Wolfking's Wonderful Winger roulette v.3 - Round 5 album listening!!

[twosuitsluke]

That looks badass.  That trailer looks familiar but I don't think I ended up seeing it.

It's well worth a watch dude.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I played a lot of Street Fighter growing up, but didn't really get into most of the other media surrounding it.  I saw the live action film, but not the animated one.  I first heard AIC through hearing "Man in the Box" on the radio, and Dirt is their masterpiece for me. 

Litho - Imagika - Portrait of a Hanged Man

So what we have here is some pretty straightforward thrash influenced power metal.  This was actually really quite killer and I actually think the track you sent may be one of the weaker ones.  I think a lot of the melodies work a lot better in most the other songs.  I've never heard of these guys at all, but even though this is simply a what you see is what you get kind of band and album, it's a fun listen.  I appreciated the vocals a lot more during the listen to the album.  Those harsh vocals at times were awesome too, would have liked a little more of those truthfully.  Very familiar sound but again, that's no issue.  The guitar also is worth noting.  There's enough here in the instrumental sections to keep me interested throughout the songs.  The riffing is groovy enough too to help the overall sound too.  There is nothing new here and I'm not sure exactly how much replay power a style like this has anymore but it ticked all the boxes.  Better than expected.

This is always a fascinating aspect of roulettes (and leads me to constant overthinking of course!), trying to pick not just the right band, but the right song(s), and seeing people latch onto different ones is endlessly intriguing.  Which were the standouts to you?  I definitely pondered several others as well, but thought the pre-chorus and ending gave it a more ominous and unique vibe.  Their early albums have arguably stronger material in general, but sound like an Iced Earth clone at times (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).  The lower tunings and sprinklings of growls in later albums I think differentiate them a bit more, which is why I opted for something more recent. 

[wolfking]

Honestly couldn't pinpoint any favourites from a single listen.  Maybe GHB, title track, Simple Servant?  The middle of the album was good.  Honestly though, I just think the one you sent is one of the weakerst, but however, maybe I was just more in the groove of the style now than I was before.

[wolfking]

Nice...I would, as would all other Lovebites fans here, recommend Electric Pentagram next. It's easily their best effort.

Loading this one up now.

Holy shit, 70 minutes!!

[wolfking]

  The pre chorus of Holy War is a direct rip of Sonata Arctica's Wolf and Raven.

[wolfking]

So halfway through this one and it's pretty damn enjoyable.  I stand by my original statement and what Tim said too, the vocals get tiring pretty quickly but it's all still really impressive metal.  This has more the Stratovarius power metal kinda thing going as opposed to the EP which felt more straight ahead Judas Priest style metal.  I think the vocals work a little better with the style of the EP.  Today is the Day was great and I'm up to Destinies Align and that's a killer chorus Tolkki would be proud of.

Impressive playing all round, very impressive.

[wolfking]

This is too long though.  Should be 50 minutes at most.

[lonestar]

Frozen Serenade is my favorite from it, really hoping they pull it out for the US shows.

[Evermind]

Frozen Serenade is my favorite from it, really hoping they pull it out for the US shows.

The fact you've changed your mind about sending that song still baffles me. I've listened to it a couple more times since that round and it's really good.

Re: Wine from Tears, yeah, it's nothing flashy but it's a solid album. Maybe a bit too long though.

[wolfking]

The fact you've changed your mind about sending that song still baffles me. I've listened to it a couple more times since that round and it's really good.

Re: Wine from Tears, yeah, it's nothing flashy but it's a solid album. Maybe a bit too long though.

Possibly yes, but it wasn't a case where I kept looking at the playlist to see how long was left.

[wolfking]

Finally managed to get back into some roulette listening so here's a few I hit going into round 5;

TAC - Temnein - 404BC.

So, going by the song that you sent, I figured I was just going to get more of the same for the album, and right I was.  Nevertheless, this is some pretty strong melodic death metal.  I get lots of Between the Buried and Me vibes through this which since I'm a fan, is not a bad thing.  Lots of groove, cool riffing and vocals which really suit me fine.  This was easy to listen to and ended up easily sitting through the whole album without getting bored or the itch to skip anything, really cool shit.  Bright Knife was epic AF.


Luke - Ackercocke - Renaissance in Extrmis

I love Disappear, it's a cracker and finally getting around to this one, the whole album is more of the same.  I simply love the diversity of what's going on throughout these songs.  This seems like an album though that would need many listens to try and get your head around but after an initial spin, I enjoyed it all from start to finish.  The diversity in vocal delivery is so interesting and leaves you wondering what is coming next.  The production is great and the tones of the guitars and the bass are just so nice.  There is so stellar guitar soloing on this album too.  Very interesting and unique metal, need another listen


Puppies - Darkest Hour - Perpetual Terminal

I know the name of these guys and have done for years.  I remember Tim sending them to me I think in my first roulette but I never really followed through.  Goddess of War was a nice surprise and a killer epic song.  This is pretty tasty melodeath right here.  Obviously, there is nothing breaking any new ground but pretty cool shit across the board.  I get a lot of Lamb of God and even Shadows Fall vibes along with some splashes of Soilwork and bands alike.  There's heavy stuff across the board but some nice changes in pace with songs One With the Void and that following on with Amor Fati is class stuff.  Goddess is still the highlight easily, but this was a very enjoyable album.


Litho - Silver Talon - Decadence and Decay

I don't really have a great deal to say about this one, because it really did nothing for me.  Lots of cool elements are there and the performances are solid but something about this just didn't do it for me at all.  Vocals were pretty average too IMO.  I felt it lacked any sort of real distinct melodies to really hook you in.  And also, while the melodies lacked, the riffing felt pretty run of the mill also and generic for the genre.  Not much groove or hooks in the riffing either.  I think I scored the song I received okay, but all in all, nothing here really I'd come back to.


Evermind - Destinity - In Continuum

Lots of Dark Tranquility vibes straight off the bat, which is solid.  This is some really good melodeath, I quite enjoyed it.  Easy listening and pretty consistent.  The more I listen the more I hear Dark Tranquility, but that's fine.  I like the vocals and while there's nothing here new or unique, there was enough happening in the songs to really hold me interest and keep listening.  Shadows I will say is fucking amazing.  Can't wait to revisit that song.  Even though we have a consistent feel throughout, there's a bit of diversity in the sounds at time and the atmosphere I found.  I did slightly trail off at the end but all in all, great band, great album.


SN/Rom - Sikth - The Future in Whose Eyes?

So, I always say the name around a lot but never heard a thing until this roulette.  Spinning this album, I really quite like it.  It has a great mix of styles.  Lots of different 90's style influences, some nu-metal, some modern and a lot of things in between really.  Funny that this is was released in 2017 but sounds like it could have come straight out of that late 90's early 2000's timeframe.  So Im guessing they stayed pretty true to the sound of when they started?  There's some cool riffs here and I enjoy the variety in the vocals.  It was pretty easy listening in a weird way and while I admit it's not normally my thing, I enjoyed listening to the whole thing.  I was surprised they only have 3 albums too, might dive into the first two.


Jingle - Into the Great Divide - Self Titled

An instrumental album with a spoke word intro to each song.  That's definitely something unique.  All in all, not a lot to say about this one, I didn't find it overly exciting nor did I find it bad in any way.  Everything on offer here is easy listening with some nice melodies and licks throughout.  They do pretty well conveying different moods throughout the songs in relation to the themes from what I could gather.  It's a bit long but some nice easy listening instrumental.  Not sure it has the replay value for me though.  The guitar work was solid without being mind blowing but chops all round regardless.


King - The Moor - Ombra

Once we hit the second track this was not what I was expecting after hearing the song you sent me, but in a pleasant way.  Lovely growls and some great heaviness.  I really really enjoyed this from start to finish.  Couldn't take it all in so need another spin but this had lots of variety, especially in the vocals, great guitar work and great production.  Passage actually might be one of the weakest songs on here so I was very surprised at this album, impressive, keen to dive into it again.

[jingle.boy]

Completely fair comment regarding Into The Great Divide. 

[lonestar]

 

[wolfking]

But yours doesn't have an album?  it's just the single song. 

[wolfking]

Completely fair comment regarding Into The Great Divide.

I think 10 years ago I would have enjoyed this a hell of a lot more.  I've slightly moved away from a lot of instrumental unless it heavy ala Andy James.

[lonestar]

But yours doesn't have an album?  it's just the single song. 

Ah, was this the Mera round?

[wolfking]

Ah, was this the Mera round?

 

Sorry, I probably should have reminded you of that aspect before laughing at you haha.

[lonestar]

All good bud

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Oof, thought that would work out better.  They seem more popular in various other metal spaces but haven't taken so well here for some reason.  Oh well, at least Akerkocke and Darkest Hour went over well, bands I'm also a fan of. 

[wolfking]

Oof, thought that would work out better.  They seem more popular in various other metal spaces but haven't taken so well here for some reason.  Oh well, at least Akerkocke and Darkest Hour went over well, bands I'm also a fan of. 

I mean, they have all the elements that should point to me enjoying them, but, just one of those ones that didn't hit the mark unfortunately.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I mean, they have all the elements that should point to me enjoying them, but, just one of those ones that didn't hit the mark unfortunately.

Yeah, it happens, and then sometimes albums that don't have the right elements (or even the wrong ones) hit inexplicably.