The Top 6 Games of 2014 to 2019

 Welcome to September, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Normally with this month I talk about what are my highest viewed posts, as well as some other stuff I feel fits the moment. This year, I wanted to do something a bit different. Over the years on this blog, I’ve talked about what I considered to be the top 5 games, movies, and albums. To this day I still stand by what I selected, but in an effort to challenge myself I came up with an idea. What if I were to take the number 1 pick of each list from 2014 to 2019, and put them on a list of their own?

So that what I did! Over the course of this month, I’ve taken the number 1 game, movie, and album, and ordered them on a list. My opinion on some of these have changes over the years, while some of the others has more or less stayed put. To start things off, let’s talk about the number 1 games of 2014 to 2019. Where do they rank, and has anything changed? Let’s find out!

6) Hellgate: London (Trailer)

I confess in hindsight Hellgate was the number 1 game of 2018 due to sheer nostalgia. Though it was somewhat of a janky/buggy thing in 2007 & 2008, there was an odd charm to it at the same time. When I found out it came back nearly 2 years ago, I was genuinely surprised by it’s return. After watching some footage on Youtube, it seemed like things were fixed, and after a bit I bought it on Steam......that may have been a mistake.

If anything, it may have even been a more buggy experience than it was in 2007 & 2008! The gameplay was improved, thanks in part to it being the revised version used in multiplayer....but for whatever reason it just wouldn’t hold onto my saves! I was absolutely furious because of this, and yet that late 2000s nostalgia came back every time I played, and pretty hard if I’m being somewhat honest. So, due to said nostalgia it made my no. 1 on the 2018 list, but the jankness gets it to no. 6 here.

5) Resident Evil 2 Remake (Trailer)

I’ll be talking about Resident Evil a little later down the list, but I must say that as someone who’s not always a horror guy.......I genuinely loved Resident Evil 2!

I do admit there are some small things that keep me from putting this higher up: resources sometimes seem too scarce, sometimes you’re forced to use up resources, and while Mr. X definitely provides some scares & can be a great antagonist for the player, there are times where it seems all too convenient that he’s nearby. However, those nitpicks do not ruin what in my mind is a fantastic survival horror game. Not only that, but it helped restore some prestige to the Resident Evil franchise, and brought back some old-school fans who may have given up when things became too action-oriented. Definitely a game to check out!

4) Heroes Of The Storm (Trailer)

I feel pretty bad for Heroes of the Storm. Despite coming onto the scene towards the end of the MOBA craze, it managed to entice players with it’s quirky premise & more relaxed take on the genre. Pulling in heroes from across Blizzard’s various IPs (As well as 2 OCs), and creating some of the best battlefields to wage war on, HotS managed to get pretty popular. It even managed to have a big e-sports scene, and it seemed like all was right with the world. Then 2018 came, and things changed: e-sports scene was eviscerated, developers were moves to other games (Diablo: Immortal anybody?) and a skeleton crew is all that’s left, & due to the reduced team updates became significantly slowed. However, there’s still many players to this day, and getting into a game isn’t hard at all. Even with Heroes no longer being in Activision/Blizzard’s eye, it still manages to be a game that’s separated from the rest of the MOBA genre, and that’s a-okay in my book!

3) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Trailer)

Even more so than the RE2 remake, Resident Evil 7 is proof positive that Survival Horror is still a force to be reckoned with in the gaming world. Though the use of first person was seen as odd at first, it actually made the horror even more impactful. There was no over the top action, and there sure as hell were no horde of zombies or other mutated freaks. It was just you, 3 diseased rednecks, mold monsters, devious traps & puzzles, and most importantly......Survival Horror! You weren’t a walking tank like you were in RE5 & 6, but instead just a normal guy looking for his wife, and instead were plunged into a situation that was way beyond anything you’d ever imagine. Resident Evil 7 brought prestige back into the franchise, and it got a new fan in me.

2) Overwatch (Trailer) & Shadow Warrior 2 (Trailer) & Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour (Trailer)

2016 had a hell of a lot of great games, and when it came to number 1 I jam-packed it with 3 of the biggest release that yeah, & I still agree with it to this day. Each of these releases have shifted in gamers’s opinion: Overwatch didn’t evolve enough over it’s 4+ years of existence, SW2 didn’t have much added outside of 3 pieces of free DLC, and World Tour came out while Megaton Edition got taken off of Steam (Although people who bought it were allowed to keep it). Despite these shifts in opinion, I still get a lot of joy out of these 3 FPS titles. Overwatch was welcomed with open arms (Especially since it was the 1st original Blizzard game for over a decade) with it’s bright colors & unique characters. Shadow Warrior 2 continued the resurrection of a 90s classic, and World Tour was welcomed more strongly than DNF from 5 years prior. 2016 was indeed filled with great games.....but what ended up being number 1 in 2014 just barely passed these 3.

1) Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls (Trailer)

Let me say this right now.......Reaper of Souls saved Diablo 3. People who got into it in recent years may not know about the rough times back in 2012 & 2013, when things weren’t quite as well received. Legendaries weren’t always great, some skills & passives were more overpowered than others, difficulty spikes were scary, hacking was somewhat rampant (I got hacked at one point), some of the monster affixes were overpowered, and in general the game was a bit of a grind and not always fun to play. For a little bit it looked like D3 was going to be abandoned, but then Reaper of Souls came out in 2014....and things were going to be okay.

Reaper of Souls did some pretty significant stuff. It killed the often reviled Auction House, revamped items, skills, and affixes (As well as removing certain monster affixes), revised the difficulty system, added an alternative game mode, a brand new episode, and for anyone who weren’t fans of the more bright look/feel on the base game....the dark gothic tones of Diablo 1 & 2 came back with force. There was still an issue or two (Mainly the always online thing), and there was some further updates later on down the road (The Necromancer class pack as an example), Reaper of Souls was proof that game companies sometimes do care about the products they put out.....and the gamers that buy what they make.

And those were my top 6 games from 2014 to 2019. Definitely some top games from those years, and it was interesting to order them here. Join me in the middle of September, when I’ll take a look at the no. 1 movies of those years. See you then!

5 Power Metal Albums You Should Own (Version 2)

Welcome to the end of Power Metal Pandemonium’s return fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

I confess I kind of wanted this festival to continue throughout the rest of 2020. It’s a safe bet to say that this year.....has been a little shitty. Everything has been thrown into chaos thanks to the plague and incompetent politics, and the rest of 2020 is something I’m not looking forward to. That being said, I have to keep my chin up somehow, and this will definitely help a little. Like I did last year, I showed off 5 power metal records you should have in your collection, and this year is going to be no different. I tried to mix older albums with newer ones, and the end result is....intriguing to say the least. So, here are 5 more Power Metal Albums you should own. Enjoy!

1) Sinergy - Beware The Heavens (Song)Obscurity is often the biggest fault with some bands. Power Metal or otherwise, if you’re obscure you’re going to possibly stay there unless you do something big. Despite having quite the musical pedigree in terms of it’s musicians, it seems that Sinergy unfortunately would remain firmly in obscure/cult status. It’s a shame, as Beware The Heavens had a hell of a lot of promise behind. Like I said last month, the prototype of Battle Beast was front & center, what with it’s mix of Power Metal & 80s nostalgia. Goss’s vocal work adds to this as well, and while softer than Noora Louhimo at times, she knows how & when to bring out the war queen when she wants to. Like any good fantasy adventure, it’s the things off the beaten path that can help your journey, and when it comes to obscure metal........sometimes the less popular can surprise you.

2) Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (Song)

 

If it wasn’t for Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, I don’t think Power Metal wouldn’t have formed into what it is today. This album may not necessarily be a progenitor in terms of instrumentation & feels, but it’s the vocal work & storytelling that has the pre-Power Metal feel. Sure, Ronnie seems like he’s singing gibberish, but at the same time he’s crafting a fantastical vision of a fantasy world that seems intriguing. It’s a story that’s just enchanting, and as you listen to the album you won’t be able to get away from, and if you like old-school rock, you may find this to be something worth your time.

3) Beast In Black - From Hell With Love (Song)

It’s a crying shame that Battle Beast has fallen off the wagon in recent years. Their first three albums were the perfect mix of modern day Power Metal & 80s nostalgia (along with some geekery as well), and were well received. Bringer of Pain was a step backwards due to Anton Kabanen no longer being in the band, but there was still some potential to be had. Their most recent album however....was a bit of a betrayal thanks to the heavily commercial nature, and just the overall watering down of what made Battle Beast so good in the first place. Luckily, there was another beast that Anton unleashed, and they were Beast In Black! Perhaps even more Power Metal & nostalgia inducing than his original group, they immediately made an impact with their first album, Berserker. However, it was their second album that I think really gave them a reputation. From Hell With Love is everything that Battle Beast should still be: cheesy, powerful, emotional, badass, etc. Not only that, but it shows off the fact that Anton Kabanen really was the brain behind Battle Beast, and it shows on this album. If for whatever reason BiB’s first album wasn’t your thing, then this one definitely is!

4) U.D.O. - Mean Machine (Song)

A bit of an oddball choice, but here me out.

If you ever watched the Metal Evolution episode on Power Metal, you might recall Sam Dunn (The host & maker of the show) make mention of the legendary band Accept as one of the groups that helped create the blueprint for the style to form. While I can certainly see why some might call these German knights as predecessors, but I’m surprised to see that not many people say that U.D.O. were predecessors also. If anything, I think they have more of a Power Metal feel than Accept ever did. The band’s second record has all the trademarks of Power Metal: cheesy but emotional ballads, simple but awesome headbangers, instrumentation that’s equal parts heavy and uplifting, vocal work that’s easy to listen to, and a warm & fuzzy feel all around. Turning 30 years old last year, it’s obvious to see why it still has so many fans to this day. Definitely a classic you shouldn’t skip.

5) Everfrost - Blue Eyed Emotion (Song) & Everfrost - Winterider (Song)

Hey, it’s me talking about Everfrost again! No, I’m not getting tired of this band!

I confess that I was originally thinking of just putting Winterider here, but then I realized that I can’t. Both albums are damn good, and they’re huge surprises as well. Using anime and manga as a basis for a Power Metal band seems like a daunting task at first, but it’s shocking at just how well the three mediums mix together so easily. You can easily put songs from either album onto a show’s soundtrack, and it would somehow fit perfectly. Even taking their sources of inspiration out of the picture, it’s obvious that the band knows what the hell they’re doing. The guitars are fantastic. The drumwork is fantastic. The keyboarding is fantastic, and Mikael Salo is a big upgrade when compared to their original singer (Even though Hew Wagner has a hell of a set of vocal pipes). As I said last year, Everfrost was quite the surprise when I sat down & listened to them, and it’s that feeling I had that’ll keep me coming back for more.

And these were 5 more Power Metal albums you should own. Again, it’s an unintentionally weird list, but perhaps it’s that accidental weirdness that might convince you to seek one of these albums out. Well, we got the last 3rd of 2020 to get through, and September is just a few days away. See you then!


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If you’re curious about what was on my last list, then click on the link below:

5 Power Metal Albums You Should Own

Album Review: Alestorm's Curse Of The Crystal Coconut

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, we’ve may for an odd island. There’s palm trees all over, but the coconuts....they’re not normal. They’re.....crystal coconuts? What has befallen this place!? It’s almost as if.....a curse was placed upon this floating piece of land.

That’s right, we’re reviewing the latest entry in the saga of Alestorm’s journey through the Caribbean. Their last record, No Grave But The Sea, was a hit, but the band may have outdone themselves with this one. Released just a few months ago, it came out during a time where the plague that has seemingly engulfed the world, and provided it’s own odd ray of sunshine. It’s goofy, silly, weird, and just a hint of trollish fun. So, let’s depart this wicked place, and take a look at my review for Curse of the Crystal Coconut while we sail for the main land. Let’s begin!

Background
As the years went on for Alestorm, their musical craftsmanship improved from album to album. From Captain Morgan’s Revenge to No Grave But The Sea, there was a clear advancement and evolution of the band’s musical talent & taste. However, this crew of musical scallywags didn’t rest on their treasure chests and rum barrels, and so they decided to set out on another musical voyage. On the 8th of January, 2020, our boys from Scotland would reveal the name of their new adventure, and on the 29th of May within the same year, Curse Of The Crystal Coconut would be released to us cutthroats and drunkards in such a plagued time. The album was received very well across the board: while there were some that gave it a more neutral rating, the consciences seems to be that the album is a worthy addition to Alestorm’s musical treasure horde.

Basic Description
Lighthearted humor & fun trolling.

Like I said in the first review this month, Alestorm seemed to have a more serious stance at the start of their career, but as time passed the band opted to take a more humorous route with their music. No Grave But The Sea seemed to be the funny counterpart to Captain Morgan’s Revenge, but Curse of The Crystal Coconut has usurped that release. This is a genuinely funny album from beginning to end, and considering how awful 2020 has been, it almost seems needed. On top of that, the band goes down the troll path with this record, and while it might be a little too forward at times (More on that below), for the most part it’s the kind of trolling that’s not malicious, and has just as much fun with the listener as it does annoy the haters.

Best Track
Bit of a tie between the initial two singles off of the album, Treasure Chest Party Quest & Tortuga. The former is a delightful piece of Pirate Metal, but with lyrics that almost come across like a mix between pirate & rap elements, and even the instrumentation seems to reflect this to a certain degree. Tortuga, on the other hand, couldn’t even hide it’s influences if it wanted to! With a guest appearance by Captain Yarrface (Once again...that’s his name) from Rumahoy, the lyrics come across like typical Alestorm, but with an exceptionally rap-focused approach. Much like the previously mentioned tune, the instrumentation reflects this also, but there’s a more metal feel to them. The band chose wisely what the first two tracks for the public were, and dammit if they’re a lot of fun!

Treasure Chest Party Quest

Tortuga

Worst Track
As I said above, Curse of the Crystal Coconut has a lot of lighthearted trolling, and it’s pretty fun for the most part. That being said, there are points where maybe Alestorm is trying a touch too hard in the trolling department. Shit Boat (No Fans) for example tries maybe a little too hard to push buttons, and this mild tryhard vibe weighs the album down just a touch. Apart from that, nothing on here sucks in any way!

Shit Boat (No Fans)

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Curse of the Crystal Coconut

Overall Impression & Rating
Curse of the Crystal Coconut was an album we needed this year. With things going to hell in a handbasket, the world needed a couple of silly Scottish pirates and their equally silly exploits. It may come across as a little too troll-ish in a spot or two, but at the same time Alestorm knew that people needed something to laugh at, and they delivered said laughter. If you’re feeling down, why not try to pry a crystal coconut open? You’ll never know what you’ll find!

Curse of the Crystal Coconut gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was Curse of the Crystal Coconut! A considerably more silly affair than their first release, Alestorm genuinely show off their musical talent as well as their skill at humor. If they eased up on the trolling a sliver, then it might be a genuinely perfect release. Well, just like last time, we got one final post before the good times end. So join me at the end of the month, when I’ll talk about 5 more Power Metal albums that need to be in your collection. See you then!

Album Review: Alestorm's Captain Morgan's Revenge

Ahoy fellow Otaku & Metalheads! This month, we’re talking about Pirate Metal!

Sometimes, it’s not all about castles & princesses. Sometimes it’s all about rum, treasure, and the high seas! If I’m being honest, Pirate Metal isn’t fully birthed from Power Metal’s womb. It’s also taken inspiration from Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, and even Folk Metal. This combination of metal styles creates a singular flavor that’s pretty unique, and it’s easily recognizable to any fan of the subgenre. Though Running Wild is credited with being the progenitors of Pirate Metal, I wanted to take a look at a band that takes things in a more comical/lighthearted direction, and a group of scallywags from Perth easily fit this bill. So, get your sword & cutlass, down the strongest bottle of rum you can find, and enjoy my review of Alestorm’s first album, Captain Morgan’s Revenge. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“The band was founded in 2004 as Battleheart, a studio project by Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper. Originally intended as a standard power metal band, the success of song "Heavy Metal Pirates" convinced the band to permanently adopt a pirate theme and incorporate folk metal elements into their music. Gavin and Christopher recorded & released two independent demos in 2006, which were received well by the local metal community. The band began to perform live in 2006, with a lineup consisting of Bowes (vocals and keytar), Harper (guitars), Dani Evans (bass) and Doug Swierczek (drums). Doug Swierczek eventually left the band later that year and was replaced by Ian Wilson. After a period of inactivity, in late 2007 Battleheart sent their demos to Napalm Records, and the band was promptly offered a record deal.

After being signed by Napalm Records, the band changed their name from Battleheart to Alestorm. Their debut album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released in early 2008.”

Basic Description
Piratey goodness.

At first, people who are new to Alestorm might laugh at what they hear. Pirates? Really!? I would totally understand, and if I’m honest I sorta had the same reaction. However, as with my first time listening to Everfrost, Captain Morgan’s Revenge is shockingly deceptive. Sure, the usage of Pirates & nautical imagery may seem silly, but it does lead to some epic stories and music. There’s folk-like storytelling, Speed & Thrash-style instrumentation, and then there’s the upbeat nature that only Power Metal can provide. It all combines into a package that seems odd at first, but when you give it a chance it’s actually something worthwhile.

Best Track
It’s actually kinda hard to pick just one song as the best when the whole thing is fantastic. From beginning to end you’re treated to quite the epic piratey adventure, and even two of the songs are shorter than the rest, it’s still a beefy package. If I had to pick my favorite song, I’d probably go for the title track. The longest at nearly 7 minutes (6 minutes & 43 seconds to be exact), the tune shows off how upbeat and brutal the album is going to be. The whole thing plays out like a genuine sea shanty, but with plenty of metallic backing behind it’s running time, and you just can’t help but headbang with a bottle of rum by your side. Definitely a great way to show off what Alestorm was all about.

Captain Morgan’s Revenge

Worst Track
While every song on Captain Morgan’s Revenge is worth your time, I find that this record takes itself seriously. Maybe not massively or all the time, but there’s places where the band isn’t quite as comical. This is a bit of a surprise, considering how silly the band would be in recent years. I can’t knock them too much, as it’s their first album, and they’re getting their footing. Still, it’s weird that Alestorm take a more serious approach for their first release.....doesn’t ruin the music in any way though.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Captain Morgan’s Revenge

Overall Impression & Rating
Captain Morgan’s Revenge is a fun twist on the Power Metal formula. It may be a touch more serious at times, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun. If you want to journey through the Caribbean, and blast away at some redcoats, then you’ll want to put this on your ship’s stereo system (How your ship has one.....I don’t know). Your enemies will be walking the plank by the time this album is done!

Captain Morgan’s Revenge gets a 8 out of 10

And so begins the final month of the return of Power Metal Pandemonium, and we’re coming in with cannons blasting! Now that we’re on Alestorm’s ship, we’re off on quite the adventure! See you all towards the middle of the month, when we’ll land on an island that’s filled with.....coconuts? See you then!

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 17: Heavy Metal Is For Everyone

Hi fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

Last time I did one of these, I was pretty rage filled, and I confess in hindsight it seems rather ignorant. Luckily, this one isn’t any of that. This is a Food For Thought/Thought For Food that I’ve had in the back of my mind for quite a while, and it’s something I wanted to talk about. As cheesy as this sounds, I feel that it was time for me to speak about this given how the world is right now. Everybody needs a boost of positivity in their lives, and maybe this might do just that.

As pretty much anyone who knows me personally, you know that I am a die hard fan of Heavy Metal. Since the tender young age of 4, I have had the music of outcasts and oddballs in my life. At some of the worst times in my life, some of the loudest, bombastic, thunderous, and most emotional music I’ve ever listened to. Not a day goes by where I don’t have at least one song playing in my head, and I wake up & the first thing I see is my collection of music. Outside of a few pieces, each and every single album is Heavy Metal. Some of it is old, and some of it is new, but at the end of the day it’s all metal......and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

However, something has been bothering me ever since I’ve dived deeper into the heavy metal scene.....no, disturbing me is the more correct word to say. I’m genuinely disturbed to see so much elitism in this most underdog of music style. On the one hand, I wasn’t necessarily surprised. You can find elitism in all aspects of pop culture. Cosplay, movies, anime, music, etc. However, the elitism in the metal community at times can be nothing short of venomous and caustic. At times I confess I have a little elitist in me with some of my opinions, but I do the best I can to curb it whenever it crops up. However, I am not like the guys that look at metal through tight-fitting nostalgia goggles, claiming that everything past the 1980s is trash. I am not like the guys that look at older metal bands and laugh (I admit I do that sometimes, but not for spiteful reasons). I am not like the guys that bash Grunge and say it was the cause for the “Death” of classic metal, and I am most certainly not like the guys that don’t say some styles are not the “True” metal & if you listen to them you’re not a “True” fan. Even in these plague-ridden times, it is shocking that you can still see these opinions anywhere metal can be found.

Let me just say this: I get why some metalheads aren’t fans of more modern metal & more modern styles. It’s definitely different and not like what the classics are, but that what makes it so good! Sometimes, differences from each decade really make a difference, and in turn brings in new generations to enjoy this new material. Hell, it might even tempt them to see what came before, and headbang to that stuff too! Different times of metal, not to mention different styles of metal, is what makes it so special. It’s the uniqueness of each genre & subgenre that has allowed it to thrive for so long, and I’ll even stick my neck out for Nu Metal if the situation calls for it. In short, differences in metal are what unite metalheads more than divide!

As for those who think they know what the “True” metal is? You don’t know what the “True” metal is. You know what “Your” metal is, and that what you think the “True” metal is. You try to push “Your” metal on people, and in the process look like absolute ignorant buffoons. This can also be applied to the anime community or any other community as well, but I won’t get into that here. The point is that there’s no real “True” metal out there in the world. If there is any “True” metal in the world (Dare I say, in the universe), it’s the metal in our hearts. The metal that drives us. The metal that makes life worth living. The metal that speaks to our souls, and most importantly.......the metal that makes you......you! Never let anyone take that away from you.

In conclusion: Heavy Metal is for everyone. Doesn’t matter if you’re young. Doesn’t matter if you’re old. Doesn’t matter if you’re a man. Doesn’t matter if you’re a women. Doesn’t matter if you’re somewhere in between, and it sure as hell doesn’t matter what way you swing (Or don’t swing). Metal is for all of us, and Never take it away from anybody. As Freedom Call so eloquently puts it........

Metal Is For Everyone

And that concludes part 2 of the return of Power Metal Pandemonium. Again, I’ve been sitting on this for a while, and it seemed like a good time as any to finally say my piece. Thank you very much for taking time out of your day to read this, and again to everyone that doesn’t like it when I tag you in posts, I’m sorry. Join me in the 1st week of August, when we’ll take a trip on the high seas........with the dorkiest band of pirates you’ve ever seen!



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Here’s a rant I did in defense of Grunge last year. It’s rather.......angry:

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 14: In Defense Of Grunge (aka Grunge Didn't "Kill" Metal)

Album Review (Obscurus Metalus): Sinergy's Beware The Heavens

Hi again fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

It’s been over a year since I last opened the tome of the Obscurus Metalus, and told a tale from it’s eldritch pages. Coincidentally, the last time I did it was a Power Metal release, so why not do it again? Not wanting to do something from a popular band again, I decided to go for one that many might not know about, and it’s a shame, cause the band I’m covering today were definitely popular for a hot minute. It’s time.....for a look at Sinergy.

That’s right! Now, I had already taken a look at them in my overview in February last year, but now I’m taking a look at one album on it’s own merits. This beginning release definitely showed off a lot of the band’s potential, and for anyone that decided to listen to it.....it seemed like they could be something big. So, grab your sword & shield, say your prayers to the metal gods above, and enjoy this journey into the hallowed halls of Beware The Heavens. Let us depart!

Background
Taken from Metal Overview: Sinergy

“Our story begins in a joint world tour between Black Metal legends Dimmu Borgir, and Death Metal icons In Flames. DB keyboardist Kimberly Goss and IF guitarist Jesper Strömblad managed to meet, and the idea came up of a female-fronted metal band in the vein of Warlock & Doro. This idea could not be done at first due to time constraints, but once she quit Dimmu Borgir, it was time for her & her partner in crime to start their special project. Acquiring the services of bassist Sharlee D'Angelo (From Arch Enemy & Mercyful Fate), Ronny Milianowicz on drums, and Children of Bodom guitarist Alexi Laiho, the motley crew worked in 1998 on what would be their first release, and on June the 21st of 99, Beware The Heavens was released.”

Basic Description
Badass!

When I first listened to this album last year, I realized that this was something awesome, but at the sametime something lingered in the back of my head. Cue to earlier this month when I listened to it again, and I realized something.....this is Battle Beast! Well, more of a Battle Beast prototype to be honest. Sinergy isn’t quite as cheesy as the previously mentioned band, and Goss has a more softer feel with her voice sometimes, but the firm footing in both Power Metal & 80s nostalgia is highly evident. The drums are bombastic, the guitars spew lightning, and even the keyboarding all sound like they’re from 2 different timeframes.....but in a good way!

Best Track
As I stated last year, virtually every track is wonderful. Outside of just 2 tunes, there’s nothing bad on Beware The Heavens. However, to make things easy, I’ll mention the tracks I used as examples back in February last year. Venomous Vixens and Virtual Future are two great songs, with the former be a loud & furious track to kick ass to, and the latter sounds like typical Power Metal from the late 90s....but in way that doesn’t make it sound lame. You definitely don’t want to skip these two on subsequent listens!

Venomous Vixens

Virtual Future

Worst Track
Obscurity is the big weakness of this album, and by extension Sinergy’s discography as a whole. A lot of people know about Children of Bodom or In Flames, but they might not know about the band despite the musicians that composed the group. They’re all skilled in some way, and grouped together they’re fantastic, but it’s a shame that this collection of talent never brought a massive amount of attention to them. Still, other than this obscurity, I can’t think of anything else bad to say music wise (Apart from the 2 tracks I said were bad in the overview & mentioned earlier, but I didn’t want to repeat that). However......

Finding physical copies of Beware The Heavens is a huge issue! You can find it on the internet in digital form easily, but as far as it’s CD form it can be exceptionally difficult. Amazon & Ebay are the closest you’re every gonna get to finding Beware The Heavens in it’s physical form, but even then it’s not guaranteed. Ebay is a better option, and the pricing isn’t terrible for some copies. Still, it’s rarity definitely put’s a dent into this album’s otherwise impenetrable armor (Apart from the obscurity).

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Beware The Heavens

Overall Impression & Rating
Beware The Heavens is the start to a potentially long career. It’s obvious that Sinergy was devoted to Power Metal & nostalgia, and while they didn’t have massive attention, there was just enough that they had their foot in the door. It’s certainly something to listen to, and if you can somehow find the thing it worth a listen or two. It may be obscure & difficult to track, but it’s worth all of the time spent.

Beware The Heavens gets an 8 out of 10.

And that was Beware The Heavens. It’s a shame that they didn’t have a huge amount of popularity in the Power Metal community, but for the faithful that believed, the band was a diamond in the rough. If you want to go off the beaten path, then you might want to give Sinergy a go. Well, I got a Food For Thought/Thought For Food coming next week, and it’s one I’ve had planned for quite a while. Don’t worry.....it’s not political.



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If you want to know more about this band, check out my Overview in the link below:

Metal Overview: Sinergy

Album Review: Nightwish's Once

Hey ladies, it’s your time to shine again on the return of Power Metal Pandemonium!

In July of 2017, I gave that month two female fronted Power Metal bands, and 2020 is no exception. The metal subgenre was one of the first way for women to gain a huge foothold in the world of Heavy Metal in the 90s (Despite fronting some classic rock & metal bands from the 80s and before), and to this day many Power Metal bands have women in them in some capacity. Chief among them was Nightwish: since the late 90s they’ve patented their Power Metal/Symphonic Metal formula, and they’re still going strong today. They’ve had 3 female singers over the course of their existence, but I figured that it might be fun to look at the final album that Tarja Turunen ever sang on.  So grab you sword, put on a heavy cloak, and let’s take a look at my review for 2004's Once. Let’s begin.

Background
By the time it reached the mid 2000s, Nightwish had made quite the name for themselves. With 4 album beforehand made of their unique mix of Power & Symphonic metal, they gained plenty of success in their native Finland & beyond. It was this success that allowed the band to put out their 2004 record, Once. Released on the 4th of June, Once was the most expensive recording in Finland at the time, costing €250,000 to make, (1,000,000 including the videos). This would be the band’s most expensive album until their next one, which would cost €500,000. Deciding to pick an orchestra from outside their home country, they settled on the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which was probably one of the chief reasons why things were expensive. As of 2013, Once has sold 2.3 million copies worldwide, making it their most successful album to this date.

However, it would be the post period of Once that would be the most interesting. As stated on Wikipedia:

“The success of the album allowed them to perform the Once World Tour, taking them to play in many countries the band had never visited before. Nightwish performed at the opening ceremony of the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, held in Helsinki, highlighting the acclaim the band had gained. A "best of" album, Highest Hopes, was released in September 2005. The compilation also featured a live cover "High Hopes" (from the Pink Floyd album The Division Bell). Besides "High Hopes", a remake of "Sleeping Sun" (from Oceanborn) was included on the album and released as a single. A video for the remake was shot, featuring a medieval battle, and can be found on the German release of the single and as a separate DVD released by Spinefarm.

The four other members of Nightwish had decided that it was best to continue Nightwish without Turunen. After a concert in the Hartwall Areena (Helsinki) on October 21, 2005, recorded for the live DVD End of an Era (released June 2006), they expressed their decision through an open letter which was given to Turunen by Holopainen, and afterwards posted on the band's website. It was written by Holopainen and signed by all four band members. The main justification given in the letter for Turunen's dismissal was that the band felt that both her husband Marcelo Cabuli (an Argentine businessman) and commercial interests had changed her attitude towards the band.

Turunen responded to the incident twice, during press conferences in Finland and Germany, saying that her dismissal came entirely as a shock to her, given that she had not been notified before the letter was given to her. She felt that the personal attacks on her husband were unwarranted, and that playing the issue out in public was "senselessly cruel". She expressed these feelings through her own open letter, which was published on her personal website, and through various TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews.”

Basic Description
Symphonic Behemoth.

Though I have a tiny gripe with this (More on that below), I must say that Once is one of the most bombastic Symphonic Metal records ever released in the 2000s. Nightwish already established themselves well within the realm of Power Metal, but they had symphonic elements as well. With this album, they’ve effectively gone full-blown Symphonic Metal, and it’s wonderful. Tarja is at the top of her game when it comes to her voice, Tuomas plays the keyboard masterfully, Emppu Vuorinen earns the position of lead guitarist once again, Marco does a good job on the bass and has some fine singing moments as well, and Jukka Nevalainen handles the drums & percussion wonderfully. Coupled with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and many other symphonic components, the band created something wonderful that has lasted nearly 20 years, and hopefully for 20 more afterwards.

Best Track
Nemo has to be one of the best song Nightwish has every made. I knew about this track long before listening to the album it came from, so I confess some personal elements are guiding me to this decision. The opening piano notes lend a soft kind of melancholy before the guitar & drums kick in, yet nothing ever gets “loud” per se in terms of volume. A subtle yet obvious gentleness persists during the song’s run time, and even when things do get “loud” at the end, it never goes away. Certainly a curious song you shouldn’t skip when this album is in your preferred listening device!

Nemo

Worst Track
About the only thing that I can say bad about Once would be the lack of Power Metal elements. There are still around here and there, but the symphonic aspects are much more forward here than on any other release before. This isn’t bad per se, but for any fan who enjoy an even mix between the powerful and the symphonic, you might not like the shift in metallic styles. I don’t have a problem with this since I listen to some Symphonic Metal from time to time (Apocalyptica mostly), but I do think it hurts the record a little.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Once

Overall Impression & Rating
Once is the end of the classic Nightwish. The album on which the band’s original outfit of musicians etched their name into the marble wall that is Power Metal. It may lean more in the direction of Symphonic, but that doesn’t make the album any less enjoyable. If you like Symphonic Metal more than Power Metal, then Once might be the album to start at. I guarantee you’ll never forget it.

Once gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was Once. The final time that Tarja Turunen got to sing with the band, and it’s a hell of an album to go out on. It may not be as Power Metal-y as Nightwish’s prior outfits were, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be included in such. See you all next time for more femininity with the world of Power Metal, and I got something nice for when you come back!