Hard-to-put-down Albums (2003-2008)

Hard-to-put-down Albums

1. Train of Thought (Dream Theater)

Swedish Dream Theater’s music takes the listener on a sensory experience with its Progressive Rock/Metal, as with the track Stream of Consciousness which is an 11-minute-plus instrumental epic. Other tracks also are also more than 6 minute, but there is one short piano track written by the vocalist James LaBrie (Vacant) that is a mere 3 minutes. John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards) are all good with their each instruments, each with their styles that complements the other. In the Name of God is a critic penned by Petrucci on cults, and Portnoy writes about strained parent-child relationships based on his own experience.












2. World of Glass (Tristania)


Crude Black Metal-styled growlings are matched with lush pianos, classically-trained female vocals and vast choirs in a collision not as violent as in previous Tristania’s outings, but still, this album is a return to the band’s earlier style it was known with most after spending an album (Ashes) on a more contemporary style of music with less choir. There is also a guest vocalist for Black vocal part by Trail of Tears. The opening track, The Shining Path is an example of such rough beauty unique to this melodic Gothic Metal band from Norway. Vibeke Stene is on her own in the track The Modern End in an apocalyptic boom of neo-classical-styled vocal.










3. Oceanborn (Nightwish)


This album features the track Sleeping Sun which is written for a solar eclipse that occurred in Germany. It is also trusted to be Nightwish’s best release, establishing the band as an opera Metal unit. Tarja Turunen’s soprano operatic vocals are contrasted with the band’s epic sounds that drew inspiration from folklore subjects, as well as literature masterpieces (J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Ringsfor example). Beauty and the Beast concept of duet is found in tracks Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean and the epical The Pharaoh Sails to Orion, whilst Tarja’s solo tracks are especially emphasising her operatic vocals, as in Passion and the Opera. There are also ballads, the most popular beside Sleeping Sun being Walking in the Air. Also, there is a folksy instrumental titled Moondance.








4. Reflections (Apocalyptica)



Metal not necessarily needs chugging guitar chords played to death on sleek axes to rock and kick asses as Apocalyptica showed. Their main instruments are cello, and they are able to play arenas just like their idols Metallica do. They do rock, man! And they even have got that hot rockstar looks, playing on their instruments with the attitude strictly forbidden in classical auditoriums. On Reflections, Apocalyptica played original compositions after starting off as a cover band of Metallica. Some, like Cortĕge and Toreador II, have classical sounds, and other original compositions are evidence of their musical prodigy, even apparently without formal cello training.














5. Cruelty and the Beast (Cradle of Filth)


This is a concept album based on the legends of Countess Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad the Impaler, two infamous figures in the history of Romania wherein vampires and werewolves were part of the myths. Several notable COF tracks are here, like Once Upon Atrocity, Thirteen Autumns and A Window and The Twisted Nails of Faith, all of which has Gothic lyricms that deliver the theme adequate doses of monstrosity and wonders of the sick and gruesome legendaries. Musically speaking, it’s a Gothic journey from beginning of the first track to the last on the sickly fantasies of Dani Filth and the bloody legends of Transylvania.











6. Razorblade Romance (HIM)


Gone With the Sin is a sinfully unforgettable track with heavy bass and drums accompanying Ville Valo’s heavenly deep vocals. Join Me In Death, on the other hand, takes on light pianos and pop vocals that appeal to most. HIM’s music can be said as pop, but with the unmistaken old spirits of Rock N’ Roll. Often too they are labeled as dark because of the Gothic imageries romanticised in the lyrics by Valo on a light dose, complete with vocal harmonies. Despite all these, onstage, HIM is definitely a Rock band.















7. Evil Empire (Rage Against The Machine)


Every track on the album ignites fires on the seats of corrupt politicians who heard them, and RATM has always been a political popular band. From Vietnam to Mexico, issues are addressed in the lyrics without mercy by frontman Zack de la Rocha and supported by fellow gunmen Tom Morello (guitars), Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums) on tracks like People of the Sun and Bulls On Parade. The militant attitude, the defiant standing and straight-in-the-face freestyles delivered in a funky barrage of Metal and Rap set the band (and inverted Uncle Jack flags) alight on their live sets. The beats contributed by Commerford and Wilk are very much groovy like Hip-Hop, delivering the rhymes of de la Rocha straight in the face while Morello’s pyrotechnics on his axes will make listeners bow to this album.