Now Playing Thread

[maddox]

Sunchild ~ The Wrap

Sunchild, Myspace

[maddox]

Agents of Mercy ~ Dramarama

[maddox]

Pallas ~ XXV

[Nicky007]

may I try a longer answer than I usually do ? 

I find that you have the - bad in my book - habit to take definitive conclusions from incomplete knowledge.

Or maybe it's cuz I have the biggest mouth in the Room. The more you say, the more you'r bound to ruffle people 

Iac if people get on my back cuz of some of my statements, then I usually go back and check up on things 

And I admit that I can get rather frustrated when my enthusiasm doesn't meet other Roomies' or when I receive no answers -or paternalistic ones- to genuine questions. But it's part of the internet thing and I have very little to complain about this forum which is really a nice place with nice people who are entitled not to be interested in what I write or listen to.

Yeah, I know that feeling, Bups, particularly the neglect. As you write, it's part of the internet thing, and we all have millions of things in our lives to attend to 

Maybe we can all try a bit harder to share, thus also pay a bit more attention to other Roomies' pet groups and interests, even when they don't immediately grip us 

I'v often wondered how it is that we all love Arena and DT, but as soon as we stray just a bit from these groups, we differ soooo much, e.g. I thought that any DT-fan would simply have to be enraptured by Priest's Nostradamus - and that's certainly not happened - and Bups sees a closeness between DT and Angra that I havent seen (yet).

And how can it be that I see such a closeness between Arena and Ten, while no other active Roomie has been gripped by this band, and Bups can be so excited about Avantasia, while Mad and I don't see anything special in'm ?

Tom has also introduced a series of bands to us that havent been shared 

Guys, I consider this an interesting question, and I'd very much like to hear your opinion on it 

So Nick, do me a favour for once : go on Youtube and listen carefully to Shadow Hunter and then come back to speak about it. 

I definitely will, particularly as I'm always pleading with you guys to test my stuff; and with Angra it's a pleasure, as I like this group a lot 

After

NP  Scar Symmetry:  Pitch Black Progress 

sometimes disappointing (Megadeth)

Yeah, they'v been included in "The big four" together with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, but I consider that the other groups, particularly Metallica, have a lot more to offer. And when you read Mustaine's cover notes, you don't exactly think "Man, this guy's ingenious" 

Today at 01:21:44  Pallas ~ XXV

Hey, who's that ghost ? 

I have to get to bed by 11 these days, as I have to get up again at 5:30 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Scar Symmetry:  Pitch Black Progress 

Oh man, this is soooo good, I have to hear it once more 

Bups, I'l get around to Angra.

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Angra:  Shadow Hunter  (on repeat)

Great stuff, and more prog than I had assessed Angra to be 

I'l be doin do more Angra on YouTube now .....


Bups, I have a hunch that you have the same hangup as Cap and Teunis: You avoid growl. Well, that keeps you away from some great progmetal. More and more, the best progmetal groups are using the full spectrum of vocals, including growl and shout. Some have lotta growl, some occasional. Recently even our beloved low-key Threshold spiced up their Dead Reckoning with some growl (to the dismay of Teunis  ).

Doin progmetal and avoiding growl is like wanting sex but insisting on keeping one's shorts on. I think that a Frenchie can understand this argument 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

JP  Angra:  Shadow Hunter  (seventh run)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ESt3FnJ7I

You'r right, Bups, this piece takes time to get properly into, and is then very rewarding 

So, now I got Angra's latest three albums on my SL 

Sunchild ~ The Wrap

Agents of Mercy ~ Dramarama

Got'm noted, Mad ..... 


NP  Pallas:  Atlantis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGFR5A-36FE

What a wonderful piece 

I don't think that any Roomie will dispute that this is a great group 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Angra  on  YouTube 

Thanx for gettin me onto'm again, Bups 

Formidable guitar playin too - Tom, Funky, Mad 

E.g. Angels And Demons    www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4VVg6VyAyY&NR=1

I agree with you that Shadow Hunter is a special treat, Bups 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

JP  Kingdom Come:  Self-titled (album)

Retro Zep school, even a bit of Rush, but excellent retro 


KoK:  Kolossus

This is some of the absolute best stuff around, guys 

Nicky.

[Bupie]

Thanks for the answer and for checking songs of ToS, Nicky. I appreciate 

Concerning the growls that you mentioned a few posts above, I can really like them sometimes. Threshold's Slipstream is a good exemple, DT's ANTR too (even with MP's voice  ). But sometimes, I just find that they ruin the songs, like in some After Forever songs. And yes, I don't feel that I am ready for an entire album with only growled vocals yet.

NP Threshold - Dead Reckoning

[Nicky007]

JP  Dimmu Borgir:  In Sorte Diaboli

Awesome, simply awesome 

Musically one of the most exciting albums I'v stumbled across this past year, only to be matched by KoK's Reptilian and Kolossus 

There's so much going on all the time. I'm not bored one moment during this album.

Two of my fave musicians are in the mix: ICS Vortex on vocals and bass, and Hellhammer on drums - whew !

Philosophically tho I have my doubts. In the cover notes, there's a story about a man who turns from Christianity to Satanism - hm. The lyrics leave me in further doubt. This is going too far for me. Therefore I can't add Dimmu Borgir to my pantheon presently 

With KoK it's different. Their lyrics appear pagan to me, more about breaking with anachronistic power structures, and transcending personal limits, which can coexist with a Christian sensibility 

But I'm not making any conclusive judgements. I'l get the album, and let's see .....


NP  Emperor:  Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

Formidable too 

Requires a lotta listens to settle in, sounds rather chaotic at first, but then: mmmmmm 

Lyrically I would say the same as for KoK, so they'r acceptable to me.

Ihsahn is the protagonist here, and he, Emperor, and Peccatum --> my prog pantheon 


I'm now convinced that Norwegian metal is the most exciting rock scene these years 

There's KoK, Arcturus, Emperor, Enslaved, Circus Maximus, Ihsahn - all formidable groups 

Anyone willing to join me in this adventure 

Nicky.

[funkster]

There have been some interesting thoughts/comments recently and here is my take on things -

1. We are all here because we share an appreciation of Arena but beyond that we all have our personal like/dislikes. This is great because we can share artists we like eg Scar Symmetry who i am listening to at the moment and Angra , who Nicky was not a fan of until recently. Not everyone will like everything we recommend which is fine and it is not a personal snub just personal taste.

2. Re Dimmu Borgir - Nicky i know exactly what you mean. The music is symphonic and interesting but lyrically i am just not so sure. That whole anti christian thing is not for me.

3. Scar Symmetry - Getting better with every listen  More melodic than i expected and a mighty fine band. Thank you for the recommendation (see point 1 above 

4. Keep of kelassan - Not really my bag at the moment (also see 1 above  ) but i will not give up yet.

5. Growling vocals - My first experience was Opeth and they are an acquired taste for sure. Personally i find the bands that mix growls and clean vocals to be a lot more interesting because of the difference and effect that the 2 styles have eg Opeth , Enslaved , Scar Symmetry.

Back on topic at last 

Adele - 21
Scar Symmetry -  Pitch black progress       

[funkster]

Friction by Dark Tranquility -  nice mix of vocals , metal and a few keyboard pieces.

[Nicky007]

Angra , who Nicky was not a fan of until recently.

Actually I liked Rebirth a lot. It just didnt seem quite pantheon to me 

It seems that Angra has gotten even better after that album .....

That whole anti-Christian thing is not for me.

Pity, cuz the music on In Sorte Diaboli is tremendous 

kelassan

Gratz, Funky, ya managed to get all the vowels wrong. Their name is Keep of Kalessin 

I will not give up yet

Not for pu*s 

Thank you for the recommendation

My pleasure 


NP  Dimmu Borgir:  The Serpentine Offering 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAmMcBQavKE

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

NP: Evergrey - Glorious Collision

Glorious it is indeed, a true return to form for Evergrey. I don't think it's as good as The Inner Circle, but that is an album that just can't be beaten, no matter how hard they try.

Listen to the opening track of the album 'Leave It Behind Us' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1ys35Q3Ls

Tom

[funkster]

A bit of Fen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEWj-bnVjNo

Poor production  but a fine song , bit of black metal meets post rock

[The Butterfly Man]

Last week was Oceansize's swansong, this week it's Frost*'s...

http://www.frost-music.co.uk/frosties/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2563
 

Hello all,

There's not really an easy way to say this, so I'll just say it. I've decided to suspend the Frost project with immediate effect. If this were somebody else's band, I'd just say I was leaving, it would be so much easier, but it's not so easy when you've created the band in the first place...

The reasons are many - I don't feel comfortable any longer in the role of singer/front man/keyboard player/principle songwriter/principle cheque writer. Truth be told, I never have. It's all got a bit out of hand from the gently self-mocking studio project I started for fun in a shed in East Sussex in May 2004 when I was young and happy and it was always sunny.

More than that though, trying to juggle two full time careers as I have over the last 7 years has been a tough ask and has ultimately become a price to high to pay in certain areas of my life. One of which is my health. I've been to a very dark place over the last 8 days and ended up in a pretty bad way. Although I'm now emerging out the other side (a stone lighter into the bargain), I have realised that I have some serious issues I must address. I'm no longer young, I'm no longer happy and the sun is no longer shining.

These issues have made me realise that life is sometimes about doing what you must do when the time comes regardless of what other people might want or expect of you. Some things are bigger than music or bands, expectation or disappointment. Figuratively speaking, I've now been given a yellow card and my priority now is to get myself back together before I get sent off for good.

So what now?

Nothing. I'm going to go to ground for a bit. Be private. Grow some veg. Get well.

And reflect. It's been an amazing journey full of brilliant moments. Too many to list, I'm sorry it's stopped like this, so abruptly, but I've been at my wits end lately and I'm no use to anybody in an urn.

I hope you'll understand. Thank you for being brilliant.

Jem.

NP: Frost* - Experiments In Mass Appeal

Tom

[Bupie]

Honestly, I have never been very fond of Frost*'s music but I have to reckognize that Jem is really at ease with words and has a gift for the formulas. Maybe it should write novels ?

NP Angra - Holy Land

[The Butterfly Man]

Yeah, I know that feeling, Bups, particularly the neglect. As you write, it's part of the internet thing, and we all have millions of things in our lives to attend to 

Maybe we can all try a bit harder to share, thus also pay a bit more attention to other Roomies' pet groups and interests, even when they don't immediately grip us 

I'v often wondered how it is that we all love Arena and DT, but as soon as we stray just a bit from these groups, we differ soooo much, e.g. I thought that any DT-fan would simply have to be enraptured by Priest's Nostradamus - and that's certainly not happened - and Bups sees a closeness between DT and Angra that I havent seen (yet).

And how can it be that I see such a closeness between Arena and Ten, while no other active Roomie has been gripped by this band, and Bups can be so excited about Avantasia, while Mad and I don't see anything special in'm ?

Tom has also introduced a series of bands to us that havent been shared 

Guys, I consider this an interesting question, and I'd very much like to hear your opinion on it 

Here's my view on things:

The number of frequent posters has been decreasing for some time now and although the biggest reason for that probably is the lack of activity in Arena, I also believe that it is due to the 'absence of communication' around here. I don't mean this as an offence to anyone – I really don't – but I often see posts in the Now Playing Thread where people only mention what they're listening to or what they've been listening to, and that's it. I would be very interested to learn what you think is so good (or bad ) about the songs/albums you're listening to. Of course I also 'forget' this occasionally and I think this may have something to do with that feeling of neglect that was mentioned before. Because of this feeling that I'm sure we've all experienced before I believe people get hesitant to write something: "It doesn't matter if I expand on something, people won't react anyway."

The same often applies when someone makes an effort to post about a band he/she believes could be appreciated in the Room. This mostly includes links to Youtube-vids or MySpace-pages to make it easier to check out, but even then it happens that no one finds it necessary to even comment.

I'm also guilty in this department – to an extent we all are – so we should try to make things better together. Of course we all have a busy life in the real world but I think that we need to try to interact more in order for this (still very nice) place to 'come alive' again. Oh, and a new Arena-album would help too!

Tom

[Bupie]

OK Tom, thanks for the reply 

So now maybe you can tell me about Moon Safari since I asked you the question on this thread a few days ago ? 

NP I won't mention anything since I'm afraid it will be Angra for a few days and I will spare you the superlatives. So Nothing to say   

[funkster]

Now listening to -

Ryan Adams - Cold roses
Jesse Malin - Glitter in the gutter

Similar in that they are singers/songwriters with a bit of a rock n roll/country mix and i love them both.

I needed a break form the Scar symmetry/Dark Tranquility i had been listening to recently and this fits the bill perfectly. 

[Nicky007]

Tom, thanx for your comments. You express what I too feel - and well formulated in English 

Bups, I'd like to recommend Anubis Gate to you, think you'l like'm. When you need somethin new, consider searching up the YouTube links I posted earlier in the Room 

These days I'm listening mainly to Emperor. I found several of their albums at the library (still strained economy here), and it's all 

As I mentioned earlier, it sounds rather chaotic at first, but after some listens: mmmmmm 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Neal Morse ~ The Wind and the Rain

From Neal's second solo album, It's Not Too Late.
A lot of people tend to forget that Neal made two solo albums, prior to his deparure from Spock's Beard.
This album is more a non-proggy album, more poppy but not too much.
Just like the Beard albums, there is a religious background on this album.

[maddox]

Jolly ~ The Audio Guide to Happiness Disc One.

Sometimes they sound like Alice in Chains, sometimes they sound like The Tea Party, sometimes they sound like Karnivool....

This is a very good album indeed!!!

http://www.myspace.com/jollyband

[maddox]

Here's my view on things:

The number of frequent posters has been decreasing for some time now and although the biggest reason for that probably is the lack of activity in Arena, I also believe that it is due to the 'absence of communication' around here. I don't mean this as an offence to anyone – I really don't – but I often see posts in the Now Playing Thread where people only mention what they're listening to or what they've been listening to, and that's it. I would be very interested to learn what you think is so good (or bad ) about the songs/albums you're listening to. Of course I also 'forget' this occasionally and I think this may have something to do with that feeling of neglect that was mentioned before. Because of this feeling that I'm sure we've all experienced before I believe people get hesitant to write something: "It doesn't matter if I expand on something, people won't react anyway."

The same often applies when someone makes an effort to post about a band he/she believes could be appreciated in the Room. This mostly includes links to Youtube-vids or MySpace-pages to make it easier to check out, but even then it happens that no one finds it necessary to even comment.

I'm also guilty in this department – to an extent we all are – so we should try to make things better together. Of course we all have a busy life in the real world but I think that we need to try to interact more in order for this (still very nice) place to 'come alive' again. Oh, and a new Arena-album would help too!

Tom

Interesting view.

It has indeed became rather quite around here, and that's a shame!
The Room was a crowded room but certainly a vivid one.
Many came, posted a few things and then disappeared again while a few die-hards had the tendency to be more inside the Room than anywhere else, or so it seemed.
And then there were those
There's so much going on in my life that lately I must confess that I tend to lurk more than actually be more active in here and that's a shame.
The visits to the Room were always a routine, a way to escape the hectic days but now the hectic days has caught up with me or in other words: became more hectic.
That's more on a personal subject. There are some problems we have in our little family that need our attention right now.

I do find it useful to read about all those bands that I don't know, see youtube vids and listen to bits and pieces but, guilty as charged, I too seldom react to them.
Nicky shared some youtube links on both Ten and Queen and though I responded a couple of times to the latter I still haven't reacted to the Ten links. 
If it makes you feel any better, listened to a few tracks of the new Ten album and ordered the Twilight Chronicles, but haven't received it yet.

But I'm sure that the Room will be an interesnting place again once the new Arena albums is released!
And then the Caamora musical pt II.