Pandora Goes Batty for Gothic Metal

What is Gothic Metal? 

My Pandora Player picks Excellent Examples of Real Gothic Metal

   This will be the last installment - for now - of Season 2 for my blog, "Thanks to Pandora". These songs, like the others from Season 2, are featured directly from my "thumbs-up" list, songs of which I did not know of, before my Pandora Player introduced them to me. It's been an interesting run, from the proto-typical selections of the leaders in Symphonic Metal, to outstanding entries of Progressive Metal, and songs from obscure and little-known bands. This update I focus on 3 Dark Entries (that's the title to my favorite Bauhaus song) in which my Pandora Player proved to me, yet again, it knows what it's doing. Here are 3 songs that really touch on the stylings of yet another sub-genre I focus on, Gothic Metal. As much as I would prefer to not use that label, I believe there is a niche in which a few artists totally fit into - and "get" what people like myself at times feel is really ignored by the metal community, a dark melancholic mix of atmosphere, haunting subject matter and a healthy bite of metal.

   In a weird parallel, my very first entry to this blog (Beginning Point: Finland) was 3 true-to-form Gothic Metal songs. Since then I've only focused only one other entry (see previous posting: The Others I, Gothic Metal) as this search through my earliest bookmarks took me into a path of more symphonic list, falling in love with Epica and After Forever, discovering many others along the way. Now it comes again, full circle to complete Season 2. There has been some eliminations, as I weed out any song I find less than stellar, it appears my expectations for each and every song I list in this blog to be of the highest standards, its taken me 6 weeks to finally choose this last group.

   My main objective is to ignore the elitist attitudes that so many music bloggers carry, to simply only choose songs which I truly enjoy. Ive found that 80% of the music-review based sites/blogs are from a very narrow, or heavily biased and opinionated view point. Too much are negative, being rant-filled and name-calling. I completely disagree with that style. I am extremely happy to know I don't live in that world, one which everything sucks, one which seems to only revolve around what can be torn down and mocked. I am thrilled to know that because of this thing called Symphonic Metal, I have found once again, a positive outlook, a heart filled again with passion, a mind in awe of the possibilities, a clear awareness of what is to be open-minded and more importantly, a true love and desire to share these spectacular moments with you, my readers, my friends and my peers.

   So now, let me tell you, how wrong you are (insert devious chuckle) - all joking aside I believe most people have the label Gothic Metal as a general umbrella for anything that doesn't quite sound like other genres. For me, I feel a band needs to qualify to be labeled Gothic Metal, not the other way around. When you can carry a fondness for the darkness (Thank you Black Sabbath), I feel that these 3 songs will translate well to you. Atmosphere, Desperation, Desolation, Anguish, Melancholy, Fear and Intrigue. Its all there. And its Beautiful...

Aesma Daeva- The Loon (USA Operatic/Atmospheric Gothic Metal, 2007)

   My second entry from this very talented group. You can't go wrong when you have one of the most talented female voices from Therion (see previous posting: Getting Into-Mega Therion) Lori Lewis at the helm. Her clear precise delivery is as frail as needed but yet as beautiful as they get. The Loon is one of my favorite songs for a period of time it set my mood for my research. As I searched everywhere for Dark Entries, it is another reminder that Pandora gets it right. When the first few haunting moments came on my player, I scurried and was pleased to see Aesma Daeva's name on the player. The vocals on this release (the first with Lori, who replaced Melissa Frank, now Visions of Atlantis singer) have been described as haunting and ethereal. I find I like this song more the louder I have it playing. It truly has a hugeness to it and it sounds as if the band is recording in a giant hall but still allows for the quietest of moments to be clear.

Beseech - Illusionate (Sweden Gothic Metal, 2002)  

    Insert random Rocky Horror Picture Show sound clip. It's benign because the strange journey is actually the intro to a greatly overlooked release by Beseech, "Souls Highway". Dark and brooding, this song has all the feel of a shady character in the corner waiting to pounce, yet still it delivers a complicated, multi-layered melodic chorus. The mix of male and female vocals works to a great degree here and fits some of the trappings of the other moniker for this genre "Gothenburg Metal" A little bit of H.I.M., a little bit of Type-O and a little bit things that go bump in the night.

   Vocalist Lotta Hoglin and Erik Molarin match well together and sing most of the songs as one. Her parts aren't as strongly focused on as you might expect, opting to allow the more sinister growl of Erik to set the tone. One word of warning - this is some catchy stuff. Not as upbeat or too pop-orientated as others associated in the genre, which is my point exactly. This is how to do THIS form of GothicMetal.

Mortal Love - Forever Will Be Gone (NL, Gothic Metal, 2006)

   I researched the heck out of this band when I first heard my Pandora player bring up some of their more well-known songs. In the world of Gothic Metal, only Virgin Black really go for a darker and more depressive sound than Mortal Love. What I learned from my rummaging was this was one depressive band. Just the song titles alone are enough to give you an indication of where they take their music to.

   As bleak this title is, its a world of difference to see something so well constructed and thought out. Its obvious not only that they know what they are doing, but they have the skill to execute (ahem) it. Another great lush, extravagant chorus filled with beautiful things and it all comes crashing down as the song veers off into very heavy passages.

  Male and female duet vocals (common theme in this genre) are played out very well, when he beckons, she winces, when she (known simply as Cat) gleams bright, he lashes out. The first melody on strings backed by a heavy riff ends quick as he whispers the first verse over piano lines. Cat then comes in and sings well above the building crescendo. Subtle hints that there is something coming, and it comes at you like a evil force in the night, a chasing rhythm as all the pieces wind together, almost overhead as you try to escape..

   Its a pleasure to grasp and amongst the dire feel, it reminds me actually of one of my favorite bands, Stream Of Passion (progressive metal see previous posting:The Others III - violins) which would mean this band has a progressive mentality, giving them certainly a leg up on just about every band in the Goth-Metal world. So where does this song really go? You have to wait, till the very end past the existing lone piano to find out.

  Like little Kirsten Dunst said in Interview With a Vampire, after her first taste of blood... "I want more."

Next Update: Season 3 the continuing saga known as Symphonic Metal Saved My Life

A Fantasic Four

A Fantastic Four Favorites

My Favorite 4 Songs I've Learned from Pandora - so far

  This is one Epic update I would say. I could spread these 4 songs across various postings, but in truth I discovered them almost all at the same time. I so far have listed in this second season, songs from bands I already knew of and loved, songs from bands Ive never heard of and now these 4 share 1 thing in common, I had crossed paths with each in some way or another, but never heard these selections and I really pretty much fell in love with them right away. First a quick over-view of the bands in this update and the links will follow below.

Todesbonden (Symphonic/Progressive Metal, USA)

 This is a band that located me on myspace at least 2 years ago. I remember when I was first adding bands from my early links, on my myspace page, like Velcra, Silentium, Epica and After Forever when I had a few bands find me like Katra, Diabulus in Musica, Edenbridge when this band from the USA asked me to add them. I remember playing a few songs which seemed to me like demos- really good demos. But my curiosity had stopped there. My only guess was they werent on youtube at the time and their "station" on last.fm didnt include their music (which happens when bands pull their listings from databases sometimes) Whatever the case I completely forgot about them. Luckily, one day my Pandora player reminded me and the first link below "Battle of Kadesh" came through and I went crazy... All the "Who The bleep" and "Where they come from" questions came and then boom a few days later "Surrender to the Sea" came on my player, which I instantly recognized as "its them- that band from my Myspace... are you kidding me?" I clicked thumbs-up and to my delight found some links on youtube. To this day I still revel in these 2 songs as if hearing them for the first time. Absolute gold here.

 Ensiferum (Folk Metal, Finland) I came across these guys during my "I must check every band from Finland" phase. I found them to be rather interesting mix of folk metal with some death and blackened influences but at times it all just didnt totally work for me at the time. Its my only explanation for how stumbled through their catalog without much success. Until Pandora played this song for me. I have a heavy influence of Finnish bands in my song seeds and band seeds, and Pandora correctly picked this one for me. It's a medley of Finnish National Songs sung beautifully and contrasted against quite heavy Folk Metal backing music. Maybe its my Finnish heritage coming through when I play this song I somehow feel maybe my Father is smiling down on me from somewhere.  

 Luca Turilli (Progressive Symphonic Power, Italy) I have found that most of my Metal friends don't know the vast majority of the bands I have put into my blog but its when I don't know something, only to find out that like everybody knows them is when I get a bit miffed. In sheer delightful ignorance, let me "tell" you about this band called Rhapsody. They are this power metal band with like a gazillion fans and they were once called Rhapsody of Fire, but had to change it and there is a vocalist guy who's superb, and this guitarist guy who's like a genius or something. What does this have to do with this Luca guy you ask? He's the virtuoso genius guy, who does solo projects and this one breaks away from his more typical speed injected power metal fare and bridges more towards the gap of symphonic metal-ish. When this song came up on my Pandora player, I was quite blown away by it within in the first minute and then I read the bio and go "Oh Yeah THAT guy from that Rhapsody band". I had no clue. I just knew I had come across a bunch of links from that band and never knew where to start, but much of it all sounded pretty much the same to me. But Not this song.

So here is my very favorite songs my Pandora player introduced me to, my Fantastic Four:

Todesbonden- Battle Of Kadesh (USA, Symphonic Folk Metal, 2008)

One of the more unusual songs I have in my listings, in that Laurie Ann Haus (Ephemeral Sun, Rain Fell Within, Autumn Tears) mostly just sings long wailing cries for the majority of the song. The intro is a slow build, with distant cries and what sounds to me a lute guitar, then duplicated by maybe a hurdy-gurdy and then symphonics as the whole band joins in. Its a very epic sounding progressive passage which allows for Laurie to vocalize all over. It stops just to rebuild again. The overall feel of building and breaking down shows some thrash-metal influences. Then there is a quiet passage which leads to powerful section at 5:20 and still no vocals yet, as the guitars rip in for dual tracked solos. All very inspired and they deserve kudos for thinking and writing so far outside of the box. It actually feels they are taking you off to foreign lands. After a short breakdown, she sings the few lines of lyrics as the song comes to a finale phrasing. I simply love this section and the song as a whole.

Todesbonden- Surrender to The Sea  (USA, Symphonic Folk Metal, 2008)

The first time I heard this song the ascending arpeggio piano intro was just about all I needed to raise my eyebrows then Laurie sings a beautiful and instantly memorable melody, on top. Then wham! Just as the band bangs in a heavy rhythm - I am sold! Letting and her show off her full range, climbing to such heights and quickly dropping back down. In the following section the powerful rhythms grind down as she turns up the emotion. These types of dynamics with near-impossible vocal delivery reminds me of a few songs Ive included in my postings so far (see below). Its apparently a formula which I embrace fully, its just a hard one to follow. The climbing and falling vocal melody is a great contrast to breakdown section with chords seemingly just hanging out there. Add in a guitar solo at 3:35 and its easy to see why this is truly one of my very favorite songs I've included so far. Love it!

Songs with similar style, with dramatic arrangements and near impossible vocals that this song reminds me of:

After Forever - Beautiful Emptiness
The Gathering - Strange Machines
Epica - Beyond Belief
Stream of Passion - Embrace the Storm

Ensiferum - Finnish Medley (Finland, Symphonic Folk Metal 2006)

  A song built out of 3 Finnish Anthems, which I wont list here. Right off the first intro riff, the first of the three pieces is beautifully sung, yes its in Finnish and is so melodic and sweet sounding to my ears. Like many National songs, it does sound a bit like a drinking song but is simply about seeing the natural beauty of the Finnish Landscape. The building guitars lead away into the 2nd song at 2:00, another quite beautiful melody, no lyrics but a nice segway to the next portion of the melody at 3:00 which is about a woodsman, the forest and fighting a bear. My Father was Finnish and I do wish he had taught me things about the rich culture from which he came and some of the language, I unfortunately did not have enough time with him in this world and sometimes I feel as I am listening to bands, like these who sing in Finnish, is my way of celebrating the time we did get to spend.

  Another part of this song I enjoy tremendously is the extended super multi-climatic and most epic ending they put on this song. Obviously it's a heavy stamp on a otherwise rather light fare for a band which is really quite heavy, a stamp which shows much heraldry and pride. Long Live Finland.

Luca Turillis' Dreamquest- Shades Of Eternity (Italy, Symphonic Metal 2006)
I am so excited as I bring in this next entry, because it instantly reminds me that these are 4 awesome songs and this one, by Rhapsody's Luca Turilli, has brought me so much joy. I remember playing it several times repetitively till I picked up on the melody. The unnamed vocalist (Listed as "Mystic", but rumored to be Bridget Fogle) delivers a spectacular performance, full of depth, range and ridiculous delivery that it simply blows my mind how it is that singers of this genre are not more well known. Which further is a point in question, why would Luca hide this vocalist's identity? Because her voice is so special, he wants her all for his own apparently. The song is put together in A/B format. The first section includes the main melody, and a start/stop response style where the vocals have an effect on them and the B section section has more a dancing sway to it, with the vocals being more clear and her range is on full display. The rather quick bridge jumps back to the B section before the main melody ends the song. Luca is considered a musical genius in some aspects for his work in Rhapsody(of Fire). This solo project he is playing the keys and this song in particular is in truth rather simple. Doesn't matter because it is such a stand-out and one of my Fantastic Four, and thanks to Pandora I now listen to many songs from these amazing bands.

Next Update: Pandora in The Dark

Its a Progressive Thing, You Dont Understand

Orphaned Land, To-Mera & Pathosray

And Now For Some Things Different, Completely

One of the cool things about making a station on Pandora is how you can 'fine tune' your choice of 'station' in a few different ways. Looking at my station "EpicAfterHim" (see link on side) I have 3 main bands as 'band seeds' - which means they are the main influence on what other bands from which are selected. Certain bands are quite closely associated with each other so if you have Guns-n-Roses for example as a band seed, its sure that you will hear some Motley Crue. In my case my 3 main seeds are Epica, After Forever and HIM. Yes both Epica and After Forever are quite similarly referenced on Pandora but Epica tends to spawn more classical references and Power Metal bands (Kamelot for example, due to the 2 bands' direct linkage), whereas After Forever tends to spawn off more technical bands and Progressive Metal (I get Symphony X and some Dream Theatre) and having HIM listed gives me a good reference point for Finnish bands, some punk, some alternative. For my purposes, its a good fit. Song seeds work a bit differently.

   Band seeds will define the overall general styling of your programming. Choose 1 artist from the 80's and that's all your probably going to hear, top 80s songs. But choose 2 or 3 relatively unknown 80's bands and you will get a much wider (and probably more interesting) soundscape. Song seeds work differently to help direct the variance you will hear. Put a big hit from an 80's artist, but from more current times (like a U2) song, and you will notice the difference on that same 80's station. My song seeds are taken right off of my list of songs I learned from the internet. Songs I have mostly already shared here in my blog. Songs I would say are a framework to the sort of song I want to hear more of.

  Which brings me to this current update. These are 3 songs from bands I never heard of or didn't know. Its a good over-view on just how varied- when you get into tinkering your stations settings - your results can be. Just don't forget to click "thumbs-up" when you hear a good tune... It may be a little more difficult to track down then you think. There are 3 songs I cant include here in this list simply because I cant find them- anywhere! Once I do find them, I'll post a "Lost Track" update.

Sapari- Orphaned Land (Israel Folk/Progressive Metal, 2010)

   I did run into this band on youtube, searching for Folk Metal in odd places. Unfortunately, I never bookmarked what I found, which lead me to wonder "What was that band from that foreign country?" which was all I can remember. Pandora, though helped me through this and this incredible gem came through my player. As a quick introduction to Orphaned Land, they are a folk metal band in the way they use melodies and instruments from their homeland, in this case Israel. The lyrical content though is a combination of dialects from the region. This helps their cause as they meld together a mindset of philosophies from which they draw their songwriting. And its gotten them into trouble. Basically they can't possibly play their music in certain regions. But as far as being underground, they are quite well known. I feel they have grown into being maybe the best known underground band from overseas. Not bad for being banned in your own homeland, one that which they sing about.

  Honestly, I feel that only strengthens their positions, their viewpoints and message. Nonetheless the music is instantly memorable and moving. If you like for music to take you off to foreign landscapes, it's hard to compete with OL. The female vocals provided by Shlomit Levi are also key. Her clear delivery solidifies the strength of the melody and gives another dimension to their already vivid landscape.

To-Mera- The Lie (London Progressive Fusion Metal, 2008)

   So you know those bands that sound like a hybrid of 2 bands? Ever hear this one? "They sound like if Metallica and Rush had a baby" Well this band sounds like about 8 of those combinations. It's the modern take on Progressive Metal, or Fusion Metal as Ive heard it referenced as, if it has any tip of the hat to Jazz. So we have a marriage between all of these various styles and the result is... Awesome! Its as if my Pandora player just mocked all my tinkering and said "O.K. you want to hear all this diversity? how about in one band, in one song?" (insert madman chuckle). This song has its moment, moment after moment. Taking what other Fusion/Progressive/Thrash/Death Metal bands have done (do you know any of those?) such as Cynic (if you dont know them its totally worth checking out) and placing a Female vocal (founding member Julie Kiss) and some Black Metal under-pinnings and you get To-Mera. This song in particular, takes this marriage to another level.

  With a true jazz breakdown with cabaret style vocals and horns, it goes to full long-count metal and then into full blast beats. Following that section comes a very symphonic breakdown, almost soundtrack in nature. All this allows Julie Kiss to wail, beckon and show off her full range without sounding like a Tarja wanna-be or a screaming maniac. Overall a very fantastic combination, inspiring and leaves you full of awe. Thank you so very much Pandora.

Pathosray- Songs Of The Sunless Sky (Italy Progressive Metal, 2009)

   Progressive Metal. If that statement or genre name sounds silly to you, well maybe silly no more once you've trekked through a seriously well written voyage as such as this one song is. With a great vocal delivery by Marco Sandron, there are hints to 70's prog-rock, some symphonics and great piano passages all the while the sweeping vocals float above. The guitar work fills nearly every crevice. There is something to listen closely to at every moment. I truly love the guitar sounds mixed with the long keys voicing the main melody at the intro. The song is in broken-verse style where the drums show off their progressive stylings and during the choruses, actual full vocal choruses. The beautiful breakdown before the solo at 4:10 is reminiscent of only the best moments from bands like Dream Theatre but this moreover brings me to one of my very favorite bands, Amorphis. Whom I posted 2 great songs (see previous posting: Return to Finland II: The Future of Metal)

   Thanks to Pandora, my musical horizons now include Italy, Israel and even London. Its quite incredible to see how varied Progressive Metal can be. This truly is music and I revel within every moment. It ignites my passion, my sets into motion my creative fires. It drives me to continue on with my wish to share these powerful and wondrous landscapes with you here, in My Endless Search.

Next update: One of my Most Epic updates ever... My 4 favorite Songs from Pandora.