Album Of The Week #2

[Taliwakker]

I can't put my finger on it either

[Serendipity]

I think my problem is with the album as a whole... Musically they haven't changed a lot. It's a bit more aggressive with more songs in the vein of Phenomenon, but it also sounded flatter to me...

When I first played it, just the opening track (grunts and all ) and Pilot in The Sky Of Dreams stood out for me. The other songs seemed very alike eachother. I don't mean to say they suck, but to hear them after another... I just missed something... difficult to describe what exactly, a drive, a vibe, a kind of liveliness or something. Then again, maybe I've just been too lazy to like it; some records need an effort, and I haven't given it much of an effort yet... But then Subsurface I liked instantly and this record isn't really all that different...

[Kenny]

I do find their songs to be a lot 'soundalike' - I think it's Mac's voice, I think it's pretty one dimensional, to be honest.

I didn't mind Subsurface either, but really my favourite album of theirs is 'Extinct Instinct' and of course that is sans Mac!!

[Serendipity]

Yeah, I still prefer the avec Mac albums; I find his voice a little warmer.

Still not sure the 'soundalike' experience I had is because of the voice or the music... perhaps the combination of both. Even without the greatest singer in the world a song can still work... even a whole record...

Anyway, I'm going to give it a couple more tries, and I'm going to give Extinct Instinct some playing time too, to give that one another chance as well.

[SnakeLady]

Mac´s voice is warmer

Listening to Symphorce - Become Death

[Serendipity]

Listening to Symphorce - Become Death

Is that like... Symphonic Death Metal?

[SnakeLady]

Listening to Symphorce - Become Death

Is that like... Symphonic Death Metal?

It´s Death Metal (they say) But to me it doesn´t sound like Death Metal .....because of the vocals. Can´t really describe it.

[Serendipity]

Judging from their band name I would say they play power metal of some sort... I would expect clean vocals anyway. But that album title is so very un-power metal!

Could be the death metal is more about the lyrics... as with Opeth. They have a lot of acoustic songs for a death metal band.

[Jonny B]

While we're on the topic of metal, does anyone know about Machine Supremacy? One of my friends at work says he thinks I'd really like this group based on my tastes, but none of the cd stores have their stuff in their catalogue.

[doggy]

"Domino Effect" by Gotthard is my ATOW.

[Jonny B]

I could've given my AOTW away to just about a ton of new Euro goth releases, but I'm staying close to home and choosing Echoes of Eternity 'The Forgotten Goddess.' Give the States credit for trying, but our underground goth scene has a long ways to go.

[Taliwakker]

Rose Kemp-A Handful of Hurricanes

[Serendipity]

It's cold and wet outside, but I'm all warm and comfy with my Wishbone Ash records. Pilgrimage I picked up recently, and I really like Lullaby and Valediction, both kind of hippie style songs.
Argus I've had for a long time, still the solo in Sometime World does it for me every time. In fact, it has kept me from playing the b-side a fair number of times, while that side is completely packed with beautiful songs.

[Kenny]

While we're on the topic of metal, does anyone know about Machine Supremacy? One of my friends at work says he thinks I'd really like this group based on my tastes, but none of the cd stores have their stuff in their catalogue.

try Thought Chamber - 'Angular Perceptions' - really out there stuff.

[Jonny B]

Although I've already picked my AOTW, I recently checked out the new Threshold 'Dead Reckoning.' This is my first album by this group, and here's my take: It seems like they have an identity crisis and can't decide weither they want to be Power Metal or Progressive Rock. The first two tracks are superb. ('Slipstream,' and 'This is Your Life,' both which will most likely end up on a mix disc.) But for the rest of the album, it's like they start progressive, then go into a hooky commercial chorus. But in other tracks, they have the makings of a verse/bridge that could open up to this sick metal anthem, only to go into an awkward experimental progressive melody. I like their progressive elements, because it often reminds me of Magellan in places. Unfortunately, a lot of the transitions don't seem to mesh together, and I grew bored waiting for 2 or 3 more 'This Is Your Life'-style tracks to connect the album together. If they ever want to reach their full potential, they need to decide which genre they want to play and stick to it.

[Jonny B]

While we're on the topic of metal, does anyone know about Machine Supremacy? One of my friends at work says he thinks I'd really like this group based on my tastes, but none of the cd stores have their stuff in their catalogue.

try Thought Chamber - 'Angular Perceptions' - really out there stuff.

I'll look them up in the near future.

[Soloud]

Ok, just discovered this thread

AOTW is Green Carnation - Blessing in Disguise

[doggy]

Welcome Soloud, my ATOW is re-issue of Preveiw's S/T.

[Taliwakker]

AOTW is Green Carnation - Blessing in Disguise

Good album but nothing on Light of Day,Day of Darkness

[Jonny B]

My AOTW is Dare "Blood From Stone." I knew this was gonna be different from the usual Dare stuff, but man, I can see why so many have tried to demand they write another rock anthem. With Vinny Burns cranking out guitar riffs, I can also hear where Ten got their sound for so many years.

[Soloud]

AOTW is Green Carnation - Blessing in Disguise

Good album but nothing on Light of Day,Day of Darkness

Its almost hard to compare those two as they are so very different. I liken them to Anathema in the way they have changed

[Soloud]

My AOTW is Dare "Blood From Stone." I knew this was gonna be different from the usual Dare stuff, but man, I can see why so many have tried to demand they write another rock anthem. With Vinny Burns cranking out guitar riffs, I can also hear where Ten got their sound for so many years.

Regarding Ten - I always thought it was Gary Hughes responsible for everything, including guitar sound. Guess I learned something new

[Jonny B]

Regarding Ten - I always thought it was Gary Hughes responsible for everything, including guitar sound. Guess I learned something new

There's one track in particular, 'We Don't Need A Reason,' that uses a vocal & guitar melody that pretty much shows up at least once in every album with Gary Hughes songwriting.

[Taliwakker]

'We Don't Need A Reason,'

My old band covered that many years ago

Its almost hard to compare those two as they are so very different. I liken them to Anathema in the way they have changed

Yeah...Blessing was ok...Quiet Offspring was 75% shit....i probably like Acoustic Verses second after LoD,DoD.

[Penny]

I've been listening to Brainstorm's Ambiguity. Same singer as Symphorce Snakey. I definitely wouldn't call them death metal. Symphorce are more prog and Brainstorm are pure power metal.

[Taliwakker]

Same singer as Symphorce

same lyrics as Pain of Salvation

[Penny]

Really? Which band, Symphorce or Brainstorm?

[Soloud]

Symphorce are more prog and Brainstorm are pure power metal.

I personally would call the last two cds by Symphorce more along the lines of whatever you might label Disturbed. They seem very similar to me...earlier Symphorce definitely more prog metal.

[Soloud]

AOTW: Antimatter - Leaving Eden

I have enjoyed every single cd this band has done and this one is no exception. Exactly what you would expect from them only more guitar this time around... a la Anathema. I think Danny Cavanaugh plays on a few tracks so that would explain. He plays some of the greatest guitar outros

[Penny]

I haven't heard any recent stuff from Symphorce. Don 't really like them, but I think Brainstorm are excellent.