Puny Human - It's Not The Heat, It's The Humanity

Puny Human's strength has always been in its focused riffs and precision attack. Without ever sounding stiff or mechanical, the band has honed its chunky four-piece sound to a razor's edge with It's Not the Heat, It's the Humanity. But what truly steals the show is guitarist Jason Diamond's brittle, yet full fuzz tone, which sounds as good throwing out both tight, sculpted riffs and full power chords. Channeling the riff-rock of AC/DC and Black Sabbath -- not to mention mixing in greasy 1970s biker-movie imagery -- the group may seem retro to some, but there is no denying their skill or power. And thankfully, clichéd metal and alternative rock production techniques are dismissed for a no-frills sonic stamp that matches the band's template. "The Ox," a tribute to John Entwistle, is as scathing as it is sincere. The noted Howard Johnson is credited with playing baritone sax on several tracks, but his presence is inaudible if it even made the final mix.
~~ John Duffy, All Music Guide

Track Listing
.. Champagne Minivan
.. The Toos
.. Greasin' the Wheel
.. Devil's Riff
.. The Ox
.. Even Now We Are Preparing to Love You
.. Witches Chasing Cabs
.. Bare Knuckle Live
.. Kill You In The Face
.. B.I.B.L.E.

Details
-- Year: 2003
-- Label: Small Stone Records
-- Country: USA (New York)
-- Official Homepage: http://www.punyhuman.com/
-- My Space: http://www.myspace.com/Puny_Human
-- Genre: Metal
-- Buy Me: Amazon

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Passenger - Passenger

If you're a fan of In Flames, Soilwork or any of the excellence in metal that comes from Sweden, you're probably already aware of the new supergroup known as Passenger. If not, you can definitely expect a pleasant surprise. Featuring none other than Anders Friden of In Flames notoriety on vocals, and Gardenian guitarist Niclas Engelin pounding out the riffs with true metallic glory, Passenger is the newest force to be reckoned with in today's metal scene. Channeling a sound that's an old school Nevermore/In Flames hybrid, Passenger take the new school back in time for a true, uh, old school treatment.
Opening track "In Reverse" gets things rolling at the pace of a crazed rhinoceros, boasting an opening drumbeat that is headbanging worthy. "In My Head" continues the heaviness, but with a slower tempo and Nevermore-like riff. The atmospheric verses recall a slower version of Soilwork's
"Departure Plan," while "For You" follows, showing the lighter side of the band. Friden sounds truly stellar on this song especially, as it is quite apparent that he's beefed up his lungs in preparation for the upcoming In Flames release due this fall. Though every track has its own identity and refuses to flow into the next, other highlights would definitely include "I Die Slowly," with its cathartic chorus and monster riffage, courtesy of Engelin. "Rain" thunders with the intensity of something you'd find on In Flames' "Colony," while "Circles" brings to light a new side and sound of anything either Friden or Engelin has ever done. If you're a fan of the new wave of Swedish death metal, you're going to undoubtedly enjoy this disc with the great combination of heavy riffs, rhythms and melodies. The album has the same atmosphere all along the album, but it's not boring at all.

Track Listing
1. In reverse
2. In My Head
3. For You
4. Just the Same
5. Carnival Diaries
6. Circus
7. Rain
8. Circles
9. I Die Slowly
10. Used
11. Eyes of My Mind

Details
-- Year: 2003
-- Label: Century Media
-- Country: Sweden
-- Official Homepage: None
-- Genre: Experimental Metal

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http://www.fileducky.com/jicxFqEG/
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Abydos - Abydos

Andy Kuntz proves here that is among the best composers in prog metal scene. Just awesome work, theatrical music in many places but remain in metal category. Simply one of the best albums i heared in years. Maybe the name Abydos doesn’t tell you a lot, but knowing this is the solo project from Andy Kuntz, lead singer of the German progmetal band Vanden Plas, should raise the expectations. Abydos - it refers to an Egyptian tomb site in the Valley of the Kings, where Osiris, God of ethernal reincarnation, was worshipped. Quite diffrent from his mother band Vanden Plas here are the best ideas Kuntz gathered. Very symhonyc sometimes, but also very heavy in places, just the right combination to become a masterpice of prog metal these years. Absolute every tune is from great to the best, so i give 5 stars without hesitation. The best tracks are:You broke the sun, just super,Silence (reminds of DT or Shadow Gallery, but not a copy) and the last tune and the longest A boy named fly. So in conclusion this isn’t another project from a frustrated musician, but a genuine masterpiece from a man who has used all his experience to make something unique, bravo Mr.Kuntz.
--- by Bogdan Olariu, Prog Archives

Track Listing
1. The Inhabitants Of His Diary
2. You Broke the Sun
3. Silence
4. Far Away From Heaven
5. Coopermoon (The Other Side)
6. Hyperion Sunset
7. God's Driftwood
8. Radio Earth
9. Abydos
10. Green's Guidance for a Strategy Advneture Game
11. Wildflowersky
12. A Boy Named Fly

Details
-- Year: 2004
-- Label: Inside Out
-- Country: Germany
-- Genre: Progressive Metal

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Fair Warning - 4

Founded out of the ashes of Zeno and V2, Fair Warning achieved a remarkable amount of success with their self titled debut album, especially in Japan where sales went absolutely ballistic. "The response we got from Japan was nothing short of phenomenal," Ule recalls. "To be honest, we'd expected a bit of a positive reaction in Europe at least because the reviews were so good, although in the end, the record didn't do as well as we'd hoped it would. We weren't all that impressed with how WEA handled it, although the Japanese response did make up a little bit for some of their promotional shortcomings in Europe." Given the general negativity towards traditional melodic rock back in the early 90's, that they got a deal at all was a feat in itself, let alone the fact that it was with a major label like WEA. "I think we demo'd about five or six tracks," Ule offers , "and that generated a really positive vibe around the band. In fact, I think we had about five major labels who wanted to sign us, but we went with WEA because we knew the guy in charge and we were very impressed by their commitment, which to be fair, in the beginning their intentions were very good. The problem was, although it was a worldwide deal, it was with the German WEA, and in the worldwide Warner concern, they don't really have that much say. So although they tried, they couldn't really do it for us in other countries, which is the main reason why in the end we decided to leave."
After the heady success of the Rafe McKenna (Giant, Ten, etc) produced debut, the band opted to produce follow up 'Rainmaker' themselves. "It wasn't that we weren't happy with Rafe," Ule explains, "working with him was a lot of fun, but when we'd finished the debut, the record company came back and asked us to remix four or five of the tracks on it because they preferred the sound of the original demo's. So we did, which they were very pleased with, and ever since then it's just seemed like the logical thing for us to produce ourselves. It just feels right for us really to do it that way." ... we were supposed to support Whitesnake on their European tour as well, but that had to be pulled because of Helge' accident. He broke his arm in two places which put him out of action for about five months ...

Track Listing
1. Heart on the Run
2. Through the Fire
3. Break Free
4. Forever
5. Tell Me I'm Wrong
6. Dream
7. I Fight
8. Time Will Tell
9. Eyes of Love
10. Find My Way
11. Night Falls
12. Wait
13. For the Young
14. Angels of Heaven
15. I'll Be There

Details
-- Year: 2006
-- Label: Frontier Recs.
-- Country: Germany
-- Offical Homepage: http://www.fair-warning.de
-- Genre: Heavy Metal

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Savatage - Gutter Ballet

This album was a true turning point for the band, for after Jon Oliva watched The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto, he decided to change the sound of the band, from a heavy metal to a more progressive sound, which is reflected in songs such as "When the Crowds are Gone" and "Gutter Ballet". The final three songs ("Mentally Yours", "Summer's Rain", "Thorazine Shuffle") are a conceptual suite dealing with a single character as revealed by the band in interviews.
The original title for the record was Temptation Revelation, but this was changed to Hounds of Zaroff which was a Steve Wacholz suggestion. As late as May 1989, the band was having doubts surrounding the title. At the time, the eventual title track of the album had not been written. The title, "Gutter Ballet" was in fact the title of a play Paul O'Neill had written ten years earlier that would later make-up the majority of the band's next work, "Streets". In fact, "Gutter Ballet" was written with just Jon, Criss and Paul in the studio. Jon's drumming skill was competent enough to perform on the track and Jon also provided the bass guitar duties for the track.

Track Listing
1. Of Rage and War
2. Gutter Ballet
3. Temptation Revelation
4. When the Crowds are Gone
5. Silk and Steel
6. She's in Love
7. Hounds
8. The Unholy
9. Mentally Yours
10. Summer's Rain
11. Thorazine Shuffle

Details
-- Year: 1989
-- Label: Atlantic Records
-- Country: USA
-- Official Homepage: http://www.savatage.com/
-- Genre: Heavy Metal

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V.A. - Spacewalk - A Salute to Ace Frehley

The best of today's crop of metal guitarists got together for a tribute to perhaps one of rock's most influential figures in Ace Frehley. The best songs on the album include "Deuce" by Megadeth's Marty Friedman, "Shock Me" by Gilby Clarke, "Parasite" by Tracii Gunns, and a very "Beck-ish" (of Odelay, not Jeff) rendition of "New York Groove" by Bruce Bouillet. In fact, all the songs were quite good with the exception of John Norum's "Cold Gin" which had too much lead guitar work. It seemed like he was trying too hard to show off in a song that is simple to the core. Overall, it is a must have for anyone influenced by the style and personna of Ace Frehley.

Track Listing
1. Deuce - Marty Friedman
2. Shock Me - Gilby Clarke
3. Rip It Out - Scott Ian
4. Hard Luck Woman - Jeff Watson
5. Snowblind - Snake Sabo
6. Rock Bottom - Russ Parrish
7. Parasite - Traci Guns
8. Cold Gin - John Norum
9. New York Groove - Bruce Bouillet
10. Fractured Mirror - Dimebag Darrell

Details
-- Year: 1996
-- Label: Shrapnel Records
-- Genre: Heavy Metal - Hard Rock

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Threshold - Subsurface

The world's living it's worst crisis in the history of man, and in a close future maybe the Earth won't be able to tolerate the treatment mankind is giving it. It really gets intense with on top, conflicts about power, money and domination. Still in 2005, too many people are suffering uselessly of hunger and the post traumatic syndrom due to war is no longer a social comment, but a terrible reality. Therefore, Threshold is pushing the lyrics a bit further this time. They usually my vote for lyrics but this time, they hit the spot bullseye. Subsurface, as the word suggests, is talking about the underground, the non-said of what we're seeing. Since we don't have any power on what's going through the world, why not singing about it? Good thing they did, because they outdone themselves this time. Maybe it's the theme that's really gripping me, but the whole feel of urgency is really present and well controlled (not like handshaking King Bono).
Of course Threshold is not known for it's change of pace so Subsurface is full blast, full time. I don't mind really, and this time they added a lot more keyboard gadgets. Voice enhancing Vocoder, acoustic/programming drum interplay and high-tech synths are more used and gives a lot more variety to the album than in Hypothetical or Critical Mass. In my humble opinion, Dermott's vocals are the solid ground Threshold can stand on. When the harmonies are that good, it gives the band a good pat in the back making them more confident in the material. He's the best vocalist in metal progressive rock today. Why so sure about that? Listen to everything else, from the Theater of Dreams to the Symphony of the X...There's enough cheese in those two bands to stop world hunger for good. Repetitive recipe of success, yes. But what an effective one!
-- by Jonathan Payeur, Prog Archives

Track Listing
1. Mission Profile
2. Ground Control
3. Opium
4. Stop Dead
5. The Art of Reason
6. Pressure
7. Flags and Footprints
8. Static
9. The Destruction of Words

Details
-- Year: 2004
-- Label: SPV Records
-- Country: U.K.
-- Official Homepage: http://www.thresh.net/
-- Genre: Progressive Metal

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Axxis - Back to the Kingdom

German rockers Axxis released BACK TO THE KINGDOM in 2000. The songs "Shadowman," "Only God Knows," and "White Lights" are included, among others. Eighth album released in 2000 from German hard rock act, featuring new members Guido Wehmeyer ... Full Description& Udo Niemeyer. 12 tracks including 'Shadowman', 'Like a Sphinx' & 'Flashback Radio'. Massacre Records.

Track Listing
1. Shadowman
2. Like a Sphinx
3. Flashback Radio
4. Heaven in Black
5. Only God Knows
6. Sea of Love
7. White Lights
8. Why Not
9. My Little Princess
10. Without You
11. Ice on Fire
12. Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)
13. Be a King

Details
-- Year: 2003
-- Label: Massacre Records
-- Country: Germany
-- Official Homepage: None
-- Genre: Hard Rock - Glam Metal

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Stauros - Seaquake

Brazilian christian metal band....

Track Listing
1. Seaquake
2. Rusty Machine
3. The First Mile
4. The Second Mile
5. Victory Act
6. Without Truces
7. Vital Blood
8. Love in Vain
9. Friendly Hand
10. Dance of the Seeds
11. Every Pain II
12. Inside of the Eyes
13. Faith in the Arena

Details
-- Year: 2000
-- Label: Gospel Records
-- Country: Brasil
-- Official Homepage: http://www.melim.com.br/~stauros
-- Genre: Christian Metal

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http://www.fileducky.com/EDRBwRXC/
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Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Greatest Hits

The durable Bachman-Turner Overdrive is one of those bands with more greatest-hits collections than actual studio albums. Greatest Hits digs a bit deeper than the definitive Best of B.T.O. (So Far), which was released at the height of the band's fame but passes over stompers such as "Give Me Your Money Please" and "Blue Collar" for faceless late-era (sans Randy Bachman) tunes like "Can We All Come Together." Some interesting arcana hides at the end in "Jamaica" (which strongly resembles Rick Springfield's "Kristina"), written by colossal Canadian songwriter (and frequent Bryan Adams collaborator) Jim Vallance, and "Rock n' Roll Nights," written by former April Winer Jim Clench, the respective producer and vocalist on the album of the same name. Of course, all the classic diesel rock staples are here, representing both of the nominal stars: Bachman b-b-belts out "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," Homer Simpson fave "Takin' Care of Business," and "Hey You," while C.F. Turner's throbbing "Roll on Down the Highway," "Let It Ride," and "Flat Broke Love" round out the band's glory daze. Late of the Guess Who, Bachman was the prime mover of B.T.O. and the band collapsed without him, although it has re-formed since. But that's another story. This disc gives the most B.T.O. the average listener could want.
~~ Whitney Z. Gomes, All Music Guide

Track Listing
1. Looking Out for Nº 1
2. Roll On Down the Highway
3. Hey You
4. Freeways
5. Takin' Care of Business
6. Down Down
7. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
8. Let It Ride
9. Flat Broke Love
10. Can we All Come Together
11. Rock And Roll Nights
12. Jamaica

Details
-- Year: 1986
-- Label: Polygram Records
-- Country: Canada
-- Official Homepage: http://www.btorocks.com/
-- Genre: Hard Rock - Pop Rock

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The Angels - Beyond Salvation

Beyond Salvation is a 1990 album by Australian band The Angels. This is the domestic release under their own name. For the American release, see Beyond Salvation (The Angels From Angel City). The Angels' roots trace back to 1971 and an acoustic folk combo called "Moonshine Jug And String Band" of which Neeson and the Brewster brothers were members. They geared more towards electric instruments in 1974 as the "Keystone Angels". With Bidstrup and Bailey now on board and shortening their name to The Angels, the band garnered their first chart success in 1976 with "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" and in 1977 the self-titled debut album is released. In 1978 they follow up with "Face To Face" and "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" spends 79 weeks on the charts and qualifies for platinum status four times over. Starting with the release of No Exit they break house records touring and win awards in various "Best of Oz" categories. International distribution and tours follow for which they adopt the name "Angel City" to avoid confusion and legal problems with the 60's US girl group "Angels" (or depending on who's version to believe the 70's glam band "Angel"). Live At Narara The 80's see The Angels with more multi-platinum bound albums - from the 1980 Darkroom and the 1981 Night Attack to the 1989 Beyond Salvation - and tours of Australia, Europe and North America but also label and personnel changes: Bob Spencer, formerly of The Skyhooks, replaces John Brewster for the second half of the decade and James Morley takes over the bass for Hilbun at the end. Three videos are released by Mushroom Records Australia: "Live At Narara" (a highly energized and recommended outdoors live show), "From All Angles 1980-1990" (a collection of music video clips) and "Beyond Salvation Live".

Track Listing
1. "Let the Night Roll on" (R. Brewster/Neeson/Miller) – 4:03
2. "Back Street Pick Up" (Spencer/R. Brewster/Neeson/Manning/Morley) – 4:22
3. "Dogs Are Talking" (R. Brewster/Neeson/Spencer/Eccles/Hilbun) – 3:22
4. "Rhythm Rude Girl" (Spencer/R. Brewster) – 5:35
5. "Jump Back Baby" (R. Brewster/Spencer/Neeson/Eccles) – 5:34
6. "Love Waits" (R. Brewster/Neeson/Spencer/Eccles/Hilbun) – 4:25
7. "Bleeding With The Times" (R. Brewster/Miller) – 5:36
8. "Pushing And Shoving" (Spencer/R. Brewster) – 4:34
9. "Bitch" (R. Brewster/Miller) – 2:22
10. "Beyond Salvation" (R. Brewster/Spencer/Neeson/Eccles) – 3:26
11. "Take An X" (R. Brewster/Neeson/Miller) – 4:54

Details
-- Year: 1990
-- Label: Mushroom Records
-- Country: Australia
-- Official Homepage: http://www.lastbandit.com/angels.html (Not Official - A Fan Page)
-- Genre: Hard Rock - Rock 'n' Roll

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xMaroonx - Antagonist

Taking hardcore ethics to a whole new level, Germany's MAROON are quickly outplaying and outlasting their contemporaries around the globe. Formed in early 1998, the vegan, straightedge five-piece is clearly showing their dedication and no signs of slowing down. After an early MCD and a split EP with Self Conquest, the band released their major introduction to the music world in the form of their first full-length, "Antagonist", which was out on Alveran Records in Europe and Catalyst Records in America. The band then headlined a European tour and even ventured over to South American and Japan in 2003 in support of the record. It's those initial years of hard work that have caused the band's reputation to spread all over the world, earning them slots at major festivals like With Full Force, Pressure Fest and more, in addition to high profile shows alongside acts such as Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Earth Crisis, Heaven Shall Burn and Sepultura. The band's sophomore album, 2004"s "Endorsed By Hate", was a fantastic example of passion and anger. After it"s release the Nordhausen five-piece relentlessly played Europe"s festivals as well as toured with Cataract in late 2004 and Downset in early 2005. They didn"t even take much of a break and kept playing shows and festivals such as Pressure, Fury, With Full Force, Dour, Groezrock or Summerbreeze Festival during the summer of 2005 while writing their new masterpiece "When Worlds Collide". In late October 2005 they finally took off to Denmark to record the new album with Jacob Hansen in his Hansen Studios (Mercenary, Fear My Thoughts). continue to My Space....

Details
-- Year: 2002
-- Label: Liberation Records
-- Country: Germany
-- Official Homepage: http://www.myspace.com/maroonhate (My Space)
-- Genre: Thrashcore - Crossover

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Yngwie Malmsteen - The Seventh Sign

"Seventh Sign" is Yngwie's first solo album on an minor label, but it makes up in spirit what it lacks in budget. There are more catchy tracks here then on anything post-Odyssey, only some sound a little too familiar! Yes, there are some recycled licks here - you'll be scratching your head trying to figure out where you've heard this or that solo before, and sometimes it's obvious. But in the latter day wasteland of Yngwie songwriting, this gem earns its place on the conceptual shelf between Marching Out and Trilogy. This is without a doubt Yngwie's best album. Every song is amazing, all the musicians involved are among the best in the world. All the songs are arranged perfectly. The guitar solos are shorter and more focus have been put into making good music. This album contains some of Yngwie's heaviest playing as well as some of his best melodic parts. The vocals are laid down flawlessly by Mr. Michael Vescera - one of the best hard rock singers of our time!

Track Listing
1. Never Die
2. I Don't Know
3. Meant To Be
4. Forever One
5. Hairtrigger
6. Brothers
7. Seventh Sign
8. Bad Blood
9. Prisoner Of Your Love
10. Crash And Burn
11. Pyramid Of Cheops
12. Sorrow

Details
-- Year: 2000
-- Label: CMC Internatinoal
-- Country: USA
-- Official Homepage: http://www.yngwiemalmsteen.com/
-- Genre: Instrumental Guitar / Hard-Rock

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V.A. - Holy Dio, A Tribute to the Voice of Metal

Tracks Listing
CD 1:
1. Kill the King (Primal Fear)
2. Egypt The Chains are On (Doro)
3. Children of the Sea (Jag Panzer)
4. Sign of the Southern Cross (Fates Warning)
5. Long Live Rock'n' Roll (Gamma Ray)
6. Country Girl (Swäno/Tägtgren)
7. We Rock (Grave Digger)
8. Man of the Silver Mountain (Hammerfall)
CD 2:
1. Holy Diver (Holy Mother)
2. Kill the King (Stratovarius)
3. Still I'm Sad (Axel Rudi Pell)
4. Heaven and Hell (Enola Gay)
5. Neon Knights (Steel Prophet)
6. Same on the Night (Solitude Aeturnus)
7. The Last in Line (Destiny's End)
8. Temple of the King (Angel Dust)

Details
-- Year: 1999
-- Label: Century Media
-- Country: Various
-- Genre: Heavy Metal

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Labyrinth - Return to Heaven Denied

I always forget about this awesome band when I go to pick a CD to listen to. Normally, I reach for Norther, Graveworm, or a new CD that I haven't decided how good it is yet. Those few times that Return to Heaven Denied is the chosen CD to get to my stereo or CD player, I'm blown away by what I hear. Not only is Labyrinth one of the fastest bands I've heard (Dragonforce and Skylark being faster), but they sound so beautiful when they play fast! Imagine older Stratovarius for the speed part.
I also must make note of the melodicness. This doesn't mean that the guitar riffs are well written by any means. The keyboards particularly in songs 1-6 and 11 are so perfectly woven in. Unlike bands like Sonata Arctica, the constant keyboards belong in the sound. I know - Sonata Arctica isn't a good example, but that's all I can think of. While I'm comparing the 2, Sonata Arctica is better. Why? Because ALL of Sonata Arctica's albums are great. Labyrinth only has this one. I hate the production and lack of keyboards on their newer self-titled album. That album would get 3 or less stars from me. Labyrinth's singer is wonderful. He is no Fabio Lione, but he compliments the drums and keyboards well. You really have to hear it to believe it. This doesn't sound like Secret Sphere, Rhapsody, Skylark, Arachnes, or Highlord. This is more like common power metal with an Italian voice than something you would normally hear coming out of Italy. A lot of credit goes to Labyrinth for this album. The perfectly done keyboards in tracks 1 and 3 alone should catch your attention.
Also, I think its track 5 - the singer holds one note for 10 whole seconds! Certain stand-out points like this help this album be such a gem in melodic power metal. Milestone? No - there aren't many of those. "Gem" is good enough. My idea of a milestone is something like Hatebreeder, Visions, Winterheart's Guild, When the Aurora Falls, or Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I. When something that hasn't been done before is accomplished to near perfection, THAT'S a milestone. So overall, if you don't have this album yet and want to fill your "jewelry collection" of gems, you need this album! "Pay" your respects to this great band! When you get the time, go read some of my other reviews and say if they were helpful to you or not. --- By Matt Stoessel

Tracks
1. Moonlight
2. New Horizons
3. The Night Of Dreams
4. Lady Lost In Time
5. State Of Grace
6. Heaven Denied
7. Thunder
8. Feel (Legend B. Remix)
9. Time After Time
10. Falling Rain
11. Die For Freedom

Details
- Bitrate: 192
- Format: CD
- Country: Italy

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Labyrinth - No Limits

Originally released in 1995, No Limits was the first full-length album prom Italian progressive power metallers Labyrinth. At the time, Labyrinth's vocals were provided by one Joe Terry (better known as current Rhapsody vocalist Fabio Leone), so this early album is quite a departure from the Labyrinth most fans are used to. While I prefer Roberto Tiranti's vocals over Leone's, the man did a decent enough job on this album. If nothing else, it's interesting to hear what Leone sounded like in a non epic-symphonic-dramatic-Hollywood-whatever metal setting. Aside from the vocals, No Limits sounds pretty much like what you'd expect from Labyrinth, though it is less polished than their later works. Keep in mind that the bloated Italian power metal sound didn't really exist at that point, so Labyrinth was blazing new territory (using Helloween and Fates Warning albums as a roadmap).
I really don't understand the hate for this album. It has its faults, but overall is still a solid power metal album, has plenty of flashy guitar work, some nice progressive touches, decent vocals, and is about as good as anything Stratovarius was serving up at the time. Of course the band's later albums are better than No Limits. That's what you expect bands to do - get better over time.
No Limits may not be Labyrinth's best album, but it's an important milestone in the band's career, and one that any (open-minded) Labyrinth fan should own, especially now that it has been reissued.
NOTE: The 2005 reissue of No Limits features digitally remastered sound and a pair of bonus studio tracks - Call Me and Miles Away.
--- By Justin Gaines

Tracks
1. Mortal Sin
2. Midnight Resistance
3. Dreamland
4. Piece of Time
5. Vertigo
6. In the Shade
7. No Limits
8. Right Sign
9. Red Zone
10. Time Has Come
11. Looking for...
12. Call Me
13. Miles Away

Details
- Bitrate: 192
- Format: CD
- Country: Italy

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Labyrinth - Labyrinth

Italian power metal band Labyrinth formed in 1991, comprising singer Joe Terry, guitarists Olaf Thörsen and Anders Rain, bassist Chris Breeze, keyboardist Ken Taylor, and drummer Frank Andiver at the time of their 1994 debut EP Piece of Time. After releasing the full-length No Limits early the following year, the trio of Terry, Taylor, and Andiver all exited the lineup, and with new vocalist Rob Tyrant, keyboardist Andrew McPauls, and drummer Mat Stancioiu in place, Labyrinth resurfaced in 1998 with Return to Heaven Denied. Tyrant then briefly left the group to sing with the New Trolls; vocalist Morby was brought in as his replacement, but Tyrant returned to the Labyrinth fold in time for the 1999 mini-LP Timeless Crime. Sons of Thunder was issued two years later. ~
Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Tracks
1. The Prophet
2. Livin' In A Maze
3. This World
4. Just Solider (Stay Down)
5. Neverending Rest
6. Terizinato
7. Slave To The Night
8. Syntheric Paradise
9. Hand In Hand
10. When I Fly Far

Details
- Bitrate: 192
- Format: CD
- Country: Italy

|Breed-Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/tSHnFvXP/
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Correction on the Dell tattoo

Okay, so a while back I posted here about really bad logo tattoos. One in particular stood out, a Dell tattoo:

To me, Dell is a kind of lame, nothing-brand-- not one that I thought anybody would be stoked about enough to get it branded on them for life. So I made fun of the dude with the Dell tattoo. He emailed me today:

"i am emailing you. about your post about tattoos, 1 special one tho, the dell tattoo, see that tattoo is actually my tattoo, see my name is Todd Dell, in my life i always got the DUDE YOUR GETTING A DELL. and stuff like that i always laughed it off, so my friend was like dude you should get the LOGO tattoo on you i was like sure, thus knowing i could get away with it, no im not a nerd, i dont even own a dell computer, im actually a mma fighter lol."

So, I take it back. Sorry, Dell guy. You have a sense of humor about your name and you got a tattoo to prove it. You are officially awesome.

Sentenced - Shadows of The Past

Sentenced is known for their rockish heavy metal, but their debut was something really different. Shadows of the Past is, simply, pure death metal. It is hilarious to hear lead guitarist Miika Tenkula try to sing while the rest of band play really low and extremely slow, as is the way in their genre. However, the members of Sentenced are quite young while they recorded this debut album, so it is understandable that they didn't make gold. Shadows of the Past should come with a warning: "Only for fans."
~~ by Antti J. Ravelin, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. When the Moment of Death Arrives
2. Rot to Dead
3. Disengagement
4. Rotting Ways to Misery
5. The Truth
6. Suffocated Beginning of Life
7. Beyond the Distant Valleys
8. Under the Suffer
9. Descending Curtain of Death
10. Wings
11. In Memoriam
12. Mythic Silence (As They Wander in The Mist)

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 1991
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = 192 kbps (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/WowTLpph/
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======================

Sentenced - North From Here

Sentenced's disappointment with a small French label led them back to the Finnish Spinefarm label. After Shadows From the Past, these young musicians seemed to be wiser in every way, especially when changing slow death metal to a very fast, black metal-ish progressive rock. This means that complex guitar riffs and melodies form a big part of North From Here, which is very rare in Sentenced's genre. The sound is quite flat, but Sentenced still succeeds in creating a believable ambition. And they don't break down into the overdramatics that are quite typical with their colleagues.
~~ by Antti J. Ravelin, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. My Sky Is Darker Than Thine
2. Wings
3. Fields Of Blood, Harvester of Hate
4. Capture Of Fire
5. Awaiting The Winter Frost
6. Beyond The Wall Of Sleep
7. Northern Lights
8. Epic

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 1993
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/snhgSidf/
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======================

Sentenced - The Trooper

Tracks
1. The Trooper
2. Desert By Night
3. In Memoriam
4. Awaiting The Winter Frost

Details
- Label =
- Year = 1993
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = 192 kbps (mp3)
- Format = EP
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/MSjJJafz/
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======================

Sentenced - Amok

After Sentenced moved to a bigger record company, their style changed as well. While North From Here was almost categorized as black metal, Amok is pure rock & roll. And looking at that change afterwards, it seems that a rockish style fits better with Taneli Jarva's voice and Miika Tenkula's riffs. In particular, the large guitar wall and amazing ambition don't fail even for a second during Amok, even when Jarva's songs "Funeral Spring" and "Moon Magic" seem to be a little frustrating for a moment. However, as a vocalist, Jarva succeeds in creating a depressive mood for every song, and that mood and the sound of Amok are traditional to a Finnish heavy metal band. Still, Amok is a perfect choice for everyone who likes heavy metal with complex rockish guitar riffs.
~~ by Antti J. Ravelin, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. The War Ain't Over!
2. Phenix
3. New Age Messiah
4. Forever Lost
5. Funeral Spring
6. Nepenthe
7. Dance on The Graves (Lil' Siztah)
8. Moon Magick
9. The Golden Stream of Lapland

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 1995
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/NujVcsnx/
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======================

Sentenced - Love & Death

Tracks
1. The Way I Wanna Go
2. Obsession
3. Dreamlands
4. White Wedding
5. Love And Death

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 1995
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = EP
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/WeFcaRAc/
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======================

Sentenced - Down

When vocalist Taneli Jarva left Sentenced after the awesome Amok, it was almost certain that the band couldn't continue the path they had walked during the previous couple of years. So that's why it's a surprise that their first album with new vocalist Ville Laihiala is actually even stronger than Amok. That takes a lot, because Amok wasn't a poor album. Down's sound is really wide -- producer Waldemar Sorychta's keyboards play a big part in the background and create definite ambition, while Miika Tenkula and Sami Lopakka smash with a craggy guitar wall. Laihiala's voice sounds more depressed than Jarva's, and even if he doesn't use much variety in his singing, he is very convincing. Especially in massive songs like "Crumbling Down (Give Up Hope)" and "Ode to the End," the whole band works great together -- the dynamic is perfect and no one is left in the background. Everyone will surely notice the keyboards -- it's exciting that someone uses keyboards to create a diverse and somewhat experimental sound even in a genre like heavy metal. That's why Sentenced's Down does the same thing to the heavy metal world that Radiohead did to modern rock with OK Computer. Whatever Sentenced decides to do in the future, they'll be remembered for Down. And that isn't a shame.
~~ by Antti J. Ravelin, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. intro-the gate
2. noose
3. shadegrown
4. bleed
5. keep my grave open
6. crumbling down (give up hope)
7. sun won't shine
8. ode to the end
9. 0132
10. warrior of life (reaper redeemer)
11. i'll throw the first rock

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 1996
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/LBbUjeSO/
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======================

Sentenced - Frozen

With Frozen, Sentenced align their melodic metal sound with the "symphonic" gothic sounds of groups like Tiamat, Moonspell, and Paradise Lost. It's not really black metal, but the bleakness and depression of the music will certainly provide a similar appeal.
~~ by Steve Huey, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. kaamos
2. farewell
3. dead leaves
4. for the love i bear
5. one with mmisery
6. the suicider
7. the rain comes falling down
8. grave sweet grave
9. burn
10. drown together
11. let go (the last chapter)
12. mourn

Details
- Label =
- Year = 1998
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate =
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/jTnDVDjE/
http://www.fileducky.com/yHcmVHSd/
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======================

Sentenced - Killing Me Killing You

Tracks
1. killing me killing you (special edition)
2. dead moon rising

Details
- Label =
- Year = 1999
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate =
- Format = CD-Single
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/KououXDX/
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======================

Sentenced - Live At La Locomotive Paris (Bootleg)

Tracks
1. Intro-Kaamos
2. Farewell
3. Bleed in My Arms
4. The Suicider
5. Dead Moon Rising
6. The Way I Wanna Go
7. Bleed
8. No More Beating As One
9. Noose
10. Sun Won't Shine
11. Nepenthe

Details
- Label = ----
- Year = 2000
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = 192 kbps (mp3)
- Format = Bootleg
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/NtdBpwkh/
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====================

Sentenced - Crimson

Sentenced's Frozen was a slight disappointment for their older fans -- the overall sound was poppy and the whole record seemed to be just a drunken side project. Unfortunately, Crimson continues even further in the direction of Frozen: the sound has been simplified and the songs are more depressing, so there appears to be no chance that Sentenced will return to Down or even to Amok. Still, Crimson is not a complete failure. Despite sounding like a bad copy of Type O Negative, it has its moments. The first single, "Killing Me Killing You," is a very fine song, although it resulted in Sentenced being accused of selling their souls to pop music. There are also some tracks that don't follow the theme of Crimson, with "Broken" and "Dead Moon Rising" actually sounding more like tracks from Amok. Crimson may enable Sentenced to attract a new audience from pop music, but definitely not from heavy metal.
~~ by Antti J. Ravelin, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. bleed in my arms
2. home in despair
3. fragile
4. no more beating as one
5. broken
6. killing me killing you
7. dead moon rising
8. the river
9. one more day
10. with bitterness and joy
11. my slowing heart

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 2000
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/DFokbGeL/
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======================

Sentenced - 2002 - Live In Paris 2002 (Bootleg)

Tracks
1. Konevistan Kirkonkellot
2. Cross My Heart And Hope to Die
3. Neverlasting
4. Sun Won't Shine
5. Brief is The Light
6. Everything Is Nothing
7. Noose
8. Nepenthe
9. No One There
10. The Suicider / Excuse Me While I Kill Myself

Details
- Label = ----
- Year = 2002
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = 192 kbps (mp3)
- Format = Bootleg
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/bWJIiGyN/
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=====================

Sentenced - No One There

Tracks
1. No One There
2. Blood & Tears

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 2002
- Covers = Yes (Only Front)
- Bitrate = 192 kbps (mp3)
- Format = CD-Single
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/ytrYjmzJ/
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======================

Sentenced - The Cold White Light

In the U.S., Sentenced is thought of as an underground metal band, but listening to The Cold White Light, it's easy to imagine them being huge in their native Finland, where metal is more commercially accepted and where the lack of sunlight results in an unusually high suicide rate. Sentenced may have started off as a death/black metal band, but the music on The Cold White Light is better categorized as a new kind of pop-metal -- not in the sense of sounding like Warrant or Bon Jovi (it doesn't), but in terms of the verse-chorus-verse song structures and the emphasis on vocal melody. It may be tempting to call the band "sellouts," and many have, but on this album, at least, Sentenced does what they do well enough that that criticism misses the point. Songs such as "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die," "Brief Is the Light," and "Blood & Tears" show the band's gift for stirring, instantly memorable choruses, and the simple four-to-the-bar rhythms they use give the music a stripped-down rock & roll simplicity that is really effective. In fact, this album still manages to be quite heavy, only without being brutal or in your face about it. There are a couple of missteps here, namely "You Are the One" and "Guilt and Regret," which border on the lightweight and saccharine. Also, the band's depressive/suicidal lyrics have a tendency to get hokey and distasteful in spots, coming across more like schtick than sincerity (e.g., song titles such as "Excuse Me While I Kill Myself"). These slight criticisms aside, The Cold White Light still won't please fans looking for a return to Down or Amok, but for those who enjoy depressive, melodic metal with a rock & roll feel to it (and don't mind the pop aspects), it should do the trick.
~~ by William York, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. Konevistan Kirkonkellot
2. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die
3. Brief is The Light
4. Neverlasting
5. Aika Multaa Muistot (Everything Is Nothing)
6. Excuse Me While I Kill Myself
7. Blood & Tears
8. You Are the One
9. Guilt and Regret
10. The Luxury of a Grave
11. No One There

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 2002
- Covers = Yes
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/eraMHqFz/
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=====================

Sentenced - The Funeral Album

Starting in the early '90s, Sentenced was one of the pioneering bands who helped set Finland on the path to a prominent position on the world's heavy metal map. And even if that position would mostly reap benefits for a younger generation of metal acts, Sentenced's popularity seemed to increase steadily through the years, in accordance with their radical evolution from rough-and-tumble death metal to a sleeker, more commercial style. Even so, one would have to be a blind apologist to deny that the group's albums -- much like those of countrymen and contemporaries Amorphis -- had started sounding a little safe and formulaic as the years wore on. So, whether this was a result of their becoming too comfortable in their niche to come up with enough new tricks, or simply lacking the fire and urgency that only youthful desire can inspire, one couldn't help but be filled with a morbid sense of anticipation when Sentenced gave fair warning that 2005's Funeral Album would be their swan song. What can you do? Nothing piques listener nostalgia quite like the finality of impending death, but, remove that understanding and the fact that numerous tracks here ("Lower the Flags," "Consider Us Dead," and "End of the Road," among others) discuss mortality in no uncertain terms, and what you have is another exceedingly well-conceived but still mostly unsurprising Sentenced LP. Sure enough, as had been the case in recent years, its songs range from stomping, made-to-order metallic anthems like "May Today Become the Day," "Despair-Ridden Hearts," and "A Long Way to Nowhere," to accessible, driving hard rockers such as "Ever-Frost," "Vengeance Is Mine," and "Drain Me," to the odd power ballad in the contemplative "We Are But Falling Leaves." Also worth noting are two brief interludes which manage to span the width of Sentenced's creative range: "Karu" being a desolately lonely acoustic guitar piece, and "Where Waters Fall Frozen" offering a sub-minute collection of devastating death metal riffs that will leave purists' mouths watering and thirst unquenched, in the end. Oh well, such is life -- or death, as it were. And let it be said that Funeral Album is a more than worthy parting shot (uh-oh, nostalgia strikes!) for a band whose many years of able service to heavy metal's cause are made all the more poignant by their ability to call it a day when they felt the time was right. As goes the saying: Sentenced is dead, long live Sentenced!
~~ by Eduardo Rivadavia, Allmusic.com

Tracks
1. May Today Become The Day
2. Ever-Frost
3. We Are But Falling Leaves
4. Her Last 5 Minutes
5. Where Waters Fall Frozen
6. Despair-Ridden Hearts
7. Vengeance is Mine
8. A Long Way to Nowhere
9. Consider Us Dead
10. Lower The Flags
11. Drain Me
12. Karu
13. End of the Road

Details
- Label = Century Media
- Year = 2005
- Covers = No
- Bitrate = VBR (mp3)
- Format = CD
- Country = Finland

|Breed Link|
http://www.fileducky.com/ncAOTumY/
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=====================