I stand behind what I said regarding Uriah Heep previously in this cup
My relationship with Uriah Heep is rather complex. Being one of the bands that were able to cross the Iron Curtain, it is - in my father's generation, at least - oft overrated. Meaning, just because their "Western" albums were being sold on the black market right next to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, they must be pretty much homoousian, right? Right?
(to a certain degree, similar thing happened with Abba and Boney M)
My own experience and appreciation had to overcome this inherent over-appreciation that was present all around, as well as the general exaggeration of their importance and competence, while trying to like the band. They tend to be rather silly often, in a way that is somehow altogether unlike the silliness I crave for and appreciate in vintage power metal. I'm learning to respect them less than my immediate region and more than the overall public does. Instrumentally, vocally, conceptually, I can't really help myself from feeling they are the epitome of a second grade, quite miserably so.
and yet, I can't deny that B-grade or not, they do possess a certain charm that speaks to both the (power) metal fan as well as the prog fan within me. Especially in their classic era, of which
Look at Yourself - the song
and the album - is a perfect representative. The typical tight gallop, the undeniable catchiness, I'd say that if we talk purely about
feeling, it is heavier than many of their contemporaries. Byron's vocal stylisations are an acquired taste, true, but even then, when it works, it works (and it definitely does so here). I do not wish to overpraise either the song or the band, but next to your generic power-poppy Kiss shtick, it is quite obvious my vote shall go to
Uriah Heep.
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Anthem are not half bad, but
Restless and Wild is probably the best Accept album (well, speaking objectively, I will talk about my personal favourite later in the game) and the subtle, held-back, "jagged" energy of
Princess of the Dawn can't be beat. Man, I have to give the entire album another spin soon.
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A B-tier Priest album (and song) against one of the better
Iced Earth efforts makes me want to go storm the Capitol and then some.
Vive la résistance!
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I am dreading the results of this round, to be honest, since there hasn't been much love for either Rhapsody or Luca Turilli himself, but here we go again with what might be my favourite Rhapsody/Rhapsody-affiliated track
overall. The harpsichord intro, the jovially embellished riff, the
abosfuckinglutely unbelievably catchy pre-chorus, the majestic chorus, it's everything I've ever wanted from Luca and then some. Ever since I discovered this album, it might be actually my favourite one with Turilli (meaning, of all he ever played/composed on, including the OG Rhapsody ones), because this is just perfect. Love, love, love it.
I like Sammett and Avantasia, in fact the first two Avantasia albums are among my favourite albums in general, genre be damned, but
Moonglow is already them leaving the power metal beauty behind and The Raven Child is a perfect example thereof. There's nothing particularly
bad per se, but I can't help but feel it's rather lacklustre and "modern". I mean,
this is the bloke who wrote The Seven Angels? Sign of the Cross? Reach Out for the Light? Really? Next to Legend of Steel, this feels downright anemic.
TURILLI and it's not even a contest. And I say that as someone who wholeheartedly supported another (a million times better) Avantasia track eliminating my own nomination in the early rounds.
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So, more old school classics, huh? Barracuda is really cool, but honestly, I feel like the song is criminally overplayed (wasn't it in fucking
Shrek or somewhere?), possibly even more than School's Out... or it lends itself to being overplayed more, dunno. I'd be fine with either song winning (the riff and the vocals in Barracuda are really top-notch), but I think I'll go with the artist favouritism and vote for
Alice Cooper here.
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Man, the last match is really easy. Soundgarden with Cornell at his prime and with a banger coming right off their best album (if we discount Alice in Chain's
Dirt,
Badmotorfinger is quite certainly the best thing the grunge movement gave the world and I'll die on that hill). The riffage, the - admittedly somewhat Alice-in-Chainesque/Cantrell-ish - hook in the chorus, Cornell screaming his head off... it's just perfect. It stays with you.
Teen Spirit is again, overplayed, overrated and honestly, even on
Nevermind alone there's, like 5 better songs at least. I think Cobain himself would vote for the opposition here.
Soundgarden, duh.
