The Playlist of Life --- Trollheart's resurrected Journal

Trollheart · 10-18-2015, 02:50 PM

Well, if you'd bothered to read the piece you'd have your answer, wouldn't you? No melody I CAN HEAR. Happy? Next time read something before making a smart snarky comment on it; you might not even need to post after it. I think I answered all questions there. No melody, to me. Can't make me hear something I can't discern. Not saying there is physically no melody, just none I can hear.

Oh, and I could go on for pages about your terrible logic, comparing Phil Collins playing the drums to there being melody on an album, but, you know, whatever.

Trollheart · 10-18-2015, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnicLePanther

Except, like in the example where the guy says, "Golf isn't sport", you look like a total *******.

No, because everyone knows he is not trying to put forward a theory that golf is not a sport, just that he considers it less than his favourite, and so therefore "not sport". People do it all the time. "That's not a knife! THIS is a knife!"

The Batlord · 10-18-2015, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

tl;dr: I don't give a damn about no definitions, I'll up and make my own if anyone calls me out on it.

I'm sure that commenting on this will just cause you to dig your heels further in the sand, but just use a different word dude, or throw in a descriptor to clarify what you mean. For example "there's no melody" can easily be changed to "there's no coherent melody." If you were in a music class and threw out your little construct of melody on a test asking you to define it, you would get that question dead wrong. Since you're talking about music, it's probably a good idea to use musical terminology correctly as opposed to creating new definitions for them.

I'd say it's like Creationists saying evolution is "just a theory", without bothering to figure out what an actual scientific theory is. I don't think anyone would bat an eye if TH said Gorguts wasn't melodic, since that's a technically objective statement that people still treat as a subjective opinion, but saying that music doesn't have melody is claiming something objectively.

**Frownland** · 10-18-2015, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I'm sure that commenting on this will just cause you to dig your heels further in the sand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Well, if you'd bothered to read the piece you'd have your answer, wouldn't you? No melody I CAN HEAR. Happy? Next time read something before making a smart snarky comment on it; you might not even need to post after it. I think I answered all questions there. No melody, to me. Can't make me hear something I can't discern. Not saying there is physically no melody, just none I can hear.

Chill out dude. I read your little piece and summed it up in my post, interestingly enough. What I read was a long tirade of you rationalizing your incorrect use of the word melody. You have my point, do with it what you will: use the terminology correctly or else you look close-minded. I'm sorry that I've argued this with you, because you've determined that you're right too long ago to be persuaded any which way, and this conversation has only strengthened your sticking to your broken guns.

Quote:

Oh, and I could go on for pages about your terrible logic, comparing Phil Collins playing the drums to there being melody on an album, but, you know, whatever.

I used a comparison that ridiculous because that is how ridiculous you sound to me on this subject. Also, I've heard Genesis's albums, and I just don't hear any drums so they're not there. This is my OPINION. Can't you accept that?

Trollheart · 10-18-2015, 04:44 PM

One last time. I did not say it was not melodic, or hadn't melody. I said I don't hear it. If you give any metal album, well any extreme metal album, to a selection of people, music fans and non-music fans, various ages and both genders, you can damn well be sure that a large percentage of them will not be able to hear any melody in it, even if it is there. That's me: I know there's melody in there somewhere, but I can't hear it.

You know me Batty: you were surprised I found melody in Anaal whatever. You were expecting me to find none. You know it's there, so would you have found fault with me had I said I could hear none? No, because you didn't expect me to be able to hear it. Same thing.

Now can we just drop this? I've explained myself as best I can and I have no intention of going any further with this. I'd be happy just to get on with the second half of Metal Month III in peace.

**Frownland** · 10-18-2015, 06:00 PM

I'll drop it for now, hopefully you've learned what the definition is of one of the words you've been using in the process. If I catch you slipping up again, I'm going to have to sit you down and give you another music lesson.

Trollheart · 10-18-2015, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I'll drop it for now, hopefully you've learned what the definition is of one of the words you've been using in the process. If I catch you slipping up again, I'm going to have to sit you down and give you another music lesson.

The Batlord · 10-18-2015, 11:23 PM

Trollheart · 10-19-2015, 05:10 AM

On to June, and one of the Batlord's favourite artistes, who released their seventh album this month.

Luminiferous --- High On Fire --- 2015 (E1 Music)

Introduction: I experienced these guys as, I believe, part of Janszoon's Members' Top Ten last year, and was suitably, if I recall, impressed. This will then only be the second time I've heard them, so let's see what it's like.

Track-by-track

1. The black plot: Well, there's no settling in is there? Guitar and drums pound you across the room from the first chord and there's an abundance of energy in this. It's just a little too chaotic for me. Good fretwork certainly.
2. Carcosa: More a kind of rolling beat to this; reminds me of Metallica in places.
3. The sunless years: Hmm. Much of this is tending to sound the same to me.
4. Slave the hive: This is faster, has a lot of bite. Reminds me of Slayer.
5. The falconist: Kind of a nice melody in this one. Not bad.
6. Dark side of the compass: Very heavy and chaotic again. Meh.
7. The cave: Now this is different! Restrained guitar, almost a ballad, and I can actually make out what the vocalist is singing.
8. Luminiferous: Almost punk in its aggression and speed.
9. The lethal chamber: Meh, just too bored now. Most of this sounds too similar.

Conclusion: I get that HoF are big on many people's radar but I really don't see it with this album. I actually enjoyed Hate and Drudkh much more, which you would have to say is odd, because if I'm leaning (or believed I leaned) in any direction other than power/progressive/trad metal, I would have thought speed/thrash would have been my stepping-stone to more extreme subgenres. And yet here I am, praising Black Metal and calling Thrash metal boring!

Who is this, and what have you done with Trollheart???

Trollheart · 10-19-2015, 05:21 AM

Right, I've had quite enough of Black Metal and guys screaming their lungs hoarsely at me, so I'm looking for something a little more traditional, assuming the twenty-seven bands left aren't all Black Metal ones!

Well, you know, most of them are! But I've managed to find these guys, who are described as progressive/melodic metal, so who knows, might be worth a shot.

The Revelations --- Ambrotype --- 2015 (Independent)

At least it's a full album: most of the bands here either have demos or three or four-track EPs. This has nine tracks, and opens with a nice sort of acoustic guitar and keys, sort of a romping melody, and they sing in English hooray and I can make out what they're singing. Kind of a, I don't know, CSNY feel to the melody? The opening track is called “Wretch”, and there's a very Gilmouresque feel to the guitar solo that explodes at about the second minute and runs into the third. I'm even more impressed to find that this is another one-man operation, and while it's not too difficult to do that in the likes of Black Metal to an extent, where you can just roar over a guitar, to have this level of complexity and melodic accomplishment from one guy is special indeed. The man in question is Adel Sarflou, and if he can find the right backing he has a bright future in the world of melodic metal.

OK, hold fire for a moment here. Seems for some reason my copy was playing in reverse, ie last track first, so what I just described above was the closer, “Illusion of grace”. The album actually opens, as I said, with “Wretch” and it is in fact an acoustic lament with some amazing vocal harmonies (considering this is one guy doing all of this) and some ethereal keyboards. “Crown of thorns” has much more of the metal in it, and Sarflou makes his voice darker, more ragged and more in the style of your death metal singer. The song marches along on a gritty, grindy guitar tha later rips off a really fine solo which is, however, nowhere close to death and more at home in melodic metal or even AOR territory. Great though. Another fine vocal harmony attended by expressive synth, then “Cry me a black tear (For my brother)” is a beautiful guitar-driven ballad, and over way too soon.

“I am the beast” then returns to the hard, raw sound of “Crown of thorns”, as Sarflou revels in his role as the devil, growling and snarling against a snapping, spitting guitar line that really rocks along. Eleven minutes of this may be too long (would have preferred the previous song to have been that length) but we'll see. Well, he does drop the devil persona about three minutes in, and the song becomes far more melodic and tuneful, actually becoming a sort of ballad in part, then in the fifth minute he goes back to the death vocal and harder guitar. Very versatile that's for sure. Now in the ninth minute we get a superb little acoustic guitar passage with wind sounds. Well, eleven minutes is certainly not too long. Love this.

This album just keeps getting better. “Your vivid soul” is another stark acoustic ballad, then the title track is a ten-minute affair that opens with a Queen-like vocal acapella chorus that then explodes into a death metal growler. Actually, not as such the title track: it's his signature song, called “The Ambrotype”, though what it means I have no idea. Great power and aggression in this song, but also great melody. How one man can turn his hand to so much is beyond me. I'm in awe, I really am. And it continues with “My nightmare chamber”, which runs again on a beautiful acoustic guitar and really showcases his voice, later changing to the death growl and toughening up the guitar. Finally, “Hymn” is an acoustic ballad with a bitter edge that just allows you to relax after all the power and chaos (though organised) of the previous track. The closer we've covered, as it was inadvertently moved to the top.

TRACKLISTING

1. Wretch
2. Crown of thorns
3. Cry me a black tear (Elegy for my brother)
4. I am the beast
5. Your vivid soul
6. The Ambrotype
7. My nightmare chamber
8. Hymn
9. Illusion of grace

I can't tell you how impressed I am with this guy, particularly that he's all on his own, and yet produces some incredible and eminently listenable music here. He has a great voice, able to switch from the deepest, scratchiest death roar to a clear, resonant tone, and his mastery of keyboard, guitar and drums is amazing. Deserves to be a star. One of the best albums I've listened to for Metal Month this year. Absolutely top class.

10-18-2015, 02:50 PM	#2961 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Well, if you'd bothered to read the piece you'd have your answer, wouldn't you? No melody I CAN HEAR. Happy? Next time read something before making a smart snarky comment on it; you might not even need to post after it. I think I answered all questions there. No melody, to me. Can't make me hear something I can't discern. Not saying there is physically no melody, just none I can hear. Oh, and I could go on for pages about your terrible logic, comparing Phil Collins playing the drums to there being melody on an album, but, you know, whatever. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-18-2015, 04:44 PM	#2965 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	One last time. I did not say it was not melodic, or hadn't melody. I said I don't hear it. If you give any metal album, well any extreme metal album, to a selection of people, music fans and non-music fans, various ages and both genders, you can damn well be sure that a large percentage of them will not be able to hear any melody in it, even if it is there. That's me: I know there's melody in there somewhere, but I can't hear it. You know me Batty: you were surprised I found melody in Anaal whatever. You were expecting me to find none. You know it's there, so would you have found fault with me had I said I could hear none? No, because you didn't expect me to be able to hear it. Same thing. Now can we just drop this? I've explained myself as best I can and I have no intention of going any further with this. I'd be happy just to get on with the second half of Metal Month III in peace. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-18-2015, 06:00 PM	#2966 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I'll drop it for now, hopefully you've learned what the definition is of one of the words you've been using in the process. If I catch you slipping up again, I'm going to have to sit you down and give you another music lesson. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x Last edited by Frownland; 10-18-2015 at 06:19 PM.

10-19-2015, 05:10 AM	#2969 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	On to June, and one of the Batlord's favourite artistes, who released their seventh album this month. Luminiferous --- High On Fire --- 2015 (E1 Music) Introduction: I experienced these guys as, I believe, part of Janszoon's Members' Top Ten last year, and was suitably, if I recall, impressed. This will then only be the second time I've heard them, so let's see what it's like. Track-by-track 1. The black plot: Well, there's no settling in is there? Guitar and drums pound you across the room from the first chord and there's an abundance of energy in this. It's just a little too chaotic for me. Good fretwork certainly. 2. Carcosa: More a kind of rolling beat to this; reminds me of Metallica in places. 3. The sunless years: Hmm. Much of this is tending to sound the same to me. 4. Slave the hive: This is faster, has a lot of bite. Reminds me of Slayer. 5. The falconist: Kind of a nice melody in this one. Not bad. 6. Dark side of the compass: Very heavy and chaotic again. Meh. 7. The cave: Now this is different! Restrained guitar, almost a ballad, and I can actually make out what the vocalist is singing. 8. Luminiferous: Almost punk in its aggression and speed. 9. The lethal chamber: Meh, just too bored now. Most of this sounds too similar. Conclusion: I get that HoF are big on many people's radar but I really don't see it with this album. I actually enjoyed Hate and Drudkh much more, which you would have to say is odd, because if I'm leaning (or believed I leaned) in any direction other than power/progressive/trad metal, I would have thought speed/thrash would have been my stepping-stone to more extreme subgenres. And yet here I am, praising Black Metal and calling Thrash metal boring! Who is this, and what have you done with Trollheart??? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-19-2015, 05:21 AM	#2970 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Right, I've had quite enough of Black Metal and guys screaming their lungs hoarsely at me, so I'm looking for something a little more traditional, assuming the twenty-seven bands left aren't all Black Metal ones! Well, you know, most of them are! But I've managed to find these guys, who are described as progressive/melodic metal, so who knows, might be worth a shot. The Revelations --- Ambrotype --- 2015 (Independent) At least it's a full album: most of the bands here either have demos or three or four-track EPs. This has nine tracks, and opens with a nice sort of acoustic guitar and keys, sort of a romping melody, and they sing in English hooray and I can make out what they're singing. Kind of a, I don't know, CSNY feel to the melody? The opening track is called “Wretch”, and there's a very Gilmouresque feel to the guitar solo that explodes at about the second minute and runs into the third. I'm even more impressed to find that this is another one-man operation, and while it's not too difficult to do that in the likes of Black Metal to an extent, where you can just roar over a guitar, to have this level of complexity and melodic accomplishment from one guy is special indeed. The man in question is Adel Sarflou, and if he can find the right backing he has a bright future in the world of melodic metal. OK, hold fire for a moment here. Seems for some reason my copy was playing in reverse, ie last track first, so what I just described above was the closer, “Illusion of grace”. The album actually opens, as I said, with “Wretch” and it is in fact an acoustic lament with some amazing vocal harmonies (considering this is one guy doing all of this) and some ethereal keyboards. “Crown of thorns” has much more of the metal in it, and Sarflou makes his voice darker, more ragged and more in the style of your death metal singer. The song marches along on a gritty, grindy guitar tha later rips off a really fine solo which is, however, nowhere close to death and more at home in melodic metal or even AOR territory. Great though. Another fine vocal harmony attended by expressive synth, then “Cry me a black tear (For my brother)” is a beautiful guitar-driven ballad, and over way too soon. “I am the beast” then returns to the hard, raw sound of “Crown of thorns”, as Sarflou revels in his role as the devil, growling and snarling against a snapping, spitting guitar line that really rocks along. Eleven minutes of this may be too long (would have preferred the previous song to have been that length) but we'll see. Well, he does drop the devil persona about three minutes in, and the song becomes far more melodic and tuneful, actually becoming a sort of ballad in part, then in the fifth minute he goes back to the death vocal and harder guitar. Very versatile that's for sure. Now in the ninth minute we get a superb little acoustic guitar passage with wind sounds. Well, eleven minutes is certainly not too long. Love this. This album just keeps getting better. “Your vivid soul” is another stark acoustic ballad, then the title track is a ten-minute affair that opens with a Queen-like vocal acapella chorus that then explodes into a death metal growler. Actually, not as such the title track: it's his signature song, called “The Ambrotype”, though what it means I have no idea. Great power and aggression in this song, but also great melody. How one man can turn his hand to so much is beyond me. I'm in awe, I really am. And it continues with “My nightmare chamber”, which runs again on a beautiful acoustic guitar and really showcases his voice, later changing to the death growl and toughening up the guitar. Finally, “Hymn” is an acoustic ballad with a bitter edge that just allows you to relax after all the power and chaos (though organised) of the previous track. The closer we've covered, as it was inadvertently moved to the top. TRACKLISTING 1. Wretch 2. Crown of thorns 3. Cry me a black tear (Elegy for my brother) 4. I am the beast 5. Your vivid soul 6. The Ambrotype 7. My nightmare chamber 8. Hymn 9. Illusion of grace I can't tell you how impressed I am with this guy, particularly that he's all on his own, and yet produces some incredible and eminently listenable music here. He has a great voice, able to switch from the deepest, scratchiest death roar to a clear, resonant tone, and his mastery of keyboard, guitar and drums is amazing. Deserves to be a star. One of the best albums I've listened to for Metal Month this year. Absolutely top class. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018