That review of Fastball..

This'll be my first time listening to Ensiferum, but they've always sounded interesting. Good song title too.
[b]Ensiferum - Tale of Revenge[/b] - 8:23

Starts off with all instruments playing - has a very Manowar-like rhythm to it, though it doesn't sound like actual Manowar. This riff's pretty good, epic sounding. I like it.

Vocals come in at 0:36; not incredibly harsh, but not clean; kinda semi-black metal. Guitar's playing a very folky lead bit in the background, which I like.

Sounds even more folky - I think I can even make out a flute? - around 1:30, when clean vocals come in. They sound very cliched - the kind of singing voice a hero in a tale would have.

Some nice choppy/thrashy guitar around 2:20. More of the harsher vocals, and then that folky lead again. What sounds like a piano, or some keyboard instrument, plays after this, before some rapid drum rolls lead into a very nice, thrashy guitar riff.

Is that synth I hear? It's either a lot of synth, or an odd guitar tone. Either way, I don't like it so much as most of the rest of the song.

I'm thinking around 7/10 for this. It had a good opening, and a few good bits scattered throughout, but too much of the rest was just a bit mediocre. However, +5 is awarded for having a positive reference to Manowar in the review. So..

12/10

[b]Would I listen to more of the same band?[/b] Yeah, maybe, there are others I'd rather check out first though.

Songs;
Axis of Advance - [i]Primeval Expansion[/i] (death/black metal - nice use of Saving Private Ryan samples)
Lykathea Aflame - [i]To Become Shelter and Salvation[/i] (technical death/grind)
Sceptic - [i]Pathetic Being[/i] (technical death)
Gandalf - [i]One More For the Dead[/i] (imagine a death metal AC/DC)
Immortal - [i]Solarfall[/i] (black metal)
SR-71 - [i]Let It Whip[/i] (funk rock)

If you've heard them all, just say; I should be able to find something you haven't heard.

dibs

...the LOTR geek inside of me screams for the Gandalf!

[I]Gandalf- One More for the Dead[/I]

Okay, I know this has nothing to do with LOTR, but here goes anyway.

[I]Song Specs:[/I]

CD: Rock H[B]e[/B]ll
Length: 4:42
Band's Origin: Finland
Disbanded in 2002
Genre: Death Metal vocals, with Hard Rock-ish guitars

[I]Initial Reaction:[/I]
Wow. The fusion of genres in this song sounds really cool. The guitar is really varied and does sound somewhat like AC/DC. The vocalist's growls are nice, and right now I'm thinking a 8/10 at least.

[I]Play by Play[/I]
We start off with a riff that sounds really AC/DC ish (as in cool), at 0:03 drums kick in with a sort of rolling drum beat, then at 0:07 the real drum beat gets started, with bass adding in. The riff also changes a bit with the same basic tune, but the high notes he plays higer and the low notes he plays lower. At 0:14 we get another variation on the same tune, except this time played completely with high notes: I'm liking the guitar variations on the same tune; it keeps the song interesting while at the same time making it feel like a connected song. Then at 0:26 the riff trails off and we get some growled vocals. I'm liking the growls- they go with the song very well. Now we get a harder riff for this verse, which makes it into a more metal-sounding song. At 0:57 we have a transition using the intro tune played on with the high notes. Back to another verse at 1:10. At 1:35 we have our first chorus. The riff changes to another low-high notes combination, and the vocalist growls "one more for the dead" and the backup (non-growled) vocalist(s) echo him. at 1:50 we have another verse that continues the same riff that was used in the chorus. Then we get a transition at 2:06 that i thought would've given me a solo but it didn't. Then there's a bridge at 2:21. Hehehe I knew they'd give me a solo- begins at 2:33. Lasts until 3:03- 30 seconds of pure, awesome solo goodness. The solo runs right into a verse, that lasts until 3:27. Then they give us another bout of 'one more for the dead'. Immediately after that we have another bridge with the backup vocalists continuing their echo of one more for the dead. Sounds pretty cool if you ask me. At 3:58 we have repeated growls of 'one more!' twice followed by a completed 'one more for the dead'. The guitar riff changes to playing some higher notes about 4:10 that continues until nearly the end of the song. At 4:22 we have a last 'one more for the dead' and all the instruments except for the guitars stop. This lasts until 4:35 when the drums give a last fill and the music ends, but a noise sorta like dropping a bottle cap onto a table plays and someone says 'yeah'. The song ends at 4:42.

[I]Final Reactions:[/I]
Vocals: 8/10- The growling really fit the song, and the addition of the backup singers in the chorus was a nice touch. The repitition of the lyric 'one more for the dead' wasn't too brilliant, however.
Guitars: 9.75/10- The only reason these don't get a ten is because I'm like an olympic judge- i don't give out a ten unless it's pure f[B]u[/B]cking greatness. The riffs were really varied, really interesting, and the solo was an example of coolness. Very nice.
Drums: 8.5/10- Weren't too prominent in the song, but in this case, that's okay. Nice fills scattered about, fit well with the song, but nothing that makes you think 'Whoa! That's awesome!'
Bass: 8.5/10- Same as the drums, not really noticeable but, again, that's okay. Still, it didn't detract at all from the song.
Overall: 9/10

[I]Last Thoughts:[/I]
This song'll go onto one of my main playlists, along with State of High Piss Off. Add another great song to the library.

Recommended Songs:
A Perfect Circle: The Hollow (Alternative rock)
Rammstein: Du Hast (German metal)
Tool- Lateralus (almost-mainstream metal)
Unloco- Bruises (nu-metal)

Bump past all the locked threads.

Dibs !!!!!!!!

[i]A Perfect Circle - The Hollow[/i]

It starts with a cool drum roll, then a riff, with 3 bars of 4/4 ( I think). Maynard's voice comes in soon after, the band goes quiet when the vocals come in. There's kind of a weird effect in the background, it may be a guitar, I don't know. I can't tell what he's saying most of the time, he doesn't pronouce his words as well as he does in Tool. Now what I suppose the chorus comes in, which is louder, but prett ymuch the same as the verse. Another verse now, and then to a new bit, (1:40) which is pretty good. At 2:12 there's a second of quiet, and Maynard says something, which is cool. After this, there are vocal harmonies, which are great. Then it ends. Bit of a nothing song, really.

6/10.

)(^#@%()@^%$&@($+_*@%+(_&@(%*_^#@%_*

Kreator - Agents of Brutality (Thrash)
Mayhem - Funeral Fog (Black metal)
Syd Barrett - Here I Go (Acoustic Psychedelic rock)
Darkthrone - Cromlech (Death Metal)

Have fun.

dibs

none will download :upset:

so i"ll revoke, unless you have some more tracks you can add, maybe they will download
:thumb:
ciao

Dibs.

Haven't heard any of his stuff before.
[b]Syd Barrett - Here I Go[/b] - 3:11

Starts off with mellow guitar, and Syd (I assume) singing about a girl he once knew, who didn't like his songs. Pretty funny stuff, in a dry way.

Nice Hawaii-esque guitar in the background around 1:12. This is kind of a difficult song to review. The music is good; not flashy, but good - most of the time it's jaunty, the drum rhythm particularly so, and the guitar is upbeat. His voice is suited to this slow, half-talking, half low-key singing as well.

But there isn't really much to review. Nothing is essentially happening, apart from the lyrics, which seem to be the main focus of the song, telling this little story about a girl he once knew.

As it ends, I think I can make out the beginnings of a solo (as the song is fading out), which kind of strange.

6.5/10 Decent song, but nothing much to say about it.

[b]Would I listen to more of the same band?[/b] Yeah I would, there's potential.

Songs;
Axis of Advance - [i]Primeval Expansion[/i] (death/black metal - nice use of Saving Private Ryan samples)
Lykathea Aflame - [i]To Become Shelter and Salvation[/i] (technical death/grind)
Sceptic - [i]Pathetic Being[/i] (technical death)
Orange Goblin - [i]The Astral Project[/i]
SR-71 - [i]Let It Whip[/i] (funk rock)

If you've heard them all, just say; I should be able to find something you haven't heard.

dibs

dibs

fade to black - metallica

crazy solos in the beginning and end, great chord progressions

Leave this thread and never return.

Lykathea Aflame - To Become Shelter and Salvation (technical death/grind)


starts off with some mellow guitar, and some cymbals.
at 0:06 hell breaks lose
heavy drumming, and quite melodic guitars.
great so far, reminds me of amon amarth, in a way.
at 0:50 bass line is more present
at 0:56 vocals enter, remind me of Deicide, of which I'm not too fond, difficult to hear what he is screaming.
1:08 short pause, before, a heavy part, without vocals,
after a while vocals come in again.

at 1:43 there is a part being spoken, reminds met to a few songs of the meshuggah record DEI.
at 1:58 harsh vocals enter once more.
2:15 very melodic guitars :)
still harsh vocals over it though.
2:35, melodic part ends
2:51 a melodic singing part, guitars remind me of softer machinehead numbers.
3:24 song gets heavier again.
at 4:01 it sounds lighter, did bass guitar drop out?
at 4:18 a last exploson of power begins, and ends with a chrash on a cymbal.



- lot of things in the song remind me of other bands.
-don't really like the vocals.
-nice drumming
-nice song structure, it would get boring if it would just be loud all the way, nice break-ups, mellow parts give the song more variety.
-can't understand a thing of what the singer is saying.

overall
6/10

would I listen to more of this band? I guess so, certainly when I'm in the mood for something really heavy

===========

songs:

amon amarth: Versus the world (melodic death)
my dying bride - for you (doom metal)
petrucci and rudess ( dream theater) - black ice ( virtuoso instrumental)
meshuggah - we'll never see the day ( technical death metal)

dibs

Does anybody put up any song suggestions that arent' some variety of metal?

this is only about metal.. guess that is explained in the 1st page of the thread

I was trying to avoid this music, first, because it's long, and second, because I am a [B]HUGE[/B] Dream Theater/side Projects of them Fan. But, anyways, I had never heard this music before, though I have the album for a few months, and this is true, and funny, too. And I couldn't download all the other three musics as quickly as I could hear this... so, on to the review: (i'll try not to be partial)

Song: John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess - Black Ice (from the album: [I]An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess [/I] )

The music starts with a tense, melodic pattern. The Piano Does exactly the same melody as the electric distorted (soft distortion) guitar.
Half-minute after the piano starts creating even a little more tension with short chords... then, soloing a bit, as the guitar does too. Then, as the piano continues on the short chords, Petrucci starts to do a more releasive solo, as of releasing a bit the tension.
Then they start again with the beginning sequence, and create the suspense again;
But now, Petrucci shows his ambivalence as a solo guitarist such as a perfect rhythm guitarist.
At around 2:00 minutes the music assumes a different tone, yet with the same pressure as the beginning one, and they follow that same pattern alternating with rhythm and solo for both parts (piano and guitar) for a while, until around 3:20.
Then, Rudess shows the melancholic side of his playing style, with one calm, soothing solo in the piano. He starts releasing malancholy as guitar enters again very softly.
Around 5:40/6:00 they're playing both a jazz-style sequence, as Petrucci starts releasing his old-rock fashioned solos. He drops them with a Queen-like style of playing, as the piano follows with a nice rhythm.
Around 8:10 they go crazy and start the chaos of the Flight of the bumblebee, and an extremely sharp sholo by Rudess.
They they start again, and this time it's time for Rudess' solo.
The musical intensity at this point, is softened by the releasing piano solo, and chords that remember a bit of Derek Sherinian's playing, as the guitar goes on always with the same lick, and once again, they do that nice rhythm alternating chords between the piano and the guitar. To finish, a nice sequence of piano chords, side-by-side with an EXCELLENT tiny solo on the guitar.

Phew, sorry if that was too long, but the music is long, too. And, besides that, i'm a big fan of them, so, sorry about something. And although it' not really metal, it's a very joyful music to hear. And as I am not one of those that just have eyes for metal, I think it's a very pleasant experience to sort music styles a bit; and if you do that, this is a great song for that, so my rating would be 8,5/10. ( I have to cut out a bit, I'm a fan :) )

Would I hear more from them: Of course, I always do, specially because they apply many styles in their music. ;)


[B]My Suggestions:[/B]
Dream Theater - [I]Home[/I] or [I]Fatal Tragedy[/I] (Prog Metal)
Angra - [I]Carry on[/I] or [I]Never Understand[/I] (Melodic/Epic/Classical Metal | Soft Metal / Brazillian Folk Music Fusion)
Children Of Bodom - [I]Bed Of Razors[/I] (Melodic Dark Metal, I think)
The Black Mages - [I]Clash On The Big Bridge[/I] (Jap-Metal / Videogame Soundtrack - Hard Rock)

[QUOTE=psychoticreflex]this is only about metal.. guess that is explained in the 1st page of the thread[/QUOTE]

[quote]
This is forced listening for Rock and Metal, so try to stick to those genres. [/quote]

Maybe I misread the above line from the first page? Am I having hallucinations wherein the word 'rock' inserts itself into sentences? :rolleyes:

naw, that was not exactly what I meant.. of course you can suggest a gla-rock, soft rock music... for example, black Ice is not metal... and I doubt if it gets to rock-style.

let's just be friends, instead :P :chug:

[QUOTE=psychoticreflex]naw, that was not exactly what I meant.. of course you can suggest a gla-rock, soft rock music... for example, black Ice is not metal... and I doubt if it gets to rock-style.

let's just be friends, instead :P :chug:[/QUOTE]

Hehe, I'm cool :chug: . I am one sarcastic mother though. I probably have more than a few enemies because of it. Anyway, I was just grumbling about how nobody ever suggests anything but metal. It's possible that all these people listen to nothing but metal, but I wish they'd get some variety before posting in it.

and you're totally right... but, we're certainly here to change the fact, don't you think?

it's the typical advertisement..... "open your mind!" heheh ;)




-I Wanna see a dib!!!!! Haha.

[QUOTE=psychoticreflex]it's the typical advertisement..... "open your mind!" heheh ;)[/QUOTE]
Every time some one mentions an 'open mind' I respond with...

My mind is more open than your mom's legs!!! OH ****!!! :) I also consider myself a master at the spontaneous, not-really-that-funny 'your-mom' burn.

Personally, next time someone suggests something that doesn't have metal in the title I'm going to snap it up and all my suggestions are going to be acoustic- or folk-rock, or better yet, stuff by The Band. :thumb:

the advertisement wasn't for you...
OMFG you don't understand me :P
try to do the review for Never Understand of Angra, it's folk-rock! :P

cheers, man! yay! :chug:

[QUOTE=Jude]
Does anybody put up any song suggestions that arent' some variety of metal?[/QUOTE]

I always make at least one, usually more, non-metal suggestions, and I like to think I'm a fairly big participant here. I know people like badmoon visit this thread, and even though this is [i]forced[/i] listening, I know that no matter how much I force him to listen to technical death metal, he won't like it.

EDIT: not a dibs, yet.

hehe, i can see it

[QUOTE=Jude]Does anybody put up any song suggestions that arent' some variety of metal?[/QUOTE]

If you look about 5 posts up, you'll see a review for Syd Barrett's Here I Go, which is about as far from metal as you can get. Surprisingly it was only given a 6.5/10, disgraceful really for a song of that quality :)

Bump.