Seven Songs for Seven Days 6

I'm going to try to get in the habit of actually doing this every seven days. And maybe write some more in between that...! Things were a little busy for a while there but I think I have finally hit the rhythm of fall. With that rhythm comes....new jams! Yes, you are excited.

Disarmonia Mundi - Ghost Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtdtBF-eC_8

This is off a recent EP of Disarmonia Mundi's - a melodic death metal conglomerate consisting of a lot of Italians and the Soilwork frontman, Speed Strid. What a name! This is a little bit of a strange song from them - usually their tunes are a lot more driving, but this one has a great deal of drifting melancholy. I am not entirely sure what the content of the lyrics is pointing towards, but the rapid change in mood about halfway through fits perfectly and has some mind-burrowing parts.

Redemption - What Will You Say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzTGRLb6l-M

Redemption is one of a legion of underrated prog metal bands. The song itself is something universally applicable - the painting of an alternative life we might have led had we been with someone different, and wondering and hoping that the consequences of other people's actions will one day haunt them.

Okay, maybe not everyone wishes that upon their exes, but I can't be alone! The song itself is lengthy and mostly vocally driven - the singer (a former member of Fates Warning, I think?) has a way with ascending notes. Some subdued but soulful guitar soloing is happening in this bad boy as well.

DGM - Heartache
http://www.myspace.com/dgmprog

DGM is one of countlessly many excellent Italian bands. Who knows where they all came from? DGM plays progressive metal with a twist - a really good vocalist. There aren't many singers that I truly admire in the prog metal world but this fellow is excellent. They also have really solid skills at reigning in the too-experimental elements of progressive metal. Sure, it's what pushes music to the boundaries - but don't just push them. Make good music while doing it. That, in its essence, is DGM! Give them a round of applause.

Be'lakor - Countless Skies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaxAosBuro

Be'lakor is an Australian (?!) death metal band that actually has some features reminiscent of Amorphis and Opeth. That's never really a bad comparison, unless you're talking about Opeth fans. They have a sort of progressive death metal take with a lot of piano and very low, roared vocals. I picked Countless Skies as my favorite of their new album, Stone's Reach, because of the lengthy instrumental section that ends the song - I love harmony! I love guitar! It just all fits together.

Amorphis - Godlike Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQvCKoD1Ng

I challenge anyone to come up with a better song title than "Godlike Machine." It just sounds...HUGE! And it's quite appropriate that the chorus of this song sounds like a many-armed steel juggernaut, ripping up soil and tree and throwing it all in some cavernous fiery maw. A ziggurat of unearthly origin! A mobile Tower of Babel!

These guys are awesome at catchy guitar melodies. I highly advise. Many thumbs up - more than I possess.

Metric - Gimme Sympathy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg

Metric reminds me a hell of a lot of the other female-fronted indie-ish bands I have been listening to - they've got a little bit of Silversun Pickups, The Gathering, and The Sounds in them. Probably not so much The Sounds. I don't know if they have a dedicated keyboard player or not but some of the more interesting parts and pieces of their songs have to do with really ephemeral keyboard parts and accompanying vocals. This song is a little more immediately arresting and catchy, but they do have a number of lower-key ones.

Ghost Brigade - Suffocated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDw9rRl--w

This may be the most perfectly named band in existence. Listen to the opening of the song and it just sounds like something to accompany the slow treading of spirits - and the pounding that slowly ebbs in possesses some measure of dread and gloom - especially the ghostly guitar slide every measure.

The chorus is a big enough stretch from the drone-and-pound of the verse that it elevates the song quite a bit. There's a very slight hint of a choir behind the verse sometimes. It's strange how only two real pieces of music can last five minutes - and still be appealing.