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