Of course, I just don't like modern progressive metal much, not because I can't get their " their complexities into layers of riff-work", but just because that doesn't talk to me.

Yeah I know, I just never agree when people say Iconoclast and to a lesser extent, Paradise Lost, are less prog than the early material. It's all progressive - just they got better at writing songs later.

/me flips desk towards Empyreal's face!

Empyreal wins, flawless victory.

He wins at what? Being nerdier than me? He can take that trophy!

Paradise Lost and Iconoclast were the only Symphony X albums I could listen to all the way through and enjoy. The previous albums just had the title tracks (especially "Divine Wings of Tragedy" and "The Odyssey") and a winner or two, and a bunch of throwaway material.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I know he has a lot of fans here

http://www.crescentshield.com/283/cresc ... ssed-away/

Yeah, I made a thread in the Metal Discussion He was quite unique and he was a great lyricist.

I need some GOOD power metal along the lines of Sonata Arctica/ Nightwish. power metal of the Scandinavian variety (Finland). Looking forward to some of your brilliant ideas.

Yeah It's a damn shame, I've only just recently got into Crescent Shield as well, been listening to them quite a bit.

Damn, RIP Michael. I was hoping for a new Crescent Shield album, I guess that's not going to be happening. His contributions to metal were much appreciated and he will be missed.

By the way, has anybody heard Screamer's second album? Is it good? Judging by the one song on Youtube it could go either way.

Worst news ever.

Sunrise and Excalion.

I just found this song from Among the Mist, sounds like epic power metal to me (!). However, unfortunately it's incredibly rare and I'm having trouble finding the rest of the demo...if anyone else has any better luck, let me know, as this is some promising stuff.

I'm pretty thrilled about seeing MANILLA ROAD live tonight. Last time I saw them was probably the best gig of my life.

Wrathblade-Into The Netherworld's Realm

I had been hearing a lot about these guys lately, so I stocked some copies of their album in my distro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7qDYk4EqvE

At times they remind me a lot of Slough Feg--particularly the vocals.

Howie
http://echoesofcromrecords.com/

Fuuuuuck, Michael Grant (singer from Onward and Crescent Shield) died yesterday of what Dan DeLucie characterized as "a brief but serious illness." So much for any new Crescent Shield material. Grant was probably my favorite post-80s metal singer. RIP. Definitely going to blast a lot of Onward and Crescent Shield when I get home today.

Wow, that's totally unexpected. Listening to Crescent Shield's The Stars of Never Seen right now, really consistent stuff. It's terrible to lose such a talent at such a young age. RIP.

Yeah it really sunk in more today when I thought about it. I'm not kidding when I say more Crescent Shield was probably like the #1 thing I've been waiting for in the world of metal. Goddamn.

I hope Dan DeLucie can carry on and start up another project, but I'd rather they leave Crescent Shield alone then... just wouldn't be the same.

Delucie can't fail, Destiny's End was great as well. He'll probably do something else, I hope so.

Him and Urban Breed should join forces.

Anybody but Tim Owens!

Where is Urban Breed? Our hero truly is in another castle. He was supposed to have a new project out years ago, but that apparently did not happen.

Ugh, I hope he's not done. One of the best modern vocalists ever. To be completely honest I could see him fitting with Crescent Shield pretty well, but nobody else could do it.

Is he not meant to be in Dark Empire? Last I heard, they were working on an album.

This. I thought I would take a moment to express how annoying that guy's vocals are.

They have an album out now and apparently he quit that band before it came out.

Completely missed this, cheers man! The new guy sounds good enough, whether he compares to Carlsson, I'll have to listen to more.

Did you actually find it somewhere? I dunno, I think Jens Carlsson is pretty overrated, so hopefully the new guy is better.

So I'm listening to Tad Morose's ''Life in a Lonely Grave'' at the moment. The chugga chugga riffing doesn't do much for me but man this Urban Breed guy can sing for real. Guy manages to sing with a lot of convinction. Perhaps I should give this band a second chance after all.

Yeah. I don't kid about him being one of my absolute favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H1S4j_84eU Maybe my favorite stand-alone performance by him, although I like Tad Morose better overall as a band. This song is insanely emotive though, very atmospheric.

Also in light of Michael Grant's death, I plan to purchase a Crescent Shield album very soon - RIP man. Never fully got into your work while you were alive but maybe after death I will.

Anyone else here a huge fan of Pagan's Mind's Celestial Entrance? Besides Empyreal and me, of course.

From what I found, there's two tracks online. One on youtube, the other on a metal site (which I can't remember the name of). The new singer sounds like Russell Allen from Symphony X, he's not bad. The guy also has some guitar videos on youtube, he's a fairly good guitarist.

I've ordered it, so I'll report back on it after I've listened to it a few times.

Yeah, although I probably prefer Enigmatic: Calling.

I think their debut is their best album overall, but I have the most sentimental attachment to Celestial Entrance, so...I dunno.

Actually Nahsil, I find Enigmatic: Calling to be an overall weaker release then CE. It's still a cool album, but while I'd give CE a, say, 95% rating, I'd only grant Enigmatic with a 70-73%. It's just that CE is much more consistent, with great track after great track, while Enigmatic has quite a few rather average songs, if not necessarily bad ones.

Clearly, nothing beats Pathfinder - Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time.

Really? I remember sampling a song or two and thinking it was pretty so-so. Maybe I'll try the whole thing.

Okay guys, prepare to have your minds blown with Finland's Santa Lucia. All the lyrics are in Finnish, but damn do they know how to write riffs! And it's an all female band to boot! Their 1990 album "Arktista Hysteriaa" seems pretty damn good so far. Check out Haaremi. The vocals can get pretty crazy too. I'm surprised I haven't heard of these guys before.