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Who are your current top 5 bands?


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1 hour ago, FreshPrinceOfBeleriand said:

My top 5 lately:

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Tristania

Amberian Dawn

Immortal

Iron Maiden

Firstly, your username references two excellent things simultaneously, so well done. 

Secondly, I'm stoked to see another Tristania fan around here. My preference definitely leans towards the first two albums and really feel they went downhill after Morten Veland left the band. But what classic albums those are! 

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16 hours ago, Requiem said:

Firstly, your username references two excellent things simultaneously, so well done. 

Secondly, I'm stoked to see another Tristania fan around here. My preference definitely leans towards the first two albums and really feel they went downhill after Morten Veland left the band. But what classic albums those are! 

I dig World of Glass and Ashes, but I avoid their new shit without Vibeke like the plague.

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3 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

I dig World of Glass and Ashes, but I avoid their new shit without Vibeke like the plague.

I've got 'Ashes' but I never got around to picking up 'World of Glass'. 'Ashes' doesn't do much for me. Maybe I'll put it in my car and see what happens. Both Tristania and Theatre of Tragedy jumped the shark after Morten and Liv Kristine left their respective bands. 

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15 hours ago, Requiem said:

I've got 'Ashes' but I never got around to picking up 'World of Glass'. 'Ashes' doesn't do much for me. Maybe I'll put it in my car and see what happens. Both Tristania and Theatre of Tragedy jumped the shark after Morten and Liv Kristine left their respective bands. 

I only have the first 2 Theatre of Tragedy albums, so I can't comment on their later work, but even the last Tristania album with Vibeke is listenable. Vorph feels a bit out of place considering his usual territory, but the songs aren't bad. Ashes was the first of their albums that I heard, so I might carry a flame for it out of nostalgia, but that one and World of Glass were still plenty enjoyable the last time I spun them.

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Requiem's Top 5 Bands of All Time

I've got this pretty locked in right now and I'm confident taking this list forward. Here is an explanation of my top five bands of all time. 

5. Amorphis

First heard: 1994. Albums owned: All 12. These Fins changed the way I saw music the first time I heard the 'Tales from the Thousand Lakes' album. Since then they've produced amazing albums in 'Elegy', 'Eclipse', and 'Silent Waters'. Their rock phase was less enjoyable but in context now is a bit of fun. Great vocalists over the years and the ancient Finnish lyrics from the Kalevala are awe-inspiring.

4. Septicflesh

First heard: 2008. Albums owned: All 10. The first time I noticed this band was seeing them live in London in 2008 and they blew me away. Albums 'Communion', 'The Great Mass' and 'Titan' are nearly untouchable for me. The rest of their albums are interesting at worst and excellent at best. No band has used the orchestra to such great effect. Brilliant, imaginative, lyrics too.  

3. Paradise Lost

First heard: 1995. Albums owned: All 15. A varied and exciting discography with some of my all time favourites in 'Draconian Times', 'Icon' and 'Gothic'. Like Amorphis (and I guess Septicflesh) had a great renewal of quality after an experimental phase. One of those lifetime bands for me. 

2. Katatonia

First heard: 1998. Albums owned: All 10. For a long time they were my favourite band around the 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' era, and that album remains my second favourite of all time. Brilliant emotion, quality songwriting, great vocals. The fact that 'The Fall of Hearts' which came out last year is one of my favourite albums bespeaks of their ongoing quality (after a few albums that didn't quite do it for me).  

1. Mayhem

First heard: 1995. Albums owned: All 5 plus so much more! The music, the history, the personalities, the attitude. Norwegian exoticism tempered with an earthiness and humanity to it all. My favourite band of all time. 

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