Metal Thread VI: We're So Kvlt, We Have Frostbite On Our Devil Horn Fingers

[Marillion]

Well, Saviour Machine is finally getting ready to pull Legend III out of the development hell it's been in since 2001, and with any luck it'll be complete in the year. Not holding my breath, though.

And according to Wiki, Sonata Arctica hopes to have their new album on sale by summer. That's good.

[Hawkfrost000]

Also, as awesome as Poetry for the Poisoned was, it came out in 2010.

I know, but i discovered Poetry for the Poisoned along with the rest of Kamelot in 2011 so its close enough for me, plus i really wanted to give the band some credit.

DM

[Feytalist]

I'm kinda waiting to see what Kamelot will do now that Roy Khan is gone. Loved his voice.

Necropolis was my personal favourite from Poetry of the Poisoned, but overall I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. I actually thought Ghost Opera was better.

I'd forgotten about Sonata Arctica's new album. Hope it's good.

[Marillion]

You know, everyone says that Ghost Opera was such a fantastic album. Personally, though, I just don't get it. Something about the album is just very unappealing, somehow, and I can't put my finger on it.

And I, for one, would be stoked if Fabio Lione would take Roy's place permanently.

[grimbold]

"Dear God, why?" would probably be pretty high on my list, but I'm somewhat mean-spirited and have a particular distaste for Deathcore, so I should probably just be ignored.

how about

Why do you play deathcore?

[Feytalist]

You know, everyone says that Ghost Opera was such a fantastic album. Personally, though, I just don't get it. Something about the album is just very unappealing, somehow, and I can't put my finger on it.

And I, for one, would be stoked if Fabio Lione would take Roy's place permanently.

Huh. Fabio might actually make it work. Interesting thought.

I think it's because Ghost Opera wasn't really structured. The previous albums, Epica and The Black Halo, told a story and had interludes and everything. Ghost Opera was just a bunch of songs thrown together. Bunch of awesome songs, though.

[grimbold]

Huh. Fabio might actually make it work. Interesting thought.

thats because fabio is one of the best vocalists in the world today

[Nameless]

Anyone know of any good albums set to be released this year? I'd trawl the net, but I'm much too lazy.

NEW ALCEST ALBUM.

[Kindablue]

My new favorite metal album of last year was Weightless by Animals as Leaders. Coincidentally, or perhaps incidentally, it was also the only new metal album I listened to last year.

[Feytalist]

NEW ALCEST ALBUM

.

Oh. HELL. Yes.

[ex cathedra]

I want in on this.

New Alcest album streamed via the label's youtube.

[Triscuitable]

WOO!

Didn't know there was a metal thread here. Awesome. What's the talk of the town? In a quick moment of extreme, 1st-grader-style outbursts, I just bought Rust in Peace (been a Metallica fan for a long time, never went past the Black Album though), and I LOVE it.

[Zocelot]

Top 5 Albums of 2011 (Originally top 3, but it's been a good year for metal and I'm bad at making decisions)

Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
Great new album, I like the slower, heavier stuff like Fear the Fear and End of an Empire.

Euphoreon - Euphoreon
Excellent debut album, Road to Redemption is the clear all-star song.

Battlesoul - Lay Down Thy Burdens
Another debut album, from my home province, these guys are a lot like Ensiferum.

Anterior - Echoes Of The Fallen
My favourite band. Not as good as their first album, but it's still fantastic and it grows on you.

Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions
I'll get hate for this, but I think it's the best Gossow album

Honorable Mention:
Alestorm - Back Through Time
It's fun, but not as musically sound as the others.

Disappointments:
Insomnium - One for Sorrow
Some good stuff here, but it feels too generic and samey

Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever
I was hoping they could recover from Bloodrunk, but nope, they suck now.

Blackguard - Firefight
Losing the keyboards changes their sound entirely, and not in a good way.

Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth
Much thrashier and less melodic than their first album. It's not terrible, but it just doesn't compare.

Norther - Circle Regenerated
Losing their lead singer crippled them.

[Triscuitable]

Top 5 Albums of 2011 (Originally top 3, but it's been a good year for metal and I'm bad at making decisions)

Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
Great new album, I like the slower, heavier stuff like Fear the Fear and End of an Empire.

Euphoreon - Euphoreon
Excellent debut album, Road to Redemption is the clear all-star song.

Battlesoul - Lay Down Thy Burdens
Another debut album, from my home province, these guys are a lot like Ensiferum.

Anterior - Echoes Of The Fallen
My favourite band. Not as good as their first album, but it's still fantastic and it grows on you.

Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions
I'll get hate for this, but I think it's the best Gossow album

Honorable Mention:
Alestorm - Back Through Time
It's fun, but not as musically sound as the others.

Disappointments:
Insomnium - One for Sorrow
Some good stuff here, but it feels too generic and samey

Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever
I was hoping they could recover from Bloodrunk, but nope, they suck now.

Blackguard - Firefight
Losing the keyboards changes their sound entirely, and not in a good way.

Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth
Much thrashier and less melodic than their first album. It's not terrible, but it just doesn't compare.

Norther - Circle Regenerated
Losing their lead singer crippled them.

Can we throw Lulu in there, for good measure?

You know damn well where I mean for it to go.

[eyeofsaulot]

Anyone know of any good albums set to be released this year? I'd trawl the net, but I'm much too lazy.

A couple good ones have already been mentioned like the new Alcest and posthumous Control Denied. Old school Texas thrash metallers Watchtower will be releasing a comeback album this year. Sigh's new album In Somniphobia should be out some time in March (won't link to the youtube page with the song "Somniphobia" because of the cover art. Look it up!) And Blind Guardian is rerecording, reworking, remixing, and orchestrifying old songs for their compilation entitled Memories of a Time to Come. Kind of like Forgotten Tales from all those years ago.

[Feytalist]

Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
Great new album, I like the slower, heavier stuff like Fear the Fear and End of an Empire.

Huh. I didn't really like Stand Up And Fight all that much. Usually I like slower and heavier as well, but The Varangian Way was just so much better.


Also, the new Moonspell (finally) is apparently slated for "Spring 2012". We'll have to see if that ends up happening.

[Nameless]

I want in on this.

New Alcest album streamed via the label's youtube.

NEW ALCEST ALBUM.

Spoiler

Show

WOO!

Didn't know there was a metal thread here. Awesome. What's the talk of the town?

Alllcccceeessstttttttt.

[Yora]

Found this guy on youtube with lots of really cool metal covers.

[Zocelot]

Can we throw Lulu in there, for good measure?

You know damn well where I mean for it to go.

It's not technically a disappointment since to be disappointed, you have to have to have the expectation that it's not going to be the biggest piece of **** Metallica has ever produced.

[Gullintanni]

Huh. I didn't really like Stand Up And Fight all that much. Usually I like slower and heavier as well, but The Varangian Way was just so much better.

Also, the new Moonspell (finally) is apparently slated for "Spring 2012". We'll have to see if that ends up happening.

Eh, Varangian missed for me on the keyboards. Authentic orchestral work really brings Stand Up And Fight into the fore, and that's the only reason why it gets my vote over its predecessor. But it's a very different album than Varangian. Varangian had a hell of a story behind it, and if you loved the narrative, it's an album that's going to stay with you forever.

Both great albums over all, just for very different reasons.

[Hawkfrost000]

Found this guy on youtube with lots of really cool metal covers.

took you long enough

DM

[Nameless]

I put this up on the Pony thread, but I'll mention it here too. The instrumentals for my trve kvlt frostbitten Black \m/etal cover of the opening them from My Little Pony: Friendship is magic is up on Youtube in my shiny new channel. It's equipped with low quality distant guitars as standard.
Screaming and hollowing version coming soon.

It's so kvlt, I actually started to develop some frostbite on my fingers as I was recording it.

[Feytalist]

I've been relistening ALL the Alcest in preparation for their new album

Eh, Varangian missed for me on the keyboards. Authentic orchestral work really brings Stand Up And Fight into the fore, and that's the only reason why it gets my vote over its predecessor. But it's a very different album than Varangian. Varangian had a hell of a story behind it, and if you loved the narrative, it's an album that's going to stay with you forever.

Hmm, you're right, of course. I tend to like concept albums like Varangian Way more in any case. Oh, but that Supernaut cover didn't do anything for me.

[Gullintanni]

Am I the only person here who doesn't like folk/symphonic metal

Anyway!

Folk and Symphonic probably shouldn't go into the same grouping. Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Turisas and the like don't sound remotely like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius or Rhapsody (of Fire...I refuse to acknowledge this change of names except as a parenthetical clarification. Sorry guys, you didn't need a name change).

The difference is so distinct that I can say that I really enjoy folk metal but I don't like symphonic metal at all. Not that the bands above aren't talented, they just lack a certain quality that I look for in my metal.

That said, I'll take an Amon Amarth, an Opeth, an Unleashed and sometimes even a Satyricon on my heavier leaning days, so I can definitely buy into the whole Needs More BRUTALITY mentality.

Metal is a wide genre. C'est la vie.

[Yora]

Folk and Symphonic probably shouldn't go into the same grouping. Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Turisas and the like don't sound remotely like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius or Rhapsody (of Fire...I refuse to acknowledge this change of names except as a parenthetical clarification. Sorry guys, you didn't need a name change).

Completely agree with this. Love the first ones.

[WhamBamSam]

Am I the only person here who doesn't like folk/symphonic metal

Anyway!

I have lately been getting very into Brutal Truth, in particular their album Need to Control. It's brutal, vicious, and aggressive grindcore, without devolving into mere noise and screeching (I'm lookin' at you, AxCx...). I like.

I like some folk and symphonic metal, but I'm certainly not of the opinion that those elements automatically improve any given song. When it works though, I can dig it.

Honestly my problem with a lot of folk metal and symphonic metal is essentially the same as my problem with a lot of extreme metal. In the former cases, bands often seem to be trying really hard to sound "epic" above all else while the latter group is full of people whose main focus is trying to sound "brutal." In both situations, sounding "good" comes secondary, and therein lies the problem.

[Nameless]

I like some folk and symphonic metal, but I'm certainly not of the opinion that those elements automatically improve any given song. When it works though, I can dig it.

Honestly my problem with a lot of folk metal and symphonic metal is essentially the same as my problem with a lot of extreme metal. In the former cases, bands often seem to be trying really hard to sound "epic" above all else while the latter group is full of people whose main focus is trying to sound "brutal." In both situations, sounding "good" comes secondary, and therein lies the problem.

I kind of agree with this. There are a lot of bands that have a tendency to fall into this trap and end up sounding very generic and boring. However, on the other hand, you do have some fantastic Symphonic and Folk Metal bands. Kamelot and Eluveitie are strong examples of bands in both genres who are both original, and do more then simply try to sound "epic".

[Triscuitable]

*snip* (I'm lookin' at you, AxCx...). I like.

Is the AxCx you mentioned in any way related to the band who plays loud and fast, with lyrics to be the most offensive as possible as a parody of bands that play loud and fast with offensive lyrics? That also happens to have the (censored) name A.C.?

[Killer Angel]

NEW ALCEST ALBUM.

Worst thing 'bout Alcest: it's difficult to find their CDs in italian stores.
I like facing logistic difficulties.

[Nameless]

Worst thing 'bout Alcest: it's difficult to find their CDs in italian stores.
I like facing logistic difficulties.

You think it's any different in the UK? That's why Odin created the Interwebz.

*hugs his copy of Souvenirs*