Instagram

After debating for some time, I have created an Instagram account.

Although my main motivation for doing so is the ability to view other users' (whom I'm interested in) posts, I will occasionally be posting metal-related items that don't deserve an entire blog post.

Check out my profile if you'd like:
http://instagram.com/reignofterror89/

Dracula - Swing Of Death

While I cannot sum this idea up better than in the original article, I think this album could be very interesting. Having the entire concept centered around Dracula, drawing from both the history of Vlad the Impaler and from Bram Stoker’s fictionalized version of the man should make for an intriguing album. 

I am not familiar with the musicians involved in this project, but the preview clip is enticing. I haven’t listened to much material with clean vocals lately, but clean vocals seem fitting in this case. Personally, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been one of my favorite pieces of fiction since I first flipped through the pages years ago. It lends itself to being able to spawn other artistic works based solely on the fictional account. From the preview, the grandiose atmosphere seems as though it will be a perfect marriage between hard rock/metal and one of the most multi-faceted vampire stories in existence. This also has potential to venture into the ‘slightly-cheesy’ category, but that seems to be a risk that every operatic, concept themed album runs. ‘Dracula - Swing Of Death’ might be one worth picking up. 

The track listing will be:

1. Hands Of Your God
2. Walking On Water
3. Swing Of Death
4. Masquerade Ball
5. Save Me
6. River Of Tears
7. Queen Of The Dead
8. Into The Dark
9. True Love Through Blood (instrumental)
10. Under The Gun

The North American release is slated for January 27th, 2015. 

Link to the video trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZRdtkAHxXgA

The original article can be found at: http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jorn-lande-and-trond-holter-join-forces-for-epic-dracula-concept-album/

Thoughts and Previews

I thought I'd throw up a quick post regarding a few of the items I am hoping to work on or talk about in the next while. I have not had much time to write lately due to an overwhelming amount of other commitments; namely my continuing post-secondary education.

Tomorrow I will hopefully be picking up a copy of this:

A review should follow sometime shortly thereafter.

Speaking of reviews, there are several albums that I have enjoyed this previous year for which I have not completed a review, and for which I would like to review. Hopefully at least a few of these see completion.

I have a few other ideas of articles I would like to write, but they require some more careful thought and a bit of preparation. Perhaps one or two of them will see the light of day.

Ensiferum has announced that they have completed work on a new album, scheduled for a February 2015 release. With this, new tracks should be released online, which I will be checking out. The first three Ensiferum albums are, by far, my favourites. 'From Afar' was pretty decent, but 'Unsung Heroes' began to venture into territory I was not personally a fan of. We shall see what this new album, titled 'One Man Army', holds in store. I do like the new look that the band has posted on their Facebook page though:

Arch Enemy, Kreator, & Huntress Review

Union Hall

November 4, 2014

Huntress opened the show to an eager crowd who seemed mostly familiar with their material and excited to witness their set. It wasn’t difficult to see why Huntress has been praised time and time again for their live shows. Jill Janus’ impressive vocal range, combined with a stage presence reminiscent of a predatory spider, made for an impressive combination whether you like Huntress’ vibe or not. 

While the merch table lineups certainly would not have indicated so, Kreator had many fans in the audience. The German thrash masters executed a blazing set, inciting a pretty decent pit considering the size of the floor area in the venue. According to vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, Edmonton is known worldwide for its love of metal and good mosh pits. How much truth there is to this statement, who knows. There was an attempt made at a wall of death, but in comparison to some of the others witnessed in this same city, it was a failure. Mind you, this failure had nothing to do with Kreator, as they provided as much energy and enthusiasm as can be expected from any band. The majority of the set contained post- ‘Enemy of God’ material, with a few old songs thrown in for good measure. 

With seemingly half the crowd adorned in new Arch Enemy merchandise, it was no small surprise that they were exuberantly welcomed on stage. New vocalist, Alissa White-Gluz, was electrifying. Her performance suggested that the shoes left to fill by former vocalist Angela Gossow might even be too small. Full of energy, she definitely met (and exceeded) expectations. Not surprisingly, Arch Enemy drew the majority of their material from the latest album, ‘War Eternal’, which features White-Gluz. Several other tracks from their catalogue were tossed into the mix such as “Dead Eyes See No Future”. While one would expect a top-notch performance from musicians of the calibre found in Arch Enemy, this tour is a proving ground for White-Gluz. The reception from the audience was fantastic, and her performance as front woman equally so. 

Personally, while Angela Gossow is a legend in her own right, I feel as though Alissa White-Gluz has the edge in being a well-fitting vocalist in this band. While I’m more of a casual Arch Enemy fan, I certainly enjoyed their set on this particular evening, as the rest of the crowd seemed to as well. I quite liked ‘War Eternal’, and I’m often a little skeptical of changing vocalists when the current vocalist works. In Arch Enemy’s case, this seems like a well-planned move which will only bring them to greater heights. 

* Starkill was not present for the Canadian dates of this tour, which was somewhat disappointing as they have been solid openers for a number of other shows that I have attended.