Usually, I don’t like sad, “depressive” lyrics. Mostly because I believe in the heroic, not in the usual obsession with pain, suffering and weakness. But also because, in most mainstream music, the lyrics are little more than “poor little me, I suffer so much, I can’t do anything about it, I won’t even try to do something about it, the world is so unfair, blah blah blah”.
That just doesn’t appeal to me - sounds too much like nagging, complaining, and putting suffering and weakness in a pedestal. I like my lyrics to be inspiring, thoughtful, intelligent.
Then, why do I like Blaze’s Blood and Belief, from 2004, so much - as it is, certainly, a sad album?
Continue reading ‘Blaze - "Blood and Belief"’
In 1998, on a mailing list, I heard about a band, Virgin Steele, and an album, “Invictus”, which was supposed to be very good. “Fine,” I thought, “let’s hear it”.
Years later, I have all of Virgin Steele’s discography, it’s one of my favorite bands, and David DeFeis is, in my opinion, one of the best singers out there - certainly my favorite among the 10 in “Avantasia”. Initially, I thought VS sounded like Manowar… but they’re different, very different. Much more epic, with huge classical influences, and with a lot more keyboards, too. Oh, and thoughtful lyrics, some concept albums, and a passion for Greek mythology. What’s not to love?
Continue reading ‘Virgin Steele - "Invictus"’
I love heavy metal. I also love comic books. Yet, in this case, I didn’t buy the album because of the comic; much the opposite, I was intrigued by the comic (Todd McFarlane’s “Spawn”), and bought most of it, because of this album.
1996’s “The Dark Saga”, may or may not be Iced Earth’s best album, but, to me, it’s the most emotional one. They take a comic book which, while good, has its ups and downs, and interpret it in their own way, re-telling parts of the story with music, creating images from sound. If you know the comic, you won’t be able to avoid remembering it, seeing it in your mind, as you listen to this album.
Continue reading ‘Iced Earth - "The Dark Saga"’
I have to admit, I only “discovered” Pink Floyd in late 2005. Considering that the band formed in 1965, I’m a couple of years late. 
Why only now? Well, I have to admit that, without really knowing their music (just “Another Brick in the Wall part 2″, which everyone knows whether they want to or not), I always dismissed them as “just another old rock band”. The fact that I don’t have any friends who are Pink Floyd fans (at least, as far as I know) also contributes to that.
I began to get curious about it when Jeff Minter, a games designer and programmer, mentioned them so much in interviews and blog posts. I admire that guy a lot - if you like video games, you owe it to yourself to play Gridrunner++, at least. So, I thought, if that guy loves that band so much, there just might be something to it.
So I bought several albums, and I’ve been slowly “digesting” them, and so far it’s been a pleasure. Oddly enough, so far, my favorite isn’t “Dark Side of the Moon” or “The Wall”, but, instead, “Animals”, made in 1977.
Continue reading ‘Pink Floyd - "Animals"’
I believe the title gives one a good hint that it’s about music.
However, “music” in what way? Well, it won’t be a “music reviews” site. There are already thousands of those.
In it, instead, I will tell stories about how a particular band or album came into my life. What I thought about it then, and how I feel about it now. What I’m listening to at a particular time. What an album means to me. And any music that enters my life, as that (life) should always be a learning experience, and discovering new music, new bands, new experiences, new emotions, is always a pleasure to me.
I hope you find it interesting. If you don’t, I have others. 
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