I wasn’t expecting to see another Liquid Tension Experiment album to drop after over 20 years since the last one, but it looks like they’re gonna drop one this March. Hopefully the rest of the album is as tight as this track.
Category: Music
The Skeleton Key
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.
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.
Voice
This piece has a sense of urgency that I find energizing. If you’re not already listening to Hiromi, you should start here.
Small Dark Lines
This track from Threshold’s Legends of the Shires has gotten some heavy rotation in my playlists since it came out in 2017.
The entire album is supposed to be a political allegory, but many of my characters can take this song personally.
Shadows and Silhouettes, Vol. 1
a Gothic rock compilation by 1890 Media
I might have to buy this when I’ve got some cash to spare since the label is local.
I’m pretty sure Vampires of Rome was inspired by Anne Rice, and they sound a bit like Rammstein.
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.
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.
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).
Far Beyond the Sun
A Japanese power metal band with a violinist covering classic Yngwie Malmsteen? Hell yeah.
I was never this good. Besides, I played the viola instead of the violin (and I’ve heard all the jokes).