SlitheryDee's Weekly Bands You Should Listen to!

[SlitheryDee]

Hey all! SlitheryDee here, your resident AMKE Game Master. However, in addition to being a massive tabletop gamer, I also have a huge passion for music. Couple that with me being an elitist (hey, at least I admit it!), and also in the interest of drumming up some content on the forums, I've started this thread: my "Bands you Should Listen to!" thread.

I'll start off with one that most every nerd should know about. I know I talk about them personally to most everyone I know. They're one of the most epic bands in existence, and also one of the nerdiest. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am of course referring to THE PROTOMEN.

The Protomen write epic rock operas about a dystopic future in which man is enslaved by an evil genius who enforces this 1984-esque City with an army of evil robots, until one man decides to fight back with his own creation, a robot built by his own hands to free The City from its darkness.

It's also based on Mega Man II.

I know, it sounds kinda kitschy, but it is honest-to-God 100% legit. If you didn't know that it was based on Mega Man (or aren't a huge Mega Man nerd) to begin with, you wouldn't guess it from its content. It's 100% pure rock. Their first album is a heavy-hitting, distortion heavy prog metal album that cranks the dial to 11 and never lets go. Their second album is much more operatic in nature. The first half is very outlaw country themed, a la 1960s country (with a quick trip to the brass section) before heading into the second half of the album, which is 1980s Kenny Loggins, Meatloaf, and 80s rock all the way. It makes for an interesting mix, but still just as potent.

These guys are straight up one of my favorite bands. I've seen them 4 times in concert now, and every time is just incredible. They're really down-to-earth guys (and girls), and are really big nerds like the rest of us, and just love putting on a fantastic live show for their incredibly loyal fanbase (self included). If you happen to live near a town when The Protomen come to fight Wily, do yourself a favor and come fight with them. These guys' live shows are a sight to behold.

I honestly cannot recommend them enough.

Recommended tracks: Hope Rides Alone, The Sons of Fate, The Hounds, Light up the Night

[Killgorr]

Do they sound anything like Devo? They were perhaps the fathers of dystopian techno-rock.

[SlitheryDee]

Do they sound anything like Devo? They were perhaps the fathers of dystopian techno-rock.

They don't really sound anything like Devo aside from the fact that they feature synthesizers prominently. Devo's got its roots in punk; Devo's often considered the missing link between punk and new wave, whereas The Protomen clearly draw more from prog rock; punk and prog were often at each others' throats back in the 70's, and don't really share much in common.

EDIT: But check The Protomen out for yourself! I included some links at the bottom of my first post so you can listen to them yourself. (Devo was actually going to be a band I recommended in the future, and still might. We'll see.)

[SlitheryDee]

Alright, it's a new week so we got a new band! Continuing with the video game tie-ins, this band is called The Black Mages. (Okay, their website hasn't been updated in nearly 7 years, but so what?) They are a prog/instrumental rock band which does covers of Final Fantasy music, mostly battle themes. This band is also noteworthy since Nobuo Uematsu, the composer of most all of music in the Final Fantasy franchise, is the organist for The Black Mages. They formed in 2003, have released 3 albums since then (also appearing on one live album) and broke up about 8 or months ago (it was very sad).

That being said, I first heard of them through my love of Final Fantasy music, but I quickly realized they are far more than just that. I've introduced them to many of my friends who have never played a Final Fantasy game, let alone most video games, and they love these guys. They are as top-tier as instrumental prog rock gets. Their third album's a little weaker, since it takes the foot off the throttle a little and gets a little more atmospheric with some of the songs, but on the whole the band's catalog is fantastic.

Recommended songs: FFVII: Those Who Fight Further FFX: Fight With Seymour FFV: Clash on the Big Bridge FFX: The Skies Above (they did like 3 songs that actually have lyrics, this is one of them).

[SlitheryDee]

Gonna break form here and not go with a nerdy band; this week's band is Demians, they're a French prog outfit that's opened for Porcupine Tree's Europe tours (which is where I heard of them). These guys are fantastic. It's mostly Nicolas Chapel who writes and records the music then has session musicians tour with him, but apparently for the next album those musicians are going to help write the music (which they started recording last month).

I'd describe them as a more melodically driven Porcupine Tree (if people don't know who PT is, they'll probably be a Band of the Week in the future). But it's new prog, in the vein of Muse (whom I'm assuming everyone's heard of). I strongly recommend these guys, and they're fantastic.

Recommended songs: The Perfect Symmetry, Shine, Swing of the Airwaves, Black over Gold

[SlitheryDee]

Sorry I missed last week; I was down in Indy Gen Con-ing it up. SO what I have for you this week is a special treat. Another not-well-known band, called Big Black Delta. How best to describe them? I'd say post-industrial with a hint of trance? Regardless, this LA-based group is kicking out quality grooves, and I recommend you check them out - you can get their EP for free on their website. I suggest you all check it out!

Recommended tracks: The Zebrah [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnNTPWjzDCQ&feature=related]IF*CKINGLOVEYOU[/url] and Capsize (which you can listen on their main page)

These guys are really, truly fantastic, and I wholeheartedly recommend them. Besides, you can get their EP for free, guilt-free! What have you got to lose?!

[Killgorr]

Speaking of music, anyone in town this weekend should definitely check out KMFDM playing at the Rave! They're a German/American industrial group that's been around for over 20 years. A notable anime connection - they did an awesome preview video for Manga (notably at the beginning of my old Ghost in the Shell VHS), had music featured in Street Fighter the (animated) movie and even featured footage from Patlabor in their music video for Juke Joint Jezebel. We'd go ourselves - but we'll be at Wizard World this weekend.

[SlitheryDee]

Okay, looks like I missed another week, so here goes a double-whammy!

First up... we have Janelle Monae. She's a hip hop/R&B artist who is absolutely fantastic. She has one of the freshest and most beautiful voices I've ever heard, and her style is incredible. She's released 1 EP and 1 LP, which are the first acts in a multi-album rock opera (I hate the term hip hopera... ugh), based loosely on Fritz Lang's Metropolis. The best way I can describe them is this: take The Protomen, remove the prog and country elements, and replace with hip hop and R&B. Oh man. Seriously, I don't really dig a lot of the hip hop and R&B that's been coming out lately, but Janelle Monae is 100% pure amazingness. I strongly suggest checking her out.

Recommended tracks: Tightrope, Locked Inside, Many Moons, Cold War, BaBopByeYa (this last one is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard)

Second band! This one is called Karnivool, a rock group out of Perth, Australia. They're a 5-piece set, and absolutely incredible. I've heard them described as the Tool of Australia, specifically in regard to their live show, but only if they weren't as pretentious and wrote more radio-friendly songs (understand that I say this as a Tool fan myself. But I mean, seriously, Tool's about as pretentious as a band gets). These guys are incredible, and if that description doesn't turn you on or off to Karnivool based on that description, I only recommend you give them a try.

Recommended tracks: Themata, Simple Boy, New Day, Umbra (acoustic version, which is AWESOME)

[SlitheryDee]

New week, new band!

This week we have, for your listening pleasure, Mew (No, no relation to the Pokemon). They're a new prog outfit out of Denmark, and they're quite good, having a heavy focus on polyrhythms but still maintaining a radio-friendly sound. I've heard people describe them as a more mellow and not as histrionic Muse. I really like these guys a lot, and I think you should listen to them.

Recommended tracks: Introducing Palace Players, Repeaterbeater, The Zookeeper's Boy, Apocalypso

extra credit: 156 (this is one of Mew's first music videos, and the song is really good, but the video is REALLY weird.)

[TerminallyToreador~!]

Really? Recommending Mew without suggesting Am I Wry? No.? Give it a listen if you haven't! It's heresy to not like that song!