Finally got round to checking out Antiquus. Got it on my ipod at the moment. Some pretty epic and unique sorta stuff. Pretty long, in depth tracks, conceptish vibes, themes etc. Rather like it, but it's definitely one of those bands that'll take some getting used to.

So apparently the new Manowar has...nu-metal elements. Yes. One of the tracks sounds like Drowning Pool.

This is a sign of the end times. Maybe the world really will end in 2012...

Their problem is so simple that its festering right under their noses. That guitarist is a string-bean wimp. How are you supposed to crank out riffs wound tighter than Conan's steely thews when you are struggling to heft your own axe? They need to get that boy on a cycle and watch how quickly their music turns around.

I'm absolutely dumbstruck by how much I love The Marriage of Heaven and Hell pt 2 versus House of Atreus act I. MoH&H2 is pretty much just one rapturous moment after another. They're muuuuuch fewer and far between on Atreus, and while it has some kick ass songs and even a few great interludes there is nothing that compares to the best riffs from Marriage. I'm thinking its about time to snag part 1 of Marriage and see what that's all about.

I'd say Marriage of Heaven & Hell pt. 2 is a better album than the first part. Part 1 does have some great moments but as a whole it's not as tight as the second one. I tend to get bored in the middle or so where as the whole MoH&H pt.2 is easy and fun to listen.

Wait, what? Really?

Both Marriage II and Atreus I are incredible albums. Really can't decide which I like the best. I used to like Invictus a lot as well. Not these days though. It's a good album, sure, but I feel it lacks some of the atmospheric touche that Virgin Steele manage to come up with during the Marriage series. It's a pretty consistent album however, and fun to rock out to, but at times a bit too straightforward and dare I say dull. If I had to rate it I'd give it a 80% probably.

Marriage 2 is definitely better than Atreus 1, but I wouldn't put a whole lot of distance between them. Both of them have one crappy song: Strawgirl and the Watchman's Song, respectively. The difference is that while the rest of the songs on Marriage 2 are all classics, the ones on Atreus I range from good to great. Plus, Atreus 1 has "Kingdom of the Fearless" and "Child of Desolation", which are two of my favorite songs of all time. Ultimately, Marriage 2 gets a 97% from me, Atreus 1 probably a 92 or 93. Invictus is good, but less consistent, and the guitar tone is a little weaker.

''Strawgirl'' is one of my favourite ballads. ''The Watchman Song'' isn't really great, I agree on that.

Listening to Bloodbound's Tabula Rasa. Nice catchy stuff with some nice Iron Maiden-esque leadwork. Urban Breed provide excellent vocal lines as I expected.

I've never listened to Manowar, isn't being "True" part of their gimmick? Cause that's pretty funny.

I can't wait for the re-issues of the Marriage series. Gotta love to hear those bonus tracks.

Also, isn't it funny what kind of rapid progression Fates Warning went through if you compare their debut to The Spectre Within?

I avoided them for a few years because of their schtick, but I'd go back and flick myself in the nuts for it if I had a time machine and a higher pain tolerance. If you like heavy metal you'll like their first four albums, I can almost guarantee it.

Well, Strawgirl isn't terrible, it's just not really my style, I guess. I can name a bunch of VS ballads I like better, though. House of Dust, Transfiguration, Child of Desolation, Gate of Kings, Arms of Mercury...most of them, I guess.

Listening to Visions of Eden makes me sad. That production is so godawful; some of the songs are legitimately good VS, but they're just castrated by that shitty keyboard. At least they left us with the classic albums, but meh.

Alright, I'll give them a shot sometime in the next few days.

Link.

Exaggerating for effect, of course, but yeah. Definite nu-metal similarities in there - stupid whispered vocals, over-reliance on a single catchy/groovy riff, guitars drop out a lot in favor of drums/bass, absolutely horrible screechy talentless solo - yeah, just listen. Godawful production, too.

Actually Fail, you aren't THAT far off the mark. The music certainly feels nu-ish, and while I couldn't care less for Manowar (save for the debut, which rules), I gotta say..... This is a new low for them. It's just a big, ugly, steaming pile of..... Nothing. Also; The Lord of Steel? Hammer Edition?! C'mon Manowar, that's lame even for you.

I need to hear this new Manowar, out of curiosity. Last release sucked dick. I still have the poster of it, in all its homoerotic glory though. Weird if this nu-metal comeback of the last ~2 years has permeated through the ranks to such a stalwart, trve band like Manowar

Nu metal comeback? I didn't know there was such thing.....

I mean .. is it just me or does it seem like this is a troll album? I just can't shake that feeling.



No such luck, friend.

What the fuck was that sorry excuse for a Manowar song? Is that a joke?

Re: Virgin Steele, I've always liked Marriage 1 a tiny bit more than Marriage 2, though the two are good for rather different reasons. While the second one is really nuanced, with lots of clever, subtle melodic hooks all over the place, the first just sort of comes right at you with a load of classy, bluesy trad metal riffs but with just enough melodic cleverness and bombast to accent the otherwise straightforward material. It's got this sort of confident, traditionally-minded air about it that just seems to be lost on their later works.

Also, Atreus 1 is fucking amazing. Not quite as good as the Marriage albums, but certainly not far behind. There's not a single bad track on it.

Yeah I think Marriage 1 is my new VS favorite. Straight to the point, with enough epic flavor to be original, and just amazing from start to finish. Marriage 2 is right behind it though, and then probably Atreus 1 or Invictus for me. But it also helps that I love the way David sings the most on the Marriage albums, really powerful stuff without overdoing it.

This Manowar song fucking sucks. Even the way Eric sings is irritating, but I guess he's kind of been like this for awhile. Skimming around other tracks here and man this production is the worst. But seriously let's not kid... has Manowar ever really had any good solo's anywhere? Eh... lol. No denying their guitars went to shit after Ross left though. But wow this train should've stopped like 15 years ago.

Damn I am so sick of their lyrics/titles too. But thanks to that, I think I'll rest my case with this comparison:
John Cena - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYYc3rGAFs
Ultimate Warrior - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2hE4XO8rF4

What the fuck am I listening to?

Wow, that sucks dong. Sounds terrible.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha what the fuck is this shit? so bad.

Dawnbringer's new album is pretty fucking cool, on a much more positive note. Reminds me a bit of Quicksand Dream and Tales of Medusa in how it has that sort of warm and arcane sort of feeling in addition to having a subtle tinge of sorrow, if that makes any sense.

With Marriage 1 I can't stop thinking that why won't the rest of the album be as godly as the first song. Not that the rest is bad or anything. It's just a little bit too ordinary for me. I guess I just love how they use the theme melody to marriage of heaven and hell more in the second part and how bombastic the songs on it are. Also I absolutely LOVE Strawgirl.

Now that I think of it. Marriage 2, Invictus and Noble Savage (Yes, I'm not kidding) are probably my three favourite VS albums.

I'm listening to it now, some songs are absolutely awful. Some songs at least have some potential, though, 'Born in a Grave', 'Righteous Glory' might just be tricking me, though, as most anything would sound good after 'Manowarriors'. Still, even the 'better' tracks are overlong and poorly structured. This has one of the absolute worst production jobs I've heard on anything, really; boxy, synthetic, cloying... it really does sound like a poorly done pro-tools job.

I just bought Avenger's Blood Money for like £2 with delivery. Any other fans around here? Sounded like cool NWOBHM/speed metal.

The new Manowar album doesn't sound all that terrible except for the crappy production and a couple songs (Expendables, El Gringo). It isn't offensive in any way but neither is it anything special. I'm sure it's one of those albums that you'd forgot to listen to after a week or two from buying it.

Do you mean Blood Sports? It's a cool album although I prefer their second one.

Turns out I actually mean Killer Elite!

Killer Elite is a great album you got a great deal.

So, Vicious Rumors are working on two new albums. Yup. Two. No re-recording old material bullshit, either.

Can't wait to see where this goes.

I've recently got into that band. ''Worlds And Machines'' is so catchy.

Twisting and turning are dreams to the top
Pictures of change and it never stops
Back to the worlds and machiiiiiiiines!

Does anyone else thinks Tad Morose's ''Unwelcomed Guest'' sounds a bit like Savatage's ''Sirens''?

So, I got my grubby little paws on Forte's Unholy War today, and if my first impression is anything to go by they have not disappointed. This is straight-up balls-ripping power/thrash that manages to be consistently brutal and fast while still being melodic and surprisingly inventive, too - a difficult balancing act they pull off perfectly. This is not one of those albums that opens with a balls-ripper and then tapers off into midpaced snoozers (*cough*Immortal Soul*cough*). So much power/thrash just ends up sounding like watered-down thrash with boring vocal melodies - the worst of both worlds. Forte are one of the very few bands that manage to be the best of both.

Avenger is totally EA. Priestish speed NWOBHM is always good. I love both their albums. For more stuff in that vein do you like Trojan? I'm too lazy to type the umlaut. Their album is totes bitchin' and shit oi.

Since we're discussing Virgin Steele, does anyone know the exact concept of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell I, II, and Invictus?

So it's the new Ballistic?

Well I'm excited.

So Looks like Queensrÿche are going to continue using that name but with Todd La Torre on vocals

Article: http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla ... mID=175707

Here's a clip of Todd singing Queen of the Reich. Sounds good man.

EDIT: Also Warning

It's not like it's going to actually make them good again though, surely?

haha