Epica: The Phantom Agony: Opera Metal At Its Best

“Follow your common sense

You cannot hide yourself behind a fairytale forever and ever.

Only by revealing the whole truth can we disclose,

The soul of this bulwark forever and ever…

Forever and ever.”

--Epica from Cry For The Moon, The Phantom Agency, 2004.

Epica’s The Phantom Legacy is among the best Melodic/Opera-influenced Metal albums made.

Simone Simon’s vocals are incredible—there is a hint of soft yearning mixed with the power of self-confidence and sheer energy.

Mark Jansen adds the guitar and his guttural growls. Jeroen Simons on drums is a true talent. Ad Sluijter craftily plays the unique guitar riffs while Coen Janssen (no relation to the former) adds the keyboard magic and Yoes Huts thunders on the bass riffs.

The "hidden" talent of Epica is they add three violins, two violas, two cellos, and background vocals.

Phantom Legacy has their classics in Cry For The Moon (see the You Tube track) as well as Sensorium, Feint, and Illusive Consensus.

This is a band that understands that great tunes and sharp lyrics adds to the pleasure for the listener--and it does not hurt that I agree with their smart and liberal themes.

Simone Simons is a favorite of the band Kamelot, who named their fifth album after this group. Simons joins Kamelot on "The Haunting" and other moments from Black Halo. Her vocals are nothing short of amazing.

The sheer power of Epica (as their name suggests) is the “epic” quality of the classic musical influences which is presented as a backdrop to heavy metal musical moments.

The Phantom Agony contains their freshest moments as well as some surprises.

Epica has just signed with Nuclear Blast—which will hopefully lead to greater exposure.

If they are good enough for Kamelot, they are good enough for me. Try Epica's Phantom Agony, as it will not disappoint.

Sonata Arctica Provides Relief Against The Cold

“Time has come for everyone, to think what we have done.

Open your eyes and see, it's not a dream.

You aim for a common goal, you are one with your foe.

If only we could wake up soon and scream.”
--Sonata Arctica “Abandoned, Pleased. Brainwashed, Exploited” from the LP Winterheart’s Guild, 2003.

Sonata Arctica’s 2003 release of Winterheart’s Guild is among the greatest examples of Power/Melodic Speed Metal that exists.

The opening track, “Abandoned, Pleased. Brainwashed, Exploited,” sets the tempo for the rest of the albums, as it is lyrically interesting and played at an incredible speed.

The album then slows to “Gravenimage,” one of the less appreciate tracks, and then segues into what could be the greatest tracks of the genre—“The Cage” and “Silver Tongue.” Both are brilliant with the flash of guitars and keyboards against the power of the rhythm section that meshes the sound into pure delight. “The Cage” is such a powerful song, one that truly defines this band.

The entire rest is pure delight, with “Broken” and “Ruins of My Life” standing out.

The album is so pure and giving.

I played this one for some students and most were blown away. The speed, the vocals, and the power of the album is what truly shows the standout quality of the work.

The band is from Finland and can play like no one else. Their brand of metal touches us with their bestial sense of longing and rejection overlaying the entire compositions set against nature and natural scenes. This is truly a remarkable piece of work.

Tracklist:
Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited
Gravenimage
The Cage
Silver Tongue
The Misery
Victoria's Secret
Champagne Bath
Broken
The Ruins Of My Life
Draw Me

Jag Panzer: Thane To The Throne

“The mirror knows a face no one else can know

Points to the path that I must go”
--Briody/Conklin of Jag Panzer from “King At A Price” from Thane To The Throne, 2001.

In high school, I performed Macbeth—I played Ross—not really a worthy part as his name is not mentioned in Jag Panzer’s Thane To The Throne 2001 Release.

Jag Panzer has been on the metal scene since the 1980s and has won over fans for their fast and furious bass riffs courtesy of John Tetley (good beer name) and incredible drumming of Rikard Stjernquist—followed by the lyrical and guttural growls of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin, the shared keyboards and guitars of Chris Brodrick and co-founder and writer Mark Briody. Often criticized as being little more than a Judas Priest knock-off, the band scored to incredible heights with Thane To The Throne.

By the way, is being compared to the greatness of Judas Priest really a bad thing?

Thane To The Throne takes the highlighted moments of Shakespeare’s tragedy and breathes new life in the angst of murder and the human greed of betrayal—and does so in a backdrop of thunder. Quiet and reflective moments of classical music exists on this masterpiece as well, but the thunder of taking an inward look at the cruelty of Macbeth’s vaulting ambition is the key to the music of the CD.

Lyrically, Jag Panzer borrows a few good lines from Shakespeare, and why not? It is impossible to beat the Master of the language. Thematically, the murder of Banquo—the loss of one’s closest ally for no reason other than greed—is explored and given a very modern sense of inner destruction. The battle with Macduff of the young upstart who has a sense of justice over Macbeth’s lust for power is also powerfully explored.

It is impossible to single out any particular moments or songs, as the piece should be viewed as a whole, but the first track “Thane of Cawder,” the second track “King At A Price,” and the final track “Tragedy of Macbeth,” all standout among the best of Jag Panzer’s best album.

For me, it was a somewhat personal journey, playing the CD, from my past as I have performed Macbeth 25 years ago and taught Macbeth every year for the first decade of my career. For fans of the play, this work will not disappoint. For fans of Metal, this is Jag Panzer at their best.

Jag Panzer: Thane To The Throne, 2001
Thane Of Cawdor
King At A Price
Bloody Crime
The Premonitions
Treachery's Stain
Spectres Of The Past
Banquo's Final Rest
Three Voices Of Fate
Hell To Pay
The Prophecies (Fugue In D-Minor)
Insanity's Mind
Requiem For Lady MacBeth
Face Of Fear
Fall Of Dunsinane
Fate's Triumph
The Downward Fall
Tragedy Of MacBeth

You Tube:

Jag Panzer King At A Price:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mEEVGTSGBM