OK, first of all, I'm a fairly recent CD/MP3 convert (from cassettes), so my CD collection is rather small compared to what I had collected on cassettes for nearly 18 years. I've rebought several of my old band catalogs that I used to have like: METALLICA, MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, IRON MAIDEN, OVERKILL, and BRUCE DICKINSON.
But I've found some new bands that I like since I thought the metal scene died in the '90s. One of the first of those is ICED EARTH. Really liked the power metal riffs that IE brought. But that was 3 years ago already (discovered them upon the release of Glorious Burden).
More recently, I've discovered the vast array of bands out of Europe that I didn't even know existed until just a few months ago. Some of these that I have already purchased are PAGAN'S MIND, PRIMAL FEAR, DRAGONFORCE, DARK TRANQUILLITY, BRAINSTORM, and although not from Europe, TRIVIUM.
OK, now that that's established, let me go back a little bit into what kind of music I was into back in the '90s. I got into most of the bands in the Florida death metal scene like OBITUARY, DEICIDE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, etc. But I found that the death metal growls, grunts, and screams just didn't do it for me. Although I really liked Obituary because they were a little bit more melodic than the rest. I also got into the goth/industrial stuff from that era as well, with bands like TYPE O NEGATIVE and FEAR FACTORY. Basically a lot of the Roadrunner Records line-up.
Of course, back in the '80s I was into all the typical thrash bands of the time like: SLAYER, EXODUS, TEATAMENT, OVERKILL, METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN, METAL CHURCH, etc.
But now I'm into a more of the classic European power metal sound. Clean vocals, but epic story-telling death metal stuff isn't out of the question either.
What I typically do now, now that I've gotten into CDs, is that I'll try to buy the entire catalog of a band before moving on to another. Before I ask for suggestions, I'll just say that I have the entire FREEDOM CALL catalog on order, and presumably in the mail, so that one's already counted out.
So here's the bands that I'm considering:
HAMMERFALL - mainly for their old school traditional metal sound. I find their playing and vocals/lyrics a bit cheesey, but they're still cool to some degree.
GRAVE DIGGER - I like the heavier guitar riffs and their apparent concept themed albums. I'm not to crazy about the style of their vocalist, but that may grow on me. Quite frankly, the guy looks a bit too old to be in a heavy metal band.
FIREWIND - Haven't really heard too much from them, but with Gus G on guitar, how can you go wrong?
SYMPHORCE - I've got Andy B. Franck's other band, BRAINSTORM, so I was wondering if I'd like SYMPHORCE as well
KAMELOT - After hearing a good portion of their newest album via videos and short samples, I like Roy Khan's vocals, but I'm worried that some of their earlier stuff isn't as heavy as Black Halo is.
GAMMA RAY - With bands like PAGAN'S MIND and FREEDOM CALL, I tend to like the sci-fi elements in these certain progressive power metal bands.
STRATOVARIUS - Basically the same thing as above with GAMMA RAY.
RHAPSODY - For their fantasy-based, epic songs...and cool album covers.
BLIND GUARDIAN - Again for their fantasy-based stuff. Plus that they're a bit more heavy sounding than say RHAPSODY.
Now for some curve balls...
BOLT THROWER - Yeah, I said I don't really care for death metal these days, but I like their themed albums. And the Warhammer 40K references are cool.
AMON AMARTH - Yeah, again, the Viking metal theme from this band seems interesting. I've got a few MP3s from both AMON and BOLT, and I can tolerate their music.
DIMMU BORGIR - Big surprise here, as Black Metal is hardly my thing, but I kinda like their orchestral mixes with their stuff. And Shagrath is a one crazy M.F.'er.
A bit long-winded post, but I thought I'd give a little background on myself before asking people for suggestions...
So out of all those bands, which would you suggest for me to buy/get into next? Note that I have the entire, or near the entire catalog, of those bands listed in my sig. I'm kinda strongly leaning to one or the other of the first two listed there, HAMMERFALL or GRAVE DIGGER.
And thanks for the suggestions...
But I've found some new bands that I like since I thought the metal scene died in the '90s. One of the first of those is ICED EARTH. Really liked the power metal riffs that IE brought. But that was 3 years ago already (discovered them upon the release of Glorious Burden).
More recently, I've discovered the vast array of bands out of Europe that I didn't even know existed until just a few months ago. Some of these that I have already purchased are PAGAN'S MIND, PRIMAL FEAR, DRAGONFORCE, DARK TRANQUILLITY, BRAINSTORM, and although not from Europe, TRIVIUM.
OK, now that that's established, let me go back a little bit into what kind of music I was into back in the '90s. I got into most of the bands in the Florida death metal scene like OBITUARY, DEICIDE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, etc. But I found that the death metal growls, grunts, and screams just didn't do it for me. Although I really liked Obituary because they were a little bit more melodic than the rest. I also got into the goth/industrial stuff from that era as well, with bands like TYPE O NEGATIVE and FEAR FACTORY. Basically a lot of the Roadrunner Records line-up.
Of course, back in the '80s I was into all the typical thrash bands of the time like: SLAYER, EXODUS, TEATAMENT, OVERKILL, METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN, METAL CHURCH, etc.
But now I'm into a more of the classic European power metal sound. Clean vocals, but epic story-telling death metal stuff isn't out of the question either.
What I typically do now, now that I've gotten into CDs, is that I'll try to buy the entire catalog of a band before moving on to another. Before I ask for suggestions, I'll just say that I have the entire FREEDOM CALL catalog on order, and presumably in the mail, so that one's already counted out.
So here's the bands that I'm considering:
HAMMERFALL - mainly for their old school traditional metal sound. I find their playing and vocals/lyrics a bit cheesey, but they're still cool to some degree.
GRAVE DIGGER - I like the heavier guitar riffs and their apparent concept themed albums. I'm not to crazy about the style of their vocalist, but that may grow on me. Quite frankly, the guy looks a bit too old to be in a heavy metal band.
FIREWIND - Haven't really heard too much from them, but with Gus G on guitar, how can you go wrong?
SYMPHORCE - I've got Andy B. Franck's other band, BRAINSTORM, so I was wondering if I'd like SYMPHORCE as well
KAMELOT - After hearing a good portion of their newest album via videos and short samples, I like Roy Khan's vocals, but I'm worried that some of their earlier stuff isn't as heavy as Black Halo is.
GAMMA RAY - With bands like PAGAN'S MIND and FREEDOM CALL, I tend to like the sci-fi elements in these certain progressive power metal bands.
STRATOVARIUS - Basically the same thing as above with GAMMA RAY.
RHAPSODY - For their fantasy-based, epic songs...and cool album covers.
BLIND GUARDIAN - Again for their fantasy-based stuff. Plus that they're a bit more heavy sounding than say RHAPSODY.
Now for some curve balls...
BOLT THROWER - Yeah, I said I don't really care for death metal these days, but I like their themed albums. And the Warhammer 40K references are cool.
AMON AMARTH - Yeah, again, the Viking metal theme from this band seems interesting. I've got a few MP3s from both AMON and BOLT, and I can tolerate their music.
DIMMU BORGIR - Big surprise here, as Black Metal is hardly my thing, but I kinda like their orchestral mixes with their stuff. And Shagrath is a one crazy M.F.'er.
A bit long-winded post, but I thought I'd give a little background on myself before asking people for suggestions...
So out of all those bands, which would you suggest for me to buy/get into next? Note that I have the entire, or near the entire catalog, of those bands listed in my sig. I'm kinda strongly leaning to one or the other of the first two listed there, HAMMERFALL or GRAVE DIGGER.
And thanks for the suggestions...
