A top 5 album for me ever since hearing it back in '97, when my mates and I were catching a week of shows from the Cherone-era VH ( VH's first ever tour of Australia, so we took what we could get ! ) We went CD shopping one day, I took a chance on this after seeing the clip on late night telly. Sitting 'round, having beers and hearing this for the first time, we were like ...... Holy @#$% what is this ?!! Anyway, this is a hidden jewel in the Devin Townsend oeuvre, it's heavy, super-melodic, progressive and it rocks. Hard to believe he wrote this and SYL's City pretty much the same time. A talented chap.
1997 was a pretty great year for progressive metal. Ocean Machine: Biomech, A Pleasant Shade of Gray by Fates Warning, Ink Complete by Spastic Ink, City by Strapping Young Lad, The Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X, Spiritech by Alchemist, Paradox by Royal Hunt, A Mended Rhyme by Tad Morose, Hopeless Hopes by Martyr, State of Mind by Elegy and several others. Arguably one of the genre's best years in virtually every subgenre.
Symphony X: The Divine Wings of Tragedy is the standout for me from this list (although I'm unfamiliar with several mentioned). Perhaps the bands crowning achievement.
Great albums, you might be interested in this RIOT documentary, this is part II covering the FDU / Rhett F era.
I rescued this vynil from the £1 bin at the weekend...I'd heard about them back in the day, thought they were supposed to be some kind of aspiring Priest clones, but never heard anything until now. It's quite good, but not particularly JP...trying to remember what other new UK HM bands there were around 1989, nothing memorable. Could this be the Last Great British Heavy Metal Album?
I just found this post. I still miss the Stonerrock.com boards. I especially loved the Classic Albums page, I shared a lot of info with some very cool people on there, discussing Leaf Hound, Flower Travellin' Band and many other greats. I remember Godshifter, Sativa71, Arsgarth... Happy daze.
Apparently it’s back. StonerRock.com V2. A guy bought out Danno and has revived the board and has taken over ATIH. You can’t relive the past. The period of time it existed was great but even in its final years it was a shadow of its former self. I won’t be returning (though I did register).
I'm curious what your favorite guitar has been for heavy metal (as a listener, player or both!)? Super Strat (i.e, Charvel, Jackson, Kramer) Flying V Gibson Les Paul Ibanez Destroyer other (please list)
I’m not much of a guitarist (I’m a good rhythm player, but poor at leads). I prefer a Gibson Les Paul (I have a 1957 gold top), but I also have a Flying V. The Les Paul has always been my ‘go to’ guitar.
Thanks for telling me. I've registered, but was never part of the main community so probably won't be on there much. Like you say, it was great at the time
Have you heard the 2 bonus tracks on the live album from City sessions (Centipede, Japan)? They sound more like Ocean Machine than SYL. Also the ultra rare Ass-Sordid Demos album has a song called Ocean Machine than I can’t believe wasn’t on the album.
Yep, I love Japan. It has one of those massive choruses that emerge from seemingly out of nowhere. The song Ocean Machines is great and should have made it onto the album somewhere, though I thing he could have trimmed it down a little, it sounds to me like he didn't quite know how to end it. For those curious ....
I have a terrible answer of the it's not the camera it's the photographer type of answer. No doubt the guitarist has sonic qualities in their choice but I just like what they are using for what I am listening to at the moment. Above is Seth of Behemoth with an ESP because their new Blu-ray is in rotation. And I'm even more shallow as aesthetics matter. There are exceptions such as I never liked the look of a Stratocaster but have always loved Jimi. He could play a ukulele and still be a god. During a YOB kick I loved Monsoon guitars such as Mike Scheidt's. There something cool about custom guitars. Not the same old thing. Just jump to 2:45 for the majestic solo playing by Seth and why it's ESP today.
Nice. Certainly the magic tone is in the fingers yet I find many ESP guitars I have played have fast thin necks and quality electronics. Aesthetics and comfort matter to a lot of players.
Funny you should say that about the production, Trillmeister, because I just acquired the original German vinyl pressing and am so blown away by the amazing sound quality that I came here looking for a thread about that. Found this thread instead. I don't know if it's an analogue or digital recording, but who cares, the sound is marvellous, great dynamic range too. So great to hear this stuff after all these years. I haven't had this album in any format since I had it on tape in the 80s.
Yeah, they're incredible. Caught them playing with King Diamond back in 2014 and they really won me over. I own everything by them now.