Trollheart Listens to Every Album on Wiki's List for 2017

Trollheart · 02-22-2018, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

They sound like Sisters of Mercy but don't sound like gothic rock? Hmm...

Just on one song. If you listen to the rest of it I doubt you'd consider it gothic rock. Or (and this is always a possibility) I could be wrong. Sue me if so: the average settlement is forty thousand dollars.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-23-2018, 05:27 AM

yeah great album, not mountain goats best tho imo but still, solid.

Trollheart · 02-23-2018, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

yeah great album, not mountain goats best tho imo but still, solid.

You mean they have better???

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-23-2018, 06:16 AM

beat the champ is my personal fav, definitely check it out. by far their catchiest.

Trollheart · 02-23-2018, 08:16 AM

Album title: Amber Galactic
Artist: The Night Flight Orchestra
Genre: Progressive Rock*
Nationality: Swedish
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No; I think I have this album but have yet to listen to it
Average RYM Score: 3.48
The first time I saw this band's name it evoked memories, as (as he gets misty-eyed for his long vanished youth) once upon a time I used to have a radio show on the local community radio. It was a late night show (9pm to 11pm I believe) and I called it “Night Flight Towards Midnight” (Shut up, Batty)

. Later they allowed me to extend it (I said, shut up Batty!) and I used to broadcast till 1 am, so the title changed to “Night Flight Beyond Midnight” (I'm nothing if not adaptable!) so this name, nearly thirty years later, struck a special chord with me. Yeah, you really needed to know that, didn't you? All part of the service. That said, however...

I don't think I'd consider this prog rock, more like AOR or even hard rock, at least going by the first two tracks. Not that that means I don't like it – I do, very much – but given the sources of most of the ratings on the Wiki page (Rock Hard, Power Metal, Metal Hammer etc) it seems unlikely this could be considered anywhere close to prog rock, not even prog metal. It is, however, extremely enjoyable if more than a little derivative. Well after all, nobody, not even me, is going to accuse AOR (and let's be clear here: this is AOR, pure and simple. Prog rock my arse!) of being experimental or taking any path other than the one of least resistance, and most AOR bands consequently sound pretty interchangeable. But if you can get past that – I personally see it as part of its charm, kind of like you pretty much always know what you're going to get with power metal – then there's a lot to be enjoyed here.

Sweden is fast becoming the centre for exciting emerging AOR acts, and I'd put these guys up there with Work of Art, Houston and Care of Night, if not quite on that level yet. One thing that does stand out is the guy's voice: instead of the usual West Coast American smooth style we get a rough, gravelly set of pipes more suited to southern boogie or perhaps even melodic metal. I'd pick out “Space Whisperer” and “Gemini” as highlights here, though everything is really good. And oddly enough for a band of this stripe, not a single ballad. But a hell of an album, and great fun. Not, in any way shape or form though, progressive rock. AOR all the way. Keeps me happy either way though.

Check out more from this artist? I think I have all their albums but have yet to listen to any
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes indeedy

Actual Rating:

* Who writes these things? This is about as close to prog rock as Europe or Journey!

Trollheart · 02-23-2018, 08:37 AM

Album title: Revelation
Artist: Oceano
Genre: Deathcore
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Fifth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.62
Never going to be a fan of deathcore, and never going to give any points for vocals which sound like they're being sung by a stuck pig, but some of the music here is quite okay. But that's really about it: it's okay. Nothing special, nothing stands out, nothing to latch onto. Not, I'm forced to make the obvious pun, any sort of a revelation. And these vocals suck, to me, so that's always going to be hard for me to get past. In general, much of the music (when I can hear it/make it out over the roaring and growling) sounds kind of prog metal to me, but it's hard to tell really.

When the vocals stop and the music takes over it's not bad, as in the short instrumental “Final Form”, where the band can show what they're about. But such gems are few and far between (there's actually only one) so that doesn't factor enough into my rating here sadly. “The Event” has some nice musical ideas too, but they again get drowned out by the aggressive vocal, which ruins it for me. In the end, I guess the only thing I can say about this is that, well, it's deathcore. To paraphrase Kryten in Red Dwarf, that is its crime; it is also its punishment.

Check out more from this artist? No fricking way
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Very unlikely

Actual Rating:

The Batlord · 02-23-2018, 11:33 AM

Oceano are another band embarrassed to be deathcore so they throw in a bunch of wannabe prog bull**** to give themselves cred.

Trollheart · 02-23-2018, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

beat the champ is my personal fav, definitely check it out. by far their catchiest.

Well I'm getting them all, so I'll definitely listen to that one at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Oceano are another band embarrassed to be deathcore so they throw in a bunch of wannabe prog bull**** to give themselves cred.

Find this with a lot of deathcore, or at least, the bit I've listened to. I was surprised to find how it's basically prog metal with screamy/growly/animalistic vocals. But even so, I don't like it.

Trollheart · 02-23-2018, 12:57 PM

Album title: Crooked Teeth
Artist: Papa Roach
Genre: Hard Rock/Nu-metal
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Eighth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes
Average RYM Score: 2.36
Nu-metal is another one I don't tend to want to listen to much. This sounds pretty generic, although at least I can make out the vocals this time. “My Medication” is a nice change of pace, though it comes across as Metallica doing Daughtry, if you can imagine such a thing. “Born for Greatness” is not without its charm, and Skylar Grey adds her voice to “Periscope”, which is all right, but very much more in the pop than rock vein. I assume it was a single? Well, damn: it wasn't. Weird. Anyway, I guess this album is not as bad as I had expected but still nothing I'd be coming back to. For nu-metal, one of the less annoying.

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? No

Actual Rating:

The Batlord · 02-23-2018, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Well I'm getting them all, so I'll definitely listen to that one at least.

Find this with a lot of deathcore, or at least, the bit I've listened to. I was surprised to find how it's basically prog metal with screamy/growly/animalistic vocals. But even so, I don't like it.

It's a sort of third generation thing. First wave of deathcore bands set the standard of brutal death metal meets metalcore, second wave made the sound stagnant and cookie cutter and embarrassing, and then the third wave tried to pretty up the genre but they were still deathcore fans/bandwagon jumpers so they didn't have any real creativity or musical depth to do anything but tread water in a different way.

02-23-2018, 08:16 AM	#1955 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Album title: Amber Galactic Artist: The Night Flight Orchestra Genre: Progressive Rock* Nationality: Swedish Release date: May 19 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No; I think I have this album but have yet to listen to it Average RYM Score: 3.48 The first time I saw this band's name it evoked memories, as (as he gets misty-eyed for his long vanished youth) once upon a time I used to have a radio show on the local community radio. It was a late night show (9pm to 11pm I believe) and I called it “Night Flight Towards Midnight” (Shut up, Batty) . Later they allowed me to extend it (I said, shut up Batty!) and I used to broadcast till 1 am, so the title changed to “Night Flight Beyond Midnight” (I'm nothing if not adaptable!) so this name, nearly thirty years later, struck a special chord with me. Yeah, you really needed to know that, didn't you? All part of the service. That said, however... I don't think I'd consider this prog rock, more like AOR or even hard rock, at least going by the first two tracks. Not that that means I don't like it – I do, very much – but given the sources of most of the ratings on the Wiki page (Rock Hard, Power Metal, Metal Hammer etc) it seems unlikely this could be considered anywhere close to prog rock, not even prog metal. It is, however, extremely enjoyable if more than a little derivative. Well after all, nobody, not even me, is going to accuse AOR (and let's be clear here: this is AOR, pure and simple. Prog rock my arse!) of being experimental or taking any path other than the one of least resistance, and most AOR bands consequently sound pretty interchangeable. But if you can get past that – I personally see it as part of its charm, kind of like you pretty much always know what you're going to get with power metal – then there's a lot to be enjoyed here. Sweden is fast becoming the centre for exciting emerging AOR acts, and I'd put these guys up there with Work of Art, Houston and Care of Night, if not quite on that level yet. One thing that does stand out is the guy's voice: instead of the usual West Coast American smooth style we get a rough, gravelly set of pipes more suited to southern boogie or perhaps even melodic metal. I'd pick out “Space Whisperer” and “Gemini” as highlights here, though everything is really good. And oddly enough for a band of this stripe, not a single ballad. But a hell of an album, and great fun. Not, in any way shape or form though, progressive rock. AOR all the way. Keeps me happy either way though. Check out more from this artist? I think I have all their albums but have yet to listen to any Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes indeedy Actual Rating: * Who writes these things? This is about as close to prog rock as Europe or Journey! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-23-2018, 08:37 AM	#1956 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Album title: Revelation Artist: Oceano Genre: Deathcore Nationality: American Release date: May 19 Position in Discography: Fifth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.62 Never going to be a fan of deathcore, and never going to give any points for vocals which sound like they're being sung by a stuck pig, but some of the music here is quite okay. But that's really about it: it's okay. Nothing special, nothing stands out, nothing to latch onto. Not, I'm forced to make the obvious pun, any sort of a revelation. And these vocals suck, to me, so that's always going to be hard for me to get past. In general, much of the music (when I can hear it/make it out over the roaring and growling) sounds kind of prog metal to me, but it's hard to tell really. When the vocals stop and the music takes over it's not bad, as in the short instrumental “Final Form”, where the band can show what they're about. But such gems are few and far between (there's actually only one) so that doesn't factor enough into my rating here sadly. “The Event” has some nice musical ideas too, but they again get drowned out by the aggressive vocal, which ruins it for me. In the end, I guess the only thing I can say about this is that, well, it's deathcore. To paraphrase Kryten in Red Dwarf, that is its crime; it is also its punishment. Check out more from this artist? No fricking way Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Very unlikely Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-23-2018, 12:57 PM	#1959 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Album title: Crooked Teeth Artist: Papa Roach Genre: Hard Rock/Nu-metal Nationality: American Release date: May 19 Position in Discography: Eighth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes Average RYM Score: 2.36 Nu-metal is another one I don't tend to want to listen to much. This sounds pretty generic, although at least I can make out the vocals this time. “My Medication” is a nice change of pace, though it comes across as Metallica doing Daughtry, if you can imagine such a thing. “Born for Greatness” is not without its charm, and Skylar Grey adds her voice to “Periscope”, which is all right, but very much more in the pop than rock vein. I assume it was a single? Well, damn: it wasn't. Weird. Anyway, I guess this album is not as bad as I had expected but still nothing I'd be coming back to. For nu-metal, one of the less annoying. Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? No Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018