Alright here are some of the bands I've been listening to lately.
First up, Avatar from Sweden! Just saw them live a little while ago and they were one of the best live acts I've seen. Here's one of their heavier ones titled "Blod":
Second, a more obscure band, Ventana from Ohio (I think)! Here's a brutal one about the current political situation in the US (don't worry, it hates both sides) aptly named "No Lives Matter":
Aaaand third, Chthonic from Taiwan. They like to play music related to World War 2 and often incorporate traditional instruments like the erhu into their music. This one is "Supreme Pain for the Tyrant." Enjoy!
I saw Epica live last week, am going to see Omnium Gatherum at the end of the month. Alas I missed an opportunity to go see Ne Obliscaris at the end of March.
Recent times have been interesting for my tastes in metal, I've been in sort of a long process of moving towards much less "happy" metal I suppose, I used to be big for German and Finnish power metal, Avantasia, Edguy, Stratovarious, that kinda thing, also Nightwish, Dark Moor, Sonata Arctica etc.
Now I haven't so much as turned on them and consider them rubbish or be embarrassed I was ever into them. They worked for me at that time and for a number of years, but now other things work for me. Some bands survived that process, Symphony X mainly because they're insanely good, Kamelot w/ Roy Khan because he was an incredible vocalist (they've just not been the same since he retired), Blind Guardian, Epica and Therion (older stuff mainly with them though), and a number of others. I've been truly spellbound by some of the newer stuff I've found though.
@hybridial I'd love to see Epica live! They're another band I listen to a lot. They don't come my way very often (and when they do come to the UK they don't come to my city) but next time they're in the UK I'm considering making the trip.
"And the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep..."
[The Promise Of Fever]
In the beginning Rimmed with wind and storm A great black wrath of infinite math Spat snarling into form And there was Heaven Lit up with precious stones Each one could fall but for the rule Of Faith and love and stronger thrones
And therein rose vast wonders Affections to be seen Fathered from the plundered Reflections of a dream
Fogging into nightmare For him whose place was set With wayward stars that absent, marred All creation with their theft
In the beginning Bewinged and ringed with dawn This favoured Avatar, enthralled Swansongs from those that thronged this shore With Gabriel and Michael He shone with fierce intent For loyalty, their joy to see Him spur the hymns to heaven (sent)
For sculptured lips of seraphim Whom fate then cruelly rent (With sleight fingered strains of harmony) Each note to grim portent
As grinning nimbus gathered Over spires arabesque For Him that blazed with holy praise That for a jealous God was meant
Shining Feriluce Lustrous scourge of fallen spirits Basked in glory, flew To lakes in sacred altitudes
Sweet haunting music swathed the breeze With curling tongues that lapped the lead As through thick mountain mist (with thoughts adrift) Until at last, past grasping trees
He paused to draught forbidden streams That whispered siren promises To drown his thirst (for sports amiss)
These waters held secrets Like raped Russian dolls Wherein evil and good Tore his soul for control
And drunk with the verse of desire's first words The weight of the universe Slunk in rehearsed
Horror in numbers too great to discern The rotting of worlds to the conqueror worm And love a rare orchid so fragile in bloom Espied gasping breath under dark sheeted moons
Shining Feriluce Reflected in jaded mirror Climbing from the noose Of time in divine servitude
And thus a strange new melody Of will and wanton fantasies Whetted by the veiled, seen Danced from his ashen lips In red dawn scores, the silver scream Of truth and her deleted scenes Was taken up as far, it seemed As God his words eclipsed
(Those waters hid visions Like butchers in war Perverting the course Of life's blood evermore...) In the beginning Skinned well with gibbous tones Of countenance and ignorance In equal measures sewn A marbled arc of Angels Sworn to the morningstar Shared His pride and deep inside Felt Chill Shadows sweep their cards
When the sun has wept upon the waveless lake And the mists steal in with ease Covened wolves are their eerie dissonant napes In adoration of the moon and thee
"They call as I to thee...."
And I will come, as if in dream My languid, dark and lustrous Malaresian Queen Of vengeful, ancient breed Gilded with the pelts of many enemies Erishkigal, raven-haired Thy seduction haunts the castle in erotic despair I can taste thy scent by candlelight Legs of porcelain traced and laced to their lair Appease the beast on spattered sheets Dyed unearthly red as sobriety weeps
Nocternity.... She shall come for me
A black velvet painting sprung to elegant life Like a poignant Madonna perverted to night And I have ridden from the westerning light To expend my lust Tear away the funereal dress Know that I will escape from my death Surrendered to the splendour of her sharpened caress
Lo! The pale moonlight Weaves a poetic spell of vital death and decline Of mist and moth and the hunger inside Kisses took to fever and the fever, demise
"Through twilight, darkness and moonrise My scarlet tears will run As stolen blood and whispered love Of fantasies undone"
Countess swathed in ebony And snow-white balletic grace Rouge-filmed lips procure the wish For lust and her disgrace
Dusk and her embrace
We shall flit through the shadows Like a dream of (were)wolves in the snow Under deadly nightshade Still warmed with the kill's afterglow
Beneath the stars thy flesh bedevils me (Beneath the stars taste the death in me) Bequeath to me thy fiery kiss To sever thin mortality
Elizabeth My heart is thine Thy fragrant words Warm within like wine....
"Let me come to thee With eyes like Asphodel Moon-glancing, loose desires free To writhe under my spell"
Ereshkigal, raven-haired Thy seduction haunts the castle in erotic despair I know thy scent by candlelight Immortal flesh I yearn to share Appease the beast on spattered sheets Dyed malefic red as sobriety weeps Nocternity She shall come for me....
Unfurl thy limbs breathless succubus How the full embosomed fog Imparts the night to us....
I'm glad to see Damnation and a Day getting some love, even CoF fans tend to forget that album. It's easily my third favourite CoF album, in no small part due to this song.
Is anybody interested in the murky roots of metal? You can trace it back to electric blues in the 50s, particularly Howlin' Wolf, and I can give a couple links on youtube that will show you why Led Zeppelin's ripping off of other artists is considered almost a given.
I just discovered a Brazilian Folk Metal band who sing about indigenous folklore in the Tupi language. Quite different from your everyday pseudo-viking/celtic folk bands, and a huge breath of fresh air.
Today’s installment of The Blues Roots of Metal take us back to the source, Howlin’ Wolf, born Chester Arthur Burnett. Wolf took the old Delta blues of Charlie Patton and Son House, built a band around it, electrified it, and plumbed some force of nature to point the blues in a new direction. When he was forty years old, he first recorded for Sam Phillips, four years before the latter recorded Elvis Presley, and laid the foundation for rock and metal but was firmly in the blues.
Today’s installment for The Blues Roots of Metal take us to another artist who recorded for Chess Records, Koko Taylor. She first recorded in her late 30s and was probably the last significant signing for the legendary label. In the grand tradition of blues ladies, she had a big voice and a big personality. Her bands were always loud, rough, fun, and a bit jagged. I saw her in the mid 90s, when she was getting close to 70, and she could still belt out a song and leave her young band exhausted by the end of the set.
Here she is with her breakout song in 1965, a Willie Dixon-penned song called Wang Dang Doodle. And those who know blues know that “Willie Dixon-penned” means he claimed an old blues song as his own. Buddy Guy is on guitar. (More on him later.)
Koko live at Chicagofest in 1980 doing the classic Hey Bartender.
Balrog99 came with some stuff I still have on frequent rotation. That said, I was in a class the other day where someone didn't know who Lita Ford was (she's coming to the local area soon-ish). After I face-palmed, I asked if they knew who Ozzy Osbourne was at least. They did thankfully, otherwise I'd have had to ask them which rock they lived under their whole life. Anyway, rant over. Here's the song.
Comments
First up, Avatar from Sweden! Just saw them live a little while ago and they were one of the best live acts I've seen. Here's one of their heavier ones titled "Blod":
Second, a more obscure band, Ventana from Ohio (I think)! Here's a brutal one about the current political situation in the US (don't worry, it hates both sides) aptly named "No Lives Matter":
Aaaand third, Chthonic from Taiwan. They like to play music related to World War 2 and often incorporate traditional instruments like the erhu into their music. This one is "Supreme Pain for the Tyrant." Enjoy!
1. Crimson Glory - Mask of the Read Death (and the great cover by Yannis Papadopoulos)
2. Beast in Black - Beast in Black (and the whole Berserker album)
3. Soulspell Metal Opera - We got the Right (Helloween's Tribute) - and ther's Blaze Bayley there, hell yeah!
4. Gamma Ray - To the Metal
5. Accept - Teutonic Terror
Recent times have been interesting for my tastes in metal, I've been in sort of a long process of moving towards much less "happy" metal I suppose, I used to be big for German and Finnish power metal, Avantasia, Edguy, Stratovarious, that kinda thing, also Nightwish, Dark Moor, Sonata Arctica etc.
Now I haven't so much as turned on them and consider them rubbish or be embarrassed I was ever into them. They worked for me at that time and for a number of years, but now other things work for me. Some bands survived that process, Symphony X mainly because they're insanely good, Kamelot w/ Roy Khan because he was an incredible vocalist (they've just not been the same since he retired), Blind Guardian, Epica and Therion (older stuff mainly with them though), and a number of others. I've been truly spellbound by some of the newer stuff I've found though.
and I'll just throw this in because it's been a long time favourite of mine since Epica's debut, and it's a killer song live -
My fave Priest song
Gorgoroth - Carving a Giant
Immortal - At the Heart of Winter
Ov Hell - Devil's Harlot
Dimmu Borgir - Puritania
If you like Chthonic, check out Anthelion if you haven't already.
Cradle of Filth fans should check them out too.
"And the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep..."
[The Promise Of Fever]
In the beginning
Rimmed with wind and storm
A great black wrath of infinite math
Spat snarling into form
And there was Heaven
Lit up with precious stones
Each one could fall but for the rule
Of Faith and love and stronger thrones
And therein rose vast wonders
Affections to be seen
Fathered from the plundered
Reflections of a dream
Fogging into nightmare
For him whose place was set
With wayward stars that absent, marred
All creation with their theft
In the beginning
Bewinged and ringed with dawn
This favoured Avatar, enthralled
Swansongs from those that thronged this shore
With Gabriel and Michael
He shone with fierce intent
For loyalty, their joy to see
Him spur the hymns to heaven (sent)
For sculptured lips of seraphim
Whom fate then cruelly rent
(With sleight fingered strains of harmony)
Each note to grim portent
As grinning nimbus gathered
Over spires arabesque
For Him that blazed with holy praise
That for a jealous God was meant
Shining Feriluce
Lustrous scourge of fallen spirits
Basked in glory, flew
To lakes in sacred altitudes
Sweet haunting music swathed the breeze
With curling tongues that lapped the lead
As through thick mountain mist (with thoughts adrift)
Until at last, past grasping trees
He paused to draught forbidden streams
That whispered siren promises
To drown his thirst (for sports amiss)
These waters held secrets
Like raped Russian dolls
Wherein evil and good
Tore his soul for control
And drunk with the verse of desire's first words
The weight of the universe
Slunk in rehearsed
Horror in numbers too great to discern
The rotting of worlds to the conqueror worm
And love a rare orchid so fragile in bloom
Espied gasping breath under dark sheeted moons
Shining Feriluce
Reflected in jaded mirror
Climbing from the noose
Of time in divine servitude
And thus a strange new melody
Of will and wanton fantasies
Whetted by the veiled, seen
Danced from his ashen lips
In red dawn scores, the silver scream
Of truth and her deleted scenes
Was taken up as far, it seemed
As God his words eclipsed
(Those waters hid visions
Like butchers in war
Perverting the course
Of life's blood evermore...)
In the beginning
Skinned well with gibbous tones
Of countenance and ignorance
In equal measures sewn
A marbled arc of Angels
Sworn to the morningstar
Shared His pride and deep inside
Felt Chill Shadows sweep their cards
When the sun has wept upon the waveless lake
And the mists steal in with ease
Covened wolves are their eerie dissonant napes
In adoration of the moon and thee
"They call as I to thee...."
And I will come, as if in dream
My languid, dark and lustrous Malaresian Queen
Of vengeful, ancient breed
Gilded with the pelts of many enemies
Erishkigal, raven-haired
Thy seduction haunts the castle in erotic despair
I can taste thy scent by candlelight
Legs of porcelain traced and laced to their lair
Appease the beast on spattered sheets
Dyed unearthly red as sobriety weeps
Nocternity....
She shall come for me
A black velvet painting sprung to elegant life
Like a poignant Madonna perverted to night
And I have ridden from the westerning light
To expend my lust
Tear away the funereal dress
Know that I will escape from my death
Surrendered to the splendour of her sharpened caress
Lo! The pale moonlight
Weaves a poetic spell of vital death and decline
Of mist and moth and the hunger inside
Kisses took to fever and the fever, demise
"Through twilight, darkness and moonrise
My scarlet tears will run
As stolen blood and whispered love
Of fantasies undone"
Countess swathed in ebony
And snow-white balletic grace
Rouge-filmed lips procure the wish
For lust and her disgrace
Dusk and her embrace
We shall flit through the shadows
Like a dream of (were)wolves in the snow
Under deadly nightshade
Still warmed with the kill's afterglow
Beneath the stars thy flesh bedevils me
(Beneath the stars taste the death in me)
Bequeath to me thy fiery kiss
To sever thin mortality
Elizabeth
My heart is thine
Thy fragrant words Warm within like wine....
"Let me come to thee
With eyes like Asphodel
Moon-glancing, loose desires free
To writhe under my spell"
Ereshkigal, raven-haired
Thy seduction haunts the castle in erotic despair
I know thy scent by candlelight
Immortal flesh I yearn to share
Appease the beast on spattered sheets
Dyed malefic red as sobriety weeps
Nocternity
She shall come for me....
Unfurl thy limbs breathless succubus
How the full embosomed fog
Imparts the night to us....
Quite different from your everyday pseudo-viking/celtic folk bands, and a huge breath of fresh air.
Arandu Arakuaa - Gûyrá
Arandu Arakuaa - Padi
Shake for Me
Killing Floor, which Led Zeppelin fans might recognize.
Back Door Man, which probably best shows him straddling the past and present.
Not:
(Unsurprisingly it came last with but one single point... But I kinda like it!
Text in Czech with translation into English
reminded me of high school and this band
Here she is with her breakout song in 1965, a Willie Dixon-penned song called Wang Dang Doodle. And those who know blues know that “Willie Dixon-penned” means he claimed an old blues song as his own. Buddy Guy is on guitar. (More on him later.)
Koko live at Chicagofest in 1980 doing the classic Hey Bartender.
What about Buddy Guy, BB King and Eric Clapton together? Damn.
Please proceed with your posts @tbone1. I'm enjoying them a lot, as I'm sure everyone else is.