5 Prog Metal Albums You Should Own

Welcome to the final week of Proguary, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I think it’s an unofficial rule when I do these musical-themed events: put out a “5 X Albums You Should Own” list. I did it during the Summer of Thrash event I did last year, and it’s only right that I did one for Proguary. I will say that I only put 1 album I looked at during this month instead of 2. Not to say that I wanted to, but this time around I felt that other bands deserved some time in the spotlight. In any case, here are 5 Progressive Metal albums you should own. Enjoy

1) Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (Track)

It’s a safe bet to say that when Iron Maiden went Prog, it wasn’t that impressive. Dance With Devils, A Matter Of Life and Death, and The Final Frontier (To a lesser extent) are often considered to be among the worst in the band’s discography. That being said, their concluding album in the 1980s was perhaps their only time where Progressive Metal seemed to suit them. While Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son was still a lower-tier album in comparison to their output in the 80s, it wasn’t quite the hideous abomination that it’s critics say it is. Iron Maiden manages to go Prog in their own way, and the end result is an album that’s very misunderstood within their prestigious collection of albums.

2) Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine: Biomech (Track)

Though it was his more modern material that finally got me to enjoy his music, it was his first album I bought physically that makes it’s way onto this list. The 90s were HevyDevy’s more wilder days, and before his discovery of the Bipolar Disorder, you could see how the chaos permeated his music. Ocean Machine was right before he checked himself into the hospital, but before he regained control of his mind, this was one of his most unique offerings. In many ways this was a portent to Infinity & the albums beyond, as the Prog became more unique, more artistic, and all his own. He might have had issues with his mind, but these issues lead to what may be one of his most stylish albums of the 90s.

3) Queensrÿche - Rage for Order (Track)

What Devin Townsend was to the 90s & beyond, Queensrÿche was to the 80s & 90s, and Rage for Order is one of the many feathers in their cap. Just acquiring the tool to shape the force of Prog to their well, and by god did they shape it! Rage for Order might be more primal in terms of Progressive Metal, but it’s an important piece in the history of this subgenre’s evolution. On top of that, and not to repeat myself from the review for the album, but the fact that it’s aged so well cements it’s legacy, and continues to be an awesome record to listen to!

4) Gojira - Magma (Track)

And here is the most modern Prog Metal offering on this list.

Truth be told, I was never a fan of France’s offering to the altar of Prog. Gojira is a master of the genre no doubt, but I’ve always found them a little too pretentious for my taste. Much of their lyrical content is centered around environmental themes, and came across as a little hippie-like. That being said, I wasn’t turned off by their 2016 release, Magma. I don’t know if I heard & interpreted things different, but this album isn’t quite so environmental as their other records. They’re nice & heavy, and each song has some great atmosphere, but there’s a thoughtful edge that’s present throughout the album. I wouldn’t exactly call it highly intellectual, but it’s the kind of music that gets a gear or two to turn in your head. If you want a Prog Metal album that’s (Fairly) hot off the press, then Magma is the album for you.

5) Nocturnus - The Key (Track)

Alright, this will be the last time you’ll hear me talk about this band.....for a while, at least.

But can you blame me!? Last year on the “top 5 thrash albums you should own” list the “Exception” album was Kreator’s Goth/Industrial release, Endorama. For this one, I could only think of Nocturnus first Death/Prog Metal outing. The Key really is an intriguing little album: it’s got all of the brutality of Death Metal, the artistic bent of Progressive Metal, and a healthy dose of Science Fiction atmosphere. At first you’d think it wouldn’t work, but after getting through the first 2 to 3 songs, your brain immediately gets it. I’ve spoken about this album twice so far, so that should tell you how awesome this album is!

So there you have it. 5 Prog Metal albums you should have in your collection. It’s definitely a bizarre list, that’s for sure. Given that I devoted February to the musical force that is Prog.....perhaps it was the right thing to do. Well, March isn’t far away, and that means I got Genericon coming, so I’ll be taking a break for the next 2 weeks to get stuff ready. See you the Monday after the con for my annual Genericon review!

Album Review(s): Monster Musume VP CDs

Surprise, and Happy Valentine’s Day fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, today’s the day of love. The day where those who are together go out, any enjoy each other time & company. A day of joviality, and even a day of embrace as it were. For many other, it’s National Single’s Day. A day where many of us keep to ourselves, and often do stuff to distract ourselves from how sickeningly sweet everything is. Manga & anime are great distractions, as is music. In fact, I could wait to show you all of these, as I waited for a long time for these to come in the mail. What selection of music could I not wait to talk about? Why, Monster Musume music of course!

Yes, it’s time for another glimpse into the world of monster girls. I make no secret how much of a dork I am for this franchise. From hesitation to full-blown love, Monster Musume & it’s cast of ladies has charmed not only me, but apparently many fans across the world! It’s amazing that such a goofy, dirty, silly anime & manga has captivated a surprisingly large audience around the world, and it’s popularity has only increased overtime. Even the world of music isn’t safe from the wiles of these monstrous ladies, as the voice actors took to the airways, and put out CDs that are right in tone with the characters they represent.

So, on this sickeningly-sweet day, I thought it was only appropriate to look at all of them. Yes, all of them! All 9 of the CDs that I ordered (Along with 1 I downloaded) I will be look at here. I’ll be doing things a little differently than normal: with the amount of music I’ll be looking at, I’ll be shrinking the size of them, and doing more of a micro review for each of them.

I should make mention that these were not easy to get. I ordered them late December last year, and it took about a month for them to arrive (Ironically, they came a day early before their projected arrival). I was somewhat panicked, but luckily it had tracking, so I could follow it’s movement. Also, these CDs go by rather quickly, with most of them taking nearly 20 minutes to just over 20 minutes to play through. They’re structured strangely as well: the first 3 tracks are that of the voice actor singing (2 original songs & the opening sung by the VP), and the two opening tracks but without vocals. I can only assume (Rightfully) that they were included for karaoke, as it would be weird for repeating tracks.

Miia

And here we start with one of my favorite girls from the main cast, if not my personal favorite. I stated in my review that the Japanese cast did a fantastic job with their respective characters, and Sora Amamiya, the voice of Miia, does a damn find job. She really brings out the Lamia’s playfulness, naughtiness, love, and strange form of devotion to her darling. This is really reflective in her songs: they’re all about her love for darling, with the first song coming across as playful & silly, and the second song coming across as a little more sensual & serious. Miia’s rendition of the intro is easily one of my favorite, as it’s bright and cheery, almost as if you were in the room listening to her sing. This was one of my favorite of the CDs, but strangely not my most favorite. 9 out of 10.

Kiss Me Darling

My Sweet Feelings

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Miia Version)

Papi

Happiness defines this second CD, as it’s befitting the nature of Papi. Easily the cheeriest of the girls (More so than Miia), Ari Ozawa embodies this blue-feathered girl’s love of life & constant enjoyment of the nice things in life. It is literately impossible to not smile as you listen to the CD. There’s positive energy bursting from each & every single note of this, whether it’s the instrumentation or vocal work, and it almost got me to move around a little. Trust me, I can’t dance worth squat, and this music almost got me to! 10 out of 10, just through the sheer “Smile” factor.

PAPISM

Papi Dance

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Papi Version)

Centorea

Now we get to something a little more serious.

If there’s one character that has some common sense among the girls, it would be the noble Centorea. Voiced by Natsuki Aikawa, she embraces the stoic & serious nature that a knightly centaur embodies, but has a vulnerable & sweet side that comes out at some of the more embarrassing/adorable moments. Musically, Centorea’s album does away with the techo pop/rock stylings, and instead goes for a more Heavy Metal/Hard Rock. Her first song almost comes across as Power Metal, and given the fact that Cerea is a warrior who’s quest is to protect her charge, it’s not hard to see why I think this. 8 to 9 out of 10.

Nobility

Monster Rock!

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Centorea Version)

Suu

This one. Out of all the character CDs that I bought, somehow this one is my most favorite. It’s ironic that Suu’s CD is my absolute favorite, as she’s not really one of my favorite characters. I’ve never understood why people liked her (Much less slime girls), and she’s always been a background character in my view. That being said, Suu does have a strange kind of charm to her, and it shows through the music. Voiced & sung by Mayuka Nomura, the first track sounds like a rainy day: Nice, gentle, and with a healthy drop of light-hearted melancholy. The second song comes across as a little more heavy: not metallic by any stretch, but maybe more along the lines of a rain shower picking up intensity. If you have the money, and the patience to wait, grab this CD. 10 out of 10.

Amagasa no Uta

Hana no Uta

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Suu Version)

Mero

Mero is certainly a character. When she goes into her “Tragic Romance” mode, it can be cringe-worthy or facepalm inducing. On the other hand, she is a loving & devoted mermaid, and has a levelheaded nature that rivals Centorea. Mero’s voice actor, Haruka Yamazaki, really does bring out the character’s nature, as the songs are something of a hybrid. They have the loving nature that Miia’s CD had, but with an aura of maturity that was on Centorea’s album. The second song in particular has a hint of Papi’s vibrant energy to it, and as such it almost got me to get out of my seat. Mero’s CD trails a few inches behind Suu’s, and is definitely one of my favorites to listen to. 9 out of 10.

Moon and Mermaid

Frothy Love

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Mero Version)

Rachnera

If there was ever an obvious character, it would be Rachnera. Voiced by Sakura Nakamura, she positively oozes sexuality, domination, vulnerability, and a kinky kind of playfulness. It’s ironic that I’m giving the resident Arachne this much of a complement, especially since I’ve always been conflicted about her. Half the time I like her, and the other half of the time I can’t stand her. Regardless, Rachnera’s CD is quite befitting of her nature: both tracks practically embody her nature, with the first song going for a “Slow & Kinky” vibe, and the second song going for something more frantic & sexual. Not one of my favorites, but not bad by any stretch! 8.5 out of 10.

Rachnera Arachnera

Belle Sadique

OP "Saikousoku Fall in Love" (Rachnera Version)

Hey! Smith!!

And here is perhaps my least favorite of the CDs. Whereas all the others focused on one character, this one focuses on the group of ladies that are sent out when Liminals are causing problems. M.O.N Squad is a collection of girls: Ms Smith the coordinator (Yu Kobayashi), Manako the sniper (Momo Asakura), Zombina the team leader (Rei Mochizuki), Tionisia the heavy-hitter (Yurika Kubo), and Doppel the infiltrator (Saori Onishi). The first track happens to be Monster Musume’s closing track, and it’s actually one I like. Everybody has time to sing, and nobody ever overwhelms the others. For some reason, I’m really not a big fan of the second track. I don’t know if it’s me, but I find the chorus to be rather annoying. If that chorus wasn’t in the song, then I’d probably like this CD more than I did. Easily the least essential, unless you’re a collector. 6 to 7 out of 10.

Hey! Sumisu!!

M.O.N no Theme

Saikōsoku Fall in Love ****

Now we're talking!

From my least favorite CDs, to one of my absolute favorites. Much like the last one, this focuses on a group instead of an individual, and as you can tell by the cover, it's the main cast this time. This one was a lot of fun to listen you: from the full version of the show's opening, to a track where the girls are just having fun, it obvious that this is the more energetic release in comparison to the M.O.N. themed record. 10 out of 10 for sure!

Saikōsoku (Fall In Love)

Da-Da-Dash!

Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou Original Soundtrack ****

Out of all the Monster Musume CDs, this is by far the oddest & strangest. Unlike previous albums, there's no vocal work on any of the music (Apart from 2 tracks that were sung by the in-universe monster idol group ANM48). Instead, all of the songs are the tunes that are used in the various scenes of the show. It's really weird to here them outside of their respective moments, but not necessarily unwelcome. However, I felt that this was the cashgrab CD out of the bunch, which is slightly ironic given how I'll describe the next release. So on a fun factor, easily an 8 out of 10. On a more personal level, a 5 out of 10 because of the cashgrab vibe.

ANM48 (Everyday Kemomimi/Ebruidei Ke Mo Mi Mi)

ANM48 (I Wanted To Hunt You/Kari Takatta)

Soundtrack

Everyday Life With Monster Girls Best Album ****

Front Cover

Back Cover

Kinda like the last one, this is a pretty strange album. Unlike the last one, I don't think it's that much of a cashgrab, and I enjoy it way more. In fact, if you happen to be on a budget, this one might actually be worth purchasing! All of the music I looked at before this one, minus the background music of the previous CD, happens to be on here in this 2-CD set. The only tracks that aren't on here are the karaoke songs from the previous 8 release. In fact, there are actually 4 new songs recorded for this album. Once again we've got the M.O.N. girls singing for us, but this time around it's each character individually. All of the voice actor for M.O.N. once again do an incredible job in embodying their respective characters, and really bring out each of their little quirks. If you don't have much money, but still want some great music, then this is your best bet. 10 out of 10 for sure!


Manako (Aim)

Tio (Maiden's Mind Ogre Chick)

Zombina (Stand Up!)

Doppel (Saikōsoku Doppel-Chan)

So there you have it. My look at the Monster Musume CDs. I had a lot of fun listening & review these, and while I'm still missing 2 of theme physically, I’ll grab the both of them eventually. Until then, I hope you enjoyed this surprise post, but Proguary marches on!****




***
If you’re wondering how I got most of these (Except for 2 of these), look no further than Amazon! There are plenty of Japanese sellers when you can get these, but be warned as they can be expensive. Fortunately, they all cost about 12 to 15 each when I bought them (If I remember correctly). Someone on Facebook said they saw pricing start at 20 dollars, and went up to a whopping 80. The total order, however, was just over 100 dollars. Even with the Christmas money I had, I still had to pay close to 41 dollars out of my pocket! If I didn’t grab one other record, I definitely wouldn’t have to take as much money out of my wallet as I did.

****
Updated on January the 27th, 2018 (12:42 PM Eastern Standard Time)

Anime Review: Excel Saga

Proguary marches on, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

In past weeks, we took a look at old-school & new-school Progressive Metal, but now it’s time to examine an offering from the world of anime. Yes, even in the realm of anime, there is Prog. There are plenty of series that are downright odd, bizarre, and follow the beat of their own drum. Some have fallen off the face of the earth, but other series have managed to still stay around, and today’s show is one of them. I’ve known about this series for sometime, but it wasn’t until a few years ago on Christmas that I finally acquired it, and my brain still hasn’t fully recovered. So sit back, be sure to call the local asylum & have them on stand-by, and enjoy my look at Excel Saga. Let the review begin.

Story/Setup
Taken from Amazon:

“The only thing the demented and hyper active ACROSS special agent Excel wants to do is please her supreme lord and commander Ilpalazzo. This, of course, means taking over the entire world one small country at a time. Partnered with the chronically ill Hyatt and thwarted by an army of alien Puchus, the madcap adventures these two go on are random to the extreme. Filled to the brim with anime and pop-culture parodies galore, Excel Saga is the original sugar-high anime hit that doesn’t stop hitting you in the face.”

On the surface, Excel Saga is nothing more than pure, unadulterated chaos. In almost every scene in every episode, there is something insane going on. It might be a quick moment of hilarity, a character being hyperactive, or it could be reality buckling in on itself. At first a new viewer will probably be turned off by how zany everything is, and I can certainly understand. However, if one was to dig a little deeper when they’re watching, they would find something more. What is this thing? Pushing the boundaries of censorship.

The creator of the series (As well as the creator of the manga & it’s comic predecessor, Municipal Force Daitenzin), Koshi Rikudo, was always a man that liked pushing buttons. For anyone with even a remote understanding, you’ll know that Japan’s censorship can be ridiculous. Don’t believe me? Just go watch any hentai that’s not released in the US (Or some countries in South America, Asia, & Europe, and maybe Australia). One of the segments that made it’s way into the show was considered unsuitable for broadcast in Japan, but this was eventually reversed. Maybe it was because of this incident, but the studio that was making the series did everything they could to push the censorship laws with each & every episode. In fact, the 26th episode was so over-the-top, it was never aired, as was only available on the DVD release, but it was shown in other countries & territories. While it wasn’t political (As far as I know), anytime that anyone challenges censorship I always gotta admire it.

Animation
And here’s one of Excel Saga’s faults: the animation is not good, and it hasn’t aged well. The show came out in the late 90s/very early 2000s, where traditional animation was combining with new technology at the time, and the results were not always the best. To give Excel Saga credit, it wasn’t a horrendous sight for it’s time: it had some good looking characters, some interesting effects, and a zaniness that just seems to permeate everything. This zaniness has aged quite well, but everything else hasn’t. It looks old, and it looks dated, but the character models somehow have managed to weather the storm.

Voice Acting
Another fault that Excel Saga has is it’s voice acting. ADV Films always has fluctuating voice acting, with some shows having a great dub, and other.....well, we don’t talk about their dubbing. To Excel Saga’s credit, most of the voice acting has managed to hold up well. Much of the main cast still sound nice, as do a majority of the secondary characters. Really only a couple side characters haven’t weathered the ages, especially those that are trying to replicate an accent (There are a lot of secondary characters that have some kind of ethnic voice). While I don’t find them to be offensive, they are corny & cheesy. Then, there’s Excel......

Alright, 2 things about Excel’s voice:
1) Voice actors changed halfway through
2) Voice remains somewhat the same

In defense of the first point, it’s understandable. Halfway through the voice recording process, Jessica Calvello had damaged her voice (How, I don’t know), and her replacement came in the form of Larissa Walcott. Larissa put on an admirable performance, managing to capture & project the manic nature of Excel. My problem is that she doesn’t alter the voice enough. While Jessica & Larissa’s interpretation of the character aren’t 100% the same, but at the same time it can occasionally be confusing as to who is who.

Characters
Much like it’s story, the characters of Excel Saga are as chaotic as a hurricane. On the surface, they’re just pure dementia in some fashion. Underneath, there’s a little more than meets the eye. There’s something within each & every single character that’s related to the show’s goal of pushing the censorship. It might be subtle, or it could be very obvious, but something is definitely there. Excel, the titular character of the anime, is psychotic in almost everything she does, but towards the end of the show actually engages in some personal moments. Il Palazzo, the leader of ACROSS, is stable & controlling on the outside, but on the inside suffers from many psychological disorders (Dissociative Identity Disorder. in particular). These are just two examples of how the characters of Excel Saga are more than they appear. Remember: never judge a book by it’s cover!

The only real problem with the characters is your level of patience with them. A massive chunk of them can be annoying. Very annoying. The kind of annoying that’s like nails of a chalkboard on steroids. The kind of annoying that gets under your skin’s skin, etc. I was able to watch this whole show, and not really have fault with any of them (Apart from Excel, but even then it was minor, and mostly due to the change in voice). Those of you who aren’t fond of hyperactive characters will probably only be able to watch the whole series if they forces themselves to. Otherwise, you’ll most likely stop when you can’t take it anymore.

Availability & Pricing
Once again we find ourselves with a show that was originally a release from ADV Films, and as I’ve stated before on this blog, finding some of their titles is something of a challenge. If you’re looking for a complete collection of the ADV Films edition of Excel Saga, you’ll find it to be a challenge: there are a couple of used copies over on Amazon, but not that much. Pricing for them starts at a reasonable 21 dollars, and goes all the way up to a whopping 70! Your only other option for a used ADV Films collection is finding one at FYE, but even then it’s not a guarantee.

Your best option is to grab the Funimation re-release from 2011. Curiously enough, I didn’t find any on FYE’s website, although that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be able to find one in store. Over on Amazon, the pricing for a copy starts at anywhere from 28 to 29 dollars. A little high, but still relatively reasonable. Best Buy’s website still has it on it’s website, but it’s at a more expensive 35 dollars. That pricing won’t break the bank, but it is a small blow. If I had a guess, a copy found in store that would probably be a little less.

Overall Impression & Rating
Excel Saga is the kind of anime that just rots your brain. It’s the kind of show that’s just utter nonsense & chaos. It’s also the kind of show that somehow manages to make a point amid all the turmoil, and is clever despite the stupidity. To me, Excel Saga is the kind of anime you show someone in an effort to confuse them, make them think, or somehow do both. You might not be able to focus as you watch, but the entertainment factor more than makes up for it.

Excel Saga gets a 8 out of 10.

So that was my look at Excel Saga. One of the progiest anime every made, it’s odd, weird, and follows it’s own path without any disregard. It’s a shame that many modern shows don’t do this. I’ll see you next week, when I’ll suggest some Prog Metal albums that you should buy & listen to, and I’ll see you tomorrow for a bonus Valentine’s Day post that’s a little.....monstrous. See you tomorrow & next week!

Album Review: Devin Townsend's Transcendence

Welcome back to Proguary, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Last week we took a look at Queensrÿche’s inaugural Prog Metal output, Rage for Order. It was a great launching point for many metal bands that went for a walk on the Prog side, and those that stayed alongside these bands found great success. Time moved on, and while Progressive Metal might have been lowered down the totem poll, fans & bands still stayed devoted to the ways of Prog. Looks like it’s time to examine Devin Townsend once again.

Ah, Devin Townsend. I’m shocked that I haven’t covered this man in so long, with the last time during Kids Month back in 2015, covering the EP for his 1998 album Infinity. However, that was just the tip of one of the biggest prog icebergs out there in the metal ocean. There’s a literal treasure trove of music this man has crafted, and diving through to look for a specific record can be a challenge. However, I hinted in my last review that I’d be taking a look at his most recent release, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. So light some incense, open your mind, and enjoy my look at Transcendence. Let the review begin!

Background
Taken from Devin Townsend’s website:

“Seems funny in hindsight that in order to write an album about ‘getting over myself’ I felt the need to write yet another album about myself. Rarely has a covert (and often blatant) narcissism not played into my creative process, but hey… I’m hoping there’s at least a few points for self awareness awarded? Yay?

I guess an overriding theme lately has been that if you look hard enough into opposing sides of almost every argument and you see an element of truth. Nothing seems cut and dried, in religion, atheism, war on drugs, gun control etc there’s too many people with different bias and it’s all gone so far that there is no clear answers for anything. The result is a sort of stalemate and a lot of anger. I think that sort of played in the gestation of this album for me, trying to get through the paralysis and make some personal decisions that were right for me.

I had a dream recently about the discovery of two ‘ultimate particles’ …in this dream, they were linked, two variations of a similar thing (Coke and Pepsi, apples and oranges, dogs and cats etc…) yet through the discovery of these two particles, it was determined that anything was possible, time travel, space and dimensions folded, world tensions, everything… It was so simple and elegant and was there all along. It was like a paradigm shift that occurred on an event horizon of technology and spirit. It’s just a dream, but I liked that fantasy… Like turning two magnets set to the same polarity that for eons have been held together with force, the opposite way, so that not only was it obvious, but also complete as one. I like that thought in regards to any sort of argument with two sides, there’s elements of truth in each.

Transcendence was a project that started with a conscious intention on my part to step out of my comfort zone in order to progress. The music on this album (of which only a portion of what was written has shown up) was the best DTP style music I could do at this stage, and I think between my intention and the work of everyone involved in bringing it to life, it stands as a kind of archetype of what the DTP sound has been striving for IMO. Heavy, melodic, relatively simple, optimistic and modern sounding. Even if this style came to an end for me after this album, I think it would be a solid way to go out.”

Basic Description
Epicloud gone spiritual.

I’ll eventually talk about that album later on in the year, but let me give you the basics: loud, touching, sweeping, and operatic. As I listened to this album, I was immediately reminded of that album, and it almost felt like discovering Epicloud all over again (Also almost felt like discovering Devin Townsend again as well). Transcendence is like Epicloud, but at the same time it’s not: like he said above, Devin wanted to create a record that was nice & heavy, but he also wanted something that would charge the soul of the listener. He wanted Transcendence to be an album that would put out good vibes, bring people together, and try to make things better. I don’t think a single album has the power to change the world, but this one is simultaneously heavy & touching, and really tries to be uplifting. The word “uplifting” really isn’t associated with Heavy Metal very often, but when talking about Devin Townsend, it’s a situation where it’s allowed.

Best Track
I’ll be doing things a little different than before: there are essentially 3 different editions of this album, and as such, great tracks across each of them. Because of this, I’ll be going over each of them. Even giving the albums a “X out of 10” will be a little different, as I’ll give them all their own rating. Anyways, onto the tracks!

Picking something off of the basic was a challenge, but not an impossible one. For me the second starting track, Stormbending, is not only the best song of the album, but it also happens to be my favorite. An absolutely awe-inspiring track, Stormbending came from an interesting & humble memory of Devin Townsend, despite how grandiose it can be. As he states:

“One of my favorite songs on the album, this song is an ode to Vancouver and the rain there in some ways. I believe the name makes sense in that I think we always hold the power to choose how we view situations. To “bend the storm” to your will seems to take a type of strengths that can be mirrored in anything that pushes you past your breaking point. Perhaps its only when you’be gone that far do we realize what our true potential can be. I truly think it becomes very easy to lie to ourselves, to convince ourselves that anything our subconscious may quietly desire is really what we need. The whole exercise of digging past it all, deeper and deeper, as layers of subconscious motivations reveal themselves like an onion or a fractal, seems to hold a fair amount of creative juice. I think at the core of it all, it’s all beauty. A ‘void’ of pure potential, perhaps beyond the duality of dark and light, it’s simply energy

The end of this song is a sample from the Old Lady Divers song ‘Last Look’, from the fabulous album ‘Formula’.”

Stormbending

If one happens to come across the Deluxe Edition, you’re given an second cd of mind-altering music. Named “Holding Patters”, the disk is filled with demo tracks that weren’t appropriate or ready for the main album. The whole bonus cd is great, but Into The Sun caught my ear. A while back (2013 to be specific) Devin put a selection of sound bites on his Youtube page, and a snippit of Into The Sun was on it. I was immediately hooked, but was disappointed that I didn’t hear it on Z2 the following year. Then, upon discovering it on Transcendence, I was floored. Devin actually had some interesting things to say about it:

“Written the same week as Support The Cause but on a different system, this song kind of devolved over the years and in the beginning it was better than it ended up here. I think I just messed around with it too much past it’s expiration date and kind of lost touch with it. I like some of the lyrics though. We tried it in rehearsal but couldn’t find the right tempo and by massaging it, it just got a bit ‘proggy’ for my tastes, so I just present you with a kind of early version of it here.”

Into The Sun

If you happen to live in the land of the rising sun, Transcendence has something of a different form. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Japan has it’s own version of the Deluxe Edition, I won’t be talking about that, but instead I’ll speak about the 3 bonus tracks. While the first two aren’t anything special (More on this in a moment), it’s the 3rd bonus track, Wolves, that immediately hooked. While it’s not really over the top in terms of instrumentation & vocal works, it’s the atmosphere that really makes this song shine. You feel like you in deep woods as you listen to Wolves, wandering around old ruins from a bygone fantasy age. During one portion, I swear that I thought I heard a little bit of Skyrim-inspired sound. Maybe Devin’s a Skyrim fan?

Wolves

Worst Track
These’s so little to complain about Transcendence. Devin Townsend & company have crafted such an incredible album, it’s almost a crime! That being said, there are faults to be had, but they are minor ones. The first one is a return of the opening track Truth, which itself originally came from 1998s Infinity. Gone are the manic vibes that the original had, and instead HevyDevy & Co opted for a more operatic & atmospheric vision. I commend the craftsmanship that they put in, but in the end it changed the vibe so much it somewhat feels like a completely different song.

Truth (Transcendence Version)

This next part only applies to the Japanese edition of Transcendence, so those who don’t have this version need not read further unless you want to. The first 2 of the 3 bonus songs really don’t cut the mustard: Sophie’s Boobies is just over a minute of audio nonsense, and honestly comes across as a lost little audio blurb from his prior release, Z2. Young Gods, on the other hand, is a little more interesting. It’s barely a song, as it’s really nothing more than a spoken word piece with instrumentation, but the instrumentation provided creates for some interesting atmosphere. Take out the spoken word parts, and you actually have a nice instrumental track.

Sophie’s Boobies

Young Gods

Overall Impression & Rating
Transcendence is simply divine. Heavy Metal has always been full of surprised, and Devin Townsend may be the biggest surprise of all. He always managed to defy expectation, sometimes subtly, and other times it’s more obvious. Transcendence seems to hit that middle spot nicely, balancing heaviness & heart with incredible skill. Heavy instrumentation, flexible vocal work, and themes you wouldn’t expect to find in the world of metal. I can’t talk about this further, so go out, buy Transcendence, and enjoy!

Transcendence (Basic Edition) gets a 10 out of 10.

Transcendence (Deluxe Edition) gets a 15 out of 10. Don’t judge.....it’s that damn good!

Transcendence (Japanese Edition) gets a 9 out of 10.

So that was Transcendence. An ear widening & mind opening album, it’s solid proof that Prog is here to stay in 2016. I’ll see you all next week, when I’ll look at an anime that’s perfect for Proguary. Keep progging along everybody!

Anime Review: Trigun

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Proguary may have started yesterday, but even in such a strange festival such as this, it doesn’t hurt to take a break. Today happens to be my friend Alex’s birthday: last year, I did an overview on Nu Metal icons Korn as a gift, but this year I’m shaking things up. This time around, I think maybe an anime is in order. Since it’s a rather funky month with the theme of Prog, it’s only appropriate that I review a series that certainly has it’s fair share of oddities about it. So put on your sunscreen, grab your trusty sidearm, and get a look at my take on the action-packed Trigun. Let the review begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the Funimation package:

“Vash the Stampede is a wanted man with a habit of turning entire frontier towns into rubble. The price on his head is a fortune, and his path of destruction reaches across the arid wastelands of a desert planet. Unfortunately, most encounters with the spiky-haired gunslinger don’t end well for the bounty hunters who catch up with him; someone almost always gets hurt – and it’s never Vash. Oddly enough, for such an infamous fugitive, there’s no proof that he’s ever taken a life. In fact, he’s a pacifist with a doughnut obsession who’s more doofus than desperado. There’s a whole lot more to him than his reputation lets on – Vash the Stampede definitely ain’t your typical outlaw.”

Before I continue further, I should point out that the show was getting made right along side the manga, and as such didn’t fully match up to the anime’s story. So for the rest of this review I’ll strictly be talking about the show’s story exclusively.

As far as a story goes.....its good. It’s got a beginning, middle, end, everything seems to make sense (For the most part), etc. Characters show up, characters die, and things move on. Each episode is a chapter in the series, and they’re all connected in a fair manner. You’re probably asking yourself as you’re reading this: if I’m complementing the story so much, why am I not calling it great? Well....it’s because of what it does halfway through.

For about the first half of Trigun, we’re given a comedic action-packed spectacle almost on par with the original Die Hard. Characters (Apart from villains, and even then it’s not all of them) come across as lighthearted and far more optimistic. Then in the second half, it does the trope that I flat-out hate. The “You Don’t Need This Happiness Anymore” trope, and morphs into this morally-grey, almost bleak story. I’ve never really been a fan of morally-grey storytelling, as I always found it to be confusing & insulting to my intelligence. Very rarely are there morally-grey stories in anime I like, but even then there’s always something that irks me. In Trigun, at least for me, the shift in tone came almost out of nowhere, and in a way my enjoyment for the show decreased (But wasn’t removed).

Animation
You can tell right away that Trigun comes from the golden age of animation, despite the fact that it was a late 90s series. Everything is hand drawn from top to bottom, and a surprising amount of detail was put in every single scene & character in terms of looks & atmosphere. Computers were probably used to shape up some things, and maybe a hint of CGI was used somewhere, but Trigun came from a time where drawing & artistry are king. It’s aged shockingly good since it’s release in 1998, although at the same time you can tell when this show came out. Considering it’ll be 2 decades when it came out next year, time will tell if fans still like how Trigun looks.

Voice Acting
Trigun’s voice acting, much like the animation, has aged rather well. It’s aged well over the years, enough so that it’s never really been brought into question. Johnny Yong Bosch is perfect as Vash: he encapsulates all the humor, sincerity, kindness, and serious/grim that the character’s personality embodies. Dorothy Elias-Fahn is great as the level-headed Meryl Strife, and Lia Sargent is perfect as the more innocent-minded Milly Thompson. Then there’s Nicholas D. Wolfwood: voiced by Jeff Nimoy, he brings a weight to the character, blending a tough & grim past with a devoted/loving heart. The rest of the main cast does a damn fine job as well, but if I had one complain, it would be that 1-use characters don’t quite have the effort put into their roles. Give that they’re 1-use characters, it’s a little understandable.

Characters
Much like it’s story, Trigun’s cast of characters start out one way, and halfway through the series become something else. As with the story, it’s almost like it’s going “Yeah, you don’t need this anymore. You need something soul-crushing!” In a weird way, I’m not quite as frustrated, as enough of the character’s older personalities remain, and thus their character aren’t completely altered. They are, however, somewhat separated from their former selves, and I’ve never been that big a fan of that kind of storytelling.

Availability & Pricing
Ironically, the version I reviewed was the Geneon (Pioneer) edition, and it was my friend’s copy as well. Finding a copy of the complete series from Geneon, new or used, is something of a challenge. You might find it used at an FYE, or at some mom-and-pop store, maybe even at a swap meet at a con, but even then there’s a chance you won’t find it. Luckily, Funimation re-released the whole series a few years back: pricing for a new copy start at a little over 20 dollars on Amazon, which is pretty fantastic. Over at FYE, new copies of the Funimation edition are a bit more expensive, starting at nearly 40 dollars (Store members only pay just over 30). Best Buy is a little cheaper than FYE, staying at around 35 dollars. Amazon is definitely your best bet if you want to cut costs, but if you got money to spare, they FYE & Best Buy aren’t bad choices.

Overall Impression & Rating
Trigun, Trigun, you are a curious creature in my eyes. You have so much I enjoy, but you’ve got things I hate a problem. You are one of the most bipolar anime I’ve ever watched, and because of that I don’t know how to look at. Are you trying to be funny to make a buffer for the serious stuff, or are you a serious show that’s using the bright first-half as a way to pull people in & trick them? I’m completely baffled, and I’m not sure I have a solid answer because of this.

Trigun gets a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.

So that was my look at the iconic Trigun. I got an issue or two with the series, but none the less I can definitely see why it’s fans like it, and I found myself enjoying it as well. Perhaps I’ll buy a copy myself sometime this year? In any case, Proguary continues next week, when we look at a Prog Metal icon’s most modern offering. See you then!



***
Alex, I hope this suits your review taste. I know this isn’t an overview like you wanted, but I think you’ll like this all the same. Happy Birthday.....you deserve it!

Album Review: Queensrÿche's Rage for Order

 Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome.....to Proguary!

That’s right, all throughout the month of February, I’ll be devoted time to all things Progressive, or Prog for short. Easily the oddest & strangest of music subgenres, it’s unique stylings create for some artistic listening experiences. To start things out, it was only necessary that we look at one of the founders of the genre, but here’s the problem.....there’s too many to count! However, one band in particular has been bouncing around my skull, and they seem eager to get out. It’s time to take a look.....at Queensrÿche.

Ah yes, Queensrÿche. In recent years original singer Geoff Tate has definitely shot himself in the foot with his mouth & actions, but there was a time where he was an individual that could do no wrong. Especially in the 80s, Tate was providing the voice for one of the biggest Prog Metal acts to ever exist. As a launching point for this month’s theme, I thought it would be appropriate to check out a classic album from early on in their career. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my take on Rage for Order. Let the review begin!

Background
After the moderate success of The Warning, Queensrÿche had a little bit of clout withing the metal scene. Taking more of a Progressive route, the band employed a 2-guitar approach, and brought on a keyboard as well. Lyrically, the album was unusual as well, with it’s themes of social/personal, political and technological aspects, along with the dangers of artificial intelligence & government intrusion. Then after recording the album (The drums were recorded in a stone warehouse, and the guitars were recorded on two old Marshall's that were on the verge of exploding), Rage for Order was released on July the 14th, 1986.

Rage for Order achieved great success on the Billboard 200, gaining the number 47 position (In contrast, The Warning gained the number 61 position). Rage for Order was the first Queensrÿche album to feature the iconic Tri-Ryche album, as it would be used on all subsequent albums in some manner. In a strange turn, EMI-America insisted on Queensrÿche take on an image associated more with glam rock, glam metal or gothic metal, rather than Prog Metal. Because of this image issue, promo photos for Rage for Order and it’s album artwork depicted the band members wearing trench coats, heavy make-up and perms.

Basic Description
80s Prog gold.

Though Prog music first started in the late 60s & early 70s, it really wasn’t until the 80s when it got onto it’s feet, and when Queensrÿche (Along with 80s Prog Metal pioneers Dream Theater & Fates Warning) finally got a hold of it, something magical happened. The normally brutal Heavy Metal now had something new to work with. Something more artsy, something with a little more depth & flavor, and something that had access to a new source of sound. Queensrÿche really hit the jackpot, and would mine the Prog Metal mine for ages. Rage for Order was one of the first gems they found, and they would shape it into something incredible.

Best Track
I Dream In Infrared! While it’s only the 2nd track on Rage for Order, it’s a more than adequate gateway into one of the most progy of Progressive Metal albums from the 80s. Guitar work, bass, drum work, and keyboard are all nice & heavy, and Geoff Tate’s vocal work is superb, but it’s the Prog artistry at work that really makes this song special. Prog has always been a more artistic style of music, with it’s usage of keyboard & experimentation of sound, and it’s goal of being more cerebral that other metal subgenres. The end result is a song that leaves an impact that quite odd, but one in which you don’t mind.

I Dream In Infrared

Despite this, the whole album is fantastic. From top to bottom, Rage for Order takes it’s rightful place among the Progressive classics, metal or otherwise. It’s managed to hold up quite well since it’s release back in 1986, and fans of the record today still hold it in high regard.

Worst Track
If one wanted to be picky, you could theoretically argue that Rage for Order’s single fault is how
hokey the record sounds. Note: I said hokey, not dated. Rage for Order still manages to sound remarkably fresh in 2017, and it continues to age well. However, despite Prog Metal’s origins in the late 60s/early 70s, the genre was relatively young in the mid 80s. Due to this youth, Rage for Order’s Prog stylings come across as rather primal, and it might not be recognized as Progressive by some listeners.

Overall Impression & Rating
Rage for Order was born in the heart of the Progressive movement of the 80s, and while the band may have gone down different paths in recent years, Queensrÿche’s classic material still stays true to the roots of Prog. This was an album that could have only been created in the 1980s, when Progressive Metal was crawling out of it’s strange little corner of the metal world. Again, the album might be a little on the hokey side, but if you take the time to sit down and listen, then you’ll find that Rage for Order is an essential Prog Metal release!

Rage for Order gets a 10 out of 10. A Progressive Metal gem!

So this was a look at Queensrÿche, a Prog Metal icon from the 80s. Along with other prog icons, the band set out to be both heavy & innovative, and carved a path that not many others were able to follow.....for the most part. See you all next week, when a certain Canadian & his most recent offering will make themselves known. Until then, walk a little on the Prog side!