Yay, some metal discussion for me to join. >.< @Best folkmetal band: Both Eluveitie and Elvenking's older stuff (and some Equilibrium) kick Ensiferum's ass imo. And if you don't mind clean vocals, Falconer is the best folk metal. @StarCraftIsDead: They are progdeath/techdeath, true. And they are awesome. @Booch (#243): Iced Earth is power/thrash metal (and crap), and Blind Guardian is power metal (with prog, symphonic, speed etc elements. O, and they are awesome).
Ahhh man you don't like Iced Earth?! They are amazing! Like... my 3rd favourite band. Albums like Burnt Offerings and Dark Saga can't be topped in the genre for me man. Some of their latter stuff with Tim Owens is a bit meh honestly, but they are fantastic. And now Matt Barlow is back and I caught them live again and damn do they put on a loud and amazing show. Me and my friends grew up with them since like 6th grade so I am kind of fond of them ^.^ Blind Guardian is amazing. Going to see them in december! I'm going to check out those other Folk Metal bands you suggested though. I've never heard of them. I love new music! hahhaha
The singer (or singers, as I didn't like any of the singers there) is the reason I can't enjoy IE. I like singers like Hansi (BG), Mathias Blad (Falconer) etc. They have a less.. agressive style.
Hansi's vocals are fantastic as well, I won't lie. No one sounds like him. You can pick his vocals out of a crowd of a million. But Matt Barlow's vocals warm my heart (and panties). Their music isn't real complicated or anything, it's just Jon Shaffer's style of guitaring that really get me in the mood to headbang. Iced Earth has really suffered from the fact that they are a middle age prog/power metal band though. Old School metal heads think they are too new school for them, and New School metal heads think they are too old for them *laughs* But it's their agressive style that really just reaches out to me. Like I said, it's probably just cause I grew up with them. If I heard them for the first time now, I probably wouldn't be AS into them as I am.
Jon's guitars are great, but I can get enough of his style early - usually after listening to one of the Demons & Wizards albums (y'know, Hansi and Jon project). It's just the vocalists who bothers me, which is weird, because besides IE vocalists, there's only one singer I can't stand (within genre).
Demons & Wizards was a god project to me. lol. I love that shit. Who is the other singer (or band) you can't stand? What other bands you into man? Aside from the IE differences, we seem to have a similar taste, at least knowledge, of music
The other singer is Roy Khan (from Kamelot). That vibration in his voice is so annoying for me. Meh, I like lots of bands. All time favourites are Stratovarius (instrumentally probably the best band ever, and I also like Timo's voice), Ayreon (and of course all other projects of Arjen, that man's a genius!), Symphony X (Russell is another awesome vocalist) and of course Devin Townsend's stuff (I can't imagine someone who doesn't find something in his music he likes. Just so new and different), Falconer (great folk/power metal with a really unique singer), but I also really like Epica (great singer(s) and compositions), Therion (also great compositions, might be weird to some people tho. : D), Sonata Arctica (just so melodic, great if I'm in the mood for it), Revolution Renaissance (latest albums has one of the most awesome solos from Timo Tolkki), Diablo Swing Orchestra (one of the weirdest music ever heard, swing metal is fun : D), Opeth (just... good), Haggard (epic masterpieces I think, close to classical music). And I'm not even at the half of my list.
Kamelot kinda sucks =/ lol I hear ya man. Stratovarius is one of my favs as well. Jens Johansson is quite literally a god on the keyboard. Never was a fan of Symphony X. Not sure what is was about them I didn't like but I have a friend who is balls deep in them lol. Heard plenty of their stuff. Talented though that's for sure. Therion is amazing. My wife even likes em and she is more of a straight death metal kinda girl. And of course Opeth, epic ass band there. My second favourite band. lol. The others you mentioned I've admittedly never really heard much of so I shall check them out!
Start with Revolution Renaissance and Falconer, probably the most accessible from those. Also, check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC96cfE22pw Crappy recording tho.
Sweet I'll check em out. That song wasn't terrible... but the recording was pretty bad lol. You like Dream Theater any?
They aren't bad, but somehow not good either for me. Instrumentally they are great (that's why I like Liquid Tension Experiment), but somehow their music doesn't have any soul. Prog metal is great, that's why I love Ayreon for example. BTW: Tell me when you listened to some. ; )
I hear ya, not 100% into all of their music but I like them, I just downloaded the first Falconer album and it's great! Singer has some nice vocals. Havn't heard the whole thing yet but i'm digging it so far. Any album suggestions, or should I just get them all (that's what I usually do) lol
Chapters From a Vale Forlorn and Northwind are my two favourites. The Sceptre of Deception and Grime vs. Grandeur have a different vocalist, not that great.
Well at least Blad came back. Just listened to a couple songs from SoD and he sounds terrible. Like he doesn't put any effort into it it seems. Maybe that's his style lol.
Yea, he isn't that bad though. Anyway, even with Blad, Chapters is their best album. Just listen to The Clarion Call.
Just listened to the Clarion Call, it was pretty good. I really like his vocals in that song. Interesting question but what is your take on Nightwish? (old nightwish anyways)
Quite good, but their current vocalist is terrible, and there are betters than Tarja also. Still, their music is/was enjoyable, but Epica is a lot better in a similar style (listen to Cry for the Moon).
Yeah thus is why I said their old stuff anyways. I don't even consider new stuff "Nightwish" material. It's complete garbage lol. Downloading Epica right now. The singer is kinda hawt for a ginger. LOL
About the last thing, I can't agree. She is hot, but the haircolor is a plus for me. : D BTW: How did you like the latest Blind Guardian album?
Yeah gingers don't really do it for me hahahaha I f*cking loved it. Like a lot, but I'll admit I was hesitant about it. I really didn't care for A Twist in the Myth all too much (it was ok but my least favourite for sure). I was just hoping that things wern't going to go downhill or anything. At the Edge of Time was really heavy and beautifully crafted. You? Edit: I'm so excited to see them. They are coming Dec 12th here in AZ. F*CK YEAH!!!!
