Axel Rudi Pell - The Crest

This album is the holy-shit-why-did-I-miss-this in Axel Rudi Pell's discography. "Dreaming Dead" is insanely amazing.

Someone in Germany should hire a new plumber, because the leaks from that country keep on appearing. This week alone, I've seen the new Axel Rudi Pell, Accept and now the first Unisonic (Hansen + Kiske) on the net.

Currently listening to Fates Warning's ''The Ivory Gate of Dreams''. Some excellent riffing going on here.

Been digging VS's "House of Atreus I" lately, this is one band that I never really get tired of, choice cuts like "Kingdom of the Fearless", "Through the Ring of Fire" and "Flames of the Black Star" never get old. On that note, what's the general opinion on the latest two albums? I know the newest one hasn't gotten much praise, but are there any specific songs on it worth hearing? How about on Visions of Eden?

So it looks like I'm definitely going to WoM. Can't fucking wait for it.

VoE lacks some actual highlights I think but in general aint too bad, even if it's quite flawed; the vocals lack a bit sometimes, the drums aren't real, production is distant and the songwriting is quite not as strong as on the previous albums.

VS most recent is pretty cool but the vocals sound too weak. Some people can't stand it but the only thing that really bothers me are the vocals.

I've sent a vocal teacher on youtube this clip of ''Crown of Glory'' and asked how to do the half sing/shriek thing. Response that I got back was that the technique was wrong which result into a disappearing mid-range voice so I guess it's no surprise not much of that is evident these days live.

"Visions of Eden" had some really great moments. "Immortal I Stand", "Adorned With the Rising Cobra", and "Bonedust" are all quite solid, but they drag at some parts. I do find that tip from your singing teacher interesting though, because it seems to be accurate seeing where his voice is now.

Heh it's not my vocal teacher though.

Anyway it's really sad...I didn't get that impression of a wrong singing technique at all and even live I get the idea that David is still capable but restrains far too often.

Speaking of Virgin Steele, I'm wondering if we'll hear about any new material soon. 2011 didn't bring anything new by them but I hope this year will.

I have come to the conclusion that Angel Dust's Border of Reality, Bleed, and Enlighten the Darkness are some of the best power metal records ever created, as they combine pretty much every great characteristic that metal (and non-metal) music can have; ethereal beauty, crushing heaviness, both subtlety and bombast aplenty and intricate, flawless songwriting. Thanks a ton for mentioning this band so often Empyreal, as I pretty much discovered them thanks to you.

And Mercury Tide is pretty rad too.

I actually just turned on Bleed myself, that album is really growing on me these days.

Well, finally listening to some of them again (Border of Reality)... and this is definitely fitting the mood. Gonna have to spend more time with this stuff. Not sure if I've heard "Enlighten the Darkness" though.

Honestly, Angel Dust's album with S.L. Coe is really good. I guess I'll give the newer stuff a go at some point. I expect it to be a totally different beast, though.

Seriously, though, the 80s stuff rocks: featuring a young DeathRiderDoom on vocals

I like that album a good bit too. The debut is only good for a few tracks, but yeah the second album isn't bad.

Anyone listen to Unisonic's debut? Despite being listed as Power/Speed on M-A, it's really more along the lines of Pink Cream 69 than Gamma Ray. If you go into it with that in mind, it's a fun poppy album. I expect some of the hardliners in this thread will hate it, but if you like Kiske's voice, it's a good showcase.

There's nothing wrong with a little poppy metal goodness. Can't stop listening to "My Sanctuary". It has taken over the niche Alter Bridge's "Broken Wings" had earlier occupied in my listening habits.

From Virgin Steele's facebook:



Bonus material off the Life Among the Ruins album? I wonder what that will be like. New album seems cool though even if I have no idea of what to expect.

So any new Venom/Motorhead worship, or metal punk bands you guys are listening to? Just ordered The Drunks' full length LP. Guess Reed from Speedwolf called it right declaring the band as Texas' best kept secret. Awesome stuff.

Midnight and Trench Hell is all I really listen to for that.

Hopefully VS are done joking around.

"New" is kind of stretching it but have you heard Chapel (ca)? Their demo is like 3-4 years old now but there's a sample up for their (perpetually) upcoming follow-up. Both are maybe the best of the style I've heard

Every VS release with Pursino (excluding "Life Among the Ruins") had at least a few excellent songs...hoping this one follows the trend. If we get even one song that stands up to classic VS, I will probably cream myself.

Man, love Chapels demo. You are right, they definitely have some of the catchiest instrumentation in the style. I didn't know about the album sample though so I will go do some hunting.

Cheers

Wow, thanks for all the recommendations guys! On another note, does anyone know any heavy metal revival bands that don't suck? I mean they don't exactly have to be reinventing the wheel, but are there any of these modern bands that play kickass somewhat original heavy metal that doesn't just rehash what Maiden and Saxon did 30 years ago? *cough* White Wizzard *cough*

Can't really think of much, most of the new metal acts in the last few years have indeed been trying to recreate the 80's, but then again, it is a revival. You could try Vulvagun, these guys sound pretty modern. Also, Antiquus is fucking incredble, but it may be too close to it's 80's influences.

Antiquus is definitely amazing.

Christian Mistress do a really good job of sounding old school without sounding like a cringe-worthy parody. I've only heard Agony & Opium so I can't speak for the newer full-length. Great female vocals (not the soaring epic kind...we're talking 5 packs a day here) over some late-70s inspired riffing. For some reason these guys always remind me of 70s Priest.

Volture have put out an EP that just floors me every time I throw it on. Nothing but pure unbridled energy here. Everything sounds circa 1984 but the songs are a bit more ambitious structurally. The vocalist is WAAAAAY over the top. He has a lot of different styles he throws down and I love all of them. This band manages to hit every good metal cliche without stretching any of them too far.

Agreed, Xeoged, I wish there was some news about the band though. I guess they're on hold indefinitely or broken up now.

Anything else similar to them you think? I rarely like their kind of sound but damn, they do everything right. Prog done well.

ME AND THE BOYS
WE LOVE THAT NOISE



Seriously though

If you're looking for modern kick ass heavy metal, try Huntress on for size: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SKELDVRJDY Man this shit rules. Like a heavier, meaner Battle Beast.

I've had the chance to hear it now, and I like it a lot. Very cool power metal-influenced but it's essentially hard rock. Still on the German power / heavy side, and the songs are very catchy. The section before the final chorus in "My Sanctuary" is hypnotic and addicting - for something so simple!

I saw that this band was playing at Paganfest, and I'm going to the Dallas date, but I thought it was universally accepted that they suck (hadn't listened). Yeah, I guess this isn't too bad. I dunno about being better than Battle Beast, but they're at least not the shittrain I was expecting.

I wish I could say. I just don't know enough about power metal bands to think of one, though. Crimson Glory kind of reminds me of them.

Just based on what I heard on YouTube, I'm reminded a bit of Isen Torr, but you know them already. Damn, this is some good stuff. Why aren't these guys more popular?

Been listening to "Visions of Eden" there's definitely some worthwhile songs here, although it's not as consistent as the classic albums.

I'm back. Kinda. I bet you guys missed me, and don't you dare try to say you didn't, because that would be lying and lying is bad.

A thunderstorm on Friday fried my modem and my network card, so I got the former replaced and will replace the latter soon (probably today). Borrowing my sister's laptop in the meantime.

But soon, I shall be back to my old ways. Once I finish my run of Accept, I'll have to check out Antiquus, too.

Antiquus has a new album out, haven't heard it yet.

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/in-the ... d486115550

http://www.bloodredmetalheads.com/phpbb ... 2&start=20

Six Six Sixty Nine, copulation with a corpse...... Covens first album is destroying me today. just plain old dirty, and catchy as fuck power thrash.

"Ship of Fools" by Vicious Rumors reminds me of early Kamelot (VR's self-titled precedes Kamelot's first album, but I'm saying it that way because I heard Kamelot before I heard VR's S/T).

The cover art looks stupid as hell, but the brief clips I heard sound quite good...it's the same lineup as the previous (awesome) album, so I guess I ought to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Some of the recent Running Wild talk got me in the mood to revisit some of their stuff. ''The Battle for Waterloo'' and ''The Ghost'' are pretty damn cool.

Looks very far apart from the last one, like a punk or old rap album cover. I wonder if it's another concept album? It may be the second album I'm forced to buy from itunes.