Brann Dailor of Mastodon gets a lot of talk as a good drummer. I’ve always thought Matt Spearin of Disappearer is quite good. Of course guys like Powell and Paice will get mentioned. They’re all time hard rock icons. I don’t imagine you’ve not heard of those guys. Mikkey Dee is a really talented player, too. I think with Scorpions now.
For fans of Kamelot... former vocalist Roy Khan has resurfaced 7 years after leaving the band with this track "For All". It seems to be religious in nature. Regardless of the subject matter, his voice is undiminished and it is a treat to hear him.
OMG. This came up on youtube when I was looking for something. I forget what I was looking for now. I used to have a guitar like that, but never a girl like that. Holy carumba. Love the music too (was there music?). But seriously, great playing there. I can't take credit for this but just saw this in the comments, pretty funny.. That smoking hot body, those beautiful curves, that sexy neck!!! God I love Gibson Les Pauls.
That MSG album is one of my treasured vinyl rotatorgasms. It may have worn like Jack Palance chewing sandpaper but still thumps like crazy and as I've mentioned elsewhere at some point, the track 'On And On' isn't just off the scale, it simply melts under the heat of such an irresistible holiness marching forth. Stupendous Heavy Rock making you need more oxygen.
Finding "Assault Attack" at a Goodwill thrift/pawn shop a few years back remains one of the happier days of my life. Lord Birch in the producer's chair on that one.
I'm not sure that Mastodon will be the acquired taste that Sepultura became for me. there seems to be a lack of dynamic and any discernible melodies (Sepultura while heavy had melodies in spades) - but I'm only 5 listens in on their 2 big hyped 2000's discs.
That's a big problem with sludge (the subgenre they fall in when it comes to portions of their sound). Sepultura is leagues ahead of them at their best, easily.
One of 'The Wasp's' peaks, twiddle-wise, undoubtedly. Birch had a way of capturing instruments so clearly yet boasts a repertoire of widly varying album sounds. The first five 'Maiden albums all sound totally different to each other, as do the '70s 'Purple outings, early Whitesnake productions whilst RJD era Rainbow's first three are ying, yang and, er yong; ditto BÖC and 'Sabbath in 1980 and '81, respectively. In all cases, the mixes all seem to work. (Apart from 'Maiden in the mid-late 80s when the overblown digisynthalis rather neuters the former clarity of a purer aggression.)
getting a really heavy Voivod vibe - a bit more neoclassical and a bit less psychedelic. thanks for the share!
I can plonk on prettty much any Megadeth, at any time and rarely feel short changed. One of my most consistent artistes, old Dave (& co.) By the way, there's a trio of sequential songs on the new 'Priest album that are on very heavy rotation at the present: 'Flame Thrower,' 'Spectre' and 'Traitors' Gate.' In the second of these, at about 1m50secs is a guitar break, quickly followed by an intoxicating swirl of switching solos and riffing sufficient to send men standing idle into the cellars to retrieve a bottle of Chateau LeMetal-Zenith, 1978. Such unsullied 'molten flow' is seldom matched in consistence of purity and to experience such delight requires the rapid crank of albums such as Mercyful Fate's 1983 debut LP, Melissa. Elsewhere, a song entitled 'Burning Leaves' by Ensiferum fulfills the criteria. Apologies for the darty, jumping, somewhat random, fly-like analysis but I'm currently roaming with a harsh ear across my modest collection, attempting a disorderly but hugely satisfying quest to contemplate unfettered, Heavy Rock and Metal mana that doesn't require 'a mood' for the listening but rather, enforces a joyous, head nodding fealty by virtue of irresistible brilliance which may just be an orgasmic solo (extended or otherwise,) soaring melody line or other instrumental device. Oh, 'Nosferatu' by BÖC; there's another... simply exquisite. As you were...
I share your appreciation of The Wasp... one of the most instrumental figures in my record collection. However, I disagree with your assessment of mid/late-80s Maiden production. I think Seventh Son is the best produced Maiden album. Nicko's drum sound on that album, in particular, is aural bliss (focus on his work on the title track... my God). The guitars perhaps may not have the aggression of Killers, but they have a gorgeous, shimmering sound that appeals to me... and I think is rather suitable for the conceptual nature of the material. It wasn't until 1990 when Steve Harris insisted the band record No Prayer for the Dying in a barn to get a "street level, stripped down" sound when the Birch/Maiden production standards declined.