The Poseur Cave

Isbjørn · 12-20-2014, 09:15 AM

Artist: Wishbone Ash
Album: Argus
Year: 1972
Genre: Progressive rock/hard rock

I've been meaning to listen to this for a long time. I was browsing Iron Maiden's Wikipedia page, and on a list of influences, this album was mentioned. According to Steve Harris, Maiden's trademark twin guitar style was inspired by this album, so of course I had to check it out.

The word "progressive", when used as part of a genre name, tends to make me a little sceptical, as most progressive metal albums I've listened to didn't manage to grab my interest, and progressive rock seems to be hit or miss as well (though not to the same degree). This was a hit, though. There is no filler, but the jangly pop rock song "Blowin' Free" is a standout. The double Byrds-y guitars and harmonized vocals really appeal to me. "Warrior" is great as well. It captures that going-out-to-war feel that few non-metal songs (that I know, anyway) do. I'm pretty sure all of you have listened to this already, but if you haven't, you should.

4/5

Unknown Soldier · 12-20-2014, 12:17 PM

Argus is one of my all time favourite albums

Isbjørn · 12-21-2014, 03:33 AM

Artist: Dragon Guardian
Album: Dragonvarius
Year: 2009
Genre: Power/symphonic metal

Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what this is? It's ridiculous. The band is named Dragon Guardian (I guess they like Blind Guardian and Dragonforce?) and the album is named Dragonvarius (they must like Stratovarius too!). Those names aren't cheesy, they're just plain bad. And look at the album cover. It looks as if it's taken from some tacky, anime-styled online role-playing game, whose nerdy players make up this band's entire fanbase, I imagine. I'm not going to go in-depth about the music: it's average euro-styled power metal with Japanese lyrics and obnoxious spoken passages. The only reason I listened to this was to bash the band's name in my journal. Dragon Guardian is a ****ty name.

2/5

The Batlord · 12-21-2014, 02:53 PM

Oh god. Kill it before a non-power metal fan gets wind of it. Janszoon would never let us hear the end of this.

Isbjørn · 12-22-2014, 09:53 AM

Briks sees what he finds on the family radio

Alright, so I was sitting in the living room, sloppily wrapping my last few Christmas gifts, when I thought "hey, why not put the radio on a metal station and turn it up loud, since I'm home alone?" Our radio has the ability to connect to internet stations, so I found a Russian one named Radio Caprice - Speed Metal, and decided to listen to whatever was playing.

First up was the song "Starrider", by a band named Alpha Tiger, which was a pleasant surprise. At first I thought it was Bruce Dickinson singing, which is one of the best compliments a metal vocalist can be given. Hardly speed metal though, more '80s heavy/power metal. Pretty good song, might check out these guys.

Next up was Cobra - "On My Knees". Sounded like pretty standard early '80s stuff to me. NWOBHM, I guess.

The station then played "Operation Ground and Pound" by Dragonforce. At this point I changed to another station because **** Dragonforce.

Now I was listening to a Norwegian station named Metal Express Radio instead. I saw they were playing Samson, a song named "Six Foot Under", and I was delighted because I'd never really listened to Samson, but knew that Bruce Dickinson was in it before he joined Iron Maiden. I don't think it was Dickinson singing, though. Disappointing.

The station was having a '70s hard rock throwback thing, so next up was Cheap Trick - "Surrender", which I really like. Gotta listen to old pop rock tunes once in a while, man.

The next one had me confused. At first I thought the vocalist was female, but then I realized that the song, named "The Twilight Zone", was by Rush. Then it all made sense.

The Batlord · 12-22-2014, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

The next one had me confused. At first I thought the vocalist was female, but then I realized that the song, named "The Twilight Zone", was by Rush. Then it all made sense.

Isbjørn · 12-28-2014, 04:29 AM

2015 is on its way...

Which means that...

The radio will soon stop playing Christmas songs

The last digit of our current year number will soon be replaced

Many people will have abysmal hangovers in about four days

The rest of us will get no sleep due to those damn fireworks

You may make a few resolutions and disregard them after a couple of weeks

You should get over here and vote for me (you don't have to, but you should feel a little obliged)

JustinJJustin is starting his "Devil's Dancefloor" section in his journal (and I've decided to join him)

Happy Almost-New-Year!

Isbjørn · 12-30-2014, 03:43 AM

Haiku reviews

The Velvet Underground with Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico

Bananas taste good
This album is good as well
Heh, who would've known

4/5

Deep Purple - Machine Head

Not that engaging
Keyboard solos are not cool
An okay album

3/5

The Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good

This is great emo
Some of the best, probably
Should have heard sooner

4.5/5

Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm

Singer like Abbath
Near-psychedelic at times
And damn, that cover

4/5

Pet_Sounds · 12-30-2014, 08:06 AM

What's wrong with keyboard solos?

Isbjørn · 12-30-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

What's wrong with keyboard solos?

Welp, keyboard solos are good when done right, but I hate that weedly keyboard tone that kind of resembles a guitar, used by Dragonforce, Sonata Arctica, and apparently Deep Purple as well. It makes me go "man, that guitarist sure can shred, oh wait. That's a keyboard, lame." But you know that keyboard solo in "In My Life" by The Beatles? That one rocks.

12-20-2014, 09:15 AM	#301 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Artist: Wishbone Ash Album: Argus Year: 1972 Genre: Progressive rock/hard rock I've been meaning to listen to this for a long time. I was browsing Iron Maiden's Wikipedia page, and on a list of influences, this album was mentioned. According to Steve Harris, Maiden's trademark twin guitar style was inspired by this album, so of course I had to check it out. The word "progressive", when used as part of a genre name, tends to make me a little sceptical, as most progressive metal albums I've listened to didn't manage to grab my interest, and progressive rock seems to be hit or miss as well (though not to the same degree). This was a hit, though. There is no filler, but the jangly pop rock song "Blowin' Free" is a standout. The double Byrds-y guitars and harmonized vocals really appeal to me. "Warrior" is great as well. It captures that going-out-to-war feel that few non-metal songs (that I know, anyway) do. I'm pretty sure all of you have listened to this already, but if you haven't, you should. 4/5 __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

12-21-2014, 03:33 AM	#303 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Artist: Dragon Guardian Album: Dragonvarius Year: 2009 Genre: Power/symphonic metal Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what this is? It's ridiculous. The band is named Dragon Guardian (I guess they like Blind Guardian and Dragonforce?) and the album is named Dragonvarius (they must like Stratovarius too!). Those names aren't cheesy, they're just plain bad. And look at the album cover. It looks as if it's taken from some tacky, anime-styled online role-playing game, whose nerdy players make up this band's entire fanbase, I imagine. I'm not going to go in-depth about the music: it's average euro-styled power metal with Japanese lyrics and obnoxious spoken passages. The only reason I listened to this was to bash the band's name in my journal. Dragon Guardian is a **ty name. 2/5** __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

12-22-2014, 09:53 AM	#305 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Briks sees what he finds on the family radio Alright, so I was sitting in the living room, sloppily wrapping my last few Christmas gifts, when I thought "hey, why not put the radio on a metal station and turn it up loud, since I'm home alone?" Our radio has the ability to connect to internet stations, so I found a Russian one named Radio Caprice - Speed Metal, and decided to listen to whatever was playing. First up was the song "Starrider", by a band named Alpha Tiger, which was a pleasant surprise. At first I thought it was Bruce Dickinson singing, which is one of the best compliments a metal vocalist can be given. Hardly speed metal though, more '80s heavy/power metal. Pretty good song, might check out these guys. Next up was Cobra - "On My Knees". Sounded like pretty standard early '80s stuff to me. NWOBHM, I guess. The station then played "Operation Ground and Pound" by Dragonforce. At this point I changed to another station because **** Dragonforce. Now I was listening to a Norwegian station named Metal Express Radio instead. I saw they were playing Samson, a song named "Six Foot Under", and I was delighted because I'd never really listened to Samson, but knew that Bruce Dickinson was in it before he joined Iron Maiden. I don't think it was Dickinson singing, though. Disappointing. The station was having a '70s hard rock throwback thing, so next up was Cheap Trick - "Surrender", which I really like. Gotta listen to old pop rock tunes once in a while, man. The next one had me confused. At first I thought the vocalist was female, but then I realized that the song, named "The Twilight Zone", was by Rush. Then it all made sense. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

12-28-2014, 04:29 AM	#307 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	2015 is on its way... Which means that... The radio will soon stop playing Christmas songs The last digit of our current year number will soon be replaced Many people will have abysmal hangovers in about four days The rest of us will get no sleep due to those damn fireworks You may make a few resolutions and disregard them after a couple of weeks You should get over here and vote for me (you don't have to, but you should feel a little obliged) JustinJJustin is starting his "Devil's Dancefloor" section in his journal (and I've decided to join him) Happy Almost-New-Year! __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal Last edited by Isbjørn; 12-28-2014 at 06:34 AM.

12-30-2014, 03:43 AM	#308 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Haiku reviews The Velvet Underground with Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico Bananas taste good This album is good as well Heh, who would've known 4/5 Deep Purple - Machine Head Not that engaging Keyboard solos are not cool An okay album 3/5 The Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good This is great emo Some of the best, probably Should have heard sooner 4.5/5 Inquisition - *Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm* Singer like Abbath Near-psychedelic at times And damn, that cover 4/5 __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

12-30-2014, 08:06 AM	#309 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,488	What's wrong with keyboard solos? __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease