So I lied. There are actually
2 Secret Menu artists this round.
Evermind - 14Main Entry: Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape
7/10
A lot of cool moments and riffs, I just wish this had more of a payoff at the end. Can’t deny those stellar vocals.
Wine Pairing: Kamelot - Fallen Star
4/5
+3 Secret MenuCongratulations, you have found one of the Secret Menu artists!
Another name that I’ve seen a lot around here but never checked out.
I know this has the same vocalist as Seventh Wonder, but I think he sounds better here, and dare I say he even sounds more confident here. Great song.
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romdrums - 13.5Main Entry: I.Q. - Fallout
8/10
+3 Secret MenuCongratulations, you have also found one of the Secret Menu artists!
I was wondering when this band was gonna show up. I’m aware of their song “The Last Human Gateway”, but have never listened to it, so I was honestly expecting someone to send that. I love the singer, I love the lush synthesizers, I love the lead guitar, and I especially love the flow of the song and the dynamics.
Wine Pairing: Obsidious - Delusion
2.5/5
Well, I liked the last two minutes.
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wolfking - 13.5Main Entry: An Abstract Illusion - Skeletons of Light
10/10
Ok wow.
I have no complaints. Heavy, aggressive, technical, proggy, and that ending is the definition of the word Epic. The best song this round.
Wine Pairing: In Flames - Moonshield
3.5/5
The only In Flames I’ve ever heard is their 2016 album Battles, which was garbage. This was much better. How do you go from this to Battles? What the hell happened there?
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Buddyhunter1 - 12Main Entry: Elder - Lore
8.5/10
These guys remind me of Baroness. I really love the sludgy, proggy vibe of this. I’m taking off points because fadeouts are fucking stupid.
Wine Pairing: The Ocean - Bathyalpelagic II: The Wish In Dreams
3.5/5
I thought this was a Blood Mountain-era Mastodon song when it first started. I wish Mastodon sounded like this nowadays. Great song. I don’t like abrupt endings.
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King Postwhore - 12Main Entry: Southern Empire - White Shadow
8/5
Wine Pairing: Southern Empire - Reaching Out
4/5
Really enjoyed both songs from this band. Great riffs and vocals. I definitely hear the DT influence, but also some Yes, especially in the vocal harmonies in Reaching Out.
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lonestar - 12Main Entry: Silent Memorial - Retrospective
8.5/10
Really enjoyed all of this, but the highlight for me was the instrumental section in the middle. Just really fun to listen to. I like the Alex Lifeson chord at 9:30
Example if you don’t know what I’m talking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea5uhBoUusA Wine Pairing: Mary’s Blood - Counter Strike
3.5/5
Very melodic and energetic. Really enjoyed this one.
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Stadler - 11.5Main Entry: Nektar - A Tab in the Ocean
8/10
Wine Pairing: Nektar - King of Twilight
3.5/5
Just some great old-school prog. The organ playing especially stood out to me. Love it.
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jingle.boy - 10.5Main Entry: Daydream XI - The Grand Disguise
8/10
The riffs. Just. Don’t. Stop. Coming. I love the energy of this one, even if some parts reminded me a bit too much of DT and Symphony X.
Wine Pairing: Epysode - Obsessions
2.5/5
The cheesy vocals kinda ruin this more. Instrumentally alright though.
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HOF - 10.5Main Entry: Emperor Norton - Arrow
7/10
I feel like the vocalist is trying and failing to be Einar Solberg. Despite the out of place vocals, this one goes some interesting places. I like the production, and how it sounds like they’re all playing live in a room.
Wine Pairing: Dim Grey - Avalon / The Tide
3.5/5
Much better vocals on this one. Love the atmosphere too.
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ProfessorPeart - 10.5Main Entry: Beardfish - And the Stone Said; If I Could Speak
7.5/10
Wine Pairing: Beardfish - In Real Life There is No Algebra
3/5
I hear a lot of modern prog bands trying to sound retro, and usually they’re unsuccessful or just too derivative. This definitely has a retro vibe, but is still unique and modern enough to where it’s not totally derivative. Really enjoyed both of these, especially the lead guitar.
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twosuitluke - 10.5Main Entry: Instant Boner - Perfect Sunday, Revisited
8.5/10
Nothing to add that I didn’t say before. I love the loose, jammy vibe of this one. Great vocals too.
What’s up with that band name though?
Wine Pairing: Messa - Confess
2/5
The salad round was last week, Luke.
I kid, but this one didn’t do it for me. Just kinda dreary and forgettable.
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TAC - 10Main Entry: Theocracy - Mirror of Souls
7.5/10
I think the synth strings sound a little silly, but other than that. Enjoyed this one. Really melodic and powerful.
Wine Pairing: Golden Resurrection - See My Commands
2.5/5
It’s like if Yngwie Malmsteen played in a Christian metal band. Which would never really happen, because the only god Yngwie believes in is himself. Great guitar chops, cheesy lyrics.
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faizoff - 10Main Entry: Iced Earth - Dante’s Inferno
7/10
Wine Pairing: Iced Earth - Burning Times
3/5
Not much to say about these two, but I enjoyed them. Great riffs and vocals. Dante’s Inferno really feel like the soundtrack to a trip to Hell.
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Lizzo - 10Main Entry: Soilwork - A Whisp of the Atlantic
8/10
I guess it’s never too late to change course and become a prog metal band. And they did it pretty well.
Wine Pairing: Ephel Duath - The Passage (Pearl Grey)
2/5
Autocorrect kept changing this to “Ethel Death”, which sounds like a country death metal band.
This was a bit too out there for me.
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ariich - 9.5Main Entry: Caligula’s Horse - Graves
7/10
Wine Pairing: Caligula’s Horse - Will’s Song (Let the Colours Run)
2.5/10
Graves grew on me a bit the more I listened to it. Will’s Song didn’t do much for me at all. With both songs, I really don’t love the vocals, but I really like the lead playing, but a lot of the riffs just seem to be typical modern prog/djent fare.
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Puppies - 9Main Entry: Moonsorrow - Jäästä syntynyt / Varjojen virta
6.5/10
Wine Pairing: Dornenreich - Flammenmensch
2.5/5
Both of these songs make me wanna go for a walk in the woods at night after it’s snowed. Or just sit at home and play Skyrim.
And as always, black metal always makes me feel like I need to brush my teeth.
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Sacul - 9Main Entry: Fishmans - Long Season
5.5/10
I’ve listened to this twice, and I think I enjoyed it? Some parts are a little too out there for me, but then there’s some parts that are really melodic and cool.
Wine Pairing: Massive Attack - Risingson
3.5/5
I know a couple of songs from this album, Angel and Teardrop(which was the theme song to the show House). I love the vibe of this song and album.
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