PP USA VII: Band #7 & #8 confirmed

[Petethedrummer]

Yeah Ascension,you should be able to admit that Orphaned Land is at least talented, even if you don't like them. If you can't see that, then I question the validity of anything you might say about music.

And also, GLENN AWESOME FUCKING JOB. I'd like to see Vision Divine in a higher slot, but....there's always a few years from now =)

 

[Creeps]

Not for nothing, but shouldn't Vision Divine be a 4 and Mercenary a 2? The Olaf Thorsen factor alone (that is, his history with Labyrinth) makes VD higher than a 2.

Food for thought.

But - Mercenary had such a huge response which is probably why they get a #2 slot. They walked away winning over a lot of people that didn't want to see them because of the partial death vocals. They'll probably blow the roof off again this year.

 

[AMBR]

This is why I love Prog Power. I listen to Metal all the time, usually following 'influences' around, and monitoring forums... but here I find out about groups I'd never heard of. And I must say... Glenn has extremely sophisticated taste. He sees through the crap/repetitveness of a lot of ... emm higher profile groups.

Indeed, but still so many whine when seeing the line-up and won't open their minds and ears to new things.

On Freak Kitchen:

There is SUCH a wide variety of music in their catalog. I challenege anybody to listen to "Silence!" or "Ugly Side Of Me" and label them as just melodic metal, or
"bubble gum, pop".

I intend to take your word for it and give them an honest try, but "Speak When Spoken To" annoys the crap out of me. Hope they leave it and Porn Daddy out of the set list.

Oh and Glen,did you put a clause in the contract for VD that their singer cannot come out on stage with tiger striped pajamas(like the last time you had a band come over from Italy)
I liked Secret Spere's set,but Ramon was visually disturbing that night

That's because you don't get out much. jk
I kinda liked those pants. They were a lot easier on the eye than a certain kilt and other things we've seen on the PP stage, but hell, I grew up on that fashion statement in the 80's. Maybe he just needed to tear 'em up a bit.

Oh, and not for nothing, but did Assensions lackluster opinions really warrant more than a dozen posts? He's hijacked this topic enough, let it gooo.

 

[rottingflesh]

yay

 

[IceQueen_]

AAAAAAHH!!!!!! Vision Divine !! Thanks Glenn!!!! Mercenary!! This was the best announcement so far!!!!!!!! :hotjump:
It made me forget about Epica .. lol Well, almost.... any chance of moving VD to 4th and Epica to 2nd? lol jk

Thanks once again, Glenn!!

 

[ashaman7122]

this lineup is nowhere even near as good as last 2 years, hopefully it gets back on track next year...

And here we have the crux of our problem...and the reason for some of Glenn's trepidation, I'm sure.

It's opinions like this (and some of snide shit posted by Ascension) that polarize this group.

On one hand, you have the group that wants the high-profile, "traditional" power and prog bands represented...year after year after year. If I was feeling particularly snide, I would call them poseurs and tell them to broaden their musical horizons. While Glenn has had some tremendous success with marquee players, it's unrealistic to expect that "caliber" of line-ups to continue forever...not logistically and financially possible...that's the downside.

On the other hand, you have the more enlightened PPUSA fan that enjoys a roster filled with very talented (but oftentimes obscure), mid-level popularity type bands that push the envelope on the stereotypical sound within their respective sub-genre of metal. These fans are truly the metal elite snobs, and frequently act that way. While this kind of roster truly creates an astoundingly unique festival on North American shores, the downside comes in the lack of mass appeal and may damage ticket sales, which would certainly not be able to continue forever either.

The question to ask is...what kind of festival do you want?...can't please everyone you know...obviously.

Of the two types of groups and fests that I mentioned above, how many of us fall in the middle?...able to enjoy the more visible, marquee bands when they come, but still totally receptive to new musical experiences? Cuz that's the group that Glenn is probably banking on filling the most seats year after year...I guess. Where do you (I'm speaking to the general crowd) fit in?

In summary, what prompted this diatribe is all the negativity, referring to "lackluster" performances and "disappointing" lineups, which is all purely subjective. Either support the festival, or...at the very least...support the North American metal scene, or just shut the fuck up...but don't piss in our Wheaties just so you can feel superior...


Rock on!

 

[The Fiddler]

I think I'll start a new Virgin Steele thread daily just to see if I can drum up a headlining spot next year.

I'd love to see Virgin Steele. House of Atreus, Pt. 1 has been "stuck" in my car's CD player for two weeks now.

And of course, a big shout for MERCENARY!!! I was suprised they weren't on the bill last year, but will be so happy to see them again at PP7. Hopefully the new disc will be out before the fest. I believe they just entered the studio last week. If it's anything like 11 Dreams (with a good mix of clean and throat), they will just slay the fest this year. :Spin:

 

[J-Man]

I have to fully support ashaman's above remark. This is the premier metal festival in North America, and it is played to a very special audience. Now, you may not like or may not have ever heard of some of the bands, but damn people that is what makes this festival so great. This is going to be my first PP( don't get me started on why this is my first). I have heard of all of the bands so far and yes i have CDs from all of them. I am just happy that i will be there to be a prt of this awesome event, and would be there no matter who was playing. As far as Ascension's remarks, you are entitled to your opinion, but please don't be so negative, it only shows that your taste in music tends to be toward mainstream, and it makes us older attendees look like grumpy old men. If you don't want to go just say so, that means there will be more tickets for alot of first timers that i know want to go regardless of who is playing. Yes who is playing does sway some people as to their choice to attend or not, then there are the true ProgPower fans who go and enjoy themselves no matter what. I plan to be one of those, as it stands right now i see no band on the list that i am disappointed in, especially PYRAMAZE and FREAK KITCHEN, and SAVAGE CIRCUS. As METALAGES said after FREAK KITCHEN plays people are going to say"what just happened, DAMN", and PYRAMAZE is going to play metal that will melt your face off. So lets just get the word out(as if we need to) and fill the seats and make this the best.

 

[The Fiddler]

But - Mercenary had such a huge response which is probably why they get a #2 slot. They walked away winning over a lot of people that didn't want to see them because of the partial death vocals. They'll probably blow the roof off again this year.

Plus Mercenary's "11 Dreams", which was released after they played at PPIV, was a huge success worldwide. Glenn even gave them huge plug on the forum after he got the 11 Dreams promo.

Vision Divine are quite good, but nothing VD has released has generated the buzz and hype that Mercenary did with "11 Dreams". Mercenary played at 3 spot at PPIV and improved greatly since then. With a new CD due out this year, there is no way they can be dropped to a 2 slot. The 4 slot is perfect for them - they deserve it!!!

And I look forward to Vision Divine also. I like Labyrinth better, but seeing Olaf play will be quite excellent.

 

[Kenneth R.]

nice picks!

 

[The Fiddler]

I honestly don't think that it matters if I announce bands now or four weeks from now at this point in the festival's career.

You are right. But, I really like the roll-out method of the past two years. It gives everyone someone to look forward to each Monday when they head back to hell (i.e. work) and hopefully helps to get their week started off right. Now, I don't know if our employer's like this idea, because I get no work done on Monday's this time of year because I'm over here on the forum!!!

Just don't blow your wad all at once and be done with it. Give some of us the opportunity to have 5 orgasms rather than 1 in January. LOL!

 

[JonnyD]

I'm also 44 yrs old

and in 44 years you never learned when to keep quiet

 

[Michael TEOF]

Does anyone know why Oleg is no longer with Vision Divine?

I was hoping to have him sign my Eldritch albums? Or would that piss him off if I did?

 

[Harvester]

Oleg posted in the VD forum his reasons for leaving. It was on good terms.

Glenn H.

 

[booB]

I'd love to see Virgin Steele. House of Atreus, Pt. 1 has been "stuck" in my car's CD player for two weeks now.

That album does slay... one of my favorites... I don't see it happening, though, as David DeFeis has said lots of times in interviews that he has no interest in playing the US ever again.

Then again, Timo Tolkki used to say the same thing...

 

[nightwish58]

I 2nd that! Although I did attend PPIV, we missed them due to getting back late on Saturday (got lost in Atlanta, trying to get back to the RI, after visiting in Dalonega in the afternoon). I'd be really great if Glenn would make that happen this year!

I may think Glenn is a bit off this year with positioning of bands, but you guys must be smoking some serious shit to think that Pagans Mind are in any position to headline this festival. Glenn has surprised me in the past, but I would be willing to bet my bank account that he would never consider Pagans Mind in a headliners role at this point. I think a 4 spot for them would be pushing it...

 

[manowarfan1]

I realize this will only be my 2nd ProgPower - and I often dont even hear about a lot of these bands until I see someone talk about them on this board and then go check them out- and while it is not my WetDream Festival (That would be a bunch stuff that shows my age like Manowar, Saxon, Diamond Head etc) - I think this is gonna be great So, in praise of Glenn's hard work at setting this up - I'd like to quote some famous metalheads when i say :

SCHWING!!!!

Thanks Glenn - see ya in September,
Jeff/manowarfan1

 

[Bryan316]

VISION

FREAKING

DIVIIIIIIIINE!!!


Glenn... you're killing me here... I ain't gonna make it to the end of Saturday night! I'ma need a paramedic by the time I even get to Epica now!!! SHIT! I'ma have to start neck exercises just to handle this show now!


Who the HELLFUCK could you possibly be hiding for the headliners???????



And I'd like to offer my services to set Ascension's n00b ass on fire.

 

[4acidbath4]

I hope they play "Becky"!!! One of my fav. songs from these guys!!:hotjump:

 

[The_Kinslayer]

I may think Glenn is a bit off this year with positioning of bands, but you guys must be smoking some serious shit to think that Pagans Mind are in any position to headline this festival. Glenn has surprised me in the past, but I would be willing to bet my bank account that he would never consider Pagans Mind in a headliners role at this point. I think a 4 spot for them would be pushing it...

I agree on both accounts. The positioning doesn't seem quite right to me either, and Pagan's Mind is probably no more than a 3rd slot at this point.