lari

Seriously, what the hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yoABwIlX3s?

My three new CDs: UFO - Walk on Water Mercury Tide - Killing Saw Masterplan - Time to be King

The band re-recorded it this year

Janesn, why not. She's great in Star One.

1. Savatage 2. Iron Maiden 3. Iced Earth 4. Judas Priest 5. Black Sabbath 6. Blind Guardian 7. Mystic Prophecy 8. Rage 9. Axxis 10. Dio 11. Helloween 12. Angel Dust 13. Impellitteri 14. Testament 15. Annihilator My top lists haven't really changed much.

CD only, and just albums (studio + live + compilations). Judas Priest - 19 Also an unofficial compilation, two singles, two DVDs and three tribute albums. Iron Maiden - 18 Also five singles, four DVDs, four tribute albums. Other bands I own at least ten albums from: Axxis, Black Sabbath, Dio, Helloween, Iced Earth, Rage, Savatage, Saxon

The package came today in the mail. I was damn excited. I opened it. Packing list and bill verify that it is indeed Iced Earth's Dystopia. I shake the envelope to get the CD out......... and.... there it is! There it.... FUCK I don't know what the hell that is supposed to be, some Swedish slager music? Damn those assholes at cdon.com. I already wrote them and they apologised and are sending the Iced Earth digipak. But that means I have to wait more. And I was so pumped. ARGH!

I preordered it (the "deluxe" digipak with 13 tracks). There are a couple other versions, too, like this giant superfan version with a bunch of stuff in it, but it's way too expensive and I don't even have a vinyl player for the LP that comes along. EDIT: I'm talking about the new Iced Earth. I meant to quote OctRaven. Whatever, one more week to wait.

Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell. Currently playing Lonely is the Word

I've been listening to the new Dante's Inferno also. It is a very good version (better solos!), but Stu the new guy does get a little shouty where Barlow just sounded angry. Nice to get something small to start up the hype. I remember they re-recorded the original Something Wicked trilogy with Owens for a single b-side before the release of Framing Armageddon. Not like I need the hype - the new album is an automatic purchase for me anyway. ... and I just got tickets to see them on December 1.

Bullshit. My top ten (all metal vocalists who will blow away anyone so far in this top fifty(-one). Okay, GoGo and I were talking about this privately, so while normally I would respond to this post with guffaws and contempt that you'd rate this fucking hairsprayed joker above Al Green, but I actually do kind of want an answer. Why is it that a big chunk of you metalheads listen to nothing but metal? Like, there is a list out there with At number one! Yeah, the growling stuff I don't get, at least not on an 'all-time singers' list, but David Readman to my knowledge doesn't use hairspray and most certainly seems quite serious about his singing (re: hairsprayed joker). And is very talented and versatile at it. To answer your question, I don't know. Maybe it's also YOUR taste in music that makes it impossible to appreciate a vocalist singing heavy metal? I find it that it's a genre that really challenges a vocalist in a way that other genres maybe don't. At least not in popular music, since we're mostly excluding opera anyway. The necessity for power and bombastic delivery (and breathing techniques) in your delivery. It's easier to sing closer to your talking voice than to really go at it. And no, singing heavy metal doesn't automatically mean you are somehow incapable of singing melodic or soft songs with proper emotion. Just see Geoff Tate #2 on my list. Who by the way is a trained opera vocalist and an opera vocal coach, if we're looking for qualifications. Speaking of technically excellent vocalists. I like Jorn Lande's voice, same with John West or Jeff Scott Soto. That he did live was excellent. But sometimes it actually even gets to the point where I really don't even want to hear 'the next greatest most talented vocalist in melodic/prog metal', because it can turn into vocal acrobatics not many want to hear. I cannot really appreciate a technical vocalist if the song makes no sense other than to showcase vocal effects. To counter that, I have to succeed that 90% of metal is crap to begin with and 95% of what passes off as a heavy metal lead vocalist these days really cannot sing much at all. In comparison I think the percentage of crap is even higher in generic popular music, but at least a larger portion of pop groups have at least a passable lead singer (as opposed to someone who sounds like they are puking on the mic). But you just have to know where to look. Not saying my taste in music is superior, just stating why I think certain metal singers can be (and ARE) just as good if not better than anyone else.

Bullshit. My top ten (all metal vocalists who will blow away anyone so far in this top fifty(-one).

1. Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell) 2. Geoff Tate (Queensryche - Silent Lucidity) 3. Bruce Dickinson ( ) 4. RD Liapakis ( ) 5. Peter "Peavy" Wagner ( ) 6. Rob Rock ( ) 7. Matt Barlow (Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings) 8. Sharon Den Adel ( ) 9. Ian Gillan ( ) 10. David Readman (Pink Cream 69 - Shame)

I didn't get to vote. Daymn!

Savatage - Gutter Ballet (Monsters of Rock, Brazil 1998) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH6U5hvYJIw

Huge props to the Flyers. Whenever they seemed beat, they picked themselves up and came out fighting. Losing in overtime seemed very appropriate. They were outplayed in the game for 45 minutes, but came back and forced OT, only to lose on a small angle shot. Great series, all the games were tight and apart from game five they were all one-goal games (not counting empty netters) Also, the Nashville Predators were damn close to beating the Hawks or at least force SEVEN games, which as a Hawks fan I luckily never had to experience during these playoffs. Thank you Erat for that misplay in the offensive zone that enabled Then again, Erat did score twice and helped the Predators get as close as they did. Also, Hawks won game six, and probably would have been favourites to win game seven. Come to think of it, not facing elimination once in these playoffs is quite something. Vancouver... damn, they have a formidable hockey team. The Canucks were my (superstitious) pick to win the Stanley Cup. I would not want my Hawks to face that team again next season. Especially if the Hawks have to play without Dustin Byfuglien who seems to own the Canucks. Second best team in the league? In my opinion, yes. The Sharks were better than 0 and 4, too. Just that they missed that extra oomph to battle one goal wins against the Hawks, who were very determined this post-season. The Sharks coach said this was a learning experience and I expect them to come back stronger next time around. Detroit... never faced you. Nothing good to say about that franchise either. Suck it! DETROIT SUCKS! In all honestly, I did think the Red Wings had a good team, but I always felt comfortable the Hawks would have taken them in a seven game series. The Sharks were a better match for the Hawks, but the masochistic side of me wanted the Wings to play the Hawks in the conference finals, to show once and for all the torch has been passed. The CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS are the best team in the world! I proudly wore my Jonathan Toews jersey to work Thursday. Speaking of Toews, wow, what a year. Olympic gold medal, best forward in the tournament, now Stanley Cup + Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. That's insane for a 22-year-old. By now, I bet everyone knows how to pronounce his last name. Also..... HOOOOOOSSSSAAAAA!!!!

I M P E L L I T T E R I Wasted Earth Everything Is You Couldn't find Wasted Earth on youtube...

Should be no surprise the Blackhawks made it to the big dance this season. The Flyers on the other hand are the Cinderella team. Game One is tonight! I cannot wait. Biggest game of hockey I've watched in 18 years. Let's go Hawks!

Tragic to die so young. I am a casual Type O fan. I have Bloody Kisses, October Rust and Dead Again. I also saw them live once. Steele had a unique voice and a style of singing. A legendary character. His death is a loss for metal, and music in general. Type O Negative is a pretty popular group. Rest in peace, Pete.

Interesting. It's true any song can chart, but I think in order to be a single the song would have to be released separately from the album, ie. a separate release date and not only available as a song off an album. People would have to buy an individual song only, not the whole album. And I'm actually thinking buying the listed 'album version' off an online store does not count towards singles sales - that means I guess not every song can chart? I could be wrong about that last part though. But otherwise wouldn't the singles chart consist of all the tracks off the most popular album. Assuming the album format is still more popular than single format. Having a physical copy commercially available automatically makes it a single, though nowadays probably not necessary.

The Boxer Rebellion -

Well, if you want epic, then Rhapsody (or Rhapsody of Fire nowadays) isyour way to go. Although they tend to get a bit cheesy at times... Butthey've collaborated with Christopher Lee! And of course there's always the kings of power metal, Stratovarius. I especially recommend their four best albums: Episode, Visions, Destiny and Infinite. They're about as good power metal as you can get. Rhapsody is probably THE cheesiest metal band out there today. Stratovarius is okay especially Visions. But if you want epic, just with a bit more crunch and with plenty of power and melody, here's a few albums worth checking out (with a Youtube sample): Iced Earth - The Dark Saga (1996) Rage - XII (1998) From the Cradle to the Grave Savatage - The Wake of Magellan (1998) The Hourglass The last one is one of my favourite songs of all time. The counterpoint vocals that start around the five minute mark are absolutely larger than life. Also if you're into rock operas, check out Savatage's Streets. And Dead Winter Dead. And Gutter Ballet - the title track especially is spectacular.

Off the top of my head. Bands: Impellitteri Rage Axxis Really just got more into Rage and Impellitteri last year. I bought eight Rage CDs in 2009 alone, favourites are probably Perfect Man, Trapped!, XIII and Soundchaser. Impellitteri has been a constant favourite for a bit longer, but the new one really kept my attention. Albums: Impellitteri - Wicked Maiden (2009) Blaze Bayley - The Man Who Would Not Die (2008) Chris Caffery - House of Insanity (2009) Blaze's latest really kept me busy especially in the early parts of the year. The best album of 2008, in my opinion. I already preordered the new one, Promise and Terror, from his website.

None of my favourites will 'make it', for sure. My taste in music is way too marginal. But hopefully there'll be a bunch of awesome releases and live shows in 2010.