What album are you listening to v.8

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Last few days:

Illumishade - Another Side of You
Just a great voice combined with above average songwriting makes this a really enjoyable album.

Yeah, I mentioned this one a few days ago too and I enjoyed it a fair bit. Vocals are very good. The music sometimes does veer a little too much in “musical” territory, but as you say the songwriting is interesting.

Listened to this a few times recently and it's rapidly moving up my favorites list of the year.  The whole orbit around them has been pretty prominent in my listening over the past few months.  I'm not sure I caught the "musical" qualities, and that's not something that normally appeals to me much, though there are a few artists who make it work, so perhaps they're another. 

[Glasser]

Striker- Ultrapower.

[TAC]

I was getting worried that not a lot of new albums were sticking for me, or even much I thought was any good, but then BAM back to back, I get the Noor album that I am definitely loving and this one, Lord Goblin's s/t.


This has kind of a retro feel, and feels influenced by Byron Era Uriah Heep, BUT, it's much heavier. Really loving this album as well.

[nick_z]

Last few days:

Illumishade - Another Side of You
Just a great voice combined with above average songwriting makes this a really enjoyable album.

Yeah, I mentioned this one a few days ago too and I enjoyed it a fair bit. Vocals are very good. The music sometimes does veer a little too much in “musical” territory, but as you say the songwriting is interesting.

Listened to this a few times recently and it's rapidly moving up my favorites list of the year.  The whole orbit around them has been pretty prominent in my listening over the past few months.  I'm not sure I caught the "musical" qualities, and that's not something that normally appeals to me much, though there are a few artists who make it work, so perhaps they're another.

I'm thinking especially of a song like Fairytale...that approach doesn't appeal that much to me either, and indeed that song, while by no means bad, is one of my least favorites for that very reason...

Stumbled upon this tonight and it's pretty 





Clean vocals, but the singer is a bit...I can't describe him. Sounds European but not quite Kotipelto. Sounds a bit like the guy from Trial(swe).
Fucking kick ass music though.

You got my attention with this one. I’m a little behind over the last few days with new listens (work is pretty crazy and I just got one tooth extracted so I’m a little loopy might be a good time to give some albums a shot

I spun this all day at work. They're from Montreal, and the singer...you can hear the French in him. His voice is....acquired. The solo in Flaming Rage 

This is musically pretty excellent metal.

Well, this was a big YES for me. Really enjoyed it, including the vocals. I think they work here. Where did you even find these guys?? They are not on Amazon music, I checked them out on their Bandcamp page. Pretty amazing how well everything flows, considering it's a debut (?). Riffy, urgent...great US (well, Canadian) metal...and "quirky" enough to make it extra-interesting. Great find.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I'm thinking especially of a song like Fairytale...that approach doesn't appeal that much to me either, and indeed that song, while by no means bad, is one of my least favorites for that very reason...

Yeah, I guess that's sort of the "Disney princess" song on the album.  The heavier and/or moodier ones are the sweet spot. 

[nick_z]

I'm thinking especially of a song like Fairytale...that approach doesn't appeal that much to me either, and indeed that song, while by no means bad, is one of my least favorites for that very reason...

Yeah, I guess that's sort of the "Disney princess" song on the album.  The heavier and/or moodier ones are the sweet spot.

Absolutely. This was a nice surprise of an album, for sure. As I mentioned here already, the song HYMN almost sounds like a very melodic Dream Theater tune. Something about the melody (and the solo too!)

[nick_z]

Did check out some recent releases..





Invincible Shield is another win, after the surprise of Firepower. I'm happy to consider the "actual" album, in terms of it closing with the epicness of Giants in the Sky, but I have to say I like all the bonus tracks too. So, I proceeded to get myself the Target exclusive

Oh, and that Ecclesia album is pretty good! The basis is doomy metal like Candlemass/Sorcerer etc., but the pace is generally briskier. Nice injections of US metal (sometimes they remind me of a more straightforward version of Witherfall...maybe it's the vocals...). First two songs proper (after the intro), If She Floats and Et Cum Spiritu Tuo are good samples.

Enjoyed the classic death metal of Skeletal Remains too. VERY solid. And I will definitely revisit Grey Skies Fallen. There's quite a bit that piqued my interest in there.

Commented on Noor a couple of posts above

[Metro]

King Crimson - Lizard

[wolfking]

[TAC]

Stumbled upon this tonight and it's pretty 





Clean vocals, but the singer is a bit...I can't describe him. Sounds European but not quite Kotipelto. Sounds a bit like the guy from Trial(swe).
Fucking kick ass music though.

You got my attention with this one. I’m a little behind over the last few days with new listens (work is pretty crazy and I just got one tooth extracted so I’m a little loopy might be a good time to give some albums a shot

I spun this all day at work. They're from Montreal, and the singer...you can hear the French in him. His voice is....acquired. The solo in Flaming Rage 

This is musically pretty excellent metal.

Well, this was a big YES for me. Really enjoyed it, including the vocals. I think they work here. Where did you even find these guys?? They are not on Amazon music, I checked them out on their Bandcamp page. Pretty amazing how well everything flows, considering it's a debut (?). Riffy, urgent...great US (well, Canadian) metal...and "quirky" enough to make it extra-interesting. Great find.

Urgent is a great descriptor. The songwriting is really strong, and musically it all feels so intentional if that makes any sense. It has the kind of vibe that separated Lost Horizon from other power metal bands. Not that this is power metal by any stretch, but there's a fullness to it.

[TAC]

Cleansing your ears between rounds?

[wolfking]

Did someone say Lost Horizon?!

[TAC]

Did someone say Lost Horizon?!

Do not listen to this album for at least two more weeks!


It's not Lost Horizon or anything like that, but well, you'll see soon enough..

[wolfking]

Cleansing your ears between rounds?

I just totally forgot it was out two weeks ago and liked what I heard on the songs released so yeah, breaking things up between rounds.  I'm in two minds to check albums from round 1 yet or not as I won't have time to delve into them, but this was an easy click for today. 

It's generic melodic power metal, but I can't hate it, and Gus G has some absolutely ripping solos on here.  The titled track is fantastic.

[wolfking]

Did someone say Lost Horizon?!

Do not listen to this album for at least two more weeks!


It's not Lost Horizon or anything like that, but well, you'll see soon enough..

I won't I promise lol.  I haven't clicked anything new the last few weeks, so all good.

[ReaperKK]

Dredg - El Cielo

[Metro]

King Crimson - Red

[jingle.boy]

Striker- Ultrapower.

Just finally spun this yesterday.     Very much looking forward to seeing them at PPUSA

Stumbled upon this tonight and it's pretty 





Clean vocals, but the singer is a bit...I can't describe him. Sounds European but not quite Kotipelto. Sounds a bit like the guy from Trial(swe).
Fucking kick ass music though.

You got my attention with this one. I’m a little behind over the last few days with new listens (work is pretty crazy and I just got one tooth extracted so I’m a little loopy might be a good time to give some albums a shot

I spun this all day at work. They're from Montreal, and the singer...you can hear the French in him. His voice is....acquired. The solo in Flaming Rage 

This is musically pretty excellent metal.

Well, this was a big YES for me. Really enjoyed it, including the vocals. I think they work here. Where did you even find these guys?? They are not on Amazon music, I checked them out on their Bandcamp page. Pretty amazing how well everything flows, considering it's a debut (?). Riffy, urgent...great US (well, Canadian) metal...and "quirky" enough to make it extra-interesting. Great find.

Urgent is a great descriptor. The songwriting is really strong, and musically it all feels so intentional if that makes any sense. It has the kind of vibe that separated Lost Horizon from other power metal bands. Not that this is power metal by any stretch, but there's a fullness to it.

I'm intrigued

[ReaperKK]

Fink -Hard Believer

[TAC]

Last few days:

Illumishade - Another Side of You
Just a great voice combined with above average songwriting makes this a really enjoyable album.

Yeah, I mentioned this one a few days ago too and I enjoyed it a fair bit. Vocals are very good. The music sometimes does veer a little too much in “musical” territory, but as you say the songwriting is interesting.

Listened to this a few times recently and it's rapidly moving up my favorites list of the year.  The whole orbit around them has been pretty prominent in my listening over the past few months.  I'm not sure I caught the "musical" qualities, and that's not something that normally appeals to me much, though there are a few artists who make it work, so perhaps they're another.

I gave this a listen this morning, but I had to stop during the third song. It's definitely decent enough, but it has that low guitar tuning that I really don't like. Not sure why they'd go in that direction because the voice seems more than versatile enough.

[hefdaddy42]

Jeffrey Martin - Gold in the Water

[hefdaddy42]

TORRES - TORRES

[hefdaddy42]

Brittany Howard - Jaime

[jjrock88]

Fastway- Trick or Treat

[hefdaddy42]

Humble Pie - As Safe As Yesterday Is

[jjrock88]

Boston- Don't Look Back

[jjrock88]

Eagles- Hotel California

[ozzy554]

[LithoJazzoSphere]

New Priest album has got me on a Priest kick

Right now, Painkiller

Yea, it's got me spinning some of their albums too. The new one hit me hard yesterday, holy shit.

Currently spinning Firepower, and it just isn't doing it for me. There's something about the riffs and the production on Invincible Shield, man.

Huh, that's interesting. It's early for me to say how I'll rank Invisible Shield vs. Firepower, but my feeling was if you like one, you probably enjoy the other too. Anyway...I love Firepower, and I'm kinda shocked that they were able to, once again, deliver so much goodness with Invisible Shield, so I'm happy we have both 

When I heard Firepower I liked it, but have never been in the mood to revisit it.  I'm halfway through Invincible Shield and already feeling like I'm going to want to return to it again much sooner.  I have no idea how Rob still sounds this good at 72. 

[TAC]

I mean, isn't Firepower and Invincible Shield basically the same album?

[LithoJazzoSphere]

FP sounded quite similar from what I remember, but I just might be in the right mood today.  Or they struck the right combination of notes for melodies this time. 

[twosuitsluke]

I mean, isn't Firepower and Invincible Shield basically the same album?

As someone who for the first time is digging Judas Priest, on a whole new level, I would say Invincible Shield is infinitely better than Firepower. It's all in the production and the riffs for me.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The production sounds very similar to me, and the style is the same, but you just never know which riffs and melodies are going to hit and which aren't. 

[NoseofNicko]

I’d say the riffs on Firepower were a lot more simple.

[Bluefish]