.
Screw the mainstream
if you really want to get your rocks off you have to go to the underground.
That's just what we plan to do with this series, take some of the best
emerging bands that are out blowing away hardcore fans on the underground
music scene.
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Metal Spotlight
Special
Join us as we take a look
at the Metal Underground. We've brought together three recent reviews of
bands from various areas of the Metal Underground
Symphony
X – The Odyssey
Label: Inside
Out
Rating:  
by Scott Slapp
Epic Metal MAN!! Yeah! If any epic classic
of literature has been crying out to be set to music it’s Homer’s Odyssey.
I’m surprised Steve Harris hasn’t wrapped his songwriting brain around
the Odyssey given his tendency to set classics to music but that’s ok,
because Symphony X do it with style.
On this CD Symphony X have once again topped
themselves as they seem to do with each new CD. But there are no big surprises
in store for Symphony X fans, the band stays true to their craft, while
cranking out a bowl full of metal to get you stoned on Epic progressive
metal riffing and power vocals. It’s a good buzz too!
This band takes their name to heart and
really set out to give you a metal symphony and that’s exactly what you
get with the mind-blowing title track that clocks in at over 24 minutes
and would give Beethoven a run for his money. Who was the a**hole that
said classical music is dead? It isn’t, metal bands are just representing
it these days.
Now what pisses me off is the fact that
music like this isn’t what’s out there representing metal to kids there
days. What they get instead are lame ass clowns in masks with limited musical
ability.
New Jersey may have foisted Bon Jovi on
us but Symphony X do the garden state proud and more than make up for the
years of crap coming out of there from the slippery when wet crowd.
If you want real metal than dude get off
your ass and go buy this CD! Nothing more to say besides it will kick your
ass!
Virgin
Steele – Hymns To Victory
Label: Noise
Records
Rating:
By antiGUY
Tracks:
Flames Of Thy Power (From Blood They Rise)
Through The Ring Of Fire
Invictus
Crown Of Glory - (In Fury mix)
Kingdom Of The Fearless (The Destruction
Of Troy)
The Spirit Of Steele - (new acoustic version)
A Symphony Of Steele - (Battle mix)
The Burning Of Rome
I Will Come For You
Saturday Night
Noble Savage
The Mists Of Avalon
Emalaith |
Listen
to samples and Purchase this CD online |
You gotta hand it to Virgin Steele, when
they decided to put out a “best of” collection they really put some thought
into it and wanted to give the fans a true value for their bucks.
Virgin Steele have been rockin’ along in
the metal underground for 20 years and in that time they have released
an impressive catalog of material. I wouldn’t have wanted to be the one
who set out to decide which songs to put on this disc but whoever did make
that decision did one hell of a job!
The songs here were pulled from the group’s
entire career and instead of just slapping a bunch of album tracks together,
putting a cover on it and calling it a greatest hits CD, Virgin Steele
decided to give their fans remastered as well as alternative mixes of these
classic songs. So even if you own all of the albums, there is a good reason
to add this one to your collection aside from the 2 brand new songs, Saturday
Night", and " The Mists of Avalon"
You have to respect any band that have
braved the music industry for over 20 years and hung in there without compromising
themselves or their music in-order to make it big. These guys are heroes
to their fans and for good reason, they have some amazing music and this
CD is just a showcase of some highlights.
Like what you hear? The band just reissued
their first two albums, the first time these albums will be available on
CD. Also in December they filmed a performance in New York for their
very first DVD! So lots of great Virgin Steele coming up and this
CD should get you started!
BoySetsFire
– Live For Today
Label: Wind-Up
Rating:
by antiGUY
Boysetsfire are heroes of the melodic hardcore
underground for good reason, they have the chops and deliver the goods.
In the netherworld where melody meets power is where this band dwells.
My biggest complaint with this EP is that it is an EP, it’s over just as
you get into full scream along mode and wets the appetite for their forthcoming
full length.
The band’s move to Wind-up from Victory
Records had some fans worried that they might compromise their credibility
in order to fit into the label that Creed built but no worries these guys
stay true to themselves and the fans. The new songs give us a glimpse of
where Boysetsfire is heading in 2003 and it’s not selloutville that’s for
damn sure!
The equal mix between studio and live tracks
show us this band’s strengths in both mediums and let me just say the riffs
of one of the new tunes “Curtain Call” make this EP worth every cent!
Big things are expected from Boysetsfire
and this EP shows why! “Live for Today,” is definitely a great effort from
these Delaware rockers and may just give Wind-up there next multi-platinum
act. The tunes are there, we just have to see if the audience is paying
attention.
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