Favourite prog/ power metal albums and production

[KeithRT99]

angra - temple of shadows
Evergrey - Inner circle

 

[whitedamp]

Pain Of Salvation on 12:5. I´m not a great fan of the band, but I can see some real talent on Daniel Gildenlow.

 

[Descent]

Oh Maiden, that reminds me- I loved Brave New World. Best album of their career along side Number of the Beast! Great, epic tracks and the right amount of production/ layering without going too far. It was the one album where Maiden tried to move out of the 80's and it worked IMO.

i love the snare on brave new world.
best production they've had i think that album.

 

[ffaudio]

I do prefer it to the production on A twist in the myth, I'd say it's about on par with A night at the opera. I just got too use to "Imaginations" being my first BG album.
I do agree though that the layered production makes the songs an experiance live though. Excpet for maybe ATITM, that needed better production, but isn't as enjoyable live as on CD in relation to the enjoyment of the other album tracks played live.

I think there is a huge difference between Nightfall and ANATO. ANATO sounds insanely squished and in your face, a little more fatiguing to me to listen to, also. Nightfall sounds a lot more open and natural to me.

I'm seen them live once, and loved it. They were in a venue for about 300 people. I can't wait until they come back.

 

[Nebulous]

Well, got to see Evergrey two nights ago. Pretty awsome to hear some of my favourite tracks live!
On a side note, it was interesting to see how certain sized stages suit some bands more than others.

 

[Torniojaws]

Favourite albums:

prog: Evergrey - In Search of Truth
power: Helloween - Better than Raw

Favourite production:

prog: Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (powa!)
power: Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild (that dreamy sound throughout the album is just amazing, especially when combined with the songs)

 

[Ermz]

I'm just getting into Evergrey's older material now, but as it is Recreation Day is my fave of their releases. The ways they use synth in conjunction with guitars at times is very very similar to the sort of music I hear in my head when I write, so I can really connect with their music at times.

Neb knows I can be quite stuck in my ways when it comes to music, but Evergrey do sort of bridge that gap between straight up music, and the ambient, industrial soundscapes I love.

Production wise...

Fave power metal production: Firewind - Allegiance
Fave prog production: Edge of Sanity - Crimson 2 (yes I know this was a total salvage job.. but the way Swano did this album totally suits the music)

 

[Ermz]

For me, it is impossible to go past Evergrey's In Search of Truth. My favourite album of all time (listening to it now) writing wise, and while not being the biggest, or most perfect sounding album, everything on it jels so well and gives a huge atmosphere to the album. From the way the keys sit, to the fluffy bass and the verb. It is prefect.

The guitar tone on this album is magical. That's exactly how they sounded live. The overall mix is a little on the thin and underwhelming side, but I just listen to the rhythm guitars, so all is well...

Does this mean I'm buying a 5150, Dan?

 

[aramism]

to stick with my own recent hot topic as far as sonic appreciation i'd say awake by dream theater sounds really good. i love the drum sound. that "90's" sound. jp lead tones always left a better impression on me than his rhythm tones.

osi both albms sound fantastic as well for some reason.

the synths and programmed synths sound great on new symphony x.

i think both liquid tension experiment albums had great tones. i always loved the cutting guitar tone on lte 2 song "biaxident" it is very reminiscent of their 2002 album "six degrees of innur turbulence" same amp used -> mark iic+