Get Well Mina

I’ve said in the past that I have a soft spot for KPop and KPop artists even though rock and metal are more my style. I think their music is better then our current American pop and I think that should be recognized. Also, unlike a lot of American pop stars, they are overall kind hearted and well mannered.  They don’t take their success for granted and are grateful for their fame.  

I also have sympathy for them when I discover what they have to go through just to have a chance to debut.  It’s brutal and harsh what some of these KPop agencies do to their trainees.  Fortunately for Twice, their agency, JYP, appears to be looking out for them better then most others would.  Then there are the Knetz.

These so called fans can be vicious to KPop artists. Leaving nasty comments, being rude to them at fan events, threatening them, some cases trying to physically harm them. Through it all the KPop artists can just sit there and take it, hoping their agency might do something about it. Sadly more often then not, the agencies don’t do anything. 

Mina is a KPop idol who has been through a lot and I believe she, along with the rest of Twice, deserves her fame. I feel bad that she is currently suffering from extreme anxiety and stage fright that has caused her to miss out on the groups first world tour.  

Even with this happening, Knetz still go after her, some telling her to quit and go back to Japan.  One thing that’s good about rock and metal is the ability to call out unruly fans. Don’t get me wrong, pick and choose your battles wisely, otherwise you will look like the bad guy. However, when I see that KPop artists can’t call out unruly fans, it makes realize how much of a blessing it is that we can do that in the rock world.  

I hope that Mina gets well soon, grows stronger, and rejoins Twice stronger than ever

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Nocturnal Bloodlust Thank You Review

Nocturnal Bloodlust has been through a lot recently due to the departure of their ex guitarists Daichi and Cazqui.  After the two guitarists found out that employees at their record label were stealing money from them, they quit the band.  This left the band's future uncertain with many people fearing that they would disband.  Instead, they recruited guitarist, Lin, and recently put out their first song with the new guitarist, "Thank You".

I do like the opening riff that Lin plays in the beginning of the song.  It has a good heavy vibe and is a good way to kick off the song.  Natsu's drumming continues to be good in this song and really does a good job carrying the song through.  Hiro displays his usual combination of growling and melodic vocal work and it continues to be amazing.  However, even with all the good things, the loss of Daichi and Cazqui can be heard and felt in this song.  The lack of guitar solos and great lead lines that were always key things in the band's other songs are missing here and that really hurts the song.  As a result, the song ends up sounding more repetitive then the other songs have sounded in the past.  I've heard Lin doing some soloing in his other band, Abstracts, and he can indeed solo.  However,  he doesn't display any of that in this song and in a band that is so famous for epic guitar solos, you have to be able to deliver on that. I hope that he does that when the band releases their mini album, "Unleashed".

As far as the lyrics go, the band has returned to doing mainly Japanese lyrics as oppose the majority English lyrics they did on more recent songs.  Overall they do flow very well, especially in the chorus. As for the message, there has been a lot of controversy around the message.  This song is clearly a diss track and a lot of people think that it is towards Cazqui and Daichi.  While their names are never mentioned in the song, I can see why people would believe that this song is targeting them.  With lines like "spreading stealth marketing" and "behind your smile is full of deceit", it can give off the vibe that they are saying that Cazqui and Daichi are just trying to promote themselves while leaving the rest of the band behind.  Since they have written songs with these kind of lyrics in the past, I will give them the benefit of the doubt, as far as this song being directed towards the ex guitarists.  Whether it is directed towards the ex guitarists or not, I don't think that doing a diss track so soon after long time members have left the band was such a good idea, because it would only end up causing this kind of controversy. Instead, I think they should of done something like they did with "Deep Inside" where the song would basically be about rising above the pain and soldering on.  It would of had a more positive feel and fans would be more united around a message like that.  The lyrics are not written badly, but I think the theme and message is bad timing.

I said at one point in time that no one in Nocturnal Bloodlust could be replaced and sadly I still feel that way with Thank You.  The song is not bad, but it doesn't feel like a Nocturnal Bloodlust song.  It doesn't have the same level of technicality and power that Daichi and Cazqui brought when they were in the band.  Also, the fact that there is no guitar solo when Lin has proven he is capable of soloing hurts the song as well.  Lin has a lot to compete with in this band and I do hope he succeeds in the future with this band, as I do with all the members, including Cazqui and Daichi.  I give Thank You a 3 out of 5.      

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Charamel A Strange Band

I have come across many strange rock and metal bands in my time but few compare to the likes of Charamel.  This band displays what is called a Yuru Chara look. Yuru Chara is basically mascot looking characters except more diverse and can represent anything from video games to corporations to even creatures in mythology.   Another thing that is interesting is how anonymous they are.  There really isn't much info out there about this band other then their character names and the instruments they play.  As far as who they are under the costumes remains a mystery to this day.  The members consist of Nyango Star, the red cat apple on drums, Funassyi, the pear fairy on vocals, Akkuma, the demon bear on guitar, and Kapal, the water goblin on bass.  

This band's story starts when music publicist, Eric Alper, posted a video on twitter titled, "When You're Over Qualified For The Job".  This video displayed Nyango Star displaying some awesome drum skills and as a result, the video wen't viral with tons of retweets thus began Nyango Star's career.  Nyango Star would start a youtube channel covering many metal classics such as "Before I Forget" from Slipknot, "Faint" by Linkin Park, and "Raining Blood" from Slayer.   

Aside from his videos, he would also play at conventions and collaborate with other Japanese rock bands.  He would even gain the attention of X Japan drummer, Yoshiki.  Yoshiki had Nyango Star play some famous X Japan songs for him and Yoshiki was very impressed with his skills on drums as seen below.  

Somewhere down the road he met the rest of the band and they teamed up to create Charamel.  They debuted with their song, " Funnasy" in 2017 and have since gone on to develop a cult following in Japan and thanks to Nyango Star, the bands popularity continues to grow.  They would even get to perform at the famed Tokyo Dome in 2018.  

I must admit that this band has grown on me with time. While I'm not a fan of the look, I have to admit that these musicians are good at their instruments.  I have looked up some of their live shows and I got to say, the fact that whoever is in those costumes and play their instruments pretty well, while in those costumes, is very impressive. Some people complain about the vocals, but that's clearly part of this band's shtick and I have never found it annoying to the point that I had to turn a song off or not enjoy it.

I would also like to point out Akkuma's guitar playing.  Akkuma plays some great rock and metal riffs that I find myself wanting to headbang to.  Even though he is not the most famous member in this band, he is a good guitar player and I think deserves more attention than he currently has in the band.  

Even though these guys are far from the traditional rock band, I still recommend checking them out.  Their music is good and the fact that they can perform as well as they do  in those costumes is something to be admired.  We don't know much about them currently but in time that will change I'm sure. Until then, all we can do is enjoy the music.     

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Love and Death Meltdown Review

Brian Head Welch made a name for himself during his time as one of the guitarists for Korn in the 90s.  During that time he helped the band compose some of their biggest songs and became very distinct in the band.  However, he also became addicted to drugs and left the band.  During his rehabilitation and recovery from drug addiction he became a devout christian and would go on to form his own band called Love and Death.  One of the songs that helped that band gain traction in the christian metal scene was Meltdown

You defiantly hear the Korn influences in this song when it comes to the music, especially in the vocals.  Welch uses very quiet, eerie vocals in the verses that remind me of songs like Evolution and Freak on a Leash.  The music echoes that quiet eerie feel before we head into a heavy pre chorus.  We then head into a big chorus. This formula continues through the entire song, with the exception of a short bridge.  My favorite part of the song is  without a doubt the chorus.  It has good energy and the music matches the tone of the song perfectly.  The music isn't very technical and not to tricky which overall works for the song.  The one thing I wish they did though is instead of doing that short bridge with heavy, distorted guitar, I wish they did a deep sounding guitar solo that would work with the message and feel of the song.  I feel like that would of got the point across more effectively then the simple heavy guitar that is there instead. 

The lyrics in this song are pretty straight to the point.  They are about someone in pain, feeling like breaking down, and calling out for help.  I do like songs that address the pain that people feel, because I feel that songs like that give people a way to vent their pain.  People can also relate to songs like these because everybody goes through pain through out their lives and when you have so much music that is shallow feel good music, it is nice to see someone willing to go deep.  The message is clearly about someone's mental state when they are in pain.  Overall the lyrics do a good job of getting the message across, I do they they could be written to flow a little bit better, but it is a minor problem and it doesn't kill the song for me.

The song has a good deep message that isn't talked about much in mainstream music and I do like it when bands and artists do these kind of songs.  The music is overall good, but i do think the bridge could of been improved with a guitar solo instead of heavy guitar.  However, the music is effective overall.  I also think the lyrics are good as well.  I give Meltdown a 3 out of 5.

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Dokken Burning Like a Flame Reiew

When it comes to the 80's metal scene, you could argue that Dokken was one of the best bands from that era.  With the great vocal work of Don Dokken and the amazing guitar skills of George Lynch, you have a band destined to go places.  These two men did not get a long well, but that didn't stop them from being able to make good music together for a decade. Dokken was one first bands that introduced me to 80s and the first song I heard from them was Burning Like a Flame.

Musically, this is one of the bands more simpler songs for sure.  The rhythm is more simple and George Lynch's playing isn't over the top like in other songs.  Instead of trying to be fast and technical, Lynch is more simple and melodic and it actually works.  The melodic guitar solo sounds pretty good and works well with the layout of the song.  Don Dokken sounds good in this song as well.  The man is a good singer and he continues to display great vocal skills in this song.  Overall, a simple but still fun to listen to.

Lyrically, there isn't anything ground breaking.  Like many other songs that came out of the 80's metal scene, this is a song about woman.  To the band's credit, there are more relationship based points in this song and not just of focus on wanting sex like most other songs.  However, elements of the sex message are still there in lines such as "cause every time I touch you, you just make me go insane".  Having said that, the lyrics are written well and Don Dokken does a great job singing them.  

While I certainly do like this song, I do admit that it isn't their best, especially when you listen to other songs such as Breaking The Chains, In My Dreams, and Dream Warriors.  However, this is still a solid song and I think it is worth checking out.  I give Burning Like a Flame a 3.5 out of 5.  

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Coldrain Envy Review

I remember hearing this band for the first time when I came across their song We're Not Alone.  I thought the song was pretty good and it caused me to listen to the band from time to time.  Little by little the band grew on me and I got more into them.  However, it wouldn't be until Envy that I really got into this band.

Right at the beginning, the song hooked me with the intro.  The guitar riff, the drums, and the energy at the beginning of the song is amazing.  Sugi starts the song off with that cool opening riff that carries the intro.  Then YKC plays a pretty awesome guitar solo half way through that leads to a heavy verse.  Here, the guitar work continues to be heavy and energetic and to match that energy, Masato busts out some heavy screaming vocals.  The chorus is pretty good as well, this is where the clean vocals take over and it carries the entire chorus.  The bridge is more slow and softer on the energy, but it does fit in to the song very well and doesn't feel out of place.  The ending of this song is a great way to end the song.  YKC busts out a good solo and Masato supports the him by adding some vocal work that operates more as background rather then the main focus.  This guitar solo isn't super technical or over the top, but it sounds good and it really works well with the tone of the music. When it comes to the music, this song is solid.  

The lyrics in the song are good to vent to if you are angry at someone and feel they have wronged you.  The lyrics are about someone who is in a feud with someone the person thought was a friend and then the person feels that the friend betrayed them and now they don't get along. The lyrics flow well I didn't feel like any lines were out of place or unneeded.  I also like this message because it is something that everyone can relate to.  Everyone feels that they have been betrayed by someone at one point in their life and they need someway to let that anger out.  I think this song is a healthy way to let the anger out without getting mad at the wrong person of picking the wrong battle to fight with the person who wronged you.  

Weather you are a metal head, a rocker, or angry and need some way to vent, this is a song you should check out.  With really good music that makes you want to head bang and lyrics that helps you vent your anger, this one solid song.  Coldrain was already gaining momentum in Japan and world wide, but this song gained them a lot of traction and rightfully so.  I give Envy a 4.5 out of 5.     

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Cinderella Shake Me Review

A lot of things happened for metal in the 80's. Many people have argued that it was when the genre was at it's peek in terms of popularity.  If you look at all the hits of the 80's you certainly can make a good case for that.  This genre would come to be known as Glam Metal or Hair Metal.  Since then, there has been a divide on how this genre is viewed.  Some people call these bands posers, pretty boys, sell outs, and basically a disgrace to metal.  However, others say that these bands put out some of the best musicians in metal history and if it wasn't for them, metal never would of expanded its audience.  I personally fall in the second category and one band that executed it pretty well was Cinderella with Shake Me.

The first thing I would like to point out is Tom Keifer's voice.  This guys reminds me of ACDC when he sings.  He has that same kind of voice as Brian Johnson, high pitch screeching and he pulls it off very well.  I personally think he would of been a better choice to replace Brian Johnson in ACDC then Axl Rose.  The other great thing about this song is the guitar playing.  Tom Keifer and Jeff Labar do some great lead soloing in this song.  Guitar playing like this is what I like this era of metal.  These bands played their hearts out musically and a lot of the best and most influential guitar playing came out of the 80's and this song show cases that amazingly. 

As far as the lyrics go, this is the one area I will agree with critics of this genre on.  A lot of the songs that came out hair metal were about having sex and partying from a lyrical stand point and this song  followed that trend.  The lyrics are very generic 80's rock lyrics and the message doesn't stand out at all from anyone else.  However, to the bands credit, the lyrics do flow well and they work well with the music that the band is playing.  

While the lyrics are very generic and don't stand out, the music is superb.  The band has great musicianship and they deliver some great guitar solos.  Overall, this song is a great example of what 80's hair metal had to offer.  If you are looking some good guitar work, this one song you should check out.  I give Shake Me a 3.5 out of 5.  

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Dadaroma Dendrobium Review

Dadaroma is a band that is making headway in the visual kei scene.  Forming in 2014, they have developed an image of a dark circus band over the years with songs and music videos like Risely Circus,  The Kinky, and their latest single, Dendrobium.  The singer portrays himself as a dark, scary looking clown and their music sounds like a combo metal and carnival music.  Giving them, one of the more unique styles in visual kei.

The main intro to this song is pretty cool, the guitar in the intro  is a great way to get you hooked into the song.  The verse takes a little more of a darker feel, with the mysterious sounding vocals coming in to play.  This leads into a heavy pre chorus that makes you think you in for a big chorus.  However, this is where the songs gets weak for me.  They have this big build up that makes you think your in for a loud, big chorus and instead they drop the energy in the chorus.  It doesn't sound bad, but the way the energy drops hurts the chorus for me.  I do like the way the bridge plays out though.  The vocals sound great in that section and the combination of eerie music and heavy guitar sounds pretty cool.  Overall, the music is solid, but not great, certainly not the best this band has done in my opinion.

The lyrics in this song kinda play out like a love song. It seems like the message is about love being more of a necessity of life rather then a feeling.  This would make sense, because the title of the song, Dendrobium, is a flower that is attached to trees and needs trees to survive and when they bloom it is beautiful.  I have heard some people say that the song is actually about wanting sex but no relationship.  Given some of the bands other songs, I can see why people would interpret that but I don't think that is the case with this song.  The lyrics do flow pretty well but they are repetitive at times.  For example, the entire bridge is just one line being repeated, "She's a girl who wants real love song".  It is sung differently so it doesn't sound overly repetitive but I would of added one more line to the bridge.  Overall though, the lyrics work well.

The intro and verses to the song are great but the lower energy chorus hurts the song a little bit.  The lyrics are a little repetitive, but the flow is good and message is very interesting.  While I don't think it is this band's best song, I do enjoy listening to it and recommend checking it out.   I give Dendrobium a 3.5 out of 5.  

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Top 5 Queensryche Songs

5.  Take Hold of The Flame

I remember when my Dad got me the Warning album as a kid and how awesome it was.  I loved every song off that record and I consider it one of my first introductions to rock and metal music.  While I love all the songs on that record, the one that always stood out to me most was Take Hold Of The Flame. The soft opening makes you think your getting into a ballad and then the heavy intro comes in and the combined power of Geoff Tate's vocals and guitars blew me away.  The guitar riffs in the intro hooked me and I couldn't stop listening from then on.  The chorus is very cool in this song as well.  The combination of Geoff Tates vocals and the back up vocals of the rest of the band makes a very memorable chorus you can't help but to sing along with.

4.  I Don't Believe In Love

The guitar work really carries this song for me.  The combined guitar playing of Chris Degarmo and Michael Wilton is sounds awesome throughout the entire song.  They are able to bring a style of emotional and mystery that makes this song for me.  The mystery feel shows in the verses and then they bust out emotion in their guitar solos.  The two guitarists really brought their a game to this song.  Eddie Jackson's bass playing in this song is pretty superb as well. The notes are simple, but the way he plays them really works well with the mystery feel to the song.

3.  Jet City Woman

 

Geoff Tate's does a great job show casing his softer side in this song.  His vocals give a great emotional vibe that sounds and feels sincere.  Eddie Jackson delivers some great bass work in this song as well.  His bass intro at the beginning is really catchy and is a good build for the song.  The best part of this song, for me though, is the guitar playing of Chris Degarmo.  His melodic playing really caries this song through and his solo is very solid and superb in this song.

2.  Eyes of A Stranger

This song was a great way to wrap up to the Operation Mindcrime album.  The dual guitar playing in the intro and guitar solos in this song sounds really cool and has a dark feel that really sets up the rest of the song.  The depression in the verse and then the anger of the chorus and second verse works together very well and does a great job letting you know the fate of the protagonist in the albums story.  The structure of the song is very well executed and creates one of the most memorable songs of the album. 

1.  Queen Of The Reich

 

The opening for this song amazing and  it lead to a very cool guitar riff in the main intro.  The main intro is a great metal opening riff and leads into a heavy verse and a powerful chorus.  Geoff Tate sounds really cool in the songs chorus when he hits that long note at the end.  This then leads into a cool dual solo that then goes into one of  Chris Degarmo's best solo's, in my opinion.  The combination of speed and melodic playing is awesome and is very memorable.  Making this one of the best debut songs for a metal band.  

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Therion Birth of Venus Illegitima Review

Therion is a band that has had many changes in their long career.  Having gone through over 20 members and putting out 16 albums they have done a lot over time.  When a band has so many changes, it can lead to a lot of debate over which era is the best.  For a lot of people thought, this band started to really reach their full potential with Birth of Venus Illegitima.

This isn't one of the heaviest songs I have ever heard, but the mysterious tone of the song does catch my interest and keeps me listening to the song all the way through.  The vocals in this song are very impressive.  The male backgrounds vocals sound great and add a real chilling feel to the song that I think works very well.  Martina Astner did a great job on lead vocals for this song.  Her opera style vocals sounds great  and really helps to carry the song.  The the music is simple but it does work well with the song.  The musicians knew not to go to crazy musically otherwise it would hurt the feel they were going for.  The guitar solo continues with the simplicity and like the rest of the music, it doesn't try to hard and in this song, that is a good thing.  Overall, this song has a very mysterious feel to it that I enjoy.

The lyrics in this song are a bit of a mix bag for me.  They flow very well and a executed with great excellence by the vocals, but they are also very repetitive and don't go anywhere.  I get that they are singing about the Goddess Aphrodite (AKA Venus) but because both verses are exactly the same and there isn't really a bridge to help add on to the lyrics, it kind of falls short of an overall story or message.  I get the sense that the music and tone of the song was a bigger priority than than the lyrics.  

Overall, this song delivers some good music and great vocals.  The vocals really carry this song well and I got plenty of enjoyment listening to them.  The guitar solo was good in it's simplicity and kept to the songs tone well.  However, the lyrics didn't do much for me and as a result hurt the song a little for me.  Having said that, if you are looking for a mysterious sounding song, I recommend giving this song a listen to.  I give Birth of Venus Illegitima a 3.5 out of 5.  

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Alia Hide and Seek Review

Alia a new band to the JRock scene, debuting back in July 2018, this band is a little less then a year old.  However, they are gaining traction and are starting to get more global attention then most bands this young do.  This is partly due to some well placed advertising. They put out an add to promote themselves on Instagram and that surprisingly got them a decent amount of attention on a global scale.  However, their single, Hide and Seek, is also a pretty good song.

One thing I really like about this song is how well all the instruments blend well together in this song.  You got guitar, violin, and keyboards all doing their own tricks and lead lines through out the song, yet nothing is overpowering everything else and the instruments all work well together. This is mainly due to Okamua Eren who handled the composition for this song.  He clearly did a great job and paid great attention to detail.  I like the melodic violin playing of Rina in the intro of this song.  It has nice melodic feel to it that really works well with the keyboarding of TKT.  His playing in the intro and verses is constant and flows very well.  He's playing a lot of notes but it's not over the top and works very well with the tone of the song.  I also like the guitar solo that is played by Okamura Eren.  It isn't the most technical solos I have ever heard, but his execution is well done and his playing is very solid.  The vocal work of Ayame is very impressive.  Her melodic, yet energetic voice is perfect for this kind of music.  Her singing works hand in hand with the music to a degree I haven't heard that often in a lot of my favorite music. It is really interesting to me how much is going on and nothing sounds out of place, very impressive.

  The lyrics are uplifting and about finding yourself and not being ashamed of it.  The lyrics flow very well and really do a good job of getting it's message across.  This is mainly due to TKT, who wrote the lyrics for this song.  He clearly put a lot of work into how these lyrics would sound and play out, even to a point that Ayame could execute these lyrics very well.  I get a sense that he spent a lot of time making sure that these lyrics fit well with her singing ability and that isn't easy to pull off.  

Alia is off to a great start with this song.  They are clearly very talented and have a great chemistry as a band.  If they keep this up, I can see them having a very successful career.  Hide and Seek has great music, great vocals, and great lyrics.  I give Hide and Seek a 5 out of 5.  

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The Winking Owl Try Review

I consider The Winking Owl as a band of constant improvement.  While not the biggest band in the JRock scene, they are one of the most solid.  Their music gets better with with each album and you can tell that they put a lot of work into their music.  They continue to show that with one of their latest singles, Try.

If there is one parts of this song I really like, it is the intro.  I really like the melodic lead guitar playing combined with the heavier rhythm guitar.  Yoma continues to display great guitar work in his playing.  He isn't one of the fastest guitar players I have ever listened to, but his melodic style works very well and delivers guitar solos with a lot of emotion behind them. He is a musician driven more by feeling rather then displaying technique.  The drumming in this song is also very good. Kent keeps a good beat and is very energetic.  Luiza continues to display some great singing in this song.  Her melodic voice is great and works very well with the inspiration feel this song is going for. 

As far as the lyrics go, The Winking Owl continues their uplifting style.  The song is basically about realizing your full potential and pushing to achieve it.  The flow of the lyrics works very well and they communicate their message very effectively.  Some people criticize them for not singing in English more like they did with Open Up My Heart.  I do think that  Luiza sounds good singing in English, but I'm not picky about language as long as it sounds good and is set for a good delivery, vocally.  The lyrics in this songs do just that and it makes the feel of the message really stand out.    

This song is very uplifting and has a good energy to it.  If you are feeling down and need something to lift you up, or you want to feel inspired, then this is a song you need to check out.  It has a good message and the melodic feel will put you  in a good mood.  If The Winking Owl continues to make songs like this, I see a great future for them.  I give Try a 4.5 out of 5.  

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Top 5 Visual Kei Songs

There are several bands and artists that make up the Visual Kei Genre.  Each band has a certain style to them and it has created one of the most diverse forms of rock and metal in the world.  There are a lot of great songs that have come out of this genre and I'm sure there are more to come.  Here are my top 5 Visual Kei songs.

5.  Prey Shadow by Vistlip

In my opinion, this is one of Vistlip's most underrated songs.  The vocals are spot on and there is great bass and drum work in this song.  However, where I think this song shines most is in the guitar work.  The melodic lead work of Yuh is awesome and he starts right out of the gate with it in the intro. He continues it in the chorus and then brings it to a high point in his guitar solo.  He starts the solo with some great melodic playing and then ends it with some great taping.  If you are  a fan of good melodic guitar playing and some great taping.  I highly recommend this song. 

4.  Risley Circus by Dadaroma

This has a cool eerie, yet heavy feel to it.  The heavy guitar and drums gives this song a great metal vibe and then the vocal work and then the vocals come in and give it that eeriness.  The two feels blend together well and give good spooky feel to it.  My favorite part of this song is the drum work.  The fast paste drumming in this song really hooks me when I listen to it at the beginning and then I can't turn the song off.  If you are looking for a good Halloween song, look no further then this.  

3.  Genesis by Nocturnal Bloodlust

Nocturnal Bloodlust is in my opinion, one of the best visual kei bands out there and this is song is one of the best examples.  The heavy vocals of Hiro, the amazing lead work of Cazqui, and the amazing drum work of Natsu makes this not just a great visual kei song, but a great metal song in general.  The guitar solo in this song is an awesome shred fest with Caszqui displaying some of this best playing.  Hiro displays both some great metal growling and melodic vocal work in this song and both blend together very well.  If you are a metal guy, this is the song for you.

2. Stardust Crystal By Aiolin

Aiolin is a band that has mastered the combination of classical music and rock.  The classical violin and piano in this song adds a nice soothing feel while at the same time giving us an amazing guitar solo by Hikarito.  What is so interesting about this song is how the rock revolves around the classical music.  Usually when rock bands include classical into their music, it is treated more as and addition rather then the center piece.  However, with this band it feels like it is the other way around and it actually works.  Out of all the new visual kei bands, I certainly think that Aiolin is one of the best.

1.  Derangement by The Gazette

I was a fan of The Gazette before this song but this song is one of the songs that made them my favorite band.  Sure there is auto tune in this song but it for effect and not to disguise a bad voice and Ruki does display some great vocal work when the auto tune is off.  Kai's drum work is also very impressive, especially during the guitar solo.  However, my favorite part of this song is the guitar work of Uruha and Aoi.  The opening riff in this song is intense and I can't help but to head band to it every time I hear it.  Uruha's melodic guitar solo is great and adds an eerie feel to what is other wise a very heavy song and it works great.  In my opinion, one of The Gazette's best songs!

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Sabaton Fields of Verdun Review

Sabaton is considered by many to be one of the best and most unique modern metal bands.  With the way they convey history through music and the amazing performances this band display's it is very understandable why they have gained so much traction in the past few years.  As a history guy myself, I can certainly appreciate a band like this that brings attention to so much history that often gets overlooked and doesn't get the recognition it deserves.  One period of history that is often overlooked is the World War 1.  World War 2 is what more people remember because of the higher loss of life and all the events that happened outside of the battle field such as The Holocaust.  World War 2 certainly is a very important part of history and deserves all the recognition it has.  However, the carnage of World War 1 is something that should never be forgotten and Sabaton gives us a good reminder with the Field Of Verdun.

Musically, this is the classic Sabaton sound,  melodic guitars and powerful vocals.  The guitar work in this song is nothing too fancy or tricky but it sounds great and carries the intense feel that is very fitting, considering the songs topic.  Joakim Broden's vocals are superb for this type of music, as he is able to convey the intensity of the battle field perfectly with his voice.  The powerful vocals really carry this song and makes you really want to sing along and add on to the intense vocals.  This shows up most in the big chorus this song gives off.  I also really like the guitar solo in this song.  It has a cool melodic style to it that gives a nice emotional feel, almost to make you feel sympathy for the men who died.  The music is great, but the lyrics are where this songs really shines.

This song's lyrics perfectly depict how harsh and brutal the Battle of Verdun was.  With lines like "father and son fall under the gun" you get a sense of how intense the battle was.  The rhyming in the chorus is very well done and well executed.  Like the big vocals, the way the chorus plays out (lyrically) also makes you want to sing along and get more into the song.  This one of this band's biggest strengths and the continue to display it here.

This is a great song and it really pays great service to men who fought at what is considered the bloodiest battle of World War 1.  The music and vocals are superb, the lyrics are great and convey the message very well.  The way that Sabaton conveys history through music is unique and very masterful.  I think this song might actually be one their best songs yet.  I give Fields of Verdun a 5 out of 5.

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Children of Bodom Under Grass and Clover Review

When is comes to band musicianship, few have it together as well as Children of Bodom does.  From the guitar work of Alexi Laiho, to the keyboard skill of Janne Wirmen, this band demonstrated that they have real chemistry as a band.  With their unique blend of melodic euro metal and death metal, they have created one of the most unique styles ever and they continue to demonstrate that with Under Grass and Clover.

As far as the music goes, this is one of my favorite songs from Children of Bodom.  The opening duel solo with the keyboards and guitar sounds amazing and has a cool melodic style to it that hooked me from the beginning.  I also like the few lead lines that Daniel Freyberg plays through out the intro as well.  they are brief, but they are executed very well and are a nice addition to the intro.  I also like how they go about the verses in the song as well.  The way the music comes in after Alexi Laiho delivers the lyrics is awesome and the bends they play in those sections helps to keep you hooked to the song.  Alexi Laiho's guitar solo is very impressive.  With the combination of speed and melodic playing, he continues to display his amazing talent as a lead guitarist.  I really enjoyed listening to this solo and it could possibly one of my favorite parts of the song.  Musically, this one of the best Children of Bodom songs I have every heard.

The lyrics in this song are good but they are not anything special.  The lyrics are basically about someone trying to remember something awful they did but are unable to.  They then turn to the bottle to try to forget and have hope but still battles the memory.  This is the one weak link I would say this band has.  They don't tend to write very memorable lyrics and it certainly isn't the main strength this band has.  I think they are well aware of this though, as they clearly always put more focus on the musical side then their lyrics and in their case, I think it is for the best.  Because what they lack in terms of lyrical ability, they more then make up for with their music and musicianship.

While the lyrics are nothing special, the rest of the song is amazing.  Everybody is on point and everybody plays very well.  Alexi Laiho continues to show that he is a very talented lead guitarist and this is one of my favorite solos from him.  I give Under Grass and Clover a 4 out of 5.  

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Skyrim a Soundtrack of Battle and Peace

When it comes to video games, Skyrim is considered one of the biggest classics of all time.  It is a game that has a lot going for it, from an open world with a ton of things to do, a lot of interesting characters as well as interesting quests.  Critics and audiences alike have a lot of love for this game and the impact it has made on how video games are made going forward. One component of that game though that is sometimes overlooked is the amazing music score this game has, composed by Jeremy Soule, as seen below.

I've listened to a lot of video game soundtracks and there are very few that I like every song on and this is without a doubt one of them.  It has a nice blend of battle ready songs like Dragonborn theme, Tooth and Claw, and Steel On Steel.  It also has nice calm soothing songs like Secunda, Tundra, and Masser.  Every song blends fits the overall sound and theme of the soundtrack and nothing feels out of place. Considering that this soundtrack has a total of 53 songs on it, that is a real accomplishment.

The fact that it has 53 songs is not just amazing because Jeremy Soule was able to compose that many songs for this game and make them blend, but because it also adds to the feeling of exploration when playing the game.  Because there is such a wide range of songs, it keeps the exploration feeling fresh and makes every area feel different even if you have been to an area more then once.  Usually, most games have one designated theme that works for every specific area like The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time soundtrack.  I love that soundtrack but sometimes hearing the same theme over and over, especially in Hyrule Field, would play a part of me getting tired of that area and not want to go back to it for a time.  Jeremy Soule was able to compose songs that work for multiple areas and multiple interactions.  This way the world feels more diverse and you don't get a sense of repetition as you play the game.

I got to give credit for how well put together the Dragonborn Theme is.  The orchestra and choir in this song really work well together to give a really cool Norse Viking feel. Another cool thing about this song is that is written in a language that is based in the game and not in real life.  The lyrics are written in Dragon language and the fact that it is composed in a way that makes people sing along with it even though it is in a language that no one speaks is very amazing.  It was smart for Bethesda to use this song as one of their main selling points.

As much as I love the battle music in this game, I got to say that I actually really love a lot of the softer, more ambience songs in this game.  Songs like Secunda and Tundra, I listen to when I just want to relax and enjoy the scenery around me,  especially when I'm in nature.  Some songs, like The Gathering Storm, have a bit more of an emotional feel to them, when played in certain spots in the game.  I remember hearing The Gathering Storm start playing when I came across a burned down tavern with a bunch of dead people in it that were killed by vampires.  This song actually made me feel a little sad and uneasy as I walked through the burned down tavern.  When you have music that is able to effect your mood while you play a game and not just serve as background music, that is really impressive.

 

I personally consider this to be one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time.  It is in my top 5 easy and I highly recommend you get it.  There are 53 songs on it and I like every single one of them.  It is long but it never gets dull and each song is very enjoyable. You can listen to this soundtrack on Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music.  If you want to purchase the soundtrack, you can get it on Itunes or purchase a physical copy on Ebay, or get the box set from Barnes and Noble.  Links will be in the description below.

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-original-game-soundtrack/596951310 

Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/i/273795726755?chn=ps

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/the-skyrim-library-volumes-i-ii-iii-bethesda-softworks/1125815481/2677925781

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Aiolin Breathing Review

Among the many bands that are trying to leaven their mark in the visual kei scene, Aiolin is one of the bands that I find to be one of the more interesting bands.  With their unique combination of classical music and rock, they are certainly one of the more stand out bands in the genre currently.  With songs like From Here, Stardust Crystal, and Orpheus, they have proven that they are a very talented band that has a lot to bring to both rock and music in general.  They continue this trend with one of their newest songs, Breathing.

Breathing starts out with a soft acoustic build up through out the first verse and pre chorus that sounds very soothing yet emotional.  The acoustic guitar has a nice easy sound to it while Hikarito's voice gives more of a sad, confused feel to it.  While the music and vocals have different tones to them, they actually blend together nicely to give off an emotional feel that expresses pain but with some hope attached to it.  Then once the first chorus comes, the band turns up the energy.

The first chorus takes the song into a more heavier, powerful direction.  The electric guitar, heavier drum work, and the intensity of Hikarito's vocals really enhances the emotional feel of the song.  This tone is maintained through out most of the song from here on out and I think it sounds very good.  The second verse continues the heavier style that leads into a very cool violin solo.  Hikarito has proven many times in this band's discography that he is great at the violin and he continues to demonstrate that in the solo. The solo doesn't sound fast or very technical, but I think that is a smart move.  When you have a song that is driven by emotion, trying to be fancy with the instruments can end up being out of place and just creates a very strange feel. Instead, you should focus on creating a solo that focus's on emotional feeling and that is exactly what Hikarito does here.  Every note he plays has an emotional feel to it that sounds beautiful and somber.  

I've talked about Hikarito a lot so far, as he is the main songwriter and leader of this band.  However, the other three members deserve recognition as well.  Seiya's drum work is very solid and he is able to match to tone of the song perfectly in every section he plays.  Reis plays some pretty good bass hooks through out the song.  His rhythm playing works very well with the drums and the two instruments do a great job keeping the rhythm in place and together.  You also does a great job on rhythm guitar.  People tend to not think much of rhythm guitar because there's not much glory in that roll since there's not much fancy soloing or room for lead lines.  However, rhythm guitar really helps a band sound more full and fills a void that would be there without it.  You is very on point with his playing and keeps the song flowing very nicely.  

Aiolin is known for their love story style lyrics and they continue that trend with this song.  The lyrics are telling the story of a man who is very closed to the world and is afraid to open up to anyone, even to the one who loves him.  As the song goes on he realizes that he is hurting her by being closed off but is still afraid to open up. Then at the end he finally lets his pain out and finally embraces her and in the pain he finds love.  Considering how many love songs and ballads there are in this world, this is one of more unique ones.  Most love song focus on either the good in a relationship or the bad, but this song is able to do both and in a way that is relatable without feeling cliched.  The lyrics are written very well and convey the story that they are going for very effectively.  

Aiolin is a band that continues to impress me every time I listen and discover new music from them.  The music is solid and the lyrics are great.  All the members are talented and constantly bring it to every song they do and this song is no exception.  It really is a shame that they are not a bigger band but I hope that someday they will reach the same level as other Visual Kei bands such as The Gazette, DIV, and SID.  I give Breathing a 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend getting this song.  

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