Cameron Mack's Music Heaven

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Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Black Tide Honest Eyes Review

I remember getting ready to play Street Fighter x Tekken with my friends when the game came out. My friend preordered the game because he is a huge street fighter fan and couldn't wait to play it. I personally thought the game was good but wasn't a huge fan. However, the one thing about the game I really did like and still listen to, til this day, is the game's opening song, Honest Eyes by Black Tide.

The intro to this song is awesome, it kicks right off with at heavy, high energy opening that is great and I couldn't help to to headbang to it. The dual guitar work in the intro is spot on, both guys do an amazing job playing together and it continues through out the entire song. The drum work in this song is also great as well. It is fast, but not overpowering and works well with the guitar work. The vocals in this song work very well. The guitarist and bassist do a great job sharing lead vocals in the verses, which then leads into an epic chorus. The bridge does a nice job building for the final chorus. The way the song ends is very cool as well, with a great combination of guitar solos and singing. Musically, this is a very solid song.

If you are someone who is angry at the world or at yourself, this song is perfect for you from a lyrical stand point. This song is basically about trying to not give in to the corruption of the world. They make this point clear with lines such as "I'll rise above it all" as well as "I'm filled with hate and you will regret. The other message that people get from the song is that it is about rising above your own demons. Both messages make sense to me and I think both messages are good. The lyrics work very well and are executed. They are sung well and the music really compliments them.

This is one song I highly recommend. Even though the band isn't around anymore, this is still a song that deserves a lot more recognition then it got. I still listen to it and you should too. You can get it on Spotify, Itunes, Apple Music, and Amazon. I give this song a 5 out of 5.

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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Stevie T The Rock N Roll Funny Man

I've been checking out a lot more YouTube musicians recently and one of the ones I have come to enjoy the most is Stevie T( aka Steve Terreberry). Actually, he is one of the reasons that I discovered Kiesel guitars and why I have actually have come to have a great appreciation for that brand. Stevie T may not play live much but he has demonstrated that he is a very capable musician and is very hilarious.

One of the first things I mentioned earlier about why I like Stevie T is that he is hilarious in many ways. One thing I find hilarious about him is his demeanor. he has a constant energy that never ceases and he never gets boring as a result. The other thing I find hilarious about him is his facial expressions. He has this rubbery face that he does so many great expressions with that I laugh at constantly and never get tired of. Some people don't like that about him but I find it hilarious and is one of the things I enjoy most about his channel.

The other thing I like about Stevie T is that he is a good musician. One of my favorite videos from him is where he takes horrible American Idol performances and tries to make them sound good. He isn't able to fix the bad singing but he is able to put good music to those performances that makes them sound decent or at least something that you can tolerate. He also does a good job of throwing in his own twist to certain songs or videos he is talking about in his episodes.

Last thing is that he doesn't have a massive ego. He is thankful for his success and he acknowledges guitarists and musicians better then him. He has even done videos reacting to musicians that are better then him. While he does, he sometimes will also promote musicians, as he has done with Paul Gilbert. He is humble and while he may joke like he is mad, he actually joking.

I think Stevie T is great to help get people more curios about guitar and music especially rock and metal. He is very entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Link to his YouTube channel will be displayed below, I highly recommend you check out his stuff and subscribe to him.

Stevie T's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SteveTerreberry

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Monday, March 30, 2020

Top 5 Aiolin Songs

If there is one visual kei band that has caught my attention a lot recently, it would be Aiolin. With good musicianship and a great musician to lead them, this band has put out quite a few songs since they debut in 2017. In that time, they have put out several great songs. Here are my top 5 songs from this band.

5. Breathing

Aiolin does a great job when it comes to ballads and this one of my favorites from them. I really like how the song has a good slow build and then really picks up in the chorus. I've always like this set up at the beginning of a song and they pull it off very nicely. The chorus in this song is also very nice. it is just the right level o energy but not so over the top that it kills the song. The violin solo in this song is also very well executed. He does a good job of adding classical elements to rock and that solo is a good example of that.

4. Ark Night

This song was a great song to use as the opening song for their first album (Tear In The Rain). The high energy in the intro is a great hook that made me want to rock out, as well as look forward to the rest of the album. I also really like the melodic vocals of the chorus. It is perfectly balanced with the music and creates a chorus that creates feeling while at the same time making me want to rock out.

3. Remember the Name

This is the first song I heard from this band and man did it make an impression. The taping guitar work along with the violin in the intro hooks you right off the back. Then there's the awesome guitar solo. Hikarito bust out a really good fast solo with hints of melody thrown in and it works really well.

2. Dusk Reaper

Being this band's newest single, they continue to produce great music. The melodic vocals continue to serve this band well and it carries throughout the entire song. The best part of this song though is the awesome violin solo. I've heard a lot of violin solos from Hikarito and this is one of this best. The great melodic sound with moments of speed work very well together and gives a very epic solo.

1. Stardust Crystal

My favorite song without a doubt has to be Stardust Crystal. I even made a video using this song. It has a lot going on in it from the piano, to the guitar and violin, yet it all works together. As far as ballads go, this one does a great job of reminding you it is a rock song while still having that emotional feel that a ballad goes for. The energy works well with the melodic music and has some of the best instrumental moments I have ever heard out of this band. As far as guitar solo's go, this is Hikarioto's best, in my opinion. He does some great melodic shredding in this song and I enjoy listening to it whenever it shows up on my playlist.

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Monday, June 17, 2019

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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Monday, June 3, 2019

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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Thursday, May 30, 2019

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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Thursday, May 23, 2019

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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Monday, May 20, 2019

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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Friday, May 17, 2019

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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Thursday, May 16, 2019

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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Tuesday, May 14, 2019

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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Monday, May 13, 2019

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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Thursday, May 9, 2019

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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Tuesday, May 7, 2019

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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