From the category archives:

Sonic Perspectives

Concert Review: Lyric Opera of Chicago – Damnation of Faust By Hector Berlioz

March 9, 2010

A successful theatrical production needs to captivate an audience with a combination of stage design, lighting and a powerful cast.   The current run of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz is well worth experiencing because of all three of these elements.  The visual experience of the opera was as impressive as [...]

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Review of Digital EP for God of War®: Blood & Metal, Soundtrack for PS3™ Game GOD OF WAR® III with Tracks from Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Dream Theater, Taking Dawn, Opeth, and Mutiny Within

February 26, 2010

On March 2, Roadrunner Records will be releasing the soundtrack to the third part of the God Of War video game series, entitled God of War®: Blood & Metal.   Available at all digital retailers, the 6-song EP contains new, unreleased music inspired by the PS3 game from Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Dream Theater, Opeth, Taking [...]

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Album Review: Orphaned Land – The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR

February 22, 2010

Music has a way of tearing down walls and bringing people together.  Orphaned Land, self-labeled as “Jewish Muslim Metal” or “Middle Eastern Progressive Metal,” has managed to find support from both Muslims and Jews.  Considering the ongoing friction in the region, I find this astounding.
I am a newbie to the musical world of Orphaned Land.  [...]

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Allbum Review – Mutiny Within

February 9, 2010

This is one of the most exciting metal albums I’ve heard in a long time. Mutiny Within’s self-titled album, scheduled for release on February 23, 2010, combines high octane metal, technical virtuosity, and great melodies. The sextet consists of brothers Andrew “A.J.” (bass) and Brandon Jacobs (guitar), Drew Stavola (keyboards), Chris Clancy (vocals), Bill Fore [...]

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Album Review: Taking Dawn – Time to Burn

January 29, 2010

Taking Dawn, from Las Vegas, NV, is one of the new Roadrunner Record artists making their debut over the next few weeks.   Time to Burn was released earlier this week.  Thanks again to Roadrunner for sending me an early digital copy.  (Illness prevented me from putting this up sooner.)
As soon as I hit play, [...]

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Album Review: Dommin – Love Is Gone

January 9, 2010

Last October, Viola and I had the pleasure of meeting Kris Dommin (singer/guitarist/lyricist of Dommin) and attending the concert thanks to Roadrunner Records.  Feel free to read our  interview with Kris as well as our  concert review of the show.
Although, we were presented the opportunity to listen to the album well in advance, we opted [...]

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“This Is It” Shows Michael Jackson’s Mastery of Musical Timing

November 16, 2009

Like many of Michael Jackson’s fans around the world, I was saddened by his sudden passing.  I wrote about his death on that tragic day.  Since then, I have deliberately kept from writing about Jackson after his death because the last thing I wanted to do was to add to the ridiculous amount of “news” [...]

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Album Review: “Night Is The New Day” by Katatonia

November 9, 2009

I first learned about Katatonia when their vocalist, Jonas Renkse, appeared on Ayreon’s 01011001.   The great aspect of Ayreon projects is Arjen Lucassen, arranger, producer, performer and mastermind, brings together amazing performers from around the world for each of his rock operas.  On 01011001, I found Renkse’s vocals mesmerizing and haunting, which led me to [...]

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Stream of Passion Releases a New Video-”In the End”

October 30, 2009

I was excited to find out that progressive/goth metal band Stream of Passion is releasing a new video, “In the End”. The song comes from the band’s second album, The Flame Within. From blabbermouth.com:
According to a press release, “The Flame Within” “leaves its predecessor in the dust, thanks to more mature songwriting. Carried by Marcela [...]

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Concert Review – The 69 Eyes, Dommin, and The Becoming

October 27, 2009

This past Saturday, Roadrunner Records was generous enough to give Contrapuntist and I the opportunity to attend the Dommin concert at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago and interview lead singer Kristopher Dommin. Along with The Becoming, Dommin opened for fellow goth rockers, The 69 Eyes. Unfortunately, this concert almost got canceled because the previous night, [...]

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