We'll have to disagree.  I think he is far inferior to David Readman - but I am not a big fan of Brazilian vocalists in general.  I don't mind the growling, which, as fra as I know, was not done by Gus, but by Stephan, so it may still be around.  My real hope is that the new album is more like the first two, in the sense that these two CDs were full of surprises - 'Dominate' was....well......boring.  But again, that my opinion - feel free to differ.

[scratching my head] ...and this is bad news how?  Adagio changed from the band that made their name as a neoclassical prog metal act (their first two CDs) to something that was not the Adagio I enjoyed, with in their last effort (not bad, just not Adagio) - and the main change in that time was the vocalist.  Maybe this will allow Stephan to get back to the basics.  I'll be willing to give that a listen.

[shudders with delight]...this is going to be fabulous - these guys simply cannot do wrong.  Oh, the wait....

In the meantime, I am listening to the new release by Kiuas as I write this - "The New Dark Age".  In a word - AWESOME!


Kailef has their first release already, and I will get him this one and the middle release this week, if possible - I have no doubt that they will find favour with the crowd here.

You are kidding, right?  (heard of Grave Digger...indeed).  Considering that they have been around since 1980, have (...counting...) 12 full-length and 2 live albums to their credit, and have influenced countless other bands, particularly from their German homeland.....

Ahh, but wait just a minute:  There are no Grave Digger CDs in the rotation?  Hence your request?  Good point.  I for one am not a huge fan of their vocal style, but you may be right in that they should be represented here.....we'll have to see about that....

Into Eternity are from Regina.  Anvil would be another - but we don't have their stuff on ERR.  Eidolon - same thing.

Rush, of course.

Creed is on the money - I shut down the web site, and my buffering issue has improved a little.  I am guessing that there is a general negative effect on the server side, however. In the meantime, go to the mini window to keep track of what's playing and what's coming up, if you can stand the the stream buffering:

http://www.epicrockradio.com/mini.php

Welcome to ERR!  For those few of us down here who appreciate Canadian exports, such as HNIC and Rickert's Red, any Canuck is welcome.  Metal Storm is missed, but you have found your way home through the long and cold night to the warm hearth of Epic Rock Radio.  Request away, and enjoy!

While we're fixing things:  The track "Evil" by Dionysus, off their Anima Mundi CD, actually should be entitled "March for Freedom" - there is no track called Evil on that CD.

I thought I'd actually add a contribution this year, since I have VERY quiet lately....busy busy.......but not too busy to make excuses   .  BTW, congrats to fabio for being added as a mod - a great choice, I must say, Kailef.

Well, in keeping with this thread, allow me to point out a couple of items that have been mentioned here before, starting with that Ayreon:  Probably not a CD set that ought to be added to the station, primarily because it's too.....aw, let's just call it too soft.  If you are into GREAT vocal performances, this CD is for you - it's a smorgasbord of the Power Metal Vocal Hall of Fame.  But - there are some really cheesy, overdone tracks, and all of them, not just the cheesy ones, are VERY keyboard-oriented.  Not bad, but that's as far as I am willing to go.

My friends at Metal Blade were kind enough to provide a promo CD of Brainstorm's next release, called "Downburst".  I am somewhat of a fan of theirs, and not completely unbiased - but this CD R O C K S!  If you're into typical Brainstorm/Symphorce straight-forward, heavy power metal with memorable, shoutable hooks and choruses, this will be a CD to get when it comes out later this month.  Once anthem after another - I have played it ad nauseum in my car lately.

Another BTW - the more I listen to Sonata Arctica's "Unia", the more I think that it may be the hidden gem of 2007 - deep material there, with many facets that are not apparent if you lsiten carefully.

And now for something completely different:  If any of you are not completely turned off by doom metal, and like it with a little Gothic metal mixed in, give the band Draconian a listen.  Their latest (not their forthcoming, but latest available) is called "Arcane Rain Fell" - and if you need something to feed a dark, somber mood - this is the ticket.  Watch out, though - heavy use of very deep growls in the Opeth vein.


I'm off - take care all.

Magica, who are Romanian, BTW, just released a new CD called "Hereafter", on the German AFM Records label.  That's all I know - may need to think about getting that one soon.....

Thumbs up to Angtoria - great first CD.  And from that list, if you like female-fronted metal, but with a little more edge to it, check out Amaran further.  Edenbridge are just a touch too soft for me - but we do need the Within Temptation catalogue here....we'll work on that for next year.

I would call that good news....here's wishing ISPs were a bit more reliable.  I have had outages at home twice in the last two weeks, once for several hours.

It appears to be the server, as I cannot get to the web site either......

Alright - I have to finally open this can of worms, and get your opinion:

Every time I listen to a band that is fronted by Elisa Martin (Dark Moor, Fairyland, Dreamaker, Hamka), she ruins the entire experience for me, even more so than most death metal screamers do.  I find her voice grating and unnerving - there is literally nothing I find attractive about her vocal style.  Yet she keeps on fronting pretty good bands, but immediately makes them unlistenable to me.

What do you think?  Does anyone share this dislike, or strongly disagrees with my sentiments?  Let's hear it.....

fabio - If we only had CDs, without being able to burn them and listen to them via the computer or iPod, I would have had to replace both of their CDs by now, that's how often they get played.  In my car, "Spirit of Ukko" is probably the most played CD of all time, eclipsing even Circus Maximus - and I have probably just mentioned my 2 favorite bands that I can listen to in any mood, and at any time.

If you don't have their CDs, or if you only want one to start with, do the first one - but both are absolutely top-notch.  I don't often recommend CDs to others, but if you like what you heard already, you canno go wrong.

Just a quick note to say that I will be gone next week - taking some well-deserved time off, and not getting near a computer if I can help it!

See you all Monday in a week!