Current mood:	groggy
Current music:	Danse Macabre - Grief

Rotation #122
Mandatory Introduction:
Hello! Welcome to Color me Blood Red, a weekly rotation site dedicated to highlighting international music from every possible genre. Each week we travel to a new country to sample the oodles of good music, so er, come on in and enjoy!! :)

Today's Random Thought (13/11/08):
Hmph. New country this week... I thought I'd alternate between returns and new ones just to keep things interesting. Also, I'm quite excited that Germany was quite a big hit, especially with download numbers... I'm not sure if it was the country or the genres I stuck up (seeing as a lot was in a certain area), but hoping it was a little of the latter, I stuck with it and specifically chose this time stuff more... well, subjectively, even though there's stuff as well from the indie rock/pop genre for today... it would have been difficult to parse through it otherwise in this particular country, at least, so erm, yeah....




... Australia!! ^___^v

A small introduction: Lol, I tried to find some Australian slang to stick in there to make it less... plain, but couldn't get anything (I did, however, amuse myself greatly (...kangaroos loose in the top paddock, et al. XDD). Yes, I realize I sort of broke the English-speaking rule on my own this time, but listen: I was waiting to do Australia so it would coincide with the newst album coming out from my FAVE band... except I found out that's due in May of next year, so out went that idea. :/ So, yes, Australia... found some fun stuff outside that mentioned above (he he unfortunately, you will be given the discography whether you want it there or not XDD) Enjoy!

oOo oOo

Yeah, I was thinking I should put this up here someday: somewhat-LEGAL DISCLAIMER: These files are meant for sampling purposes. Yup. *nods* If you really like what you hear, then go out and BUY the album, and prove to the bands that you do indeed love them. I don't usually buy albums online, but honestly, the Genghis Khan of Internet-dom: Amazon should help you out there. That's it. Enjoy!! ^_____^

*** = especially recommended by me, akutenshi666!

.: ROCK :.

Subgenres: AltRock
Comment: Well, this is really odd and quite obscurish, seeing as it borrows more from older rock n' roll than anything nowadays. Kinda progressive, a little psychedelic, weird, happy stuff. In fact, it doesn't sound at all like it's coming from 2006. XD Twinkly backgrounds, vocals with some accompaniment... ugh, definitely alternative as in the sense of strange, different stuff. Lol. [2.5/5]
The Sleepy Jackson: Personality

Subgenres: Hard Rock
Comment: Not quite hard rock, as it's for me more leaning towards classic rock, especially with the heavy electric guitar-ness, with hints of jazz both in the melodies and singing. Pretty strong vocals, but not a style that was very much to my liking. [3/5] Again, Wolfmother is a band with a little bit of a classic heavy metal sound to them, especially in the heavier backgrounds. I found vocals to be a little shrillish at times, not too much, but I don't know, maybe just not what I like... the sound, and overall style was quite interesting, but hmm, not too great for me. ^^; [3/5]
Koritni: Lady Luck
Wolfmother: Wolfmother

Subgenres: Synth Rock
Comment: Electronic/synth rock band with songs ranging from slow and jazzy to bouncy, dance-friendly beats. The latter just really got on my nerves after a little bit, and in this case, there was far too much going on in terms of electronic effects and high-pitched vocals and experimental sounds. Personally, I thought it would have been better if some of that had been stripped away; it would seem cleaner, more melodic. Yeah. [2.5/5]
Midnight Juggernauts: Dystopia

.: METAL :.

Subgenres: Progressive Metal
Comment: Heavier band, especially when considering progressive stuffs, however, I quite liked it. The screaming was a little harsh at times, but this didn't happen very often. Instead, vocals (male) were very nice when they were sung and the background was quite melodic for most of the time. Not bad, not bad. [4/5] More like progressive power metal than anything else: melodies were slightly symphonic at times, quite melodic; moreover, they were slightly heavier for either genre, but that's not in a bad way. Vocals weren't bad, quite alright, in fact. [3.5/5]
Chaos Divine: Avalon ***
Vanishing Point: The Fourth Season

Subgenres: Power Metal
Comment: This band wasn't so great... at least, I thought Vanishing Point to be better. This one was a little more amateurish... don't know if this is true or it's just the style, but I thought the vocalist was a little flat (omg, and I don't mean pitch, because I don't know things like that XD), kind of muffled-ish. Some classic heavy metal influence in the background and the plenty of guitar solos. Nothing too spectacular though. [3/5] Described as symphonic power metal. Melodically, this was much better than the first band. It was more polished and featured some strings, as well as some more ambient stuff. Vocals were better as well, slightly, and occasionally had an almost operatic sound to them, although for the most part, they were eerily similar to Black Majesty's, especially in the higher ranges. Still, better of the two. [3.5/5]
Black Majesty: Tomorrowland
Eyefear: A World Full of Grey***

Subgenres: Industrial Metal
Comment: Supposed to be a mix of industrial and gothic metal, although I found this to be much harder and heavier than either of the two genres. There was even some hints of metalcore, and the harsher industrial stuff here. Vocals were entirely screamed or yelled, with almost pounding melodies at times... I'm not quite sure, in fact, who stuck on the gothic part. Industrial metal, maybe, but definitely up on the louder, harder part of the spectrum. [2.5/5]
The Amenta: Non

Subgenres: Doom Metal
Comment: Doom metal band with hints of gothic metal, especially with the piano and chorals. Very good band, by the way, and one I had before and didn't know they were actually Australian (along with Elegeion). Hmm.. anyways, dark and rather dismal band, female-fronted band with haunting, operatic-styled vocals, which ends up being quite beautiful. Lots of instrumental riffs, drawn-out and rather slow, but nice. [4.5/5] Heavier compared to Avrigus, but still possessing a little bit of the female, operatic accompaniment on some songs, although here there's the characteristic doom metal growlies. Slower as well and having a lot of instrumental parts and even entire tracks, more so than the first band. Still, another good band. [4.5/5] Ooh, I was quite surprised to find that although sometimes there are heavier doom metal bands, Australia seems to have some good ones. At least, I enjoyed all of these. InSomnius Dei is with a male vocalist that neither growls nor sings... but something in the middle. Some more melodic riffs in between the semi-growlies, but overall, this is a heavier, harder band than the first two and a little more, only slightly though, faster paced. [3.5/5]
Avrigus: The Secret Kingdom ***
Elegeion: Pure***
InSomnius Dei: Illusions of Silence

Subgenres: Death Metal
Comment: Melodic death metal, with quite nice backgrounds with some piano, and instrumental riffs featuring it as well, but a little harsher vocally. Rather, it is all screaming, but not too fast-paced or harsh, so I found the overall effect to be quite nice. A little too heavy for me though... [3/5]
Be'lakor: The Frail Tide

Subgenres: Gothic Metal
Comment: I believe this is sub-specified as gothic doom, but whatever it is, I really liked it. Very nice, deepish male vocals that are quite sexy and entirely sung... not so much as the featurette below, but still very good. Slower-paced, definitely more doom-metal background, but ooh! this was one I found in my research and one I'm definitely keeping for myself. :) [4/5]
The Eternal: Sleep of Reason***

*mandatory bonus* Ahem, yes, this absolutely had to be here... falling more specifically under the subgenre of symphonic gothic doom metal, Virgin Black is my fave band and has been well, since I found out about them a few years ago. They're absolutely stunning! Very orchestral, with heavy use of gorgeous strings and on the Requiem albums, especially, the band is accompanied by a full orchestra (the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra), and stunning, inhumanly sexy vocals. Mr. London, and I have said this before (or thought it definitely), possesses the best voice I've heard... it's so beautiful, especially when he goes into the more melodic parts. Omg! *____* I forced a few of these onto people before, and someone once said it was "beautiful, yet very depressing"... my mom, similarly, said that it sounded like funeral music... in case someone would like some other input. But yeah, amazing! One of the very original, unimitable bands out there, definitely. Give it a try, at least one, if any of the above genres allure you... just don't flame me or something; it's just a suggestion, not obligatory. ^^; Just so you know, Trance is a demo EP and it goes down in chronological order (I hope, I always get #2 and 3 confused). The last two are 2/3 of the Requiem trilogy: Mezzo Forte is more operatic with beautiful chorals and orchestrals, while Fortissimo is a heavier album leaning more towards doom metal. [6/5]
Virgin Black: Trance***
Virgin Black: Elegant... And Dying***
Virgin Black: Sombre Romantic ***
Virgin Black: Requiem Mezzo Forte
Virgin Black: Requiem Fortissimo ***

.: POP :.

Subgenres: Just Pop XD
Comment: Both are indie, more obscure pop and ooh, the first one, to be quite honest, I took for the Finnish connection, even though I didn't really like anything outside the name. XD Bubbly, poppy female vocals with really strange accompaniment, synthiness, trumpets, xylophones, tubas, steel drums, just about everything. O__o Very, very quirky stuff. [2.5/5] This one was better: laidback, slowish acoustic-ish rock music with quite nice, deeper, semi-spoken vocals. I don't actually know if I'd give this the title of pop... maybe pop rock, prog rock.. I don't know. Not bad, though. [3.5/5]
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This
Augie March: Sunset Studies ***

.: ET AL... :.

Genres: Darkwave
Comment: Dark, ambient, atmospheric stuff with ethereal female vocals that are almost chanted and wailed more than sung and a synthy, electronic background that almost sounds movie-like in that haunting, pretty sort of way. It has almost a timeless feel to it, since although it's from 87' it definitely doesn't seem like it... at least I was surprised by it. O__o Quite interesting though, and, I think, a better known artist/group from this genre. [3.5/5]
Dead Can Dance: Within the Realm of the Dying Sun***

Genres: Industrial
Comment: Australia seems to have quite a bit of artists from the industrial/electronic genres. Angelspit is a female-fronted (unless she's one artist) group with heavier electronic backgrounds and louder vocals; at least, it sounds like the vocalist is yelling for most of the time. Not too melodic, so I didn't quite like it... [2.5/5] Wow, the second one was very weird. You know when you turn the tuner on your radio and it's stuck between two different stations, so it's playing a little bit of both teamed up with some static? That's Severed Heads. O__o Overlapping of some weird electronic effects that turn out to be not so pleasing to the ears. They're considered "electronic innovators," but I don't think I quite consider this music. XD [1/5] Slower, more mellow band with less of the electronic effects and more of a darkwave sound with very nice male vocals that are fortunately, very clear and polished. Actually, the whole thing was quite polished and very good. *nods* [4/5]
Angelspit: Krankhaus
Severed Heads: Blubberknife
Snog: The Last Days of Rome***

Genres: Electronic
Comment: Laidback, almost jazzy stuff with less of the electronic stuff I was expecting. Nice vocals, with some instrumental experimentation in between, but nothing too odd... well, sometimes it did get a little weird, really weird, but still, it was listenable. XD [3/5]
Gotye: Like Drawing Blood

.: leftovers from past rotations... :.

Germany: [Gothic Rock] Ooh, very good band!! Sexy vocals and style that reminds me very much of Eisheilig, both in that slower style and in the guy's singing. I'm keeping this one! [Gothic/Industrial Metal] I'm not sure where the gothic part comes into play: heavier music more industrial, although the vocals, which are more reminiscent of black metal screaming than anything else, was a little too heavy, especially considering the not so heavy background. [Symphonic Power Metal] Folky, female-fronted band (along with some quite harsh male screaming) with a vocalist that reminds me of another band... of course, as expected, I can't pinpoint this band. -___- Anyways, definitely symphonic from the melodies, and uh, quite operatic with the female's vocals... the guy and his screaming really didn't seem to match the rest of it. O__o [Viking/Pagan Metal] Nice, deeper vocals although they hardly ever appear; in short, it's quite fast-paced with equally fast screaming for most of the time. Some flute and melodic parts, but not enough to lighten the other parts. Didn't quite like it. [Gothic Metal] I like Darkseed and I have a quite a few albums from them. This one I just got, so yay! Really nice male vocals, they have some German tracks, or rather, they sing some German sentences randomly, but not here I think. Still, a heavier band for the genre and perhaps leaning in style towards doom metal, at least in the some of the backgrounds. Great one though! [Gothic/Neoclassical] I was really interested in hearing this band after I found out they're actually a group of musicians: viola, violin, guitar, contrabass, cello, and one more (vocalist?), there's six of them. And then OMG! I listened to it and realized I had this already... -_____-; Rather, I had the live concert with ASP and it did NOT enter my head that it was these guys. XD Wow. Very instrumental, classically inspired music with almost a theatrical, folky aspect to the singing. Really hard to describe, but quite pretty aside from the one or two really weird tracks. XD
Beyond the Void: Gloom is a Trip for Two***
Bionic Angel: Digital Violence
Atargatis: Divine Awakening
Taunusheim: Nebelkämpfe
Darkseed: Astral Adventures***
Chamber: Ghost Stories and Fairy Tales ***

Mongolia: [Folk] Very belated Mongolian addition, this once more being another album laden with fiddle music (which are quite pretty, I do have to admit that) and the throat singing which I don't think I'll ever be able to appreciate. ._____.;;;
Altai Hangai: Naariits Biilye

Finland: [ProgRock] Poppier, almost jazz/swing styled band with a bit of quirky instruments and in fact, it ends up being quite quirky as a whole. XD A little too slowish for me, I think... [Dark Ambient] As the genre suggests, ambient, entirely instrumental stuff... and as I don't like instrumental stuff like this, I'll have to give it a no.
Absoluuttinen Nollapiste: Muova Antaa Periksi
Jääportit: Uumenissa

Hong Kong: [Pop] Bouncy, swingy pop music that uh, wasn't so great for me. Firstly, there were a few songs that had a bit of the *shudder* rap influence. I failed to appreciate that. The rest was quite mellow pop, but a little... too happy for me. XD
Swing: On Fire

Slovenia: [Industrial/Gothic] Apparently, a highly praised band on the Slovenian metal scene and ooh, I think I see why. This was good, somewhere between the vocals (both male and female) of gothic metal and backgrounds being a mix between this and industrial metal. The effect was really interesting and quite good. Male vocals were, as is the case for a lot of bands I mention, very yummy. :P Good stuff!!
Indigo Child: Re-Death***