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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: MirrorMask on November 25, 2018, 04:02:21 AM
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So, "the season's upon us" and it's time to get ready to rock and roll to some Christmas music! :metal
I absolutely love Trans Siberian Orchestra, and I was wondering.... are they really unique in their kind or are there similar bands like them? sure, you can find an insane amount of christmas music that receives the rock / metal treatment, but TSO are unique because they have original music, and their rendition of classic songs is not overblown.
For example, I found out a band called A Hero for the World, which did TWO Christmas albums, called Winter is Coming and, wait for it, you guessed it, Winter is Here. It's not bad, but it's power metal to the extreme - all double bass and vocals way, way too high for the singer who sounds always strained. TSO are a little more laid back, even if they have distorted guitars and rock arrangements, and I was wondering if there's a band like TSO out there or are they really unique in their blend of original music and classics covers who are not parodies or too extreme in their metal renditions.
Feel free to turn this into a more generic "advice for Christmas music" thread anyway!
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TSO is somewhat unique in terms of a metal band that borders on progressive, does bit, epic concept albums, regularly does "Christmas music," and had that blend of classics and original material that you mentioned. I cannot think of any other band that really possesses all of those elements.
To me, in terms of sound, Avantasia sort of comes close. And while The Mystery of Time is not really "Christmas music," I have always associated it with winter and tend to play it a lot during the holidays.
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Peter Orullian (ex-Fifth Ange, ex-Heir Apparent) has a new project called Symphony North. Stylistically, it is basically TSO-like, with Peter's story. It even features some former TSO people. Check it out here:
https://www.symphonynorth.com/
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There's a band called Wizards of Winter, which was formed by some of the TSO cast-offs that used to be in the touring band. I've never cared to listen to them because TSO still exists and is so good at what they do, that I really don't need another version of them.
https://wizardsofwinter.com/
Dee Snider also did Van Helsing's Curse about 15 years ago, which was TSO for Halloween, and Al Pitrelli and others were on the record. It's not Christmas, but also featured a lot of TSO players.
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Peter Orullian (ex-Fifth Ange, ex-Heir Apparent) has a new project called Symphony North. Stylistically, it is basically TSO-like, with Peter's story. It even features some former TSO people. Check it out here:
https://www.symphonynorth.com/
Sounds interesting! will check out for sure, thanks.
There's a band called Wizards of Winter, which was formed by some of the TSO cast-offs that used to be in the touring band. I've never cared to listen to them because TSO still exists and is so good at what they do, that I really don't need another version of them.
https://wizardsofwinter.com/
Dee Snider also did Van Helsing's Curse about 15 years ago, which was TSO for Halloween, and Al Pitrelli and others were on the record. It's not Christmas, but also featured a lot of TSO players.
Indeed "Wizards of Winter" is already a giveaway as to where the influences lie :D but I'll see what they're up to. Along with Dee Snider, Twisted Sister did their own christmas album which was all covers however.
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The Symphony North album is very cool! Sure, it's very derivative of TSO, but still it's some nice fresh music in that vein which isn't TSO - I'll never get tired of them, also because I only listen to them in December anyway, but new music in that style is always welcome.
Also, we're on the right forum to talk about Symphony North - James LaBrie announced on FB that he will sing a song on next year's album! there will be live shows but he didn't explicitly told if he will join them as well.
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I'd actually really like to see JLB sing with TSO. I think it'd be a really cool fit.
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I like the idea of JLB singing with TSO. He really did a great job with The Theater Equation, so I think that should be well within his alley of his best forte.
On a side note, I'm seeing TSO, tomorrow, and I'm pretty pumped about it. Going to be a long drive though. 40 miles to get to Ontario, CA, but it's going to be worth it.
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So, "the season's upon us" and it's time to get ready to rock and roll to some Christmas music! :metal
I absolutely love Trans Siberian Orchestra, and I was wondering.... are they really unique in their kind or are there similar bands like them? sure, you can find an insane amount of christmas music that receives the rock / metal treatment, but TSO are unique because they have original music, and their rendition of classic songs is not overblown.
For example, I found out a band called A Hero for the World, which did TWO Christmas albums, called Winter is Coming and, wait for it, you guessed it, Winter is Here. It's not bad, but it's power metal to the extreme - all double bass and vocals way, way too high for the singer who sounds always strained. TSO are a little more laid back, even if they have distorted guitars and rock arrangements, and I was wondering if there's a band like TSO out there or are they really unique in their blend of original music and classics covers who are not parodies or too extreme in their metal renditions.
Feel free to turn this into a more generic "advice for Christmas music" thread anyway!
While it isn't Christmas music Trans Siberian Orchestra was born out of a band called Savatage. If you haven't checked them out get Dead Winter Dead (Christmas Eve: Sarajevo 12/24) was from this album and The Wake of Magellan
Speaking of Christmas songs, Def Leppard just released an original one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfw_7g4DS4E
Not the most upbeat song but it is decent
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All right, I'm back from the TSO concert. Like most great things in life, I didn't think when people said their stage show and musicianship is something to behold, I thought "it can't be that great." What a bloody great show. It's everything you want in a high-budget, high-produced show that involves a lot of vocalists and top-notch musicians. In fact, I think I feel like I underpaid for that show. I paid $50.00 on Groupon for the ticket when you could have bought the same ticket on Ticketmaster for around $80.00. I would have paid $80.00 for that seat in the 200 section, it was a really great view. Great show. Great visuals. Jeff Scott Soto was really good as a frontman when he sang lead vocals in a couple of songs. I have a better appreciation for him now than I did when I listened to the SOA debut album.
I feel like everyone should try to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra at least once in their lifetimes around the November/December period. Heck, if they come back to Ontario, next year, I'd go again. Probably take my family as well and cover their tickets.
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I should see TSO at least once, I agree. I'm just such a cheap lazy bastard at the holidays. It's tough to justify springing for a couple of tickets, even if they're not that much. It's two tickets plus parking, and around here that ain't small potatoes.
We have the Halloween album. It's pretty good stuff. TSO doing Halloween, just what you'd expect. Actually, I'd forgotten that we have it somewhere, but we played it a few times when we first got it and it's pretty good.
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I want to see TSO, but they always seem to come to Minnesota after Christmas, which sadly I just don't care to see something like that in the days after Christmas...I'm kinda out of the Christmas mood come December 26th :-\
And it's sad because I'm a huge Christmas guy
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I want to see TSO, but they always seem to come to Minnesota after Christmas, which sadly I just don't care to see something like that in the days after Christmas...I'm kinda out of the Christmas mood come December 26th :-\
Yeah, it's kinda anticlimatic to listen to Christmas music after Christmas, once the actual day comes it's just winter for me.
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I've been lucky enough to see TSO twice. The second time was after they became a HUGE act.
But the first time was almost 20 years ago. They were pretty big, but playing theaters, and not arenas or anything yet. Not a huge stage show. No huge names outside of the Savatage dude. I was 16 years old or so, got 2nd row seats and was the only person in the audience with long hair and Metallica shirt............and a girlfriend who fell asleep half way through the show. So much of the band was looking at me for much of the show. Then after, hope they still do this, they set up a table and would meet anyone who wanted to meet them. I remember being like "thanks guys" or whatever and them specifically asking me about my girlfriend falling asleep. Was an interesting night. Great band.
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They've been around a while now, haven't they? That early show sounds like a pretty cool gig, sleeping girlfriends notwithstanding.
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They've been around a while now, haven't they? That early show sounds like a pretty cool gig, sleeping girlfriends notwithstanding.
Honestly, that helped make it such a fun story. I think the keyboardist at least was looking at me for much of the gig anyway since I was acting like I was at a metal show, while everyone else was dressed up and very very calm.
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They've been around a while now, haven't they? That early show sounds like a pretty cool gig, sleeping girlfriends notwithstanding.
Honestly, that helped make it such a fun story. I think the keyboardist at least was looking at me for much of the gig anyway since I was acting like I was at a metal show, while everyone else was dressed up and very very calm.
That's a funny thing. I was sporting an Alter Bridge t-shirt at the TSO concert and I did not see anyone else sport another band's T-shirt and people wearing the TSO shirts were pretty sparse as well. Typically, at the concerts that I've been to in the last few years for any modern band, you would usually see a wide range of concert goers, for any band honestly, sporting various shirts like Maiden shirts, A7X shirts, Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, maybe GNR and of course, a lot of the shirts people were wearing for were that particular headliner of the night. Another small note, while we were all waiting to get to our seats for TSO, someone actually acknowledged my t-shirt and my reaction was basically a thumbs-up. I would have said more, but I'm too shy like that.
Still, for this particular show, I don't think it would have bummed me out that the majority of people were not sporting rock band t-shirts. The TSO shows just has that appeal that can really grab all kinds of demographics (and that includes people that do not primarily listen to rock). You see couples, you see families and kids, and you got people like me ready to rock out and the cool thing is that no one feels out of place watching the same show. That should be how concert crowds should be for anything honestly.
Anywho, back on topic, does anyone else have any Christmas original songs from any bands that they like to post? I got this song from a band called Trucker Diablo. "We're Gonna Rock This Christmas" I remember Alter Bridge's Mark Tremonti giving this song a shoutout on Twitter during the holiday seasons a few years back and I go back to listen to it around this time. Very cheery and definitely has that comforting Christmas vibe. Here's the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc4-Q__CWkg
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It must be 10 days that I say to myself "I have to post that song" and, inevitabily, forget. Short term loss of memory is a bitch.
Anyway, do you think that maybe Xmas songs are a bit sappy? here's the completely hilarous "The Season's Upon Us" by Dropkick Murphys!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk
;D
Also, I've heard The Wizards of Winter and while they're another spin-off of TSO, they have some quite decent songs here and there. One could say that they're too much similar, but since we'll probably never getting another Christmas album from TSO, more music in that style is always welcome.
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Those who didn't know, almost every Finnish metal singer have contributed on a christmas album called Ragnarok Juletide (Raskasta Joulua in Finnish, 4 albums are on Spotify for example) which have some Finnish and some more obscure traditional christmas songs with heavy twist. It have grown a truly big epic concert Hall tour here in Finland and there are vocalists from Finland and other countries as well like Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Marco Hietala, Tarja Turunen, Tony Kakko and others.
Full album: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91k-V8EjkgDX1Ac5zY8623YR3sim2gpV
For example First Noel with some "nuggets": https://youtu.be/so2qulAMLkg
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Wow! definitively gonna check out also this!
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Those who didn't know, almost every Finnish metal singer have contributed on a christmas album called Ragnarok Juletide (Raskasta Joulua in Finnish, 4 albums are on Spotify for example) which have some Finnish and some more obscure traditional christmas songs with heavy twist. It have grown a truly big epic concert Hall tour here in Finland and there are vocalists from Finland and other countries as well like Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Marco Hietala, Tarja Turunen, Tony Kakko and others.
Full album: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91k-V8EjkgDX1Ac5zY8623YR3sim2gpV
For example First Noel with some "nuggets": https://youtu.be/so2qulAMLkg
Heard it. Wow, amazing stuff! Just the kind of approach I like for this kind of music, putting the rock / metal to it but without going overblown to the point of parody.
Most memorable song has to be "The Elf" - a dark and mesmerizing tale that is very evocative. While I'm absolutely fine with religious and semi-religious themes in Christmas music (after all in the Western civilization that's what it's all about), I wish more band would tap into the great potential of the winter / pagan / Yule ancient traditions.
Anyway, thanks DTF - Thanks to you my Xmas music collection is richer and more diverse, Symphony North (looking forward to the next album with James LaBrie as guest), The Wizards of Winter (their 2015 album The Magic of Winter is very neat, all killer no filler save the outro, and the song Ebeneezer is dark and epic and memorable) and the Ragnarok Juletide album will be part of my playlists for future Decembers to come! :metal
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Theocracy had a tradition (I think? Tim will tell you more) of releasing Christmas songs for every year, and I don't know if it's still going or not as I'm not a fan of the band, but I'm absolutely a fan of this particular song someone recommended me a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwHLsKsiCA
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Theocracy had a tradition (I think? Tim will tell you more) of releasing Christmas songs for every year, and I don't know if it's still going or not as I'm not a fan of the band, but I'm absolutely a fan of this particular song someone recommended me a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwHLsKsiCA
Wow. That was really something :lol one of the wackiest stories ever put to music to the sound of a long and proggy epic :metal nice song, I'll look into their other Xmas songs now :D
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Neal Schon “ava maria”
https://youtu.be/eEFUaBOmRro
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Theocracy had a tradition (I think? Tim will tell you more) of releasing Christmas songs for every year, and I don't know if it's still going or not as I'm not a fan of the band, but I'm absolutely a fan of this particular song someone recommended me a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwHLsKsiCA
Wow. That was really something :lol one of the wackiest stories ever put to music to the sound of a long and proggy epic :metal nice song, I'll look into their other Xmas songs now :D
The story is hilarious as are the lyrics ("son you better stay away from that little ho ho ho"), but the song is actually very well-executed. One of my favourite tunes for the season. :lol
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Not really TSOish, but we're going to the Brian Setzer Orchestra's Christmas Extravaganza tonight! Love the big band sound and Setzer always makes it good time...and of course, he's a fantastic guitarist.
I recommend all his Christmas albums. Great background music for parties!
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Seconded! I like Setzer's Christmas stuff, too. Great arrangements, and it always sounds like they're having a blast just playing the music.
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Good point on the arrangements, Orbert. Yabba Dabba Yuletide is surprising and completely awesome.
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Nothing like TSO, but here is a fun take on family Christmas celebrations.
Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick - Uncle John (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfjS_Q8o2nM)
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Check this thread: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=53233.0
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Here's a Christmas song for people that may be in delusion of Christmas spirit from a band that most people here may not like, Blink 182. This line just seals the deal of the song for me. "It's Christmas time again. It's time to be nice to the people you can't stand. All year."
Blink 182 - I Won't Be Home For Christmas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rISkhbNGhxw)
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Bad Religion - Christmas Songs is a given to me.
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Those who didn't know, almost every Finnish metal singer have contributed on a christmas album called Ragnarok Juletide (Raskasta Joulua in Finnish, 4 albums are on Spotify for example) which have some Finnish and some more obscure traditional christmas songs with heavy twist. It have grown a truly big epic concert Hall tour here in Finland and there are vocalists from Finland and other countries as well like Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Marco Hietala, Tarja Turunen, Tony Kakko and others.
Full album: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91k-V8EjkgDX1Ac5zY8623YR3sim2gpV
For example First Noel with some "nuggets": https://youtu.be/so2qulAMLkg
Heard it. Wow, amazing stuff! Just the kind of approach I like for this kind of music, putting the rock / metal to it but without going overblown to the point of parody.
Most memorable song has to be "The Elf" - a dark and mesmerizing tale that is very evocative. While I'm absolutely fine with religious and semi-religious themes in Christmas music (after all in the Western civilization that's what it's all about), I wish more band would tap into the great potential of the winter / pagan / Yule ancient traditions.
Anyway, thanks DTF - Thanks to you my Xmas music collection is richer and more diverse, Symphony North (looking forward to the next album with James LaBrie as guest), The Wizards of Winter (their 2015 album The Magic of Winter is very neat, all killer no filler save the outro, and the song Ebeneezer is dark and epic and memorable) and the Ragnarok Juletide album will be part of my playlists for future Decembers to come! :metal
Glad you liked it! :tup
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Here's a Christmas song for people that may be in delusion of Christmas spirit from a band that most people here may not like, Blink 182. This line just seals the deal of the song for me. "It's Christmas time again. It's time to be nice to the people you can't stand. All year."
Blink 182 - I Won't Be Home For Christmas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rISkhbNGhxw)
Lots of great lines in that song:
Outside the carolers start to sing
I can't describe the joy they bring
'Cause joy is something they don't bring me
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IQ released a very limited amount of a christmas CD last year. Sold out in a day or so.
Even includes an epic
https://youtu.be/rOLxCUucgXI
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Major bump for the following reasons:
- It's almost that time of the year, ho ho ho!
- Some people might start to wonder about stuff for their December compilations
- More importantly, James LaBrie starred on the Symphony North "debut" album (the 2017 one seems to be considered a demo, now it's a re-recorded double album), on the track "Every Doubt has an Answer", which is on YouTube and Spotify alongside the whole album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4-9sy5EQWU
Not my favorite track on the album but hearing James sing is always a big plus!
EDIT: I was almost forgetting that also Jordan Rudess is a guest on the track Christmas Wishes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh54wQYlJYE
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There's a band called Wizards of Winter, which was formed by some of the TSO cast-offs that used to be in the touring band. I've never cared to listen to them because TSO still exists and is so good at what they do, that I really don't need another version of them.
https://wizardsofwinter.com/
Dee Snider also did Van Helsing's Curse about 15 years ago, which was TSO for Halloween, and Al Pitrelli and others were on the record. It's not Christmas, but also featured a lot of TSO players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcLOh53WEk0&feature=emb_logo
These are on tour:
The Wizards of Winter - The Christmas Dream was release September 19th, 2019
Holiday rock ensemble THE WIZARDS OF WINTER kick off their 2019 Holiday Tour tonight in Key West, FL. The tour will cross the country before wrapping up at the end of December.
Originally started 10 years ago as a means to contribute to a local New Jersey food pantry, THE WIZARDS OF WINTER quickly grew beyond their regional foundation, releasing recorded music and touring the country annually with their classical and progressive-influenced rock music woven throughout a theatrical holiday-themed show.
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER recently released their anxiously-awaited new album, The Christmas Dream. Featuring 10 new original songs, The Christmas Dream is a rocking holiday sleigh ride that crosses musical boundaries from prog metal to contemporary, appealing to a broad and diverse audience.
This year, fans can expect to be dazzled with music from The Christmas Dream, as well as many of their own original classics that audiences have grown to cherish throughout the years.
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER 2019 Holiday Tour Dates:
11/13 - Key West, FL @ Key West Theatre
11/14 - Melbourne, FL @ Melbourne Auditorium
11/15 - Clearwater, FL @ The Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
11/16 - Stuart, FL @ Lyric Theater
11/21 - Pueblo, CO @ Pueblo Memorial Hall
11/22 - Alto, NM @ Spencer Theatre
11/23 - Gilbert, AZ @ Higley PAC
11/24 - Wickenburg, AZ @ Del E. Webb PAC
11/29 - Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
11/30 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Paramount Theatre
12/1 - Englewood, NJ @ Bergen PAC
12/5 - Angola, IN @ T. Furth PAC
12/6 - Pontiac, MI @ Flagstar Strand Theatre
12/7 - Johnson Creek, WI @ Gobbler Theatre
12/8 - St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
12/12 - Wisconsin Rapids, WI @ Wisconsin Rapids PAC
12/13 - Harris, MI @ Island Resort Casino
12/14 - Harris, MI @ Island Resort Casino
12/15 - Wabash, IN @ Honeywell Theatre
12/17 - Canton, OH @ Canton Palace
12/19 - Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
12/20 - Jim Thorpe, PA @ Penns Peak
12/21 - Roanoke Rapids, NC @ Roanoke Rapids Theatre
12/22 - Bristol, TN at Paramount PAC
12/27 - Portland, ME @ Aura
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER have added even more new talent to their ranks this year, including violinist and backup vocalist Kornelia Rad, lead vocalist and auxiliary keyboardist Alexis Smith, and last but not least, lead guitarist Steve Brown.
Aside from being a founding member of hard rock icons Trixter, lead guitarist Steve Brown has performed with Dennis DeYoung (formerly of Styx), Joe Lynn Turner (formerly of Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen), and on Broadway in the hit musical “Rock Of Ages”. In 2013, and again in 2018, Steve was invited to be the vicarial guitarist for the legendary Def Leppard. Lead vocalist and auxiliary keyboardist Alexis Smith has performed as a lead vocalist on Holland America cruises, in several Off Broadway and additional theatre productions, and performed a one-woman show at the Davenport Theater. Award-winning violinist and backup vocalist Kornelia Rad has toured worldwide with Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra, has worked with many accomplished European composers, and has been performing since childhood.
About THE WIZARDS OF WINTER:
Each night on tour, THE WIZARDS OF WINTER evoke the spirit of Christmas, weaving a story entirely based on their latest full-length album, The Magic of Winter, and new music. Each THE WIZARDS OF WINTER performance showcases soaring vocal harmonies, precision string instrumentation, outstanding guitar leads, powerful percussion and stunning keyboard work – taking the listener on a musical journey, covering many genres from pop to progressive rock. Previous tours have seen the THE WIZARDS OF WINTER performing their brand of theatrical yuletide rock to tens of thousands of attendees and has grabbed the attention of mainstream media such as Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo Music. The ensemble’s singles have also been aired on SiriusXM Holly.
To learn more about the THE WIZARDS OF WINTER, please visit www.facebook.com/TheWizardsofWinter and www.thewizardsofwinter.com.
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER is:
Scott Kelly - Founder, Keyboards
Sharon Kelly - Vocals/Flute
Fred Gorhau - Lead Guitar
Greg Smith - Bass
John O'Reilly - Drums
Steve Brown - Lead Guitar
Vincent Jiovino - Vocals
Karl Scully - Vocals
Alexis Smith - Vocals/Auxiliary Keys
Kornelia Rad - Violin/Vocals
Tony Gaynor – Narrator
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Alto....Alto...?!!!
Talk about a random place to play.
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^^ Also, they are hitting New Mexico and Arizona, but not California. Interesting. I don't know anything about them, but since I'm going to two Christmas concerts this season, I don't mind going to more.
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^^ Also, they are hitting New Mexico and Arizona, but not California. Interesting. I don't know anything about them, but since I'm going to two Christmas concerts this season, I don't mind going to more.
Alto is in New Mexico, small town that I haven't heard a band playing in. Nor did I know their is a performing arts center there.
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Wisconsin Rapids, WI?
Yikes.
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Keep in mind that the real TSO's tour is massive, hits many major markets and are playing two shows a day. They have those markets completely covered.
This little knock-off version of TSO isn't going to get those same cities, though they do look like they have some dates in the surrounding suburbs.
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The Wizards of Winter are becoming (musically wise at least) an alternative to TSO. On one hand, they're pretty derivative of them, but hey, there are legions of bands in every genre who exist only because a certain band existed before. Also, if TSO take forever to make an album and Paul O' Neill's death definitively won't be a speeding factor in that, I welcome more music in the same style, and alternative to Christmas music rather than wearing out TSO's only three Xmas albums.
With Black Sabbath retired would it be so annoying to have a doom metal band clearly and totally inspired by them as long as you genuinely like their songs?
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Wizards of Winter; never heard of them, but Greg Smith and John O'Reilly were the rhythm section for the Doogie Howser version of Rainbow back in '95 or so.
And two thumbs up for the press release using "vicarial" correctly in a sentence. :) (It means "substitutional" in this context; Steve Brown stepped in for Vivian Campbell when Viv was dealing with an illness.)
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Cool word. :tup Sounds like the same root as "vicarious".
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Those who didn't know, almost every Finnish metal singer have contributed on a christmas album called Ragnarok Juletide (Raskasta Joulua in Finnish, 4 albums are on Spotify for example) which have some Finnish and some more obscure traditional christmas songs with heavy twist. It have grown a truly big epic concert Hall tour here in Finland and there are vocalists from Finland and other countries as well like Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Marco Hietala, Tarja Turunen, Tony Kakko and others.
Full album: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91k-V8EjkgDX1Ac5zY8623YR3sim2gpV
For example First Noel with some "nuggets": https://youtu.be/so2qulAMLkg
:omg: Wow, instant fan. A million thankyous.
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Those who didn't know, almost every Finnish metal singer have contributed on a christmas album called Ragnarok Juletide (Raskasta Joulua in Finnish, 4 albums are on Spotify for example) which have some Finnish and some more obscure traditional christmas songs with heavy twist. It have grown a truly big epic concert Hall tour here in Finland and there are vocalists from Finland and other countries as well like Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Marco Hietala, Tarja Turunen, Tony Kakko and others.
Full album: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91k-V8EjkgDX1Ac5zY8623YR3sim2gpV
For example First Noel with some "nuggets": https://youtu.be/so2qulAMLkg
Coming back to this post, since once again I'm in full immersion with the Ragnarok Juletide album and I've decided it's time to explore the rest of their catalogue.
First of all, the finnish language is not a barrier, I listen to Korpiklaani for example, but it is a difficult language and so the titles and the songs they relate to are all a blur to me. So some quick questions:
- It's my understanding that Ragnarok Juletide is a sort of "english greatest hits" of songs found on previous albums sung in finnish, am I right?
- Are all the albums basically this combination of Xmas tunes and original songs (at least I think some are original...), or some are out of this style and maybe to be left for last?
- This is their discography as present on The Metal Archives:
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Raskasta_Joulua/3540389872
Should I go for the albums named Raskasta Joulua (and 2 and IV), with "Tulkoon joulu -Akustisesti-" being, I assume, an acoustic album?
I know I could just dive right into it, but a little guide of what to expect from songs whose language is basically intelligible and for which I'd have a hard time to associate titles with music :D
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https://youtu.be/JCJRq3Y9Seo
DIO 🤘
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If you like Heavy Christmas music, check out August Burns Red's Sleddin' Hill album :metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqhjBIalXdw
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7EYqXkoWts this is my kind of Christmas music (or alternatively Zappa In New York, it was recorded on Dec. 26th, 1976 after all, it's my tradition to listen to that one on every Dec 26th)
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LA GUNS put a Christmas album a couple weeks ago
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I recently bought the Cheap Trick Christmas album that was released a couple of yours ago, and am very impressed. It’s a good fun Christmas album.
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Not sure if this was already posted somewhere here but I really enjoy this combo of gospel and the cheesiest of power metal (including the singer of Gloryhammer).
Valhalelujah - Nanowar of Steel.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA (https://youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA)
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Not sure if this was already posted somewhere here but I really enjoy this combo of gospel and the cheesiest of power metal (including the singer of Gloryhammer).
Valhalelujah - Nanowar of Steel.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA (https://youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA)
Yeah, it was mentioned in the thread about their other lethal combo, reggaeton and black metal (with the summer hit Norwegian Reggaeton), but it's nice to have it in this list as well :D
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Too soon for a bump?
Ho ho ho, the season's almost upon us and it's time to find new music to hear during December!
First of all, in Orbert's excellent discography thread there's a post dedicated to Jethro Tull's Christmas album (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=55247.msg2706478#msg2706478), which can be a good choice as any if you're more on the folkish side of Xmas.
Then, on to somehow new stuff:
- The power metal band Majestica, which I didn't really know about, is coming out in a couple of weeks with a concept album about A Christmas Carol. There are two songs out so far, which are a mishmash of power metal music and traditional Xmas themes:
Ghost of Christmas Past (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ol8DlEPEaM)
Ghost of Marley (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_RKRbA9gRY)
It's a total and complete power metal cheesefest, but so jolly and happy that some might find it actually endearing ;D
- Jon Schaffer reunited with Matt Barlow to give us a Xmas EP!!! the song We Three Kings is out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCb7And5jUw
- Dee Snider and Lzzy Hale teamed up as well for a new song:
The Magic of Christmas Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBCgjwreG8)
And speaking of Twisted Sister, they did back then a full Christmas album.
- Last year the italian band Temperance made a song called Lost in the Christmas Dream, nice enough to be worth a mention, too bad it ends when it finally seemed it was about to take its stride:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woEVvJkdGrs
Bring on any new Christmas music you enjoy! be it on the metal / rock side or on the folkish / neoceltic / newwaveish style!
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Not sure if anyone mentioned it previously in the thread, but the Merry Axemas V1 & V2 albums are excellent and along with TSO, are my go to Christmas albums
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So Trans Siberian Orchestra is streaming a concert tonight.....$30. I went ahead and bought it, gonna watch tonight with the Family. My wife and I went to a show a few years back and it was pretty cool. I'm not sure the online experience will be the same but it's something to watch and do with the family. We're all music fans.
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TSO’s live shows are fantastic. Much heavier than the albums, I’ve seen them twice live.
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Already posted it in the Blind Guardian thread but they released a Christmas single:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug2lRwdqubE (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug2lRwdqubE)
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TSO’s live shows are fantastic. Much heavier than the albums, I’ve seen them twice live.
I’ve only seen one live and it was awesome.
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I saw two shows from them in back to back years (2018 and 2019) in Ontario, California and they were great shows. Took my family to last year's show and they enjoyed it. Would have loved to do it again this year......
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Russel Allen just tore it up! Makes me want some Symphony X now.
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Russel Allen just tore it up! Makes me want some Symphony X now.
Followed by Jeff Scott Soto who sounded great as well.
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Mrs. Orbert bought it, and then they changed her schedule and she had to work until 7:00, which is when the show started. So we're gonna check it out tomorrow. It's good all weekend.
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Nothing really like TSO, but Big Big Train’s Christmas tune, appropriately titled “Merry Christmas,” is really good, and the companion track “Snowfalls” is even better.
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IQ released a very limited amount of a christmas CD last year. Sold out in a day or so.
Even includes an epic
https://youtu.be/rOLxCUucgXI
I discovered this album not long after it came out, and every holiday season since then, I make time to spin it at least a dozen or so times in its entirety. It's a really good album, and the opening and closing tracks in particularly are just classic IQ.
-Marc.
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Peter Orullian (ex-Fifth Ange, ex-Heir Apparent) has a new project called Symphony North. Stylistically, it is basically TSO-like, with Peter's story. It even features some former TSO people. Check it out here:
https://www.symphonynorth.com/
Remember this project? it's a double album of classic metal in TSO vein, and as discussed in the years ago, it features Jordan Rudess on an instrumental piece, and James LaBrie singing a full track.
They just posted a "full playthrough" on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/symphonynorthband/videos/304022074263766/
It's not a live performance, what you hear is the studio recording; however you do see every band member playing their parts, as advertised (it's a playthrough, you see them playing along).
Our DT boys make no exception and if you want to see their performances, check Jordan's song, Christmas Wishes, at 24:35, while the song sang entirely by James, Every Doubt has an Answer, is at 1h35:01.
Anyone else who's into TSO should definitively check this album if it flew under their radar, so many brilliant songs on this.