We are halfway February so about time to start tipping some CD's you might have missed.
Dream Theater - Parasomnia
This one was looked out for by many. After all MIke Portnoy is back and would this mean a change? Of course change is relative with Dream Theater as they have a very own sound and style. When I first put the album on I was pleasantly surprised by the heaviness of the album. This one sits somewhere between Awake and Train of Thought which is a good thing as those two are among their best (Awake their best to me). The instrumental opener is heavy and fast and gets me in the mood. The two next songs were pre-released with a videoclip and the positive mood stays. Before the semi ballad Bend the Clock there is another short instrumental but the rest all are long songs. Maybe I would have liked two short heavy 4 to 5 minute bangers inbetween, but the overall feel is definitely positive OK I liked all Dream Theater albums upon first listenings (apart from The Astonishing which was shite from day one) Question is if I would still play this one one year from now, or do I go back to the first eight minus Scenes From a Memory when I want to hear anything by Dream Theater. Time shall tell, but probably I will attend the tour when they play this album in full. So welcome back mr Portnoy, glad you're home and the great artwork on cover and in the booklet deserves a mention too.
Flesbore - Painted Paradise
Even within Tech Death there is a wide variation of sounds. This is typically one of the more extreme ones, which to be honest I won't be playing lots. So why did I pick this one up? Because somehow they managed to click with me. If you think Archspire are fast, move over to Fleshbore. Absolutrely impossible to read along with the lyrics. This brings me to the packaging as we talk sensational here again by Transcending Obscurity. The cover is great and made me order the T-shirt along. The album came with a button of the cover and a card telling me that I own number 79/500 of the digipacks released. So getting used to the slamdeath vocals over very fast tech death this album does speak loud to me. Not for every day or moment, but I would love to see them live on stage one day.
Noor - Mother's Guilty Pleasure
Noor gives me a problem right at the start of the year. Bringing us a strong candidate for album of the year in January 25, but being originally a December 23 digital release. Alex explained to me on the way back from Queensryche that this means no album of the year. Still it shall be among my most played albums. Why? because they play exactly the heavy and fast powerful style of progmetal that I love. Noor hail from Montreal so again Canada delivers top quality. The quartet holds two guitars, bass and drums. All very apt at their instruments it must be the vocals that bring the combination to absolute Champions League level. Love discoveries like these, where we can only hope they will be appreciated by many. I saw that they play Up The Hammers this March, but no further shows in Europe so far. Do yourself a favour and check this album out. Than be like Ton, Alex and me and order after first listen.
Wretch - Visitors
When ordering Noor I bumped into Wretch at their label as well. Wretch released a bunch of demos in the eighties, but their first full album was released in 2006. This is album number five and only now I discovered them. They play heavy metal with Metal Archives adding Power and Thrash. It all sounds very nice and old skool to me. Strange how some bands stay under my radar that long, even if in theory I should like them from the start. Than I discovered they play CPunt 16 March. Unfortunately that is the last evening before Josie leaves for Brazil, so I won't be able to attend. Those who have no wife leaving the next morning I can highly recommend a trip down to Hoofddorp as this should be good live on stage.
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