Round 2 Results:Initially I thought round 1 was stronger, and overall I still do, but as these songs started to grow on me, I really found myself enjoying almost all of them. So again, being lower in the list doesn't always mean it was a miss - I just liked the others more.
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10. Ulver - A Memorable Fancy, Plates 17-20Sent be Elite
Hmm. I was very much looking forward to listening to this after Perihelion Ship, even though I was also wary because what I'd heard from Ulver never did much for me. I'd never heard this song or the album it was on however, so I was excited. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working for me. I keep wondering what it is that I might be missing, but I've come to the conclusion that I just don't like it. There are moments where I think, maybe this is it, but those moments aren't really long enough. The last couple minutes of this song are much much better than the beginning, but it just isn't enough. And I don't like the vocals much. I think it's impressive that Garm seems to change his voice and singing on every album that I've heard. The first Arcturus album was harsh vocals, the second was totally different, and I can't say I really like his vocals there, but the album is just soooo good, and then he sounds different on the Sham Mirrors (and I like him), and different again on the Ulver album I own, and still different on this. I'd say he's probably very creative and tries to change things up, and I have respect for that.
9. Led Zeppelin - CarouselambraSent by jingle.boy
I'd already listened to the Ulver track a few times before you sent your submission, and was already struggling with it, so I thought this was your chance to take the lead. I almost told you that, but thought it might not be fair roulette play. So here we are. I actually don't hate this song, but certainly don't love it either. I just thought it was a bit long and repetitive the first time through, and I still do. I'd be happy to give you your $400 Jeopardy winnings, but you still owe me a whole month's paycheck from Kattelox's roulette. 😊 What else to say about this track - it's fine. I don't have strong feelings about Led Zeppelin; there's a lot I've heard that I like and a lot that I don't, and this is kind of in between. I've always been on the fence about Robert Plant's voice too, and I'm more towards the not liking it side here. During the slow middle part, I really don't care for him during what is otherwise a pretty cool section.
8. Mew - ApocalypsoSent by Puppies on Acid
I actually quite like this song; just not as much as most of the others this round. It's just maybe a little too…pretty? Maybe. Too light, and by too light, I don't mean that it's not metal enough; there are ballads and lighter songs that I completely love and would be "less heavy" than this, but it's too light in a different way. This might make it sound as though I don't like it, but that isn't the case. I never felt like I needed to skip it when playing the songs, I've had it in my head at times, and I think there is a good melody and interesting playing.
7. Toto - Bottom of Your SoulSent by Kattelox
I have to say I'm a little confused with this submission. It's a good song, but at the same time makes me think this band might just not be for me. Part of this is probably on me; you said you knew exactly what to send me with Toto, and what I was imagining was something entirely different, with different vocals, because I'm pretty sure this is the singer I'm not too fond of…Or is it a 3rd (or 4th) guy? I was expecting something that was going to make you say "I told you so." So - I had to step back and try to separate what I was expecting from what I actually had in front of me. And it *is* good. Like the Mew song, I didn't want to skip it and found it a nice listen each time. I like the acoustic/piano part that's in the middle of the song a lot. The vocal melody is sad (in a good way).
6. Dark Empire - From Refuge to RuinSent by Evermind
Definitely not too long. 😊 The Amadeus Awad track wasn't too long either; it was just that I liked the second half of it so much better than the first which is why it made me sometimes want to skip ahead. That was a good track though, and I'd like to hear more from him when I get to exploring some of these bands after the roulette (and ProgPower and fall tours) are done. This Dark Empire track is maybe also a little too Symphony X-ish… certain parts have a strong SX vibe and sometimes the singer seems to be trying to channel Russell Allen. Having said that, I do like this song. I liked the feel of it right from the beginning. The flute solo is indeed cool. 😊 I also like the segment that it transitions into; really nice build up with the sustained guitar notes (if that's bad terminology, you can laugh, but you probably at least know what I'm talking about). I like it from there to the sad guitar leads up until the vocals, which are a little too Russell ish at first, but then as it picks up, that last minute or so, Russell Allen or not, is really really cool.
5. Nine Inch Nails - The WretchedSent by Sacul
Now this has a cool vibe. I should probably have checked this band out further a long time ago, because I mostly enjoyed what I've heard. Though, I think I heard the entire Downward Spiral album and the like to dislike ratio wasn't enough to make me want to buy it. Maybe it's time to take another look at the band and see what I think now. This song is dark and intense. I liked it from the start but thought it would end up lower in the ranks, but after the 2nd or 3rd time I just found myself really enjoying it.
4. Rishloo - LandminesSent by Train of Naught
I guess I didn't disguise this one in the snippets too well, eh? Either that, or no one else was that confident about their track's last 2 minutes. 😊 Before I get to that part - this track is a great example of why it would be a bad idea for me to rank these songs right away. I wasn't into it that much, and perhaps even tuned out a little the first couple times. Nothing wrong with it; just didn't grab me. Then, then ending really got my attention, so while I wasn't sure what to think of the first 4 minutes, well, last 2 minutes of this song are so intense. It's even a bit longer than that, maybe the last 2 and half minutes from when it gets slow and airy, then picks up, and then just kills it. Wow. That guy has a great set of pipes too. So at that point, I kind of felt like it was time to just listen to the whole song until the beginning fell into place, and that pretty much worked out for me. Fantastic song.
3. Pyramid Theorem - Primitive DesignSent by TAC
I feel a little bit guilty for ranking this track as high as I'm probably going to. It's probably very predictable of me to love this track, but so be it. There's a definite Rush/DT vibe going on here. Lo and behold, I looked them up and the members of the band are also in a Rush tribute band.
I can't help it; this is good stuff. Well played. You sent it before you read my comments on Witherfall, so it may be more of a coincidence, but I still find it funny that I criticized that track for being too much like Symphony X and have no problems with this one whatsoever. (Word of caution however - there are times when something reminds me of DT too much and I *do* have issues with it; for example, Circus Maximus). Anyone reading who likes some proggy goodness, listen to this track. What little vocals there are are very good. But it's mostly instrumental and totally rules.
2. UFO - Love to LoveSent by Stadler
This song is just magical. Not at all what I would have expected from the UFO sampling that I've done in the past. The guitar intro is very cool, but then the real fun begins with that keyboard part, and then the instruments all slowly start to come in, then it builds up, and it's just fantastic. Not a fan of the vocal "it's been too many times" melody, but I don't care; the rest of the singing is fine and overall, the song is just *so* good. I almost always listened to it twice when I ran through the playlist for this round. The guitar solo at the end is cool too. It flies by when I listen to it and I wouldn’t mind it being twice as long. 😊
1. Thy Catafalque - Oldódó formák a halál titokzatos birodalmábSent by Parama
The first time I heard this track, I thought it was incredible. The next couple times, I thought maybe it was a bit too repetitive and maybe I'd been overly enthusiastic. Today (now a couple days ago), I thought it ruled. Even now, I'm not even sure I should be giving it the top ranking, but I'm going to do it anyway, because I played it more than the others. So, this is the 2nd winner that has harsh vocals, and people might be thinking "I thought Lethean doesn't like harsh vocals, I guess I'm going to send some too!" All I can say is - the harsh vocals aren't overwhelming, and don't make me feel like I'm suffocating. Parama, and Elite (and Kattelox w/Agalloch) did an incredible job with their picks, probably read the OP, and noticed what's on the banned list. If you send me, I dunno… Wolves in the Throne Room, you're getting a 10. If you send me vocals that sound like the harsh vocals on James LaBrie's albums, you're probably getting a 10. Between the Buried and Me - probably a 10. So, proceed with extreme caution if you take this road.
Back to Thy Catafalque - this track actually doesn't remind me much of Solefald so much as it reminds me a bit of when I first heard them and was getting into them. "Wow this is a cool song… or is it…WTF was that?" This track is heavy, but also melodic, and intense. And creepy, and uplifting. When it comes back in after the first talking segment, it just…
By the end your heart's pumping. It would have been a crime if you pulled out of this roulette, even if I hate the rest of what you send. (But I'm really hoping I don't).
Scores after Round 2:
Parama: 5 + 1 = 6
Train of Naught: 3 + 4 = 7
Stadler: 8 + 2 = 10
Elite: 1 + 10 = 11
jingle.boy: 2 + 9 = 11
Kattlelox: 4 + 7 = 11
Evermind: 6 + 6 = 12
TAC: 9 + 3 = 12
Puppies on Acid: 7 + 8 = 15
Sacul: 10 + 5 = 15