What Are You Listening To Now? 6.0

Ayreon : Transitus

...again.


I like much of the music. The instrumentals are nicely performed, and Arjen's unmistakable guitar style and compositions are pretty damned good - possibly some of the best he's done.

I think the narrator's voice-overs are pretentious and ruin the whole damned thing, and will be the reason it won't spend much time in my rotation. Also, the vocals could be better. They aren't bad, per se, but they lack the range and the imagination of his earlier releases.

Sad - I don't hate it, but I had high hopes.
 
Confessions of a Romance Novelist (Deluxe edition)

The Anchoress
 
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I Just Wanna Break Even

The Flying Caravan

Interesting new prog group from Spain with their first album just released. Lots of classic influences in this.
 
Bathory - Hammerheart

One of the finest pieces of Viking metal. Heck, one of the FIRST pieces of Viking metal. Many people derided it for Quorthon's (singer, guitarist, songwriter, all-around badass) questionable singing skills, but I love the rawness and honesty to bits. There is nothing pretentious about this record, just raw emotion and a lot of power. The next one, "Secret Of The Runes", is more refined and a touch more epic, but I prefer this one. Especially since there is no five minute "wind and occasional guitar chords" intro to deal with. :)
 
Beyond the Exosphere

Pyramid Theorem

Oh, the title alone sounds like a freaking Space Opera. I could do with some "space metal" for my writing playlist. The old Scar Symmetry standys have grown stale after about 300 listens :)

Talking about a "grower" record:
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron

At first I was "yeah, okay, it has naked boobies on the cover. And the music isn't half bad."
Now, about twenty spins later? This thing is shaping up to be one of the classics of the sub-sub genre of "Epic Metal". :)
 
Oh, the title alone sounds like a freaking Space Opera. I could do with some "space metal" for my writing playlist. The old Scar Symmetry standys have grown stale after about 300 listens :)

Pyramid Theorem has been around since mid2000 and has some pretty good chops. I like listening to them

Talking about a "grower" record:
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron

At first I was "yeah, okay, it has naked boobies on the cover. And the music isn't half bad."
Now, about twenty spins later? This thing is shaping up to be one of the classics of the sub-sub genre of "Epic Metal". :)

Now that gets me intrigued. I will have to give that a listen. Thanks!
 
Now that gets me intrigued. I will have to give that a listen. Thanks!

I've just turned on Pyramid Theorem. Thank you very much for the recommendation! The intro break sounded totally like Rush, but it quickly turned into a beast of its own. The sound is just the right balance of warmth and spaciousness and I just got to the part where they sounded a bit like Symphony X. Damn!

As for Eternal Champion: They need a bit of getting used to. The sound is totally 1987 and the singer's voice is pretty much "acquired taste" territory. But these damn melodies!
 
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Ravening Iron

Eternal Champion

just started and I already feel like I'm back in the eighties, the singer sounds like a Peter Gabriel wannabe. Actually fun and pretty cool
 
Bathory - Hammerheart

One of the finest pieces of Viking metal. Heck, one of the FIRST pieces of Viking metal. Many people derided it for Quorthon's (singer, guitarist, songwriter, all-around badass) questionable singing skills, but I love the rawness and honesty to bits. There is nothing pretentious about this record, just raw emotion and a lot of power. The next one, "Secret Of The Runes", is more refined and a touch more epic, but I prefer this one. Especially since there is no five minute "wind and occasional guitar chords" intro to deal with. :)

Beyond the Exosphere

Pyramid Theorem

STOP IT!!! You're costing me MONEY!!

(In a good way :D )

I'll check out those recommendations, and if I agree with your assessments my almost-bare wallet will be completely empty. LOL

Who's the main banker here on LIT? I'm going to need a loan! :)
 
Rikard Sjöblom's Gungfly : Alone Together

The Beardfish influence is (obviously) very strong, but it's definitely not "Beardfish Mark-II". It's growing on me.
 
Oranssi Pazuzu : Mestarin Kynsi

Weird and wonderful - though it isn't for everyone :)
 
Oranssi Pazuzu : Mestarin Kynsi

Weird and wonderful - though it isn't for everyone :)

Agree. They get 10/10 and 1/10 reviews in my fave metal mag, usually both on one release. Kinda like Fleshgod Apocalypse...

I can hear the ambition and musicianship, but that's too much dissonance right now. Right album, wrong mood.
 
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Seven Impale : City of the Sun


Interesting. A Norwegian act playing a genre-defying hard-rock-jazzy style with sax. Multiple tempo shifts, fairly decent vocals and good performances. I bet they'd be a blast to see live.
 
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