What new albums have you bought/downloaded and how were they? They don't have to be new as in release date, but new as in you just bought it recently. I'll start.
Ice Age- The Great Divide (1999):
I was absolutely blown away by the first song, "Perpetual Child", but the rest of the album sounds the same to me. I kept looking at the track number as if I were just waiting for the CD to end. I read rave reviews from all over the web and was pretty dissapointed. I hope eventually this album will just grow on me.
Cairo- Conflict and Dreams (1998):
Despite what many prog reviewers say, Cairo definitely have their own unique sound. The melodies on this album weren't as catchy as on the first album, but this is still a worthy successor. The vocals sound angry, which is strange with how calm the vocals were on the debut album. Overall, this album will not dissapoint any fans of the debut album.
Suspyre- A Great Divide (2007)
This album is very ambitious. There are only two songs but both are well over 30 minutes long. I liked the idea, but this album isn't really anything new to the prog metal genre by any means. If you are new to prog metal, you will be blown away by this album. If you have heard Dream Theater enough, this album will bore you to tears. There is nothing wrong with this album at all, but that seems to be the biggest problem. It's so good, it just sounds bland.
Rhapsody of Fire- Triumph or Agony (2006)
I generally liked this band before I heard this album, but not as much as I did after hearing it all the way through. This is the only time I have ever heard a metal band really work with an orchestra and choir. It was extremely bombastic and over the top, but just enough so it didn't come off as too cheesy. I had a pretty hard time following the storyline (mainly because I haven't heard all the other albums), but the music was just about perfect. There seemed to be a few too many ballads in the middle, but the album ends on such an epic level that I had to make sure I didn't die and go to heaven every few minutes. Overall, this is the best album I've heard in a very long time and was such a fresh breath of air compared to the typical run of the mill "prog metal" bands I've been hearing lately.
(I didn't buy this album, but I received it as a gift):
Eternity X- The Edge (1997)
I heard this album was a rare gem, so I was very excited to hear it. The melodies on the album are very catchy. This is a concept album, but I didn't really understand the storyline at all. The first 2 songs sounded like the message was to escape to your mind's eye, but then the third song was about killing a priest, and a good portion of the rest of the album sounded like sad love songs. Regardless of plot, this album sounds very original. Even though this was released in the 90's, it sounds like it could have been recorded in the 80's. The "Confession" song sounded very much like something that would come from Operation Mindcrime. My only complaint is the "opera" vocal on "The Edge Part 2", which sound like what someone would do who was making fun of opera singers. It's impossible for me to listen to that part without laughing. Anyway, it's a great album from start to finish and I highly recommend it.
Ice Age- The Great Divide (1999):
I was absolutely blown away by the first song, "Perpetual Child", but the rest of the album sounds the same to me. I kept looking at the track number as if I were just waiting for the CD to end. I read rave reviews from all over the web and was pretty dissapointed. I hope eventually this album will just grow on me.
Cairo- Conflict and Dreams (1998):
Despite what many prog reviewers say, Cairo definitely have their own unique sound. The melodies on this album weren't as catchy as on the first album, but this is still a worthy successor. The vocals sound angry, which is strange with how calm the vocals were on the debut album. Overall, this album will not dissapoint any fans of the debut album.
Suspyre- A Great Divide (2007)
This album is very ambitious. There are only two songs but both are well over 30 minutes long. I liked the idea, but this album isn't really anything new to the prog metal genre by any means. If you are new to prog metal, you will be blown away by this album. If you have heard Dream Theater enough, this album will bore you to tears. There is nothing wrong with this album at all, but that seems to be the biggest problem. It's so good, it just sounds bland.
Rhapsody of Fire- Triumph or Agony (2006)
I generally liked this band before I heard this album, but not as much as I did after hearing it all the way through. This is the only time I have ever heard a metal band really work with an orchestra and choir. It was extremely bombastic and over the top, but just enough so it didn't come off as too cheesy. I had a pretty hard time following the storyline (mainly because I haven't heard all the other albums), but the music was just about perfect. There seemed to be a few too many ballads in the middle, but the album ends on such an epic level that I had to make sure I didn't die and go to heaven every few minutes. Overall, this is the best album I've heard in a very long time and was such a fresh breath of air compared to the typical run of the mill "prog metal" bands I've been hearing lately.
(I didn't buy this album, but I received it as a gift):
Eternity X- The Edge (1997)
I heard this album was a rare gem, so I was very excited to hear it. The melodies on the album are very catchy. This is a concept album, but I didn't really understand the storyline at all. The first 2 songs sounded like the message was to escape to your mind's eye, but then the third song was about killing a priest, and a good portion of the rest of the album sounded like sad love songs. Regardless of plot, this album sounds very original. Even though this was released in the 90's, it sounds like it could have been recorded in the 80's. The "Confession" song sounded very much like something that would come from Operation Mindcrime. My only complaint is the "opera" vocal on "The Edge Part 2", which sound like what someone would do who was making fun of opera singers. It's impossible for me to listen to that part without laughing. Anyway, it's a great album from start to finish and I highly recommend it.
