OK here's a bunch of albums I've been listening to lately:
Allen/Lande - The Battle
I heard this once and wrote it off in an instant. It didn't really click with me, and besides, both Jorn Lande and Russell Allen aren't exactly worlds apart so the collaboration turned out to be a little redundant. A few months later, I came back to the album, didn't focus so much on the vocals (which are extraordinary, obviously) and focused more on the songs. I dig! I dig! Some is cheesy, some is plain, but when it works, it works wonders.
7.5/10
Biomechanical - The Empires of the Worlds
Wow. Again, this only hit me until recently. First few listens and I thought it was pretty derivative. Then I gave it a break and came back to it....man, this album smokes. It sounds like Symphony X on death metal steroids, with occasional backing vox/screams by a Rob Halford wannabe. Needs a few listens to appreciate, there is nothing 'instant' about this album. The guitarist is phenomenal. I can't imagine Zod not liking this album.
7.5/10
Gamma Ray - Majestic
Consistently good band, although they'll never reach their peak of "Land of the Free" (which is a 9.5/10 in my book). I was blown away by this album on first try, and it's still going strong. Very good release, better overall than NWO (which itself contains a few all time Ramma Gay classics), much better than Powerplant, and at least as good as Somewhere out in Space (I wish they'd do a few more songs like "The Winged Horse" once in a while, come on Henjo!).
8.5/10
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
I just can't get into Andi Deris. He sounds like a fat man on the mic. Some songs are good, others are just bland. Is "Occasion Avenue" supposed to be a spoof on "Acacia Avenue"? Either way, this aint doing nuttin' for me. The fact that "Keeper of the Seven Keys part 2" has kept this band in the limelight is only a testament to that particular masterpiece. Everything since has fallen short, including this lame duck.
5.5/10
Allen/Lande - The Battle
I heard this once and wrote it off in an instant. It didn't really click with me, and besides, both Jorn Lande and Russell Allen aren't exactly worlds apart so the collaboration turned out to be a little redundant. A few months later, I came back to the album, didn't focus so much on the vocals (which are extraordinary, obviously) and focused more on the songs. I dig! I dig! Some is cheesy, some is plain, but when it works, it works wonders.
7.5/10
Biomechanical - The Empires of the Worlds
Wow. Again, this only hit me until recently. First few listens and I thought it was pretty derivative. Then I gave it a break and came back to it....man, this album smokes. It sounds like Symphony X on death metal steroids, with occasional backing vox/screams by a Rob Halford wannabe. Needs a few listens to appreciate, there is nothing 'instant' about this album. The guitarist is phenomenal. I can't imagine Zod not liking this album.
7.5/10
Gamma Ray - Majestic
Consistently good band, although they'll never reach their peak of "Land of the Free" (which is a 9.5/10 in my book). I was blown away by this album on first try, and it's still going strong. Very good release, better overall than NWO (which itself contains a few all time Ramma Gay classics), much better than Powerplant, and at least as good as Somewhere out in Space (I wish they'd do a few more songs like "The Winged Horse" once in a while, come on Henjo!).
8.5/10
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
I just can't get into Andi Deris. He sounds like a fat man on the mic. Some songs are good, others are just bland. Is "Occasion Avenue" supposed to be a spoof on "Acacia Avenue"? Either way, this aint doing nuttin' for me. The fact that "Keeper of the Seven Keys part 2" has kept this band in the limelight is only a testament to that particular masterpiece. Everything since has fallen short, including this lame duck.
5.5/10
