Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Affector "Harmageddon" - international project with Ted Leonard on vocals. Religious themed prog metal. Heavier than his usual fare.
I don't remember this one (although I just checked out their Metal Archives profile and I kind of remember seeing the cover art) ... I might have to check this out, just because I like Ted's voice.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Lynch Pilson "Heavy Hitters" - I'm a sucker for a good covers album..... This one is a bit mixed. It's got a cover of Joan Osborne's "What if God Was One of Us" which works, and it's got covers of Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" and REM's "End of the World as We Know It" which I EXPECTED to work better but didn't quite cut it. Still and all, fun enough for what it is and WAY better than the second where Jeff isn't singing.
Pass ...
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Yes "Highlights" - 'nuff said.
Quality!
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Angra "Holy Land" - An album that will always hold a special place for me.... First Angra I ever heard after buying the Jap import for $30 without ever having heard a note. Bought purely on hype. Worth EVERY PENNY. One of my favorite bands for their firsr five albums, before gradually sliding into near mediocrity. I've listened to the newest one just a couple of times, and it DOES come closer to their classic sound, but still missing..... Something (Kiko???)
Wonderful album.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Great White "Hooked" - Letdown album for me following several KILLER albums, but then they bounced back STRONG with "Psycho City". For me, "Hooked" just was TOO blues and could have used a bit more "rock", but that's just my tastes.
I think their best albums were "Hooked" and "Psycho City" and depending on the day it could be either of them. I love their blues phase.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Transmission "Id Ego and Superego" - German prog metal band, featuring the singer of Saga on one track if my ears don't deceive me. I seem to remember enjoying this more back in the day. Vocalist wasn't really cutting it for me today, but the music is top notch still.
I don't remember this one either ...
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Demons & Wizards "III" - My personal fave of the D&W albums Hansi and Capital stormin' Jon put out. A bit darker than the first two, and the songs just sound more "complete" and full. Alas, likely the last we'll ever hear from them!
I think I'm fine with the first one ... don't need the other ones.
BG and IE are much better on their own.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
In Paradisum "Symfonia" - One and done Timo Tolkki + Andre Matos project. While not as strong as either at their peaks, it works 100% for me. Classic power metal with Andre's golden vocals out front. Another artist gone WAY WAY WAY too soon.
Symfonia was the band name, and "In Paradisum" the album title, but nevertheless, it's okay ... not amazing. Both Timo and Andre made much better stuff before this.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Fates Warning "Theories of Flight" - Just a PERFECT modern FW album, front to back. This has everything I want in a Fates album, and is my favorite of their albums post-Parallels.
Interesting - I don't like this album nearly as much as "Long Day Good Night", but yeah, they had a slew of "mediocre" albums after "A Pleasant..." (which I love). I've grown to like them all, but I just don't love 'em as much as anything from 84-97.
Sir Exar Kun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:17 pm
Lillian Axe "Psychoschizophrenia" (Resurrection box set version with bunch of bonus goodies) - I'm a pure sucker for Stevie Blaze and company. Truly my favorite surviving late 80s hard rock outfit, and anything they put out since has been EXTREMELY solid. New box set contains a range of albums from "Poetic Justice" through "Sad Day on Planet Earth" (if I recall offhand) with a ton of bonus demos and acoustic / live stuff tacked on. Another box set coming next month with even more stuff. Keep 'em coming boys.
Quality band when they wanted to - shitty band occassionally.