Dream Theater Is Dead.

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My Top 5 in Music

Over the years, I've been seeing a shift in focus in my musical interests from bands to individual performers. (Not just solo artists. I've been taking an interest in the people behind the bands and have been richly rewarded by following their work, which can often be quite diverse. So, I've decided to compile a list of my top 5 people in music. Here we go!

5. Mikael Åkerfeldt

Vocalist/guitarist of the progressive death metal band Opeth. Somewhat surprisingly, he's also into softer, acoustic music, and hopes to release a singer-songwriter album. Opeth is a combination of these two sounds, with songs averaging eight minutes that shift seamlessly from gentle strumming and quiet singing to blast beats and death grunts. Åkerfeldt joined Opeth in 1990, when he was 16; soon all the other members left and he's led the band and done most of the songwriting ever since. More than any other band except maybe Explosions in the Sky, Opeth has mastered the loud-soft dynamic and each song is an odyssey through the diverse elements that make up the band's sound. The lyrics, far from the gore most people associate with death metal, are beautiful, melancholy poetry. He's also appeared in an Ayreon album, played with Dream Theater, and appeared in several Porcupine Tree albums (see #1).

4. Jørn Lande

Jørn is a Norwegian hard rock/metal singer best known for singing for the German power metal band Masterplan, as well as his numerous guest appearances. He's released quite a few solo albums and appeared in Avantasia and Ayreon. I first heard him on The Scarecrow by Avantasia (previously reviewed), and he has played increasing roles in the other two albums of the Wicked Trilogy. Rather than attempting to describe how awesome his voice is, I'll just point you to this video.

3. Fredrik Nordström

If there is any man who deserves to have his picture in the dictionary definition of "metal", it is Fredrik Nordström. He's been at the forefront of the booming Swedish metal scene since the early 90s; many of the country's most crucial metal alums were recorded and produced in his own Studio Fredman. Just look at his track record. He was the producer of the "Gothenburg sound" that defined the melodic death metal genre; I never get tired of hearing the distinctive sound of his albums. Basically any metal he touches turns to gold. Apparently producing dozens of albums still isn't metal enough for him, so he also formed his own power metal band, Dream Evil, which is simultaneously an affectionate parody and shining example of the genre.

2. Tobias Sammet

Vocalist for German power metal band Edguy, as well as creator of the "metal opera" side project Avantasia. Edguy is one of the more creative power metal bands out there, especially in recent years as their subject matter has been getting wackier and they've been shifting to more of a hard rock style. But he really shines in Avantasia, a side project combining some of the best metal talent into awesomeness. Unlike Arjen Anthony Lucassen in Ayreon he sings lead vocals for most of the songs, but has also incorporated vocalists like Jørn Lande, Alice Cooper, Roy Khan (Kamelot), Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Michael Kiske (Helloween), John Oliva (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Tim "Ripper" Owens (Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Iced Earth), and Bob Catley (Magnum). The songs vary from fast-paced power metal to his newer hard rock style to ballads, but pretty much everything is amazing. The first two albums are more concept albums, telling a fantasy story of the land of Avantasia, and the latest three, the Wicked Trilogy, are more psychological; they're absolutely brilliant and all the different artists come together into a glorious whole. Plus, as looking at any pictures of him will indicate, he has a truly bizarre sense of humor.

1. Steven Wilson

Vocalist/guitarist for British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, as well as playing in a number of side projects. Porcupine Tree is one of the most brilliant prog rock bands I've ever heard of. It started as a fictitious legendary prog band from the 70s, essentially a solo project for Steven Wilson to release delightfully weird music, but has become a serious and innovative band since. They started off as more of an ambient, space rock band, went through an acoustic pop phase, and have recently begun becoming more progressive metal. Some of the brainiest and best music you'll ever hear. However, even a band as interesting as Porcupine Tree isn't enough of an outlet for Steven Wilson's genius, so he has quite a few side projects: No-Man (ambient music combined with pop), I.E.M. (Incredible Expanding Mindf***, playing krautrock/ambient music), Bass Communion (electronic/drone), and Blackfield (alternative rock). He's also released a solo album because all of this apparently still isn't creative enough for him. Besides all of this work, he collaborated with Opeth on three of their albums, playing keyboard and guitar as well as singing and producing. Also, he performs barefoot.

Seven Seals

Primal Fear is a band that almost wasn't. They were formed by German vocalist Ralf Scheepers after he narrowly missed being the replacement for Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford. He looks just like Halford and sounds like his actual replacement Tim 'Ripper' Owens, so I'm not sure what was wrong with him. Anyway, it's a good thing he didn't make it in, because then he never would have formed Primal Fear and made awesome albums like Seven Seals!

Seven Seals is pretty much the quintessential power metal album. It has booming dual-guitar melodies, keyboard backing for an 'epic' touch (see my last post), double bass drumming, high-pitched clean vocals about legendary heroes and fantastical battles between demons and angels. Laugh if you want, but I enjoy this album more every time I listen to it.

The album has a mix of high-octane powerhouse songs like the bombastic "Demons and Angels", "Rollercoaster" (which is almost impossible not to head-bang to), and "Evil Spell", which becomes one of the most furious songs on the album after a quieter intro. "Carniwar" is slower, but no less heavy. The album is interesting in that it has three epic, 7+-minute songs "Diabolus" has a relatively plodding tempo, but has a strong symphonic backing and still manages a fast guitar solo. "All For One" and "Question of Honour" are more typical power metal songs, but both have extended solos in the middle which are quite awesome. "In Memory" is the obligatory power ballad, and "Seven Seals" combines the slower pace of a ballad with the intensity of their faster songs.

Overall, this album really has no weak songs and has become one of my favorite power metal albums of all time after many listens. It certainly avoids the criticism leveled at bands like DragonForce that all their songs sound the same; Seven Seals has an excellent mix of songs. Power metal has always been a genre less focused on innovation than on pursuit of an ideal, and I think Seven Seals comes quite close indeed. Definitely worth a listen for any metal/hard rock fan.