New Allen/Lande!!!

[Dr. DTVT]

Most reviewers with bigger connections tend to overrate stuff because they want to continue to get free promos, which is why I tend to be wary of most reviews, and why I tend to be more critical because I want to be seen as a straight shooter and not a shill.

[Evermind]

Most reviewers with bigger connections tend to overrate stuff because they want to continue to get free promos, which is why I tend to be wary of most reviews, and why I tend to be more critical because I want to be seen as a straight shooter and not a shill.

Well, I totally agree with your point, yet overrate stuff a bit is one thing, and that Metal Temple review is frankly ridiculous.

[gazinwales]

Wolfking:
I'm a big fan of Tolkki, but by his own high standards, whether it be his illness or medication side effects, his output of the
last few years has been nowhere near that of his previous best.
The Stratovarius album from 2005 was a complete disaster, style wise and all the shit that was flying around with it.
He did redeem himself with the Revolution Renaissance album, even the demo with Kotipleto singing (which are around, or were) sound amazing
and would have made a classic Strato album.

Maybe he's out of ideas, I don't know but his recent output has been poor, I've heard a couple of Avalon songs, and it wasn't good.
Maybe it's Frontiers? Could they be restricting his talents with low budgets?

[wolfking]

Wolfking:
I'm a big fan of Tolkki, but by his own high standards, whether it be his illness or medication side effects, his output of the
last few years has been nowhere near that of his previous best.
The Stratovarius album from 2005 was a complete disaster, style wise and all the shit that was flying around with it.
He did redeem himself with the Revolution Renaissance album, even the demo with Kotipleto singing (which are around, or were) sound amazing
and would have made a classic Strato album.

Maybe he's out of ideas, I don't know but his recent output has been poor, I've heard a couple of Avalon songs, and it wasn't good.
Maybe it's Frontiers? Could they be restricting his talents with low budgets?

Hey man, I do agree with you, what he's done lately is just rubbish, but as I said, I liked the self titled quite a lot.  I can see why others hated it, but it has a certain charm IMO and most of the songs are solid.

The first RR was fabulous and an album I always enjoy listening too, but the next two RR albums are shit.  It's definitely not Frontiers fault, it's just Tolkki who can't write a decent and original song anymore.

I'll still buy it tommorow, but it sounds like it will be a listen then shelf it

I'd listen first jj. Buying it only encourages them to use him again 

Exactly why I am not purchasing the album.

[Bolsters]

The Allen/Lande Facebook page asked for peoples' opinions on the new album, and while there are a few naysayers, it's otherwise overwhelmingly positive.

[bl5150]

I just read the Facebook and i'd say there's at least as many against it.  Some pretty funny comments , but mostly just rehasing our DTF material 

[wolfking]

Yeah, the opinions seem pretty split down the middle.  One guy though says it's best Allen/Lande album?  Bloody hell!?

[wolfking]

I'm listening now and am up to Dream About Tomorrow, which the rhythm is pretty much an exact copy of RR's We Are Magic.

I know I'm biased against this, but this is a piece of shit.  Every song is unoriginal, exactly the same and so damn simplistic.  The music for Down From the Mountain and In the Hands of Time are the damn fucking same.  Solid Ground was painful and so damn boring.  The best song so far is in fact Edge of Thorns.  And funnily enough the only one that doesn't sound like the others.  Man, Savatage are a great band lol.

As I type I'm listening to Hymn to the Fallen which is actually a bit better and actually has not a bad vibe and atmosphere to it.

[wolfking]

Not much to report for the last few tracks.  So damn disappointing.

[Lowdz]

Yeah, the opinions seem pretty split down the middle.  One guy though says it's best Allen/Lande album?  Bloody hell!?

He must have bought it and he's trying to convince himself he hasn't just wasted some beer money 

[wolfking]

Yeah, the opinions seem pretty split down the middle.  One guy though says it's best Allen/Lande album?  Bloody hell!?

He must have bought it and he's trying to convince himself he hasn't just wasted some beer money 

True that. 

Seriously, compared to the first three masterpieces, this album is just a joke and does not stand up to any of then in any way.  The Showdown was by far the weakest of the three and even that is a work of art compared to this junk.  I'd still say the best song on the album by far is Edge of Thorns.

[jjrock88]

I can just review this one with one word- "meh".

Its average/ok, but not terrible.  Clearly the worst of the four.

Edge of Thorns is a great song though.

[wolfking]

I can just review this one with one word- "meh".

Its average/ok, but not terrible.  Clearly the worst of the four.

Edge of Thorns is a great song though.

Probably the only song worth replaying.

I wouldn't say it's terrible either, but compared to the first 3, it's an abomination.

[Lowdz]

I can just review this one with one word- "meh".

Its average/ok, but not terrible.  Clearly the worst of the four.

Edge of Thorns is a great song though.

Exactly how I felt. Not thought to try it again anyway.

[wolfking]

I can just review this one with one word- "meh".

Its average/ok, but not terrible.  Clearly the worst of the four.

Edge of Thorns is a great song though.

Exactly how I felt. Not thought to try it again anyway.

Yeah, I still have no urge to listen to it again at all.

[jingle.boy]

So, I went through my "Watch Later" list on YouTube that's been accumulating for a couple of months, and one of the new Allen/Lande tracks came on before I realized what was happening.  Fuck my ears!  It was about as dry as a popcorn fart.  I had to do an immediate cleanse by listening to the entire original trilogy.

[Zook]

Damn, I forgot this existed. Thanks assholes.

[wolfking]

It really is that bad.  I decided to have a second listen in the car a few weeks ago and ended up skipping through most of it.  Most unoriginal, repetivitve, boring pile of shit I've heard for a while.

I hope Frontiers learn from their mistakes here.  The weakest track on any of the first 3 (not that there really is anything weak) is better quality than this entire album.

Also, why the fuck is the title track a Jorn only song?  The duets of the Battle, then the Revenge and then the Showdown was such a cool little concept connecting the albums and then Tolkki of course shits all over it.

[jingle.boy]

Also, why the fuck is the title track a Jorn only song?  The duets of the Battle, then the Revenge and then the Showdown was such a cool little concept connecting the albums and then Tolkki of course shits all over it.

Because it's a 'great divide'.  I'm starting to see another meaning in here.... the quality between MK's albums, and TT's is also a 'great divide'.

[wolfking]

Also, why the fuck is the title track a Jorn only song?  The duets of the Battle, then the Revenge and then the Showdown was such a cool little concept connecting the albums and then Tolkki of course shits all over it.

Because it's a 'great divide'.  I'm starting to see another meaning in here.... the quality between MK's albums, and TT's is also a 'great divide'.

This is correct, yet still a massive understatement.

[jingle.boy]

Also, why the fuck is the title track a Jorn only song?  The duets of the Battle, then the Revenge and then the Showdown was such a cool little concept connecting the albums and then Tolkki of course shits all over it.

Because it's a 'great divide'.  I'm starting to see another meaning in here.... the quality between MK's albums, and TT's is also a 'great divide'.

This is correct, yet still a massive understatement.

Like the divide between Earth and the end of the universe.

[wolfking]

Also, why the fuck is the title track a Jorn only song?  The duets of the Battle, then the Revenge and then the Showdown was such a cool little concept connecting the albums and then Tolkki of course shits all over it.

Because it's a 'great divide'.  I'm starting to see another meaning in here.... the quality between MK's albums, and TT's is also a 'great divide'.

This is correct, yet still a massive understatement.

Like the divide between Earth and the end of the universe.

Keep going.

[Cool Chris]

Not sure if this is the 'official' Allen/Lande thread. It's not listed in the stickied Index of Artists thread. Anyway, gave them a listen based off of seeing them ranked fairly high on jingle.boy's artist listings. Been liking what I am hearing so far. Been listening to lots of great new (to me) stuff lately, based on dtf.org recommendations and my roulette, but Allen/Lande is standing out for some reason. The material seems less same-y, for lack of a better word, compared to the other bands, which, while all great, don't do anything to really set them apart for me.

[Evermind]

Fuck, I saw this thread resurrected and thought maybe there's a new Tolkki-less Allen/Lande in the works.

[The Walrus]

Fuck, I saw this thread resurrected and thought maybe there's a new Tolkki-less Allen/Lande in the works.

this makes me and not because of your post but because of how far the mighty Tolkki has fallen

[Cool Chris]

Ha! Sorry about that, I hate it when something like that happens to me. I am just late to this party and wanted to chime and say this is great stuff I am hearing.

[jingle.boy]

@ Ruslan... my exact thoughts too.  At first I was , then I was like 

Ha! Sorry about that, I hate it when something like that happens to me. I am just late to this party and wanted to chime and say this is great stuff I am hearing.

Stick to the first three albums - all written by Magnus Karlsson. If you like Allen/Lande, you'll probably like any/everything written by Magnus, and the lot of us here can make plenty of recommendations.

[Cool Chris]

I recall someone sent in a Magnus song to my roulette that scored well, so he is on my radar. Then I go to Wiki him, I see his discography lists 17 bands/projects, 3 of which have more than 2 releases, and Mike Portnoy says "Dude, I think you are involved in to many projects."

[jingle.boy]

I recall someone sent in a Magnus song to my roulette that scored well, so he is on my radar. Then I go to Wiki him, I see his discography lists 17 bands/projects, 3 of which have more than 2 releases, and Mike Portnoy says "Dude, I think you are involved in to many projects."

You're welcome.  Not My Saviour is a go-to roulette submission of mine.

[TAC]

I recall someone sent in a Magnus song to my roulette that scored well, so he is on my radar. Then I go to Wiki him, I see his discography lists 17 bands/projects, 3 of which have more than 2 releases, and Mike Portnoy says "Dude, I think you are involved in to many projects."

 

[wolfking]

Fuck, I saw this thread resurrected and thought maybe there's a new Tolkki-less Allen/Lande in the works.

Fucking this.   

First two are classic.  Third one is very good too.  Fourth one is crap and shouldn't have the Allen/Lande name on it.

First two are Magnus at his peak.