Dr. DTVT's 50 Underappriciated bands v. Better than the Loch Ness Monster

[Gadough]

You know who doesn't like Intronaut?  People who suck.  Do you suck, Gadough?

A little bit, yeah

[wolfking]

You know who doesn't like Intronaut?  People who suck.  Do you suck, Gadough?

A little bit, yeah

 

[jingle.boy]

Ouch, harsh!!!  Getting sexed by Arrich should be an inalienable human right.

Fortunately I know have just a handful already, and so I am allowed to sex myself later...

FTFY

[Dr. DTVT]

36.  Ice Age - The Great Divide & Liberation



Genre: Progressive metal
For fans of: Circus Maximus, Eumeria (since they seem to be getting some now)
What makes them special:  Incredibly talented band, great leads and riffs, sweet bass, powerful vocalist.

Ice Age was one of the first bands I discovered that had no connection to DT.  I found them through the Magna Carta record label on a flyer (ok, it took me 6 hours to download on Napster - but I did buy the albums).  Ice Age should be one of the bigger names if they would have just stuck with it and got off Magna Carta.  It still disappoints me that these guys gave up something they did SO well, to try to make more commercial music by rebranding themselves, a venture that failed.  Right from the opening track of their debut album, "Perpetual Child", you can tell these guys can bring it.  The rest of the album doesn't let up, this is one of the best debut albums I've ever heard.  I can't resist not humming along with some of their leads and riffs.  They have their own sound and not like a DT clone.  The follow Liberation is just a slight step down from The Great Divide, but it still delivers lots of goodies.  "The Lhasa Road (No Surrender)" is possibly their best song, delivering their signature powerful sound.  Even though it's been over 10 years since their last album, these albums still get into the rotation despite my ever expanding album collection, and I don't think I'll ever tire of them completely.

Tracks to try: Perpetual Child*, Sleepwalker, To Say Goodbye (Parts 1 & 2), The Lhasa Road (No Surrender)*, The Blood of Ages, The Guardian of Forever

[jingle.boy]

I continue to sit in the penalty box and feel shame.  My 'check it out' list continues to grow.... and sit idle.   

C'mon, when are ya gonna get to the stuff that I *do* know, so I can help you pimp them?

[Dr. DTVT]

The next band is Canadian 

I think you know 33, and I'm fairly certain you know 31, and I damn well know you know 29.

[Nick]

Saga or Triumph on deck.

[Dr. DTVT]

Strikes 1 and 2

[jingle.boy]

well, I could list on and on and on.  Thanks to the CRTC requirement that 30% radio content must be Canadian, we get a lot of exposure to great Canadian acts that otherwise wouldn't get airtime elsewhere.  I won't guess though ... and I'm going to feel a lot of shame if I don't know them.

[TAC]

Ice Age definitely sounds interesting!

[Elite]

Checking dat Ice Age shit out yo. This list surely has gotten me to new stuff so far, so thanks for that.

[wolfking]

Never heard Ice Age, sounds interesting also.

DTVT, I hope there is at least one Aussie band on your list, I'm pretty sure I know one that will be here.

[yorost]

Great pick with Ice Age, but I think you're nuts on how you rank the albums.   Liberation is a vast step above The Great Divide, a fantastic album.

They released an EP before rebranding, actually, I bought it right from the band, can't remember which one it was but he told me something like I might not like it since they were changing directions.  Not like it was bad, I'm glad I have it, but it made sense they changed names as they really left prog behind.

[kirksnosehair]

Both of those Ice Age discs are essential for any Dream Theater fan, I think.  The vocalist sounds like a dead ringer for Dennis DeYoung of Styx

[yorost]

I can see the similarities, but he's no dead ringer.  I'd have to go listen closer, but I don't think he's as nasal,

Ice Age was one of the first bands I explored the current prog scene beyond Dream Theater related projects.  They hold a very strong sentimental value with me.

edit:

Both of those Ice Age discs are essential for any Dream Theater fan, I think.

Actually, this, I think, points out to me why I think Liberation is the better album.  The Great Divide doesn't set itself apart from Dream Theater or its many clones that well, so even if it is really good. it's a product you feel you can get from many places.  Liberation, though, takes a political/human rights theme a lot of prog metal bands avoid, and sets itself apart from the crowd with the same damn well done (or better) music. 

[ytserush]

Sold the first Ice Age back years ago and I can't quite pull the the trigger on Liberation although I've considered dumping it for years.






Next up Max Webster....

[Dr. DTVT]

35. Mystery - Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face & One Among the Living



Genre: Progressive Rock
For fans of:  Keyboard leads, Yes
What makes them special: They create beautiful soundscapes without resorting to sonic overload.

I'll start by admitting my knowledge of Yes is so woefully insufficient that the Yes comparison might not be valid musically, but the current Mystery vocalist was Jon Anderson's replacement, so I would think Yes fans would be more than interested in Mystery.  That said, there is a lot more to love about Mystery than Benoit David's smooth vocals.  While the guitarist is the driving force for the band creatively, it's the keyboard playing that always grabs my attention and draws me in, both in terms of some of keyboard leads and atmospheric contributions, and it's those atmospheric contributions that really keep the music flowing.  These are two of my favorite albums to just lie down and detach myself from reality too, as I feel my body floating through a musical ether.  Not that the rest of the band are slouches, but the other aspect that always jumps out if Benoit David's vocal talent, which is immediately obvious even if you had no knowledge of his Yes connection.  His powerful high register delivery is very smooth, which really contributes to the ethereal aspect of the listening experience.  Over time I seem to be more partial to Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face according to iTunes, and I would probably agree with my subconscious assessment.  They are scheduled to release a new album this year that has me very excited.

Tracks to try: Beneath the Veil of Winters Face, Travels to the Night*, Into the Scarlet Eye, Wolf, Through Different Eyes, Sailing on a Wing

[Nick]

Nice picks, really enjoy both albums.

[Dr. DTVT]

Recap:

50. Pinnacle
49. Zero Hour
48. Turisas
47. Eumeria
46. It Bites
45. Kaddisfly
44. Eternity X
43. Vonassi
42. Worlds
41. The Tangent
40. Circle II Circle
39. Intronaut
38. Grayceon
37. Haggard
36. Ice Age
35. Mystery

[Pols Voice]

Yes, two bands I like! Ice Age was a really great band. I like Liberation better than The Great Divide. The Blood of Ages and The Guardian of Forever are just pure awesomeness. The band had some very dramatic choruses and vocals.

From Mystery, I've only heard One Among the Living. Cool emotional stuff, and Benoit David is more in his element than he was in Yes.

[Dr. DTVT]

I'd just like to say I appriciate everyone who is following and participating.

[jingle.boy]

Still failing ... me that is.  Sounds like something up my alley.

[King Postwhore]

Dear god I still only know 3 of these bands!!!  I need to listen to a few.  Sunday may be a good day for that.

[wolfking]

I still only know 3 bands too.

[ReaperKK]

Following, and I have so much to check out.

[The King in Crimson]

2/50 so far.

Not surprised really.

Actually, I've heard of most of the bands mentioned but I haven't listened to many of them.

[Dr. DTVT]

I want to direct everyone following my thread to this thread today: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=31700.0

Save yourself a TON of money and you can get free shipping as well.

[senecadawg2]

Listening to Ice Age right now, and loving it.

[Elite]

I want to direct everyone following my thread to this thread today: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=31700.0

Save yourself a TON of money and you can get free shipping as well.

Will this work internationally? Because if it does, GOD YES.

[Dr. DTVT]

I don't know.  Maybe not the free shipping.  Just try it, if it doesn't work you don't have to order.

[Elite]

Haha, yeah I got it thanks. The free shipping didn't work, but the prices were still better than over here.

[wolfking]

Save yourself a TON of money and you can get free shipping as well.

How?

[Dr. DTVT]

34.  Wuthering Heights - To Travel for Evermore, Far From the Maddening Field, Salt



Genre: folk/power metal hybrid and slightly proggy at times (particularly early in their career)
For fans of: Symphony X only without the cheese.  Like a vastly superior Falconer.
What makes them special: Manage to find a nice balance between the folk and power aspects so that neither dominates.

While I am keeping with only listing three albums, really as long as you don't start with debut Within you'll be ok, and even that isn't bad, its just the least good.  These are the three albums I know the best, but The Shadow Cabinet is not slouch either.  As you probably guessed, this Danish band takes their name from the Victorian era book by the same name.  Despite that, most of their songs are not about the Victorian era, but more like the medieval era.  To Travel for Evermore is their slowest and gloomiest sounding album, as they have picked up a slightly more up tempo and brighter sound as time has gone on as you would expect from a power metal band.  The real draw to this band for some people will be the lack of over-the-top aspects of some power metal bands, so it make a nice alternative for those otherwise like the sound, although they start to encroach on that territory at points, particularly their last two albums The Shadow Cabinet and Salt.

Tracks to try:  The Nevershining Stones, Dance In the Light, A Sinner's Confession, Tree, The Bollard, Longing for the Woods III: Herne's Prophecy, Cry, The Field, Lost at Sea

[Elite]

Finally I can say I know 2 bands nice inclusion for sure!

[Dr. DTVT]

33.  Adrenaline Mob - Omerta



Genre: Generic wannabe hardcore metal
For fans of: People who drink Natural Light
What makes them special:  They took two extremely talented musicians and made them sound bad

Mike Portnoy thinks this should be number 1.  Diplomatically, I told him that A-mob was well known and therefore it didn't deserve to be on this list, just like DT and Transatlantic are too well known.  He wouldn't relent, so I accepted his bribe of an A-Mob album table coaster, a guest spot on the next A-Mob album, and a handshake and put them on the list.  So go check out this album or he'll go psychosane.