The official Frontiers Softcock Shit thread

[BlobVanDam]

Assuming you are a VH fan here (this may be slightly OT), what do you think of DLR's solo material? I have really been getting into A Lil' Ain't Enough as of late. I think the strongest part of that album is actually DLR's lyrics, he really did well with that one.

That's my favourite DLR solo album. Not really a fan of the Vai stuff, aside from a few of the more popular songs.
Your Filthy Little Mouth opens with two great rock tracks, but the rest is confused shite, but DLR Band is another solid rock album.

[FreezingPoint]

Nice! Besides the lyrics, I just love the diversity on that album. He tried some different things and I think it worked out well. Of course, the guitar and production work help elevate the album for me as well.

Yeah, the Vai stuff is so-so for me as well. I prefer Eat 'Em and Smile over Skyscraper by a mile.

[bl5150]

Sheehan has been quoted as saying that there are much rawer versions of the Skyscraper stuff that sound way better .   I've never rated either of those first two solo albums as high as most Roth fans but both have some standouts.

Re Your Filthy Little Mouth that has another of my favourite Roth lyrics in Lands Edge

Here's a word about my ex-girlfriend
Towards the end conflict off and on
And I told her one night, "Honey every time we fight
I'll write a verse to this song"

Well, things got bad and things got worse
Still I struggled on
So sit back and get all comfortable
'Cause this little tunes six fuckin' hours long   

[FreezingPoint]

That's good stuff. I'm going to have to re-listen to his later material now.

I always found Skyscraper too "thin" sounding for my tastes.

[wolfking]

A Little Ain't Enough is a brilliant album.  It has Jason Becker for crying out loud.  Eat 'em and Smile I enjoy a lot too.

Also FreezingPoint, yes I was referring to the latest Royal Hunt album, it's rubbish IMO.

[jjrock88]

I just listened to one song from that new Royal Hunt, and I couldn't even finish it.  Sounded very sub par.

[gazinwales]

Yeah considering all the hype and joy of DC Cooper returning, it's just bog standard cookie cut Royal Hunt.
Sub par at that too. AA can write this stuff in his sleep.

But I am still going to see them in April, if only to see the mighty Vanishing Point opening for them.

[wolfking]

Yeah considering all the hype and joy of DC Cooper returning, it's just bog standard cookie cut Royal Hunt.
Sub par at that too. AA can write this stuff in his sleep.

But I am still going to see them in April, if only to see the mighty Vanishing Point opening for them.

Would be pretty much worth it just for them.

[wolfking]

I just listened to one song from that new Royal Hunt, and I couldn't even finish it.  Sounded very sub par.

As you all know, I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to most of this type of music, but this album is really really awful.

[gazinwales]

Wolfking, some Asia to check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRt6jGUMjw8

[wolfking]

Wolfking, some Asia to check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRt6jGUMjw8

Man, this is smooth, really nice and smooth.  I like this a lot actually.  Great AOR with a nice atmosphere and the vox remind me a bit of Bowie.

EDIT: just looking up Asia on wiki.  Didn't know Al Pitrelli played on a couple of albums, nice.

EDIT 2: And Guthrie Govan!  And Vinny Burnes, but he didn't play on any studio stuff.

[Delirious Nomad]

I found all DLR releases highly entertaining. The heck, I love everything VH, even VHIII had some great moments.

What do you think of A Different Kind Of Truth ?

Because the opinion in my band was meh, while I thought Eddie schooled the rest of the guitar playing bunch once again. Not in terms of speed or virtuosity, but in growing and maintaining balls.
The only real flaw of ADKOT, in my ears, is the sound. Not the production, but the too hot mastering. Almost on Queensryche levels of hot mastering.

By the way VH is working on the follow up.

[TAC]

I thought A Different Kind Of Truth was very good. To me, it takes a bit to get gping, but once you get past the first four songs or so, it's kick ass the rest of the way.

I remember looking at the title Honeybabysweetiedoll thinking WTF, but it is one of the most bad ass songs they've ever done.

[jjrock88]

I thought it was very good as well.  I can't say I was too happy the first time I heard Tattoo, but that song ended up growing on me.  But I thought the rest of the disc was kick ass from the get go.

Interested to hear the followup; considering ADKOT was mostly older songs redone.  I'm assuming the followup will be all new material

[Delirious Nomad]

As far as I know, only about half of the material had old roots and someone from the VH camp said there is still a lot more left in the archives. I don't care. Most songwriters do this. You have a great idea, but you can't turn it into a song until years later it somehow happens.

Agree on Honeybabysweetiedoll. Bordering on progressive metal. I was WTF, too, only for another reason. 

[BlobVanDam]

The only real flaw of ADKOT, in my ears, is the sound. Not the production, but the too hot mastering. Almost on Queensryche levels of hot mastering.

That's my only real complaint too. The production and mixing in general are absolutely fantastic, but the mastering almost kills it. Way too loud. But Eddie and Alex almost always have a killer sound in the studio.

Definitely a great comeback album.

[wolfking]

I was never a huge VH fan, but the album was pretty decent enough.  It had some good songs and the boys still have great chops.

[FreezingPoint]

Also FreezingPoint, yes I was referring to the latest Royal Hunt album, it's rubbish IMO.

Thanks for letting me know. I will probably listen to it eventually, at least give it one chance.

The only real flaw of ADKOT, in my ears, is the sound. Not the production, but the too hot mastering. Almost on Queensryche levels of hot mastering.

That's my only real complaint too. The production and mixing in general are absolutely fantastic, but the mastering almost kills it. Way too loud. But Eddie and Alex almost always have a killer sound in the studio.

Definitely a great comeback album.

Yep. I can tolerate ADKOT though, but I have a real hard time listening to even a full Queensryche song off their latest.

Hope that the next VH is as strong in terms of mixing and production. I was kind of surprised at the amount of wah Eddie used on the album, but it didn't bother me any.

[wolfking]

I hope you're referring to Geoff Tate's version of Queensryche.

[FreezingPoint]

No, the S/T. I was referring to the hot mastering. The songs and performances are good, but I find it very trying on the ears to listen to. I even tried messing with the files myself to improve them but I couldn't get any decent results that I was happy with. A shame because that's their best material since Promised Land IMO.

Geoff Tate's "Queensryche" is pretty much an abomination, especially live. And let's not even mention those re-records. Ouch.

[jammindude]

No, the S/T. I was referring to the hot mastering. The songs and performances are good, but I find it very trying on the ears to listen to. I even tried messing with the files myself to improve them but I couldn't get any decent results that I was happy with. A shame because that's their best material since Promised Land IMO.

Geoff Tate's "Queensryche" is pretty much an abomination, especially live. And let's not even mention those re-records. Ouch.

All of this...

The S/T is such a great album...but so hard to listen to.    I would say it is every bit as bad as Vapor Trails and Death Magnetic on the mastering side of things.   Among the worst I've ever heard. 

[wolfking]

No, the S/T. I was referring to the hot mastering. The songs and performances are good, but I find it very trying on the ears to listen to. I even tried messing with the files myself to improve them but I couldn't get any decent results that I was happy with. A shame because that's their best material since Promised Land IMO.

Geoff Tate's "Queensryche" is pretty much an abomination, especially live. And let's not even mention those re-records. Ouch.

Fair enough, looks like we're on the same page with Tate.

The self titled album as discussed was masterd horribly, but for some reason, it doesn't destract me from the album too much.  I can see how people find it difficult to listen to though.

[wolfking]

Heads up boys, new Vanishing Point video.  This if FUCKING AWESOME!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgJYsQav90E

[BlobVanDam]

Song didn't do much for me, but I liked the solo section. Good sounding production and playing though.

[bl5150]

Heads up boys, new Vanishing Point video.  This if FUCKING AWESOME!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgJYsQav90E

That song actually grew on me as I listened to it     I started out thinking "yeah, yeah - good but (as per usual) sounds a bit familiar" and by the guitar solo I was "alrighty then........ " and by the end I was pretty close to sold.  I hope there's some diversity on the album- if that's the case then we might have a winner here.

I'm pretty hard to please at the moment  - maybe cos I'm old and been listening to this stuff for 25-30 years - but all I really want is some effort to create something the tiniest bit unique - whether it's the vocal melodies or guitar work etc....   It is extremely hard because it has almost all been done before at this point but there is the odd release that really shows that it CAN be done.  Hopefully this is one of them because they certainly have the talent.

Good to see an Aussie band producing stuff like this and something that does have a market .  Count me interested  . 

Song didn't do much for me, but I liked the solo section. Good sounding production and playing though.

That counts as a glowing endorsement of an Aussie band by Blob 

[BlobVanDam]

Song didn't do much for me, but I liked the solo section. Good sounding production and playing though.

That counts as a glowing endorsement of an Aussie band by Blob 

I'm glad you noticed the effort!

[gazinwales]

I got the new Vanishing Point CD yesterday direct from the band and signed too.
Had a listen to a few songs, sounds great so far.

[TAC]

After seeing Wolfie gush over Vanishing Point a while back, i sampled some on youtube, but it really didn't do much for me.
Bravewords was playong a track off the new album and I really liked it. I will have to hear a it more, though, before I buy.

[wolfking]

Song didn't do much for me, but I liked the solo section. Good sounding production and playing though.

That counts as a glowing endorsement of an Aussie band by Blob 

hehe, just what I was thinking.

I got the new Vanishing Point CD yesterday direct from the band and signed too.
Had a listen to a few songs, sounds great so far.

I might get it off the band too, checking website now.

[TAC]

The New Vanishing Point gets 93/100 at Metal Reviews:
https://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/8569

[wolfking]

Good shit.

[gazinwales]

Had another listen to VP today, here are some random thoughts:
VP are definitely more power metal with this album lots of fast double bass drumming, and even some blast beats.
Although as melodic as ever, there are some pretty heavy songs and lots of symphonic elements.
14 songs is probably a little too much in 1 hit. Although there is no real 'filler', there are a couple of songs
that fall below the greatness of the rest.
12 songs, with the brief into and the beautiful instrumental finale, would have been ideal.
Saving two very good songs for bonus tracks.
Production is good, but perhaps not as good as the previous 2.

If you had previously been a fan of Vanishing Point, then then you will like this one
I'd rate it 8.5-9.0 out of 10.

[wolfking]

Good to hear gazin.  I noticed the amount of tracks too, and like Embrace the Silence does seem like a very long record.  I think Embrace is about 74 minutes long or something crazy like that.

[wolfking]

I went back to Primal Fear today after giving it a break for a week.  It blew me away again.  This is top 3 Primal Fear, maybe higher, this album is incredible and has AOTY quality written all over it.

[jjrock88]

I went back to Primal Fear today after giving it a break for a week.  It blew me away again.  This is top 3 Primal Fear, maybe higher, this album is incredible and has AOTY quality written all over it.

It will be tough for it not to be my AOTY.