The Worst of the Worst: Volume I

“You Sold Me Out…”
Ray Davies of the Kinks.

I kind of hate to say it, but there really are some bad albums/groups/songs out there that fit in the genre of metal. My least favorite is the GLAM Metal music, which someone from Anthrax referred to GLAM as Gay Los Angeles Metal. Poison, Crue, Ratt, Cinderella, and the like are terribly wretched in excess and lack of musicianship. Still, I offer some of my least favorite hard rock and metal moments.

Kiss Dynasty, Unmasked, the Solos, and Music From The Elder are very weak. Dynasty is disco; Unmasked is horrid and misguided. The solos are really really horrible; Music From the Elder is insane: a concept album with the tendancies towards the fantasy genre--too insipid for words. Do I really consider Kiss metal; no, but there are those who do.

Alice Cooper’s Lace and Whiskey and Goes to Hell. Alice lost his sense of sick humor on both of these weak efforts. Cooper’s trademark ability to let the guitars rock are also missing. There is no reason to own these.

Anything by Everon is a waste of time and money. Everon was billed as Progressive Power metal; it sounds like Journey except Journey rocks more. That is all I need to say.

Take your pick on GLAM. This genre is also known as 80s Hair Bands. All of it stinks for the most part and was an excuse to make hard rock and metal marketable for the MTV audience. It did so, but in the process made hard rock bands look like cartoons. The best thing of the genre, I must admit, is that it pissed off some folks who decided to pick up their guitars and play: thus Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and others who admit that they started their evolution as a result of hating GLAM or Hairband metal. This proves the point that good things can come from bad or every dark cloud has a silver lining; although I doubt the members of Slayer would like that analogy.

Later Metallica efforts have bored me. I like St. Anger; but most of the rest of the last decade’s version of Metallica has left me wishing for the past. Metallica is not the only band that has done this, but they are the most surprising.

Later Van Halen efforts have done the same as Metallica. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (follow the first letters, kids and see what Van Halen has done for you) and one gets the idea. When I saw “Right Now” on a Pepsi commercial, it was obvious the boys (see those first letters again) “blanked” us all.

More as time permits; but this will keep you rolling. Oh and enjoy the Kiss clip; absolutely the worst song of the genre in my most humble opinion.

Ayreon Human Equation: Is It Ayreon or is it Pink Floyd?

“Move to the truth

Breath the sunlight burning in her open arms

Break the chains that

Bind you to a past that feeds this bitter days

Seize your only chance

Follow the stars that beckon you through blackened skies”
--from Ayreon “Signs,” 2004.

Ayreon’s Human Equation is a progressive metal concept album about how complicated one’s past can make ones present…to a degree.

The album’s musical talent is the rock opera mogul Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The trick in the music is to make the metal standup to a backdrop of a story—in this case a relatively simple one where an auto accident victim’s best friend and girlfriend watch over him as he suffers from a coma. Each day of his twenty day ordeal develops a different emotion, not only for the victim, but for those watching over him.

The album is interesting to listen to and unique; my problem is that it has way too many prog-rock Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, and Jethro Tull overtures. I love the bands I just listed, but when I play metal, I expect…well...metal.

Certain ideas of concept albums I respect (Kamelot’s Epica and jag Panzer’s Thane to the Throne as examples) and others bore me (Tommy By The Who or Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd).

The music in this one saves me to a degree from being bored; but I cannot give it a whole-hearted hoorah. It is simply indulges and outright copies Pink Floyd song structures and signatures far too often for my tastes.

I will try it again when I feel more relaxed and not in the mood for a “Metal” album and perhaps my feelings might change.

Ayreon Human Equation Tracklist:

CD 1
Day One: Vigil
Day Two: Isolation
Day Three: Pain
Day Four: Mystery
Day Five: Voices
Day Six: Childhood
Day Seven: Hope
Day Eight: School
Day Nine: Playground
Day Ten: Memories
Day Eleven: Love
CD 2
Day Twelve: Trauma
Day Thirteen: Sign
Day Fourteen: Pride
Day Fifteen: Betrayal
Day Sixteen: Loser
Day Seventeen: Accident?
Day Eighteen: Realization
Day Nineteen: Disclosure
Day Twenty: Confrontation

Primal Fear: For the Fans of Judas Priest

“Free choices always had the chance

To play the music you like true and faithful

You support this sound and rhythm

You back up it's future from deep in your heart

Faster beats are pounding

While the fans are shouting

Metal is forever

In every single matter

Metal is forever

Nations come together.”
--“Metal is Forever” by Primal Fear from Devil’s Ground, 2004

Often the most sincere for of flattery is imitation.

Hence Primal Fear. Their albums are great exercises of tough, no-nonsense, straight-forward and basic Heavy Metal. Tough dueling guitars, the heavy thud of the drums, the perfectly timed bass riffs, and the screaming vocals are all pleasure to the ear.

But wait, you have heard this before.

Known as Germany’s version of Judas Priest, they truly sound that way. Perhaps the most unique departure from their usual hum is Seven Seals. More melodic than many of the counterparts, this is a fine album.

The rest are good enough, but the Judas Priest sound is very apparent. The video for Angel in Black shows the depth and consistency of the above.

Enjoy them, as they are a great band; but beware the repercussions of Screaming for Vengeance.

Ghost Opera: An Amazing Triumph for Kamelot

Welcome all to curtain call

At the opera

Raging voices in my mind

Rise above the orchestra

Like a crescendo of gratitude

This is my song

Like the dead

am on the other side

Their howling in my head

No remorse and no redemption

Hush my dea

Let the music fill the night

And soon it’s all we hear

--Kamelot “Ghost Opera,” 2007.

I loved, I mean LOVED, Black Halo from Kamelot.

Ghost Opera has changed my opinion of the group.

Not only are they masters of intricate feelings, masterful musicians, and quality craftsman; they are also capable of changing tempos and themes.

The intro to Ghost Opera Solitaire and Rule The World are heavy in approach, classical in approach as well. These guys could have fit in Wagner’s world as easily as the world of Judas Priest.

The third track Ghost Opera is an essential song in their often spirited and musical repertoire. Speed meets classical overtones encompass the essence of this track. The bass playing is so crucial in this song. It also musically hearkens back to Black Halo. This track methodically and orchestrally plods along to an incredible crescendo.

Among my favorite tracks is the keyboard laced fourth track: The Human Stain. This is a true triumph of Kamelot. The background vocals, the melodies and the tenderness of Khan’s voice are essential to their “sound.”

When I first heard the fifth track, Blucher, I was instantly reminded of their LP Epica it would fit their scope of that album. Slightly bouncy and totally jarring in the rhythm section; this is the track that perhaps is the heaviest on the album.

The sixth track, Love You To Death, is classic Kamelot that gives a nod to Karma. Middle-Eastern influence is common in this song. The heavy bass pounds and resonates as the violins interplay with the keyboards. And against the background of the female vocals mixing with Khan adds to the layered and textured depth that Kamelot fans have grown accustomed to experiencing.

The seventh track Up Through the Ashes continues the themes of the sixth track, with more guitars.

The eighth cut, Mourning Star, has a Celtic and monk-influenced style. To be frank, it is a pleasure for the ear as it begins, followed by the metal power.

Silence of Darkness follows a nine and is one of the more quick numbers on the album; played with Kamelot’s (and power metal’s) speed guitar and double base. This track is probably the most similar to the Kamelot that most fans know.

The tenderness of the band is shown in the tenth track—Anthem. This is simply stated beautiful music.

Eden Echo closes the album in pure power/speed metal form. This is yet another Kamelot track that would sound so awesome live.

On The American release, the “bonus” track is a dispensable one—The Pendulous fall. Not among my favorites, it is a strong, yet formulaic Kamelot number.

As one can tell, I highly recommend this one. I have waited for Kamelot’s Ghost Opera for months and was far from disappointed.

Kamelot: The Ghost Opera:

Solitaire
Rule The World
The Ghost Opera
The Human Stain
Blucher
Love You To Death
Up Through The Ashes
Mourning Star
Silence of Darkness
Anthem
Eden Echo
Pendulous Fall

Unia from Sonata Arctica: A More Commercial Triumph

“It's hard for me to love myself right now

I waited, hated, blamed it all on you

It's hard for me to love your face right now

I'm waiting, hating, needing, being me

I need you less and less

And every day leads us farther away

From that moment

It's hard for me to hate myself right now

Finally I'm understanding me

One day we may have whole new me's and you's

But first I need to learn to love me too.”
--from Paid In Full by Sonata Arctica

Sonata Arctica’s latest CD is Unia.

This is a bit of a departure from their usual Power/Melodic Metal to a more commercial mainstream. Still, it works on many levels.

Quite frankly, it seems to me that the Fins have borrowed a page from Kamelot’s successful and commercial release of Black Halo.

The albums starts with an up-tempo number: In Black And White—the pure speed of the band and the intricacies of how they play is duly noted. The band follows with the first “single” Paid In Full, as the lyrics at the beginning note: this is the song of redemption for leaving a relationship after feeling the pain and blame. Hits a bit close to home for me personally right now going through a separation (and I must admit that do not HATE anyone), but it rocks and moves and sounds fantastic. For The Sake of Revenge is perhaps my favorite track on the album, although I am sure that will change. There is a serious tone and a “feel” to this one that is different from many other Sonata Arctica songs. This is perhaps their most introspective.

Many of the other songs are in the vein of Broken from Winterheart’s Guild. They seem to sway and flow and then show the metalesque quality of Power metal. The song Caleb is kind of odd to be honest, haunting and creepy in the beginning, and then turns into a thundering moment. I am really not sure how to take it, but it is different. Harvest and World’s Forgotten soar towards the end of the CD, Fly With A Black Swan is one of the heaviest on the CD and I think a great choice for a second single would be Good Enough Is Good Enough: a great retrospective moment.

Critics have hit this one for being too soft and too much “marked at a commercial market,” but to be frank, this could very much be a breakthrough album for the band. I have played it for five days straight in the car thus far and I can attest that it grows more and more interesting with repeated listens.

Sonata Arctica’s Unia Track list and lyrics hyperlinks:
1) In Black And White

2) Paid In Full

3) For The Sake Of Revenge

4) It Won't Fade

5) Under Your Tree

6) Caleb

7) The Vice

8) My Dream's But A Drop Of Fuel For A Nightmare

9) The Harvest

10) The Worlds Forgotten, The Words Forbidden

11) Fly With The Black Swan

12) Good Enough Is Good Enough

You Tube Paid In Full Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1zkXdqcajk

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And now, for a quick free plug of fun.

If you like older metal (and hey, who doesn’t?), I just received an email from my correspondence friend and my favorite metal writer Martin Popoff that may be of interest. Martin has written the BEST Metal Guides and Band Books on the Planet. His BOC and Black Sabbath books are interesting, fun, and just beautiful to look at. He has also written excellent books on Rush, UFO, Dio; as well as the Top 500 Metal Songs, Top 500 Metal Albums, and Guides to the 1970s and 1980s Metal.

He is also a good guy.

To quote from Martin’s email:

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a new book …It’s almost like an academic journal, the very first of a series, the intention being a little library of similar books covering a pretty big chunk of metal history.

Ye Olde Metal: 1968 To 1972

The Concept:
Detailed examination of early hard rock albums, many lost to the sands of time, some merely in need of a celebratory re-visit. Primarily through the use of new, exhaustive interviews with the band members who were there – the focus being on one classic album - Martin meticulously pieces together the complete story of each album, lending his respected critical eye to the record, massaging in bucket loads of trivia previously unpublished.

The Records:
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum, MC5 – Kick Out The Jams, Sir Lord Baltimore – Kingdom Come, Bloodrock – Bloodrock, Warpig – Warpig, Cactus – One Way… Or Another, Mountain – Nantucket Sleighride, Uriah Heep – Look At Yourself, Nitzinger – Nitzinger, Dust - Hard Attack, Humble Pie – Smokin’, Buffalo – Dead Forever…, Captain Beyond – Captain Beyond, Trapeze – You Are The Music… We’re Just The Band.

The next one in the series will cover the years 1973 to 1975, and I’m working on it already.

The book is full trade size 6” x “9 format, 230 pages, and includes front and back cover shots of all the records discussed.

Contact Martin Popoff at: martinp@inforamp.net if interested. You can also check out his website from my links below.

Hope to hear from everyone reading this post and/or other posts in the blog responses.

Radio and Power Metal

“The walls around me, eyes surround me, feed my fear again.

I must be freed or I will die before the harvest moon, my friend.

I do not have another year in me, you've gotta set me free.

The dream is alive, I can run up the hills every night,

Go around and see another side of the tree.

Freedom has a meaning for me, howl with me.”

--Sonata Arctica from The Cage, from the LP Winterheart’s Guild, 2003.

Not to highlight a band this week, I thought I would explain a slight advantage of AOL.

No, really.

Many of you have heard me rail against corporate America (Time/Warner owns AOL) on my major blog site (see below’s link list).

Not this time, though.

AOL Radio has some XM sites and a few of their own. In fact, AOL has the most comprehensive metal stations available. My favorite, when searching the net, is to play Power Metal. In the space that it is taken me to type this and this morning while surfing, I have heard Manowar’s Odin’s; Iced Earth Star Spangled Banner; Stratovarius’s Kiss of Judah; Avantasia’s Chalice of Agony; Blind Guardian’s Myth; Rhapsody’s Erian’s Mystical Rhyme; Hammerfall’s Heeding The Call; something from Elvinking I do not recall; Stratovarius’ Black Diamond; A live track from Sonata Arctica; Sonata Arctica’s The Cage; Dragonforce’s Pound and Ground; Edguy’s Super Heroes; Kamelot’s Karma and more.

This shows a great mix of various incantations of power metal.

I usually will find a group I have not heard of previously by playing this channel. For example, Wuthering Heights—a great band—was found on this station. I am not sure of the cut, but they played one from The Shadow Cabinet. I immediately ordered it from Den at Sentinel Steel (also see the Links List below) at a great discount.

So if you have AOL Radio, the commercials at a minimal, they know their metal—take a chance.

There is a Classic Metal Station; Liquid Metal Metalcore; Metal Moshpit; Hair Metal Death Metal; Black Metal; All Slayer; and All Metallica stations.

Now if I could only download it at work, my life would be more complete.

The First Metal Album: Deep Purple In Rock, 1971

“Saturday night and I just got paid…

Gonna fool about ain't gonna save.

Some people gonna rock some people gonna roll…

Gonna have a party to save my soul.

Hard headed woman and a soft hearted man…

They been causing trouble since it all began.

Take a little rice take a little beans…

Gonna rock and roll down to New Orleans.

I'm a speed king--you go to hear me sing;

I'm a speed king see me fly.”

--Deep Purple “Speed King” from In Rock, 1971.

So what is the first “metal” group?

I was rewatching Sam Dunn’s Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey the other day and I was trying to piece together the first groups and songs.

Blue Cheer’s Summertime Blues is too Psychedelic for me. I would also add that whenever I hear it, I think of The Who.

Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild is too “biker bar/Harley” for me. I think the term may have gotten a nod from the song, but this is like saying Muddy Waters was the first rock artist because he used the term rock and roll.

Dunn’s approach, as with many band members, was that Black Sabbath was the first; but I would argue that Deep Purple’s In Rock, Fireball, and Machine Head were actually the first Heavy Metal Albums by the first Heavy Metal band—even though they have a keyboard—sorry Jon Lord.

Deep Purple’s greatest album, In Rock, has the quintessential “Speed King;” truly the first sustained speed metal rocker that clashed through the speakers with speed and crunch. It also contains Blood Sucker and Child in Time. Both simply rock hard—with Child in Time being the first Metal Anthem. Flight of the Rat is not my personal favorite, but it follows the pattern and Into The Fire, Living Wreck, and Hard Lovin’ Man truly make this the first classic of the genre.

This is nothing to do with Black Sabbath and is not meant as an insult to Sabbath, but this is the sustainable album that churns and offers glimpses of speed dominance, power chords, a high pitched vocal, and heavy thudding rhythm sections against the backdrop of Ritchie Blackmore’s fantastic guitar solos.

In Rock is an album all rock fans and Heavy Metal fans can agree upon.

“Come taste the band” (a latter effort by Deep Purple) and enjoy the first TRUE Heavy Metal classic album: Deep Purple In Rock, 1971.

Deep Purple: In Rock, 1971
Speed King

Bloodsucker

Child In Time

Flight Of The Rat

Into The Fire

Living Wreck

Hard Lovin' Man