There's a lot of music I am going through right now. There is so much new and available to sort through, plus tons of old stuff that I am re-discovering. Seems like the perfect time to post a new playlist. Am I missing anything current that is not listed here and deserves another look? Post a comment and let me know about it!
KAMELOT - POETRY FOR THE POISONED
I love Kamelot, and have since their very first record, back when they sounded a great deal like Crimson Glory and Khan was still with Conception. They have come a long, long way since then. This disc is finely put together and has some great tunes, carrying on that sound that was nailed to perfection on "The Black Halo".
KAMELOT - THE BLACK HALO
Kamelot frenzy has taken hold of me and its back to this album, once again. "The Haunting" and "Moonlight" are as fluid and enchanting as ever, but "March of Mephisto" has come out of nowhere and restolen my heart. Was not expecting that...
KAMELOT - GHOST OPERA
"Love You To Death" is this perfect, theatrical ballad. Is it ever good... The emotion in Khan's voice is what gets me everytime. He is completely given over to "selling" the heartache, depression, resignation and oblivion that defines the track. The atmosphere and everything surrounding is just perfection, but it is that vocal performance that takes this into the realm of something special.
BROTHER FIRETRIBE - FALSE METAL
More "old is new again" songs are grabbing me that I missed the buzz on the first time. I was too wrapped up in the "Midnite Queen" obsession to see much beyond the songs surrounding it, so now I'm finally giving "Break Out" and "Valerie" the full attention they deserve.
DC COOPER - DC COOPER
There has been this DC Cooper adoration going on for a few months now, beginning with acquainting myself with the VHS of Royal Hunt's live in Japan performance ("Moving Target" era) and spreading to the solo cd. This one has always been a favorite in particular, and here's hoping DC will get another solo disc together sometime soon.
LEVERAGE - BLIND FIRE
Played this one to death and back when it came out. "Don't Touch the Sun" never gets old, such an emotional song.
SANVOISEN - EXOTIC WAYS
It took some detective work for me to track down the name of the band, as all I remembered was...
1. I liked them
2. They were progressive
3. I think the named started with "S"
And here it is! "Soul Seasons" had always been my choice of poison, but looking back, "Exotic Ways" was a refined, organic experience that had its wealth of progressive gems.
BLIND GUARDIAN - AT THE EDGE OF TIME
BG has gone back a few years in time and brought some of their lost fire back into the fold. BG fans are eating this one up, and I'm no exception.
KISKE SOMERVILLE - KISKE SOMERVILLE
Michael Kiske's voice is just like a sweet pancake and Somerville is the syrup on top. The results are duets that are simply divinely delicious. A widespread range of metal niches are covered here, keeping the duet aspect fresh. Something that could have turned gimmicky really quickly has been handled so well. The touch of Karlsson no doubt. So where's my Allen/Lande III already?!
DISTURBED - ASYLUM
This represents the very extreme fringe of the metal/rock world that I am willing to leap out upon. The very furtherest ledge from classic metal that I can take. Disturbed has some good melodies, and cranking choruses. These are the driving forces that keep me coming back for more, when something a little different is required.
IRON MAIDEN - THE FINAL FRONTIER
Messy. All over the place... and still mining the progressive roots, poorly, I might add. "When the Wind Blows" and "Starblind" are two to watch... "Starblind" bringing me back to "Somewhere in Time". Don't they still seem to plod around too much? There are huge sections of this disc that just bores me to tears. Iron Maiden shouldn't be boring...
TERRY BROCK - DIAMOND BLUE
A promising AOR disc that needs some more spin time. Songs like "Broken" just rise up and drag you down into AOR bliss right from the first introduction. This one has promise!
CHARON - A SIDES, B SIDES AND SUICIDES
One new song seems like such a tease. "The Cure" delivers though, with JP's utterly mesmerizing velvet dark voice beckoning warmly like a promised resurrection. The rest of the two disc set packs the hits in like sardines in a double tin can, and spans their career from demos all the way up to the "latest" album, "Songs For the Sinners", which was released as recently as 5 years ago. That was sarcastic. New Charon... now please? This has "Colder" on it, one of the greatest songs... ever.
FIRST SIGNAL - FIRST SIGNAL
It features Harry Hess from Harem Scarem. It SOUNDS like Harem Scarem from the 1990s. What is their NOT to love? Songs like "Into the Night" just bury into your soul and crackle their like a warm firelight.
HEART - BAD ANIMALS
Hearing the new Heart disc, "Red Velvet Car", just made me crave old Heart music. "There's the Girl" is just wonderful, and makes you wonder why Nancy wasn't given more material to sing. They could have double disc'd their whole career and it would have just been twice as much to love. Ann has the ultimate rock siren voice, but Nancy's is so sweet and lovely.
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