Epica: The Quantum Enigma

Perhaps one of these days I ought to change the blog description to 'this is a fucking music blog'. I can't help though, I've really gotten into my little unprofessional album reviews - and since 2014 looks to be a great year music-wise, it's to be expected there's a lot more to write.

Epica's and Xandria's new albums both came out on 2 May, but since I barely listen to Xandria, I thought I'd pass that one up - I barely have time as it is. That's the other factor for writing about music - it's faster and takes less effort than putting together fashion-related posts. I do have a few ideas though, but until my most difficult exam is over, I won't be investing that much energy into the blog (that's end of May).

Insomnium: Shadows of the Dying Sun

Insomnium's new album came out the previous Friday, and I had to download it immediately. Just to set things straight - I love, I absolutely love it! The previously released tracks like Ephemeral and Revelation weren't my favourites, so I didn't know what to expect, but in the end I found it an amazing record.

(Have a nice, big cover art because I love this too. Minimal but gorgeous.)

Delain: The Human Contradiction

I'm a good week behind this review, but I was so buried under my schoolwork I barely had any time to sleep. (And consequently, I was tired and in a bad mood.) Now that I've got some rest, I quickly put it together - it was already in my head; moreover, I've listened to the album no less than seven times, and several more times to my favourite songs.

A little haul

 

Sonata Arctica // Lacuna Coil

Two very short album reviews - just saying beforehand: both are worth a listen, so if you don't have time to read, or you don't want to, just go and immerse yourself in some nice music.

The Spring Playlist

I have lots of these Music Monday Playlists in store, but I decided seasonal is going to be a new thing! Each one is going to be posted after the astronomical start of the season - and of course, on Monday, hence the date for this one. It was hard to select songs for spring though, I guess you can imagine - fishing for a few happy songs among the sad metal, it's not an easy task. So it's a bit of a depressing spring. I managed to find a few love songs though, which I guess are season-appropriate.

(The songs are in no particular order.)

My favourite Within Temptation songs

I'm still under the influence of the concert, I've been mostly listening to music all weekend, organizing my iTunes library, making lists and searching for new things to listen to. So I though that for Music Monday, a little personal WT top20 would do.

Within Temptation concert

I went to the WT concert for their Hydra album tour yesterday, and it was glorious. I am obviously biased, and I have already concluded my favourite kinds of concerts were the symphonic metal ones - no death walls and the like which are there at punk rock concerts, not too much super muscly-little people crushing-scary dudes (although I do not understand the people who just stand in one place for a whole two hours, seeming like they don't even enjoy it). I have muscle pain even in my stomach (cause I'm weak), and I'm on my fifth cup of honey tea for my sore throat. It's times like this I realize I absolutely adore to go to concerts.
A little gushing below the cut.

Within Temptation: Hydra

One of my biggest faults, or you could say, weaknesses, is that I'm quite a coward in some situations. I can't handle social interactions all that well, and I'm not very fond of crowds. So you can imagine how hard it is for me to actually go to a concert - even if I love them.
I'm pretty sure not going to see Soilwork back in November will be one of my biggest regrets, but I just really didn't want to go there alone. Now I have a problem again: Within Temptation is coming in March, and I'm about 90% positive none of my friends or closer acquaintances will want to come with me.
But while Soilwork is a pretty recent favourite of mine, I loved Within Temptation for quite some time now, I've only seen them at a festival - and I'm much more of a fan of club concerts and arenas than open-air; it just doesn't suit metal that much (especially if the concert is around 7 when it's not even dark out.)
It was pretty obvious that if their new album sucked, I would not have really beaten myself up about not going to the concert. But the albums slays, and now I really, really want to go.

Warning: it's a really long review, and very unprofessional, proceed with caution!