Lonestar's Top 50 Album Thread v 2.0 - #1!!!!!!!!!!

[lonestar]

OK, let's finish this thing...


#1- Haken- The Mountain (2013)





Initially I spotted Haken getting repeated mentions here, but my first proper spin was via a promo received at the Lady Obscure offices. Needless to say, no band in the past decade or so has had the impact on me that Haken has, and none has had a better run of albums then they did with their Aquarius-Visions-Restoration-Mountain-Affinity run. It was a bit tough for me to pick between  The Mountain and Affinity, but I gave the edge to The Mountain for one specific incident. I had broken up with my GF, my dear grandmother had passed, and I was in a dark spot in general. At the time I had taken up hiking as a way of getting my head clear, a local mountain offered a ton of challenging trails with good vertical climbs, and I was still getting into shape after 25 years of drinking and smoking cigarettes, so it was a challenge for me, but I was persistent and needed the physical thrill of pushing myself to get through. One particular day I was summiting Eagle Peak for the first time, about an 8 mile roundtrip with over 2k vertical feet, and was spinning The Mountain during the more challenging second half of the ascent. The moment Because It's There came on, I was really struggling, but the epic nature of the song, paired with the epic scenery and the physical exertion created one of those rare moments in life where we just connect with everything, and it all makes sense, I really can't explain it any other way. I mean, to be in this scenario, with that epic music and these lyrics...

Judgement from birth
Criticize our worth
We struggled to uphold
Struck down, will we fold?
Climb, find your way
Scale high, don't look back
With hope you will find
The life you seek

Yeah...once in a lifetime man. Anyhoo, I don't have to say anything explaining Haken to the masses here, nor this album. And I'm sure a good deal of you will agree with its placement at the top of this list.


Favorite Tracks- All of them yo... I mean seriously... Atlas Stone, Cockroach King, In Memoriam, Because It's There, As Death Embraces, Pareidolia, Somebody..... what a fucking run of tracks. All of them masterpieces.


Pareidolia- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr_gROZmTtA

Falling Back to Earth- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adHGrSP43QE

Atlas Stone- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ8v_evgiS4



Well, thanks for all those who have followed, while a good deal of this list are DTF standards, I do feel I offered a good array of music, and maybe brought out some obscure and unique stuff for people to sink there teeth into. My mantra when it comes  to new music is 'just click play, you never know what wonders await', and the massive majority of this list came about because I just clicked play.

Happy holidays you filthy animals 

[ReaperKK]

I've listened to this album half a dozen times or so and it's just one of those albums I don't get. It's not bad but it's forgettable IMO. It's been a few years so maybe I'll give it another go and see if my opinion has changed.

Thanks for the great write-ups Lonestar, a lot of new stuff to check out!

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Now that one's a classic.  Still have a hoodie for it I occasionally wear from seeing them live. 

[jingle.boy]

I've listened to this album band half a dozen times or so and it's just one of those albums bands I don't get. It's not bad but it's forgettable IMO. It's been a few years so maybe No chance I'll give it another go and see if my opinion has changed.

Thanks for the great write-ups Lonestar, a lot of new stuff to check out!

Fix'd for me.  I understand the appeal for many, but it just ain't the band for me, and I've given them enough tries to know that it ain't all of a sudden going to 'click'. 

Loved following the list bro, and I find it amazing how we're in sync on so much, but then out of sync on a bunch more.  I'll be interested to see how things unfold with my list (which I intend to fire up next week).

[lonestar]

Looking forward to it... At least I finally got you to click with a Jmetal band with Lonesome_Blue.

[KevShmev]

I didn't recognize any of the albums in the 2-5 slots, but number 1 is a nice choice. While it wouldn't be my number 1, or anywhere close for that matter, The Mountain is an excellent album for sure. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I've heard some of the first few Allegaeon albums and they were good, but didn't especially stand out to me.  Maybe next month I can get to that one and see if it pops more. 

[lonestar]

I've heard some of the first few Allegaeon albums and they were good, but didn't especially stand out to me.  Maybe next month I can get to that one and see if it pops more.

Try Damnum, their latest, they really embrace a more melodic approach. Just a killer album.

https://youtu.be/PFNGAcYibSI

[King whatever and the whoosie whatsie]

What a fantastic album.

[Elite]

I saw them play this in a random bar/venue in Belgium with about 20 people in attendance

No seriously, great pick. Not my favourite Haken, but definitely my most played record in 2013. Loved it then, don’t return to it as much. Solid choice nonetheless

Happy Christmas to all reading!

[Sacul]

This is an album I loved back in the day but haven't really revisited in years. Maybe I should, for old times' sake.

[wolfking]

Yeah, don't understand Haken either myself.

[Lethean]

I loved your write up for The Mountain.  I'm not a huge Haken fan, but I like them and enjoy seeing them live.  But I totally relate to that experience; I've had moments like that with my favorite bands and there's nothing like it.

[Zydar]

Their best album, just filled with great songs and an uplifting message overall. I wish more people could get into this band.

[lonestar]

Their best album, just filled with great songs and an uplifting message overall. I wish more people could get into this band.

Zydar knows what's up.

[jingle.boy]

Their best album, just filled with great songs and an uplifting message overall. I wish more people could get into this band.

Zydar knows what's up.

Ya know, I used to think that.

Until now.   

[Zydar]

Their best album, just filled with great songs and an uplifting message overall. I wish more people could get into this band.

Zydar knows what's up.

Ya know, I used to think that.

Until now.   

[Zoom E]

Lonestar, I have a list of albums from your thread that I intend to check out. My favourite of the ones I have listened to so far is Ostura’s The Room. After only two listens, it sounds like a bit of a masterpiece. 

[SwedishGoose]

Lonestar, I have a list of albums from your thread that I intend to check out. My favourite of the ones I have listened to so far is Ostura’s The Room. After only two listens, it sounds like a bit of a masterpiece. 

That one is out of this world....
Hope the next one will be another masterpiece

[lonestar]

Lonestar, I have a list of albums from your thread that I intend to check out. My favourite of the ones I have listened to so far is Ostura’s The Room. After only two listens, it sounds like a bit of a masterpiece. 

That one is out of this world....
Hope the next one will be another masterpiece

Same...they really found a unique niche with what they did on The Room.


Zoom E...if Ostura hits the right spot for you, may I suggest from my first top 50 Beyond the Bridge- The Old Man and the Spirit...not as huge sounding as The Room, but an outstanding prog metal concept album all the same. The Flaming Row album on this list is along the same vein as well, and definitely worth a listen.

[jingle.boy]

Lonestar, I have a list of albums from your thread that I intend to check out. My favourite of the ones I have listened to so far is Ostura’s The Room. After only two listens, it sounds like a bit of a masterpiece. 

That one is out of this world....
Hope the next one will be another masterpiece

Same...they really found a unique niche with what they did on The Room.


Zoom E...if Ostura hits the right spot for you, may I suggest from my first top 50 Beyond the Bridge- The Old Man and the Spirit...not as huge sounding as The Room, but an outstanding prog metal concept album all the same. The Flaming Row album on this list is along the same vein as well, and definitely worth a listen.

Seconded.

[Zoom E]

Lonestar, I have a list of albums from your thread that I intend to check out. My favourite of the ones I have listened to so far is Ostura’s The Room. After only two listens, it sounds like a bit of a masterpiece. 

That one is out of this world....
Hope the next one will be another masterpiece

Same...they really found a unique niche with what they did on The Room.


Zoom E...if Ostura hits the right spot for you, may I suggest from my first top 50 Beyond the Bridge- The Old Man and the Spirit...not as huge sounding as The Room, but an outstanding prog metal concept album all the same. The Flaming Row album on this list is along the same vein as well, and definitely worth a listen.

Seconded.

Cool, I will give them both a listen. Thanks.