Now Playing Thread

[PH]

Angra - "Holy Land" (on YouTube)

Pleasantly surprised!
I'm now listening to Carolina IV and enjoying it a lot! Here, the singer reminds me of Peter Nicholls a bit.

It's not as heavy as I expected from you Nicky, yet in some places the drummer is drumming as if he's in a power metal band.
But then again, it's also 'Bupie's band'. You guys complement each other in this aspect.

Very happy and catchy music!

I will revisit!

[Nicky007]

But then again, it's also 'Bupie's band'. You guys complement each other in this aspect.

The first era of Angra - albums Angels Cry, Holy Land, and Fireworks was a synthesis of melodic rock - singer and keyboardist Andre Matos - and power metal - guitarists Rafael Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro (had to check up those f*in names). It was also a constant struggle between the two camps; a lot of exciting music is a result such a struggle

After three albums, Matos felt that he was losing a bit too much ground, so he left, together with drummer Ricardo Confessori (who's back in Angra btw) and bassist Luis Mariutti (why can't they just be called John Smith or somethin ), and they established the group Shaman - which I'm very much looking forward to delve further into ....

Without Matos, Angra made the album Rebirth, which is devoid of Matos' charm and very much power metal. As I told you guys earlier, Rebirth didn't make Angra a pantheon group with me.

I haven't yet checked up the latest three Angra albums, cuz I feel very much that I'm a Matos guy. So I'll pursue his projects first. Also I want to get more into Sepultura - Angra's Brazilian brother band - and Soulfly - another of the brothers Cavalera's madhouses - first.

So one can say that Matos-era Angra is "Nicky's band", while Edu-Falaschi-era (their second singer) Angra is "Bupie's band".

I can take metal of any heaviness and growliness, but there's got to be melody and groove too (e.g. Scar Symmetry)

Paxi, listen also to the song Paradise a coupl'o times, you'l like it

in some places the drummer is drumming as if he's in a power metal band.

The rhythm section of Confessori and Mariutti is one of the best. Another is that of Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony


NP  Angra:  Fireworks  (on repeat) 

- Nicky

[Bupie]

Well, I have just one advice about Angra, and it is always the same : listen to Temple Of Shadows 

I revisited Holy Land during my vacation and I still have the same feeling : extraordinary beginning (Nothing To Say and Silence And Distance) and then it fades a little bit ...

NP Steve Hackett - Live Archive 70, 80, 90's

[Nicky007]

listen to Temple Of Shadows 

OK, I'l move it up in my program, Bupie

I revisited Holy Land during my vacation and I still have the same feeling : extraordinary beginning (Nothing To Say and Silence And Distance) and then it fades a little bit ...

Hm, my fave pieces are Holy Land, Carolina IV, and Shaman. Maybe we just have to accept that we're more different in our musical tastes than we thought, Bupie. Also Nostradamus is one of my fave albums, and you'r getting rid of your copy

That's also why I made that statement about "Nicky's" Angra and "Bupie's" Angra.

We do share Arena and DT, but probably relish different parts of their very varied music.

But that's really fine with me. I'm happy that you (and others) insist on finding your own musical path. If I'm a bit stubborn now and then, it's because I want you to at least try out something that I consider relevant.

And detailed knowledge of personal tastes can help us come with relevant tips

- Nicky

[Draco chimera]

Woodkid's album, The Golden Age, which I had for Christmas. Brilliant.

[Teunis]

Comedy Of Errors - Fanfare & Fantasy

[Nicky007]

Funky, here's a group for you:

FuryBorn: Through Degredation and Decay   www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzVporfWZ4

A new melodic metal group (from 2010) from Bournemouth, a bit like Scar Symmetry.

Give it a few runs before it settles.

Super 

- Nicky

[Bupie]

But that's really fine with me. I'm happy that you (and others) insist on finding your own musical path. If I'm a bit stubborn now and then, it's because I want you to at least try out something that I consider relevant.

And detailed knowledge of personal tastes can help us come with relevant tips

That's fine with me too 

NP The Flower KIngs - Retropolis

Once again, I try to enter in TFK's world. But it is an uneasy path to Retropolis ... 

[PH]

That's fine with me too 

NP The Flower KIngs - Retropolis

Once again, I try to enter in TFK's world. But it is an uneasy path to Retropolis ... 

Have you tried "Back In The World Of Adventures"? I think that one is better.
Even better than that one is "The Flower King" (a Roine Stolt 'solo' album). That is a Prog Rock masterpiece in my opinion!


NP:
Spock's Beard - "V"
Another very nice album!

(Anyone who disagrees?)

[funkster]

Funky, here's a group for you:

FuryBorn: Through Degredation and Decay   www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzVporfWZ4

A new melodic metal group (from 2010) from Bournemouth, a bit like Scar Symmetry.

Give it a few runs before it settles.

Super 

- Nicky

Not bad at all Nick 

Angra - Temple of shadows will be accompanying me on the bus home from work tonight.

Anything to keep Nick and  Bupie happy 

[Nicky007]

Not bad at all Nick 

Angra - Temple of shadows will be accompanying me on the bus home from work tonight.

Anything to keep Nick and Bupie happy 

Funky

So where are the beers

Cool that you'r back on track again. I was gettin worried about you with all that chick and wimp rock


Played:

Beatles:  Help!

This is interesting cuz it's the beginning of rock, and thus also prog rock.

Rock'n'roll is dance music and silly love lyrics. Rock is serious music for listening and reflective lyrics.

I long thought that Rubber Soul was the first real rock album, but I must admit that Help! already has some cool stuff, like the title song, Yesterday, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Ticket To Ride.

Anyway, there were only a few months between their release, so it was the same period

Youngies don't understand this, but for us at the time - and even I was a bit young for it - it was revolution !


Pantera:  Far Beyond Driven

Nothing like Pantera to deal with ones aggressions (remember: two g's and two s's, and no ' in this ones  )

Great classic album - aint that right, Funky and Mad 


Bal-Sagoth:  Battle Magic

I'm new to these guys. Heard a bit of stuff on YouTube, and got this album. Great stuff! Byron Roberts has one of the most powerful voices in rock. Lotta festive and melodic music, very varied, very intriguing lyrics, lotta Theosophy

Gotta play lots more Bal-Sagoth ....

Funky, dya know'm ? They'r from Yorkshire, just like Paradise Lost, same family, also a bit like Anathema, very English - super


NP  Bal-Sagoth:  Naked Steel  www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpqlHxG8O18

Super video 

Lotta benefits in being a proggie

- Nicky

[Nicky007]

NP  Bal-Sagoth:  The Power Cosmic  (full album) 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qKqH0mSS-4&list=PLE05BBBF7D345AF87

Another group, where it's important to get into the lyrics - with Bal-Sagoth arguably more than with any other group

Just included them in my Prog Pantheon

- Nicky

[Bupie]

Have you tried "Back In The World Of Adventures"? I think that one is better.

Actually, I am playing it right now  Got both Retropolis and BITWOA in a 2 CDs package from Inside Out. And I don't have anything else from TFK ... but I have everything from Transatlantic, does it count ? 

Spock's Beard - "V"
Another very nice album!

(Anyone who disagrees?)

I don't disagree but this is a hit and miss album for me. At The End Of The Day being a great hit 

Angra - Temple of shadows will be accompanying me on the bus home from work tonight.
Anything to keep Nick and  Bupie happy 

I'll be happy if listening to it makes you half as happy as it made me 

NP : You already know

[Teunis]

Traumhaus - Die Andere Seite

[Nicky007]

NP: Spock's Beard - "V"
Another very nice album!

(Anyone who disagrees?)

At this point I prefer the D'Virgilio-era albums to the Neal-Morse-era ones, iac musically.

But I have to admit that I'v heard the former a lot more than the latter. I'l do something about it. I have all their studio albums up to Self-titled.


JP  Enchant:  Tug Of War

Fine, but not really my thingy, nothing really catchy for me

I have three other Enchant albums that I will revisit soon ....

Ted sings very well 


NP  Angra:  Temple Of Shadows

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdx0rq8j3sY

First run 

Sounds like an album I'l have to get soon

Wiki: The 13 tracks tell a story written by guitarist Rafael Bittencourt about the life of a crusader in the 11th century - known as The Shadow Hunter - questioning the ideals of the Catholic Church. - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Shadows

- Nicky

[Nicky007]

This song blows my mind 

NP  Angra:  Wishing Well  (on repeat)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn4V0o56UlM

Straight to my Classic list

Guess in the last end I'm an incurable romantic - just like our crazy Frenchie

- Nicky

[Teunis]

Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
Mostly Autumn - Heart Full Of Sky

[Teunis]

Anathema - Weather Systems
Antimatter - Fear Of A Unique Identity

[Teunis]

Mystery - Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face

[PH]

Frank Klepacki - "Infiltrator"

Industrial/Electronic/Rock/Metal/Funk.
It's been a while since I played this. Makes me wanna play the Command & Conquer games again!

[PH]

Angra - "Holy Land" (on YouTube)

The intro to Carolina IV is something you don't hear often.
The other songs before Carolina IV are nice too.

[Nicky007]

Angra - "Holy Land" (on YouTube)

Paxi

The series of pieces Carolina IV, Holy Land, Shaman, is the best part of the album imo - super 


Here's another group that I think you should get into: Bal-Sagoth. There's mythology, fantasy, moviescore music, metal, here and there exquisite melody, and masses of variation - it draws you in and keeps you constantly on edge. Headphones recommended.

The album Battle Magic would be a good place to start for you. But get the album (you can obtain it for some 10 £ at Amazon.UK), you need to follow the extensive story and lyrics.

Wikipedia gives a good overview over the vast themes and stories:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal-Sagoth

Byron Roberts is arguably the most learned person in progworld. And his diction is fabulous.

You need dictionaries and lexica too. A whole universe opens ..... 


Here's another good tip: If you want to become a learned person, then make it a habit to use dictionaries (books or the Net, but proper detailed dictionaries) continuously, in principle whenever you encounter a word that you'r not fully sure of, in any language that you use !

Most people are too lazy to do this, but it really is what makes the BIG difference


NP  Bal-Sagoth:  The Power Cosmic  (on mega-repeat)

Bal-Sagoth is what fills my life these days 

- Nicky

[PH]

Paxi

The series of pieces Carolina IV, Holy Land, Shaman, is the best part of the album imo - super 

I've only listened to this album twice, but I think I have to agree. Those three songs are very good!

Here's another group that I think you should get into: Bal-Sagoth. There's mythology, fantasy, moviescore music, metal, here and there exquisite melody, and masses of variation - it draws you in and keeps you constantly on edge. Headphones recommended.

The album Battle Magic would be a good place to start for you. But get the album (you can obtain it for some 10 £ at Amazon.UK), you need to follow the extensive story and lyrics.

Wikipedia gives a good overview over the vast themes and stories:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal-Sagoth

Byron Roberts is arguably the most learned person in progworld. And his diction is fabulous.

You need dictionaries and lexica too. A whole universe opens ..... 

I'll have a listen and report back with my opinion.

Here's another good tip: If you want to become a learned person, then make it a habit to use dictionaries (books or the Net, but proper detailed dictionaries) continuously, in principle whenever you encounter a word that you'r not fully sure of, in any language that you use !

Most people are too lazy to do this, but it really is what makes the BIG difference

Yes, this is also what I do. I like to read about all kinds of things and when I encounter something that I know not much about, I'll look it up when I can.


NP
U2 - "The Joshua Tree"

Anyone into this group? Of course, they're pretty famous and mainstream. But I was wondering whether proggies listen to U2.

[Teunis]

Anyone into this group? Of course, they're pretty famous and mainstream. But I was wondering whether proggies listen to U2.

I own 3 albums (Under A Blood Red Sky, All That You Can't Leave Behind and U218 Singles) too long ago that I played them, will dig into it again. Like their music, but don't consider myself a big fan.

Muse - Black Holes And Revelations

[Bupie]

NP
U2 - "The Joshua Tree"

Anyone into this group? Of course, they're pretty famous and mainstream. But I was wondering whether proggies listen to U2.

I would say that U2 was the Muse of the early 80's. When I was young, at this same period  , we used to dance A LOT on U2 songs. Sunday Bloody Sunday was a clear winner but New Year's Day or Pride made everybody stand up too. The JoshuaTree was the last U2 album that I bought since part of it and most of what I heard after that left me cold.The first two songs of Joshua are really great IMHO and the videoclip for Where The Streets Have No Name made a huge impression on me back then : I would have loved to be on this roof or on the street If I had to pick a U2 album, I think that the live album Under A Blood Red Sky would be my first choice but I know that you don't like live albums so ...

NP Circus Maximus - Isolate