Song Of the Day - CCLXXXVII - Amaranthe

Another balad to finish 2011 in a calm mood.
Happy 2012 to everyone!

Amaranthe - Amaranthine

Song Of the Day - CCLXXXVI - Demons and Wizards

A good ballad for a quiet day.

Demons and Wizards - Fiddler on the Green

Song Of the Day - CCLXXXV - Sonata Arctica

Just one of my favorites from them.

Sonata Arctica - Broken

Song Of the Day - CCLXXXIV - Woods Of Ypres

Today's song of the day is about a new album and also a memorial to the bands founder.
As Woods Of Ypres latest album, Woods V: Grey Skies & Electric Light, hit the streets, the lead guitarist and singer of the Doom Black Metal Canadian band passed away in a car accident.

Let's make silence in David Gold's memory, and listen to one of his creations.

Woods Of Ypres - Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)

Thank you, Santa! - Song Of the Day - CCLXXXIII - Turisas

And finally this one. Yes, I'm a lucky guy :)

Turisas - The Bosphorus Freezes Over

Thank you, Santa! - Song Of the Day - CCLXXXII - Nightwish

This one also.

Nightwish - Last Ride Of The Day

Thank you, Santa! - Song Of the Day - CCLXXXI - Pain

This one was under my Christmas Tree :)

Pain - You Only Live Twice

Merry Christmas! - Song Of the Day - CCLXXX - Savatage

There is a unexploited niche of Metal songs about Christmas.

This is my favorite Christmas song!

Savatage - Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)

Song Of the Day - CCLXXIX - Forefather

Forefather is a Pagan Folk/Black Metal act from the United Kingdom. They have just released their sixth full length, Last Of the Line.
Here is the title track.

Forefather - Last of the Line

Song Of the Day - CCLXXVIII - Rhapsody Of Fire

In this one they were still only Rhapsody.
Awesome song!

Rhapsody (of Fire) - Steelgods of the Last Apocalypse

Song Of the Day - CCLXXVII - Eluveitie

One of my favorites from the Helvetian masters of Folk Metal.

Eluveitie - Thousandfold

Song Of the Day - CCLXXVI - Avantasia

One of my favorite Avantasia songs.
It suits perfectly Klaus Meine's voice, and even the riffs and song structure reminds me a Scorpions song.

Avantasia (with Klaus Meine) - Dying For An Angel

Song Of the Day - CCLXXV - Gamma Ray

Remembering 1991...

Gamma Ray - One With the World

Song Of the Day - CCLXXIV - Iced Earth

Remembering 1991... Iced Earth launched their self titled first album.

Iced earth - Colors

Song Of the Day - CCLXXIII - Axel Rudi Pell

Remembering 1991... the second album from Axel Rudi Pell, called Nasty Reputation, with the voice of Rob Rock and Jorg Michael in the Drums.

Axel Rudi Pell - Firewall

Song Of the Day - CCLXXII - Metallica

Remembering 1991... The album Metallica, also known as "The Black Album" was the last good album made by Metallica. It's way softer than the previous ones, but it showed the same talent. It opened Metallica's doors to a whole new audience, but at the same time it looks like it was creatively a dead end to the band.
This one is my favorite song from the album.

Metallica - Enter Sandman

Song Of the Day - CCLXXI - Savatage

Remembering 1991... 20 years back in time, we find the great concept album Streets: A Rock Opera from Savatage, one of my favourite bands in my early years in Metal.

Savatage - Tonight He Grins Again

Song Of the Day - CCLXX - Moonspell

Remembering 2001... was missing a Portuguese band!

Moonspell - Nocturna

Song Of the Day - CCLXIX - Lacuna Coil

Remembering 2001... so beautiful...

Lacuna Coil - Senzafine

Song Of the Day - CCLXVIII - Freedom Call

Remembering 2001...

Freedom Call - Freedom Call

Song Of the Day - CCLXVII - Prey For Nothing

Another Melodic Death Metal new release from Israeli band Prey For Nothing. Against All Good And Evil is their second full length.

Prey For Nothing - Buried By The Light

Song Of the Day - CCLXVI - Synarchy

Tear Up the World is the second album from Faroe Islands Melodic Death/Trash Metal band Synarchy, and this album looks like a big leap upwards when compared with their first album Scars Of Gratitude.

Synarchy - Tear Up The World

Song Of the Day - CCLXV - Heavenly

Remembering 2001...

Heavenly - Destiny

Song Of the Day - CCLXIV - Angra

Remembering 2001...
This was the year of the Rebirth of Angra, after the split that almost destroyed the band. This is also one of the best albums from them.

Angra - Nova Era

Song Of the Day - CCLXIII - Finntroll

Remembering 2001...

Finntroll - Jaktens Tid

Song Of the Day - CCLXII - Dimmu Borgir

Remembering 2001...

Dimmu Borgir - Hybrid Stigmata

Song Of the Day - CCLXI - System Of A Down

Remembering 2001...
Not a big SOAD fan, but Toxicity is a good album and an awesome song.

System Of A Down - Toxicity

Song Of the Day - CCLX - After Forever

Remembering 2001... Decipher was, to many, the best album from After Forever.

After Forever - Monolith of Doubt

Song Of the Day - CCLIX - Nightwish

The new Nightwish album Imaginaerum is finally out.
This is the seventh full length from the Finnish Symphonic Power Metal band, and at a first glance, it seems that Tuomas Holopainen has been at it in the last four years.

Nightwish - I Want My Tears Back

Song Of the Day - CCLVIII - Grave Digger

Remembering 2001...

Grave Digger - Spirits Of The Dead

Song Of the Day - CCLVII - Raven Dust

It's a happy coincidence that today, in the 471st anniversary of the last time that Portugal had to conquer it's independence by force, I'm introducing here a new and promising Portuguese Metal band.
The idea of Raven Dust exists since 2004, with several names and formations, but only in 2010 they have finally settled and started creating their music. That process culminated in the launch of their first EP, Sinner, last week in Lisbon.

Raven Dust - Eternal Bond



You can check out Raven Dust MySpace page here.

Song Of the Day - CCLVI - Gamma Ray

Remembering 2001... No World Order, one of the albums that has grown on me through out the years.

Gamma Ray - Induction + Dethrone Tyranny

Song Of the Day - CCLV - Rammstein

Remembering 2001... when Rammstein did brilliant and intelligent music.

Rammstein - Mutter

Song Of the Day - CCLIV - Edguy

Remembering 2001... awesome intro!

Edguy - Jerusalem

Song Of the Day - CCLIII - The Man-Eating Tree

The Man-Eating Tree is a new Finnish band, formed in 2009, mixing experienced musicians from disbanded projects and some new blood, to play Suomi Metal.
They have just released their second full length, Harvest.

The Man-Eating Tree - Armed

Song Of the Day - CCLII - Ancient Bards

The Italian Symphonic Power Metal band Ancient Bards have just released their second full length, Soulless Child.
This album improves on their work on last year's release, the first since they wer founded in 2006, and shows the same neo-classical approach to Power Metal that the one by their countrymen Rhapsody Of Fire, but with a female voice.

Ancient Bards - To the Master Of Darkness

Song Of the Day - CCLI - Therion

Remembering 2001...

Therion - Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah

Song Of the Day - CCL - Kamelot

Remembering 2001...

Kamelot - Wings Of Despair

Song Of the Day - CCXLIX - Summoning

Remembering 2001...

Summoning - Our Foes Shall Fall

Song Of the Day - CCXLVIII - Dragonland

Five years have passed since the Swedish Epic Symphonic Power Metal band, Dragonland, had released their last full length. The long wait has finally end, and Under The Grey Banner, the successor of the acclaimed Astronomy, is here.

Dragonland - Fire and Brimstone

Song Of the Day - CCXLVII - Illnath

Danish Symphonic Black Metal band Illnath has become female fronted and had to re-record their third full length, Third Act In The Theatre Of Madness, with the new singer and also with new lyrics.
I have mixed feelings about the singer change, but the music is top notch.

Illnath - Snake Of Eden

Song Of the Day - CCXLVI - Nemesea

Nemesea, another offspring from the Dutch female fronted Symphonic Gothic Metal family, has just released their third full length, titled The Quiet Resistance.

Nemesea - Afterlife

Song Of the Day - CCXLV - Sonata Arctica

Remembering 2001...

Sonata Arctica - San Sebastian

Song Of the Day - CCXLIV - Hollenthon

Remembering 2001... third song of this album that I publish on the blog, one of my all time favourite albums.

Hollenthon - To Kingdom Come

Song Of the Day - CCXLIII - Ark

Remembering 2001... Jorn Lande's voice is one of a kind.

Ark - Burn The Sun

Song Of the Day - CCXLII - My Dying Bride

Remembering 2001...

My Dying Bride - The dreadful Hours

Song Of the Day - CCXLI - Eternal Tears Of Sorrow

Remembering 2001...

Eternal Tears of Sorrow - Prophetian

Song Of the Day - CCXL - Falconer

Remembering 2001...

Falconer - Mindtraveller

Song Of the Day - CCXXXIX - Avantasia

Remembering 2001...

Avantasia - The Tower

Song Of the Day - CCXXXVIII - Nightwish

Can't stop listening to Nightwish's new song, Storytime, the first single from the upcoming album Imaginaerum.
Awesome song! Eaggerly waiting for the album to be released.

Nightwish - Storytime

Song Of the Day - CCXXXVII - Windir

Remembering 2001...
Windir started in 1994 as Terje "Valfar" Bakken one man band. It released 3 albums until in 2001 it became a full band, while he remained the singer and main composer.
The band was disbanded after "Valfar" tragically died in 2004, caught by a snow storm when he walked in the countryside.

Windir - Todeswalzer

Song Of the Day - CCXXXVI - Shape Of Despair

Remembering 2001...

Shape of Despair - Angels of Distress

Song Of the Day - CCXXXV - Moonsorrow

Rmembering 2001...

Moonsorrow - Aurinko ja Kuu

Song Of the Day - CCXXXIV - Ensiferum

Remembering 2001...

Ensiferum - Windrider

Song Of the Day - CCXXXIII - Opeth

Remembering 2001...

Opeth - The Drapery Falls

Song Of the Day - CCXXXII - Moonspell

Today I'm bending the Song Of the Day rules, because I don't bring a song, but a jingle. An amazing jingle, but nevertheless, a jingle.
The brand behind this jingle is Optimus, a Mobile Phone Operator from Portugal with a long track record of iniciatives related to the music industry - they sponsor a yearly music festival that occurs every year and is one of the country's most important music festivals - and their idea was to join musicians in unprobable duets, around one same song, All Toghether Now from The Beatles.
The other duets are crap, but the duet joining Moonspell and fado singer Carminho is very very good, and a(nother) clear sign of the Metal genre flexibility.

Moonspell and Carminho - All Toghether Now

Song Of the Day - CCXXXI - Derdian

In the last weeks, my MySpace account changed from one that requests friendship to their favorite bands, to one that receives friendship invitations from bands.
One of those bands was Symphonic Power Metal Italian band Derdian. With three full lengths released and a 13 year old career they're not exactly rookies, and it shows in their mature and pleasant sound.

Derdian - Black Rose

Song Of the Day - CCXXX - U.D.O.

This one was in heavy rotation today during work. A good ballad is perfect to relax after a bumpy night.

U.D.O. - I Give as Good as I Get

Song Of the Day - CCXXIX - Arryan Path

Less than two years have passed since the edition of Terra Incognita, but the Epic Heavy Metal band from Cyprus, Arryan Path is back with another full length, titled Ira mperium.

Arryan Path - 77 Days til Doomsday

Song Of the Day - CCXXVIII - Trivium

Last Trivium album, In Waves, is another one that has grown on me lately.

Trivium- Watch The World Burn

Song Of the Day - CCXXVII - Black Sun Aeon

Tuomas Saukkonen is one of the most proficuos musician and composer out there, from this new generation of musicians now entering the thirties.
Mostly connected with the Melodic Death Metal sound, he is most notted by is tremendous job singing, playing guitar and keyboards on Before the Dawn, but, amongst other projects, he still manages to get time to have his one man band, called Black Sun Aeon, where he explores a more Doomish approach to Melodic Death Metal.
They, I mean, he has just released a full length with very good music, titled Blacklight Deliverance.

Black Sun Aeon - Oblivion

Song Of the Day - CCXXVI - Hammers Of Misfortune

Keeping the tone in the Progressive Metal, but this time with a much more lighter tone, with lots of elements from other styles mixed in, like Folk, Power or Doom.
That's the melting pot of styles where Hammers Of Misfortune navigate to give us a very unique sound. The American band has just released their fifth album, 17th Street.

Hammers of Misfortune - The Grain

Song Of the Day - CCXXV - Haken

Haken is one of my recent discoveries, and my personal choice as the band that can shake things a bit in the Progressive Metal genre in the years to come.
They have just released Visions, that is one of the candidates to best Progressive Metal album of the year. In a year where Dream Theater and Symphony X have released new albums, that's saying something about the quality of this band.

Haken - Premonition

Song Of the Day - CCXXIV - Russian Circles

Avantgarde is not one of my favourite Metal genres, but this song, included in Russian Circles album Empros, released this week, is just awesome.

Russian Circles - Mladek

Song Of the Day - CCXXIII - Stream Of Passion

Top of my airplay today, something calm and relaxing, with a beautiful voice singing in Spanish.

Stream of Passion - Our Cause

Song Of the Day - CCXXII - Dreams Of Sanity

Another band that is missed, the female fronted Austrian Gothic Metal band Dreams Of Sanity.
Well composed songs that matched perfectly with Sandra Schleret's voice and singing style.

Dreams of Sanity - Window to the Sky

Song Of the Day - CCXXI - Type O Negative

Type O Negative was the first Doom band I listened to. Bloody Kisses and October Rust opened new horizons in my musical taste in the nineties.
I can still recognize Peter Steele's voice wherever I listen to it. He was one of those Metal geniuses that just left us too soon.

Type O Negative - Love You To Death

Song Of the Day - CCXX - Theatre Of Tragedy

Another band from the dusty graveyard of great bands that didn't make it until today.
Theatre Of Tragedy was one of the first Gothic Metal bands that I listened to.

Theatre of Tragedy - Venus

Song Of the Day - CCXIX - Sentenced

Listening to Savatage has awaken in me the need to go back to some bands that marked my steps in Metal, but are not here anymore.
Sentenced was one of them.

Sentenced - Killing Me Killing You

Song Of the Day - CCXVIII - Alestorm

Spent the afternoon in the attic with the boxes of my old LEGOs, trying to make some sense of the mess of pieces all mixed up in some boxes, so I can slowly pass them on to my daughter
I decided to put some soundtrack while I was assembling the pirate ship, and of course it had to be Alestorm.
After a couple of spins, I think that this is probably the best song of their last album.

Alestorm - The Sunk'n Norwegian

Song Of the Day - CCXVII - Savatage

Don't know why, but I remembered this band today, long time had passed since the last time I listened to it.
This one is a classic...

Savatage - All That I Bleed

Song Of the Day - CCXVI - Pain

One of these year's releases that has grown on me after each listen.
I'm conquered by the musical genius of Peter Tägtgren and his Gothic Industrial Metal, with some Deathish tones.

Pain - The Great Pretender

Song Of the Day - CCXV - Echoterra

A new 2011 release, this time Symphonic Metal from the United States Of America, by the band Echoterra, led by the voice of Melissa Ferlaak Koch, ex-singer of Visions Of Atlantis.
They have just released their second full length, Land Of The Midnight Sun.

Echoterra - All The Lies

Song Of the Day - CCXIV - Iced Earth

Iced Earth has released a new album, called Dystopia.
This album is the first with Stu Block holding the mics for the North American Heavy/US Power Metal band. At a first listen sounds pretty good.

Iced Earth - Dystopia

Song Of the Day - CCXIII - Ashes You Leave

Today, a Placebo song as you never heard it before.

Ashes You Leave - Every you every me

Song Of the Day - CCXII - Lacuna Coil

Without much time to think about new stuff to put here, I'll continue with more great covers in the next few days.
Tonight one of my favorites...

Lacuna Coil - Enjoy the Silence

Within Temptation - Coliseu, Lisbon, Portugal, 12th October 2011

First lets talk about the venue. Lisbon's Coliseu is a great place for concerts, but getting there is a nightmare. It took me one hour and a half in a route that should not take me more than 45 minutes. Parking the car was even worse, and I ended up having to walk much more than I intended.
Maybe concerts in Coliseu should have the starting hour set to 10 pm instead of 9 pm.
With all these problems, I ended up loosing the beginning of Kandia's performance.


Kandia

I must admit that I didn't knew Kandia's work prior to this concert (shame on me!), and only in the day of the concert I was aware that there would be a support act.
I believe that, just like me, many people weren't aware that there would be an opening act, which was great for Kandia, since they had an almost packed room to see them perform.
All this being said, I must admit I was overly impressed with the show the band put up.
Nya has a good and powerful voice, more like Amy Lee from Evanescence than the usual Power/Gothic/Symphonic Metal female singers in Europe, she can support all the vocals on a song, without the need of a male voice to support her.
The songs are well written and with the right pace, being André's guitar the highlight of the music, though Bernardo and Daniel also deliver a consistent output that keeps the end result at a high level.
Also they have a good stage presence, showing genuine pleasure in sharing their work with the audience, which leads me to believe that this is not the last time we will hear about Kandia.

Within Temptation

When the Dutch Symphonic Metalers finally set foot on the stage, the Coliseu was completely packed of die hard fans of the band (yes, including yours truly).

The show started with the short movie Why Not Me, which is the intro on The Unforgiving, the band's latest album, while each band member entered the stage, followed by an instant acclamation by the audience.
The biggest one was, of course, to Sharon Den Adel, the voice and the soul of Within Temptation, that kick-started her energetic performance with Shot in the Dark, followed by In the Middle Of the Night and Faster, following exactly The Unforgiving track list.

Lost (also from the last album) was a slow paced interlude before the band dive in a set of their greatest hits.
Ice Queen, The Howling, Our Solemn Hour (probably my all time favourite song from WT) and Stand My Ground were heavily sung by an audience in complete ecstasy, just before Sinéad set the crowd shaking their skeletons.

What Have You Done was one of the highlights of the night, with the crowd completely replacing the recorded voice of Keith Caputo during the whole song, just before Murder and Iron dissipated all remaining doubts about how amazing The Unforgiving sounds live
Angels and Memories provided a slow paced end to the main set list of the concert, although most people in the room didn't really noticed that it was the end of the concert, since the band just left the stage with no goodbyes and Jeroen, the bass player remained on stage.

It was an odd moment, because the band was surprised by the lack of clapping and encore requests, and the audience wasn't really thought that it was just a break.
Even without big cheering the band returned on stage to perform their first encore to revisit Deceiver Of Fools and Mother Earth.

This time the band properly issued their goodbyes, but the fans weren't yet ready to go home and clapped, cheered and sung, until the band returned for a second encore.
Stairway To the Skies closes the band's last album and also closed the show.

All in all an amazing show, by a band on top of their game. Visually appealing, with a perfect set list - can't remember one song that I would trade in if it was me choosing that set list. Definitely a concert to remember!

Set list:
Why Not Me / Shot In The Dark / In The Middle Of The Night / Faster / Lost / Ice Queen / The Howling / Our Solemn Hour / Stand My Ground / Sinéad / What Have You Done / Murder / Iron / Angels / Memories
1st Encore:
Deceiver Of Fools / Mother Earth
2nd Encore:
Stairway to the Skies

Song Of the Day - CCXI - Within Temptation (again)

As I struggle to finish my chronicle about wednesday night concert, bear with me in one more Within Temptation song.
This has one of the most epic instrumental starts of all time.

Within Temptation - Deceiver of Fools

Song Of the Day - CCX - Within Temptation

It would be unfair to have a Song Of the Day with the support band, and don't have one with the main act.
Within Temptation was in supperb shape and delivered an amazing concert.
This one was one of the highlights with the audience completely overwhelming the recorded voice of Keith Caputo through the whole song.

Within Temptation - What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo)

Song Of the Day - CCIX - Kandia

Kandia was the support band to Within Temptation in their concerts in Portugal, and did a really good job.
They play Gothic Metal and have released their debut full length in February 2010.
Definetelly a band that I will keep under full attention in the future.

Kandia - Into Your Hands

Song Of the Day - CCVIII - Avantasia

Since I'm in a Pop covers mood, I found this one apropriate to signal my return to work, afert a ten days leave for the birth of my new baby daughter.

The original is from Ultravox, and it's an eighties classic, here re-done by Avantasia.

Avantasia - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

Song Of the Day - CCVII - Leaves' Eyes

Speaking of Mike Oldfield, here is another one of his hits, in a version by Leaves' Eyes.

Leaves' Eyes - To France

Song Of the Day - CCVI - Pathfinder

The eighties was, musically, a period full of creativity and melody, specially in Pop music.
I don't know if it's nostalgia, but I still love many Pop hits from the eighties. I don't think it's only nostalgia, because Metal bands keep doing covers of those songs, and most of these guys weren't even born in the eighties.

Several bands tried to cover Moonligh Shadow from Mike Oldfield and failed miserably, until Pathfinder did it in their Sonata Arctica meets Rhapsody of Fire Neo-Classical style, and made a work of art that surpasses the original piece (for those who like neo classical guitars).

Pathfinder - Moonlight Shadow

Song Of the Day - CCV - Amaranthe

Found a new band today, called Amaranthe.
They come from Sweden, play Extreme Power Metal with female and male voices, and have released their self titled debut album this year.

Amaranthe - Hunger

Song Of the Day - CCIV - Tersivel

Found out this Agentinian band playing Power/Folk Metal.
They are Tersivel and have released this year their first full length, For One Pagan Brotherhood.

Tersivel - As Brothers We Shall Fight

Song Of the Day - CCIII - Threat Signal

Canadian Melodic Death Metal band Threat Signal have just released their self titled third album.

Threat Signal - Fallen Disciples

Song Of the Day - CCII - Thulcandra

Thulcandra is a Melodic Black Death Metal band formed in Germany in 2003.
They have just released their second full length, Under a Frozen Sun.

Thulcandra - In Blood and Fire

Song Of the Day - CCI - Machine Head

Groove Trash Metal is another genre that I don't like very much, but I open an exception for Machine Head.
They have just released Unto The Locust, their seventh full length. It's not The Blackening, as the song I bring you today, Locust, is not Beautiful Mourning, but it's close enough.

Machine Head - Locust

Song Of the Day - CC - Mastodon

Not being the usual Something-core or Stoner fan, I was pleasantly surprised by Mastodon's latest release, The Hunter.
Very interesting song writing.

Mastodon - The Hunter

Song Of the Day - CXCIX - Myrath

Tales Of The Sands is the third release from Tunisian Progressive Metal band Myrath.
First Tunisian band ever on the blog! Enjoy!

Myrath - Time to Grow

Song Of the Day - CXCVIII - Almah

Almah is Edu Falaschi band, better known for being Angra's singer since 2001.
They play Heavy Power Metal and Motion is their third album which has just been released.

Almah - Trace of Trait

Song Of the Day - CXCVII - Anubis Gate

Today I bring you the self-titled fifth album of the Danish Progressive Power Metal band Anubis Gate.

Anubis Gate - Hold Back Tomorrow

Song Of the Day - CXCVI - Einherjer

Norrøn is the awaited comeback of Einherjer.
The Norwegian Viking Folk Metal band and disbanded in 2004, but returned in 2008, being Norrøn their first release since then.

Einherjer - Varden Brenne

Song Of the Day - CXCV - Sinner

Veteran German Metallers Sinner, just released their sixteenthe album.
The Heavy Metal band, formed im 1980, is still alive and kicking with this new album, titled One Bullet Left.

Sinner - Back On Trail

Song Of the Day - CXCIV - Van Canto (two in one)

Van Canto is a unique group in the Metal scene. Formed in 2006, they are the only A Cappella Power Metal band that I'm aware of.
They have just released their fourth full length, titled Break the Silence.

But my choice of today's song has one extra reason.
Today, I'm fealing a Master Of the Wind, since yesterday night my second daughter was born, so that was the song I chose from Van Canto's newest album.

Van Canto - Master of the Wind

Song Of the Day - CXCIII - Saltatio Mortis

Riding the German wave of Medieval Folk Metal, in the trail of In Extremo and Schandmaul, amongst others, Saltatio Mortis was formed in 2000, but has already released this month their eight album, Sturm Aufs Paradies.
Here is the first video from this latest effort.

Saltatio Mortis - Hochzeitstanz

Song Of the Day - CXCII - Shadowside

The Brazilian Power Metal band Shadowside has released their third full length, titled Inner Monster Out.
I like Dani Nolden's voice. Goes really well with the heavy guitars without being harsh.

Shadowside - Angel with Horns

Song Of the Day - CXCI - Neonfly

From the 2011 first full length album of this British Power Metal band, Outshine The Sun.

Neonfly - Broken Wings

Song Of the Day - CXC - Red Descending

After finishing the South American Tour - hope you liked it and found a couple of bands worth looking into - time for a small revamp on the Song Of the Day.
First of all, no more themed weeks ... it's more time consuming and I definitely want to use more time to write reviews.
Second, I’ll always include the band name on the post title. For some of you will spoil the fun, but for others will avoid clicks to find out that they already know the band and don't like it.
And that's it! Hope to keep our faithful readers and hopefully get some more! :)

From the second album of this Australian Melodic Death Metal band.

Red Descending - Kingdoms

Song Of the Day - CLXXXIX - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

We finish our South American Metal Tour with Grand Bite, a perfect example of great eighties Heavy Metal.
This song also felt quite appropriate to finish the tour. Enjoy!

Grand Bite - Dioses del Metal

Song Of the Day - CLXXXVIII - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

Today Korpus Inc., a Trash/Death Metal band.

Korpus Inc - Gritos En Silencio

Song Of the Day - CLXXXVII - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

Today, probably the biggest legend from Venezuelan Metal, with a carreer spanning over almost 30 years.
The Heavy Metal band Gillman.

Gillman - Guaicaipuro Cuauhtemoc

Song Of the Day - CLXXXVI - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

Today, Sexto Sonar, very interesting Progressive Metal band. Probably the most consistent Venezuelan band that I've listened to.

Sexto Sonar - Olvidando El Ayer

Song Of the Day - CLXXXV - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

Today I present you a band from a genre that I don't listen to, Sludge Metal.
You won't see many bands of this genre in this blog, at least in my posts, but doing the week of Venezuelan Metal, I cannot go around Cultura Tres.
Yes, it's not my favourite, but even when the genre is not the kind of thing that I'm looking for, I can still recognize quality when I see it.

Cultura Tres - Crosses And Lines

Song Of the Day - CLXXXIV - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

Today a really nice Atmospheric Black Metal band, Fethuruz.

Fethuruz - ... And Nature Begins

Song Of the Day - CLXXXIII - South American Metal Tour: Venezuela

On to the last country in our South American Tour: Venezuela.

Venezuela really surprised me with one of the highest levels of quality and professionalism of the videos and such.
The Metal scene there is very different from the rest of the Spanish speaking South America, with much less predominancy of Black Metal bands.

We start the week with the Gothic Metal band Alchera.

Alchera - Hasta que el sueño nos una

Song Of the Day - CLXXXII - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

We finish the week with a band formed just one year ago, but with a very promising Power Metal EP, called The Spirit Machine. Led by guitarrist Nicolas Waldo and singer Felipe Machado Franco, they are Vorpal Nomad.

Vorpal Nomad - The Trick That No One Understood

Song Of the Day - CLXXXI - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Today the Heavy Metal band, Thunderblast.

Thunderblast - Spirit Of Vengeance

Song Of the Day - CLXXX - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Today a Symphonic/Gothic Metal band, with strong Progressive influences, Nova Orbis.

Nova Orbis - Unstable Mind

Song Of the Day - CLXXIX - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Today we time travel to the eighties with the revivalist sound of the Power Speed Metal Colombian band Nightmare.

Nightmare - When Hell Is Out Of Control

Song Of the Day - CLXXVIII - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Gothic music today, with another good Colombian band, Gaias Pendulum.

Gaias Pendulum - In the deep of Gaia

Song Of the Day - CLXXVII - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Today Awaken, a Death Metal band with some interesting Power Metal influences.

Awaken - Theater of salvations

Song Of the Day - CLXXVI - South American Metal Tour: Colombia

Well, back to our South American Metal Tour, this week in Colombia.

Starting the week with a Power Metal ballad by Askariz.

Askariz - Ilusión

Song Of the Day - CLXXV - Great Albums Of 2011

We finish the week with the new release from the gods of Progressive Metal.
Before this launch, the question all around was: How different will be Dream Theater's sound with Mike Mangini on the drums instead of Mike Portnoy?
The answer is: not very different.
A Dramatic Turn Of Events is a very high quality more of the same album, but then again, with the drummer change, maybe that was the message that Dream Theater wanted to pass to the fans.

Dream Theater - On The Backs Of Angels

Song Of the Day - CLXXIV - Great Albums Of 2011

I have already displayed here in the blog some European bands with Asian influences, but today we have a 100% Asian band.
They have released this year their sixth full length album, Takasago Army, and in each release, it seems their Melodic Black Metal keeps getting better and better.
They are Chthonic (don't have a clue on how to pronounce it) and come from Taiwan.
Just enjoy the awesome song and video.

Chthonic- Takao

Song Of the Day - CLXXIII - Great Albums Of 2011

The German Power Metalers Edguy, are one of the more balanced, tight and stable bands around.
That shows in their remarkable productivity, balanced albums and musical coeherence.
Age Of the Joker is another great album, packed with tipical Edguy's Power Metal songs, composed and executed flawlessly... and that's exactly the problem with this album.
Looking at the nine full lengths released by Edguy there is no way to deny that the peak has passed and their albums are getting predictable, without any song capable of really surprise and delight the veteran fans of the band.
They should wake up and do something before their maturity and song writing abilities are not enough to keep them on top of their game. For now, Age Of the Joker is still good enough.

Edguy - Robin Hood

Song Of the Day - CLXXII - Great Albums Of 2011

To soften things a little, after all we are only half way till the end of the week, today I bring you some Atmospheric Sludge Metal, another style where I don't feel at home, just like yesterday.
But again, this great release justify my interest in the genre.

Until Fear No Longer Defines Us is the third full length from the Finnish band, Ghost Brigade, founded in 2005.
Close your eyes and enjoy...

Ghost Brigade - Cult Of Decay

Song Of the Day - CLXXI - Great Albums Of 2011

Upfront, I must admit I'm not a Technical Death Metal fan. It's too raw and harsh for my taste.
That being said, the last Revocation release, Chaos Of Forms, release caught my ear, by introducing some Extreme Power Metal moments into their Technical Death Metal usual sound.

Revocation - No Funeral

Song Of the Day - CLXX - Great Albums Of 2011

Trivium is one of those lovers/haters band. Well, most bands are like that, but these guys are a bit more than the rest.
Personally, I hate those lovers/haters scenes. If I like an album I praise it, if not I mostly stay quiet about it, and only say something when asked for, or if I think I have something constructive to add.
Founded as a Metalcore act, they have changed their style in each album, and although they still have a Metalcorish sound sometimes, they have explored other areas within Metal. I believe this is also a reason for the high number of haters, they simply are ex-lovers that didin't like the changes the band did to their sound.

I liked the album, with the title song being a major highlight.

Trivium - In Waves

Song Of the Day - CLXIX - Great Albums Of 2011

Blood Of The Saints is their fourth album, but only now did I discover this great German Power Metal band.
And if you also don't know them, take the opportunity to find them out, because this effort from Powerwolf is one of the best Power Metal releases this year so far.

Powerwolf - We Drink Your Blood

Song Of the Day - CLXVIII - Great Albums Of 2011

A Rose for the Apocalypse, the fifth full length of the Gothic Doom Metal kings, Draconian, is not the band's finest hour but still a great album that would be the highlight of the career of most bands making a living from music.

Draconian - The Last Hour of Ancient Sunlight

Song Of the Day - CLXVII - Great Albums Of 2011

Stream Of Passion is a band formed in 2005, in the wave of female fronted Symphonic Metal bands that swiped The Netherlands in the last decade, following the path of After Forever and Within Temptation. With a Symphonic Progressive approach to Metal, they rely on the beautiful voice of Marcela Bovio, to deliver a sometimes Gothish vocal approach to the Progressive music, that is quite interesting. They have just released their third full length, titled Darker Days.

Stream of Passion - This Moment

Song Of the Day - CLXVI - Great Albums Of 2011

I had this one on my list a couple of months now, waiting for me to gather a group of seven albums, and when I'm finally set... BAM! They split-up!

Yes, I'm talking about Rhapsody Of Fire's last album (and it is really the last one from the Turilli-Staropoli duo), From Chaos To Eternity.
Being the ninth full length from the band, no one is expecting big novelties. It's top notch Symphonic Power Metal with lots of choirs and Neoclassical elements.

Rhapsody of Fire - Ad Infinitum + From Chaos to Eternity

Rhapsody Of Fire friendly split-up

A proper arrival from vacations must include some bombastic news that I was completely unaware of, and you can say BOMBASTIC again!

They had already stated that From Chaos To Eternity was the end of the Emerald Saga, but I believe everyone was expecting the beginning of a new saga, and not the split-up of the band.

Well, actually the band doesn't end. It will simply be split in two.
Alex Staropoli will go on leading Rhapsody Of Fire, with Fabio Lione, Alex Holzwarth and Tom Hess, while Luca Turilli will form a new Rhapsody (?) band, with Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers, and Alex Holzwarth (it seems Holzwarth will be the drummer for both bands).

While at first sight this seemed a major tragedy, thinking about it a bit, it's not that bad.
Rhapsody Of Fire had released nine full lengths and two EPs and, let's face it, although all of them had top notch music and song writing, nothing really original and breath taking came from them a while ago.
I believe that Luca and Alex felt the need to part ways to evolve in their song writing in different directions, since they had exhausted the artistic creativity they could generate together.

My personal bet is that Rhapsody Of Fire will get heavier and that the new Luca Turilli's band will be more progressive, both of them keeping the root of Symphonic Power Metal. So maybe everybody wins with this split-up, let's wait and see!

Here is the full statement from Rhapsody Of Fire website:
After 15 years of friendship, hard work and big passion, fully invested in the creation of symphonic music and an epic saga that will remain in the history of heavy metal, Alex Staropoli and Luca Turilli decided to proceed to a friendly split.
“10 albums released and the end of the saga represents, musically and lyrically, an important artistic goal finally reached, underlined by the success of our last release “From Chaos To Eternity”, for which we want to thank our wonderful fans once again. Now it came the time when new artistic stimulations need to be found, in respect of both parts’ visions and perspectives and of our long-time friendship” say Luca and Alex. Due to the latest legal agreements actually in force, Alex Staropoli will go on with RHAPSODY OF FIRE having, between the others, Fabio Lione as singer, Tom Hess as guitar player and Alex Holzwarth as drummer. For the same agreements and the original name’s common ownership, Luca Turilli will release his future works with a new RHAPSODY band, including the faithful band members Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers and Alex Holzwarth.

Alex says: “While wishing the best to Luca and his new band, I want to tell you that Fabio and myself feel motivated and stronger than ever and that RHAPSODY OF FIRE are already planning a great worldwide tour. More information regarding the new bass player and the new second guitar player will follow. Stay tuned!”

I'm back!

Hey everyone!
I'm back from my vacations and full of energy to keep the blog rolling!

In spite not having posted during the last two and a half weeks, I haven't been on holidays from the best music around, so I have some great new releases to tell you about in the next one and a half weeks, before I finish our South American tour in Colombia and Venezuela.

Cheers!

Metal Obituary: Jani Lane of Warrant

Johnny is probably going to kill me for posting Warrant on Darklands while he's away, and though I was personally not a huge fan of the band, they were a fairly big glam/hair metal band back in the 80's so the untimely passing of their historical front man Jani Lane this month is certainly worth a mention.

It appears that he always had a difficult relationship with alcohol and it seems that it was an excess of booze and prescription drugs that are to blame for his passing last week. He was 47 years old. R.I.P.

Warrant - Cherry Pie

Vacations!

From today and until the end of August, I'm on vacations, and so is my dwellings in the Blog.
Our beloved readers will have to feed only from the ocasional review that Miguel decides to throw in here (I know he has one or two in the back of his head, waiting to be written ah ah ah!)

Cheers!

Song Of the Day - CLXV - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

I couldn't end our Ecuadorian week without bringing to light the Gothic Metal scene in the country. Quite a number of interesting bands and, although none of them really strikes out as being awesome, many have great potential.
I chose Decapitados for today's post because there was only one thing that I don't like about them, which is the voice of their Female singer which has a tone that doesn't fit in with the ambiance of the songs. On the other hand their Male singer as a voice that matches the songs perfectly.

Decapitados - Tiempo de Muerte

Song Of the Day - CLXIV - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

Good Heavy Metal balads from Ecuador. This time with the band Crossfire. They have two full length releases.

Crossfire - Tanto Que Decirte

Happy Birthday, Miguel!

That's right, our one and only Miguel Melo is today's birthday boy.
Reason enough to justify another post today with one of my favourite songs from one of his favourite bands.
Happy birthday, dude! Enjoy!

Song Of the Day - CLXIII - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

Today a band playing Heavy Metal with some Folk elements.
Aztra have released four full lengths in their ten year career.

Aztra - Sin Opción

Song Of the Day - CLXII - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

Another great Progressive Metal band from Ecuador is Viuda Negra. They have released two full lengths.
I leave you with a good Metal balad, something rare these days.

Viuda Negra - Ausencia

Song Of the Day - CLXI - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

Another great Ecuatorian band is Romasanta.
They play great songs in old school Speed Power Metal mixed with dreadful balads.
From a fast listening to what was available in Youtube I would say that their 2007 full length is the best of their three releases.

Romasanta - Marcas de Ayer

Song Of the Day - CLX - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

Maybe glued too much to Dream Theater's style, but these Ecuatorian musicians are talented enough, and original enough, by using violin for instance, to make their country proud for having a great Progressive Metal band.
Jethzabel has just one full length, released in 2007, but I sure hope they are working on more material and evolving their sound.

Jethzabel - Jezabel

Song Of the Day - CLIX - South American Metal Tour: Ecuador

After the blog's first anniversary's festivities break, with Miguel definitely raising the standards of the song of the day with his witty writing and profound knowledge on Eighties Metal and Christian Metal, I'm back to continue our South American tour, just before a two weeks interruption for my vacations.

This week we reach Ecuador, a good surprise in the quality of the Metal bands I've found.

We start the week (almost too late) with the Power Metal band, Black Sun. They have released this year their seconf full-length.

Black Sun - La Pinta, La Niña y La Santa Maria

Song Of the Day - CLVIII - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

I just realised that my band suggestions have unwittingly followed an alphabetical order. How uncanny is that? Seeing as this is my closing post in this one-year celebration, I ask of you that you indulge me in breaking this neat order, writing a slightly longer post and injecting some chaos in the proceedings.

And chaos was what Stryper brought to both the Metal and the Christian community when they formed in the early eighties.

For starters, they didn't look quite right: having embraced the Glam Metal look of heavy makeup and impossibly big hair, coupled with a decisively conspicuous striped yellow and black attire, people couldn't stop wondering if indeed they were for real.

Then there was the fact that they favoured playing and mingling with mainstream bands rather than staying within the confines of Christian labels, festivals and venues. And to add insult to injury, they made a point of preaching from the stage and throwing Stryper-branded Bibles to the audience.

Despite this, and much to the confusion of everyone on both camps, Stryper seemed to thrive. Their edgy brand of melodic metal that featured bold Christian lyrics seemed to garner appreciation from the growing number of fans that eventually pushed their 80's albums to reach Gold and even Platinum state. At one time one of their songs was the most requested videoclip on MTV, beating bands like Motley Crue and Bon Jovi.

So, what contributed to this acceptance when on all counts they just seemed odd? It is my opinion that people, detractors included, ended up respecting the honesty and (some would say innocence) with which these four musicians approached both their music and their mission. The fact of the matter is Stryper really knew how to write a great song, how to arrange an produce it, and how to put a different and refreshing message to it. They knew how to be rock stars and yet remain approachable and accountable.

In the eighties they released increasingly melodic and well produced releases, the greatest seller having been 1987's seminal To Hell With The Devil. But in 1990 they brought yet again chaos to their turf, by releasing a much groovier sounding record with distinctly toned down lyrics entitled Against The Law. Some argue that this is still their best release to date, but most people equated this artistic license to betrayal and guitarist Oz Fox, drummer Robert Sweet and bassist Tim Gains ended up splitting a couple of years after the band's singer and main songwriter Michael Sweet left.

After a long hiatus and when people had just about given up on a reunion, a few one off concerts got the band in touch with each other and their audience and led to the release of a couple of pretty good comeback records entitled Reborn and Murder By Pride (in 2005 an 2009, respectively).

This year, and yet again courting with danger, the band released The Covering, an album of cover songs of mainstream bands that influenced them, from Black Sabbath to Iron Maiden, from Led Zeppelin to Judas Priest. I have heard a few music connoisseurs consider this to be the best rock covers album they have ever heard, an opinion I certainly share (read my full review in this blog by clicking this link).

The future does look bright for the yellow and black boys from Orange county!

I close this celebratory week with a great, heavy song from the band. Thanks for tuning in and here's to one more great year @ Darklands blog!

Stryper - Soldiers Under Command (1985)

Song Of the Day - CLVII - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

Here’s another band whose history is clearly split in two halves. Formed in the mid-eighties by singer Scott Wenzel and guitarist extraordinaire Rex Carrol, Whitecross rose to prominence by their energetic brand of melodic metal, akin to a wilder-guitar version of the band Ratt, but with uncompromising lyrics. Wenzel full-ranged yet slightly nasal voice coupled brilliantly with Carrol’s neoclassical pyrotechnics to produce one of the few Christian Metal acts that was, pound-for-pound, better than most of their mainstream contemporaries.

After 5 excellent albums, however, Rex left to pursue other musical interests and the band’s sound lost a lot of its distinct edge.

Three more albums and a well deserved break later, at the turn of the century and much to the enjoyment of older fans, Rex once again joined up with Scott for occasional yet promising concerts.

To this day, however, the only studio release from this reformed lignup was 2005’s "Nineteen Eighty Seven", an impressive and expanded re-recording of the self-titled debut album that showed that both guys still "have it". Still, fans wait patiently for more... so, in the meantime, I leave you with

Whitecross - When The Clock Strikes (1988)

Song Of the Day - CLVI - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

Ah yes. What we need on this thread is a bit of controversy to stir things up a bit. Vengeance Rising seemed adept at courting with it by being possibly the first growling vocals Christian Thrash Metal band. Though some songs fell into a slower, Stoner metal vibe, these guys mostly ripped through fast, highly aggressive music and bold lyrics like a bat out of hell. Suffice to say this caused discomfort even on more mellow metal listeners, so the less it is said about the feelings of ultra-conservative Christians (who saw Metal as the root of all evil) the better.

But the turmoil wouldn’t stop at the band’s inception: after two very good releases, all of the band members except for the singer left under obscure conditions. The now infamous Roger Martinez (who at the time was a full-time christian pastor) decided to press on and released two more albums with session musicians, only to finally dissolve the band, utterly renounce his faith and sink into a destructive spiral of many years where he seemed to turn on everyone that had any dealings with in the past.

To this day, a lot of people in the Christian Metal community don’t know how to deal with such an abrupt change of heart by someone who was so vocal on his convictions, but regardless of that, Vengeance Rising's four albums remain an historically interesting part of this sub-genre.

Vengeance Rising - Can't Get Out (1990)

Song Of the Day - CLV - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

Four albums is sadly too little to have from a band like Sacred Warrior. Formed in 1985 in Chicago, their debut album "Rebellion", dated 1988, is such a contagious slice of 80’s metal that it still rates as one of my personal favourite releases of the decade. Ray Parra’s vocal delivery has been (quite rightly) compared to Queensryche’s Geoff Tate and, though Sacred Warrior tend to showcase a fair bit more soloing than Tate’s band (courtesy of guitarist Bruce Swift), musically they are not far apart either.

While the band suffered somewhat from irregular production quality across releases (and dubious mix level choices particularly on their sophomore album), the fact of the matter is the band managed to put out a consistently good set of four yearly releases while active.

Occasional get-togethers since disbanding have led to one off concerts but, to this day, talks of a proper reunion with new music being released have remained elusive, which is a crying shame for a band showing such potential.

For your enjoyment, I leave you with my favourite track of their second album "Master's Command", released in 1989.

Sacred Warrior - Evil Lurks

Song Of the Day - CLIV - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

Though they have split up a few years ago, Rez Band (aka Resurrection Band) have probably the greatest legacy and are the most respected outfit among fellow Christian Metal bands. The are many reasons for this: not only are they the true forefathers of Christian Hard Rock, able to keep a stable member roster throughout their 30 years career but their commitment to living a humble life away from the spotlights has proven an inspiration to many to this day.

Having formed way back in 1972 in a commune named "Jesus People USA" located in Chicago, Rez have always tackled not only faith but also social issues (with which they deal daily) with great tact and integrity. These lyrics, put to heavy blues delivered with heartfelt conviction by frontman Glenn Kaiser (who, outside the music realm, is a protestant minister) leave no one indifferent and force the listener to take notice.

Since the 80’s decade was their heaviest and most creative, I just could not leave them out of this collection!

Rez Band - Military Man (Live in 1992, originally from the 1982 album "D.M.Z.")

Song Of the Day - CLIII - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

Of the Christian Metal bands that started in the 80’s, Bride have got to be the most resilient. While others are still active today after regrouping (some of the featured in this collection), I believe Bride are probably the only ones that have been active throughout (though only singer Dale Thompson and axeman brother Troy Thompson remain from the original 1983 lignup). It has not been a consensual journey however, as throughout their 13-plus album career, Bride’s releases have been so stylistically diverse that they have managed to lose as many fans as they gained (though hailing from the US, they are surprisingly big in South America).

I, like many older Bride fans, favour heavily (pun intended) their first three albums, that showcase fairly edgy and complex Heavy-to-Power Metal but there are still great songs to be found on the later, more alternative-sounding offers. In any case, two thing you can’t take away from these guys is their endurance and determination, as well as Dale Thompson’s voice which has to be one of the strongest in the business (check out his screams on the closing choruses of today's song).

The song for today comes from their awesome (albeit thinly produced) sophomore release of 1988 "Live To Die".

Bride - Heroes

Song Of the Day - CLII - Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s

To commemorate the Darklands blog’s first anniversary, João Rodrigues honoured me with the invitation to take the helm of the Song of the Day institution for the next week. He challenged me to come up with an original theme to run through the 7 day posts, so I picked what historically been a controversial subject matter: Christianity in Metal.

While religion and art has always been a matter of heated debate, I would risk saying that the perceived contrast between both has never been so stark as it was in the 80’s when a growing number of bands started expressing their faith and including Christian overtones (or outright evangelism) on their hard driving music, an area that had always been associated with the excesses of sex, drugs and occultism. This obviously sparked heated debate on both sides of the fence and the bands ended up getting flack from everywhere. Not for the faint of heart.

As a teenager I followed the emergence of this fairly subversive counter-culture so, when João spoke to me, I could not think of a better theme for this series than the Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s. Of course when you pick an arbitrary number of bands from a big list, you always leave out obvious (and better) choices for other people. In fact it pains me to not include a few bands myself.  In my selection process I tried to find a balance between how good the band was, how early it appeared and how influential it ultimately was to the scene. But ultimately, my personal taste also had a huge impact so your mileage may vary! Also, don’t read too much on the order in which the bands are presented: it is neither chronological nor related to overall rating… it’s just, you know, "some" order.


Barren Cross were one of the earliest true Metal Christian bands. Although formed a few years earlier their first album was only released in 1986 and they gained immediate recognition due to their bass-heavy sound and especially their singer Mike Lee’s voice, uncannily similar to Bruce Dickinson's. This comparison to Iron Maiden would follow them all through their career, even if most of the song structures did not really follow Maiden’s formula (though some were indeed dead ringers for the venerable British band). After 3 full studio albums (also released on non-Christian labels) and a Live CD, the band split in 1990. They briefly reformed and released a fairly competent album in 1994 only to part again. In recent years there has been talk of a reunion of the original lignup, but that seems to have fallen through allegedly due to theological differences between Mike and the rest of the band.

So, without further ado, here’s the opening song from their debut album of 1986 "Rock For The King".

Barren Cross - Dying Day

One year already?!?

That's right! The first post was placed on this blog in the 31st of July, last year.
Time flies by when you are having fun!

Since then, 252 posts were published here, that included 401 YouTube videos embedded.

A set of posts about Portuguese bands and a chronicle about Metal in Spain ended up becoming a full European tour about Metal. And after that we have started a South American Tour too, using the Song Of the Day.

Talking about Song Of the Day, that is something that I'm really proud of. It never missed a day for the last 151 days.

We also did 6 reviews of albums, something that I wished I could have time to do more.

This was the sum up of the last year of this blog, what do you expect/want to see in the next year? Use the comments to give us your view on the subject.


Of course we couldn't just let this occasion without a special event on the blog, so I decided to pinpoint this date, delegating the helm of the Song Of the Day to someone else for the period of one week. And no one better to be the first to lead that effort than my partner in crime for this blog Miguel Melo.

Song Of the Day - CLI - South American Metal Tour: Peru

We finish our journey to Peru with the very promising Folk/Symphonic Power Metal of Yawarhiem.
It has the right ingridients for my taste, with an operatic female voice, classic Power Metal male voice, plenty of keyboards and some Peruvian flutes to give a nice Folk ambiance.
They just need to work more on their compositions and they can be awesome.

Yawarhiem - Darkness, Blood & Tears

Song Of the Day - CL - South American Metal Tour: Peru

Today, some Gothic Metal from Peru with Clavelklan.
Still a bit raw and amateur, but with great potential.

Clavelklan - Atauhd

Song Of the Day - CXLIX - South American Metal Tour: Peru

This band has something that reminds me of Amon Amarth. It misses some melody, but the speed and the strength of the riffs are there. Quite promising.
They are called Morkill and have released their first full length last year.

Morkill - Instinto Asesino

Song Of the Day - CXLVIII - South American Metal Tour: Peru

Not exactly my cup of tea, but Mortem is one of the oldest and better known Metal bands in Peru. They play Death Metal and exist since 1986.

Mortem - Illusion of Blood

Song Of the Day - CXLVII - South American Metal Tour: Peru

Today I bring you Melodic Death Metal mixed with the sound of traditional Peruvian pipes. A must listen to everyone fond of Folk Metal sounds.
The band is called Ch'aska.

Ch'aska - Imperio caido

Song Of the Day - CXLVI - South American Metal Tour: Peru

We continue our Peruvian week with more Power Metal, this time with an Epic Symphonic scent.
The band is called Aragorn.

Aragorn - La Tristeza del Rey

Song Of the Day - CXLV - South American Metal Tour: Peru

We leave Chile an enter Peruvian lands. Peru is the Norway of South America due the great amount of Black Metal bands.
But in fact is not Black but good Power Metal that I bring you in the beginning of a new week.
The band is called Aevum.

Aevum - Human

Song Of the Day - CXLIV - South American Metal Tour: Chile

We finish our chilean week with Folk Black Metal from Folkheim. There is not much info about the band, that release an EP in 2006, but that has a great sound and much potential to grow up musically.

Folkheim - 1781

Song Of the Day - CXLIII - South American Metal Tour: Chile

If you like Progressive or Technical Trash, somewhat in the grounds of Meshuggah, you'll like Coprofago. They have a long 18 year career on their backs, although they have released just three full lengths.

Coprofago - The Inborn Mechanics

Song Of the Day - CXLII - South American Metal Tour: Chile

Chile is the Doom Metal land in South America, so today I bring you another Doom Metal act, this time with an Epic touch to it. These guys are the most recent band in the Chilean Doom Metal stars, existing only since 2006 and with only one EP and one full length released. The band is called Procession.

Procession - Raven Of Disease

Song Of the Day - CXLI - South American Metal Tour: Chile

Six Magics is a great Power Metal band from Chile. They were founded in 1996 but in 2007, with the entry of the female singer Elizabeth Vásquez, they entered a new stage of their career.

Six Magics - All my dreams

Song Of the Day - CXL - South American Metal Tour: Chile

One of the oldest Chilean Metal bands still active is Criminal. The band, currently based on UK, plays Death Trash Metal and is preparing the release of their seventh full length.

Criminal - Rise and Fall

Song Of the Day - CXXXIX - South American Metal Tour: Chile

Another good Doom Metal band from Chile, this one with a Progressive feel to it, is Poema Arcanus.
They were founded in 1992 and have released four albums.

Poema Arcanus - Elixir

Song Of the Day - CXXXVIII - South American Metal Tour: Chile

We travel from Bolivia and arrive to Chile, where we finally reach the Pacific ocean.
Chile is an important country in the South American Metal scene, specially in Doom Metal, and the first band from the country that we will put here has to be Mar de Grises.
Founded in 2000 and with three highly acclaimed full lengths, Mar de Grises is the best Chilean band and one of the best Doom Metal bands in the world.

Mar De Grises - Shining Human Skin

Song Of the Day - CXXXVII - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

We finish the week with a Progressive Death Metal band, that sings in Spanish, called Nacion.

Nacion - Nación sin Voz

Song Of the Day - CXXXVI - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Another good band from Bolivia, Effigy Of Gods. They play Black/Death Metal with a melodic touch.

Effigy Of Gods - Ares Valis Part 2

Song Of the Day - CXXXV - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Bolivia even has a good Melodic Death Metal band, that released in 2007 a very promising debut album. They are called Nordic Wolf.

Nordic Wolf - Cosmical Existence

Song Of the Day - CXXXIV - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Today I bring you Progressive Power Metal, of a kind that is rare in Southern America. It's the sound of Ixion, another good Bolivian band.

Ixion - Guerrillero

Song Of the Day - CXXXIII - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Another good band from Bolivia. The guys from Hate sing in Spanish, but their Trash Metal doesn't sound very old school.

Hate - Castigo

Song Of the Day - CXXXII - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Today, more Metal from Bolivia, with Anima, another Gothic Industrial Metal band, a style that is very stong in the country.

Anima - The intermediate

Song Of the Day - CXXXI - South American Metal Tour: Bolivia

Almost didn't make it within the day (at least on Portuguese time).
The fault is of the amount of Bolivian bands. My only source of information in many South American countries is the Encyclopaedia Metallum, which is only an enumeration of bands by alphabetical order, with no information about their relevance or quality. That increases hugely the amount of work when trying to choose the 7 bands to showcase this week, specially if the country has so many active bands with reasonable quality.
Bolivia was really a surprise to me, because I wasn't expecting this many bands, and with this level of quality.

We start the week with the Gothic Industrial Metal of Alcoholika La Christo.

Alcoholika La Christo - Frio

Song Of the Day - CXXX - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Iconoclast is not by far the best album from Symphony X.
The songs are good, but I'm used to these guys albums to have at least one song that brings me to my knees, even when I'm not a die hard Prog fan. But this time, there is no song that remarkable, and I really miss it.
Either way, even a so-so album from Symphony X is better than most of the other Progressive Power Metal albums out there, so it's definitely worth a listen, specially if you never listened to one of their albums.

Symphony X - The End of Innocence

Song Of the Day - CXXIX - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Back Through Time is the third full length of the British Folk Power Metal band, Alestorm, and the one that has finally convinced most of their detractors that the band has real musical talent, besides writing some of the most joyful Metal out there, which was almost unanimous.

Alestorm - Shipwrecked

Song Of the Day - CXXVIII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Falconer's music is unique. Their Folk Power Metal doesn't sound like anyone else's. In fact, no one else can sound just like Falconer, no matter how hard they tried (even Falconer themselves tried to sound as them in their 2005 album Grime Vs. Grandeur and failed miserably!)
It's not just the awesome voice of Mathias Blad, nor the way their riffs sound like medieval music but played with modern instruments in a Metal way, instead of the more usual modern Folk Metal music played with medieval instruments. I think that it's the perfect match of both things that makes them so exquisite.
And by the way, they have a new album called Armod, their seventh.

Falconer - Svarta Änkan

Song Of the Day - CXXVII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Real talent is needed to keep a one man band rolling for more than one or two albums.
With its seventh album, You Only Live Twice, Pain, the solo effort of Peter Tägtgren (also front-man of Hypocrisy) has nothing to prove about that. The Swedish musician keeps mixing his Industrial Gothic Metal with every other Metal genre, creating an album with a good range of sounds and capable of appealing to fans of several Metal styles.

Pain - Dirty Woman

Song Of the Day - CXXVI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

The Faroe Islands is one of those political messes yet to be solved. They are kind of a country, but not quite. That's why it slipped through my European Metal Tour. And because Týr will always be associated to The Faroe Islands, so it also slipped through in the tour.
But today is payback time, using as an excuse the launch of their sixth full length, The Lay Of Thrym. Another set of awesome Folk Metal hymns from the icy islands, in the unique voice of Heri Joensen.

Tyr - The Lay Of Thrym

Song Of the Day - CXXV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

I hate it when a band that I love goes into a path that produces music that I don't like. But I have to respect the band's choice and I am pragmatic about it. You won't find me listening to an album I don't like, just because I was a fan of the band's previous albums.
That's why you won't see here a song of the day from this year's In Flames album, although it's one of my favourite bands.

Why this introduction? Because today is about Amorphis, and Amorphis is one of those rare bands that kept changing and evolving from album to album, but always kept me interested in their sound.
They started by "inventing" the Melodic Death Metal and then went on and on, introducing new variants to the genre in each album, always around Melodic Metal.
The tenth full length of the band, is a great album, but also a very interesting one, because it sounds like a summing up of the path the band has followed in the last twenty years, which even relates with the title, The Beginning Of Times.

Amorphis - You I Need

Song Of the Day - CXXIV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

A very good set of albums being released in this pre-summer vacations period (on the northern hemisphere) justifies a new 7 Great Albums Of 2011 week.

And we start the week with the Progressive Black Metal of Shinning. VII - Född Förlorare, the seventh full length from the Swedish band is very good, with emphasis on this first song.

Shining - Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel (Despair, My Heritage)

Song Of the Day - CXXIII - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

The final band commming from Paraguay, is composed of three Paraguayan and Alex and Oliver Holzwarth. The Holzwarths bring a new level of experience to the project, and although Pergana being a recent band, they already sound very promising, what may not be enough, when trying to reach the very populated niche of the Gothic Metal with female voice.

Pergana - Frozen Heart

Song Of the Day - CXXII - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

To the end of the week I saved two bands that I believe have good potential to be able to deliver good things.
The first is a Progressive Power Metal band, with some Neoclassical touches, called Mythica.
They have a demo from 2007 titled A Prayer Of Bitterness, which I believe it's their only release so far.

Mythica - New Tomorrow

Song Of the Day - CXXI - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

In Paraguay I even found a couple of good Black Metal bands. The best of them is Sabaoth.

Sabaoth - Where Everything Is Born

Song Of the Day - CXX - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

It's impressive the difference between today's band and Sunday's band (220 Voltios) in terms of the modernity of their sound, and by that characteristic is easy to conclude which one sings in English and which one sings in Spanish.
Just notice this more Progressive Heavy Metal from Querubes, in the title song of their 2009 album, Lost Century.

Querubes - Lost Century

Song Of the Day - CXIX - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

Today, some not-so-old school Trash Metal and sung in English, with the band Kuazar.
Unfortunatelly I have very little info about these bands, and from sources that are not bullet proof, and I prefer to give no information than possibly false information.

Kuazar - Twenty Days In Hell

Song Of the Day - CXVIII - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

After the usual old school Heavy Metal bands, I started getting lots of bands of other genres, still very old school and raw at times, but a much richer variety of sounds than Uruguay.

For instance, today we have old school Death Metal with the band Funeral.

Funeral - Circle of Fire

Song Of the Day - CXVII - South American Metal Tour: Paraguay

Sunday means new week, and new week means new theme. After a two week break, we are back to the South American Metal Tour, this time going into Paraguay.

And we start the week with the typical South American Metal band, playing old school Heavy Metal and singing in Spanish.
These guys are 220 Voltios.

220 Voltios - Noche de Rock y Alcohol

Song Of the Day - CXVI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

I believe that I have never put here a Canadian band before, so this is a first timer.
And these guys are well worth it. Playing Power Metal with some Progressive influences, Borealis has just released their second album, titled Fall From Grace, a great album of 2011.

Borealis - Where we started

Song Of the Day - CXV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

I had already mentioned Pagan's Mind in the third part of my chronicle about Norway, back in December. They just released a new album, their fifth, called Heavenly Ecstasy.
It's a great release from the Progressive Power Metal band, a must listen to anyone that enjoys Dream Theater or Symphony X.

Pagan's Mind - Intermission

Song Of the Day - CXIV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Today I'm showing you the new Thurisaz album, called The Cimmerian Years.
Do not confuse these guys with Turisas. Turisas is Battle Folk Metal, while Thurisaz is Atmospheric Black Metal. Both are great bands but the name and the year of foundation, 1997, is really the only things they have alike.
The Cimmerian Years is the third full length from the Belgium band and a great album of 2011.

Thurisaz - Unhealed

Song Of the Day - CXIII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

My Great Album of today is, in fact, just plain good when talking about originality and musical talent. So why am I putting it here?
Well, the reason is called Udo Dirkschneider, the veteran singer that gives his first name to the band UDO, that has released it's thirteenth album.
And why is he important? Well, maybe in the future it becomes an ordinary thing, I hope it does, but right now, if you are 59 and singing in a Heavy Metal band, that's important!

For those of you unfamiliar with the name, Udo Dirkschneider was the original singer of Accept, back in 1971, and until 1987, when he founded UDO. Since then he has returned to Accept twice, but ended up prefering to continue with his personal project.
So Rev Raptor is an album that marks the 40 years of Udo's career in Metal. I bow to that!

U.D.O. - Leatherhead

Song Of the Day - CXII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Another good Female Fronted Metal release this year is the new full length from Atmospheric Symphonic Metal band Leaves' Eyes. The fourth full length (nine releases in total) of the German band, headed by Norwegian singer Liv Kristine is titled Meredead.

Leaves Eyes - Spirits Masquerade

Song Of the Day - CXI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Today, a band from France.
But, despite being French, Arkan has it's roots deep into the Maghreb region. That is obvious in it's musicians names, but it's also obvious in their music, a well blended mix between Melodic Death and Oriental Folk Metal.
Just listen to the beginning of their new album Salam.

Arkan - Origins

Song Of the Day - CX - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Before going back to the South American Metal Tour, I still have another 7 Great Albums of 2011 to tell you about (well, actually with two great albums released on my birthday I now have two 7 albums series, but let's do 7 now and leave the other 7 for July).

And we start with a Spanish band singing in Castellano, and playing old school Power Metal (actually I haven't heard anything sung in Castellano that isn't old school ... but I've talked about that enough already).
WarCry is a band like dozens of others in Spain or in South America, the difference is that this album, called Alfa, is actually very good old school Power Metal, and Power Metal when it's good, no matter how old school it is, is always a pleasure to listen.

WarCry - Amistad