Iced Earth, The Glorious Burden

 

    I don't think there are many albums that combine War History, and Metal as well as The Glorious Burden from Iced Earth.  From the opening instrumental Star Spangled Banner, to the heavy Hold At All Costs, this is without a doubt one of the best albums not just in Iced Earth's discography, but in Metal.

     The first thing this album has going for it is the amazing vocals.  With the great Ripper Owens joining this band after his time with Judas Priest he brings the same amazing vocal work from that band into Iced Earth.  Not only does he show the high voice he had when in Judas Priest, he also has a deeper range to the point where some times he sounds like James Hetfield from Metallica.  The guy has a good range giving the album many directions to go vocally.  The backing vocals on the album are to be admired as well.  With the backing vocals sounding very haunting, it truly gives you a feeling of horror of what it is like to be in the middle of battle.  One of the best songs that demonstrates this is The Devil to Pay.  The chorus in that song is very chilling and gives a great effect of war.

      The music on this album is very well composed and flows very well.  Guitar player Jon Schaffer composes some real heavy rhythm guitar while delivering amazing melodic duel lead guitar on the album.  The 2 songs that demonstrates this best from my perspective are Declaration Day and Hold at All Costs.  Both have great heavy guitar while giving us some great melodic leads that are almost, if not just as good as, Iron Maiden songs.

Lyrically this one of my favorite albums ever.  Almost every song on the album is about a specific battle or event in war history.  Declaration Day being about the beginning of the American Revolution, and Waterloo being about the Battle of Waterloo you basically get a history lesson in the form of some awesome music.  The biggest highlight though is the final three songs that are about each day of the Battle of Gettysburg.  This section operates like a concept record telling the story of the events of all three days of one of the bloodiest battles fought on American Soil.  Big Props to Jon Schaffer on not only composing great music, but also writing some of the best lyrics I have seen.

If you are a history lover you should get this record, if you are a metal head you should get this record, and if you are both then you need this record.  With great lyrics and brilliant composition, this is an album that is all power and no filler.  The Glorious Burden is available on Itunes, but I actually recommend getting a physical copy of this record if possible.  The artwork is amazing and when you have and album like this, a physical copy does it justice.  Click on some of the links below to preview some songs, and if you like them buy them, and the rest of the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuzltpk-q_g  (Hold At All Costs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i-chlRhdAU  (Declaration Day)

Dadaroma Risley Circus Review

     Dadaroma is defiantly one of the most Goth and darkest Visual Kei bands I have ever seen, and it is a trend they carry well into their song, Risley Circus.  Dadaroma is a band that is known for their very dark goth looks and their dark creepy sounding music.  I tend to think of these guys as like a Japanese Marilyn Manson.  They debuted in 2014 at an Aids Medication festival in japan and while they are not one of the biggest visual kei bands ever they have developed a good cult following which is a good sign for them considering that this band is only 3 years old.

     Musically, there is a lot I like about this song. If you ask me, the music fits the songs title very well, you feel like your in a strange circus while listening to it and that is nice bonus points to add to this song.  The opening drum and guitar combination is really cool and the singers creepy sounding monologue makes a great intro to the song.  I also think the main intro is guitar riff played by Takashi is pretty cool.  Same is to be said of the bands drummer, Yusuke.  Yoshiatsu delivers some pretty good vocals on this song.  With a spooky monologue and verse he then moves into a more melodic pre chorus that follows up with a melodic chorus.  I do think the solo section could have been a little bit better though.  I feel it was a little repetitive and could have been a little bit longer.  However, overall the music is pretty good.

     Lyrically, the song is pretty good as well.  Just like the music, it matches the the title of the song perfectly.  It is basically talking about wanting attention in a circus and the things that people are willing to do and the dangers they will take for that attention.  Whether there is an underlining message or not, I will leave up to you to decide.

    The music video, again, matches the title of the song perfectly.  The set basically looks like a deranged group of circus people, with the singer looking like a scary clown and the rest of the band having their typical goth look.  However, their look does blend in well with this particular set.  The only problems I have with this video is its opening and the girl featured in it.  I personally feel like the opening dragged out a little longer then it needed to.  As for the girl, I feel like she was not necessary and the video would have been fine with out her in it.  Having said that, the music video is still pretty good and worth checking out.

This is a pretty good song, and one I think is worth a buy for sure.  While I don't think these guys are great musicians, they are still good and know how to play to their strengths.  With the singers spooky vocals and the good combo work of the drums and guitar you have a great song.  Considering all that I give the song a 4 out of 5

5 Girl Group KPop Songs To Check Out

     KPop is a very interesting genre, with it's over the top videos and dancing it has become a genre that has captured peoples attention all over the internet making it very successful.  To be honest when I first heard of KPop I didn't have much confidence in it.  I was impressed that it was making an impact in America, but I also thought that it would be short lived and would crash and burn very fast.  To my surprise it not only survived but it has also has only grown in popularity.  (I'm still not a fan of the guy groups though, sorry Shinee and Big Bang).  With Girls Generation winning video of the year at the YouTube music video awards, Sistar being featured on family guy, and 2NE1 appearing on The Bachelor and America's Next Top Model KPop has certainly come a long way in the American music scene.  While I don't consider myself a big fan of the genre, there are some groups I have come to enjoy listening to and like much better then a lot of modern American Pop Stars.  It isn't because they are better song writers or have more substance, it's that what they lack in substance they make up for in musical talent.  Some of these artists are damn good soulful singers and make me willing to pick them over Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus any day.  With that, lets get started.

2NE1: Goodbye

     While I am not a big fan of 2NE1 I got to give them big props for their farewell song "Goodbye".   This is truly a song from the heart,  while listening to it you can hear the girls sadness and pain.  CL wrote the lyrics to the song and she does not hold back her thoughts and feelings.  The acoustic guitar sets the mood perfectly and you know your in for a sad song before the girls even start singing.  This is not very common in Kpop that I have seen so far, so to see this kind of approach to a song felt fresh, it's just sad that it is their farewell song. The music video portrays the girls pain and sadness very well.  While I was watching it I could not help but to feel bad for the girls even though I am not really a fan.   I like this song because, unlike how many artists and bands do a farewell show or a farewell tour to try to end on a high note, these girls instead are being genuine with their audience and saying that they are not happy that they are disbanding.  Not only that but the music and vocals are very conveying to the point that someone like me who is not a big fan of 2NE1 feels bad that they are disbanding, and for that I recommend this song.   

Sistar: I Swear

   Next is the fun sounding I swear by Sistar.  One thing that stands out is Hyorin's vocals.  The girl is a great singer and it makes total sense to me why she is the groups leader.  Soyou's vocals are also worth noting. I also like the music for the song as well. I like the horn jam and the funk like rthym seciton supporting the horns.  I also like the music video as well.   Where as most KPop music videos are very over the top with crazy sets and stages, this one is more simple.  Really, it is just simply showing the girls having fun with life by swimming and hanging out in their car.  While their is still many different shooting sets like in most KPop videos it isn't over the top and it's nice to see every once in a while in KPOP. If you like good fun sounding KPop, this song is for you.

Taeyeon: Make Me Love You

   Taeyeon's talent in her main group "Girls Generation" carries well over into her solo career and her latest song "Make Me Love You" is a great example of that.  This is a good easy listening song that makes you feel good and is pleasant to listen to with your spouse, weather they speak Korean or not.  The biggest aspect of the song is definitely Taeyon herself.  She's got a great voice and where some KPop singers have an accent when they sing in English, you really don't notice it with her.  All the English she sings is fluent and crystal clear. This is also another music video that I loved.  It leans more towards the standard KPop video formula but it fits the song very well and the camera movements are awesome. I'm big fan of close ups and camera movements and this video executes both of the well. 

Girl's Day: I Miss You 

      I Miss You by Girl's Day is another good KPop ballad.  However, where as Make Me Love You is about longing to be in a relationship, I Miss You is a break up song about breaking up with your ex and longing to move on from that relationship.  All four girls sound good with Hyeri and Minah taking lead and for good reason, their voices fit the tone this song is going for perfectly.  The piano and acoustic guitar are very simple, but sometimes in a song like this that is exactly what you need.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for technicality and trying to take your music to the next level.  However, sometimes you don't need to and this song is a good example of that.  Out of all the KPop videos I have on the list this is the most simple out of all of them.  There is not much to the sets and the camera movements and angles are nothing too fancy.  However, for a song like this that is a good thing.  Again, sometimes simplicity is better then technicality.  

Girls Generation: Way To Go

     As a rocker this song naturally caught my attention.  With it's heavy guitar and faster pace music I came to really like this song.  One thing I have always liked about Girls Generation is that, even though there are 9 members, (at the time of this song), they all get a decent amount of time and they all sound good vocally.  Like I established already, I like the music a lot compared to a lot of KPop songs.  The guitar is simple chords and riffs, but it works well, especially in a music scene where you don't hear it that often.  The music video is pretty much them having fun singing the song in front of a single camera and a bunch of behind the scenes footage of their set for Gee, the main music video.  While this is not Girls Generation's biggest song, it is good and in my opinion one of their best live songs.  If they ever performed this song with a live band it would sound great.  This song is for those who, like myself, lean more towards rock n roll.  If you are looking for some rock in KPop, then you should check this song out.  

     

Stryper (The Underrated Heroes of Christian Music)

  When it comes to Christian music in 2017 people tend to think of how Skillet, but mostly Hillsong  as the bands that took Christian music to the mainstream and that Christian music wouldn't be where it is without them.  I like these bands and I think they deserve the fame they have achieved.  However, to credit them for being the bands that brought Christian music to the mainstream is not correct. The credit for that belongs to the California metal band called Stryper.

Started in 1983, Stryper consisted of Michael Sweet on lead vocals and lead guitar, his brother Robert Sweet on drums, Tim Gaines on bass and backing vocals,and Oz Fox on lead guitar and backing vocals.  Initially when they started they intended to be like all the other 80's metal bands coming out of LA at the time.  However, early in their career they instead decided to cement their message in the form of rockin for Christ.  Then in 1984 they debuted with their first album "The Yellow and Black Attack".

Subsequently they would go on to have many great, and successful albums, most well know among them being "Soldiers Under Command" and "To Hell With The Devil".  Talent wise they were some of the best musicians to come out of the 80's.  Michael Sweet was a good lead guitar player and til this day has what many consider one of the best voices in metal.  Oz Fox is one of the most underrated guitar players ever.  He is a very good shredder, one who I wager could take Kirk Hammett from Metallica in a guitar duel.  They were also very good songwriters.  From the melodic opening solo's on Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil, to the Thin Lizzy like twin solo's on Calling On You and Reach Out.

 However,  while they were really successful they were also very despised.  Being a Christian band in an era where bands were singing about partying and sex as in the cases of bands like Ratt and Motley Crue, while others were singing about moshing and going crazy such as Anthrax and Metallica.  Christianity in metal was nonexistent when Stryper started and a lot of metalheads were not quick to embrace it.  Scott Ian himself has discussed a time when Stryper opened for Anthrax and they tossed bibles into the crowd only to have them swung right back at them as shown in the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfT3EcLKADU&t=32s

It wasn't just metal heads that gave them trouble, it was also the Christian Church. Some people called them a gimmick, some picketed their concerts, and some, like Pastor Jimmy Swaggart, actually said they played music of the devil.  Even today, a lot of people still believe that Christianity and metal music cannot mix, as I myself have been told by people in the Church.  But through it all the band pressed on 

Sadly, Michael Sweet would leave the band in the early 90's and it would lead to the group disbanding and sitting out until they decided to get back together in 2005. Since then they have made several more albums and still rock hard today.

Unfortunately, many people don't give the band the recognition they deserve.  With the church and the bulk of the Christian music industry barely recognizing the bands existence many people give Amy Grant credit for bringing Christianity in music to the mainstream in the 80's even though Stryper was more popular then she was.  In the 90's people give credit to Michael W. Smith, and today it is Hillsong.  Now don't get me wrong, these are talented people who deserve their fame.  

However, unlike Stryper, they took the safe route.  While these people stuck to performing in the church before their big breaks, Stryper dived head first into a scene that the Church wouldn't acknowledge, let alone try to minister to.  Not only that, but Amy Grant and Hillsong cater to a Christian audience and Christian Audience alone.  Stryper was a band that not only catered to metal but to MTV as well.  In 1987 When they came out with "To Hell With The Devil" their music videos were some of the most requested on MTV for entirety of that year.  

Without Stryper Christian music would not be where it is today.  We would not have Switchfoot, POD, Skillet, and I will even go as far to say that Hillsong might not be able to do what they have done without Stryper.  To simply push the band aside because they are metal is to push not just a great band a side, but a great story and a big reason why Christian music is where it is today.  Styper's story of having to go through the 80's  holding on to their message while being mocked by other metalheads and getting push back from the Church is something that should be heard and something to learn from. Razorfist in his Metal Mythos episode of Stryper does a pretty good job of discussing the bands music and their career.  Disclaimer, He isn't a christian, and he does cuss like a sailor, but he makes good points.  If you are a metal head or a gamer, he makes great content and I highly recommend subscribing to his channel. (Check his Stryper Mythos in the link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFmK6Z5SmVo

Is Stryper a perfect band? of course not, there is no such thing.  Having said that, they deserve a lot more credit for their contribution to Christian music than they have been given thus far.  If you are a Christian don't let the metal label drive you away from this band, they make good music that has a good godly message, and they should not be over looked despite what people say about them. 

 

Top 5 Power Metal Female Singers

I remember when I was exploring the Power Metal scene and discovering all of the awesome bands from DragonForce to Kamelot.  The combination of fantasy and medieval sounding music caught my attention and I still like a lot of those bands til this day.  One of the really cool things that came out of that scene was all the awesome female singers.  Some of my favorite female singers came out of this scene, because a lot of them have very opera and classical style voices.  You don't always associate these styles of music with metal and rock but these vocalist perfect it.  Check out the ones shown below.

5.  Sharon Den Adel

4.  Simone Simons

3.  Floor Jansen

2.  Elize Ryd

1.  Tarja Turunen

YouTube Discoveries

I have said before that YouTube can be a great place to discover new music, it is where I discovered my current favorite band ( The Gazette).  Every week I come across new songs and new bands and artists.  Here is some of the new music I have discovered recently on YouTube.

Nano- Nevereverland

Londboy- Datura

Coldrain 8am

Secondwall- Cherry Blossoms Fluttering

Arlequin- Eclipse

Kelun Shuna Review

(I know that the band was called Utari at this time, but the name was short lived and people know them better as Kelun, with that  lets get started)

      I remember discovering this band through watching the anime called Bleach.  Their song called Chu Bura was the 8th opening in the anime and after hearing that intro I looked deeper in the bands catalog and just loved them.  These guys have gone on to be one of my favorite Jrock bands, with their uplifting sound and great vocals this makes for one killer band.  

      First of all, singer/guitarist Ryousuke is a great, I love his voice and while he is not the best guitar player I have ever heard he still produces a great sound that helps build the song. Satou, the bass player is very fast and constant in his playing.  At times is seems like his bass is the lead in the song and not the guitar which is a nice change of pace, considering the formula that we are used to.  Last but certainly not least is Masahiro the drummer.  He is one of the more faster drummers I have heard but it adds to the energy of the song without being distracting and you can still enjoy the song.

     The video itself is pretty good. The visuals are nice and it isn't too over the top like some Jpop videos I have seen.  Basically, it is perfectly balanced to where you think it's a nice video but you still pay more attention to the song.  The bands look is nothing special, they just perform in their normal cloths and, while I feel that look is too generic these days,  I don't think much on it.  It is their thing and I have no problem with that.

     I have to say I like this song a lot, it has high energy and has an uplifting sound and vocals that can help a person get through a bad day.  With all this I give Shuna  a 4.5 out of 5.