Non-gay bro thread a.k.a. Random offtopic stuff.
- Thread starter A88
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I'd say I'm more fan of Per Nilsson than the actual band. He is one of the best guitar players out there plus he is very down to earth. It's not in this interview that I posted, but I remember an interview from a few years back when he stated that it was basically his full-time job taking care of either his mom or dad who required a full time caretaker for medical reasons. So I imagine that was probably a mental burden as well.
Anyway, at least he says it how it is, he is the sole reason why things took so long. No bullshit.
Xpyro125
Member
- Dec 1, 2021
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Honestly, I respect that, and knowing this much about him here gives me a lot of respect for him as a person and as a band member. I still maintain my stance on the music— I think his riffs could use a ton of work, and I hope they’ve gotten better since Holographic universe, but his solos are really good. I’d like to hope that he’s doing better now either way, I get how some of that shit takes a toll on you.
I can remember seeing Scar Symmetry at Bloodstock 2007 and being absolutely blown away by Chaosweaver and especially Mind Machine. It was the first time I'd heard them and made a point of making sure I listened to more of their stuff when I got home.
Ultimately I was a bit underwhelmed. I still think both Mind Machine and Chaosweaver are awesome songs, but SBD and PBP as albums... eh. Not bad, but nothing as memorable as those two. I think Oscillation Point was the only other song I really enjoyed. Hologaphic Universe didn't really do anything for me either so at that point I decided they weren't for me and I haven't really listened to anything of theirs since - although Christian Alvestam is an extremely talented vocalist and I like the stuff he did with Solution .45.
Ultimately I was a bit underwhelmed. I still think both Mind Machine and Chaosweaver are awesome songs, but SBD and PBP as albums... eh. Not bad, but nothing as memorable as those two. I think Oscillation Point was the only other song I really enjoyed. Hologaphic Universe didn't really do anything for me either so at that point I decided they weren't for me and I haven't really listened to anything of theirs since - although Christian Alvestam is an extremely talented vocalist and I like the stuff he did with Solution .45.
The Grayfox
#MusicTheoryBro
There's some songs on Pitch Black Progress that I do really like but ultimately, I think its just an ok album and most of their material hasn't aged well for me. I will still go back and listen to songs like Dreaming 24/7, Mind Machine and The Illusionist from time to time but that's about it. I'd rather listen to the first Solution .45 album for sure.
ThePhobiac
be at ease
Been revisiting Rise to Fall lately, a small-time Spanish band I discovered about seven years ago. I consider them pretty Disarmonia-Mundi-like and they occupy a similar musical "space" as that band, imo. Not the most consistent act, but their gems are among my favorite songs in the genre (The Threshold actually has my favorite metal chorus of all time).
There's a few Rise to Fall songs I like, but overall there's just something about their sound that doesn't quite grip me. I think it's just a tad too modern MDM/metalcore for my tastes. I think they're a solid outfit though.
I only just discovered a band called Lovebites. Apparently they're somewhat well known and popular, but I'd never heard of them until now. An all-female Japanese band and I'm kind of blown away, I think they sound amazing. Heavy/thrash inspired power metal.
Having listened to the audio, I did not expect the band to look like this:
These ladies can shred.
I only just discovered a band called Lovebites. Apparently they're somewhat well known and popular, but I'd never heard of them until now. An all-female Japanese band and I'm kind of blown away, I think they sound amazing. Heavy/thrash inspired power metal.
Having listened to the audio, I did not expect the band to look like this:
These ladies can shred.
Can I just state how annoying it is that so many bands soften their guitar tone on later releases. I see it with so many bands when I go through their discographies and it's so frustrating. It's a noticeable change to give the guitars less of an edge, where the sound as a whole becomes a lot more compressed. Basically what in Flames did from Come Clarity to ASOP, but they are far from the only ones. I really love the production on Lovebites' Clockwork Immortality - clear, powerful, bursting with energy. Very cool.
Then I move on to the next album, Electric Pentagram:
Now this is also a fantastic song, just as good as the stuff on Clockwork Immortality - the beginning is unadulterated Maiden worship and it's great - but you can clearly hear that the guitars have been softened and it dulls the impact significantly. This song with CI production = top tier, but with this compressed, soft production not quite at that level. I don't understand why bands do this. Maybe it appeals to a wider audience if the production isn't as powerful? Maybe it's because, as @galvanized often reminds us, it's all about how it sounds from an iphone speaker? Idk, but it's so disappointing. The only consolation is that they're extremely solid live and the live versions sound a little more raw and energetic, which helps demonstrate what they could have sounded like in studio if the music hadn't been compressed so much.
Then I move on to the next album, Electric Pentagram:
Now this is also a fantastic song, just as good as the stuff on Clockwork Immortality - the beginning is unadulterated Maiden worship and it's great - but you can clearly hear that the guitars have been softened and it dulls the impact significantly. This song with CI production = top tier, but with this compressed, soft production not quite at that level. I don't understand why bands do this. Maybe it appeals to a wider audience if the production isn't as powerful? Maybe it's because, as @galvanized often reminds us, it's all about how it sounds from an iphone speaker? Idk, but it's so disappointing. The only consolation is that they're extremely solid live and the live versions sound a little more raw and energetic, which helps demonstrate what they could have sounded like in studio if the music hadn't been compressed so much.
ThePhobiac
be at ease
I used Ultimate Vocal Remover for isolating the vocal stem from the music (either for training material or to use as the donor vocal file) and then RVC-Beta to do the training and clone the training model to the selected vocal stem.
I'll be honest, it only ever worked with Anders to Mikael and vice versa. I never got anything else to work at a remotely decent level.
I'll be honest, it only ever worked with Anders to Mikael and vice versa. I never got anything else to work at a remotely decent level.
Can't remember the last time I posted a most recent ten songs listened to, so let's bring it back.
Alice Cooper - Poison (1989 - Glam Metal/Hard Rock)
Percival - Raise Your Arms (2021 - Power Metal)
Marius Danielson's Legend of Valley Doom - Stars Will Light the Way (2021 - Power Metal)
Alias Eye - Just Another Tragic Song (2001 - Prog Rock/Metal)
Alias Eye - Arabesque (2012 - Prog Rock/Metal)
Dragony - Call of the Wild (2017 - Power Metal)
Dragonland - Starfall (2004 - Power Metal)
Code Geass OST - Continued Story (2008 - Soundtrack)
No Doubt - Don't Speak (1995 - Alt Rock)
Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony (2010 - Power Metal)
Alice Cooper - Poison (1989 - Glam Metal/Hard Rock)
Percival - Raise Your Arms (2021 - Power Metal)
Marius Danielson's Legend of Valley Doom - Stars Will Light the Way (2021 - Power Metal)
Alias Eye - Just Another Tragic Song (2001 - Prog Rock/Metal)
Alias Eye - Arabesque (2012 - Prog Rock/Metal)
Dragony - Call of the Wild (2017 - Power Metal)
Dragonland - Starfall (2004 - Power Metal)
Code Geass OST - Continued Story (2008 - Soundtrack)
No Doubt - Don't Speak (1995 - Alt Rock)
Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony (2010 - Power Metal)
Apoptygma Berzerk - In This Together (Alt Rock - 2005)
Edguy - Until We Rise Again (Power Metal - 1998)
Blinded Colony - Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Melodic Death Metal - 2006)
Kania - Ethereal Skyes (Melodic Death Metal - 2003)
Sonata Arctica - My Land (Power Metal - 1999)
W.A.S.P - Babylon's Burning (Heavy Metal - 2009)
Sonata Arctica - Blank File (Power Metal - 1999)
Lovebites - Pledge of the Saviour (Power Metal - 2018)
The Black Mages - The Decisive Battle (Instrumental Metal - 2003)
Beast in Black - Blade Runner (Power Metal - 2021)
Edguy - Until We Rise Again (Power Metal - 1998)
Blinded Colony - Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Melodic Death Metal - 2006)
Kania - Ethereal Skyes (Melodic Death Metal - 2003)
Sonata Arctica - My Land (Power Metal - 1999)
W.A.S.P - Babylon's Burning (Heavy Metal - 2009)
Sonata Arctica - Blank File (Power Metal - 1999)
Lovebites - Pledge of the Saviour (Power Metal - 2018)
The Black Mages - The Decisive Battle (Instrumental Metal - 2003)
Beast in Black - Blade Runner (Power Metal - 2021)
ThePhobiac
be at ease
I'll put my metal cred on the line.
Dream Theater - Bridges in the Sky
Theatre of Tragedy - Dying: I Only Feel Apathy
Ra - Sky
Ethereal Shroud - Discarnate
In Flames - Resin
Dronny Darko - Leaving Earth [2135 A.D.]
Sephiroth - The Call of the Serpent
Emperor - Curse You All Men!
Anathema - Destiny is Dead
Trha - ödënthändelä vòn la gönmëtwa
Dream Theater - Bridges in the Sky
Theatre of Tragedy - Dying: I Only Feel Apathy
Ra - Sky
Ethereal Shroud - Discarnate
In Flames - Resin
Dronny Darko - Leaving Earth [2135 A.D.]
Sephiroth - The Call of the Serpent
Emperor - Curse You All Men!
Anathema - Destiny is Dead
Trha - ödënthändelä vòn la gönmëtwa
This is a judgement-free zone, as decreed by me, one half co-owner of this thread alongside A88. Unless you post that you've been listening to anything off Battles, then you can GTF.
I downloaded an album by a band called Sephiroth a long time ago, purely because I was and am a FF7 fanboy. It was just ambient, doomy stuff though so I didn't think much of it. There's a bunch of bands called Sephiroth but this album was called Cathedron and was released in 1999... so not sure if it's the same band you've listed there or not
I downloaded an album by a band called Sephiroth a long time ago, purely because I was and am a FF7 fanboy. It was just ambient, doomy stuff though so I didn't think much of it. There's a bunch of bands called Sephiroth but this album was called Cathedron and was released in 1999... so not sure if it's the same band you've listed there or not
ThePhobiac
be at ease
Same band! Draconian Poetry is the only album I've heard by them. I'm into that ambient doomy stuff. I'm a FF7 fan myself, but this band (apparently it's just one guy, as these ambient projects tend to be) just happened to show up on my Pandora in the late '00s.
Pallbearer
Passive Member
I've been listening to Savage Circus quite a bit. The band was founded in 2004 by the original Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch, who had grown dissatisfied with his main band's musical direction, so he started a new project where he could play music more in vein of old school BG. Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) was the first to join and in Jens Carlsson (Persuader, ex-Dark Empire) they probably found the most Hansi Kursch -like vocalist they could dream of. Jens brought in his bandmate Emil Norberg as second guitarist.
The band went on to release "Dreamland Manor" in 2005, but things soon started going awry. Thomen went on external leave because of some health/personal problems and upon not showing signs of returning was eventually asked to leave his own band. (OTOH he also had some arguments with Sielck and didn't want to work with him anyway.) Mike Terrana was brought in as a replacement. Another album, "Of Doom and Death" was released in 2009, but the reviews were less favorable for this one. Around 2011-2012 Sielck, Terrana and the bassist Yenz Leonhardt all left. With Sielck out of the band, Thomen returned and assembled a new line-up with Carlsson, Norberg and some new guys. However, the band broke up before they could finish their third album when Jens and Emil left in 2014 to concentrate on their main band.
Some have said "second-rate Blind Guardian", but I find the songs especially on the first album well-written and enjoyable. The second album has its moments too, but I think it's definitely the weaker of the two. Surely the stuff often sounds uncannily close to old BG, but as it was Stauch who started it, I guess it can be considered more like a carry-over than a clone to be fair.
The band went on to release "Dreamland Manor" in 2005, but things soon started going awry. Thomen went on external leave because of some health/personal problems and upon not showing signs of returning was eventually asked to leave his own band. (OTOH he also had some arguments with Sielck and didn't want to work with him anyway.) Mike Terrana was brought in as a replacement. Another album, "Of Doom and Death" was released in 2009, but the reviews were less favorable for this one. Around 2011-2012 Sielck, Terrana and the bassist Yenz Leonhardt all left. With Sielck out of the band, Thomen returned and assembled a new line-up with Carlsson, Norberg and some new guys. However, the band broke up before they could finish their third album when Jens and Emil left in 2014 to concentrate on their main band.
Some have said "second-rate Blind Guardian", but I find the songs especially on the first album well-written and enjoyable. The second album has its moments too, but I think it's definitely the weaker of the two. Surely the stuff often sounds uncannily close to old BG, but as it was Stauch who started it, I guess it can be considered more like a carry-over than a clone to be fair.
I really liked Dreamland Manor, but they definitely seemed to lose a step between the debut album and Of Doom and Death. I don't know if it was Stauch's departure or the band being conscious of being labelled a BG clone, but ODAD just didn't resonate with me in the same way as the debut album. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either - stuck in that middle ground with a lot of other bands doing similar things.
On DM you can absolutely hear the BG influence. Give a SG song to somebody somewhat familiar with BG and I'm not sure they'd be able to tell that it's a different band - especially with Carlsson's vocals sounding so similar to Hansi's. The latter has a pretty distinct vocal sound which is a big part of the BG package, and Carlsson sounding so similar is obviously going to invite immediate comparisons.
It's a shame they never really went anywhere as I felt like the first album had a lot of potential. It was always going to be in Blind Guardian's shadow due to the similarities, but I think over time they could have established their own sound. It just never happened in the end.
On DM you can absolutely hear the BG influence. Give a SG song to somebody somewhat familiar with BG and I'm not sure they'd be able to tell that it's a different band - especially with Carlsson's vocals sounding so similar to Hansi's. The latter has a pretty distinct vocal sound which is a big part of the BG package, and Carlsson sounding so similar is obviously going to invite immediate comparisons.
It's a shame they never really went anywhere as I felt like the first album had a lot of potential. It was always going to be in Blind Guardian's shadow due to the similarities, but I think over time they could have established their own sound. It just never happened in the end.
Pallbearer
Passive Member
I've got the impression the band was not a very tight unit around the time of ODAD anymore. Stauch was gone, and as far as I know Carlsson and Norberg have always worked day jobs as Persuader never really made it big, so perhaps they had commitment problems already. Sielck's main focus has always been on Iron Savior. I remember some interview with Stauch around the time when the unfinished album was in the making (2013?) and he said there's been delays because the Swedes seem to be so busy with life, or something.
That sounded so weird I just had to check them out. And I quite liked it. But is he singing in some made up language or... ?
That sounded so weird I just had to check them out. And I quite liked it. But is he singing in some made up language or... ?
I can't remember what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I heard. I'm sure it's good for people who like that kind of sound though.
Yeah, most metal bands don't get to the point where they can support themselves with the music alone, so day jobs and general life can often get in the way - even if the band is very promising. There was an interesting thread on the Power Metal subreddit where bands were replying as to whether they can live off their music and it was quite eye-opening. Short answer for the majority of them: no. The music is a passion project that they have to fit around their daily lives.
Dragony are one of my favourite recent bands, with Viribus Unitis being one of my favourite overall albums of the past few years. The vocalist replied in the thread and, yeah, even a great band like that who have been around for a while are still focused on making ends meet in their normal lives, like the rest of us. It's a shame in a way because, from my perspective, bands like that are so good that they deserve to be able to make a living off their music. Unfortunately most metal genres are just not mainstream enough to make that a viable proposition. A lot of bands lose money touring because they have to pay for visas, equipment, road crew and sometimes even the venue itself. The idea is that exposure will eventually lead to them being paid to tour rather than the other way around, but if you haven't got the money to chuck at taking that risk then you rely solely on becoming a viral hit - and the chances of that happening in most metal genres is pretty damn small.
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