OT: The Wild Board Jukebox Thread: Part Deux

[MK9]

Evergrey can do no wrong, Englunds voice (specifically with Evergrey... don't care much for him in Redemption) is just perfect. Regarding getting bummed out, sure... but what a classy goodbye. That was pretty cool.

Song rocks tho

I totally agree man. I also think Ray was a much better fit for Redemption.

Very cool way for Jonas to step away, even if it is a bummer.

I just read an article [Longtime EVERGREY Drummer JONAS EKDAHL Announces His Departure] that said Jonas is just not interested in touring anymore. Guessing a lot of artists are just doing the math and realizing that the hassle isn't worth what they get paid anymore. Sounds like he's still going to do studio work, write, record, etc. with the band. Just doesn't want to be away from home anymore. Which eases my mind for selfish reasons as I'm old and don't like change. I'm sure a lot of the heavy lifting is likely Tom, but taking Jonas out of the mix felt like it'd be a big change to the process. Been a slow steady stream of other Euro hard rock & metal guys doing the same the past few years.

Yeah, both the new tracks that are out are fantastic.

 

[MK9]

Man, for a guy that's as religious as he is, Roy Khan gets pretty damn dark in this tune. The song is about Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. I normally can't stand over the top repetition in songs. Part of the reason I dislike pop music, rap and The Rolling Stones so much. But, it just works with the guitar riff in this song. Really pushes the lyrics to the front IMO.



And then, this. The dude is just a master of evoking emotion. Just sucks he's not as active as he used to be.

 

[Sweetnut]

Man, for a guy that's as religious as he is, Roy Khan gets pretty damn dark in this tune. The song is about Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. I normally can't stand over the top repetition in songs. Part of the reason I dislike pop music, rap and The Rolling Stones so much. But, it just works with the guitar riff in this song. Really pushes the lyrics to the front IMO.



And then, this. The dude is just a master of evoking emotion. Just sucks he's not as active as he used to be.

Careful now. Those guys are norwegian. But Elize is from Sweden, so that saves you a little...
I thought Roy retired after his nervous breakdown when he was in Kamelot. Good for him to come back, I liked it.

I didn't see her band Amaranthe on your list, assuming you perhaps didn't knew they were swedish.
Released an album this february, The Catalyst.

 

[MK9]

Careful now. Those guys are norwegian. But Elize is from Sweden, so that saves you a little...
I thought Roy retired after his nervous breakdown when he was in Kamelot. Good for him to come back, I liked it.

I didn't see her band Amaranthe on your list, assuming you perhaps didn't knew they were swedish.
Released an album this february, The Catalyst.

Aha. Roy is Norwegian, yes. The other guys are from the US and Germany. But yeah, Roy went home. Got very involved in his family and church. Someone posted a video several years ago of him singing with his church and he barely even looked like the same guy.

Bit of a life change there.

Then after a few years got back together with his pre-Kamelot band Conception. They're not super active and I don't think they really tour. Fairly sure they just do one off shows. He is without a doubt in my top 5 fav singers. I like Tommy (see, look, another Swede) in Kamelot a lot. Loved his singing with Seventh Wonder. But, Kamelot just isn't quite the same without Roy.

Not sure why, but I thought Elize was Dutch and thereby mistakenly assumed the rest of the band was as well. Thought for some reason she was from the same place as Sharon den Adel. I will happily watch and listen to either of them, however. Neither of them are in any way difficult to look at.

That said, I like Amaranthe, but they get a bit too much on the pop side for me with some of their tunes. So I enjoy some songs, but can't sit through an entire album.

 

[Sweetnut]

Aha. Roy is Norwegian, yes. The other guys are from the US and Germany. But yeah, Roy went home. Got very involved in his family and church. Someone posted a video several years ago of him singing with his church and he barely even looked like the same guy.
View attachment 871304View attachment 871306
Bit of a life change there.

Then after a few years got back together with his pre-Kamelot band Conception. They're not super active and I don't think they really tour. Fairly sure they just do one off shows. He is without a doubt in my top 5 fav singers. I like Tommy (see, look, another Swede) in Kamelot a lot. Loved his singing with Seventh Wonder. But, Kamelot just isn't quite the same without Roy.

Not sure why, but I thought Elize was Dutch and thereby mistakenly assumed the rest of the band was as well. Thought for some reason she was from the same place as Sharon den Adel. I will happily watch and listen to either of them, however. Neither of them are in any way difficult to look at.

That said, I like Amaranthe, but they get a bit too much on the pop side for me with some of their tunes. So I enjoy some songs, but can't sit through an entire album.

Kamelot, yes. I meant Conception, I think they are all from Norway. Could be wrong though.

That's true, they are not the heaviest band around, but some songs hit the spot for me. They sure like to change things up. I know she toured with Kamelot in the US, and sang on Silverthorn.

Elize was born and raised in Värnamo, 70 miles away from here, the same small town that Spice from Spiritual Beggars was born. 20 000 people live there, so it's just a little village. It's in the same region where many of the Swedes that migrated to Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in the mid 1800's came from, so maybe you are related to one of them, lol.

There is also a standing stone with rune inscriptions in that place.

 

[MK9]

Kamelot, yes. I meant Conception, I think they are all from Norway. Could be wrong though.

That's true, they are not the heaviest band around, but some songs hit the spot for me. They sure like to change things up. I know she toured with Kamelot in the US, and sang on Silverthorn.

Elize was born and raised in Värnamo, 70 miles away from here, the same small town that Spice from Spiritual Beggars was born. 20 000 people live there, so it's just a little village. It's in the same region where many of the Swedes that migrated to Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in the mid 1800's came from, so maybe you are related to one of them, lol.

There is also a standing stone with rune inscriptions in that place.

View attachment 871323

Oh. Yeah, I believe you are correct, believe Conception are all from Norway.

I actually don't think I have much if any Norwegian or Swedish in bloodline. My family is mostly English, German, Irish and Hungarian.

Total aside...seems odd there are so many Norwegians and Swedes here, but nowhere near as many Finns. I'm also slightly confused as to why they left home...and just settled in a place with weather just as shitty as the stuff they had in the place they left? Cripes, go somewhere warm. Comedian Lewis Black actually did a bit about that when he came here. He recorded that special here. I was at that show. Funny dude.

Also, how certain are we that that isn't just the ancient sign directing people to the Toyota dealership behind it?

 

[MK9]

Just a heads up, lot of swearing:

 

[Sweetnut]

Oh. Yeah, I believe you are correct, believe Conception are all from Norway.

I actually don't think I have much if any Norwegian or Swedish in bloodline. My family is mostly English, German, Irish and Hungarian.

Total aside...seems odd there are so many Norwegians and Swedes here, but nowhere near as many Finns. I'm also slightly confused as to why they left home...and just settled in a place with weather just as shitty as the stuff they had in the place they left? Cripes, go somewhere warm. Comedian Lewis Black actually did a bit about that when he came here. He recorded that special here. I was at that show. Funny dude.

Also, how certain are we that that isn't just the ancient sign directing people to the Toyota dealership behind it?

It was famine in those years, and people were starving. The snow was still left in June and the food prices were skyrocketing. Very short summers led to bad harvests.
A widespread drought occurred in 1868, which caused a failed harvest and starving animals. Thus, the famine continued.

The great famine of 1867–68, and the distrust and discontent over the way the authorities handled the relief help to the needy, is estimated to have contributed greatly to Swedish emigration to the United States, which skyrocketed around this time.

At that time, Sweden and Norway was a union, The United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway between 1814-1905. so I guess those people traveled together on those wooden ships.

They were offered cheap land in those states, 1,25 dollar per acre, and when they wrote letters home they bragged about how good everything was which led to even more people coming over.

Finland was a part of Sweden from 1200-something to 1809. They still speak swedish in some parts of Finland and teach it in schools.
Our arch enemies have always been the Danes, lol.

 

[Sweetnut]

Just a heads up, lot of swearing:

Love this, thanks a lot!

 

[Sweetnut]

This is another local band, they had 4 no 1 us hits in the 90's and is the second most selling world wide artists in Sweden behind Abba.

 

[MK9]

Croatian band called Animal Drive did a cover of The Look. Not bad. Think it's just I'm not a huge fan of the song in general.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Loving the new Pearl Jam album. Waiting for Stevie is the most PJ song I've heard since Yield. Whole album is great.

 

[MK9]

Interesting timing on this article. Makes sense.

Why Does Sweden Have So Many Metal Bands? AVATAR's JOHANNES ECKERSTRÖM Weighs In

In a new interview with 105.7 The Point's "The Rizzuto Show", vocalist Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metallers AVATAR was asked why he thinks Sweden has one of the most vibrant metal scenes in the world and one of the highest densities of heavy metal bands per capita. He responded (as...

blabbermouth.net

 

[More Cooley]

Elize was born and raised in Värnamo, 70 miles away from here, the same small town that Spice from Spiritual Beggars was born. 20 000 people live there, so it's just a little village. It's in the same region where many of the Swedes that migrated to Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in the mid 1800's came from, so maybe you are related to one of them, lol.

I'm from that region! I also played and partied with a legendary Swedish metal act in Värnamo years ago. Good times!

Interesting timing on this article. Makes sense.

Why Does Sweden Have So Many Metal Bands? AVATAR's JOHANNES ECKERSTRÖM Weighs In

In a new interview with 105.7 The Point's "The Rizzuto Show", vocalist Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metallers AVATAR was asked why he thinks Sweden has one of the most vibrant metal scenes in the world and one of the highest densities of heavy metal bands per capita. He responded (as...

blabbermouth.net

Great points. I'd also like to mention that it is easy to rent a place to rehearse with a band in Sweden through study circles and study associations (you have to fill in student attendance forms to get funding for the rent. It's a cheap way to rent a room for your band. I know because I filled in fake forms myself, haha. That was some 15 years ago).

 

[Sweetnut]

Interesting timing on this article. Makes sense.

Why Does Sweden Have So Many Metal Bands? AVATAR's JOHANNES ECKERSTRÖM Weighs In

In a new interview with 105.7 The Point's "The Rizzuto Show", vocalist Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metallers AVATAR was asked why he thinks Sweden has one of the most vibrant metal scenes in the world and one of the highest densities of heavy metal bands per capita. He responded (as...

blabbermouth.net

Yeah, that's a big part of it. Another is the long, dark winters and boring small towns. There's nothing to do, and sooo cold outside. People just form bands and practice their asses off.
It's called "Kommunala Musikskolan" and I too was one of the small kids that attended. I was so bad that my teacher was crying, begging me to stay away, lol. Just kidding. I had no talent at all and lost interest quickly because I had no idea what was going on. My younger brother on the other hand is a multi instrumentalist and have a great ear for music, just not my kind of music.

The coolest thing about my buddy Chris Amott, he quit Arch Enemy and went on to became a guitar teacher at our local music school. Can you imagine the looks on the kids faces when they step into the rehearsal room and their teacher is a world renowned guitar player that toured all over the planet several times and have his own signature guitar model?
I have such a huge respect for him doing that, pursuing his own goals instead of just chasing the money. And he was by far the best guitarist in the band, Mike let him play all the difficult parts.

 

[Sweetnut]

Speaking about multi instrumentalists and long, dark winters, this guy is from the northern most part of Sweden where the long dark is a thing, Boden, where the polar bears roam the streets at night. (no, not really) A small village of 17,000 people and also the home town of Mike Wead (Hexenhaus, Memento Mori, Candlemass, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, The Haunted, Edge of Sanity) He's the guitarist of Sabaton and also the most talented singer, bass player and of course guitarist of the band.
He's got a youtube channel, and he posts a metal cover every friday. One hell of a singer.
Check it out.





Playing poker with the chickens. He's so goofy. I love him.



That range!



Unreal. 4.50 breaks me.



And of course, he covered @MK9 's all time favourite song, The Look

 

[Sweetnut]

Tommy Johansson on Instagram: "A Cat mjauing the soundtrack to Titanic - Will it metal? 🐈💥 #willitmetal #powermetal #majestica #sabaton #epic #covers #crazy #everything #metal #charvel #singer #sing #guitar #will #it #metal #whereisdolphlundgren"

2,385 likes, 121 comments - rxalliance on May 15, 2024: "A Cat mjauing the soundtrack to Titanic - Will it metal? 🐈💥 #willitmetal #powermetal #majestica #sabaton #epic #covers #crazy #ever...".

www.instagram.com

Play this ten times, if you don't chuckle you're not human

 

[Sweetnut]

What time is best for some power metal?
All the time...

 

[Soldier13Fox]

What time is best for some power metal?
All the time...

That that, my friend, is debatable (in my humble opinion). I have to be in a certain mood for power metal of this kind. Lol.

Now, if we're talking power metal of the iced earth / blind guardian / Kamelot (with Khan, of course) variety... yah, I can agree 100%.

But this type usually grates on me after a very short while. Don't really know what it is, the bands that play this type of metal are undeniably talented... but there's so much wankery involved non stop.

 

[Soldier13Fox]

Speaking of Iced Earth. Man, that is a tough band to recommend after Jon Schaffers idiot self got caught in the capital Jan 6. But holy hell did I love that band, all iterations of it. Ripper is by far the worst of their vocalists, but the album The Glorious Burden my favorite of their many albums. For any history or military nerds out there is should be required listening. In particular, the three parts of Gettysburg (American civil war). It never fails to have me running around my house singing and just getting pumped up.







Again, Schaffer is an idiot and the rest of the band did the right thing in distancing themselves.... but he is a hell of a songwriter and an insanely talented rhythm guitarist. I selfishly miss the band as well as Demons and Wizards (Schaffer and Hansi Kursch from Blind Guardian).

Edit. And there's a bonus appearance from their best vocalist, Matt Barlow, in High Water Mark

 

[MK9]

 

[MK9]

What time is best for some power metal?
All the time...

Big power metal fan. I've not heard these guys. Can't say that band did much for me though.

Now...Brainstorm? Absolutely.


Primal Fear? Undoubtedly.


Guessing that growing up on bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden is what makes those two bands so appealing. The guitar tones alone are unreal.