Seventh Wonder’s 5th studio album released in October of last year and is well worth a listen. It is a great progressive metal/ hard rock album with incredible performances. Seventh Wonder is a progressive metal band from Sweden. Their singer, Tommy Karevik, also sings for the metal band Kamelot.
It is a concept album. It follows the story of humanity suddenly facing judgement by an alien race who has watched us throughout history (the Everones). The Everones have decided that humanity has squandered their gift of life and are destructive and indulgent, so therefor must be destroyed. Humanity’s fate lies with Tiara, a young girl prized for her honesty, and she is sent to plead humanity’s case to the Everones.
While there may be holes in the story, do remember it is not a full on book.
The musicianship and vocal performances are outstanding and well worth your time.
While I mostly post about anime, I do share other things I’m loving at times. And what I’m most excited for right now is an upcoming concert.
Nightwish!
I have missed these guys several times as they have passed near me, but not this time. I, and my boys, will be checking them out.
Give them a listen if you haven’t heard them before.
I honestly think the videos are kinda cheesy, but the songs are awesome.
While not about anime, it is something I nerd out about: Music.
The boys and I are off to Milwaukee Saturday to see heavy metal bands: Kamelot and Dragonforce. While Dragonforce are okay, I love Kamelot. I have been hoping to see them for several years and missed them several times when they’ve come through my way.
So here is some Kamelot.
Enjoy if you like!
From their newest album: Haven
From their album: Silverthorn
With their old singer Roy Khan, my favorite song by Kamelot: Memento Mori
The new Nightwish album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, is out. The Finnish symphonic metal band has put out this new album, the first with their new vocalist, Floor Jansen. It draws on science and the natural world for several of the lyrical themes on the album. It is worth a listen.
I particularly like the following tracks:
Shudder Before the Beautiful (With spoken introduction by biologist Richard Dawkins)
Edema Ruh (inspired by author Patrick Rothfuss novels)
I admit it. I like Babymetal. It is not all that surprising: I like metal. I like j-pop. Why not like the combination of these two things.
Babymetal formed as an offshoot of the female idol group, Sakura Gakuin. The producer, “Kobametal”, wanted a way to feature Suzuka Nakamoto’s (Su-metal) vocals and thus came the idea for Babymetal. With two back up singers/ dancers Moametal and Yuimetal to provide contrast along with an extremely talented backing band you now have this powerhouse of j-pop vocals over brutal technical metal.
And it has worked….
But can they win over metal fans? I would say: to some degree: Yes! They played (successfully at Sonisphere without getting booed or laughed out of the place.
They have met some of metal’s biggest acts (admittedly they had no idea who they were meeting half of the time).
With Taiwanese Death Metal band: Chthonic
They recently collaborated with Power Metal band: Dragonforce.
They met the “nice old men” , Thrash Metal giants: Slayer.
As well as another of the “Big Four”: Anthrax.
Oddly (or not) enough they also have toured with Lady Gaga.
Does this have anything to do with anime? No, not really. But I do believe that if AKB48 could have an anime based off of them, so could Babymetal. I somehow envision them fighting demons with the power of metal and j-pop. To whoever develops this idea into a show: you’re welcome.
Listen to Babymetal, love Babymetal. Head-bang and dance. Enjoy, because life is too short to take things to seriously all of the time.
I will be the first to admit that I am a nerd for epic things. I love an over-the-top bit of action. Bombastic music. Heavy Metal.
Metal filled this need in me. Dragons, demons, warriors, and wizards all could be found there. Cheesy, epic goodness. Metal acts from Europe have been great in filling that need for epic music.
Within Temptation has some great music. Check out this song featuring guest vocalist, Xzibit.
Nightwish from Finland has been perfecting their big sound over the years. Ghost Love Score is a perfect example.
But this is an anime blog, no?
Ok. So what are the OPs and EDs that are most epic?
I would be remiss if I did not include the Attack on Titan OP first.
Only My Railgun by Fripside is pretty a pretty big sounding bit of electronica.
But for me lately it is the Guilty Crown OP by Supercell. I can’t get enough of this song.
Do yourself a favor and listen to the full version. Turn it up. Bask in the awesome!
I love music. Always have. I grew up in the 1970’s listening to my dad’s old Beatles records or music that my older sister turned me on to like Queen and Styx. My parents indoctrinated me with ethnic folk music (mostly Latin American). When I hit middle school it was the early 1980s. New wave and Brit pop were in. I listened to Devo, Howard Jones, Heaven 17, Nik Kershaw, The Fixx, Adam Ant, and Billy Idol (his new album has some great songs BTW).
But high school was the game changer. I got into hard rock and heavy metal. I loved it. I grew my hair out, donned black t-shirts, and wore leather. From Kiss to Def Leppard, Dokken to Dio, Megadeth to Slayer. I couldn’t get enough.
And then there was Iron Maiden.
Forget about it. They were (and still are) my favorite. Soaring vocals, long songs, intricate guitar work, lyrics with depth (often based off of literature or historical events), all on top of the theatrics of a huge stage show. What is not to love.
As the 80’s progressed there came heavier stuff: Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica. I consumed them all. But one of the big 4 appealed to me most of all.
Anthrax.
Why Anthrax. They had all the appeal of heavy guitars and crashing drums that any adolescent boy would love, but they had something else as well. They were positive and they were fun. These guys read comic books, wore Bermuda shorts, wrote songs about Stephan King books, collaborated with Public Enemy, and acted goofy. In all the doom, gloom and seriousness of metal, Anthrax were fun and often gave positive messages.
So jump to 25 years later: how did I get from this:
That is ClariS. The song “Click” is the Opening theme (OP) to the anime Nisekoi. ClariS is a very talented duo girls from Hokkaido, Japan. They got together in 2009 when they were in junior high, doing cover songs and submitting them to a video sharing site. They were signed to a label and by the next year released their first single “Irony” which was used for the Oreimo OP. They have since released 3 albums and numerous singles, many of which are associated with popular anime.
I love ClariS’s little bubble gum pop songs. They are addictive. They are happy sounding. They are fun. And I think that is what it comes down to for me: Fun.
I also come to enjoy a song through the visual and emotional connection that one has with a show that I’ve enjoyed. I hear the song every show. I enjoy the show. I come to enjoy the song. Now not all OP songs are created equal in my experience, but that is true with all music.
That’s enough for now. But listen to new things, love new things, see what the world has to offer. If I didn’t I would still only listen to heavy metal…and that is just one small part of what life can give you.
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