Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[cramx3]

for those complaining about the songs needing more work, Sherinian is already bombarding Bumblefoot with new ideas for the next album. Hopefully they'll get a bit more attention the 2nd time around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0OkpXqCPH8

That's good, it seems like these guys weren't together enough yet to maximize their potential.  If this has got the blood flowing and ideas are generating then that's great they have that on their minds and already working towards it.  Sure it's early, but I think there's a lot of potential for a strong follow up album once these guys spend significant time together.

[abydos]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

[gzarruk]

Why not. The album is done, the tour is yet to happen, so if they all get along fine and they're pumped for it what's wrong in thinking ahead? always better to work a lot of time on an album, with ideas coming from different writing sessions, than doing it all in a week.

[/b]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast. Now, it's just a week since it's been released and they're already working on the 2nd. A better strategy would've been to actally spend more time working on the 1st one instead of trying to get it right the 2nd time around.

And, btw, judging by the way Mike likes to schedule his bands, after the SoA tour ends, he's probably gonna go back to work/tour with FC, NMB, TA, etc etc. Who knows when the next album for this band will, if ever, be released.

[cramx3]

But maybe if they have material ready for a next album it will push it closer to being worked on over the rest of everyone elses projects?  I still think tour turnout will make the difference in terms of how quickly this band proceeds to the next album.

[MirrorMask]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

[Dave_Manchester]

Any info on where (or if) this thing landed on any charts? The album doesn't have its own Wiki page (which is where I usually check such info). Adrenaline Mob's debut reached 70 on the US Billboard chart, and I'm guessing this one will be quite a bit higher, given the players involved.

[The Walrus]

Any info on where (or if) this thing landed on any charts? The album doesn't have its own Wiki page (which is where I usually check such info). Adrenaline Mob's debut reached 70 on the US Billboard chart, and I'm guessing this one will be quite a bit higher, given the players involved.

I see Amazon (US) has Psychotic Symphony at #32 for best sellers in rock, but that's the only metric I can find, no idea about official charts or sales.

What I find more interesting is that Greta Van Fleet is at #25. They must be getting much more popular than I had thought.

[cramx3]

Any info on where (or if) this thing landed on any charts? The album doesn't have its own Wiki page (which is where I usually check such info). Adrenaline Mob's debut reached 70 on the US Billboard chart, and I'm guessing this one will be quite a bit higher, given the players involved.

I've never looked at this stuff until just now but

https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200

I don't see it listed for the last few weeks.

[Nekov]

Why not. The album is done, the tour is yet to happen, so if they all get along fine and they're pumped for it what's wrong in thinking ahead? always better to work a lot of time on an album, with ideas coming from different writing sessions, than doing it all in a week.

[/b]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast. Now, it's just a week since it's been released and they're already working on the 2nd. A better strategy would've been to actally spend more time working on the 1st one instead of trying to get it right the 2nd time around.

And, btw, judging by the way Mike likes to schedule his bands, after the SoA tour ends, he's probably gonna go back to work/tour with FC, NMB, TA, etc etc. Who knows when the next album for this band will, if ever, be released.

While I'd love for him to go back to work with TA or FC, they've been pretty clear that they want this to be a band and not just a project but as Dave points out, it'll come down to how good they do on sales and tour. And I can see them working on the second album while on tour, making use of all the time they're together. We'll see

[kaos2900]

Why not. The album is done, the tour is yet to happen, so if they all get along fine and they're pumped for it what's wrong in thinking ahead? always better to work a lot of time on an album, with ideas coming from different writing sessions, than doing it all in a week.

[/b]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast. Now, it's just a week since it's been released and they're already working on the 2nd. A better strategy would've been to actally spend more time working on the 1st one instead of trying to get it right the 2nd time around.

And, btw, judging by the way Mike likes to schedule his bands, after the SoA tour ends, he's probably gonna go back to work/tour with FC, NMB, TA, etc etc. Who knows when the next album for this band will, if ever, be released.

While I'd love for him to go back to work with TA or FC, they've been pretty clear that they want this to be a band and not just a project but as Dave points out, it'll come down to how good they do on sales and tour. And I can see them working on the second album while on tour, making use of all the time they're together. We'll see

The same thing was said about The Winery Dogs.

Figures.

In all fairness, while Z2 has very few keepers, March of the Poozers is one of them.

March of the Poozers is one of my favorite Dev songs. So silly but my god it rocks.

[bosk1]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast.

They did?  Where did you get that information?

Any info on where (or if) this thing landed on any charts? The album doesn't have its own Wiki page (which is where I usually check such info). Adrenaline Mob's debut reached 70 on the US Billboard chart, and I'm guessing this one will be quite a bit higher, given the players involved.

Not sure.  But I would imagine that if it had done well, Mike would have wanted people to know and would have put that information out there.  I'm not so sure about it doing better than AM.  Yeah, the players are well known.  But that doesn't necessarily translate into higher sales.  I could be wrong, but I don't think it did better than AM, and here's why:  First, AM, despite the players being less mainstream, got a decent amount of hype and media attention.  I haven't really seen the same level of media attention for Sons of Apollo.  Second, look at the distribution.  Omerta was released on Century Media.  Psychotic Symphony was released on Inside Out.  Century Media definitely has wider distribution.  And this next part is purely anecdotal, but I can tell you that Psychotic Symphony is not being carried in any of the mainstream retailers out here.  There is a local CD/record chain, and each of their stores got 1 copy of the album.  That isn't indicative of a label pushing the album or believing it will have very high sales numbers. 

Ultimately, I have no idea what this sold.  But Omerta only sold around 6,600 copies as a #70 debut.  To take another recent MP project, the Winery Dogs debut album sold 10,200 in its first week as a #27 album (I think it debuted a bit lower and climbed to that in its second or third week, if memory serves).  I can't imagine that Psychotic Symphony will do as well as TWD. 

[Stadler]

This video will enlighten you about poozers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGQjRMXg28

So... a poozer is either a singing scrotum with eyes, or a diaphragm with big square legs.   Makes perfect sense.

(I liked the tune, though.)

[Stadler]

I wonder how much DS and MP hindered him. One video he was saying him and DS got into it about the vocals. Although he is not what he was one strength of DT is the uniqueness of Labries vocals. The was JSS sings on this he could be replaced by a dozen similar singers such as Russell Allen.

I agree with this, especially the bolded part, but please, no Russ Allen.

I second this.   Just say no.

[Stadler]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

Or, if you're of a different opinion, just having some fun and poking fun at his old band and the inevitable comparisons between the two. 

He never once called them "losers" or anything like that, and he at one point acknowledged that it was all a joke and poking fun.   

[bosk1]

I've never heard anyone in any genre of music that simultaneously had as much diversity and power in their vocals as Russell Allen.  But having said that, I'm still glad they got Soto on this project.  I think he's a great fit.

[cramx3]

This video will enlighten you about poozers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGQjRMXg28

So... a poozer is either a singing scrotum with eyes, or a diaphragm with big square legs.   Makes perfect sense.

(I liked the tune, though.)

Sharing the wrong video, the live clip is much better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyPfrbJKMpg since it has two poozers on stage.  Aren't they like fart bubbles or something?

[Stadler]

I've never heard anyone in any genre of music that simultaneously had as much diversity and power in their vocals as Russell Allen.  But having said that, I'm still glad they got Soto on this project.  I think he's a great fit.

I must not have listened to the same stuff, or the right stuff.  I've gotten some Symphony X stuff in roulettes and what not, and I was just never that impressed.   It just sounds so... generic to me.   I'd take James over him any day of the week and twice on Sunday.  I think JSS is a shade generic too (and I've been critical of his singing on this album for being too one note) but I'd prefer him too. 

[TAC]

I've never heard anyone in any genre of music that simultaneously had as much diversity and power in their vocals as Russell Allen.  But having said that, I'm still glad they got Soto on this project.  I think he's a great fit.

I think Allen is a fantastic vocalist. But I have NEVER connected with him. It's one of the main reasons that Sym X is still at arms length.

[bosk1]

I don't know very much about him other than his work with Symphony X, so I may be reading too much into some snippets I've seen from interviews, but it seems like he is kind of disillusioned with Symphony X.  There was an interview not too long ago where he was saying he really wants to put all of his energy into Adrenaline Mob because it is more "pure" and he just gets to be himself, whereas in Symphony X, he was always more or less playing a character in his singing.  I mention that because I think his vocals really suited Symphony X for that reason.  He was able to pull of that big, epic, dramatic vocal and sell it (for those who don't get hung up on epic cheese ).  But I'm not sure that would have been the right approach for Sons of Apollo.  Yeah, they do tend to a similar direction.  But they don't push it as far as Symphony X.  I think having Russ on vocals would have either consciously or subconsciously pushed them too far in that direction.

[bosk1]

That is disturbing, mesmerizing, and rocking, all at the same time. 

[bill1971]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

Or, if you're of a different opinion, just having some fun and poking fun at his old band and the inevitable comparisons between the two. 

He never once called them "losers" or anything like that, and he at one point acknowledged that it was all a joke and poking fun.   

Where did he do that? 

[mikeyd23]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

Or, if you're of a different opinion, just having some fun and poking fun at his old band and the inevitable comparisons between the two. 

He never once called them "losers" or anything like that, and he at one point acknowledged that it was all a joke and poking fun.   

Where did he do that?

Not sure, but I'm also not sure it matters.

[Ben_Jamin]

This video will enlighten you about poozers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGQjRMXg28

So... a poozer is either a singing scrotum with eyes, or a diaphragm with big square legs.   Makes perfect sense.

(I liked the tune, though.)

Sharing the wrong video, the live clip is much better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyPfrbJKMpg since it has two poozers on stage.  Aren't they like fart bubbles or something?

I thought they were humans turned into Asses by the War Princess with her Deathray.

[bosk1]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

Or, if you're of a different opinion, just having some fun and poking fun at his old band and the inevitable comparisons between the two. 

He never once called them "losers" or anything like that, and he at one point acknowledged that it was all a joke and poking fun.   

Where did he do that?

Not sure, but I'm also not sure it matters.

Yeah.
1.  He didn't (as far as I've seen, anyway).  But:
2.  As you said, it doesn't really matter.

[cramx3]

That may be right, I don't know the Z2 story well, I just could of sworn DT called them fart bubbles in that concert.

[Stadler]

A 1/10 rating for me would mean that not only the record leaves me cold but that it actually causes me pain when listening to it, not even St. Anger is that bad.

Even though I've only heard four of the songs so far, I can't see it being a 1/10.

1/10 is saved for the truly awful, like Queensryche albums from the 00s and Kiss records.

Hey, hey!  Easy there!

[Stadler]

Can I get a TLDR on DS's behvariour? What happened there? I tuned out after I heard the first song - not my cup of tea.

99% of the times he was tweeting about the band, he was using hashtag to antagonize and mock DT: #noipads, #nocheesyvocals, #nodroidbullshit etc etc, every post essentially 9 times out of 10 was a stab at DT, his entire hype campaign was based on the concept "We're not doing what those losers in DT are doing".

Or, if you're of a different opinion, just having some fun and poking fun at his old band and the inevitable comparisons between the two. 

He never once called them "losers" or anything like that, and he at one point acknowledged that it was all a joke and poking fun.   

Where did he do that?

Not sure, but I'm also not sure it matters.

Yeah.
1.  He didn't (as far as I've seen, anyway).  But:
2.  As you said, it doesn't really matter.

There was a tweet, I'm guessing about two weeks ago, and it might have been technically from Mike, but it referred to the joking about their former band. 

All water under the bridge when referring to the music, though, I agree.   

[Metro]

The Poozers are ballsack shaped aliens from the planet Titan who invade Earth to steal coffee and turn the humans into more Poozers during the attack. IIRC the name actually came from Dev's son.

[gzarruk]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast.

They did?  Where did you get that information?

They said they went into the studio for 1 week and wrote everything execpting GOTS in that time. Tha’t way too quick to let the ideas develop naturally imo. But, I guess if it works for them, its fine...

[bill1971]

I am going to post this on both threads because I forget which one is which, but Jordan "responded" to Derek's comments. This is from Jordan's Facebook page

Christian Francisco what is your take on derrek's youtube statement?
7 hrs
View 1 more reply
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess 

[bill1971]

I am going to post this on both threads because I forget which one is which, but Jordan "responded" to Derek's comments. This is from Jordan's Facebook page

Christian Francisco what is your take on derrek's youtube statement?
7 hrs
View 1 more reply
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess 

[Stadler]

I'm not sure what number I would give.  I've listened to it a couple times now, and I like it, but there's something about it.

I don't at all agree with the "stitched together" comments.  I think the songwriting is pretty good, I think the playing is strong. I am a Blackmore maniac, so I love the Deep Purple-ish nature of a lot of the material.

I have a couple recurring problems though:
- the sound; no, not brickwalling, but the same-iness of it all.  It's all midrange.   The guitars are all that 2005-ish Alter Bridge sound (the start of Signs of the Times, the start of Opus Maximus, for two examples) and it blurs with the bass, so that I can only honestly remember one noticeable bass line (in Opus Maximus), which, with Billy Sheehan, is a travesty.  The keys have that rumbly Hammond-y sound for much of it, so it is competing with the guitars and bass, and then you have JSS singing in that mid-rangy gravelly tenor and it's all a big mush.
- JSS.  Look, the dude can sing, no question.   I get it, he's a talent, unadulterated.  But this album needed some contrast, and he was just the guy to give it, and he didn't.    Coming Home is what, 4:22, and there are THREE generic metal screams in that song.   You've got one of the better singers in rock, you've got two guys (at least) that can do backing v's, I would've liked to have heard some more variety in the vocals.   More melody, more contrast from the "rock" of the music.   This was always the magic of Purple (with Gillan) and Rainbow (with all four singers, even Doogie).   That intro, to I think it was Labyrinth, made me cringe. 

I'm parked somewhere around 7.5 at this point.  I'd like to give it at least one more listen, though. 

[Lethean]

The smile could be on response to the first comment:

They have nothing to gain in responding to his immature social media taunts.
Better to just let him make a fool of himself.

[AngelBack]

The smile could be on response to the first comment:

They have nothing to gain in responding to his immature social media taunts.
Better to just let him make a fool of himself.

Correct, it was.  Swedishgoose from DTF posted the defense and JR liked it.

[bosk1]

That's the problem. They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast.

They did?  Where did you get that information?

They said they went into the studio for 1 week and wrote everything execpting GOTS in that time. Tha’t way too quick to let the ideas develop naturally imo. But, I guess if it works for them, its fine...

Yes, but the fact that they were only in the studio for a week does not necessarily translate to "They just rushed to write and record their first album just to put it out fast."