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Protest the Hero - Fortress (2008)Genre: Melodic Metalcore/Progressive Metal/Epic Corny MetalProtest The Hero is the only band i've ever liked of these technical metalcore bands. It all started with that Sequoia Throne videoclip. After doing some research on my new discovery, i chose Fortress as the entry point to their music instead of the debut Kezia because i've heard it was more proggy plus i was already familiar with Sequoia anyway. From the get go, PTH frantic pace and complex yet catchy sound leaved a good impression, thrash and progressive metal being mostly what i was listening to back in the day. Being a guitarist, i was amazed by Luke and Tim guitar playing (a lot of awesome fast leads and complex tappings...going through live shows without mistakes must be hell). Rody Walker's vocals was the only point that i've had mixed feelings about but, as time passed, i began to appreciate them too.
Favorite songs: Limb From Limb, Goddess Bound, Sequoia Throne, Palms Read, The DissentienceThe Stooges - Fun House (1970)Genre: Garage Rock/Proto-Punk/Iggy Pop doing sh*tThe quintessential rock n' roll jam. The blueprint for Punk. Years ahead of his time (compare it to the music released during 69/70 and you will see). Dirty, dangerous, raw, fun, Iggy Pop feeling alright. Yeah, a mix of all things people love about pure rock n' roll. Yet, despite all the praise, the music here is very simple so, how it manages to be so great? The answer is: Fun House emanates energy. Just play this record at the loudest volume in your player and if you feel nothing, i have some bad news for you
nah, it means you just don't like it. Favorite songs: T.V. Eye, Down on the Street, Loose, DirtOpeth - Ghost Reveries (2005)Genre: Progressive Death MetalAfter writing some of the best modern metal in the form of classics like Still Life, Blackwater Park, Mikael Akerfeldt could have not cared anymore, even go full auto-pilot if he wanted but, forget that, let's try new things instead. Damnation arrive, showing the softer side of Opeth. Maybe they should stick with it. I mean, what's the point of making heavy music if they will never reach the same level of their old stuff?
Bottom line, Ghost Reveries is released in 2005 and Opeth manages to do the impossible, delivering another instant metal classic
The main reason i praise Reveries is because i hear a strong struggle to make something really interesting both for the band and for the genre. I'm talking about the new additions to their sound like the use of keyboards and a more experimental and proggy approach in songwriting. Some examples of that are Akerfeld odd guitar work during the acoustic passage of The Baying of the Hounds or the end sections of both Beneath the Mire and Harlequin Forest.
Favorite songs: The Baying of the Hounds, Reverie/Harlequin Forest, Ghost of Perdition, Beneath the Mire