Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Melting Point Radio 4/5/07

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Apr 5th, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
10:16 PMArch EnemyEnemy WithinWages of Sin
10:17 PMDissectionThe SomberlainThe Somberlain
10:24 PMFreedom CallInnocent WorldDimensionsnew rotation
10:29 PMIn FlamesThe Inborn LifelessLunar Strain / Subterranean
10:33 PMKamelotSoul SocietyOne Cold Winter's Night
10:40 PMRaintimeRolling ChancesFlies & Liesnew rotation
10:43 PMArwenTimes GateAbsolute Power Metal - The Definitive Collection
10:48 PMFinntrollUr djupetUr Jordens Djupnew rotation
10:54 PMIn FlamesArtifacts of the Black RainThe Jester Race
10:56 PMThe FacelessLeicaAkeldama

Download or Stream this episode at The Internet Archive

Playlist Archive: Melting Point @ WRMC

Melting Point Podcast Subscribe

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive

Melting Point Radio 3/22/05

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Mar 22nd, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
9:01 PMBucketheadPepper's GhostPepper's Ghostnew rotation
9:05 PMScott LavenderHallowed Be Thy NameThe Piano Tribute to Iron Maiden
9:16 PMFarmakonReconditeRobinnew rotation
9:20 PMSerenityReduced to NothingnessWords Untold and Dreams Unveilednew rotation
9:27 PMVintersorgSpirar Och GrorSolens rotternew rotation
9:30 PMKoyaanisqatsyWay of ThoughtsFrom the Yearning to Burst the Perpetual Circlerotation
9:38 PMOratorioBrothersRedemptionnew rotation
9:43 PMWaltariThe Incarnation PartyRelease Datenew rotation
9:59 PMAfter ForeverDiscordAfter Forevernew rotation


Playlist Archive: Melting Point @ WRMC

Melting Point Podcast Subscribe

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive

Sunday, April 08, 2007

REVIEW: Raintime - Flies & Lies

To be printed in the forthcoming Spring 2007 issue of Mondegreen, the Middlebury College music magazine.

Review: Raintime – Flies & Lies
Reviewer: Alex Yule
Label: Lifeforce Records
Country of Origin: Italy
Release Date: May 28, 2007

Raintime are one of a new crop of bands playing a hybrid between two of my favorite metal sub-genres: Melodic Death and Power Metal. For the uninitiated, Melodic Death Metal takes elements from classic Death Metal, such as the hard and fast double-bass-blast-beat-heavy-drumming, “harsh” vocals (growls), and wall-of-sound rhythm guitars. It then adds thrashy, melodic lead lines (a la At The Gates), often times harmonized by twin lead guitars. Early In Flames recordings are a great example of the style. So to summarize, Melodic Death Metal: heavy double-bass drumming, thick crushing rhythm guitar, thrashy melodic lead guitar, and harsh growled vocals. Now, Power Metal is the “forgotten” metal genre, left behind by the resurgence of Metal in the popular arena (except for Dragonforce. Ugh). The most important aspects of this genre are clean vocals (with vibratooooo!), and a galloping eighth or sixteenth note double-bass drumbeat with half-note snares overtop. Power metal also often borrows the slow, plodding, straight rock beat of Arena Oriented Hard Rock (i.e. 80’s). In contrast, a blast or slam-beat would have snare hits with every bass drum hit, creating a frenetic, violent sound that fits well with the harsher Death and Black Metal. In general, power metal is happier, more upbeat, often quite epic, and melodic.


So Raintime have taken the thrashy leads, thick heavy rhythm, and harsh vocals of Melodic Death (even Black Metal), and combined with them the galloping melodic sensibility of Power Metal to create a (sort of) new hybridized sound. They use clean vocals, albeit sans vibrato—a much more classic heavy-metal vocal style that is refreshing (mostly). They use the vocals tastefully throughout the album, but get dangerously close to the Emocore cliché with the third track, Apeiron. If you don’t know what that means, consider yourself lucky and be thankful they basically put all the garbage in one track, leaving the rest of the album relatively unscathed. Another important element of the Raintime sound is the use of keyboards as a melodic device, usually seen only Power Metal. A good example of this is my favorite song on the album, “Rolling Chances”, where an edgy power-metal beat thunders below harsh rhythm guitars and scowling vocals, only to be accented by a delicate tinkling of melody by the keyboards. The contrast between the melodic keys and the harsh backing is pure hybrid heaven (hell?). Those who know my penchant for musical cross-fertilization should not be surprised.


The last element worth mentioning here is Raintime’s extraordinary songwriting ability. In fact, the songwriting is good enough to lead me to overlook the presence of that one glaring cliché of a song (Apeiron). Much like another of my favorite bands, Children of Bodom, the original pioneers of the Black/Death/Power hybrid, every note they play seems to be exactly in its place. Every riff is catchy. Every lead line pulls you along with it. Overall, the sound is quite mature for a band with only two releases under their belt. While not exactly pioneers, Raintime have created a unique sound that they execute with confidence and dexterity. I, for one, can’t wait to hear what they come up with next… Oh, and they cover “Beat It”. Yes, by Michael Jackson. And it’s awesome.



Best songs: Rolling Chances, Tears of Sorrow, Beat It, Matrioska
Worst: Apeiron
Production: 5
Musicianship: 5
Lyrics (vocals): 4
Originality: 4
Overall: A-

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Melting Point Radio: 3/15/07

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Mar 15th, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
9:00 PMTwilight GuardiansNever AloneSintrade
9:04 PMLaethoraClothing of the DeadMarch of the Parasitenew
9:08 PMSerenityForeverWords Untold & Dreams Unlivednew
9:15 PMAlex YuleAngel DJ's Don't Go KillChildren of Bodom vs. Lil' Wayne
9:19 PM7 for 47eitgeistTime
9:24 PMThe FacelessPestilenceAkeldamanew
9:27 PMDionysusAnthem (for the Children)Sign of Truth
9:33 PMOmnium GatherumUndertakerStuck Here on Snakes Waynew
9:38 PMIron MaidenRun to the HillsThe Number of the Beast
9:51 PMRhapsodyHoly ThunderforceDawn of Victory
9:55 PMKoyaanisqatsyWay of ThoughtsFrom the Yearning to Burst the Perpetual Circle

Playlist Archive: Melting Point @ WRMC

Melting Point Podcast Subscribe

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive

Melting Point Radio: 3/8/07

LOTS OF FRESH 2007 Metal GOODness....

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Mar 8th, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
9:06 PMBloodbathEatenNightmares Made Flesh
9:10 PMEnsiferumOne More Magic PotionVictory Songs
9:15 PMOmnium GatherumIn Sane WorldStuck Here on Snakes Way
9:21 PMDaathCosmic ForgeThe Hinderers
9:25 PM7 for 4Rock 'N' RolexTime
9:29 PMAge of NemesisMeeting with the UnbelievableTerra Incognita
9:37 PMMechanical PoetThe AfterguideCreepy Tales for Freaky Children
9:42 PMDethklokHappy Birthday

9:44 PMProfugus MortisThe Beauty of this FormSo It Begins
9:46 PMHelloweenA Tale That Wasn't RightKeeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 - Live in Sao Paulo
9:53 PMCydonianFreedom of SpeechEstranged
9:53 PMTwilightningSwinelordSwinelords
9:57 PMDark TranquillityTo No OneFiction
10:04 PMDark TranquillityTo No OneFiction
10:04 PMTwilightningSwinelordSwinelords

Playlist Archive: Melting Point @ WRMC

Melting Point Podcast Subscribe

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive

Melting Point Radio: 3/1/07

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Mar 1st, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
9:04 PMDragonlandSupernovaAstronomynew
9:07 PMOmnium GatherumSpiritualStuck Here on Snakes Waynew rotation
9:12 PMProfugus MortisUpon the Raging StormSo It Beginsnew rotation
9:15 PMTwilightningPimps, Witches, Thieves & BitchesSwinelordsnew rotation
9:19 PMFinntrollEn Maktig HarUr Jordens Djupnew rotation
9:23 PMDark TranquillityTerminus (Where Death is Most Alive)Fictionnew rotation
9:27 PMTwisted Into FormCodaThen Comes Affliction to Awaken the Dreamernew rotation
9:34 PMMors Principium EstLost Beyond RetrievalLiberation = Terminationnew rotation
9:43 PMDreamlandReverse DenyEye for an Eyenew
9:43 PMTherionPath to ArkadyGothic Kabbalahnew rotation
9:46 PMMechanical PoetThe AfterguideCreepy Tales for Freaky Childrennew rotation
9:48 PMMechanical PoetZhizn', Smert', i Vechniy GorodCreepy Tales for Freaky Childrennew rotation
9:53 PMMyrkgravDe To SpellemennTrollskau Skroent Og Koelabrennignew
9:55 PMPink Cream 69Children of the DawnIn10sitynew
10:00 PMDodheimsgardVendetta AssassinSupervillian Outcastnew

Playlist Archive: Melting Point Radio @ WRMC

Melting Point Podcast Subscribe

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive

Melting Point Radio: 2/22/07

FINALLY, putting up the old shows... Here's Feb 22, 2007. Playlist

Playlist for Melting Point: Thursday, Feb 22nd, 2007

DJ: Yuletide

TimeArtistSongAlbum
9:10 PMKiuasBlack Winged GoddessReformationnew rotation
9:10 PMMiserationThronesYour Demons - Your Angelsnew rotation
9:15 PMTherionThulGothic Kabbalahnew rotation
9:21 PMThee Maldoror KollectiveMan With The Meat MachinePilot (Man With Meat Machine)new rotation
9:26 PMSikthBland Street BloomDeath of a Dead Daynew
9:30 PMEssence of SorrowThe Essence of SorrowReflections of the Obscurenew
9:43 PMSymbyosisCrusades Part VIOn the wings of Phoenix
9:43 PMDemiurgCity of IbBreath of the Demiurgnew
9:46 PMEmpyriosInsomniaAnd The Rest Is Silencenew
9:54 PMEventideInto IllusionDiaries from the Gallowsnew
9:56 PMYear of Desolation539Year of Desolationnew
10:00 PMAyreonBack 2 MeCome Back To Merotation

Playlist archive: Melting Point @ WRMC

NEW! Melting Point Podcast Direct iTunes Link! (or search iTMS for "melting point radio")

Podcast address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/meltingpointradio
Past shows Hosted at the Internet Archive