#7 Epica Requiem For The Indifferent

Another masterpiece by Dutch band Epica. Here, Simone's voice features a broader sound, which gives the songs a deeper feeling depending on the context. Flawless production, the usual themes, and an overall halo of perfection shape Requiem For The Indifferent. It is a step forward from the great Design Your Universe, though I wonder if there is much more to explore in this direction.

Videos

Storm The Sorrow

Serenade Of Self Destruction



#8  #6

#8 Teodasia - Upwards

Surprise, surprise! Italian band Teodasia have no only released their first record, but also have they made it to the top 10 albums of the year 2012! Upwards is a consistent album, which does not cease to please the listener at any time. It features Fabio Lione from Rhapsody Of Fire in one of the songs. Amazing record which has set the bar high for future releases.

Videos

Lost Words Of Forgiveness

Temptress



#9 #7

#9 Xandria - Neverworld's End

Xandria's latest album is the first one to feature new singer Manuella Kraller, who, it must be said, does a flawless job. The album is grandiose, entertaining, catchy and could have been on the top 3 of the list if it were not for the fact that it sounds too much like Nightwish circa Century Child era. Great as this album may be, it lacks a bit of originality. Still, it was one of the finest releases of 2012 and, with the new singer, they will surelly put out more awesome music.

Videos

Valentine

Forevermore



#10 - #8

#10 Delta Goodrem - Child Of The Universe

#10 Yes, australian popstar is back with her fourth album, Child Of The Universe. This is a great pop album showing that Delta has a lot to deliver and that her health issues from the past haven't affected her musical skills. Impecable voice lines, catchy choruses, and personal lyrics are some of the elements that can be found in this record. The first single, Sitting On Top Of The World is groovy and the second one Wish You Were Here is heartfelt and touching. The acoustic-versions bonus CD is a must-have.

Videos:

Sitting On Top Of The World

Wish You Were Here (Acoustic)

Check out #9

Best 10 albums of 2012

2012 came to an end. What a year! Packed with music of all genres. Some newcomers, some flops, some artists who consolidated their position....
I've elaborated a list of the 10 albums (LPs, no EPs, nor singles) I liked the most. I chose not to separate the records into categories, so the list will seem a bit too eclectic to many, but well, I like music so much that I listen to many different genres.

Check out the list HERE and enjoy! :-D



Mightydem

UPWARDS - TEODASIA

Every time one listens to a new band, there is a sort of uncertainty as to wether their first album will measure up to the expected standard or if it will flop, due to its being the product of just entusiasm, and rock-star dreams. Fortunately, with Teodasia's first effort Upwards, one can rest assured that one will be in for a musical ride full of excitement, cinematic atmospheres and great music.
  
   The album kicks off with the incredible Temptress, a song that, in a way, shows what the album will be about: tempo changes, vocal melodies ranging from lyrical to rockish, and a musical background so tightly knit that it is hard to believe that this is indeed the band's first record. After Revelations, a song with beautiful orchestral passages all along, comes the grandiose Lost Words Of Forgiveness, featuring one of the finest singers in the Italian metal scene, Fabio Lione, of Rhapsody Of Fire. Teodasia's singer Priscilla Fiazza duets with Fabio in such an enticing manner that it is simply not possible not to play the song once again (or many times again) before continuing with the rest of the album. After that, the there is some room to relax a bit with the beautifully-sung Close Call. Clarion Call shakes things up a bit: Tempo changes, an orchestral interludio, and a flawless instrumental background offer the perfect background for Priscilla's voice to soar. This marks the transition to the second part of the album, which kicks in as powerfully as the first part did. A Powerful Life boasts one of those chorus lines hard to forget. Again, after one listen to this song, the melody lingers. A special mention to the guitar solo here, which blends perfectly with the singer's voice. The song ends a bit abruptly, leaving the listener expectant. After a few seconds of silence, Hollow Earth bursts in. This is, perhaps, the most perfectly-crafted song. The break in the middle is marvelous. The instrumental interludio and the guitar solo mark a change in the mood of the song, and the coda crowns this masterpiece. Then comes Aurora, a spell-binding song that for a few minutes will keep the listener wondering to what kind of mystical land his or her mind drifted. Pandora's Knight is, perhaps, the song where influences stand out the most. The keyboards automatically reminisce of the Nightwish of the Wishmaster/Century Child era. There is a bit of growling in the middle, a surprise at this stage of the album and towards the end, there is a brief passage that reminds of Within Temptation. In fact, if one is unaware of who is singing, one may think it is Sharon den Adel. There is an instrumental track in the album as well, Eulogy, which is epic. It could be the soundtrack to a lord-of-the-rings-style movie. This is a euology to music. Emotive and bombastic, this composition boasts all the elements which have been mentioned above. My Minotaur, the final track, is the perfect ending for a flawless album.
If one had to define Upwards, the right answer would be that this is the perfect debut album for any band in the genre. The musicians have achieved such a level of balance that the whole group sounds tight. There are no cracks, the band sounds like a unit. There are no displays of virtuosity, no lightning-fast guitar or keyboard solos, but they are not needed. This is perhaps Teodasia's main virtue to sound as a unity. Teodasia has achieved a sound that is hard to imagine in any debut record. This album has certainly set the bar high for the band's next projects. But if the musicians continue being this consistent, there are no doubts they will surely keep setting higher standards with every new record.

Rating: 9/10

Video: Lost Words Of Forgiveness

Unmissable song: Hollow Earth

No GNR Reunion at Hall of Fame induction - Axl's open letter

The rumor became real. Axl Rose has released an open letter stating that he will not be there at the Guns N' Roses Hall of Fame induction next Saturday. On the band's official Facebook page, Axl posted a lengthy letter which is posted in its entirety below:

To: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,

When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.

Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.

Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected.

For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.

That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".

This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.

In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.

The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of "for the fans" or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.

Izzy came out with us a few times back in '06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in '11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that's enough.

There's a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.

Maybe if it were you it'd be different. Maybe you'd do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We're there for each other when the going get's rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.

So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense.

But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the "no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn't care about the fans" crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let's move on. No one's taking the ball and going home. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.

In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction. More importantly I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music.

I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!

Sincerely,

Axl Rose

P.S. RIP Armand, Long Live ABC III

(Picture taken from GNR's Facebook page).