfed Hick said:
Awaiting your review of Opeth's new album...  Posting my brief thoughts on the Opeth thread in MetalFans. 
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I get paid Friday... I'll pick it up then along with Mastodon's and whatever I can find used lol. I'm actually looking forward to it after reading what you said in the other thread. I've referred to Opeth as "jazz metal" before, so it looks like Akenfelt finally went for it.

Murder89 said:
To be honest when I first saw that One More Time video clip I thought it was really horrible.But after listening to the cd and focusing on the music I was surprised on how much I liked that riff.It was right there from the beginning.It's heavy, it's catchy and most of the album goes like that....
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My thoughts exactly. Upon first listen I was like... "good, but meh," but after given it a legit chance it did grow on me, good effort from the band, specially after the pile of crap that was No Sacrifice, No Victory.

Anywho, Symphony X's Iconoclast...

The album comes in two presentations, a single disc version and a two disc "special edition" digipack. Don't bother getting the single cd version, it is missing tracks and even the track order is rearranged. According to Wiki, Romeo stated that the 2cd package was what the band originally intended but that the label also wanted a single cd presentation.

It is a concept album about the age old story of man creates machine, machine destroys man. Sonically it is similar to Paradise Lost, but they avoid being utterly boring this time around. I've only listened to it a couple of times and what I like is that the songs seamlessly transition from one to the next, they are all attention grabbers, catchy, heavy, brooding and powerful. What I don't like is that until now, none have staying power. I'll be listening to one song, like it overall, but as soon as the next one starts I have already forgotten the last. Thus Iconoclast works best as a whole. Overall a really good album and very much worth picking up.  It is massive! I've spent the last two hours listening to it here at work to write this review... I'm glad I started with this one today hehe. Again, Good, solid effort and while it has no stand out tracks like Paradise Lost did with Set the World on Fire, it is a much better album.
 
Masterplan's Time to be King

I was really excited over this release because it marks the return of Jorn Lande to Masterplan. I only have a few songs from the first cd, but their second effort, Auronautics literally floored me. Specially Lande's performance on Black in the Burn. Not to mention it was basically Helloween 2.0 with Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch heading the line-up. Their third album was still very strong even thought Lande and Kusch had left. So with Lande's return I was expecting big things and instead I got a big fat... Meh. It's good, nothing special or worth writing home about. This one can be skipped, but if you still haven't, pick up their SECOND album Auronautics!
 
I tried to like Masterplan - I liked Kusch and Grapow in Helloween - I liked Jorn's solo career - but his voice doesn't fit with this kind of music IMO.
 
Symfonia's In Paradisum

Ok, if you are NOT a fan of Andre Mato's voice, stay away... goes without saying.


For everybody else this is a great CD. I know Prowler was disappointed and that he's never heard so many "rip-offs" on a cd, but I highly enjoy it. It is Stratovarius on Steroids and for good reason.

Timmo Tolkki, ex-Stratovarius, is the clear mastermind of this band and you know he likes his obscure classical instruments. It is unclear if he is responsible for "Black Water" changing its name to "Stratovarius," a combination of Stratocaster and Stradivarius (famed violin maker), but he joined the band around that time and quickly took over as practically sole composer. Another Stratovarius trademark is the Fleur de Lei (sp?) emblem which if you notice is no longer on the current Tolkki-less albums (it has been replaced by a star). The Cover of Symfonia once again bares said symbol.

Symfonia could be a number of things. If you spell it Simfonia and stress the last "i" it is "symphony" in Spanish. if you spell it with a "ph" it is Greek for... well we don't know, it could be bagpipe or hurdy gurdy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphonia). The hurdy gurdy is a type of mechanized violin and considering the name of Tolkki's last band... I'm guessing that is what he is trying to channel again.

Sound wise Symfonia is reminescent of mid 90's Stratovarius down to the keyboards being, in the words of Prowler, a Jens Johansen rip-off (I prefer tribute lol). The title track would be right at home on the Elements albums, but it is just great, neoclassical power metal. Great solos, church organs, bombastic choruses, high vocals. If you are a Stratovarius/Angra fan pick it up. My favorites are Come by the Hills and Forevermore, but I like the whole thing quite a lot.

Come by the Hills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9sIeTjYu7w

Forevermore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfwsGdyRZBI
 
Title track is the only listenable song on the album, but it's a ripped off from Avantasia's The Tower ;)
And I like Andre Matos' vocals, but I prefer him in Angra and his solo band.
 
LOL, that is my least favorite song, mainly because it does remind me of the Elements albums which are IMO the worst Stratovarius albums... the self-titled album comes close though. As for the vocals thing I forget if it was Perun or Foro that said he sounds like a strangled duck, that's why I added that little bit there haha.
 
Night Prowler said:
I think he's a great singer. Btw, he sounds great here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmXd8dC2E0U
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That is indeed a good performance. I like the intimate setting as well.


Anywho, Grave Digger's The Clans Will Rise Again. This album is supposed to be a sort of Sequel to Tunes of War, itself a concept album inspired by Braveheart about the Scottish Clans. I don't own and have never heard said album, so unfortunately I cannot compare it. What I do own is every Grave Digger from 1999 onwards.

By far my favorite is The Last Supper, but I really enjoyed Ballads of the Hangman. The addition of a second guitarist was a good one, giving them a more NWOBHM sound. I was skeptical about this album as the second guitarist was fired. Well, it does not disappoint. It is incredibly consistent and while their sound hasn't changed one bit, it is their strongest effort since... well, The Last Supper. If you've never picked up a Grave Digger cd before, this is a good one to start with, if you haven't picked one up in a while do to weaker previous entries, this album will restore your faith in the AC/DC of the Heavy Metal world.

Official video for Highland Farewell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pPGy7DxmGg&feature=fvst

Valley of Tears: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxVEat6sRqU
 
IMO Ballads Of A Hangman is their best album. Both guitarists from that album left the band (in less than a year), and I'm not impressed by the new guy and the whole "sequel" album thing.
 
I listened to a couple of songs from Gravedigger's latest album earlier in the year and it's fair to say that I was not impressed. :down: I have a few of their songs ('Demons Day' is the only one I can think of right now) and they are alright but I disliked what I heard of the new songs and found them a little patronizing.

And Gravedigger, if you're going to write an album about Scotland then do at least one show there. ;)
 
I have been meaning to write this up for several weeks now, but I've had a hard time organizing it. In short, Dream Theater's a dramatic turn of events floored me. I liked it from the start, but as I have been rotating my not-so-new purchases I finally got stuck on it and I have been playing it nonstop for easily two weeks. The more I hear it the more I love it. Then I went on a Dream Theater binge listening to all their cds that I own (all the studio releases except for Falling into Infinity).

I LOVE this band, pure and simple. While they have had their low points, I really enjoy most of their material. Images and Words took the longest to click, but man is it a great album, Awake is still my favorite with probably their best instrumental in Erotomania and I still think, even with this new album, that Scenes From a Memory is still their best. The only album I don't like is Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. The Glass Prison is a great track, but after that... can't stand it. Can't really place it, but I am not a fan. the supposed "one song" on the second CD has a few highlights, but mainly I get annoyed at it being referred to as one song when it is split into eight. I've said it in other threads, for a 40+ minute song see Thick as a Brick now THERE is a long song.

I enjoyed Train of Thought when it first came out, but I rarely go back to it. I was able to listen to it all the way through and actually enjoy it in my current nostalgia tour, but the true highlight from that album is Stream of Consciousness. A lot of fans had mixed feelings regarding Systematic Chaos but it is my top three. I love everything about it. The heaviness, the lyrics, everything. Aside from Repentance, I found it a bit odd that Pertucci did all of the writing, hell in the making of DVD Myung doesn't even show up!

Something also happened with this album, DT starting to do "Special Editions" of their CDs. This one included a 5.1 surround sound mix and the documentary, Black Clouds and Silver Linings took it further with a "Special Edition" AND a "Collector's Edition." The Special Edition was a very cool package including instrumental mixes of the tracks and a CD of covers, but the collectors edition took it further with a  DVD that has:

- Stem mixes of standard CD (try your hand at producer with isolated audio tracks of the entire album)
- Dream Theater mouse mat
- Find a silver foil ticket (100 lucky fans win a Meet & Greet with the band)
- Lithograph of cover art, numbered (100 lucky winners will find a litho signed by Hugh Syme)
- Limited edition audiophile 180-gram double-LP set with exclusive artwork from Hugh Syme

Holy crap, right? The album itself... personally I only really enjoy  a Nightmare to Remember and The Count of Tuscany. The other tracks I like, but usually skip when listening to the album. This time around I heard it in its entirety since the time I bought it and really liked it. The Shattered Fortress was good as well as the Best of Times... very touching song. But again, aside from the opener and the closer... nothing too memorable.

a dramatic turn of events however.... To me it is their best since Scenes. From the music to the lyrics, incredibly consistent, deep and everyone in top form. Myung did do some writing for the previous album, but I think this is the first since Scenes in which the band really came together, collaborated, had fun and damn does it show. This album also has three editions, the normal CD, the "Special Edition" which sucks, and again the "Collector's Edition." Why does the special edition suck? because the only extra is the documentary of the audtions, no 5.1 surround mix, no extra tracks, artwork... nothing. Don't get me wrong, I like having the documentary, but you can also watch it on their website or Youtube. The Collectors edition is again, fantastic it includes the "A Dramatic Turn of Events Album", instrumentals of the entire album, a DVD of "The Spirit Carries On", a double-LP Set of "A Dramatic Turn of Events" (180-Gram Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket), Dream Theater branded custom turntable slipmat and a litho print of the album. Also, 50 lucky winners will find a Dream Theater "Ticket For Life", which is randomly inserted into packaging.

I love all the songs, but personally I feel, "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" speaks to me. No secret I had a rough 2010 and things have gotten better, but just the song art in the booklet of that sandcastle chillin' on the beach unaware of that huge wave coming toward it in the background was a revelation to me. The ballads are gorgeous and it manages to be a heavy album without plagiarizing (or "paying tribute") like Train of Thought did and being incredibly prog without getting "boring."

GREAT, GREAT album, go get it NOW if you still haven't. If you are a casual fan of the band, this is the one to convince you, always been a skeptic? This is the one to convince you as well.

One of the things I have noticed about DT is that they have gotten more adventurous with the length of their songs. prior to releasing a Change of season's their longest songs on a record was barely over 11 minutes with most averaging aroung 5. From Scenes on the packed on the minutes considerably. In fact my favorite songs are the longer ones. Feels like an adventure. DT is really good at building up a song followed with a satisfying climax (something the Black Eyed Peas know nothing about. Seriously, they build up and build up and leads.... nowhere) with finally a grand denouement.
 
Yea ADTOE is the best since Scenes. And Stream of Consciousness is one of my favorite DT songs.
 
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