Songs From The Best Albums of 2010 (by hurricane_mario)

I have had this idea in my head to do this since about february. I realized that there were so many releases that come out every year that I needed a way to keep track. So, I kept this journal. I ended up making a top-20. 20 songs in this compilation are from the 20 albums there. Disk 1 contains songs 20-8, Disk 2 contains 7-1 interspersed with 7 other noteworthy songs. I will probably do a disk 3 "EP" later because SO MANY great songs came out in 2010.

On that note, I feel the need to discuss some major points music-wise this year.
- My year started with the frantic anticipation for Alcest and Les Discrets albums, due to the split album they put out in 2009. They both exceeded my expectations.
- Then, I found out the new Burzum album had been released, which was at the top of my chart for a month. Then came Kalmah which replaced that, then came Angra which replaced that and stayed there, because they are my favorite band.
- There were a lot of big-name bands that had released amazing albums a few years ago, but released really disappointing albums this year. Kamelot, Helloween, Blind Guardian, Astral Doors, Wuthering Heights, among others.
- At this point I was still playing Alcest and Les Discrets repeatedly and needed more of this genre - so I found Lantlos, Grey Waters, the new Drudkh album (Soliness also stood out but they did not release any material this year). I also tried a lot of regular shoegaze and of the dozens I tried, Depreciation Guild and Amusement Parks on Fire stood out. I still hope to find more.
- Also in here are just a lot of my favorite bands that cannot possibly make a bad album for my ears. Rhapsody, Joe Satriani, Sofa Surfers, Heimataerde, Stratovarius (Well, the composer of Stratovarius -- Revolution Renaissance), and finally the return of Mr. Big (technically released in 2011 but it leaked)!
- Shining I found completely by accident, I was looking for the Depressive Black Metal band, and instead I found this really unique and exciting journey of an album with the same band name.
- Tetsuo Sakurai is Jazz Fusion, if you don't know what that is, check it out! Basically speedy jazz fused with progressive rock. It features my favorite drummer, Dennis Chambers, and TS is a really great bassist virtuoso.
- Cee Lo Green gets my vote for the biggest surprise of the year, and only "mainstream" album I enjoyed this year. You may know him from "Gnarls Barkley" with their one-hit wonder "Crazy" a few years ago. This album starts with a nice intro, and each song is just captivating in it's own way, while at the same time feeling like a coherent album. Like, each song fits together in this order perfectly and it makes sense.
- Just wanted to note how clear and loud the Bass line is in Lantlos. Had it blasting one day and the guy upstairs complained that the floor was shaking, that it sounded like a vaccuum!
- Angra's song is not a "power ballad" in the traditional sense, I cannot explain it, but I guess that is why I like it so much.

Anyway, here is the track list below. The bitrate is mostly 256kbps and higher, except for (ironically) track 1-1 and track 2-13, which are 192kbps. They are all MP3 except track 1-7 and 2-2 which are AAC. The downloads are the songs themselves along with a m3u file. My interpretation of the genre of each song, which is somewhat subjective, are listed next to the song. I arranged them in the order that sounded best as a playlist, not in the order of my top 20.

As it turns out, completely by chance, Disk 1 is more chill and atmospheric and rock, and Disk 2 is more "metal." They are sub-74 minutes so they could easily be burned to CDs. As usual, I made these playlists for myself but figured someone else might enjoy them!


Disk 1 (Play time - 1:12:51)
1. Mr. Big - Undertow (Melodic / Hard Rock)
2. Pretty Maids - Cielo Drive (Thrashy Heavy Metal)
3. Analog Rebellion - Brain ≠ Heart (I Need To Know) (Downtempo / Indie / Rock)
4. The Depreciation Guild - Dream About Me (Downtempo / Shoegaze / Chiptune/8bit)
5. Heimataerde - Maarat An Numan (Darkwave / Electronic Body Music)
6. Tetsuo Sakurai - Another Kingdom (Jazz Fusion)
7. Sofa Surfers - Heavy Water (Progressive Rock-ish? / Trip-Hop? / Difficult to Categorize)
8. Mar de Grises - The Bell and the Solar Gust (Epic/Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal)
9. Les Discrets - Song For Mountains (Atmospheric / Blackened Shoegaze (Clean Vocals) / Post-Black Metal)
10. Lantlôs - Pulse/Surreal (Shoegazened Black Metal >:D (Black Vocals))
11. Alcest - Percées De Lumière (Shoegazened Black Metal)
12. Amusement Parks On Fire (Shoegaze)
13. Alex Band - Never Let You Go (Alternative Rock)
14. Dexter Freebish - Shine On (Alternative Rock / Electro)

Disk 2 (Play Time - 1:13:19)
1. Joe Satriani - Premonition (Instrumental Rock / Guitar Virtuoso)
2. Rhapsody of Fire - Sea of Fate (Power Metal)
3. The Last Days - Make The Change...Are Your Last Days (Atmospheric Instrumental / Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
4. Senmuth - Под знаменами Тэтишери (Symphonic Ethno Industrial Metal)
5. Shining - The Madness And The Damage Done, Pt. 1 (Progressive/Avant-Garde Rock with Black Metal, Electronic and Jazz influences)
6. Drudkh - Twilight Aureole (Post-Black Metal / Shoegazened Black Metal)
7. Kalmah - Godeye (Epic/Melodic Death Metal)
8. Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City (Produced By Ben H. Allen Co-Produced By Graham Marsh) (Symphonic Hip-Hop / Melodic Vocals, not Rap)
9. Rage - Empty Hollow (Symphonic/Epic Power Metal)
10. Grey Waters - The Truth is in Your Eyes (Depressive Rock / Emo Vocals)
11. Arid - Custom Gold (Melodic/Progressive Rock)
12. Revolution Renaissance - Crossing the Rubicon
13. Angra - Lease of Life (my #1 song of 2010 / Power Metal "Ballad")

Mediafire Download (Disk 1)
Mediafire Download (Disk 2)

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A Metal Hurricane, Vol. 4

Genre: Varies, see description and track listing.
Quality: Mostly over 192kbps MP3, one is AAC.
About: I believe this is my best playlist to date. If you're here, likely you already have bands like Alcest (Track 8), Angra (10), Revolution Renaissance (14), and Grey Waters (9). But you probably don't have Yearning (1), Far Beyond (3), Enter My Silence (7), Pay No Respect (12), or Shadow Gallery (15). These are all great and very underrated metal bands! I won't say more specific things about the aforementioned bands, you should experience them for yourself.

Because of bands like Alcest, Austere and all related bands, I've been getting more into shoegaze. It is called that because founding artists generally stared straight down during live performances. I used last.fm shoegaze radio to find bands like The Depreciation Guild (5), who became an instant favorite. This song has such a great beat and I wish I was in a band because it would be such a nice candidate for a power metal cover!

I've always been into very melodic music, whether it's rock or metal or anything else. I was randomly browsing a blog, and I usually hate when music is played on music-blogs because people are probably already listening to music while browsing! But in this case it was a very good thing because I heard another instant favorite - Brother Firetribe (2). This is melodic rock but it is somewhat heavy at times, and it is interesting because it was actually founded by the guitarist/composer from nightwish! Annette is even in one song (not this one). The singer here is absolutely incredible, he is like a combination of Mark Boals and Michael Kiske which are my two favorite living singers. Powerful yet clean.

Kymera (6) is another unknown amazing melodic rock band, with another vocalist who reminds me of Kiske.

Glen Hansard (4) is an amazing singer-songwriter and the best decision he ever made was to release a movie called Once in 2006. This is direct from the movie and I'm not sure why but just seemed to fit very well in that spot in the playlist.

Serj Tankian (11) is of course the singer from System of A Down. I consider their first album a metal album, but since then the band and the recent solo projects have shifted more to a mainstream alternative sound. Here, he experiments which I really like. The album as a whole is too slow and uneventful, but this track grabbed me. I guess the disco-type beat.

Billionaires Boys Club (13) is the epitome of unknown hard rock. It features Mark Boals on vocals, and had some really enjoyable songs such as this one. It's just one of those bands that remained unknown for some reason. Lack of promotion and touring. This band would have done really well today now that we have internet to find all this great music!


Track List (1:13:22 total time):
1. Yearning - Bleak (Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal / Clean Vocals)
2. Brother Firetribe - I'm on Fire (Melodic Hard Rock / AOR)
3. Far Beyond - My Way Of Endless Grief (Melodic Power Metal)
4. Glen Hansard - Say it to Me Now (Acoustic / Singer-Songwriter)
5. The Depreciation Guild - Crucify You (Shoegaze / Chiptune / 8bit)
6. Khymera - No sacrifice (Melodic Rock / AOR)
7. Enter My Silence - Thin Red Line (Melodic Death Metal)
8. Alcest - Tir Nan Og (Atmospheric/Acoustic Black Metal / Shoegaze)
9. Grey Waters - The Truth is in Your Eyes (Depressive Black Rock/Metal / Shoegaze / Emo)
10. Angra - Lease of Life (Power Metal / Ballad)
11. Serj Tankian - Deserving? (Symphonic/Alternative Rock/Pop)
12. Pay No Respect - Only the Brave (Hardcore / Beatdown)
13. Billionaires Boys Club - Send Your Fat Friend Home (Hard Rock / Glam Metal / AOR)
14. Revolution Renaissance - Crossing the Rubicon (Power Metal)
15. Shadow Gallery - Colors (Melodic Metal / Ballad)

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*As usual, the music files are included as well as a .m3u file. If you have problems, let me know.*

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Dexter Freebish - Shine On (2010) (mp3 @ V0, 100% .log, .cue)

Genre: Alternative Rock / Electro-pop
Quality: mp3 @ V0 with .log and .cue
About: In the long awaited followup for a small group of dedicated fans (it has been 6 years since their last LP), Dexter Freebish moves in more of an electro-pop direction while still retaining their unique rock sound. I was upset they changed their style at first, but upon many listens it just sort of "clicked" and I found the songs running through my head. As you progress through the album they use the Pop-beat less (and not at all) which is good because it makes for variety. The best ones are "Everybody Knows Somebody", a more hard-rock sounding "Shine On", and the final track "Come Down" is completely acoustic.

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The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (2010)

Genre: Shoegaze, Chiptune
Quality: VBR mp3 @ 256ish (maybe v0?)
About: I have been getting really interested in shoegaze thanks to bands like Alcest, Les Discrets, the new Drudkh album.... So I put on shoegaze tag radio on last.fm. Of everything I heard I liked this the best. I have been getting progressively more addicted to this album. Every song will have something you like. The best songs are "Dream about me" and "crucify you".

Side-note: Sorry for lack of updates. Really busy with school and stuff. This may be my last update until the semester is over, mid-december.

Second side-note: Switching back to mediafire, I haven't gotten a broken RAR from them in a long time so maybe they FINALLY fixed it!

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A Gothic Hurricane (by hurricane_mario)

Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Symphonic metal, related genres.
Quality: Varied
About: I had a few of these songs going through my head the other day so I decided to make a playlist. I tried to steer away from non real gothic bands that idiots tag as gothic just because there's a female singer. But a few crept in towards the end when I ran out of ideas. I don't listen to gothic much, but when I do it's songs like these.

1. The Old Dead Tree - Start the Fire
2. Ava Inferi - Colours Of The Dark
3. To/Die/For - Guilt Ridden State
4. Flowing Tears - Godless
5. Moonspell - Everything Invaded
6. Rapture - (About) Leaving
7. Krypteria - My Fatal Kiss
8. Lacrimas Profundere - A Pearl
9. Theatre Of Tragedy - Silence
10. Aesma Daeva - The Camp of Souls
11. Xandria - Now & Forever
12. The Sins of Thy Beloved - My Love
13. HIM - Your Sweet Six Six Six
14. Sirenia - The Last Call
15. Within Temptation - What Have You Done (Feat. Keith Caputo)

Same as last time. The songs and a .m3u file. Hope it works right. Definitely will work in VLC though.


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A Metal Hurricane, Vol. 3

Genre: Various... see each song
Quality: Various, sorry can't be helped. 
Length: 72:25 minutes  
About: This is even more a conglomeration of genres than my first two. But it just shows how varied my taste is and I hope there's something in here for everyone. This is basically the soundtrack to my summer, with the blanks filled in with some stuff that was running through my head one night and some stuff I haven't heard in a couple years.

There's a few songs in here I know most people have so I tried to pick a less known version. There's also some completely unknown stuff that everyone needs to hear. So, yeah hope someone enjoys it! If not, I know at least I will.

Note: I created a .m3u and threw all the files in one folder with it this time to try it (it should be easier). Any media player should have an import playlist option. iTunes's is (stupidly placed, as usual) File, Library, Import Playlist.
(Edit: After experimenting I found if m3u's work is completely dependent on the player you use. With my original upload, VLC worked, Windows media player missed like half the songs, itunes misses Beer Mosh. Removing the accent in "Prision" made it work. Seriously? Well if you have problems I'm sorry and you'll have to add them to the playlist manually, but I do not want to retag all my music like I did with the first two all my previous compilations.)

Track Commentaries:

(These descriptions were written at 4am so apologies for poor grammar and such.)

Kalmah - One of Fail (Melodic Death Metal)

Well this band proves they can do no wrong, as it is their 6^th album and they continue to get consistently more amazing. Take low growling aggressive vocals, combine it with guitars which are equally aggressive but make beautiful melodies during the choruses, then keyboards to complement with insane countermelodies, and the drums drive the song forward so you can’t not listen. One of those songs you quite literally cannot get tired of.

Munetaka Higuchi with Dream Castle - What Cost War (Heavy / Thrash(?) Metal)

Ever since Dio’s untimely passing I have been working towards getting every guest recording he ever did (since I already have all of the projects he was a permanent member in… I promise I will share it someday! It’s on my to do list, way down on it). Well here we have quite possibly his most impressive vocal performance of his life. Ridiculous screams and just downright aggressive vocals. Most people, even really hardcore fans probably don’t know about it so, here it is. I’m like having chills and shaking a little by the end of this song.

Sarah Brightman - Here with me (Chillout, Classical, Pop)

So after that we need a chill down song. Probably everyone breathing has heard this. Quite simply Dido is one of my favorite female vocalists and songwriters. But I am presenting the version off one of my favorite albums of all time, from one of the few vocalists I like better than Dido. The album is “La Luna” (2000). Even though it is primarily (or entirely) cover songs it has this magical yet melancholic atmosphere about it.

Wildfire - Summer Lightning (Traditional Heavy Metal / Hard Rock)

I cannot get enough of unknown 80’s traditional heavy metal/hard rock. It’s like, 1000 of these bands formed in mid 80s, whipped out an album then broke up after making 2 dollars profit. But they are all so awesome and I keep finding them, on vinyl in perfect condition for 1 dollar at record stores. And I’m so glad I do. Perhaps these bands were before their time? This genre is so awesomedfjask;glf.

Led Zeppelin - Good Times, Bad Times (Classic Rock)

I’m not a hardcore Zeppelin fan and in fact my favorite song is “When The Levee Breaks” by them. But this song was running through my head and actually is what inspired to make this playlist. What more needs to be said about them that hasn’t been said in the past 40 years? It’s short, simple, and sweet. I looked for a live version but there honestly isn’t one. Do they not like this song? Well I sure do… sorry if you have it already.

Black Sabbath - War Pigs (Classic Rock / Heavy Metal)

And here’s another classic everyone knows. It was made one year after and in fact was the next song that came to mind for this playlist. But I don’t want to provide the Ozzy version everyone and their grandmother have in their library already. I thought about the Dio live version, but I honestly think the band goes way overkill… both Dio with his random shouting of words and the band for extending the song by like 5 minutes with random riffs. So here’s the 1983 live version during the short time former Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan was in this band. He does love the sound of his voice, lol. It’s somewhat cheesy but I find this particular version more enjoyable than the original.

Lee DeWyze & Crystal Bowersox - Falling Slowly (Acoustic, Pop, Rock)

Well my two favorite contestants from American Idol Season 9 (the first season I have ever watched by the way) were #1 and #2 and they had a duet together. How perfect can you get.  Honestly the live version was more passionate but I can’t find it. I just… speechless. It’s from the 2006 movie “Once” which I have been meaning to watch ever since I heard this song, just hasn’t happened yet. I was hoping I could get a girlfriend to watch it with as it seems like that kinda movie. But anyway, next song.

Jeff Scott Soto - Our Song (Melodic Hard Rock)

Honestly do not like a lot of his solo stuff as it’s too poppy and wanna be mainstream and lame. But this song is a straight up hard rock affair and man it rocks.

Heaven’s Guardian - Slaves of Reality (Heavy / Power Metal)

Quite literally the most unknown heavy metal band of all time for how awesome it is. The singer Carlos Zema is my #3 favorite singer ever as he can have a beautiful clean voice or the most insane screams you can ever hear, or a low growling voice which is more what is in this song.

W.E.T. - One Love (Melodic Rock)

The cover art does describe it as well as anything, it’s like standing out in the heavy rain but amidst the water you hear this beautiful music. Too cheesy of a description maybe. Well this is actually Jeff Scott Soto singing, but it’s hard to tell as he sings a lot higher range that in most of his other stuff. It sounds like he’s straining a little through the whole album but it makes it sound more passionate and genuine.

Eric Martin - Fly (Melodic Hard Rock)

Here’s IMO the greatest solo song from the Mr. Big singer. Better than much of what Mr. Big has done and that’s saying a lot.

Space Odyssey - Despair and Pain (Heavy / Power Metal)

Well I’m not sure how well known this is but every power/fantasy metal fan must hear this song. This particular composer has done so much amazing music but has gone MIA since about 2006 and me and much of the community is upset. Anyway, this is as great of a power metal song as you could hope for but makes it stand out is the vocals. Nils Patrik Johannson, also an unknown singer but he is my #4 favorite for sure. He has the most beautiful clean voice I have ever heard, but unfortunately he rarely uses it as he sings metal. Still he has the greatest growling voice that can effortlessly go to a ear piercing scream. Often he sounds like a dog barking though especially in recent years, but not in this album! Well that was an unexpected rant.

Pretty Maids - Old Enough to Know (Melodic Heavy Metal / Power Metal Ballad)

Melodic acoustic heavy metal power ballad. Jakslfjsfgdfsk;l I am a sucker for a good power ballad and this is the best one I’ve heard in many moons. This band is like 20 some years old and they still sound so fresh and relevant. Ironically this song is about how they’re old and all the stuff they’ve learned.

Beer Mosh - Muero (Thrash Metal)

Downloaded this band blindly for the name. So glad I did. I had never understood true thrash metal before this song and afterwards I can’t get enough of it. This is just plain a kicka** heavy as f*** song that every metalhead needs to hear.  They are unknown though so I bet no one reading this has this. Amazing bass solo and disturbing guitar solos towards the end.

Slumber - Rapture (Epic Doom/Death Metal)

As if it’s not obvious enough this band ripped off the Finnish band Rapture just by listening, they had the nerve to title a song Rapture. But I believe they take this style of music to a whole new level of atmosphere and immersion. It’s like, floating on a dark sea in a storm.

Like a Storm - Change Tomorrow (Acoustic Hard Rock Ballad)

I have this full album on my blog, but I just re-found it so I want to put it here. Completely acoustic ballad and these great Michael Kiske-esque vocals.  Kinda the same vocal style as Kiske but somewhat deeper voice. I dunno, time for bed. :)


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Alex Band - We've all been there (2010) (v0 mp3, 100% log, .cue)

Genre: Alternative/Pop Rock
Quality: v0 mp3, 100% log, .cue
About: It's kind of a long story how I came to own a signed copy of this album. A while back I heard The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go" on the radio and I was like, oh crap I remember this, I love this song and this guy's voice makes me melt into butter. That doesn't make sense but who cares. So I got both of The Calling's albums but found out they broke up in 2005. But I found out the vocalist, Alex Band was doing a solo album so I followed him on twitter. I didn't give it much attention even until one day I saw "Get a signed copy of my album now..." on my twitter feed. So I listened to the album, loved it, and thought it was good enough to deserve my hard earned money. I got a signed copy off his official website, since the collector in me needed it.

Since I got it I have listened 100 more times. I thought it was worthwhile to go through the PITA process of setting up EAC for V0. While I'm not a music quality elitist, I appreciate that v0 is the best trade off between quality and compact file sizes. I don't honestly know what to do with a .cue (something about burning it back to CD, not that you'd do that anyway *AHEM AHEM*) but I provided it anyway in case someone might want it. And let me know if it does work as I'm curious.

Enough techno babble, on to the album. It's alternative rock at it's core but not like the majority of alternative rock on the radio where people are like "I'M GROWLING CAUSE IM SO HARDCOREEEE" and generic riffs. Here we have really melodic guitar and vocal lines, tons of unique ideas all over the place. At the same time it seems like one coherent thought process and all the songs fit together like a puzzle to make a great album. It's difficult to listen to just one song cause I always end up listening to the whole album.

Stand outs are "We've All Been There" "Euphoria" "Never Let You Go" "Start Over Again".

I also included "Cruel One (feat. Chantal Kreviazuk & Emmy Rossum)" which is not v0 because it is an iTunes-only bonus track (why??????). Enjoy, let me know what you think, and let Alex know by buying it!

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New Angra Song! - Arising Thunder (2010) from the upcoming album "Aqua"

Genre: Power Progressive Metal
Quality: 320 kbps MP3
About: I'd have to say at first listen this new song from my favorite band, their first song in 4 years, is just good overall. Verses are a little boring, chorus is amazing and the manditory power metal speed solos are great as usual but nothing too special there. Well try it and see for yourself, here's a link direct from their site to download the new song. Watch for the new album "Aqua" on October 5! Rest assured it will be on this blog on or before release date.

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Pretty Maids - Pandemonium (2010)

Genre: Heavy / Power Metal
Quality: MP3 256 kbps
About: One of those albums where each song just keeps getting better. It's another one of those bands that had a traditional 80s heavy metal / hard rock sound and gradually evolved to power metal, much like Rage, Sinner, Riot, or the many other similar artists. But they do it better than most. Pretty much all my spare time since I found it Sunday has been spent listening to this album. I don't know how to describe it except you need to listen if you're a fan of this genre!

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Suicide Solution, Vol. 2

Genre: Depressive Suicidal Black Metal + closely related genres.
Quality: 192-320kbps mp3.
About: In these past 10 months since I made Vol. 1, I've found I'd only scratched the surface of what is actually a very deep and varied genre. I want to let the world know that, while I discover it for myself. There are countless clone bands: Fast blast beats, screaming nonsense, no melody, sounds like it was recorded with a tape recorder from a dollar store on the other side of a brick wall........ That is what this collection aims to avoid.

I wanted a collection of unique yet similar sounds and ideas, with a production value that can at least be appreciated and doesn't hamper enjoyment of each song. I personally believe I did a pretty good job. I also kept it limited to 74 minutes, the standard for a CD. (Especially hard since songs of this genre tend to be so long!). I also created a cover which will be used for all future entries in this series.

I hope you will find as much enjoyment out of these songs as I do.

1. Lantlôs - These Nights Were Ours (Kind of obsessed with this song and I think its a good playlist opener. My #1 song of 2010 and I don't see how anything can top it.)

2. Happy Days - Don't Go (Really emotional song ending in what sounds like a wolf howl. Just chilling. Since I stupidly used their cover for Vol. 1 I figured I should put them in here.)

3. Apati - Sömnlösa Nätter (Just found this "black rock" band and instantly love them. Apparently their new album that just came out is even better.)

4. Monarque - La Vallée Des Larmes (This is what I was talking about when I said "unique" sounds.)

5. Mortuus Infradaemoni - Mortuus Et Prodeunt Infradaemoni (Raw yet clear song and I just love the riff. You'll know which one I'm talking about. Not technically "depressive" but come on, it is. So underrated I had to put them on here.)

6. Silencer - Taklamakan (No idea what this song is about, but it just gets into this awesome jam part where you want to bang your head.)

7. Shining - Krossade Drömmar Och Brutna Löften (I won't argue if you say they're overrated, but this is a heartfelt completely acoustic guitar track that's melancholic and sad and a great interlude.)

8. Walknut - Come, Dreadful Ygg (Another unique band I just found and need to devote more time to.)

9. All the Cold - Coldly to Heart (Essentially the last song of the "Children of Failure" split, one of the few albums to seriously make me feel like crying as the songs are so emotional. It just keeps beating you down harder, you need to get it if you don't have it.)

10. Austere - To fade with the Dusk (This band split up recently but with this song you can hear how amazing they were. Really the classic DSBM sound but they do it so perfectly and clearly.)

11. Sad Legend - The Reaper's Song (From the newest album, it seems like something is missing but that only makes me like it a little more, I think.)

Runtime: 72:42

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Lantlôs - .neon (2010) (320kbps MP3)

Genre: Atmospheric/Depressive/Suicidal Blackened Shoegaze
Quality: 320kbps MP3
About: Yesterday I discovered this came out, and since I had listened to their album and demos before and liked them, I thought ok I should get it. But if someone had ran my face over with a steamroller I would not have been more surprised. This is a band who has matured so much over the past 5 years, from an almost blast-beat-fest on every song, to... this. Every song brings this wave of emotions, varying from anger to introspective to sad. The musical content varies along with it, there are moments of the fast aggressive black metal everyone loves, then there's passages with progressive-sounding beats and also minimalist parts. I don't know what more to say except it must be heard to be believed. New song of the year: "These Nights Were Ours."

Recommended A must-listen for all fans of the genre, in fact the multi-instrumentalist creator of Alcest is the permanent singer for this band now, and the artwork was done by a member of Les Discrets.

Neige - Vocals (Alcest, Peste Noire, Mortifera (Fra), Phest, Amesoeurs)
Herbst - Guitar, Bass, Drums, Lyrics (Epitaph, Herbst, Impavida, Líam)

Cover artwork by Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets).

1. Minusmensch 07:49 2. These Nights Were Ours 04:41 3. Pulse / Surreal 08:21 4. Neige de Mars 05:01 5. Coma 06:07 6. Neon 07:42 Total playing time 39:41

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Mägo de Oz - Gaia III: Atlantia (2010) (v0 mp3)

Genre: Epic Symphonic Folk Power Metal / Folk Rock
Quality: mp3 @ v0 (224kbps VBR)
About: While not quite up to par with their epic masterpiece "Gaia II: La Voz Dormida" this is an amazing album. This album quite simply has everything, while still feeling like a unified album. There are somber and slow parts, there are epic power metal songs with flutes in the background, synthesizer solos, there are Folk Rock songs. The song that particularly stood out for me though was "El Violín Del Diablo" featuring Patricia Tapia (Nexx, KHY) on vocals. It's a haunting song, much different from their usual happy partying and dancing style.

Here's a videoclip of their single illustrating that haunting feeling a couple songs have... but then they say screw it and start drinking and partying again XD.

9.5/10

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guests: Kutxi Romero (Marea) - Vocals in "Vodka'n Roll" Carlos Escobedo (Savia, Sôber) - Vocals in "El Príncipe de la Dulce Pena IV" Jorge Salán - Guitar Solos in "Mi Hogar Eres Tú" Francis Sarabia (Campillo) - Vocals in "La Ira de Gaia" and "Atlantia" Natalia Martín - Chorus in "Atlantia" Tony Menguiano - Vocals in "Atlantia" Tete Novoa - Vocals in "Atlantia" Silverio "Silver" Solórzano - Vocals in "Atlantia" Javier Díez - (Ebony Ark, Jorge Salan, Wayland) Keyboards solo in "Atlantia" Leo Jiménez "La Bestia" (Saratoga, 037, Stravaganzza, Supra) - Vocals in "Atlantia" Track List:

Disc 1 1. El latido de Gaia 04:07 2. Dies irae 09:26 3. Für immer 04:42 4. Vodka 'n' Roll 03:36 5. El Príncipe de la Dulce Pena (parte IV) 04:23 6. Mi hogar eres tú 06:03 7. Fuerza y honor: el Dorado (instrumental) 04:48 8. El Violín del Diablo 04:55 9. Siempre (Adiós Dulcinea - parte II) 04:45 Disc 2 1. Mis demonios (atrévete a vivir) 04:13 2. Que el viento sople a tu favor 04:16 3. Sueños dormidos 05:16 4. Aún amanece gratis 04:52 5. La Soga del Muerto (Ayahuasca) 03:14 6. La ira de Gaia 06:48 7. Atlantia 19:14 Total playing time 01:34:38

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Rhapsody Of Fire - The Frozen Tears Of Angels (2010) (with Digipak bonus tracks)

Genre: Epic Symphonic Power Metal
Quality: .m4a (AAC) @ 256kbps
About: While I could argue that their songs sound rehashed from old riffs on old albums, and some of the song structures seem tired...

And, I wish they had utilized the Narration more as they did in previous albums. Their albums are each supposed to tell a story - for example the last one was about a band of heros questing to find some ancient book in a cave on a mountain, then when they get it they find out its cursed and try to run out with it. More or less. - but this album just seems like a bunch of songs with similar themes...

However, this is still a great album from the Epic Power Metal kings. However, it's the non-power metal songs that really shine through for me. "Crystal Moonlight," "Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio" (Dance of Fire and Ice), "Lost In Cold Dreams," "The Frozen Tears Of Angels." They all have a very fresh feeling and I've never heard anything like them from Rhapsody, or any band for that matter.

Solid 9.0 from me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the third chapter of "The Dark Secret Saga", which began with "Symphony
Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret".

Track List:

1.	Dark Frozen World	02:13
2.	Sea of Fate	04:47
3.	Crystal Moonlight	04:25
4.	Reign of Terror	06:52
5.	Danza Di Fuoco E Ghiaccio	06:25
6.	Raging Starfire	04:56
7.	Lost in Cold Dreams	05:12
8.	On the Way to Ainor	06:58
9.	The Frozen Tears of Angels	11:15
Total playing time		53:03

The special limited deluxe digipak has two bonus tracks: (Included here)
10. Labyrinth of Madness (04:35)
11. Sea of Fate (Orchestral Version) (04:04)


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Buy from Nuclear Blast Records (Unfortunately Europe-only... if you don't want to pay insane import costs you have to wait until June 29th... That is what I am doing because I am too poor to pay 30 dollars for one album.)

Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony (2010) + Avantasia - Angel of Babylon (2010)

Genre: Symphonic Power Metal Opera
Quality: mp3 @ 320kbps
About: The Wicked Symphony sounds the most like "The Metal Opera Part III" that I've heard from Tobias Sammet since 2004's Edguy's "Hellfire Club." Tracks 2 and 3 are epically amazing, so you need to get it at the very least for those.

Angel of Babylon definitely shows his experimental side... while it is good, it is nowhere near many of his other albums, including TWS.

Anyway, here are both, for your own judgement. Personally, I believe releasing two completely different albums on the same day is a poor business move, but here they are. Buy them if you like them, delete them if you don't.


Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony
Line-up:
Tobias Sammet - Vocals, Bass
Sascha Paeth - Guitars
Michael "Miro" Rodenberg - Keyboards, Orchestration
Eric Singer - Drums

Musicians:
Bruce Kulick - Guitars (on tracks 6, 11)
Oliver Hartmann - Guitars (on tracks 2, 8)
Felix Bohnke - Drums (on tracks 1, 5, 9 11)
Alex Holzwarth - Drums (on tracks 3, 7, 8, 10)
Simon Oberender - Organ (on track 11)

Vocalists:
Jørn Lande (on tracks 1, 6, 7, 8)
Michael Kiske (on tracks 2, 6)
Russell Allen (on tracks 1, 10)
Bob Catley (on track 6)
Klaus Meine (on track 4)
Tim "Ripper" Owens (on track 3)
André Matos (on track 5)
Ralf Zdiarstek (on track 9)

Track List:

1.	The Wicked Symphony	09:28
2.	Wastelands	04:44
3.	Scales Of Justice	05:04
4.	Dying For An Angel	04:32
5.	Blizzard On A Broken Mirror	06:07
6.	Runaway Train	08:42
7.	Crestfallen	04:02
8.	Forever Is A Long Time	05:05
9.	Black Wings	04:37
10.	States Of Matter	03:57
11.	The Edge	04:12
Total playing time		01:00:30

Avantasia - Angel of Babylon
Line-up:
Tobias Sammet - Vocals, Bass
Sascha Paeth - Guitars
Michael "Miro" Rodenberg - Keyboards, Orchestration
Eric Singer - Drums

Musicians:
Bruce Kulick - Guitar (on tracks 1, 5 and 11)
Oliver Hartmann - Guitar (on tracks 1, 2 and 3)
Henjo Richter - Guitar (on track 10)
Felix Bohnke - Drums (on tracks 4, 6 and 8)
Alex Holzwarth - Drums (on tracks 1, 2, 3 and 11)
Jens Johansson - Keyboards (on track 2)
Simon Oberender - Organ (on track 9)

Singers:
Jørn Lande (on tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11)
Michael Kiske (on tracks 1 and 10)
Russell Allen (on track 1)
Bob Catley (on track 11)
Cloudy Yang (on track 8)
Jon Oliva (on track 4)

Track List:

1.	Stargazers	09:33
2.	Angel Of Babylon	05:29
3.	Your Love Is Evil	03:53
4.	Death Is Just A Feeling	05:21
5.	Rat Race	04:07
6.	Down In The Dark	04:23
7.	Blowing Out The Flame	04:51
8.	Symphony Of Life	04:30
9.	Alone I Remember	04:48
10.	Promised Land	04:47
11.	Journey To Arcadia	07:12
Total playing time		58:54

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http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0038KHTI0?ie=UTF8&tag=tobisammsavan-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1638&creative=6742&creativeASIN=B0038KHTI0

A Metal Hurricane, Vol. 2 (More of my favorite songs)

Genre: See each song description. (underlined)
Quality: Varied. Can't be helped, sorry.
About: The wait is over. I presen- what, you weren't waiting for a second "A Metal Hurricane"? F*** you then! Anyway, here is a collection of the songs I have been addicted to in the past 3 months or so. I felt compelled to create this today, for some reason. It's an eclectic mix of black metal and rock and pop and whatever else I threw in. In case you're wondering, I'll try any music of any genre once, but I do have standards. Even in Power Metal, my favorite genre, I can't stand listening to bands such as Gamma Ray and Manowar.

TRACK LIST: Run time: 1:15:43
1) Six Magics - Run (2008) This is the best power metal song I've heard in years. It's intense and face-melting as all power metal should be, but there's a political undertone, which I won't spoil. The new female singer for this band is quite simply amazing.

2) Andreas Johnson - Glorious (1999) I was hooked from the moment I heard this song. I want all his albums but they are a little hard to find. It's alternative rock but what makes it really unique is the main riff is done by a symphony orchestra, so it's so powerful and dramatic. This guys vocals are basically an orgasm in sound wave form. When he hits that high note "She", I can't believe it, it's like I died and went to heaven.

3) The Poodles - Pilot of the Storm (2009) The Poodles are melodic metal kings. Each song has a riff that just hooks you, then the chorus kicks in and it's this beautiful melody. It's backed up by great guitar work, simple but effective drumming, and of course the singer. I love vocals that are clean but a tad raw/rough/growling and that's what we have here.

4) Senmuth - Под знаменами Тэтишери (2010) While I have my complaints about how this guy does things (Releases albums at a pace of nearly 1 album per month when he could spend time improving/mastering, completely inconsistent genres), this is in contention for my favorite album of 2010 (see journal linked on right). It's symphonic industrial metal (which I never realized existed before this album), and it is just too epic to be believed. The music is clean sounding, the vocals are really unique, and I don't even know how to describe this in words. It makes me wish I had long straight hair so i could swing it around in circles and headbang.

5) Burzum - Glemselens Elv (2010) If I was forced at gunpoint to listen to only one song on repeat, for the rest of my life, this would be it. It's epic atmospheric raw black metal that sounds like it's coming straight out of some cold frostbitten cave where it's been hiding since like 1990. There are three main layers of sound here: The droning, repeating bass guitar. The rhythm guitar riff. Then the high pitch guitar riff. And then the vocals come in- raw, gritty black vocals. With just so much going on, it's amazing it didn't turn out to be just a "wall of sound." It's just all blended together so perfectly that we have this amazing work of art.

6) Be Persecuted - All End Soon (2009) This is a great depressive suicidal black metal song. It's a driving fast beat, the shrieks are heart-wrenching and the riffs are black. Not sure what more to say, other than you have to hear it to realize how awesome it is. (Apologies for the poor quality. I plan on buying this album and ripping it to v0 and putting it here, when I can spare 20 dollars... I literally can't now, not until I have a job, or you click "Donate" in the top right :D)

7) Silencer - Death - Pierce Me (2001) This song set a new standard for depressive/suicidal/atmospheric black metal. After a 2 minute acoustic intro, you are slammed with a wall of sound and screeching vocals that only someone possessed by the devil himself could pull off. Hence... He went to an institution for about 5 years after this album. But this is a masterpiece of depressive black metal and any fan (or non-fan) should hear it.

8) A-ha - Celice (2005) And now to the pop and rock I promised you. I know everyone knows a-ha as that one-hit wonder "Take on Me" but they really have a lot of varied stuff. This song is really emotional and that's why I like it so much. I couldn't decide which is my favorite song of theirs, it was between this and "Shadowside" so I took this because it's more upbeat and easily likeable. I wish I could see a-ha on their Farewell Tour but I'll be too busy looking for and starting a job. I also really hope this is not a Farewell, as all their releases are great, and arguably are getting progressively better!

9) Abney Park - Airship Pirate (2008) This song is made for me. First, it's a fantasy theme, and it's about drinking and pirates. The genre is impossible to describe, so I think people made up a new genre called "Steampunk." It's an industrial beat, but there's some symphonic parts, and in the background is this really awesome guitar riff you'd expect in metal. The vocals are odd, it's almost like he's talking to someone that's 2 feet away, it's relaxed with not much variance, but it works so well here. That all comes together to create this unique and amazing atmosphere. This whole album ("Lost Horizons") does, so if you like this check it out.

10) Creed - Away in Silence (2009) <<<<<<<<<3#<#<,,<#,,3,<#<#,,3 I usually don't do that, but this song makes me want to. Alternative Rock/Metal. I am a sucker for good ballads, and more importantly, Creed was one of the bands I grew up listening to. My FIRST CD was given to me as a gift, Christmas 2001, and it was the album "Weathered." I played that so much I'm surprised the CD didn't catch on fire. I thought their new album now that they are reunited was a bit underwhelming, but this song in particular gives me that same feeling I got Christmas break 2001. Listening to my first CD on my brand new JVC portable CD player, during a 6 hour car drive to see relatives, and it's raining outside and the rain is trickling down the windows of the car.

11) Freedom Call - Under the Spell of the Moon (2010) Again, great song on somewhat underwhelming album. It's a ballad with a really dark theme and tone... much different from their usual (what I call it.. it's an actual tag on last.fm now) "Happy bunny hopping through the field metal". This is closer to doom metal than anything else, and haunting low vocals.

12) The Wedding - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2007) This is alternative/pop/punk rock, but there's something special about this song that I can't really pinpoint. It's based off an irish sounding riff, and the soaring vocals... uh... I think I'm about review'd out for the day, lol.

13) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - So Sad To Say (1990's) I hate Ska in general, but there's something special about this band. It's more straight up rock driven, rather than "Let's be as poppy and gay as possible!". They have really nice and catchy melodies, and utilize counterharmony in the chorus so well. It's like the music echoes what the vocalist just sang. It's just a simple, catchy, happy song. I'm just upset their newest album since they reformed does in fact try to do what I have in quotes up there, rather than their unique rock driven style of ska. But we always have the old awesome stuff to listen to. I almost picked "Some Day I Suppose" but this song is just more beautiful.

14) HIM - I've crossed oceans of wine to find you (2000ish) Speaking of beautiful... I thought this would be a good closer. It's mysterious and kind of ominous/haunting. Yet beautiful. If I had to say a genre, i'd say minimalist rock/metal. This is really a simple song, just an organ and an acoustic guitar. The song is completely driven by Ville Valo's vocals. And they are just perfect. Especially when he goes up high, it's like heaven. I wish he sang like this more. And I cannot believe this song was not on a studio album! It's my favorite song I've ever heard by HIM, granted I've never heard them all, but I've at least heard all the studio albums once.
 
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Alcest - Écailles De Lune (2010) (v0 mp3)

Genre: Black Metal, Shoegaze
Quality: mp3 @ v0
About: "Stylistically, Neige reverts to the sound of Black Metal that once shaped him: a picture of heart-rending, otherworldly screams, collages filled with passion and sadness, and the characteristic clean vocals. These mellow and ageless voices manage to weave a shroud of sorrow around the album. "Écailles de Lune" is like a dream, a manifesto of transience and human inferiority. For all the changes, Neige has kept all of his trademarks: calm passages, massive slabs of guitars, catchy melodies, and hook-lines going straight to the heart – all this once more delivers a convincing articulation of ALCEST's unique style.
Close your eyes and dream along. This time, melancholy shall propel and unite us. We immerse ourselves once more in fairyland. This time, it doesn't seem fresh but fallow. Its pallor and its shadows are unfathomable, and it reveals itself to us through our senses. It is always there when we quest for it."
- http://loadown.blogspot.com/ - I wasn't going to attempt to write a better review! Great review.

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- Buy CD, Vinyl, or Limited Edition Box Set

Sofa Surfers - Blindside (2010)

Genre: Alternative Rock, Trip-Hop, Downtempo, Chillout, Experimental
Quality: AAC @ 256
About: After a long delay, the trip-hop gone chillout-rock quartet is back, as of yesterday. They keep their downtempo and relaxed rock style from the previous album, but sound like they are going back to their roots a little, on songs like "Hardwire" and "Heavy Water". Hardwire is a trip-hop song with that relaxed style of rapping that sets this band apart, and Heavy Water is a speedy instrumental rock song. Their lyrics are often unbelievably deep, which keeps you coming back for more, wondering what the true meanings are. My only complaint is the album is too short.

Here's track 1, "Playing the Game." You can see this relaxed and unique style the band has is exemplified by this video.


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- Buy - Only $8.91 on iTunes!
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- Vinyl

Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées (2010)

Genre: Atmospheric Blackened Post-Rock Shoegaze
About: A very unique take on what is already a very unique genre. Blackened Shoegaze. They only have black parts when appropriate. No screams, but blast beats and depressive guitar parts only when they feel appropriate. The album starts out really mysterious, then very heavy and dark. After 20 minutes of amazingness, we get to the title track, which is something straight out of suicidal black metal's book. A crow cawing. A sad acoustic melody. It makes me feel like I'm laying face down in the middle of a forest, lost for a week, and the crow is just waiting for me to die so he can peck at me.

It's such an amazing feeling that this song, and this while album gives. Finally, you have another heavy song, like a struggle. But then things start to look a lot brighter, a really light and content, almost cheery melody, like a new beginning after a time of terrible tribulation. I've been through feelings like that, so to relive it and know that I got through and I'm alive is just great. I can connect to it probably more than most people. If you don't like this album, I'd say its because you can't connect with the feelings it evokes.

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Wow, 1 whole download in 3 days... Guess my blog's popularity spike (About 100 downloads of Anal*g Rebellion, and 500 downloads of B*rzum, in 3 days) was in fact a fluke. Well, if you want to buy this album (You know, since you downloaded my file, listened once, and then deleted it...), here's the link!:

Buy 2-cd Art Book, Vinyl, or CD!!

Christopher Lee - Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross (2010)

Genre: Symphonic Epic Heavy Metal Opera
About: After hearing that the infamous Christopher Lee... who has done everything from being the original Dracula and Frankenstein in the 1950s, to Lord of the Rings in the 2000s, to singing in a Rhapsody song... was doing a Symphonic Metal Opera/Concept album, I could not believe it. I love concept albums, I love metal/rock operas (there are far too few of them in existence) and I love him (no homo). Even more amazing is the fact that he's like 80 years old, I think. The intro and first two acts were really slow, and barely symphonic or metal at all, and I was starting to think we might have another Saana (Timo Tolkki) on our hands. But I was so wrong. Track 3 ramps right up with a really epic Heavy Metal masterpiece, and it does not let up for the rest of the album. I will definitely have to check out his older two albums sometime, and I hope he releases another album like this in the very near future. I'm not sure if "Iberia" is a bonus track, or a hint at a second album because it ends with "They have betrayed us!". Charlemagne part 2??

Here's the promo, featuring what is basically the climax of the album: (Yes, this album is extremely cheesy. But in a good way that brings a smile to your face.)



(Sorry, they are really cracking down on this album, since it was deleted from 3 hosters within a day. I'm not going to bother re-upping as they will just delete it again. Definitely don't go torrent this instead.)

Six Magics - Behind The Sorrow (2010)

Genre: Melodic Power/Heavy Metal
About: This is the best Power Metal album I've heard in years. These guys have it down to a science, and they have their PhDs. It's primarily a female fronted album but there are lots of duets with a male vocalist. It is melodic, epic, atmospheric, sometimes heavy and even political (halfway through track 1). Favorite on first listen is either track 1 or track 10, which is the last track and a really great conclusion to a great album. It was mastered/produced by some dude that produced Dream Theater albums in the past.

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