Metalheads & Writers

[cadeauxxx]

I used to be big into heavy metal when I was younger. I don't listen to a whole lot of it anymore. Back in the day, I primarily played Metal on guitar and while I still can play that style, I think i sorta grew out of it when I started playing more of Blues Rock and R&B. All of us who play an instrument usually have to go through growing pains before discovering what we're best at.

My two favorite heavy metal bands were Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate.

I still idolize Glenn Tipton to a degree as a guitar player. He wrote some of the most amazing riffs and always was a good soloist. His solo in 'Beyond The Realms of Death' is my pick for best Heavy Metal guitar solo ever.

Other than Tipton, I always loved Priest for Rob Halford. Going through their catalog and his career, his voice changed several times but always remained the same with energy. It's impressive to see him now in his old age and yet he can still sing thoroughly and sounds great. Halford to me is the best Metal singer ever, and he's inspired a legion of singers who see him as a hero.

As for Mercyful Fate, I grew up with this band's first two albums and absolutely loved them. Fate was essential to me as a young guitar player as I used to practice along to their 'Melissa' album on a regular basis for my practice routine on rhythm guitar. I have always felt this band at their peak was a force to be reckoned with as an all around solid band. You listen to 'Don't Break The Oath' and see their live shows from the mid 80's, and it's amazing how tight they were together. Michael Denner once said that they used to practice as a band 5 times a week for 4 whole years during that period, and you can definitely tell with how tight and on tempo they sounded together.

I could talk hours about how much I love Mercyful Fate. I even like their 90's release 'In The Shadows'. I liked that they tried something new when they got back together, instead of rehashing the 80's stuff. Shadows has some of the best guitar tones they ever had on record.

Like Tipton, I still treasure Hank Shermann as one of my favorite guitar players even though I don't play much heavy metal anymore. Hank was the sole reason I was inspired to use a Stratocaster guitar for playing Metal. I was tickled to death a few years ago to discover he still plays Strats.

 

[jaF0]

Picked up a Sampler from Relapse Records. A lot of it is trash but there is a track called "Onde børn" by Myrkur that is more mystical than metal. Decided to find out more and the term 'black metal' is used to describe the style. Not one I'd read before.

 

[jaF0]

Alright. Unsolicited recommendation alert. You might want to check out Ayreon, a dutch prog metal project. Both the vocalist of Mundanus Imperium and Magali Luyten have worked with Arjen, the dude behind Ayreon, in the past and if you liked both songs, then I'm damn certain you'll enjoy what he has to offer. The best thing? He recently released a good chunk of his past work on Youtube.


Go into the Playlists area and pick either "01011001" or "The Human Equation". Both are fantastic springboards, but in my opinion Arjen has yet to release a "bad" album. If you like his style, check out "The Theory of Everything" and "Into the Electric Castle", two of my favorite albums.

Let me know how it went, please.

I have that and like it. That's one to listen to from start to finish uninterrupted though so you can follow the story.

If you like that, you might also like Liquid Tension Experiment and Kamelot.

 

[Blind_Justice]

"Black Metal" is used to actually describe a variety of styles. Like with many terms, the meaning has shifted throughout the years.

The term popped up for the first time around 1982 when Venom released their "Black Metal" album, which dealt primarily with Satanic themes. Subsequently, the term was used to label metal with satanic lyrics. Bands like Possessed, Mercyful Fate or Bathory would be put under that umbrella, even though their musical expression varied wildly.

Black Metal as a distinct musical style (as opposed to a catch-all label for "metal with satanic lyrics) can be traced back to "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" by Bathory, which first used many of the defining cues, like incredibly fast drumming, dissonant riffing and screeching vocals. That style would later be refined by Norwegian bands like Darkthrone, Mayhem and Emperor.

Interestingly, "White Metal" also exists, which covers Christian bands from all genres, like Stryper or P.O.D. or Saviour Machine.

As for Myrkur - I have both her albums, and the second one especially is more folk with the occasional noisy outbursts than a full-frontal assault like "Panzerdivision Marduk" or the like

 

[jaF0]

Anybody familiar with 'Boris'? That same sampler has 'Farewell' which I find interesting. But there are a couple of others (Hope and Riot Sugar) by him/them I can't stand.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Do you mean that "25 years of something and something" sampler Relapse put out a few years ago? I have it on a thumb drive somwhere.

As for "Boris", they are a Japanese gang of audio-terrorists. Not hugely familiar with their stuff, but then, I'm not into noise/drone. They're big enough to have a wikipedia page though.

 

[jaF0]

Do you mean that "25 years of something and something" sampler Relapse put out a few years ago?.

Fall '16 Summer Sampler

They were putting one out every year or so for a while, but most of the previous ones all seemed like noise and I passed on them.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Fall '16 Summer Sampler

They were putting one out every year or so for a while, but most of the previous ones all seemed like noise and I passed on them.

To be fair, Relapse are mainly releasing grind/death/extreme stuff, with a few outliers.

If you want to discover more melodic stuff, try Roadrunner Records, Nuclear Blast, Napalm, Metal Blade or Century Media. They're the more mainstream labels with a wider portfolio (and decently curated Youtube channels)

If you want to go more specialized, try Van Records for retro sounds or Rise Above for some doomy and/or sludge-y goodness.

 

[Blind_Justice]

@Nova & jaF0:

Today I had my own sudden discovery moment. jaF0, you mentioned Kamelot. I know them since their "Karma" album, ca. 2001. Turns out they'll be releasing a new album shortly. Tripped over the teaser song "The Phantom Divide".

https://youtu.be/v8MqvUeDqL4

The usual modern Kamelot fare - unnecessarily proggy verse, followed by their unique brand of sweet, rousing chorus (I know musical terms). Exceptionally well played and -sung. But my real WTF moment came when their guest vocalist opened up. Lauren Hart. Never heard of her before. Decided to change that, did some quick research and had my head blown clean off.

Here's why:
https://youtu.be/KOvAP_Hd7xg

Normally, I don't like growling women. I'm all for gender equality, but women should sing. Please. But here I'm making an exception. First, her style often reminds me of Chuck Schuldiner (ex-Death, RIP) and motherfucking Christ on a plane, these guys can SHRED!

Album is ordered.

 

[clistenovena]

Normally, I don't like growling women. I'm all for gender equality, but women should sing. Please.

Why this made me laugh and laugh. But it did.

Ooo! Kamelot. And the growler girl added to the overall charm (can I use that term?) of the song.

Thank you again for the nod in the right direction.

@Nova & jaF0:

Today I had my own sudden discovery moment. jaF0, you mentioned Kamelot. I know them since their "Karma" album, ca. 2001. Turns out they'll be releasing a new album shortly. Tripped over the teaser song "The Phantom Divide".

https://youtu.be/v8MqvUeDqL4

The usual modern Kamelot fare - unnecessarily proggy verse, followed by their unique brand of sweet, rousing chorus (I know musical terms). Exceptionally well played and -sung. But my real WTF moment came when their guest vocalist opened up. Lauren Hart. Never heard of her before. Decided to change that, did some quick research and had my head blown clean off.

Here's why:
https://youtu.be/KOvAP_Hd7xg

Normally, I don't like growling women. I'm all for gender equality, but women should sing. Please. But here I'm making an exception. First, her style often reminds me of Chuck Schuldiner (ex-Death, RIP) and motherfucking Christ on a plane, these guys can SHRED!

Album is ordered.

 

[Kantarii]

Looks like I’m going to be busy checking out some of the suggestions on YouTube this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions Kant

 

[Blind_Justice]

Looks like I’m going to be busy checking out some of the suggestions on YouTube this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions Kant

You're welcome.

And talking about recommendations: Everyone's most hated black metal band, Dimmu Borgir, are about to release a new album in May, the first in eight years. Here are the pre-release tracks released so far.

https://youtu.be/5ws18_MZ-lw
https://youtu.be/P7vg7ir8jyc

Black Metal elitists, those who damn and curse anything not sounding like Burzum's demo tape sloppily replayed in a freezing forest at around four in the morning, will probably get a stroke.

Me? I'm digging it. The huge, orchestral sound. The choirs. The tasteful classic metal nods. Even the hypermodern synth line in "Interdimensional Summit". All these ingredients have been with Dimmu Borgir in one form or the other since their acclaimed "Stormblast" days, only much more subtle. Is this still Black Metal?

Honestly? Does it even matter? Good music is good music, and I can't stop tapping my foot as I'm writing this. Totally looking forward to the album.

May will be a mean month anyway. Not only will Dimmu Borgir put out new stuff, my favourite Finns Amorphis will put out new stuff too.

https://youtu.be/xf_4uvymwRw

Good stuff. Despite all their advances in songwriting, you can clearly hear their roots, going all the way back to "Black Winter Day" and "The Karelian Isthmus".

https://youtu.be/d8o3oAt9Db8

 

[Kantarii]

You're welcome.

And talking about recommendations: Everyone's most hated black metal band, Dimmu Borgir, are about to release a new album in May, the first in eight years. Here are the pre-release tracks released so far.

https://youtu.be/5ws18_MZ-lw
https://youtu.be/P7vg7ir8jyc

Black Metal elitists, those who damn and curse anything not sounding like Burzum's demo tape sloppily replayed in a freezing forest at around four in the morning, will probably get a stroke.

Me? I'm digging it. The huge, orchestral sound. The choirs. The tasteful classic metal nods. Even the hypermodern synth line in "Interdimensional Summit". All these ingredients have been with Dimmu Borgir in one form or the other since their acclaimed "Stormblast" days, only much more subtle. Is this still Black Metal?



Honestly? Does it even matter? Good music is good music, and I can't stop tapping my foot as I'm writing this. Totally looking forward to the album.

May will be a mean month anyway. Not only will Dimmu Borgir put out new stuff, my favourite Finns Amorphis will put out new stuff too.

https://youtu.be/xf_4uvymwRw

Good stuff. Despite all their advances in songwriting, you can clearly hear their roots, going all the way back to "Black Winter Day" and "The Karelian Isthmus".

https://youtu.be/d8o3oAt9Db8

I started out listening to “For all Tid”- loved it, still play it a good bit.everyone said the same about Morgoth’s album “Feel sorry for the Fanatic”, but I loved it as mush as “Odium”

Funny thing you mentioned Amorphis. I was listening to them and Sentenced the other day

 

[jaF0]

Have we mentioned Devin Townsend? Again, I only have one piece "Grace' from a sampler, but I'm wondering about getting more from that 'project'.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Have we mentioned Devin Townsend? Again, I only have one piece "Grace' from a sampler, but I'm wondering about getting more from that 'project'.

If you don't mind weird and wonderful, you can't go wrong with Mr. Townsend. His "Ocean Machine" project is almost ambient, while Strapping Young Lad is industrial noise on a scale forbidden by the Geneva Convention. Ziltoid the Omniscient is straight up comedy and his self-titled stuff runs the gamut from heavy to avant-garde. Love/hate relationship on an individual record basis.

 

[Boota]

I'm a metalhead, but I just love most music in general. I'm not a genre lover, I give every artist an individual chance. My band was slapped into a lot of different categories and I rarely agreed with any of them, so I can't put a lot of credence into genre.

I was strictly a musician before my band took a break and I decided to try writing for a creative outlet. Now I mostly write and occasionally do music. Just not enough hours in the day.

 

[Kantarii]

I'm a metalhead, but I just love most music in general. I'm not a genre lover, I give every artist an individual chance. My band was slapped into a lot of different categories and I rarely agreed with any of them, so I can't put a lot of credence into genre.

I was strictly a musician before my band took a break and I decided to try writing for a creative outlet. Now I mostly write and occasionally do music. Just not enough hours in the day.

I know what you meanTime flys by when I’m writing especially when I’m listen to music. I got rid of my cable subscription in 2001, then my TV in 2002. When I’m in the mood to watch something, I go to the theater and see it, otherwise all my free time is spent drawing, etching glass, putting on makeup, and writing. Really time isn’t an issue so much as I need an extra day in the week.
Kant

 

[Kantarii]

If you don't mind weird and wonderful, you can't go wrong with Mr. Townsend. His "Ocean Machine" project is almost ambient, while Strapping Young Lad is industrial noise on a scale forbidden by the Geneva Convention. Ziltoid the Omniscient is straight up comedy and his self-titled stuff runs the gamut from heavy to avant-garde. Love/hate relationship on an individual record basis.

It’s hard for me to think of Devin Townsend and SYL. without mentioning Nevermore, too. But, then again, I cut my listening ears on Century Medua when the Lable started.
Kant

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I am growing to love Ziltoid more than Strapping Young Lad, which is weird because I really love some Strapping Young Lad.

 

[Oblimo]

I love Amon Amarth Viking Metal

Hm, I haven’t listened to Viking Metal before. Maybe I’ll give this Amon Amarth a one-song tr—

*Listens*

Hole. Lee. Shit.

Have I been missing out.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Hm, I haven’t listened to Viking Metal before. Maybe I’ll give this Amon Amarth a one-song tr—

*Listens*

Hole. Lee. Shit.

Have I been missing out.

Not to blow my own horn (or Kant's), but you'll find a literal fuckton of awesome music in this thread. I bet Nova is still out there somewhere, banging her cute head to some of the stuff we recommended

Welcome to the Pleasuredome!

 

[NovusAnimus]

I've been super into Unleash the Archers lately. Traditional metal, with some viking power metal influence, and some doom metal influence from their earlier days.

https://youtu.be/gqUPGa15Oto

 

[ReGats]

I've been super into Unleash the Archers lately. Traditional metal, with some viking power metal influence, and some doom metal influence from their earlier days.

https://youtu.be/gqUPGa15Oto

Hey, I 'member these guys! I couldn't sit through their first album, which is a very rare feat. The second was better, but I wouldn't call it good. Something was just off. The third was better still, and the fourth and most recent is the best thus far, in my opinion. I can only pray that the album's title is non-indicative.

Side note, I once did a little bit of digging and found out that the main character for the 'Apex' concept album (that being the most recent) was meant to be male. This disappointed me, as the singer was a woman and I was thinking that the story's MC was either female or a non-gendered entity. I've not listened to the album since.

In other power metal-flavoured news, I recommend giving the band 'Mad Hatter' a listen. They're pretty good, with a strong opening salvo. Only complaint I can lodge against them is that three of the songs feel similar, instrumentals-wise.

Also, Nahtram is a solo project on Youtube that is Instrumental Metal. I like it, and wouldn't mind listening to more Instrumental Metal projects.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Also, Nahtram is a solo project on Youtube that is Instrumental Metal. I like it, and wouldn't mind listening to more Instrumental Metal projects.

It's pretty difficult to find pure instrumental Metal, but I have a few ideas, although it's a pretty wide definition of "Metal".

First, there's Karma To Burn. Their first record is a relatively traditional Stoner album with vocals, but all their subsequent records are instrumental and from what I've heard, they are pretty awesome at creating interesting sounds and atmosphere. Definitely something to dive in.

Then there are Long Distance Calling. I'm not all too familiar with their output, but I've heard their first few records were all instrumental affairs. They play Post-Core, whatever the fuck that may be. I heard the occasional number on my metal web radio station of choice and they sound heavy, gloomy and like to play with the whole soft/loud dynamic. The last few albums have vocal tracks, but I don't know if it's vocals throughout all the songs or just a few.

Next up: Apocalyptica. Crazy Finns with cellos playing metal. They do have one or two vocal tracks per album, but most of them are pure instrumental. Not quite up to date with them, but I can vouch for Inquisition Symphony, Cult and their self-titled albums to be ~90% instrumental.

And the easiest pick ever - Guitar Heroes. Pretty much every shredder likes their instrumental shit, with Yngwie Malmsteen the exception (pretty much all his albums have vocalists on them). But from memory I can name Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Jeff Loomis with (mostly) instrumental albums.

A special mention to Stéphan Forté, guitarist of prog band Adagio. His output is very extreme, as far as shred metal goes, but mindbendingly amazing. See this as an idea:
https://youtu.be/e6ogxOKW8AQ

Not quite metal, but still instrumental: Nile guitarist Karl Sanders has put out two (mostly) instrumental albums, called Saurian Meditation and Saurian Exorcism, played to sound like ancient Egyptian or South American music. Very soundtrack-y, but again with a ton of atmosphere.
https://youtu.be/wt5Mb74wBqM

I would need to dive deeper into my collection, but that's the stuff that jumps right at me. Let me know if you need more.

 

[clistenovena]

Not to blow my own horn (or Kant's), but you'll find a literal fuckton of awesome music in this thread. I bet Nova is still out there somewhere, banging her cute head to some of the stuff we recommended

And you, Mr. Awesome Music Man, would be exactly correct. And back for more.

I'm addicted, and it's all your fault for getting me hooked. Something tells me you might not mind that so much.

I know I don't mind it a bit.