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Change/Decay – Brocken Spectre (2019)
Genre: Heavy Metal/Djent/Jazz Fusion/Progressive Metal *(thanks to Batty for the update)
RYM Rating: n/a
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Another hard one to track down. There's an artist called Brocken Spectre all right, but it's some electronic dance dude, and other than that there is no sign of this band anywhere. Try RYM, no luck. Go to Discogs, can't help ya mate. Metal Archives closes its doors, Prog Archives laughs in my face, and Wiki insists on telling me that brocken spectre is *the magnified (and apparently enormous)*shadow*of an observer cast upon clouds*opposite*the Sun's direction.
Here's an example of this phenomenon:

Thanks Big W: I did wonder if they were just deliberately misspelling it. But no further information, and sir could you please leave now we have to close up? And I say what? Wiki never closes! And they say don't you know there's a pandemic on? And I find myself looking at a closed door.

Eventually I crawl on my literary hands and knees across Google and find them languishing on a lonely bandcamp page, with two albums to their credit, a supposedly metal band from the spiritual heartland of metal, Birmingham. It's certainly heavy stuff from the beginning, trying to figure out what sub-genre of metal it is – death maybe? Groove? Djent? Batty will know*. Think there are either no vocals or very growly ones low in the mix; think it's the former though. Sounds like these guys can take a lighter tone when needed too. Pretty damn good I must say. Hell there's even some prog metal in here; some really great shredding and some amazing riffs. Closing track (all thirteen minutes of it!) is fantastic.

Dope, as the young people say today I believe.

A big
Four and a Half Thumbs Up
here!

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You do know Bandcamp has genre tags don't you? Among other things they're listed as djent, jazz fusion, and progressive metal.

I looked all over it but couldn't see any. Mind you, it was about three this morning. Thanks for that. I'll update.

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Looks like the next one up is a power metal band, and who does the best power metal? That's right: the United States of... um...
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Ravenhead -Orden Ogan (2015)
Genre: Power Metal/Folk Metal
RYM Rating: 3.42

Here's what one less-than-thrilled-at-the-prospect-of-listening-to-power-metal reviewer has to say about this: I am not a huge fan of Euro power metal (it is absolutely adolescent genre as for me), but this record has got strong consistent songwriting with clear nods to Blind Guardian. So it was pretty good listening experience even for me, and as for the fans of the genre - they should be just blown away by it.

Cool cover anyway. Generally, you can rely on power metal bands to have interesting covers on their albums. The music behind that cover? Well, that's often another thing. This sounds pretty good though. I mean, to paraphrase Edmund Blackadder, power metal is as power metal does (stop me if I'm getting too technical for you). In other words, you won't find any ground-breaking or world-changing music in this genre; mostly it's quite similar, but that's okay if you like it. And I do. Often power metal bands tend to take themselves a little too seriously, especially German ones, with pompous, deep lyrics which often involve concepts, story lines, acting, declamatory speech, sound effects and orchestral backing. So far, this is pretty basic but we're only on the first track so there's time yet. You do however have to suck in your cheeks at a band who use their name as the title for one of their instrumentals, but however; I don't know what orden ogan means, so maybe there's a good reason for that.

Here come a power choir, dark(ish) vocals, so we're getting there. Ha ha! Sounds like they woke up a grumbly Tom Waits for “Evil Lies in Every Man” and got him to sing! :laughing: “Here at the End of the World” is very catchy. Well you know what? It's a fun album. It's not going to rock anyone's world or change the mind of anyone who's not into power metal, but there are worse ways you could put in forty-eight minutes and twenty-four seconds, that's for sure.

Give this a solid
Three and a Half Thumbs Up!
(Hey, it deserves the extra half Thumb).

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Concrete - Sunny Sweeney (2011)
Genre: Country
RYM Rating: 3.10
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Here’s what Lilleboll had to say about it on RYM: It's starts out kickin'... then it eases up some, but it sure feels soild without any weak tracks, this is a great new cowgirl :) (I’m sure he/she means solid, not soiled! :laughing:)

I came across Ms. Sweeney while doing the Albums of 2017 thread, and loved her fourth album, Trophy. Always meant to go back and check her out further, but as usual life got in the way, so I’m glad one of her albums has popped up on the Trollheart Randomiser (™) today. This is her second album, which I read quite a lot about when reviewing Trophy, so let’s see if it’s worth the hype. Real honky-tonk to start us off, kind of like a female Dwight Yoakam maybe, keeps nice and rocky with a mix of commercial pop country while still paying her dues. Impressed. Again. I like that she writes a lot of her own material. Becoming quite the star of the independent country scene I’m told, and certainly seems to be deserved.

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Thursday
and we kick off with
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Title: “Neverland”
Artist: Fremor
Nationality: Colombian
Album: Caelum
Year: 2019
Genre: Power Metal
Heard this artist before? No
How many albums have I heard from them? None
Heard this album before? No
Heard this track before? No
Comments: Possibly the first band I’ve heard from Colombia, this is the band’s debut album released last year - well, 2019 - and this just happens to be the longest track on it. Meh, it’s a little confusing; doesn’t seem to know whether it wants to be pagan/viking metal or power metal. Either way, it’s not very good.
Future Action (if any):

Rating: 5.4/10


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Title: “Cloto”
Artist: Láquesis
Nationality: Argentinian
Album: Láquesis
Year: 2013
Genre: Progressive Rock
Heard this artist before? Yes
How many albums have I heard from them? One
Heard this album before? Yes
Heard this track before? Yes
Comments: Heard this a few years back when I was doing one of ProgArchives’ top 100 list (the one for 2013 obviously). Can’t remember if I thought much of it. Interesting that the playlist has today given me, one after the other, two bands from South America. What are the chances, huh? This isn’t bad; nice little instrumental on piano and fretless bass.
Future Action (if any):

Rating: 7.9/10
(No video available)

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Title: “The Last Night of My Life”
Artist: John Wetton
Nationality: English
Album: Raised in Captivity
Year: 2011
Genre: AOR
Heard this artist before? Yes
How many albums have I heard from them? One solo plus Asia, Icon and other albums
Heard this album before? No
Heard this track before? No
Comments: We finish up with a track from the last solo album released by Asia’s John Wetton. With a title like that I had expected a ballad, but no it’s an uptempo boppy song, and to be honest it’s a little below par. It’s all right I guess.
Future Action (if any):

Rating: 6.9/10
(No video available)

Well that was a pretty shitty playlist! Hope for better tomorrow...

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Mystery Eyes - Jaded Heart (1997)
Genre: AOR/Hard Rock
RYM Rating: 3.40
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This is the first time I’ve listened to a full album by these guys, but every thing I’ve heard up to now I have loved. I’m a big fan of Bon Jovi (shut up) so I love this, but I do see Jaded Heart, at least on this album, as trying to emulate Jon and the boys. I mean, I don’t know, maybe it’s just his own voice or way of singing, but the vocalist - being German - sounds not only very American, but very Bon Jovi American. I could do without “She’s Not You”, but it’s one small bump in an otherwise flat and perfect road, and one I want to travel again real soon.