The new Overkill album rawks and they’ve been at it a long time.
The thing about Stargazer is that is combines classical Metal lyrics, with Ronnie James Dio’s operatic voice, and an actual orchestra flourish at the end. Pure evil genius in one package.
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+1 for Paul Di’Anno era Maiden.
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“Meantime” by Helmet. Just cuz.
I wouldn’t blame her/him, I recall one of those syndicated heavy metal radio shows having Dio on and asking him about filling Ozzy’s shoes in Black Sabbath to which he replied something to the effect that Ozzy was barefoot. I liked Dio, but once in a while he’d show an unfortunate trash talking side.
Re: metal or not: I also recall one of those syndicated shows where Ozzy listed his top 10 I forget influential or favorite metal songs, and Edgar Winter Group’s Frankenstein was near the top. In fact, it was in a lot of guests’ top 10 lists. Nowadays no one would call that metal, despite its monster pounding riff.
Conveniently, enabling the flash plugin on some random site is now slightly transgressive and potentially indicative of nihilistic risk-seeking; so it’s now extra appropriate.
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You know what’s weird?
I had never heard Robin Trower before, but when I listened to this album I immediately recognized how important his work was, like Les Paul’s jazz and sound experimention. I’m mean, sure, I had heard of Procol Harum, but I always wrote them off as a “poor-man’s Moody Blues.”
It’s the weirdest feeling, like something just clicked inside. Trower’s work is really strong and recognizable, and yet he’s a truly humble man. His influence has been so diffuse that other people have simply picked it up and run with it. I realized that he is truly under-rated and yet is arguably the link between Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd.
You can hear his direct influence on Cream and Santana’s early stuff (although Hendrix was definitely in the mix). I feel like David Gilmore was parodying Trower when Floyd wrote the song “Young Lust.” Now that the blues-influenced power fifth note that Trower uses in “Bridge of Sighs” is such a primary influence, Gilmore is stuck with it and it’s not even his.
I started listening to Trower’s back catalog. I am especially impressed with his recent work that he’s done as 70+ year old guitarist. I liked his covers in his album “Roots and Branches.”
TL;DR I have become a fan of Robin Trower because of this video link. And strangely enough, I feel like I’ve been a fan most of my life and didn’t even know it.
Thank you.
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Sounds metal to me.
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I didn’t quite have the reaction you did, but it was definitely along the lines of “how come I’ve never heard this before!?”
No, thank you.
Maybe you are thinking of Babymetal? Hard to believe but this is really a thing.
I’ve spoken of my great enthusiasm for Babymetal before but in this case I mean bands like Mary’s Blood, Disqualia, Rie AKA Suzaku, DOLL$BOXX, Band Maid, Aldious, The Lovebites and some others. “Girls Metal” seems to be a semi new term here in Japan for these all female metal bands.
Ooh, can you give some suggestions? I’ve heard some Japanese girls metal and…eh…some of it is pretty good, some of it seems off. EDIT: I see you mentioned several in a previous comment, oopsies. Aldious. Their drummer is Marina Bozzio, stepdaugher of Terry Bozzio, drummer for Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.
I don’t know why, but in the last several years, I’ve gotten into a bunch of the groups that have spun off of/come into existence after Nightwish. They’re not strictly metal bands, but they definitely have a metal smell to them (on second thought, “metal smell” sounds gross, doesn’t it?)
Here’s a couple of pre-Nightwish Floor Jansen videos…
As an aside, if anyone can stand to be in the armpit of the Midwest, Ozzy is doing a show during the total eclipse. I live way too close to it and will therefore be able to hear it, unless I bug out of the area. (I get to call it the armpit, since it’s close to the Gathering of the Juggalos venue where Tia Tequila got stabbed, and the one Charlie Sheen went to when he was WINNING.) I won’t buzz market it beyond that; I’m not hyper-enthused about my winery neighbors.
Besides the ones I named? Those are the ones that I’ve got CDs of so thats what I know. Of those, most have stuff on youtube so see which fits your tastes. Be forewarned that probably none of them will “look metal”. The visual aesthetics of Girls Metal do not match Western expectations.
I’m saving any further thoughts I might have for a post which I may or may not write up as above.
I actually really like Aldious.
EDIT: You mentioned Band-Maid…
Man, good for Rob. I’ve never gotten to see them live but have seen the live concert videos…I get wore out just watching them do their routine. And the backing band is freakin’ awesome.
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Aldious are good, Band Maid are very good, Mary’s Blood are great. All that IMNSHO of course. I saw The Lovebites live at Tower Records in Shibuya recently. Good stuff there too. Seeing young women in pretty white dresses with fancy hair and makeup rock as hard as Slayer for 40 minutes straight was different for sure. They lacked some stage energy (the two guitarists just stayed glued in place on opposite sides of the stage but the bass player was mobile and headbanging (again in her pretty white dress & matching shoes)) but they are a very new band so they can improve there. Going to try and see Band Maid soon. My wife pointed out that their visuals owe more to the Gothic Lolita thing than anything else. FYI their website has a link to their webshop which is English friendly.
Love the bass in this one!
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I got all excited seeing an announcement for a set of Babymetal shows in July but then looking at the way they are setup, I passed. Day one is women only, day 2 is men only, day 3 is kids with grandparents. No way me and the wife can go together so I gave up.
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That was most excellent. Kinda puts me in mind of Extreme a bit, but catchy as hell. I am not sure what “breakin’ new gate” means, but what the hell. “You ain’t seen nuthin’ till you’re down on the muffin” isn’t exactly Oscar Wilde either.
I’d love to check this band out live, but I am made uncomfortable by the “gothic Lolita” aesthetic. If they were in jeans and t-shirts (or even Lycra and Spandex) I wouldn’t feel quite so much like I’m expected to be a pervy old man for liking them.
Whatever. That’s my problem, not theirs. I just like the music.
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