Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > L Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > Pop Metal > Cleopatra

Advantages: Beautiful, haunting, clever lyrics
Disadvantages: Not for everyone

I came across Nightwish when I was in Finland and they destroyed my assumptions about Metal music. Their CDs are firmly in the metal section of the shops, but they have strong melodies and some beautiful and thought-provoking lyrics. Though the beat of the music is strong, it doesn't drown out the vocals. Indeed, many of their songs include sections of incredibly moving poetry, spoken while the takes on a softer tone. They are a Finnish band, but ...
...for me at least, a huge plus point. I think vocals are the key point to a song and I like to be able to understand what I'm listening to. The words are beautiful and often clever, and all the more to be praised given that these people speak English as a second or third language. This CD was the first Nightwish CD I bought and it inspired me to go out and buy a handful more. ~~~ Tracks ~~~ 1. Stargazers 2. Gethsemane 3. Devil and the Deep Dark ... Read review

Advantages: Songs that imprint themselves on your brain!
Disadvantages: None

...is fantastic!!! Downloaded the Glamour of the Kill album after encountering the guys at this year's Download Fesitval where they played mainstage (but were still keen to personally hand out their own promotional flyers!). Since it's been uploaded onto my mp3 player, I swear it has not been out of the car - perfect wake-up music if you like it loud! - and seems to be on a continual loop! I find myself humming the riffs at abscure moments throughout ...
...album! What you get for your money is a brief intro before launching into 5 tracks of pure addiction. The stand out track for me is 'Rise from your Grave', but all the tracks on this first offering are fantastic. In a similar vain to Bullet for my Valentine, you will not be disappointed with this first submission from a great band! Buy it, and play it as loud as you can! ... Read review

Advantages: Some accomplished bits.
Disadvantages: Screaming and samey drum beats.

In Flames - Come Clarity Yet another of my 14 year old (next months) son's offerings which he insists 'You must listen to this dad'. This is by no means my longest review as I am not going to 'fill' when I have not much to say. Wikipedia tell me that these are a Swedish melodic death metal band.....not a good start, however, being am open minded dad I thought I should give them a a go. Though I do fail to see how Death Metal can be melodic, ho, ...
...5. Scream 6. Come Clarity 7. Vacuum 8. Pacing Death's Trail 9. Crawl Through Knives 10. Versus Terminus 11. Our Infinite Struggle 12. Vanishing Light 13. Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone I am not going to review every track as I have to say they are all quite similar. They are fast, drum based songs with some pretty fast and accomplished guitar work, both lead and bass. The vocals go from screaming to well, screaming. The intro drum work on ... Read review

Advantages: Song structure is strong, the album is always excellent to listen to.
Disadvantages: The music is not hugely original.

...through Burning Heart Records/Epitaph, 'The Absinthe Dreams' is the second studio album from the Swedish metalcore band that is Path Of No Return. The album consists of eleven tracks and clocks in at just over 42 minutes in length; it's a pretty decent album and although not perfect, Path Of No Return is most definitely a band that is good at what it does. Path Of No Return sets out to attempt nothing new here, 'The Absinthe Dreams' would not win ...
...Title track 'The Absinthe Dreams' is most definitely one of my absolute favourites from this album, it's instrumental to begin with and then at about a minute in the music really begins to explode. There's the light sound of drumming, a pleasant underlying bass sound, and slight guitar stroke also; at the 45 second mark the vocals begin to roll and build in power as they charge through the track. There are a couple of instrumental sections utilised ... Read review

Advantages: Great classic tunes
Disadvantages: The extra live versions weren't needed

Who doesn't love a bit of early '90's hair metal - you just can beat it!! If you love your guitar riffs and heartfelt power ballards, give Skid Row a listen! From the opening classic drumming of Youth Gone Wild, this album is one fantastic song after another. 18 & Life and I Remember You should be up there with the greatest metal ballards of the '90's. This takes songs from their two albums, plus a smattering of extras from over the years, together ... Read review