"Nobody, but nobody, out there, is doing stuff like Les Friction. Nobody dares!" - Brian May, Queen
"Nobody dares" - these two words are stuck in my mind, because it's the TRUTH.
Les Friction was a fantastic discovering for me and I hope it'll be for you as well.
Now these guys are always in my play-list.
This band mixes amazing epic music with incredible and powerful voice of soloist. These sounds will blow your mind! And I cannot avoid the thing that each their song has a great lyrics - meaningful, dramatic, inspiring.
They have just one debut album, so in this blog I'll post my favorite songs.
1. Sunday
While listening to this song, I always feel like the world is awakening around me, and yes: "all the birds begin to sing". Such a wonderful-wonderful song...It's like a soundtrack for my life.
2. Here Come The Reign
Mysterious and quiet beginning with a growing sound and rhythm...
Somehow it makes you wanna run.
3. Torture
"Save a place inside the walls of your cluttered mind
Let's listen for silence
And sail back to when you crumble and decay
There's no love in this violence
No love anymore
No love anymore
No love anymore
It's torture"
The guitar solo in the end is...INCREDIBLE!
4.Who Will Save You Now
"Tell the world I’ll survive Tell the world I’m alive...
Who will save you now?"
So much of truth in one song.
I really hope that you find these guys interesting, because for me this music is a modern masterpiece - which is a unique magic now.
Post-Grunge, Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Kings of Post-Grunge
Do you love this perfect combination of amazing guitar solo+energetic drums+beautiful vocals+not typical melody+interesting harmony? Then you SHOULD listen to Alter Bridge.
Whenever I hear these two words: Post-Grunge - I know, that I will like it.
However, the truth is that sometimes it doesn't happen like with Breaking Benjamin (sorry, fans, but I am very picky when it comes to good vocals).
But Alter Bridge was one of the brightest openings in this year for me.
Post-Grunge and Alternative Metal are my favorite genres in rock and metal music. Even though my favorite post-grunge band is Shinedown, I do agree that Atler Bridge's place in Post-Grunge's music is a thrones of a kings.
The Alter Bridge is existing on a rock arena for 11 years. I will always say that Americans make the best music. This band was formed in a hot Florida in 2004.
They have released four albums and the fifth one is going to come out in 2016. I am waiting for this as passionately as for 5th Shinedown's album!
Each song of this band is a masterpiece!
Let's go further and meet their music!
- 1st album: One Day Remains -
More Metal than Grunge?
The first impression from this album was that the band present themselves as a metal players. Such songs as "One Day Remains", "Metalingus", "Broken Wings" sound more metal than grunge, however, one of the most popular Alter Bridge's songs: "In Loving Memory" crushes this impression. And then goes "Burn It Down" with "grungy" guitar sounds in the beginning of the song.
So, here are my favorite songs from this album:
"In Loving Memory"
"Metalingus"
"The End Is Here"
- 2d album: Blackbird -
"We could be so much more than we are"
You might think that this album is pessimistic, black and so on, because of its title? Oh no, you're totally wrong. Almost all of the songs are about hope and love. This music album sounds a little bit "lighter" than the previous one, but still powerful and clear.
Favorite songs:
"Watch Over You"
(One of my favorite romantic songs ever)
"Before Tomorrow Comes"
"Rise Today"
-I wanna rise today and change this world...-
- 3d album: AB III -
" 'Cause the sun always sets,
the moon always falls,
it feels like the end
just pay no mind at all
and keep rolling, rolling...
Life must go on..."
Depressed? Don't know how to go on? Need encouragement? This album is for you.
This masterpiece is a hymn for those who need support, and it's been my own shelter for a year now.
This year has been a tough one for me...And each time I felt like I am not going to make it, I turned this album on and listened to it over and over again.
So, I am sharing something that is really close and meaningful to my heart, my true love, my escape.
This is my favorite album of Alter Bridge and just of all music albums ever and I don't have enough of words to say how much I LOVE it!!!
"Life Must Go On"
"I Know It Hurts"
Though you lost your way (Now is not forever)
But I know your pain...
We all fall sometimes you're not the first
But I know it hurts, yeah I know it hurts
In the end you'll find what you deserve
Still I know it hurts, yeah I know it hurts...
There's still tomorrow, hold on, hold on
There's still tomorrow, just wait, just wait
"Wonderful Life"
- 4th album: Fortress -
Let's go harder
This album is the "hardest" one of them in a meaning of music. Such a powerful, full of energy, amazing guitar solos. This time it's a hymn for those who need to get up and fight.
Incredible album, guys. Worth of every song!
"Fortress"
"Addicted To Pain"
You're addicted to pain
Too blind to see you're lost in the shadows
"Lover"
- 5th album: is coming soon... -
And in the end, my special love goes to Myles Kennedy - the soloist of this fantastic band, who also wrote most of the Alter Bridge's songs. Oh man, I would marry you.
Metal, Symphonic Metal, Gothic Metal, Symphonic Rock
Let's go metal
Within Temptation was one of my favorite bands in my "metal-years" along with such bands as Epica, Nightwish, Lunatica etc.
Within Temptation is a symphonic metal band from Netherlands. The band was founded in 1996.
They recordered 7 albums.
Their music is epic, powerful, bright but at the same time, Sharon's voice makes songs softer and tender.
It's always different what I write about bands, singers: about albums, my favorite songs, genres and lyrics that impressed me. And this time I want to go ahead with my favorite songs. The first four are singles and the last one is absolutely mysterious and light song for those who believe in magic.
My TOP - 5 favorite songs:
"PARADISE"
One of the lattest songs is "Paradise" which Sharon den Adel recordered with Symphonic Metal diva Tarja Turunen.
This song is the first single of Within Temptation's new album "Hydra" which was released on January 31, 2014.
"MOTHER EARTH"
"Mother Earth" is the third single of Within Temptation which was released in 2003.
This song is a breathtaking mixture of folk, metal and symphonic sounds. Go back to your roots - to your Mother Earth with magic flute melody.
"FASTER"
This song is the first single from Within Temptation's fifth album "The Unforgiving". It was performed on 96.3 Rock Radio on 21 January 2011.
Fast and dynamic song with epic chorus gives an inspiration to go "faster for love".
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" ft. Keith Caputo
The first single from their forth album "The Heart Of Everything".
This song is so different from all others with adding of a bit of alternative metal with help of great Keith Caputo's voice. This mixture makes song energetic and rich.
"IN PERFECT HARMONY"
Incredibly beautiful song from "Mother Earth" album. It's not a metal song at all. Folk, New Age and magical symphonic sounds are flying throughout this song with light flowing of Sharon den Adel's voice.
I can officially say that they're my favorite band of 2014!
Yeeeeah, I am so-so excited to write about them! They were my super-opening of 2014 year and I'm longing to tell about it.
I've never been into funk music, but this band opened new style for me with fantastically good quality of sound!
I'm pretty sure that I fell in love with this band not only because of vocal part, but because of bass sound, it's so dynamic, deep and really-really makes my mood!
When I heard the first song, it drove me so crazy! So let's go ahead!
"Can't Play Dead"
Let me introduce my favorite song of 2014 year which gave me a great amount of incredible emotions, high feelings and showed a perfect combination of bass sound, vocal and drums.
"I just can't play dead" - now my new motto.
"Same ol' "
This one has so madly good sound, that it automatically became my second one in the "top 5" of The Heavy's songs. I'm sure that funs of blues+indie rock will love it!
"Big Bad Wolf"
Let's add a bit of funk. I think it's a great idea, don't you?
"What Makes A Good Man?"
"Tell me now...What makes a good man?". I adore this song, no doubts, It's so rich with amazing vocal of Kelvin Swaby and back vocals are a great addition that drives this song.
"Set Me Free"
Let's add indie to our mixture! This song is really different to these four that I talked about, but it's worth listening to. (If you want to be sure they play Indie Rock). Guitar sounds a bit monotonous, but vocal makes this song + never forget about great bass part.
"Curse Me Good"
Adding this extra song for your good mood. The instrumental part here is so well-composed, that no doubts, it's worthy to be in your play-list. It just makes your mood, mine - for sure!
I think it will be an awesome song for the end of 2014 year and this post.
"And I say: I just can't play dead!"
Happy New 2015 Year, my dear friends, and never play dead!
Couple months ago I opened a new music for myself, that was an amazing experience that I really desire to share with you!
I love folk and native music: Irish, Scottish, British, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Bulgarian, Polish etc.
But this time I discovered one of the most beautiful native music albums I've ever heard: Come To Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs.
Native Americans' music is one of the most heart touching! Full of free spirit, wild wind, bright sun and breath of mountains - every single sound of singer's voice is magic!
With its thunderous drums and high-pitched chants, Native American pow-wow music is intense enough to scare away the uninitiated. Yet there are also gentle, soothing, and healing songs in the Native American tradition, and it’s this type of material that is the focus of COME TO ME GREAT MYSTERY. With Native American artists Doug Foote, Lorain Fox, Thirza Defoe, and others on board, this compilation is filled with prayers, invocations, and songs that sound like blessings and benedictions. The presence of synthesizers and contemporary production flourishes may irk hardcore traditionalists, but these additions will make the album accessible to fans of relaxing New Age music.
I am not a great critic of music, but I love to say what I really feel about songs. So, here we go, my favorite songs of this album that really touched me:
"Come To Me Great Mystery" by Thirza Defoe
This is the song that I heard first, it touched my soul and love for Native American music was born in my heart!
Native music is always really hard to describe. You cannot talk much about instrumental or vocal part, This music is full of people's stories, full of tears, happiness, deaths, wars - memories that are so dear to each nation.
"Calling To The People" by Thirza Defoe
Oh, I am in love with Thirza's voice! And with the beginning of this incredible song!
"Beauty Way" by Allen Mose
These sounds are incredible and fantastic! This song is a bit frightening for me...Why? No explanations - it's just my feeling. I wish I could understand this beautiful language though...
I can't even describe how much I'm thankful to these singers and this album for opening me a new chapter in my music journey.
This album also set a fire in my heart for exploring history of another culture.
I really hope that you'll find something close to your heart in this music!
post-punk revival, gothic rock, indie rock, electro, experimental
Almost every single day I'm searching for new bands and singers for inspiration. Music is my life and it makes my days brighter and, actually...it just makes my days! It's always a fantastic feeling when you find "yours" music. The last band that I found for myself was White Lies. An amazing band from United Kingdom, making their "spacious", cosmic and extraordinary music. Maybe somehow they have this special "British-styled" indie sound, but I found them really outstanding.
They play post-punk, indie and gothic rock. Honestly, I've never been a big fan of punk rock. When I was a teen, I was a metallist, so we always had kinda "arguments" with punks. But this band really touched me because of their crazy mixture of indie, electro, punk and gothic. They have recorded 3 albums and the first came out January 2009.
"To Lose My Life..."
This album was the first one that I heard, and it really made me fall in love with their music. It showed White Lies' style and their spicific "move of the sound" in such songs as "To Lose My Life...", "Death", "Farewell To The Fairground".
"Ritual"
This one came out on 17th January, 2011. We can hear much of electro sound here, but it doesn't spoil it. In my opinion, "Ritual" has fully opened a fantastic voice of a soloist - Harry McVeigh. The album full of love, light sound and more positive than the first one,
even though it has some religious hints.
"Big TV"
No doubts which album is my favorite - for sure it's "Big TV".
In this album electro sounds are used less, they make a good composition and harmony with extra addition of "old-school" colors which we can notice in songs "Big TV", "Getting Even" and so on. Sound is clearer and it makes this album spectacular. (Cannot forget the song "Change" which impressed me the most).
And in the end, my 10 favorite songs of "White Lies":
In couple days all western world is going to celebrate the most magic holiday - Christmas.
And for making special Christmas-wintery mood for you, I decided to post some my favorite (old and new) Christmas songs in different genres, so you could find yours and maybe fall in love with new band or singer!
NUMBER 1
A capella genre, traditional
"Mary, Did You Know?" by Pentatonix
A breathtaking, calm and touching song performed by Pentatonix - one of the most popular a capella bands.(New)
NUMBER 2
Opera, traditional, Norwegian language "O Helga Natt" by Sissel Kyrkjebø
Norwegian version of famous song "O Holy Night" which really impressed me not only because I adore Norway, but because of tender and bright Sissel's voice.
NUMBER 3
Jazz, swing
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Michael Bublé
We love this song, we listen to it almost each Christmas and Michael's version is fantastic!
NUMBER 4
Traditional
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams
Can we even imagine our winter holidays without Andy Williams' songs? I say: "no"!
NUMBER 5
Folk, Christian, pop rock
"Joy To The World (You Are My Joy)" by Rend Collective
Very positive and fun video by this amazing Irish collective. Just makes you smile and happy ;)
NUMBER 6 Metal "Carol Of The Bells" by August Burns Red To my all metal-friends, I hope you'll enjoy this composition with really gooood drums!
NUMBER 7 Pop "Where Are You Christmas?" by Faith Hill Do you miss your childhood and all those magic memories of Christmas? But Christmas is here and this is a song about it.( And I really enjoyed fantastic voice of Faith Hill! )
NUMBER 8
Soundtrack
"Believe" by Josh Groban
Well, this is really personal, but as long as it's Christmas I'm sharing my favorite Christmas song from my favorite Christmas movie ever - The Polar Express and performed by my so much loved Josh Groban!
NUMBER 9
Rock, pop rock, traditional "Jingle Bell Rock" by Jeremy Camp Are you ready to dance and rock-n-roll? I AM! When I hear this great song I can't keep calm!
NUMBER 10 New Age, Celtic, Instrumental "Fionnuala's Cookie Jar" by Secret Garden That's a full of cheer composition by outstanding band which I really love! Check your shoes and let's dance!
NUMBER 11 Metal (metallike), Instrumental "Dreams Of Fireflies (On A Christmas Night) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra Full of power, brightness and sound composition which I really enjoy! (Especially guitar sound of course.)
NUMBER 12 Celtic, Traditional "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by Celtic Woman I couldn't skip this amazing band in my Christmas playlist! They have angelic voices! And it will be a great song for the end of my playlist!
Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with all of my heart and soul! I hope you really enjoyed this playlist and found something close to your heart! And click below to listen this playlist non-stop on youtube! YOUTUBE PLAYLIST Stay tuned!
