Metal Thread V - Defenders of the Faith

[Killer Angel]

Who wear's pants over their face?

Clowns?
Could well be Slipknot?

(run for cover)

[Nameless]

Clowns?
Could well be Slipknot?

(run for cover)

[Decoy Lockbox]

As long as we're discussing Metal on a roleplaying focused forum, any love for 3 Inches of Blood? Not exactly a new band, or a small one for that matter, but seeing as how their material basically oscillates between fantasy battlescapes and battlescapes focused on True Metal, they're a perfect fit for campaign writing. Not to mention vocalist Cam Pipes is like a clone of Bruce Dickinson channeling the spirit of Rob Halford.

I love these guys, I went on a vacation to Seattle a while back and "Fire up the Blades" was the only thing I had to listen to! I've actually gotten inspiration for various things in my D&D game from their songs, to boot. The most memorable boss in my game (which just hit session #50 last weekend -- yay!) actually wielded a demon blade that was directly inspired by the 3IoB song of the same name. Of course, it wasn't actually a blade made by demons, but a demon that had taken the shape of a blade, but thats beside the point...one of my player's former characters's souls is still trapped inside the blade, screaming for mercy

Clowns?
Could well be Slipknot?

(run for cover)

Last time I checked, the Slipknot hate ran pretty thick round these parts. Howdy, pardner.

[Kane]

Just thought I drop in and see if I could at least make the pretenses of keeping informed on one type of media. (Ha-ha, yeah right.)

Ran into Iron Savior recently, like it. I suppose that's no surprise, provided you have a good memory, as I mentioned liking Gamma Ray last time I came through here.

I've found that I absolutely LOVE, without qualification, Avantasia.

Ahem. Sorry. I'd say my greatest complaint is that that was about (okay, I'm exaggerating, but it felt like it,) half their discography.

Picked up Blind Guardian's Somewhere Far Beyond and A Night at the Opera. Like them, but I've yet to find anything that truly compares to Nightfall in Middle-Earth. (Though I haven't heard their latest album yet, so who knows. And 'Opera is still pretty awesome.)

A friend also provided me with significant amounts of Kamelot, and I am rather fond of it/them. Interested in finding more of them, but don't know too much. (I think he gave me.. what, Ghost Opera, Epica, Black Halo, and Fourth Legacy? That sounds right. They are all excellent, as it happens.

Moderately interested in Manowar, if someone can recommended particular albums to try and/or acquire. And open to recommendations, though I'll be slow to try them; my speakers are currently on life support. Alternately, if I'm doing something terrible, and you must persuade me to stop it, I'll at least listen to that too. Except Avantasia. No compromise there.

EDIT: GAH! Forgot one of the things I wanted to mention; Symphony X. Previously mentioned friend gave me half a dozen albums of theirs (Check that, actually a full dozen,) but despite them being something he thought I'd love, as well as something that I would have thought I'd like, I... don't. They seem... I'm not sure how to define it, but generally, if their songs come up, I skip over them. If anyone has an explanation for this, I'd be interested, because I find it baffling.

That's not to say they don't have a few epic songs, (Odyssey comes to mind,) but most of their stuff is... meh.

[Decoy Lockbox]

If anyone has an explanation for this, I'd be interested, because I find it baffling.

You're a crazy person. Somebody call the men in white coats.

[Killer Angel]

Moderately interested in Manowar, if someone can recommended particular albums to try and/or acquire.

I could suggest Kings of Metal. It's practically the quintessential Manowar's album.

[Nameless]

Speaking of ManOWaR, why would they come to the UK but NOT PLAY IN LONDON!? ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

On another note, why have I only just started listening to Sabaton?

[Killer Angel]

On another note, why have I only just started listening to Sabaton?

I don't know, they were mentioned a lot in the thread n. 2 (or 3).
Ghost division, 40:1, Primo Victoria, and so on... powerful songs.

[Nameless]

Primo Victoria

I think this is my favourite so far. His voice sounds a bit weak in some of their other stuff.

[Decoy Lockbox]

I think this is my favourite so far. His voice sounds a bit weak in some of their other stuff.

Their song "counterstrike" single handedly got a friend of mine into metal. Thats a feat.

[Kane]

I think this is my favourite so far. His voice sounds a bit weak in some of their other stuff.

Their song "counterstrike" single handedly got a friend of mine into metal. Thats a feat.

I'm fond of Into the Fire, Wolfpack (which has a pretty awesome re-write somewhere,), Gallipoli, and some of their other stuff.Counterstrike and Back in Control are pretty good. I don't disagree, but I haven't noticed the lyrics being too terrible, and I've been spoiling myself (at least in my opinion,) with Avantasia, Kamelot, and so on.

EDIT: I am ashamed for forgetting Price of a Mile. Seriously.

I could suggest Kings of Metal. It's practically the quintessential Manowar's album.

Alright. Will look into it. (Having to choose what I spend time on for efficiency, I can only use the web for music when a roommate is out and I can borrow his computer. Sigh.)

crazy person.... men in white labcoats... extra-long sleeves

Yeah, that was the conclusion I came to as well. I'm not sure why. Like I said, baffling. Don't know enough about music to explain it.

[Science Officer]

Gods of War is a pretty nice album too, I think.

Love Sabaton. Especially Art of War. Actually, pretty much especially all of their songs.

related:

I have just spent five hours playing Company of Heroes. ...
....Listening to Sabaton the entire time.

Maybe it's just the sleep deprivation talking but I'm pretty sure I've ascended to a higher plane of existence. Where WWII never ends.

[Kane]

I have just spent five hours playing Company of Heroes. ...
....Listening to Sabaton the entire time.

Maybe it's just the sleep deprivation talking but I'm pretty sure I've ascended to a higher plane of existence. Where WWII never ends.

related:

My god. I think you have achieved a Nirvana-like enlightenment for WWII combat games. Dammit. I need to read Lord of Light so I can make some witty pun.

You have found what many seek

[Coplantor]

Went to see Ramsstein two months ago, gonna see Mötorhead two months into the future. Life is swell.

Now that I'm here, from the comments above I'm guessing that Sabaton is either good or awesome, so I'm gonna listen to it. Anything you guys would recomend me?

[Kane]

Went to see Ramsstein two months ago, gonna see Mötorhead two months into the future. Life is swell.

Now that I'm here, from the comments above I'm guessing that Sabaton is either good or awesome, so I'm gonna listen to it. Anything you guys would recomend me?

In no particular order:

Wolfpack.
Price of a Mile.
Panzerkampf. (If there isn't anyone around who will take exception to the glorious opening lines.)
Counterstrike. (Technically, I believe it was a pre-emptive counter-attack, which kind of defies the definition, but I am not going to take sides.)
Into the Fire (Flames? Very good, in a bad-end, depressing sort of way. Not terribly, though.)
Gallipoli

[RationalGoblin]

In no particular order:

Wolfpack.
Price of a Mile.
Panzerkampf. (If there isn't anyone around who will take exception to the glorious opening lines.)
Counterstrike. (Technically, I believe it was a pre-emptive counter-attack, which kind of defies the definition, but I am not going to take sides.)
Into the Fire (Flames? Very good, in a bad-end, depressing sort of way. Not terribly, though.)
Gallipoli

Seconding this, and adding these:

White Death. (Talks about the greatest sniper on the planet)
Uprising. (Poles rebelling against the Nazis is pretty awesome)
Screaming Eagles. (Makes France awesome)
40: 1. (Again with the Poles, this time facing off and killing 40 TIMES what they lost. Of course, they lost through sheer force of numbers, but seriously)

[Science Officer]

My god. I think you have achieved a Nirvana-like enlightenment for WWII combat games. Dammit. I need to read Lord of Light so I can make some witty pun.

You have found what many seek

Or rather Shadow Archmagi, whom I cross-quoted from the steam thread, has.

Went to see Ramsstein two months ago, gonna see Mötorhead two months into the future. Life is swell.

Now that I'm here, from the comments above I'm guessing that Sabaton is either good or awesome, so I'm gonna listen to it. Anything you guys would recomend me?

If you like Rammstein, the first thing that I think of from Sabaton is Ghost Division.
Personally, I love the Art of War

[Decoy Lockbox]

Yeah, that was the conclusion I came to as well. I'm not sure why. Like I said, baffling. Don't know enough about music to explain it.

Getting yourself to like Symphony X is pretty easy. Just force yourself to listen to their stuff until you like it. I suggest putting their album "Paradise Lost" on loop until you love it. It worked for me and black metal back in the day!

[toasty]

Getting yourself to like Symphony X is pretty easy. Just force yourself to listen to their stuff until you like it. I suggest putting their album "Paradise Lost" on loop until you love it. It worked for me and black metal back in the day!

Paradise Lost is really an amazing album, I'm not sure why anyone would NOT like it. It, and a live performance by Blackguard, is enough for me to really, really, really want to see those two bands when they go to Houston in May.

[Nomrom]

Paradise Lost is actually the only Symphony X album I have. I really like it and they're on my list of bands to buy more stuff of. If i were to buy another album, which would you recommend next?

[NeonBlack]

Paradise Lost is actually the only Symphony X album I have. I really like it and they're on my list of bands to buy more stuff of. If i were to buy another album, which would you recommend next?

Any of the Rusell Allen era albums (that is, all except the first two IIRC) is golden, with the possible exception of Twilight in Olympus, which is merely very good. I'd go with The Divine Wings of Tragedy or The Odyssey, although V - The New Mythology is also great, in a slightly more relaxed, symphonic way. Seriously, it's hard to recommend one above the others, they're all fantastic.

[grimbold]

i agree
although overall they are pretty awesome the Allen era was the best

[Decoy Lockbox]

Any of the Rusell Allen era albums (that is, all except the first two IIRC) is golden, with the possible exception of Twilight in Olympus, which is merely very good. I'd go with The Divine Wings of Tragedy or The Odyssey, although V - The New Mythology is also great, in a slightly more relaxed, symphonic way. Seriously, it's hard to recommend one above the others, they're all fantastic.

I'd go with Divine Wings, personally. Its like track after track of solid gold. But as you said, its pretty hard to recommend any of them over the others...sort of like Behemoth, Symphony X has a fantastic discography.

I'd also like to go on record as saying that their first Allen-era record, "The Damnation Game" is really good. And their song "A winter's dream" (from that same album) was an integral part of winning the heart of my current girlfriend, lol.

[Marillion]

My friend put up this list of his top 10 favorite albums of 2010.

Spoiler

Show

10) 7 Sinners by Helloween
Recommended songs: Are You Metal?, World of Fantasy, Long Live the King.

9) We're Here Because We're Here by Anathema
Recommended songs: Thin Air, Everything, Angels Walk Among Us.

8) Black Country Communion by Black Country Communion
Recommended songs: Black Country Communion, One Last Soul, Sista Jane.

7) Black Masses by Electric Wizard
Recommended songs: Black Masses, Night Child, Scorpio Curse

6) Promise and Terror by Blaze Bayley
Recommended songs: Surrounded by Sadness, Trace of Things That Have No Words, Watching the Night Sky

5) Blood of the Nations by Accept
Recommended songs: Teutonic Terror, Beat the Bastards, No Shelter, Pandemic.

4) Ironbound by Overkill
Recommended songs:Bring Me The Night, Give A Little, The Head And Heart.

3) Victims of the Modern Age by Star One
Recommended songs: Earth That Was, Victims of the Modern Age, Cassandra Complex.

2) Road Salt One by Pain of Salvation
Recommended songs:Tell Me You Don't Know, Sleeping Under the Stars, Sisters.

1) Festival by Jon Oliva's Pain
Recommended songs: Death Rides a Black Horse, Afterglow, Living On The Edge.

Honorable Mentions:

Spoiler

Show

-My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky by Swans

-Building the Towers by Halcyon Way

-Chasing the Grail by Fozzy

-The Final Frontier by Iron Maiden

-Insomnia by Mastermind

DISCUSS.

[ex cathedra]

He thinks that Victims of the Modern Age is the third best album of the year, and he doesn't even mention my favorite album. As such, I have a lot of disagreements with that list.

[Marillion]

He thinks that Victims of the Modern Age is the third best album of the year, and he doesn't even mention my favorite album. As such, I have a lot of disagreements with that list.

Well this WAS limited to albums he actually bought. What's your favorite, then?

[ex cathedra]

Marrow of the Spirit. But there weren't a great deal of albums that I liked last year and I enjoy Agalloch way too much. I didn't even manage to listen to that Anathema album, though, and I'm curious. They have a couple of decent albums, but I think that Katatonia pulls off the We-Used-To-Play-Metal-But-Now-We-Don't shtick better, though.

[Nomrom]

Any of the Rusell Allen era albums (that is, all except the first two IIRC) is golden, with the possible exception of Twilight in Olympus, which is merely very good. I'd go with The Divine Wings of Tragedy or The Odyssey, although V - The New Mythology is also great, in a slightly more relaxed, symphonic way. Seriously, it's hard to recommend one above the others, they're all fantastic.

Well, it's good to know I can't screw up and buy a bad album. I think I'm gonna get Divine Wings of Tragedy, cuz I really like that song.

[RationalGoblin]

So my fellow metalheads (metalfolk? metal brothers and sisters? Metalheads sounds too plain). It occurs to me that the Ancient Middle East was a pretty dark and brutal place. Yet, it was also rife with crazy adventurous legends and some hopeful ideas. A perfect place for all kinds of metal.

Therefore, here is my question: Where are all the metal songs dealing with the Middle East? Specifically, Babylonian, Persian, Ancient Hebrew, I suppose Ancient Egypt, and similar such cultures.

I'd like songs dealing with the mythologies of those cultures specifically.

Also, are there any metal songs dealing with Russian folklore?

[Killer Angel]

Therefore, here is my question: Where are all the metal songs dealing with the Middle East? Specifically, Babylonian, Persian, Ancient Hebrew, I suppose Ancient Egypt, and similar such cultures.

I'd like songs dealing with the mythologies of those cultures specifically.

Ancient Egypt is probably your best bet.
Leaving aside the obvious Iron Maiden-Powerslave, there's Therion:
In the desert of Set, from Theli
A good part of the album Sirius B, 'specially The blood of Kingu (sumerian mithology)