The Official Hard Rock / Classic Metal Music Discussion and Memorabilia Thread!

[jjrock88]

That's a good and fair review!

[wolfking]

TA gets put on hold for another day for me. 

[ozzy554]

Still waiting for my copy to arrive in the mail

[TAC]

Totally fair review Brent.

[Lowdz]

Nice try Brent. That's a lot better than I expected you to rate it. I'm still loving the shit out of it.
I'm with you on musicals generally, though I have seen phantom and rocky horror and enjoyed them in the theater.
The closest I have to an album anything like this is Jeff Lynne's war of the worlds.

I do read a lot of fantasy so that helps, but I was filled with dread at the thought of what they were attempting so maybe my love for TA is in part due to relief 

I've probably played it 6 times through now and I keep finding the recurring themes and motifs.

Yeah, I'm loving it.

[jjrock88]

Primal Fear   

[wolfking]

It's good then hey Jason?

[jjrock88]

Oh yeah, it's everything you would expect from PF.

I'm not overly familiar with Axel Rudi Pell (except for some hits and the Nasty Reputation album with Rob), but I know you guys mention that all of his albums sound similar.  I guess you could probably say the same thing about Primal Fear, but I find they change things up and add things enough where it doesnt fall into the ACDC category.

[wolfking]

Yeah, PF will never get to the ARP category of rehashing the same shit, but I know what you mean.  You don't want much change in the PF style anyway.  Interesting to see how it stacks up against DTB.

[jjrock88]

Not likely to ever top that one.  But I will say that I am glad to hear Primal Fear this week after playing The Astonishing last week.

[TAC]

Yeah, PF will never get to the ARP category of rehashing the same shit, 

They won't??

I'm not totally into them, but I feel like I already know what the new one will be like.

[wolfking]

Yeah, PF will never get to the ARP category of rehashing the same shit, 

They won't??

I'm not totally into them, but I feel like I already know what the new one will be like.

No, ARP takes it to another level.  That's just my opinion though.  In terms of the bands individual styles, and their discographies, there is a lot more variety on PF albums then on ARP albums.

[jjrock88]

Yeah, PF will never get to the ARP category of rehashing the same shit, 

They won't??

I'm not totally into them, but I feel like I already know what the new one will be like.

You're probably right Tim!  And Primal Fear doesnt change their formula up too much ever.  If it's ARP or ACDC level, thats subjective.  But I'm a sucker for classic old school metal, so it all sounds good to me!

[TAC]

Yeah, I've had a hard time with PF holding my attention. Ralf is an acquired taste I think. It's been awhile since I spun DTB. It's not that I don't like it, but to me, it's "just there".

[jjrock88]

Do you not get the Judas Priest vibe?

[TAC]

Do you not get the Judas Priest vibe?

Oh yeah, totally. But I'm also not wicked into Judas Priest either. I hope that's not too controversial. 

[bl5150]

Yeah, I've had a hard time with PF holding my attention. Ralf is an acquired taste I think. It's been awhile since I spun DTB. It's not that I don't like it, but to me, it's "just there".

I like Rulebreaker better than DTB because it does mix it up a bit -there's some more varied songwriting.  And the bonus tracks add to that.

[jjrock88]

Do you not get the Judas Priest vibe?

Oh yeah, totally. But I'm also not wicked into Judas Priest either. I hope that's not too controversial. 

That makes sense then.  I can't see someone being huge into PF if they arent much into Priest.  The two seem to go hand in hand.

[TAC]

Yeah, I've had a hard time with PF holding my attention. Ralf is an acquired taste I think. It's been awhile since I spun DTB. It's not that I don't like it, but to me, it's "just there".

I like Rulebreaker better than DTB because it does mix it up a bit -there's some more varied songwriting.  And the bonus tracks add to that.

I do plan on getting it, but it's probably a few weeks away.

[TAC]

OK.............I have now listened to The Astonishing three times , last time reading along with the story on dt.net and I must admit that it did boost the listening experience.  So , as I originally surmised , if you're not prepared to get involved in the story there ain't much there in terms of individual songs.  I normally wouldn't even bother , as if I don't like the music right off the bat I generally don't bother with concepts or rock operas at all.   That's why I never got into SFAM as it just sounded too focused on forcibly squeezing the story into a song format and I felt it dragged down the quality of the music/songs.

Now that I'm home, I can properly take all of your review in. I didn't realize you weren't a fan of SFAM.
I totally understand the "squeezing in the story" feeling and how it can be a turn off. I don't really feel that way about Scenes, but I get it. King Diamond, I feel, can sometimes be guilty of this (Abigail II).

As I got through Disc 1, I kept thinking, well what if this was it, and how would that stack up to Scenes. The thing about Scenes is that musically it is so intense. And the moodier stuff (TSCO) hits a home run, where I think TA lacks this home run climax. Hymn Of A Thousand Voices could've done that, but I think it comes quite short.
Also, Scenes has Through Her Eyes, which is cool. But it's cool that they only go to that well once, as opposed to what seems like 10 times on TA.


I don't think TA will crack my Top 3 or so, but I still feel that while it has its warts, it's an awesome album, which I do love. It's an album that I feel like DT had to make.

[jingle.boy]

I like Rulebreaker better than DTB because it does mix it up a bit -there's some more varied songwriting.  And the bonus tracks add to that.

So far, I'm giving Rulebreaker a slight edge over DTB.

And as far as ARP goes, if you've heard one album, you've heard 'em all - the only variety in his albums is when he changes vocalists - and Gioelli has been there for what Kade... 5-6 albums?  Haven't heard the new one, but the one from '14 was enjoyable, but just the same ole, same ole from him.  Not that it's bad, but I don't see the need to continually give him $10 for something I've already got in my library 4 times over.   

[wolfking]

I like Rulebreaker better than DTB because it does mix it up a bit -there's some more varied songwriting.  And the bonus tracks add to that.

So far, I'm giving Rulebreaker a slight edge over DTB.

And as far as ARP goes, if you've heard one album, you've heard 'em all - the only variety in his albums is when he changes vocalists - and Gioelli has been there for what Kade... 5-6 albums?  Haven't heard the new one, but the one from '14 was enjoyable, but just the same ole, same ole from him.  Not that it's bad, but I don't see the need to continually give him $10 for something I've already got in my library 4 times over.   

Try 10 (including the new one) and 1 cover album.

Your last sentence sums up my views too. 

[Lowdz]

I like Rulebreaker better than DTB because it does mix it up a bit -there's some more varied songwriting.  And the bonus tracks add to that.

So far, I'm giving Rulebreaker a slight edge over DTB.

And as far as ARP goes, if you've heard one album, you've heard 'em all - the only variety in his albums is when he changes vocalists - and Gioelli has been there for what Kade... 5-6 albums?  Haven't heard the new one, but the one from '14 was enjoyable, but just the same ole, same ole from him.  Not that it's bad, but I don't see the need to continually give him $10 for something I've already got in my library 4 times over.   

Try 10 (including the new one) and 1 cover album.

Your last sentence sums up my views too.

It's not even funny anymore. There's just no point. How many times can you rewrite The Oceans of Time? The new one is fine, it's just no different to the last several. First one is still the best.

[wolfking]

That's what I thought when listening to it.  What's the point, seriously?

[Lowdz]

That's what I thought when listening to it.  What's the point, seriously?

If an ARP song came on randomly you'd have little chance of knowing what album it was from. You could probably guess the track number though 

[jjrock88]

wow, its that bad with ARP'S material?

[jingle.boy]

That's what I thought when listening to it.  What's the point, seriously?

If an ARP song came on randomly you'd have little chance of knowing what album it was from. You could probably guess the track number though 

I literally laughed out loud.  Good thing I wasn't drinking anything.

wow, its that bad with ARP'S material?

Pretty much.  It's not that it's bad to listen to, just that he's the musical equivalent of Groundhog Day.

[wolfking]

wow, its that bad with ARP'S material?

Yes, and it's getting worse as the albums go on.

That's what I thought when listening to it.  What's the point, seriously?

If an ARP song came on randomly you'd have little chance of knowing what album it was from. You could probably guess the track number though 

haha, yeah very true.

[ozzy554]

I finally got The Astonishing in the mail today. Now just to actually sit myself down to listen to it.



Also who ever had the bright idea to glue the booklet to the case should be fired .

[jjrock88]

When I listened, I didn't follow along with the booklet.  Did anyone find that helped get into the album more?

[Big Hath]

OK.............I have now listened to The Astonishing three times , last time reading along with the story on dt.net and I must admit that it did boost the listening experience. 

[Lowdz]

When I listened, I didn't follow along with the booklet.  Did anyone find that helped get into the album more?

Yep. You might as well know what the fuck is going on if you're going to do it. The track by track on the Astonishing web page is very helpful too. Still playing it every day but did break it up a bit with Rulebreaker and the new Brainstorm.

[Lowdz]

Have we talked about the Resurrection Kings album?mhave had a listen and it's pretty good. Another one with a Whitesnake vibe but not as much of a direct copy as the Voodoo Circle.

[jingle.boy]

I spun that recently too, and thought it was VERY good.  Thought it would be another Frontiers-by-the-numbers, but found it really good.

Wait, I'm mixing this up with Revolution Saints.

Oh, FFS!  Frontiers really needs to come of with some better project names!

[jjrock88]

I like what I hear from Resurrection Kings; same kind of vibe as Voodoo Circle

Why Jake didn't keep Chas West is strange.  Great voice on this guy.