Today it’s labor’s party day here in Finland and I am going to have some fun. I’ve got trivium in my ghettoblaster and cool beer waiting in fridge.. Instead of longer article I provide you few good links to other great metal music blogs. So, here we go. Check out these posts..
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What do you think of country music? How about rap or evergreens? Do you like opera and classical music? Would you like to listen to jazz or techno/dance music? What music makes you feel good and what makes you furious? See our poll on right sidebar. Please leave your opinion to that poll. We will publish the results in the end of this month.
Have you ever thought how stupid our domain name (metal-music-videos.com) is? Oh yes, we have thought about it as well. It is THE most stupid domain name ever! That’s why we will set up a totally new blog with a good name. Oh yes, we know that we will loose backlinks, but that’s the price we have to pay. We were rookies when we started up this blog. Now we know a thing or another on blogging, so we will start it all over again. Stay with us! You will soon see our new and staggering metal music blog!
You know those boy-bands like Take That and New Kids On The Block or whatever they are called. Most of the metalheads don’t listen to those bands just because their music is boring and they represent something we don’t want to associate with. Some folks might drop Lovex into this same category. I heard about this Finnish rock band already some years ago, but this is the first time I really stopped to listen to their music. Guess what my first reaction was? I really like this stuff!
Oh yes, I found Take A Shot interesting. I don’t know this band well, but I guess this song is their latest hit. I haven’t listened to their earlier production, so I don’t know much about their music. Anyhow, I found Take A Shot interesting and good, so I decided to write about this band. I listen to death metal quite a lot and every now and then I have to listen to something else, just because otherwise I get bored with death metal grunts, riffs and drumming.
So who the heck are Lovex? Shortly said, Lovex is a Finnish rock band singing in English. They released their debut album (Divine Insanity) in 2006 and it has also been released in Germany and Japan. The name Lovex refers to “lost love” by combining words “Love” and “Ex”. Lovex works with GUN Records and their second album (Pretender Or Surrender) is going to be released in the end of April 2008. Take A Shot is a single taken from this new album.
Now why on Earth a serious metalhead writes about this kind of boy-band? First listen to the video below..
Take A Shot is a good rock song that has a catchy tune and a nice video. It brings me back to my youth in my memory. It brings me back to the time we used to hang out with guys, play music and drink beer. It brings me back to those times when we dreamed of two things: girls and girls.
Take A Shot is the most played music video in Finland right now. You can hear it in Nordic MTV all the time, and I don’t wonder why. It is a great rock song. Period.
One thing I really like in Lovex is the voice of singer Theon (no, this is not his real name. They use cool artist names..) He sounds good and seems to have good singing skills. Guitars in Lovex don’t sound amazing, but good. One thing I really hate in these boy-bands is that they are “products” straight from the beginning. They seem to have all the cliches of cool rock bands, nice make-ups, well-thought clothing, cool artist names and the “right rock&roll attitude”. My opinion is that it is better to build credibility before marketing a band as THE rock&roll band of the world. There is no shortcut to the top and the road is long and bumpy. I have estimated that it takes ten long years before a band really starts becoming popular, so don’t hurry in the beginning.
No, Lovex is not only for girls and faggets. For sure their biggest market is youngsters and especially girls, but they seem to make music that grabs the attention of an old fart like me. Sure you must be open-minded and ready to listen to something else than just death and black metal. It is not a shame to listen to Lovex even though you are a serious headbanger Check it out, you might get interested. I probably won’t buy their new album, but I have to say Take A Shot sounds pretty cool. I like it.
What say you? What do you think about Lovex and their music?
Finnish death metal band Children of Bodom is doing great in America. With their Blooddrunk album C.O.B. has climbed up to 22nd position in American Billboard album list. So far only “love metal” band HIM has been more successful Finnish band in America. Blooddrunk has been successful also in other countries. It is seventh in Canada, 12th in Japan and 44th in UK. In Germany the album is tenth and in Austria it is 19th. Notice that these are “general” lists. In the rock list of UK Children of Bodom’s Blooddrunk is currently the first one. In Finland the situation is naturally the same.
Wow! Impressive C.O.B.! I am very glad for the success of one of my favorite death metal bands. It is great to see how metal music of my tiny country is breaking through in the world. It is difficult for Scandinavian bands to break through because English is not our first language. Additionally American market is very different from Scandinavian, so Finns usually just don’t know how to market their music in America. Bands like C.O.B. have already their local “marketing machine” (Spinefarm US) rolling in America, but smaller bands doesn’t have that luxury.
Having a Finnish band on position 22 in American album list is a big thing for Finns. We feel like it is a national breakthrough. Finns are proud of Children of Bodom, even though most people don’t even listen to their music. Although we are a metal music country, most people listen to pop, rock and evergreens.
Today Finnish newspaper Iltasanomat wrote about Children of Bodom’s guitarist/singer Alexi Laiho. As they say in the article, Alexi Laiho has many times been asked about the name of the band. “Who are the children?”, “what Bodom?”. The name of the band is related to the Lake Bodom where three youngsters were murdered in 1960. “Although our name comes from there, our music does not refer to the murders“, says Alexi Laiho. “We don’t try to tell what really happened in the lake in 1960. We create stories of what might have happened in there. What really happened there is still a mystery and will stay as a mystery“, continues Laiho.
Newspaper Iltasanomat lists the songs related to the murders of Lake Bodom. Those are Bastards of Bodom, Bodom Beach Terror, Silent Night, Bodom Night and Bodom after Midnight. Alexi Laiho was born in Espoo where the lake is located. Laiho was asked if he has been camping in the lake, to which he replied: “no, never, but I have spent a lot of time in there. It is still a great place. There are very nice beaches and good places to grill food. May be one day I will go camping by the lake“, says Alexi Laiho.
Oh boy, it would be great to see C.O.B. live this summer. This band has got some furious energy!
It has been busy lately. You might have noticed that I haven’t written much lately. The reason is just that I’ve been working like an animal. Time is limited and I have been forced to reduce my blogging pace. I hope this stress peak is soon over so that I can get back to my daily blogging pace.
As I have been under high a pressure lately, I feel like I need to take it relaxed. Some say “I need to re-charge my batteries”. No, I’m not going to drink my brains dead, although I need a bit of alcohol. How do I take it relaxed? Music helps me to relax, and music combined with a a couple of glasses of Scotch whiskey is my weapon against stress.
Last weekend I felt like I’ve got enough. I opened my whiskey bottle and turned on my CD player. “Hmm.. what would I like to listen now“, I remember myself thinking. I picked up Type Of Negative’s Christian Woman, kicked back and tasted my whiskey as the first keyboard notes of Christian Woman started to fill the air. Listening to Peter Steele’s awesome voice is like stepping into another world. Yeah, just to point out, I’m not gothic but I find the songs of Type of Negative very interesting.
What makes Type Of Negative so good and relaxing for me? I think it’s in those piano notes and Peter’s low tuned voice. If I’m feeling “okey” I listen to Type Of Negative, but if I’m pissed off I prefer Shape Of Despair. One of their masterpieces is Quiet Those Paintings Are. Aaahh.. great and healing music.
I think I need a vacation and a box of whiskey bottles..
Held in small town in Germany, Wacken Open Air is THE headbanger’s heaven. Last year the festival pulled 60.000 people from all over the world, this year may be even more. Wacken Open Air was first held in 1990. In the early days W:O:A was a small event for local German bands. Nowadays W:O:A includes over 70 bands performing in separate stages.
This year Wacken includes absolutely great bands, such as Children of Bodom, Carcass, Ensiferum, Exodus, Soilwork and Stam1na. It is going to be a great party again. Below are the bands who have confirmed to play in Wacken Open Air in 2008. It is going to be a helluva good festival!
3 Inches of Blood
Airbourne
Alestorm
As I Lay Dying
At the Gates
Autumn
Avenged Sevenfold
Avantasia
Axel Rudi Pell
Axxis
Before the Dawn
Carcass
Children Of Bodom
Corvus Corax
Crematory
Cynic
Destructor
Dream of an Opium Eater
Enemy of the Sun
Ensiferum
Evocation
Excrementory Grindfuckers
Exodus
girugamesh
Gorerotted
Gorgoroth
Grave
Hatebreed
Headhunter
Iron Maiden
Job for a Cowboy
Kamelot
Killswitch Engage
Kreator
Krypteria
Lauren Harris
Leaves Eyes
Lord Belial
Lordi
Machine Men
Massacre
Mercenary
Metakilla
Mustasch
Nashville Pussy
Negura Bunget
Nifelheim
Nightwish
Obituary
Opeth
Powerwolf
Primordial
Psycho Punch
Sabaton
Saltatio Mortis
Soilwork
Sonata Arctica
Stam1na
Sturm und Drang
The Bones
The Haunted
Torture Squad
Unearth
Van Canto
Warbringer
Watain
By the way, Arch Enemy played in Helsinki last weekend. Check out the footage in YouTube. Cool gig..
Cool title, eh? Don’t worry, I am a big fan of Serj Tankian. Just read more and discuss with me by leaving your comments.
Last weekend I came across with Serj Tankian’s latest masterpiece, Sky Is Over. I had my radio turned on and I heard them talking about Serj Tankian. I heard them saying “Sky is Over” which sounded like something new to me. I heard the first piano notes of Serj’s new song and I immediately got hooked. I love metal music but I’m also very much into classical, so the piano notes of Sky Is Over really got my attention.
So, the Sky Is Over starts with beautiful piano notes. What makes the first piano part interesting is its simplicity. It is an easy and catchy riff you can quickly learn to play yourself. Soon after the first notes Serj starts singing with his unique sound which in my opinion is the most important “asset” of System Of A Down and Serj’s own project.
Just like the first part, also second piano part is simple and catchy. And I like it. The first more tricky part comes 1:29 when you can easily notice Serj’s background in classical music. In this third part (”laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la-la-la-la-la-la”..) he nicely combines the typical element of classical music with rock music.
Straight from the beginning the whole song continues in “upwards” direction getting higher and higher until the finale in which Serj presses the last piano note of the whole song. It is strong, it goes fast and it has the cacthy elements of a good rock/metal song. It has an easy-to-remember refrain. It sounds good and fresh! Hey, then what’s wrong with Sky Is Over?
Actually there is probably nothing wrong with Sky Is Over. I just strated to wonder why I quickly find the song becoming boring? I noticed this same effect a long time ago as I intensively listened to System Of A Down. I didn’t find the songs interesting anymore, even though they are great metal songs. So, what is wrong? Why on Earth I get bored with Serj Tankian’s Empty Wall and Sky Is Over, but not with Iron Maiden albums Seventh Son of the Seventh Son or Somewhere in Time? Why I get bored with System of a Down but not with Franz Liszt’s La Campanella or Beethoven’s Turkish March?
May be the reason is that Serj’s music is too easy to understand. May be it is not challenging enough, even though simplicity makes it powerful. If you listen to Iron Maiden’s Infinite Dreams or The Clairvoyant you hear how more complex those masterpieces of Iron Maiden are compared to Sky Is Over.
This same effect happened with Metallica as they started to change their style after so called Black album. Wasn’t their music in Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppers more challenging and tricky? For me it feels like more challenging music lives longer although it might not sell as quickly as much as easier-to-get music. Just compare classical music and pop music, which one lives longer? My point is not to disrespect Serj Tankian and his music. With his classical background Serj for sure can create great music, and I respect him as a musician. I believe making their songs easier to understand is a strategic decision in order to sell much.
What do you think? How do you see this?
Here’s Serj Tankian’s great piece of music - Sky Is Over
Sorry for tis blogging hiatus. It has been damn busy at work lately. Anyhow, here we go again..
I discovered this post from MetalMartyr.Com who again found the original source in Zeozombie.Com. I am going to do the same as Scott of MetalMartyr.Com and I let you to read the whole post in its original source. Check it out, it’s good read. I like her way to write it. So, while I’m writing a longer article, check out this interesting post by Zeozombie.Com. Click the link below.
American band Slipknot has announced that they are going to change their masks. The band has released a picture giving a hint of the new masks that will be published first time in Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival in July 9th. in Seattle. New masks of Slipknot are pretty big and remind Moai of Ploynesian island Rapa Nui (Easter island).
In addition to changing their masks, Slipknot is going to release their new album in August 11th. this year. The new album has no name yet, but it will be distributed by Roadrunner Records. The producer of the new album, Dave Fortman, has previously worked with Mudvayne and Evanescence.
Slipknot’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan (percussions) has told Revolver magazine that the new album of Slipknot is completely different from Vol 3, which was their third studio album. Vol 3 sounds more melodic than its predecessors, so let’s see how the new album will sound. Vol 3 album was the first Slipknot album without “Parental Advisory” sticker.
Slipknot has enjoyed a long break since they ended Vol 3 tour in 2005. During the years members of the band have had their various side-projects. For example, Slipknots singer Corey Taylor sings in Apocalyptica’s World Collide album.
So, Slipknot is evolving. It is interesting see how the band will look with their new masks. I am also looking forward to listen to their new material. I have almost forgotten the whole band due to their silence. Hey! It is time to get back to work on stage, Slipknot!
Planet Gossip says “Axl Rose & Co. have recently been letting people, music industry honchos, tastemakers and so forth, listen to six new tracks, according to a music executive who has heard the songs“.
They say Axl’s voice sounds great and exactly the same as years ago. They don’t provide an release dates, but they expect it happen by the end of this year. Just last week Axl has announced in his website that the band has hired a new management team, which sounds like they are seriously doing something..
Oh yeah, we have heard this so many times. Who really believes this stuff? Me not.
GNR released their Use Your Illusion albums in 1991. Since then they have released nothing interesting. Anyhow, GNR has done something really amazing. They have sold more than 90 million albums which is an awesome figure.
So, I open my Friday bottle, sit down and wait for the Chinese Democracy…
Sad news from the world of power metal. Stratovarius, the Finnish power metal band and one of the leaders of the genre, has broken up. According to the press release of Timo Tolkki, Stratovarius no longer plays together. While the story of Stratovarius has come to its end, Timo Tolkki continues with his new band Revolution Renaissance.
According to Timo Tolkki, he decided to break up the band last October. The biggest reason for the break-up is the tension between Timo Tolkki, Timo Kotipelto and Jörn Michael. Timo Tolkki points out that his intention is not to disrespect the band members, but to make it clear why he decided split Stratovarius. “They are both fundamentally good guys. Things just sometimes happen and relationships go to directions we don’t want them to go. It’s like a divorce, nobody wants it to happen but sometimes it is best for all so everyone can continue their own lives“, says Timo Tolkki.
As many fans might know, the story of Stratovarius is absolutely great. As Timo Tolkki says, “we had amazing years, 14 records, 6 world tours with over a thousand shows all across the Globe, 3 gold discs, a Finnish Grammy and almost 3 million records sold. I have arrived to my decision after careful, long and rational thinking of over a year and I know it is the right way for me. I just felt so bad being in Stratovarius. Something was terribly wrong in there and nobody seemed to care“.
Difficulties started in 2005. Timo Tolkki had a nervous breakdown in 2004, after which things started to go wrong. Timo Tokki describes the situation in 2005 by sayin “The atmosphere at the rehearsals was awful. Lauri Porra who had just joined the band was wondering what is going on with this band. Jörg Michael came straight from Saxon to this tour wearing a Saxon shirt during most of the shows. His attitude for most of the tour was extremely arrogant, pretty much towards everybody. But especially towards me and TK (editorial note: TK=Timo Kotipelto). And TK’s attitude towards me was lukewarm and polite, but I could sense the hostility“.
In 2007 in Wacken festival Timo Tolkki realized there is no soul in the band anymore. He realized the time of Stratovarius is over. Timo Tolkki realized that he is keeping the band alive because of money, which did not make sense for him. He decided to split the band. I remember watching a YouTube video of Stratovarius playing in Wacken and thinking “man, they sound awful”. I was right, because Timo Tolkki felt the same on stage. It was a absolute horror, says Timo Tolkki.
As a gentleman Timo Tolkki says thanks you to other Stratovarius band members for all those years and wishes them all the best. Timo Tolkki is clearly looking forward to create music with his new band, and I am looking forward to hear it! Meanwhile you and I can listen to Timo Tolkki’s Saana - Warrior of Light, which sounds pretty epic.
One important power metal band is dead. I have listened Stratovarius since their early years and they have played important part in my CD shelf. I say good buy to Stratovarius. You guys provided me a number of great moments with your music. Thank you!
Let’s remember the glorious times of Stratovarius by listening to one of their masterpieces, Forever.
In March 2008 we asked “What Do You Think of Metalcore?”. According to the results most people love metalcore. I expected higher resistance to metalcore, so this time our poll was surprising for me.
The choices in the poll were:
* Wow! I love metalcore!
* It’s ok, just music as any other genre.
* Metalcore sucks!
* What is metalcore?
The results of our March poll show that 47% of those who answered love metalcore. 21% of people say “metalcore is ok, just music as any other genre”. What is surprising for me, only 16% say “metalcore sucks”. For some reason I expected a higher figure. May be the reason is that I have seen so many messages of people hating metalcore. Also 16% of those who answered ask “what is metalcore”.
For those who don’t know what metalcore is, see what is said in Wikipedia: “Metalcore is a music fusion genre that incorporates elements of heavy metal and hardcore punk. The term is a portmanteau of heavy metal and hardcore punk. Due to the rise in popularity in the United States during the early 2000s, the genre has also been described as the “New Wave of American Heavy Metal” by some, as an allusion to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal of the late 1970s“.
There are few great metalcore bands. Although I listen to death metal most of the time, every now and then I find myself listening to Bullet For My Valentine. What I really like in BFMV is their guitars. Absolutely great sounds. Also the voice of Matthew Tuck is not bad at all. Bullet For My Valentine is one good example of metalcore bands. Just check their latest video as an example.
Thank you for providing your answer to this question. Please see also our April question and provide your answer!
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Finnish death metal band 
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
American band Slipknot has announced that they are going to change their masks. The band has released a picture giving a hint of the new masks that will be published first time in Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival in July 9th. in Seattle. New masks of Slipknot are pretty big and remind 
Sad news from the world of power metal. 
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