Bigelf - "Into the Maelstrom"

Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
2014, Inside Out

1. Incredible Time Machine
2. Hypersleep
3. Almost Gone
4. Alien Frequency
5. The Professor & the Madman
6. Mr. Harry McQuhae
7. Vertigod
8. Control Freak
9. High
10. Edge of Oblivion
11. Theater of Dreams
12. ITM

Here's something completely different. Bigelf is a progressive rock band, but instead of being clean and precise like Flower Kings, Transatlantic, or Spock's Beard they're dirty and heavy. There's just a mess of influences here. I hear Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and ELO. The guitar and bass tones are fat and fuzzy. It's just cool, cool stuff from start to finish. Definitely a refreshing band that's really different from the stuff I'm used to listening to. The lyrics have a distinctly sci-fi slant to them - I almost want to say this is a concept album, but I'm not sure. Some people have complained about the mastering on this album as being horrible. I guess it just proves that I don't have the "magic ear" because I never had any problems with it.

Useless Fact: Ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy bangs the skins for this disc.

Iron Maiden - "Number of the Beast"

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
1982/1998, Sanctuary

1. Invaders
2. Children of the Damned
3. The Prisoner
4. 22 Acacia Avenue
5. The Number of the Beast
6. Run to the Hills
7. Gangland
8. Total Eclipse
9. Hallowed Be Thy Name

When I was growing up Number of the Beast was like numero uno on any Christian watchdog's hit-list. Just look at the cover art! There's Satan! The chorus of the title track says "666!" They're evil. Case closed. I mean looking at the lyrics and understanding the context would get in the way of sensationalism - and that crap sells! So yeah... contrary to popular Christian belief the song is far more "horror story" than "evil worship song." In fact, the narrator is expressing horror at what he's seeing, desperate to call the authorities. Also, let's take a look at that cover art again. Is the devil on strings like a puppet? Were Iron Maiden actually commenting on the true sovereignty of God? Um... probably not, but I think it's interesting nonetheless. It's got great anthemic songs - "The Prisoner" and "Run to the Hills." I don't have to tell anyone reading this that The Number of the Beast stands as a metal classic. An essential disc for any metalhead, Christian or no. Walmart chains regularly carry this album so you have no excuse not to buy it!

Useless Fact: While on the surface "22 Acacia Avenue" is about a hooker at said address. Of course, like a lot of Iron Maiden songs, a little digging reveals that it's actually against such things. It pleads for the lady to wake up, value herself, and get out of the situation.

Xandria - "Sacrificium"

Xandria - Sacrificium
2014, Napalm

1. Sacrificium
2. Nightfall
3. Dreamkeeper
4. Stardust
5. The Undiscovered Land
6. Betrayer
7. Until the End
8. Come With Me
9. Little Red Relish
10. Our Neverworld
11. Temple of Hate
12. Sweet Atonement

Sacrificium finds Xandria with their third vocalist in three albums, Diane Van Giersbergen (related to Anneke, maybe?). She's not quite as operatic as the last, but she does well and I really like her voice. I do miss Manuela though. They've also refined their sound a bit. I think the Celtic influences have faded back a bit, giving way to a more commercial sound. Slightly. I still prefer Neverworld's End over this one but I can confidently say that Xandria is one of my new favorite bands.

Useless Fact: I don't know this band well enough to have a fact. Other than the three vocalists in three albums thing.

Xandria - "Neverworld's End"

Xandria - Neverworld's End
2012, Napalm

1. A Prophecy of Worlds to Fall
2. Valentine
3. Forevermore
4. Euphoria
5. Blood on My Hands
6. Soulcrusher
7. The Dream Is Still Alive
8. The Lost Elysion
9. Call of the Wind
10. A Thousand Letters
11. Cursed
12. The Nomad's Crown
Bonus Track
13. When the Mirror Cracks

The first time I heard samples from Neverworld's End I thought, "This is like Loreena McKennitt singing metal." Indeed, along with the crushing riffs and epic symphonies there's vocalist Manuella Kraller. She sounds like a more operatic version of McKennitt or, if the internet is to be believed ex-Nightwish singer Tajra. Not that that matters to me at all. The combination sounds awesome. The band also has, at least in this album, a distinct Celtic flavor - especially in songs like "Call of the Wind" and "Cursed." So yeah... Xandria: Celtic McKennitt metal. And it's awesome.

Useless Fact: Vocalist Manuela Kraller was only on this one album.

The Choir - "Shadow Weaver"

The Choir - Shadow Weaver
2014, Galaxy 21

1. Shadow Weaver
2. What You Think I Am
3. It Hurts To Say Goodbye
4. Get Gone
5. We All Know
6. Two Clouds Are One
7. White Knuckles
8. Everybody's Got a Guru
9. The Soul of Every Creature Cries Out
10. Frequency of Light
11. Rhythm of the Road
12. The Antithesis of Blue
13. Shadow Weaver Reprise

I've had some problems reviewing the last few Choir albums. I'd listen to them, love them for the first two weeks, write a glowing review, then realize that I didn't end up really liking them as much as I did initially. I wanted to eliminate that problem with Shadow Weaver. I've been listening to this for months, marinating in it, waiting for the "honeymoon" period to be over. I think I can talk about it a little bit more objectively. It's the band's very first Kickstarter release (a campaign which I supported!). I think they really wanted to take their time with this one - get the whole band to write songs together and not worry so much about time or funding. I think all the hard work shows as this is the strongest album the 2010's albums. Where Midnight Sun was solid, but suffered from a boring middle bit and Loudest Sound was just completely light-weight, Shadow Weaver is a step up. Steve's lyrics are leaps and bounds better than the previous album - striking that perfect balance of personal, universal, poignant and beautiful. And while the choruses can be pretty simplistic at times I really connected with the songs. The music is just as weighty. I would be remiss to mention "What You Think I Am" which is probably the darkest, heaviest sounding song the band has done. Shadow Weaver isn't perfect, but it is more than sufficient to scratch my Choir itch.

Useless Fact: "It Hurts To Say Goodbye" is based off the band member's daughters moving away. It makes me think of the day my little girl will have to move away. It also makes me appreciate how much my own mother sacrificed in letting me go.

Symphony X - "The Odyssey"

Symphony X - The Odyssey
2002, Inside Out

1. Inferno (Unleash the Fire)
2. Wicked
3. Incantations of the Apprentice
4. Accolade II
5. King of Terrors
6. The Turning
7. Awakenings
8. The Odyssey
Bonus Track
9. Masquerade

After listening to and loving the monster album that was Iconoclast I decided to check out some older X. The Odyssey lays the groundwork for that dark metal juggernaut by being reportedly a good deal heavier than their previous outings. However, it's still very much progressive with all the hallmarks of the genre. I would be remiss not to mention "The Odyssey" - a twenty-plus minute epic based on the epic poem of the same name. Some superb guitar work here, for sure. Face-melting leads abound! Russell Allen is a fantastic vocalist with a great range. He can go from snarling thrasher to power metal wailer to melodic crooner... sometimes in the same song. I confess this album was a little bit of a grower for me, but remains a textbook example of progressive metal.

Useless Fact: My edition came with not only the lyrics but also liner notes covering each song. I wish every album would do that.

Amaranthe - "The Nexus"

Amaranthe - The Nexus
2013, Spinefarm

1. Afterlife
2. Invincible
3. The Nexus
4. Theory of Everything
5. Stardust
6. Burn With Me
7. Mechanical Illusion
8. Razorblade
9. Future on Hold
10. Electroheart
11. Transhuman
12. Infinity

I stumbled upon Amaranthe while searching for new much on Amazon and iTunes. One Amazon reviewer said it was a mix of music from the Mega Man series, death metal, and pop. So yeah... pretty much had to check that out. The review is quite accurate. The band has three vocalists - one guy, one girl, and one growler. It actually works pretty well and gives the album some variety. Most of all, the album is a lot of fun! The momentum never lets up as the tracks are up-tempo rockers with cool, crushingly heavy riffs infused with some pop hooks. They take a slight breather with the "ballad" "Burn With Me" - which really should be on top 40 radio - but the pace remains. I think there's supposed to be some sort of concept or storyline here but I have no idea what it is. Doesn't matter, though it's still awesome.

Useless Fact: I don't quite know enough about this band to have an obscure fact. Other than that the girl singer is pretty. But you can see that for yourself.