Music Reviews: Wetton, Marillion, Rush, Elis, Battlelore, Artrosis, Beatallica, Legend Heart, and Chasing Victory
Published May 17, 2007
Rush: Snakes & Arrows
Rush return with their best album since Power Windows is the short review of this CD. Forget all the naysayers — this is a great album from a band back at their creative best. Neil Peart seems to have worked through all his troubles and is back on cracking form. There is not a duff track on this here CD. I can't get enough of this CD and will be taking it on honeymoon with me. Thirteen tracks of absolute prog perfection. Geddy Lee's voice has lost none of its power, quirkiness and majesty. This is probably a bit short for some of you readers. When its this good there is no need for long-winded gushing. If you have ever liked Rush, get this CD. If you claim to like good heavy rock...well you know the score.
Battlelore: Evernight
With a name like Battlelore, you would be expecting Dragonforce clones right? Well in this case you would be wrong. They do straight ahead heads-down metal with touches of power metal but with a female lead singer twist. For once, the person hitting those high notes should actually be doing it. The band base a lot of their lyrics on Lord of the Rings and Viking Metal, however unlike, say, Rhapsody, it never tips over into farce. "Summon the Wolves" is just great metal with its keyboards/guitars. Battlelore use male death metal growls as a clever counter to the lovely voice of their lead singer.
Just when you thought you were in a mellow bit, heavy vocals come along to kick yer arse. It adds up to something quite special and is a great addition to the female fronted metal brigade.
Elis: Griefshire
Great German female-led metal with a tragic twist that has nothing to do with the name. Sabine Dunser, lead vocalist, who has the voice to propel them to the heights of Within Temptation and Nightwish, died recently of sudden illness. The album is dedicated to her memory and is a fitting memorial to the talent that was Sabine. This is a quality goth female-led power metal to rival the above mentioned bands. To demonstrate the full breath of her and the band's talent the bonus track is a cracking cover of "Heaven and Hell" by Dio-era Black Sabbath.
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Music Reviews: Wetton, Marillion, Rush, Elis, Battlelore, Artrosis, Beatallica, Legend Heart, and Chasing Victory
- Published: May 17, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Acoustic, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Electronica, Music: Hard Rock, Music: Indie Rock, Music: Live Concerts, Music: Metal, Music: Pop, Music: Progressive Rock, Music: Rock
- Part of a feature: Marty's Musical Meltdown
- Writer: Marty Dodge
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Comments
I think what IS unique about Legend Heart, is that they are creating original music inspired from times when music was special and real. I also have to say that myself and many of my college mates think their music is VERY unique, and original. I think they are a cool change in an industry of massive amounts of commercial dung. Basically I think they are very talented people.
Rush/Battlemore/Legend Heart/Chasing Victory.
My comments as a listener:
Rush: Not as good as Rush of old, but still good.
Battlemore: Very impressed with the sound, and the lead vocalist especially.
Legend Heart: A hell of a lot more than pub rock, and in some ways, very unique. Excellent.
Chasing Victory: I enjoyed hearing this band, It gave me the feel of some early alternative I really loved, with just enough modern flair to make it a winner
not liking rush's snakes and arrows. sorry... just sounds like a rehash of album fillers, no inspired chops or passion. listened to tracks by elis, legendheart, and marillion, all three are very good. metal lost a great voice in Sabine, the album is powerful. i agree the production could have been better for the legendheart band cd, but the band and the songs are exceptional, hope to hear much more from them. marillion does come across on the softer side of things on somewhere else, but it's actually a pretty cool alternative. all the tracks on here are 1st rate!
Thanks for the review of the Marillion album. I enjoyed their 80's stuff with Fish as lead singer but hadn't realised how good their post-Fish period was until I got their Best Of... a year or two ago.
Must confess, though I understand why folks like Rush's music, I just can't stand Lee's vocals alas.
The Legend Heart CD was awesome, thanks for the advice regarding listening, although pub rock does not describe them at all. Hot does. They are some intensely talented people! Thank you again :)
legend heart gives 50% to charities? how cool. i listened to the album. production was a little on the green side, i think they produced it themselves, but the tunes are dope! great guitar work. in all, a very good band and album!
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Cool blog! Keep up the good work!