Reviews Update and New Finds

I've come across some great shit lately, and some not so great shit, but I'm always game for new stuff no matter what!  So here is an update of some of my reviews that are appearing on other sites.

On Black Wind Metal:

• Beyond the Bridge's The Old Man and the Spirit.  Excellent stuff!  Progressive metal from Germany, featuring both a female and male vocalist.  I'm not the biggest prog fan ever, but I was really blown away by this this.  What a great find!
• the not-so-fabulous sophomore album by Voices of Destiny, Power Dive.  Ugh.  Not great, IMO, but others may really dig it.
• German power metal outfit Elmsfire's Thieves of the Sun garnered a rave review, as did Italians Setanera's EP, Spettralia.

Upcoming on BWM I have Meden Agan's Erevos Aenaeon and Lacuna Coil's Dark Adrenaline (ugh).

And over at Sonic Cathedral, I have a review of Battle Beast's Steel. 

Metal Cruises FTW

Last night on Blabbermouth, there was a link to a story CNN had done about the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise that just took place last week.  The video can be seen here, and look at who is featured!  Good exposure for Nightwish to the North American market for sure.

But more than that, look at the wicked set-ups and look at the wicked time people seem to be having!  Perhaps this is the little getaway I should be planning for myself for next year.  I'd almost rather go to this than Prog/Power USA.  This would be worth it for the people watching alone!

And check this year's line-up.  Other than Nightwish, there's tons of other bands that would have been fun to see live.  And some seriously big names.  Now I wonder who is going to be on board for 2013.

New Lyriel Sample

I don't know if anyone else out there is excited about the new Lyriel CD, Leverage, slated for release Feb. 24, but I sure am.  Today, the band released a sample for one of their new songs, and it's called "White Lily."

You can listen here.

I like it!

Xandria's New Sample

Here is a three-minute clip of Xandria's upcoming song, "Valentine", from their upcoming album Neverworld's End, that will be released in Europe Feb 27.

WOW!  This is so different from the Xandria I was used to!  Manuella kicks some serious ass and the composition reveals the new character of this band!

Check it!

Stop SOPA/PIPA now! This blog will be affected by it!

For a couple of months now, lawmakers in the U.S. government have been trying to pass two devestating laws that will hurt the Internet forever. SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are the two proposed bills. The harm you ask? Both will literally take away many freedoms that we love about the Internet, including shutting down multiple websites, blogs (like this one), user accounts on YouTube or Facebook, block out copyrighted material, and so much more. It violates the First Amendment which gives people less rights to say what we want online! It will not only affect people living in the United States, but also the rest of the world will soon follow this as well. Say no to this and let your voice be heard! Here is my video about it and what you can do:

Here are some links to look at and sign petitions for:
http://huffingtonpost.tumblr.com/
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
http://americancensorship.org/
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/sopa/

We must fight against this and save the Internet!

Some Reviews

I've done a lot of reviewing for other sites recently, and as they are published I'll share the links here.

For starters, however:

Trillium - Alloy on Black Wind Metal (this is Amanda Somerville's new metal project)
Narwhal Tusk - In Despair on Black Wind Metal (excellent Russian symphonic power metal)
Ancient Bards - Soulless Child on Sonic Cathedral (another excellent band from Italy)

Upcoming: Voices of Destiny, Meden Agan, and Setanera on Black Wind Metal, and Battle Beast on Sonic Cathedral.

Epica's New Single

It's called "Storm the Sorrow." CD out in Europe March 9.

I think it's OK.  Not earth-shattering, but just OK.

Thoughts?

Tarja's new songs

Yesterday, Tarja started her "What Lies Beneath Final Tour 2012" and performed for the first time ever two new songs from her upcoming rock album - "Never Enough" and "Into the Sun".

You can watch the full concert here.
                 

                                                                                                  "Into the Sun"

                                                                                                "Never Enough"

Out of these two I like "Never Enough" more. I think this song is catchy and might be a really good single to draw attention of new fans but somehow, I doubt it will end up on the upcoming album.

In recent interview Tarja revealed, that her new rock album will be released in 2013.

Also Argentinian promoter announced Tarja's intention to record her first rock live DVD during the concert on 30.03.2012 in Rosario, Argentina.

Swallow the Sun Feat. Anette Olzon

I do remember this project being announced somewhere, probably on Blabbermouth, perhaps on Anette's blog, but yesterday the song "Cathedral Walls" by Finnish doom metalers, Swallow the Sun, was released.  It features Nightwish singer Anette Olzon in a duet.

Not really a fan of doom myself, I have to say I really like this song.  It has great atmosphere and emotion, and Anette sounds positively divine.  Her vox sounds ethereal and is key to the atmosphere created in the song.

The video, however, is a bit odd.  Anette herself isn't in it, so I don't know who that dark-haired, veiled lady is, but my big question is, WTF is up with those...dancers...doing sort of yoga poses or weird interpretive dance movements?  With black flags?!  Very strange!

RIP Nicole Bogner

This morning via Facebook, I found out that Visions of Atlantis's first singer, Nicole Bogner, passed away at the young age of 27.  The official band statement said that she had been "fighting a severe disease over a long period of time."

Since Nicole's departure from VoA in 2005, I wondered where her path had taken her.  She was the vox that initially got me into the band, and I hoped she would continue her career in metal somehow, somewhere.  I thought her voice was gorgeous and hoped to hear her sing again.  But for years, nothing was heard of her at all.  Until today.

My thoughts go out to Nicole's loved ones and the Visions of Atlantis family.  Nicole was an enormous talent and she will be greatly missed.