Favorite Metal Artists

Metal Genre Nb. Rated Avg. rating 1 Heavy Metal 11 3.00 2 Progressive Metal 6 2.92 3 NWoBHM 4 4.25 4 Neoclassical metal 3 2.33 5 Non-Metal 2 4.25 6 Symphonic Metal 2 2.50 7 Metal Related 1 2.00 8 Alternative Metal 1 4.00 9 Hard Rock 1 4.00 10 Heavy Alternative Rock 1 4.00

Latest Albums Reviews

IRON MAIDEN The X Factor

Album · 1995 · Heavy Metal

The X Factor is an album which definitely deserved and deserves better. Obviously, many people reject this album because Bruce Dickinson is not here and Blaze did not rise to the high expectations that people have with Iron Maiden. Blaze has a different style and lacks the vocal range that Dickinson has; and the problem of the Bailey era Iron Maiden is that Harris & co did not use Blaze properly. He sounds like a guest vocalist than the band member he was supposed to be.

The good thing about this album lies in the fact that it's different, most of the songs are mid paced, a bit repetitive at times, but they do have a nice atmosphere (like the epic Sign of the Cross, Judgement of Heaven and Blood on the World's Hands, Unbeliever just to name a few).

Harris's bass playing is great, some nice intros; Murray and Jers complete each other nicely and cleverly, there are some nice riffs and guitar leads. Blaze did a good job believe it or not and last but not least, Nicko did some nice drumming. The album's got some competent songwriting and definitely good musicianship.

Overall, this is a good album, it was a successful attempt to survive after losing Bruce Dickinson; he is surely missed here, I too sometimes wonder how this album could have sounded if Bruce had sung on it (and I have listened to live versions of Sign of the Cross and Lord of the Flies).

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IRON MAIDEN Virtual XI

Album · 1998 · Heavy Metal

Iron Maiden's second album featuring Blaze Bayley on vocals is less inspired than the first one. Unfortunately. The problem is that Harris &co did not use Blaze properly again; he still seems to be the guest vocalist, not the full member that he was supposed to be.

I used to be more tolerant towards this album some years ago, but I dislike this album these days. To me, it's Iron Maiden's weakest effort. The songs are uninspired and repetitive and drag on for too long. The only decent songs are the opener Futureal (short and straight forward, to the point, I wish they tried making more songs like that) and The Clansman (a bit repetitive, but it's got a nice atmosphere). The other two longer songs are simply dreadful, especially the Angel and the Gambler. Had this song been shorter, it could have worked much better, but the repetition is annoying, simply pointless (at least I don't see it). Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger is less annoying, but goes on for too long as well and it got boring with repeated listens.

The songs sound rushed, like doing a sloppy job just to meet a deadline; did they make this album just for contractual reasons because the musicians sound like they did not have their hearts into it.

My first one star review; frustratingly poor and uninspired.

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EUROPE Secret Society

Album · 2006 · Hard Rock

Europe's Secret Society 2006 album is one of the most pleasant musical surprises I've ever experienced. I was pleased to see them come back (two years earlier, 2004)with Start from the Dark; the talented guitarist John Norum is back and his collaboration with vocalist Joey Tempest sounds better than ever. In fact I think the friendship that unites these five musicians is what helps them cooperate so well together.

So what can one expect from the new (and improved, I dare say) Europe? Heavier yet catchy riffs, blazing solos, soulful and expressive vocals, well written and more serious lyrics than before, a powerful rhythm section and nice keyboards atmosphere (and rare solos).

I know this is a subjective point of view but I've rarely been this excited about a comeback (of a band people often like to mock, well listen to this and see who's laughing now); the way I see it, there aren't any weak songs on this album, but I'll mention a few songs that really stand out: the title track, Let the Children Play, Wish I Could Believe, Brave and Beautiful Soul, Devil Sings the Blues.

I warmly recommend this album for anyone who enjoys the hard rock/glam metal genre, listen to this with an open mind, you might be pleasantly surprised.

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Latest Forum Topic Posts

• Posted more than 2 years ago in A name for "progressive metal punk?"
  [QUOTE=LightningRider][QUOTE=LittleBig]Subjective?! I only explained what a couple of music genres mean, which should be common knowledge. You talk about objectivity and then come up with your own genre name. That makes a lot of sense. My attitude?! Didn't you just tell me I was wasting your time?! Childish insults? What childish insults?! Whining? How? I was just trying to make sense of this thread and seeing there isn't one, I'll leave you be... [/QUOTE] A: Your behavior is practically demanding that I believe it doesn't exist.  There is clear anger in your posts, so don't deny it.B: I made it clear that I didn't expect the genre term to kick off, obviously because I know I can't control people.  It's one list.  It's not the Ten Commandments.  There's no objectivity, it's just for fun.  There's plenty of sense in that which, if you calmed down, you'd be able to see.  In fact, it's so obvious that it indicates the possibility that you're simply not understanding the posts yourself, which is your own fault.  It's not proof, but it is cause for suspicion.C-E: This goes back to your attitude.  You think I like having my opinions called "nonsense?"  That's the kind of thing one says when there annoyed.  It's MUSIC.  There are people all over the internet who agree and disagree and you don't see me calling it nonsense and you never will.  It's rude.  This thread is not for debating the existence of the genre, and once again I don't need you to agree (which goes back to how you're wrong when you say I'm including objectivity in point B).  I created this thread expecting a debate on the genre's existence to happen.  But you're one guy that I barely know.  You don't have to agree with me, I don't have to agree with you.F: You didn't want sense.  You came here to argue.  If I'm wrong about that and you really do want a better description of metalcore, go to Wikipedia.AND ONE MORE THING: I'm barely getting one new post a day.  I didn't start this thread for a big distraction.  You're a member of the community too, so you should think about this, and with everyone stuck at home because of the pandemic, sometimes the forums are our way of communication with the outside world.  You are fully capable of understanding all of this, and it's a shame that you don't realize that I want a question answered and that it's more important than whether or not the genre exists.  I was nice enough to answer your question anyway, and you just said "there's nothing punk about them" as if you could deicde that.  If you had said, "I don't see anything punk about them" and answered with an option for a title or two, that would be different. [/QUOTE] " You don't have to agree with me, I don't have to agree with you." - The only thing you stated that I agree to. I don't need to go to wikipedia for genre definitions. For the genres mentioned here I do not need to, I have lsitened to metalcore, progressive metalcore, even deathcore (which I do not like) just to see what's it all about. Wikipedia is not even the good resource for genre definitions, but that's a different story. How can any kind of conversation can be had when we don't agree on what genres are, like I said - common knowledge. I never come up with genres names, it will only confuse people. So a term like "progressive metal-punk makes little sense, especially since it's an oxymoron. Two genres impossible to join together. I've heard plenty of progressive metal, extreme progressive metal (progressive death, progressive black, technical thrash), but I don't see how progressive metal could ever be mixed with punk. That is why I asked for examples and I got metalcore, progressive metalcore, math-metal/mathcore as answer. And you get upset I do not understand what is happening in this thread? I did not come to argue, but i guess things got out of hand. I'm only trying to express an opinion, I am not attacking you. 
• Posted more than 2 years ago in A name for "progressive metal punk?"
  [QUOTE=LightningRider]This is all subjective and it's always been subjective.  This list is not for you, and it would be the artists' decision if it was objective, not yours.  I will continue to believe it's not nonsense and you'll just have to be an adult and deal with it.  I don't care if you don't believe it exists (which, considering how many genres there are, is impossible foe me to believe), but your attitude is another story.  This list isn't  for you.  I barely know you, and I have friends who like the same music I do whether or not you "approve."  I will continue with the list.  Your childish insults and demanding "objective" behavior are all your whining is currently good for on this thread.My thread, my list, my rules.  If you don't like it, leave.[/QUOTE] Subjective?! I only explained what a couple of music genres mean, which should be common knowledge. You talk about objectivity and then come up with your own genre name. That makes a lot of sense. My attitude?! Didn't you just tell me I was wasting your time?! Childish insults? What childish insults?! Whining? How? I was just trying to make sense of this thread and seeing there isn't one, I'll leave you be... 
• Posted more than 2 years ago in A name for "progressive metal punk?"
  [QUOTE=LightningRider][QUOTE=LittleBig]there is nothing "punk" about any of the bands you mentioned, I do not get what you're trying to do with this thread. [/QUOTE] Then don't post.  If you don't sense punk in them that's on you.  But google deathcore and metalcore.  Hell, most metalcore won't even be allowed on Metallum because these bands are considered "too punk."  This statement of yours is too grounded in opinion and has no bearing on the topic itself, which means if you're going to get snippy about it then all you're doing for me is wasting time. [/QUOTE] excuse me for wasting your time, please carry on with your nonsense. There is no such thing as progressive metal punk. I think it's an oxymoron, if there ever was one. Deathcore and metalcore have nothing to do with punk. Early metalcore for example was a mix of metal (thrash, groove and hardcore). Deathcore mixed initially death metal and hardcore. Sludge was mentioned earlier, again nothing to do with punk. Yeah, I won't be wasting your time anymore... 

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