Bitesize: Trollheart's Daily Album Mini-Reviews

Key · 08-28-2012, 02:49 PM

Hey TH, if you haven't, give Dark Moor a listen. I would recommend their Shadowland album, however I think you could find something you like in any of their releases.

Trollheart · 08-29-2012, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ki

Hey TH, if you haven't, give Dark Moor a listen. I would recommend their Shadowland album, however I think you could find something you like in any of their releases.

Thanks Ki. I have, if you check my regular journal, I reviewed "Tarot" only last week. Good album, I'll be listening to more of theirs as and when.
Oh and I finally got to listen to Pg Lost: very impressive. You might enjoy Irish band And So I Watch You From Afar, if you don't know them: quite similar. In fact, they're the first "Bitesize" review here...

PS That Grooveshark's a bit of all right, isn't it? I assumed being from Ireland I wouldn't get access, but no, it played without any problems. May look into that a bit more.

Key · 08-29-2012, 07:58 AM

Must've missed that D: i'll check it out.

And I have heard of them, I like them a lot as well.

I use Grooveshark regularly now. I connected it with my last.fm so I can scrobble with Grooveshark.

~~Whiskey~~ · 01-27-2013, 08:44 PM

Hey Trollheart, do you think it is possible if I tell you about an album to listen to and you write a mini-review to it here, or you dont let other people interfere with this? Its just an album Ive been thinking might be worth for you to review.

Trollheart · 01-28-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Hey Trollheart, do you think it is possible if I tell you about an album to listen to and you write a mini-review to it here, or you dont let other people interfere with this? Its just an album Ive been thinking might be worth for you to review.

Sure I can do that. The only real criterion for this journal is that I need not to have heard the album before. That said, it would need to be within the genres I prefer (metal, prog rock, rock, classic rock, instrumental, classical, country ... basically no hip-hop/rap or punk, or jazz really. Other than that probably most things) --- send me a PM and I'll take a look. Mind you, I'm so busy with three journals to update I can't say when I'll get to it...

Key · 01-27-2013, 11:31 PM

^Steven Wilson is one of the few artists (with Devin Townsend) that I am always eager to hear new material from. Admittedly, I find his solo work to be a little boring, but I love PT and Blackfield a lot. His recent collab with Opeth's vocalist is pretty great as well.

Have you checked out any Blackfield yet by chance? Not as proggy as Porcupine Tree, but still worth listening to.

Trollheart · 01-28-2013, 06:47 PM

Blackfield are on my list, as is Storm Corrosion, and isn't there a new No-Man due out, or am I falling into another alternate dimension?

Key · 01-30-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Blackfield are on my list, as is Storm Corrosion, and isn't there a new No-Man due out, or am I falling into another alternate dimension?

Haven't found anything regarding a new No-Man album. But, doesn't mean it won't happen

Trollheart · 02-01-2013, 12:54 PM

Decent rocker, sadly defunct now

Artiste: Starbreaker
Nationality: American
Album: Starbreaker
Year: 2005
Label: Frontiers
Genre:AOR/Melodic Rock
Tracks:
Die for you
Lies
Break my bones
Crushed
Days of confusion
Transparent
Light at the end of the world
Cradle to the grave
Underneath a falling sky
Turn it off
Dragonfly
Save yourself
Days of confusion (Acoustic)
Chronological position:Debut album
Familiarity: Zero
Interesting factoid:
Initial impression: Good solid AOR with a real hint of metal to it.
Best track(s): Lies, Days of confusion, The light at the end of the world, Turn it off
Worst track(s): Dragonfly
Comments: A side project for TNT singer and frontman Tony Harnell, Starbreaker had just the two albums, this being their first. It starts off a bit confusing with various instruments going, almost like an orchestra tuning up, but quickly develops into a rocking opener with a great hook, and Die for you starts us off on the right foot. Sitar-like guitar metamorphoses into a blazing solo from Primal Fear's Magnus Karlsson, and there's a certain Thin Lizzy sound to his fretwork on Lies, with some effective keyboards added by him too.

There's definitely a harder edge to this short-lived band/project than other AOR acts I've heard, and I'd place them more at the metal side of things than melodic rock really, but then with the singer from TNT and the guitarist from Primal Fear that's not really that big a surprise. Add in the drummer from TNT, who has also played with Yngwie Malmsteen, and it's a pretty heavy troupe you've got here. That said, this album is chock-full of hooks and memorable melodies, so I'd put it above the average metal album, where in some cases melody and structure can be sacrificed in favour of speed, power, noise or all three.

Starbreaker can pull back on the throttle too though, as they do in the semi-ballad Days of confusion, a song we get two versions of, with the closer an acoustic offering. Very powerful and dramatic but featuring really sensitive and engaging piano work from Karlsson, it's one of the standouts certainly. There's some real guitar virtuoso display here from the PF man, though it's Harnell's voice that controls proceedings, and man is it equal to the task. But then, you probably knew that anyway. Again we hear that tinkling piano in Underneath a falling sky, but it's hardly a ballad.

I have to say the instrumental Dragonfly is just totally overblown and self-indulgent, the only reason it gets onto the "worst tracks" list (the only one there, to be fair), and it sounds very Malmsteenesque to me (ie indulgent and overblown) but at least it does give drummer John Macaluso a chance to shine. Other than that it's the low point of an album which really has none. I pretty much like every track here, and I'll be listening to this album again at some point certainly.
Overall impression: Very impressed; sorry there were only two albums from this band.
Intention: I'll have a listen to the second album, then maybe check out TNT...

Trollheart · 02-09-2013, 09:37 AM

Abandon all hope (of stopping listening to this album) all ye who enter here!

Artiste: Dante Fox
Nationality: British (English)
Album: Lost man's ground
Year: 2012
Label: Self-released?
Genre: AOR
Tracks:
Who stole the innocence
Go where your heart is
Secrets
I can't sleep
Lost man's ground
This world
Goodbye to yesterday

Chronological position: Third album
Familiarity: None
Interesting factoid:
Initial impression: Brilliant AOR record
Best track(s): This world, I can't sleep, Goodbye to yesterday
Worst track(s): Not a one.
Comments: Sometimes the old sayings are true, and in this case it certainly is correct that good things often come in small packages. The only thing I find annoying about this album is that it's so short, only seven tracks in total (eight if you count the radio edit of the title track, which I don't) but every single one is gold. With a very eighties-style acapella vocal start, Who stole the innocence opens proceedings and it's pure AOR Heaven, like the best of Heart and Pat Benatar, even though the verse melody is closely modelled (whether intentionally or not I don't know) on Dio's Rainbow in the dark. It really gets you in the mood and vocalist Sue Willets has a strong and pure voice, perfect for AOR edging into heavier rock at times.

Dante Fox certainly give some older, more established AOR bands a run for their money with this mini-album, as songs like Go where your heart is, with its hooky keyboard melody and tough guitar, and the soft ballad Secrets show, and seem to only hint at the potential of this band who were unknown, at least to me, up until now, despite apparently having two albums prior to this. One of the best tracks on the album, I'm reliably informed, originally appears on their debut album, and if so I need to check it out, post-haste, as I can't sleep encompasses everything great about Dante Fox: great melodies, powerful guitar, punchy singing, rolling keyboards and a hook that won't let you go no matter how hard you wriggle. The sort of song you'd expect to come from the pen of Desmond Child or Diane Warren. Perfect.

The title track comes across more as a progressive rock piece, with some pretty heavy guitar from Tim Manford almost pushing it into metal or at least hard rock territory, but retaining the AOR sensibilites that have so far characterised the album. There's a great anthemic feeling to it too, a real fist-in-the-air song, while the total standout for me comes in This world, which deserves to be a huge international hit, but of course won't. It's got the kind of catchiness some bands can only dream of achieving in a song, with another somewhat dreamy, progressive intro and a certain sense of darkness about it, juxtaposed perfectly with an upbeat, hooky chorus.

Essentially then the album ends on Goodbye to yesterday. another ballad, and a very fitting closer with some lovely acoustic guitar and some fine vocal harmonies. There's also the radio edit version of the title track, but as you all know by now I generally tend not to include extended, edited, remixed or other versions of tracks already on the album, or bonus or additional tracks.
Overall impression: Completely blown away by how great this album is, considering I knew nothing about the band beforehand. Superb.
Intention: I'm already searching now for their first two albums!

01-28-2013, 06:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Blackfield are on my list, as is Storm Corrosion, and isn't there a new No-Man due out, or am I falling into another alternate dimension? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-01-2013, 12:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Decent rocker, sadly defunct now Artiste: Starbreaker Nationality: American Album: Starbreaker Year: 2005 Label: Frontiers Genre:AOR/Melodic Rock Tracks: Die for you Lies Break my bones Crushed Days of confusion Transparent Light at the end of the world Cradle to the grave Underneath a falling sky Turn it off Dragonfly Save yourself Days of confusion (Acoustic) Chronological position:Debut album Familiarity: Zero Interesting factoid: Initial impression: Good solid AOR with a real hint of metal to it. Best track(s): Lies, Days of confusion, The light at the end of the world, Turn it off Worst track(s): Dragonfly Comments: A side project for TNT singer and frontman Tony Harnell, Starbreaker had just the two albums, this being their first. It starts off a bit confusing with various instruments going, almost like an orchestra tuning up, but quickly develops into a rocking opener with a great hook, and Die for you starts us off on the right foot. Sitar-like guitar metamorphoses into a blazing solo from Primal Fear's Magnus Karlsson, and there's a certain Thin Lizzy sound to his fretwork on Lies, with some effective keyboards added by him too. There's definitely a harder edge to this short-lived band/project than other AOR acts I've heard, and I'd place them more at the metal side of things than melodic rock really, but then with the singer from TNT and the guitarist from Primal Fear that's not really that big a surprise. Add in the drummer from TNT, who has also played with Yngwie Malmsteen, and it's a pretty heavy troupe you've got here. That said, this album is chock-full of hooks and memorable melodies, so I'd put it above the average metal album, where in some cases melody and structure can be sacrificed in favour of speed, power, noise or all three. Starbreaker can pull back on the throttle too though, as they do in the semi-ballad Days of confusion, a song we get two versions of, with the closer an acoustic offering. Very powerful and dramatic but featuring really sensitive and engaging piano work from Karlsson, it's one of the standouts certainly. There's some real guitar virtuoso display here from the PF man, though it's Harnell's voice that controls proceedings, and man is it equal to the task. But then, you probably knew that anyway. Again we hear that tinkling piano in Underneath a falling sky, but it's hardly a ballad. I have to say the instrumental Dragonfly is just totally overblown and self-indulgent, the only reason it gets onto the "worst tracks" list (the only one there, to be fair), and it sounds very Malmsteenesque to me (ie indulgent and overblown) but at least it does give drummer John Macaluso a chance to shine. Other than that it's the low point of an album which really has none. I pretty much like every track here, and I'll be listening to this album again at some point certainly. Overall impression: Very impressed; sorry there were only two albums from this band. Intention: I'll have a listen to the second album, then maybe check out TNT... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 01-13-2015 at 12:25 PM.

02-09-2013, 09:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Abandon all hope (of stopping listening to this album) all ye who enter here! Artiste: Dante Fox Nationality: British (English) Album: Lost man's ground Year: 2012 Label: Self-released? Genre: AOR Tracks: Who stole the innocence Go where your heart is Secrets I can't sleep Lost man's ground This world Goodbye to yesterday Chronological position: Third album Familiarity: None Interesting factoid: Initial impression: Brilliant AOR record Best track(s): This world, I can't sleep, Goodbye to yesterday Worst track(s): Not a one. Comments: Sometimes the old sayings are true, and in this case it certainly is correct that good things often come in small packages. The only thing I find annoying about this album is that it's so short, only seven tracks in total (eight if you count the radio edit of the title track, which I don't) but every single one is gold. With a very eighties-style acapella vocal start, Who stole the innocence opens proceedings and it's pure AOR Heaven, like the best of Heart and Pat Benatar, even though the verse melody is closely modelled (whether intentionally or not I don't know) on Dio's Rainbow in the dark. It really gets you in the mood and vocalist Sue Willets has a strong and pure voice, perfect for AOR edging into heavier rock at times. Dante Fox certainly give some older, more established AOR bands a run for their money with this mini-album, as songs like Go where your heart is, with its hooky keyboard melody and tough guitar, and the soft ballad Secrets show, and seem to only hint at the potential of this band who were unknown, at least to me, up until now, despite apparently having two albums prior to this. One of the best tracks on the album, I'm reliably informed, originally appears on their debut album, and if so I need to check it out, post-haste, as I can't sleep encompasses everything great about Dante Fox: great melodies, powerful guitar, punchy singing, rolling keyboards and a hook that won't let you go no matter how hard you wriggle. The sort of song you'd expect to come from the pen of Desmond Child or Diane Warren. Perfect. The title track comes across more as a progressive rock piece, with some pretty heavy guitar from Tim Manford almost pushing it into metal or at least hard rock territory, but retaining the AOR sensibilites that have so far characterised the album. There's a great anthemic feeling to it too, a real fist-in-the-air song, while the total standout for me comes in This world, which deserves to be a huge international hit, but of course won't. It's got the kind of catchiness some bands can only dream of achieving in a song, with another somewhat dreamy, progressive intro and a certain sense of darkness about it, juxtaposed perfectly with an upbeat, hooky chorus. Essentially then the album ends on Goodbye to yesterday. another ballad, and a very fitting closer with some lovely acoustic guitar and some fine vocal harmonies. There's also the radio edit version of the title track, but as you all know by now I generally tend not to include extended, edited, remixed or other versions of tracks already on the album, or bonus or additional tracks. Overall impression: Completely blown away by how great this album is, considering I knew nothing about the band beforehand. Superb. Intention: I'm already searching now for their first two albums! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 01-13-2015 at 12:26 PM.

08-28-2012, 02:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Hey TH, if you haven't, give Dark Moor a listen. I would recommend their Shadowland album, however I think you could find something you like in any of their releases.

08-29-2012, 07:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Must've missed that D: i'll check it out. And I have heard of them, I like them a lot as well. I use Grooveshark regularly now. I connected it with my last.fm so I can scrobble with Grooveshark.

01-27-2013, 08:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~Whiskey~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Israel Posts: 180	Hey Trollheart, do you think it is possible if I tell you about an album to listen to and you write a mini-review to it here, or you dont let other people interfere with this? Its just an album Ive been thinking might be worth for you to review.

01-27-2013, 11:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	^Steven Wilson is one of the few artists (with Devin Townsend) that I am always eager to hear new material from. Admittedly, I find his solo work to be a little boring, but I love PT and Blackfield a lot. His recent collab with Opeth's vocalist is pretty great as well. Have you checked out any Blackfield yet by chance? Not as proggy as Porcupine Tree, but still worth listening to.