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Megadeth – So Far, So Good…So What!  (Capitol Records/1988)

12/31/2016

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This album I think is why I stopped listening to Megadeth for the longest time without trying other platters that they laid out, including their latest release “Dystopia.”  It’s really flat-production sounding and riffs that are just stale.  It’s not nearly as good as “Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?”, I think that they really failed on this one.  I’ve come to the same conclusion numerous times around trying to get to like it but not being able to do so.

But what’s so wrong with it?  Aside from the production, the riffs just aren’t very catchy or commemorative of Megadeth, they sold themselves short with this follow-up.  I mean they did do good with the Sex Pistols cover, but they lack in innovation and noteworthiness.  I think it’s way overrated with this one, I can’t see why it’s rated so high.  It really bored the hell out of me.  These guys could’ve done a lot better.  They just didn’t seem to get the riff writing out of the garbage.

There just is no oomph to the record, it lacks having any balls.  Dave didn’t spend enough time as he usually does with releases.  I guess he figured that since the previous was so well liked, he didn’t need to prove himself more with this.  Why do I harp on this effort so much though?  Well because the songwriting was just so lame, not the leads but the main guitars.  They just didn’t do anything for me.  Again, on repeated listens to, I arrive and the same agreement that I have on this one.

So if it’s that bad, why do so many people like it?  Well mainly because of the name maybe and they felt that the music was good enough to give an “A” or “B” rating.  But to ex-guitarists like me, I listen to the riffs the most and pay attention to the flat production.  I know that it was still in the 80’s where technology was lacking, but still, they should’ve really tried harder to get the songs together and make more sense out of their riff-writing.  It would’ve done them a lot of good.

Still not convinced since it’s Megadeth I’m talking about?  Just YouTube the album and you’ll maybe hear that flat production and boring guitar work.  I don’t think that any of the songs were worthy of mention, just that cover.  Dave sounds pretty whiny on here too.  Megadeth still has some great albums, just not this one.  If you decide to pick it up, caveat emptor.  I warned you so don’t complain if it’s not up to your standards as well.  This one was a total dud.

Rate: 65%.

Reviewed By Death8699 (ryanfanucchi@gmail.com).
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In Flames - A Sense of Purpose (Koch Records/2008)

12/31/2016

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This is bordering on a metalcore version of In Flames.  There is still the aggression and melodies with a heaviness continuum but the vocals vary.  As do the guitars.  Great production though.  Just not my favorite In Flames album, it's nothing like "The Jester Race", et al but there still is that vibe of melodic-ism.  This band regressed more than anything else.  This is despite Jesper leaving the band after, they still were withering away with their sound.  The Metal Archives refers to their new style as melodic death/melodic groove.  Whatever you want to call it, it’s not good for the band.

Even the synthesizers didn’t help augment the band’s sound to the songs.  This seemed to be half-assed In Flames.  There’s just nothing on here that strikes me as noteworthy.  It’s just like the same song on repeat.  It really deserves a “D” rating.  I know that they were trying something different here, it just doesn’t or didn’t work.  It seems like they’ve been spending less and less time on composition and more time drinking alcohol.  You can hear it on here, the lack of progression.

That progression that bands should take as they get more and more experienced like Death for example when Chuck was still around.  It seems like a lot of bands that were quite popular during the 80’s and 90’s such as In Flames should have made remarkable progression.  But they haven’t, a lot of them are regressing.  I’m not sure if they’re just bankrupt of ideas, or they’re just cashing in playing what people want to hear like Mikael from Opeth how he operates upon composition.

People it’s not getting better, there are only a few classic bands still putting out good material.  Some bands are playing the same thing album by album.  I’ll point out that that’s what Destruction is doing.  And In Flames is no better.  The guitars that used to be totally melodic and memorable have turned to an ill-fate.  I cannot believe that people still like this.  This sort of generic kind of metal that appeases the masses.  People like me gave it a try hoping that because it’s In Flames it should be okay.  But I was mistaken.  If they gave up on metal and thought that they should derail, they did.

So okay folks, the music on here is totally not a retrospect on old In Flames as we’ve explored.  It’s just about an hour’s worth of wasted time.  Okay Jesper still in the band was more focused on alcohol than anything else.  We revisit the bankrupt-ivity of the album, they totally are done with their legacy via the 90’s In Flames.  You would think that they should be more focused on music than substance, but they weren’t.  At least make good music for longtime fans and rid of the alcohol.

Rate: 60%

Reviewed By Death8699 (ryanfanucchi@gmail.com).
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Epica - The Holographic Principle (Nuclear Blast/2016)

12/31/2016

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My first impression: generic.  After listening to it a few more times I'd say that it's actually a step up from "The Quantum Enigma".  It's more thrash oriented guitar work alongside Simone's beautiful voice and her symphonic liking of the orchestrated staff on-board.  I like the fact that this one is heavier than its predecessor.  The more guitar mixed with it makes them seem like their most thrash/symphonic/power metal.  The leads on here again are wicked!!  I like how they've seemed to balance everything on here.  You get the best of all worlds in Epica's songwriting.  I never took a peak at their lyrics I'd have to say that the music is what's drawn me more towards this band.  The fact that Simone seems to sing on here more makes it even better to listen to than just orchestration galore.

I think that they did a good job arranging this album which makes it a better fit in their overall sound.  Being an ex-guitarist keys me into the music more so.  There are times where there's aggressive male throat but not as much as Simone's voice outputs.  She really contributes a lot more to the band now instead of bits and pieces here and there the fact that she's on here more makes it better overall.

I'm so really impressed with the guitars, I couldn't be happier with them.  Even though there's still a lot of orchestra, they've stuck to their roots in that respect but just got heavier.  The fact that other people have rated this one better than their last album makes me happy that this is not my first impression.  It's my current thought that they've done themselves justice.  Simone is dazzling here.

If it were my choice, I'd cut out the orchestra and keep it with just guitar, drums, vocals and a little bit of keys.  But that's merely my contention.  Otherwise, they performed great on here!!  Support the band and pick this one up.  If you're curious, check YouTube, but if you like it don't simply settle with YouTube, buy the physical copy of the album!!  Keep the metal alive continually!!

Rate: 90%.

Reviewed By Death8699 (ryanfanucchi@gmail.com). 
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