Listen with Trollheart

Trollheart · 07-16-2018, 06:32 PM

Theocracy – Theocracy (2003)
Genre: Prog Metal

I loved As the World Bleeds, and quickly set about getting the rest of Theocracy's discography. I haven't however listened to any of it yet. This is their debut. It has two epics on it, each over eleven minutes long and broken into multi-part suites, so this should be indeed right in my wheelhouse. I have to admit, I haven't been concentrating on this as much as I should, but what I hear I do like. “Sinner” in particular is a standout, and I reckon a few more spins and this could definitely be a favourite.

Key · 07-16-2018, 08:53 PM

^that one ive always had trouble listening to since As The World Bleeds and Mirror of Souls are far superior. There aren't many tracks I like on Theocracy, but its still a decent enough album.

Mindy · 07-17-2018, 09:19 AM

cool png

Trollheart · 07-17-2018, 06:26 PM

The Closed Eyes of Paradise – Draconian – 2000
Genre: Death/Gothic/Black Metal

I believe it was Carpe Mortem who first introduced me to this Swedish gothic/death metal band, and while the album she threw at me was Arcane Rain Fell, and it's a whole lot more laid back and atmospheric than this, let's remember this is actually a demo album, released five years before that one. There are three instrumentals on it, and they're all really good, and eight other tracks, which isn't bad for a demo. The vocals are harsh, definitely more in the Black Metal camp though than the Death Metal one, ie they're screeched but still fairly discernable. The musicianship is top notch, and the addition of a female backing singer on some of the tracks really adds something.

The short (just over a minute) “Unfold Thine Hands” has a beautiful orchestral melody, reminiscent of some of the work on Arcane Rain Fell, and lovely piano. Pity it's not longer. Soon forget about that though, as the next track is ****ing incredible! “The Morningstar” gives way to “The Gothic Embrace” and hell if it isn't just as good. Okay, I love everything about this album.

Trollheart · 07-29-2018, 06:24 PM

Operation: Mindcrime – Queensryche - 1988
Genre: Progressive Metal

I know this album gets huge props from just about everyone, and probably rightly so, but the one and only time I listened to it, though I enjoyed it, I wasn't struck by a classic in the making. Now it's come around again on the randometer, so let's see how it does. The songs are all pretty excellent, true, and the story runs well through them, never seeming forced or stretched to fit. Title track is great, as is “Revolution Calling”, and ... yeah, pretty much everything really. I guess I would need to spend a little more time with this album to totally get its awesomeness, but at least I understand now.

The Batlord · 07-29-2018, 06:27 PM

I'm not over the moon either but "Revolution Calling" is an absolute monster of a song.

Key · 07-30-2018, 11:09 AM

Nice. That's a great album. Haven't listened to it in a while tho.

Plankton · 07-30-2018, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm not over the moon either but "Revolution Calling" is an absolute monster of a song.

So is Spreading The Disease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oUAekdWSO4

Trollheart · 08-09-2018, 05:59 PM

Stronger in the End – 7 Mazes – 2017
Genre: Hard Rock

Hard one to track down, this. Wiki shrugs, Discogs says “never heard of it mate” and gives me some compilation by presumably some other band with the same name (fancy) as this is the debut album from the 7 Mazes we're concerned with here. Thought it might have been prog so checked PA but no luck there. Finally got it on a Google search. Interestingly, the page it brought me to rates the album as a ten, but for all I know that could be mates of the band rating it, so I won't take that as anything special before I listen to it. I will say their philosophy is interesting: ”We believe that as an artist, one major task is to connect people. No matter the origin, gender or age; we are all individuals with rough edges and flaws. And thats what defines each one in his unique way. Its about real emotions, true stories and real music.' Indeed. Laudable sentiments. But what's the music like?

Well to be honest, it's shown as hard rock but this kind of sounds almost prog metal to me when it starts. Indeed, RYM (who also have it) call it Alt-Metal. Maybe. Guitar tone is not something you'll find me talking about usually, as I don't know my arse from a hole in the ground on that subject, but here the constant buzzy sound set up by the guitar in the larger percentage of the tracks is very interesting and insistent, sort of aggressive and certainly I would think a signature sound. The vocalist is good, but I'd have to be honest and say he kind of sounds like a million other AOR/Prog Metal/Hard Rock singers – think he reminds me of Daughtry, but I could be wrong there – and I doubt I'd be able to identify him in any other band. He gets the job done though.

Standouts include “Rising Sun”, “Through the Maze”, “Where Are You Now”, “Falling to Pieces”, though to be perfectly frank, it started sounding a little samey about halfway through and while I did enjoy it, I was kind of glad when it got near the end. RYM has a rating of 2.50 on the album, though that is only based on two votes, and I can understand that more than the 10.0 on the other page. I don't see this ever becoming a 10 for me, not even close. I mean, a few more listens and it might go up a point, but I can't see it getting to that level. Recommended, but not that highly.

Trollheart · 01-17-2021, 12:53 PM

I stumbled back across this in a search for material for my Fortress of Prog, but was a little upset to find it's no use for that, as although there are prog albums here the guiding principle I laid down with this thread was that there would be no reviews, and only a few words, a few lines about each album, more comments than anything really, so not much use for the crumbling-and-being-renovated-as-we-speak castle of keyboards then.

However, reading through it (yeah I read my own work; wanna make something of it?) I was reminded how much fun this was, and as this is a time when we could all do with some harmless fun, I'm going to kick some life back into it, two years later.

So stand by. Let's see what's first up.
Oh, and I may bring back those playlists I was doing, though probably not on a daily basis. 2018 Trollheart was right: too much effing hard work!

07-16-2018, 06:32 PM	#91 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Theocracy – Theocracy (2003) Genre: Prog Metal I loved As the World Bleeds, and quickly set about getting the rest of Theocracy's discography. I haven't however listened to any of it yet. This is their debut. It has two epics on it, each over eleven minutes long and broken into multi-part suites, so this should be indeed right in my wheelhouse. I have to admit, I haven't been concentrating on this as much as I should, but what I hear I do like. “Sinner” in particular is a standout, and I reckon a few more spins and this could definitely be a favourite. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-17-2018, 09:19 AM	#93 (permalink)
Mindy ask me about cosmology Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 9,015	cool png __________________ https://www.instagram.com/shhons_meme_agency

07-17-2018, 06:26 PM	#94 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	The Closed Eyes of Paradise – Draconian – 2000 Genre: Death/Gothic/Black Metal I believe it was Carpe Mortem who first introduced me to this Swedish gothic/death metal band, and while the album she threw at me was Arcane Rain Fell, and it's a whole lot more laid back and atmospheric than this, let's remember this is actually a demo album, released five years before that one. There are three instrumentals on it, and they're all really good, and eight other tracks, which isn't bad for a demo. The vocals are harsh, definitely more in the Black Metal camp though than the Death Metal one, ie they're screeched but still fairly discernable. The musicianship is top notch, and the addition of a female backing singer on some of the tracks really adds something. The short (just over a minute) “Unfold Thine Hands” has a beautiful orchestral melody, reminiscent of some of the work on Arcane Rain Fell, and lovely piano. Pity it's not longer. Soon forget about that though, as the next track is ***ing incredible! “The Morningstar” gives way to “The Gothic Embrace” and hell if it isn't just as good. Okay, I love everything about this album. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018*

07-29-2018, 06:24 PM	#95 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Operation: Mindcrime – Queensryche - 1988 Genre: Progressive Metal I know this album gets huge props from just about everyone, and probably rightly so, but the one and only time I listened to it, though I enjoyed it, I wasn't struck by a classic in the making. Now it's come around again on the randometer, so let's see how it does. The songs are all pretty excellent, true, and the story runs well through them, never seeming forced or stretched to fit. Title track is great, as is “Revolution Calling”, and ... yeah, pretty much everything really. I guess I would need to spend a little more time with this album to totally get its awesomeness, but at least I understand now. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-09-2018, 05:59 PM	#99 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Stronger in the End – 7 Mazes – 2017 Genre: Hard Rock Hard one to track down, this. Wiki shrugs, Discogs says “never heard of it mate” and gives me some compilation by presumably some other band with the same name (fancy) as this is the debut album from the 7 Mazes we're concerned with here. Thought it might have been prog so checked PA but no luck there. Finally got it on a Google search. Interestingly, the page it brought me to rates the album as a ten, but for all I know that could be mates of the band rating it, so I won't take that as anything special before I listen to it. I will say their philosophy is interesting: ”We believe that as an artist, one major task is to connect people. No matter the origin, gender or age; we are all individuals with rough edges and flaws. And thats what defines each one in his unique way. Its about real emotions, true stories and real music.' Indeed. Laudable sentiments. But what's the music like? Well to be honest, it's shown as hard rock but this kind of sounds almost prog metal to me when it starts. Indeed, RYM (who also have it) call it Alt-Metal. Maybe. Guitar tone is not something you'll find me talking about usually, as I don't know my arse from a hole in the ground on that subject, but here the constant buzzy sound set up by the guitar in the larger percentage of the tracks is very interesting and insistent, sort of aggressive and certainly I would think a signature sound. The vocalist is good, but I'd have to be honest and say he kind of sounds like a million other AOR/Prog Metal/Hard Rock singers – think he reminds me of Daughtry, but I could be wrong there – and I doubt I'd be able to identify him in any other band. He gets the job done though. Standouts include “Rising Sun”, “Through the Maze”, “Where Are You Now”, “Falling to Pieces”, though to be perfectly frank, it started sounding a little samey about halfway through and while I did enjoy it, I was kind of glad when it got near the end. RYM has a rating of 2.50 on the album, though that is only based on two votes, and I can understand that more than the 10.0 on the other page. I don't see this ever becoming a 10 for me, not even close. I mean, a few more listens and it might go up a point, but I can't see it getting to that level. Recommended, but not that highly. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-16-2018, 08:53 PM	#92 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	^that one ive always had trouble listening to since As The World Bleeds and Mirror of Souls are far superior. There aren't many tracks I like on Theocracy, but its still a decent enough album.

07-30-2018, 11:09 AM	#97 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Nice. That's a great album. Haven't listened to it in a while tho.

01-17-2021, 12:53 PM	#100 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	I stumbled back across this in a search for material for my Fortress of Prog, but was a little upset to find it's no use for that, as although there are prog albums here the guiding principle I laid down with this thread was that there would be no reviews, and only a few words, a few lines about each album, more comments than anything really, so not much use for the crumbling-and-being-renovated-as-we-speak castle of keyboards then. However, reading through it (yeah I read my own work; wanna make something of it?) I was reminded how much fun this was, and as this is a time when we could all do with some harmless fun, I'm going to kick some life back into it, two years later. So stand by. Let's see what's first up. Oh, and I may bring back those playlists I was doing, though probably not on a daily basis. 2018 Trollheart was right: too much effing hard work! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018