Eric3

Death, Rush, Carcass, and Helloween should have been on there. I know this is basically just a list of most popular metal songs that happen to also have a music video but c'mon, that's writing out a major chunk of the genre's history. Also, my days of arguing over what is metal and what is not are long behind me, but Evanescence??? Might as well include Linkin Park, Disturbed, and Nickelback, too...

The first song sounded like HoL until the guy started singing - great pipes but obviously not at all similar to James Christian. The second song is ADV by the numbers and I'm guessing was written long before this project was conceived. Probably gonna pass on this one.

I am whelmed. Not overwhelmed. Not underwhelmed. Just whelmed. The instrumental section is awesome but the rest of the song seems very ADV-ish. It doesn't sound much like Mecca's previous material aside from the lead vocals.

I can't tell if this is satire or not.

What do you mean, what do I mean? It's a great song lol.

Holy crap, is this impressive or what?

Official Eric3 verdict: This album sucks. It's just so boring. I admit to not being as familiar with this band's catalog as the rest of you but I can totally see where the comments about derivative, plodding songs come from. There are a few nice vocal melodies here and there but apart from a few songs (The Fire and The Rain, The Tidal Wave, Parabellum) there's just nothing that makes me want to listen again. It shares some qualities - both good and bad - with Here Be Monsters, but that one had several more songs that aren't instant skips.

There's only one song on here that I don't like and that's In The Name of Love. The rest is really solid stuff, great dynamics throughout and just rocks harder than anything since the debut album. This album is not as strong but it's comfortably ahead of everything released under this project since then.

I don't normally like live albums, but... Rush - Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984 Amorphis - Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes Dream Theater - Score Helloween - Live in Sao Paulo Metallica - Live in Seattle 1989 (not sure this counts or not) Anathema - Universal Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere

Pure magic.

First listen all the way through and yeah this is WAY better than the last two, maybe last three First Signal albums. I love how they brought back the grittier production of the debut, even though I'm pretty sure Dennis Ward isn't on the project this time. Better guitars, more imaginative percussion, and just ROCKS where the previous efforts plod. Looks like a diverse songwriting team, too. Jani Limatainen (Sonata Arctica, Cain's Offering) on this one.

I really like this one.

Didn't Joe Lynn Turner say something about this when explaining why he left Sunstorm? He didn't mention ADV specifically but he alluded to Frontiers turning the project into something different than what he had signed up for and getting little creative input.

First listen through on crappy work speakers and it appears this project has been Del Vecchio'd. Only a couple songs stood out to me but I'll listen with headphones later.

Pantera.

I wonder who wrote it?

3 for 3. Will we have an early favorite for album of the year?

Rapid Eye Movement and Anno Domini High Definition are two of my favorite prog metal albums. They haven't released anything as good since then IMO but I really dig their emphasis on creating jarring atmospheres. Also, Mariusz Duda is an incredible bassist. None of the samples from this album have held my attention but I've mostly been listening while at work. I'll have to sit down and pay closer attention.

This band has been absolutely on fire for the past decade-plus. Hard to find any weak points in their discography since Ironbound. They kind had a weak point in the late 90s (which classic thrash band didn't?) but the way they reinvented themselves since then has been awesome. Actually, that song kind of reminds me of their early 2000s material, at least during the breakdown in the middle. Bloodletting comes to mind immediately. I dig it!

For sure! My love for synthwave originally came from modern AOR, with artists like Magic Dance and LeBrock bridging the gap. Then I found The Midnight and Timecop1983 and it was all over. I think it also helped that I first started getting into it right before COVID hit...going down the rabbit hole of a new genre of music was one of the things that kept me sane early in the pandemic.

1. Rush - Power Windows 2-10. ? Too broad of a range

Josh Dally - I Love You. Perfect pop song. Has already become one of my most-played songs. Degreed - Turn Back Moonrunner83 - Like We Were Kids The Midnight - Heart Worth Breaking. Top 5 Midnight song IMO, too bad the rest of the album wasn't up to par. Generation Radio - All Night To Get There Futurecop! - Home Threshold - Defence Condition Ten - Immaculate Friends (Yes that's right!) State Champs - Half Empty Astronoid - Eyes

Which melodic rock/AOR albums can you listen to all the way through, over and over, and not be tempted to skip any song? My picks: Work of Art - Artwork Survivor - Vital Signs The Defiants - s/t Vega - Stereo Messiah Khymera - The Greatest Wonder Harem Scarem - s/t FM - Indiscreet Signal - Loud & Clear Bon Jovi - s/t Strangeways - Walk In The Fire

OK, I can't un-hear this. The high notes in the chorus stick out like a sore thumb. They're soooo...yelp-y. The song is otherwise one of the best in her catalog, but man, some of those notes are just out of range...

Two of my favorite synthwave artists but I didn't like what they did with the vocals on this one. IMO the tempo is far too slow.