Category: Music

The Skeleton Key

EPICA - The Skeleton Key (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

I never really got into Epica, even though symphonic metal bands with women on lead vocals has been my thing since I was a kid. I think it’s because of the whole “beauty and the beast” schtick where the beast usually means some dude doing death metal vocals.

But I might have to reconsider and give Epica another shot with their new album Omega, or dig up my copy of The Divine Conspiracy. Then again, I could just replay this video. The costumes Simone Simons wears are gorgeous, and one of them reminds me of the opera scene from The Fifth Element.

Credit to Metal Goddesses for bringing this video to my attention.

Obsolete Beings

I’ve been listening to Voïvod this morning since I borrowed their 2018 album The Wake from the public library.

VOIVOD - Obsolete Beings (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

This is weird, proggy metal—and I like it. There’s definitely some jazz influence in here, but according to Wikipedia some of the band’s members are fans of King Crimson.

That’s fine with me, since I grew up listening to King Crimson thanks to my dad, and if my life had a soundtrack I suspect “21st Century Schizoid Man” would be part of it.

Gwynnbleidd

This is a new song by a band I heard about on Spacehey called Graveshadow.

I heard about this song because I follow the lead singer on Spacehey.

GRAVESHADOW - Gwynnbleidd (New Song - Official Streaming Music Player)

This is really solid filk/power metal in the tradition of Battle Beast, and Raxx Quinn’s vocals remind me of the late Jill Janus (Huntress), Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers), and Sarah Ann Kitteringham (Smoulder).

It’s inspired by Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher, and the title comes from the name the elves use for Geralt of Rivia. It apparently means “white wolf”. But to me, the White Wolf will always be Elric of Melniboné…

Black Pentagram

rocking out to “Black Pentagram” by Unlucky Morpheus

Here’s an original by Unlucky Morpheus rather than a cover.

[Official Video] Unlucky Morpheus - 「Black Pentagram」

Of course, I don’t have enough Japanese to understand the lyrics, but I still listen to Rammstein even though my German is just as bad (not that my French is much better).