Domingo 11 Jul 2010, 15h:30
This is part II of the fanastic bands and artist list I've created. Yo-ho!
Sabaton
Genre (s): Heavy Metal, Power Metal
http://szubrycht.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/sabaton.jpg
Sabaton is a six-piece band from sweden with the power of metal in one hand and the force of history in the other. They usually have historical themed songs, and especially from the second world war or other wars. They show the lyrics in a very personal point of view, but they also teach their fans something about epic battles, warfare and war history with their fenomenal insight.
The music is bombastic, loud, powerful and some cliche-laden, but loveable. Enormous band and incredeble music!
Recommended albums for a starter: Primo Victoria (2003), The Art of War (2008), Coat of Arms (2010)
Seventh Wonder
Genre (s): Progressive Metal, Progressive Power Metal
http://www.nightmarerecords.com/NMR/images/stories/Seventh_Wonder_Promo_Pic.jpg
Seventh Wonder, also swedish band, but in the more progressive league. With significant musicians, an insane vocalist and an incredeble ability to write great concept albums and lyrics, this band is a part of a growing progressive scene in Scandinavia. Their ability to add own feelings and emotions into the music is unique, and their music is dreamy, hard edged, powerful and atmospheric.
Recommended albums for a starter: Waiting in the Wings (2006), Mercy Falls (2008)
Ensiferum
Genre (s): Folk Metal, Viking Metal, Pagan Metal, Epic Metal
http://shagrath.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/ensiferum.jpg
This epic, heroic folk metal band is Finlands finest, and have over the past few years grown to be one of the most successfull acts in the folk metal genre. Even thought the music had a little more folkish and mysterious touch when Jari Maenpää was still in the band, they still are a great band, and they continue to make their fantastic brand of epic folk metal.
Recommended albums for a starter: Iron (2004), From Afar (2009)
Jorn, Allen-Lande, everything icluding Jørn Lande
Genre (s): Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Classic Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, Power metal
http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/pic/Jorn_01/$file/Jorn_01.jpg
Jørn Lande is the finest lead singer from Norway, and his bands up over the years include Masterplan (he returned in 2009), Beyond Twilight, Ark, Vagabond, Jorn and also Allen-Lande. He's a singer in the old school metal league with influences like David Coverdale, Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan. His music is powerful and so is his voice! This is what makes me proud to be a Norwegian!
Recommended albums for a starter: Out to every nation (2003), The Duke (2004), Spirit Black (2009). Masterplan: Masterplan (2004), Time to be King (2010)
Wintersun
Genre (s): Progressive metal, Extreme metal, Folk Metal, Epic Metal, Melodic black metal
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/6551825/Wintersun+Jari_Maenpaa.jpg
Wintersun is the lovechild of multi-instrumentalist Jari Maenpäa, who left Ensiferum in 2004 to start his own project. Wintersun is hard to put a label on, but the genres included is progressive metal, folk metal, speed metal, power metal, melodic metal, black metal and so on. It's a great hybrid of the best metal can offer, and the music is majestic, extreme, powerful, atmospheric and very beautiful. Can't wait for the new album!
Only one album: Wintersun (2004)
Helloween
Genre (s): Power Metal, Speed Metal
http://meblogando.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/helloween1.jpg
Once led by Kai Hansen, Helloween was the first original power metal band back in the 80's and they are credited for creating the first "happy" metal in the heavy metal scene. During the years they changed lineup several times, and former vocalist legend Michael Kiske was replaced by Andi Deris. Although the fans are divided, I think both vocalists + Kai Hansen on the first record are great. They have always variated their style, added new sounds and never taken themselves too seriously. A band with much humour, power, self-esteem and a lot of kickass riffs!
Recommended albums for a starter: Keeper of the Seven Keys part II (1988), Master of the Rings (1994), Keeper of the seven Keys: The Legacy (2006)
Gamma Ray
Genre (s): Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal
http://www.elsercho.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/gamma-ray.jpg
Gamma Ray is the power metal band legend Kai Hansen started after his departure from Helloween in 1989. He continued with is sharp, speedy and melodic style of power metal with Ralph Scheepers on the vocals, but he took over the vocals himself in 1994. Cliche-laden but very powerful and bombastic power metal with a lot of kickass riffs, virtous guitar solos from Kai himself and screaming vocals! One of the greatest german bands to have ever lived!
Recommended albums for a starter: Land of the Free (1995), Power Plant (1999), No World Order (2001)
Alice Cooper
Genre (s): Hard Rock, Shock Rock, Heavy Metal, Garage Rock, Industrial Metal
http://api.ning.com/files/Qbfz68KQQF9F-5fisrEPQ30BuFO31F1FK9Okk*1qYCMWIw7-G1ftUg9RX-WH6nwk3wBSDfkj8UECPtwyuAc26fM2sPefpdBf/alicecooper.jpg
Alice Cooper, or Vincent Furnier, is the god of Shock Rock, and his experimenting with the rock music both theatrically and musically is known to all the rock world. He inspired many subgenres of rock, including heavy metal, punk and garage. His theatrical horror image is his legacy, and over the years he has kept a cliche-laden heavy metal attitude and his music is full of rock n roll influences back from the 50's and up to industrial metal from the 90's. He even incorporated elements from new wave, synth pop and art rock on his work in the 80's. The music, the shows, the attitude, it's all made by a genius rock mastermind, and he will always be remembered as a hard rock legend!
Recommended albums for starters: Schools Out (1972), Thrash (1989), Hey Stoopid (1991)
Circus Maximus
Genre (s): Progressive Metal
http://allmetalresource.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/circusmaximusband.jpg
A part of the scandinavian prog metal scene, Circus Maximus is one of the most known Norwegian melodic metal bands and their powerful music is as breathtaking as their musical skills. Specially the vocals are extremely great, and their music is original, brilliant and beautiful. And their ballads are pure awesomeness!
Two albums to recommend: The 1st Chapter (2005), Isolate (2007)
Pagan's Mind
Genre (s): Progressive Metal, Progressive Power Metal
http://photo.sing365.com/music/picture.nsf/Pagan%27s-Mind-photo/BF9B7FC6648F970648256D04001F1B14/$file/pagans.jpg
One more norwegian prog band. With the best metal guitarist in Norway, Jørn Viggo Lofstad, and the most charismatic singer, Nils K Rue, this band makes progressive metal with spaced atmosphere, lyrics about space, time and mythology and their music is full of aggression, beauty and finesse.
Recommended albums for a starter: Celestrial Entrance (2002), Enigmatic: Calling (2004)