Mixed Metal Mania...by Kim St. Jean...ABSOLUTELY GREAT!
343636
I LOVE this book!  I have been carrying it with me to read and re-read every chance I get, and especially to every supply store in town! Ms. St. Jean's educational background as a teacher certainly shines through as she gives page by page descriptions and photos of what she is writing about.  I have already tried a project from the book which listed directions that were easy to follow and throughly understandable.  I have collected a number of jewelry design books over the pass few years, this book ranks among one of my top three. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone interested in designing great jewelry and other small items! I can hardly wait for Ms. St. Jean's next book!
4890623
Great use of diverse instruments and vocals, and really excellent songwriting. A great find for fans of folk metal, death metal, and melodic metal alike. I'm actually not a huge fan of death metal vocals myself - I mostly tolerate them as part of the music that surrounds them - but Chrigel Glanzmann does them as well as I've ever heard. Several reviewers have made comparisons to Dark Tranquillity, which I think is spot on: while Slania does not strike me as derivative, I think that fans of Dark Tranquillity (which definitely includes me, I own their entire catalog) will enjoy this CD a LOT. Favorite tracks: Tarvos (a real standout for me), Bloodstained Ground, and Gray Sublime Archon.
3355432
Hail!! I have to comment on this masterpiece called the Olden Domain composed by the atmospheric gods known to the world as Borknagar. Everything on this album is nicely situated and heard. The new studio  really has a great impact of how the music sounds now compared to their  self title debut. The vocals are simply amazing and cannot be put down for  its melodic changes. Garm is a great singer with exceptionally great  talent. He does wonders for the band. Lets not forget the other band  members as well. Each of them play their significantly magnificent part in  the band. Ivar, for example, plays the most bittersweet sounds that adapts  perfectly to Borknagars' atmosphere. Oystein has a very unique style of  guitar playing. His use of chord and melody changes are quite remarkable.  We cannot forget Kai(bass) and Grim(drums) who execute a much deserved  credence of strong rhythm holds and chops like none i have ever expected  from a "black" metal band. Almost sounds as if they have some  sort of fusion/jazzy background, but just a slight touch of it. With all  due respect, i encourage all of you melodic listeners to go out and support  this very talented and unique band. All hail the one and only Borknagar!!!
3634694
Very interesting melodic/traditional heavy metal opus! Interesting because while it features the "typical" in terms of vocals and instrumentation, the arrangements aren't necessarily what one would expect. This is not some mindless run-of-the-mill double-bass metal "attack". There is a lot more sophistication. Truly enjoyable and it gets better with repeat listening. It does not hurt that the lyrics are also a little more thought-provoking that what might be implied by the cover and music style....
290886
Existentia is a fantastic addition to the melodic power metal genre. Hypersonic has really stepped it up a notch with their new album. I highly recommend this album for any fans of female-fronted power metal.
3981032
This new album by Ekotren is exactly what the genre needs.  Heavy but not so heavy that mainstream radio can't play this...  Its good, damn good...  Every track very solid.  End of the Day is exactly the way a heavy metal record should start.  $6.99 download is absolutely fair and worth every penny.  What can I say if you like metal bands like Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, As Bridges Burn, We Come As Romans & Asking Alexandria then Ekotren is really up your alley.  Check'em out.  Their live show sells their material.  You'll want to buy their stuff if you see them live...  Happy Shopping - Dr. Strangemineo
177025
"Visions" is the first album by Stratovarius that I got, and honestly, it's a great one. I wish more bands like these would get popular here in the States, but regardless, "Visions" is a great metal album.

Highlights for me include the majestic, slow-paced "The Kiss of Judas", the high-speed, guitar-and-keyboard madness of "Black Diamond", the riff-heavy, super-melodic "Forever Free", the hauntingly beautiful acoustic ballad "Before The Winter", and the headbanger-masterpiece "Legions". Of course, the other five songs on here are great as well. In fact, each of the ten songs show off the incredible musical and vocal talents the band has to offer, along with a mystical and somewhat yearning vibe demonstrated through the vocals and lyrics. Overall, it's a feast for the ears that shows it's a perfect balance of heaviness, softness, melody and aggression.

In a time when drop C-tuning and breakdowns are the stereotype of metal music, this album is able to separate itself from the crowd and stay true to the beauty of power metal. Highly recommended for fans of the power metal subgenre. Keep rockin'! Thanks for the time, and peace.
1759988
Fantastic piece of technical death metal. Coming from the main songwriter and contributor to the material on Obscura's Omnivium, Hannes Grossmann, it is no surprise this album sounds like the logical followup release to Omivium from Obscura, although it is not. No single listen to the album could possibly allow to fully absorb what is contained with in. Brilliant song structures, very well written, must be heard to understand what I am getting at. I'm a big fan of Necrophagist and Obscura, and was not aware at all of this release, didn't even listen to a preview track when I heard of its existence, just ordered it immediately. Which - I encourage you to do the same! You will not be disappointed.
2115995
I found out about Amon Amarth went I saw them open up for Children of Bodom last year in concert. Since then, they have been one of my favorite bands, and death metal isn't nessecarily one of my favorite genre's of metal. But anyways, I completely loved the album Versus the World, and Fate of Norns was alright. When I heard they were making a new album and that it was going to the rutes of their older music, I was excited. As soon as I was able to, I preordered the special 2 disc set. When it came in the mail and I popped in it my stero I was beyond believe.

This album is perfect in all senses of metal. It's better than Versus the World in a sense that the music is just as good, but the recording quality is so damn good that you can hear every instrument, all vocals just so good. The melodies and the war-drums and the low growls all combine for an album that is their best work yet. As someone else said, this sets the stage very high for their next album, but I doubt we'll be disappointed. I mean, if the caliber of this album is so high, what can possibly stop them now?

All Hail Oden!
3318005
I've always been a fan of the metalcore, hardcore, emo, and screamo genres. I listen to bands like Thrice, Thursday, My Chemical Romance, Coheed and Cambria...bands that have something different to offer and something more to say. And when I bought this album, I got that and more. This has to be one of the best albums I've purchased to date. The combination of fast-paced yet not too chaotic drums, the hardcore/metal yet extremely melodic guitaring, George's screaming and Dallas' vocals make for one of the best albums since the turn of the century.

1. 44. Calibur Love Letter (10/10) - A great way to start off the album. The emotion in this song is unprecidented, and makes for a great song.

2. Counterparts and Number Them (10/10) - Great follow-up track. The emotions change completely, this song is more melodic than the last, as well as more chaotic. Great song

3. Adella (10/10) - Another fantastic song, and probably the best song out of the first three tracks. Has a lot to offer, and it's really an underrated song.

4. A Dagger Through the Heart of St. Angeles (11/10) - Amazingly crafted. They are able to combine chaotic, unorganized, Converge-style chords with some of the best guitaring/soloing on the album in a matter of two seconds.

5. Polaroids and Polar Bears (11/10) - One of the best songs on the album. With some awfully peculiar lyrics and fantastic guitaring that varies from hard to softer makes a great song.

6. Waterwings (and Other Pool Side Fashion Faux Pas) (10/10) - Similar song structure to "Counterparts and Number Them." Not the best song yet unforgettable. Only song I heard before purchasing this album, an awesome track.

7. Where No One Knows (15/10) - My favorite song by far. It's just perfect...i cant even describe this song.

8. The Kennedy Curse (9/10) - Great track, many people seem to like it a lot more than I do. I love this song, don't get me wrong, and it certainly isn't overrated, but not my favorite.

9. Jubella (9/10) - Again, same thing as "The Kennedy Curse." Underrated though, nobody gives this track ANY recognition.

10. Little Girls Pointing and Laughing (10/10) - Different compared to the rest of the album, at least for the first minute or so before George belts out his amazing screaming. Fantastic track.

11. Pulmonary Archery (11/10) - Second-favorite song on the record. Beautifully crafted, a lot of variation in the vocals; first it goes to George screaming his guts out then to some of Dallas' most awesome vocal parts. Fantastic song, definitely single-worthy.

I bought this CD after "Watch Out!" so I probably had a different impression of Alexisonfire than other/most fans. "Watch Out!" was my favorite album when I bought it, but this is 10 times better. Amazing record, don't miss this. You should be shot if you don't own it.
1626128
Had to come back and change from 4 to 5 stars. I can't get enough of the title track and enjoy the full album.

Im new to Trivium so I cannot compare their previous works to this 2015 release, Silence in the Snow.

Based on their style, I figured they be a Scandinavian band  but NO, they are from the USA; Florida if we are being specific. Their hard rock/metal sound is clean with harmonic vocals and I enjoy this entire album.

The vocals have a definitive mark on all the songs .  Looking into the band a bit, it looks like they began as a thrash metal but have evolved (or devolved depending on your tastes) into melodic metal.  In parts, they sound like a mix of Hoobastank and Tyr. I know, sounds weird, but it works.

According to my brother  they did start out growling/thrash and switched styles a few albums ago. They tour with Slipknot and are killer liveboth guitarists are outstanding.  Where I like Corey Taylors other works, Im not a fan of Slipknot. The music is outstanding, but the vocals drive me batty. So, if you dig old Trivium, Im banking you may NOT like this album.

EDIT: I think I"m going to have to pick up "Vengeance Falls" now.  Good stuff!!
4369020
This album was a big surprize when I got it. If your into heavy fast melodic metal then you will love this one. This offering sounds like the new artists "Rob Rock" on Rage of Creation and also somewhat like Firewind and also somewhat like the Warrior-The Code of Life stuff. I was blown away by the guitar work and the drumming and the vocals are super well done too. The mix seems to be awful close to perfect too. I have to be honest and say I had never heard of this awesome band before I got this one used the other day, but it is getting a 5 because your not allowed to give it what it deserves...a "10".If you like decent 80's-early 90s sounding metal or the afore mentioned artists you will be extremely happy when you get this one. The guitar player is unbelievable. Buy it now!
3407117
Let me tell you peoples, if you are looking to getting into some heavy metal that does not sound like a lot of other heavy metal then you have found that album with this one.  Stop reading this and just get it!  You will like the shredding and the singer as well, at least I hope you liked it as much as I did!
1133128
a perfect mix of humppa and metal. i love it (lots of good drinking songs!!)
2335105
Wow, this is an amazing example of new Power Metal at it's best! From front to back every song is powerful and entertaining, expertly performed by the band. The singer London Wilde is amazing, I never heard a female sing metal on the level of Geoffe Tate, Rob Halford, and Ralf Sheepers! The mix and production is killer too, giving it a fresh modern sound. Upon several listens, there is so much detail and subtle craftsmanship going on here. The guitar solos are great, Dave Starr reminds me a bit of Michael Shenker. Drums are heavy and up in the mix. Some keyboards add flavor, but are tucked in, and tasteful. Really a must have if you like Judas Priest, Classic Queensryche, Savatage, Crimson Glory, or Kamelot and Primal Fear. The Edgar Allen Poe theme is cool, but each song stands on it's own! My faves- Immortal, Seven Shades of Winter, The Pit or the Pendulum...CRUSHING!!!!
1810042
This is absolutely amazing!  No Leaf Clover is probably one of my favorite songs ever and -Human is also good.  Both new songs hint at the older syle Metallica and the solo in Clover in agreement with a fellow reviewer sounds a lot like something Pre-Load.  I loved Master Of Puppets, Load, and the other non-album tracks (Clover, Human, I Disappear), so it just keeps me longing for the next album (which they're in the studio making right now!)  This is simply amazing and it is a must have for a fan of practically ANY musical genre.
2507186
I am normally not into female fronted metal, because I personally do not feel the female voice "fits" metal. Then again, sometimes change is needed. First off, the guitars and drums on this album are sick! If you are a musician, you will appreciate the high level of skill displayed.  I even heard an interview with the lead guitar player, who said he has only been playing for seven years! From a guitar player who has been playing twice that long, that blows me away! Then there is the vocalist...she said in an interview her favorite vocalist is Alison Krauss, and claims she had never even heard of Metallica before dating the guitar player Cruz. So it is obvious she is not influenced by anything resembling metal, but therein lies the beauty of her performance. It almost doesn't fit the super fast technical thrash/power metal, employed by the band. But it grows on you, and then you begin to love it! I give her big props for doing her own thing on an otherwise straight up metal album, and making it sound beautiful. Also, check the song "Kardia" where she gets to really grow into her own and sing the way she naturally wants to. The singer Matt Smith from Theocracy (America's other great power metal band) joins in to do backing vocals. Very impressive!