Nightwish: Endless Forms Most Beautiful

So here it is, my promised review of the new Nightwish album. I have to confess, I wasn't as excited before it as before Imaginaerum, though I was super curious how it would sound, given the new singer and all. (Actually, it's scary to think about how Imaginaerum came out in 2012, when I was still in high school...) The Nightwish fandom in general is kind of unbearable - so much inner drama! At least with Floor, nobody can complain about the singing - or can they?

The review is littered with personal opinions and musings, so beware. Also, freaking long.

Album Reviews: March

March was a freaking good month regarding new releases. Most notably, the new Nightwish album... which I promise I'm going to write about next week! I just need to listen to the album a few more times, you know. Meanwhile, have a quick recap of other noteworthy releases (well, worthy of my noting, nothing else).

Album Reviews: February

Despite my fervent promises, I find it too tedious to do proper long reviews. So, save for the albums I really look forward to/like way too much, I'll just do a monthly recap (sometime during the month after). As it is, my taste in music is still rather varied, but right now I'm in a bit of a melodeath/folk pit.

Spring Playlist II

We've entered the astronomical spring with a solar eclipse, isn't that nice? Here wasn't much of a spectacle, especially since we didn't bother to get anything to view as little as we could have. I kind of forgot about it, even, but it was still noticeable - how the tone of the light changed just ever so slightly, how it was just a little too dark without any clouds to speak of. It was eerie in a very bright way, which made it all the more disconcerting.

I say this calls for a metal sort of spring. (I mean, how appropriate is the Shadows of the Dying Sun cover?) Anyway, to commemorate, here's a playlist (I've done quite some time ago, since this is a thing I do every changing of the seasons), vaguely spring-like for those who appreciate everything from pop-rock to metal. Well, mostly metal still.

Omnium Gatherum / Insomnium / Ensiferum

I was at the Ensiferum concert yesterday. But, it's no secret that I expressly went for the sole reason of seeing Omnium Gatherum and Insomnium live. Here's the setlist:

It was awesome. It was far from perfect, yeah; but I still loved it. I knew Insomnium were sketchy as best live, and they really could do with either one more guitar or a synth, because their melodicness is one of the best things about them. To be fair, I don't know how much better they are with their usual guitarist/clean vocalist Ville, so... Because that's one thing that's definitely suffered - the clean vocals were inaudible, and poor Kari Olli messed up even the guitar a few times. Considering he's a fill-in, it wasn't so bad.

On the other hand, Omnium Gatherum were phenomenal even live. Yeah, they're a 6-member band, but like this, the sound just blew me away. They were the first performers, so they really set the mood. Also, they played all my favourite songs (Soul Journeys, New World Shadows...), so I was happy.

Eisbrecher: Schock

There won't be an album review every week, although I suspect there will be loads of releases which catch my interest. Nobody seems to be interested in this band and their new release but the Germans, which is a real shame, because German metal is awesome, and it certainly doesn't stop at Rammstein. It might be the fangirl talking from me, because Eisbrecher is definitely my favourite German band.

Let's Get Those Album Reviews Started

Did I do good on the title à la Fall Out Boy?
I really should have applied for a job as a music reviewer. Not like I have any real knowledge except my huge amount of fangirling over my favourite bands. But I sometimes review stuff I'm not that into, or is not my style, so let it be a promise that this year I'll do this diligently. Although I'd say I managed to keep up with the important releases, I missed quite a lot - which will probably happen again during busy times, but oh well.

Anyway, here's a short review of the new Enter Shikari and FOB albums. For those not interested in longish reviews - both are fairly good, so listen to them, they are on Spotify. Neither are metal, can I get a medal please?

Christmas & New Year's Eve

A little Christmas & NYE photo dump - ornaments, gifts, yet more gingerbread, etc.

A Year In Music

Aka my top40 of 2014 songs. So that I maintain a certain variety (and because of 8tracks' limitations) only two songs are included by any artist, which in some cases is kinda cheating - since I've listened to Shadows of the Dying Sun excessively, and WT and Rise Against certainly would have more than two songs if going by my iTunes play count.

You neend't continue, here's the playlist on 8tracks, but if you have loads of free time or are terribly interested in what I have to say (/fangirl) about these, then by all means, do read on. There are also separate youtube links there, for those who'd only listen to a few.