What Are You Listening To Right Now [Secular]?

Black Rider wrote:

StevenCressler wrote:Megadeth - Cryptic Writings

Now that I'm hearing the whole album, Risk just sounds like a natural evolution from this one. Most of the complaints people have against Risk apply to this album, too, aside from a few songs.

Risk wasn't as bad as people say but Cryptic Writings had stronger hooks.

Yep. And While Risk had some good songs, Trust and She-Wolf clear them all IMO (also a rare example of the two popular songs from on an album actually being the two best).

Catergory 7 - Catergory 7

A new "supergroup" of sorts that has left me lacking.
Great music, vocals take some getting used to, profanity laced songs makes this a one and done listen

Weakling - Dead As Dreams

What an absolute masterpiece.

Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings

Styx - The Grand Illusion (released 7/7/77)

I love everything Styx in the 70's. This album had the most hits. I haven't listened to this album because of over hearing the hits on the radio until they were ruined. I skipped past the hits to hear the other songs. They are very good and refreshing.

St Vitus - Born to Late (1986)

Always enjoyable to hear Scott "Wino" Weinrich – vocals and the old school doom band

Shining: Without You [EP] 2024


I was intrigued by the Norwegian jazz metal genre labeling
What I got:

song one; some happy modern rock sappy love song with f-bombs

song two; more happy modern rock with cringe vocals
song three; bizarre slow Christmas love song

Sieges Even - Steps & Lifecycles

Their first two albums. If you like Watchtower; Lifecycles is not that far off. Steps is more melodic, artistic and slowed down, more like a prog rock album. Great band. This vocalist is a bit of an acquired taste though.

Slaughter-Fear No Evil (1995)

Sounds so good to me

Chastain - For Those Who Dare

Crimson Glory (1986)

Helloween - Master of the Rings: Strong album, a few Van Halenish tracks at the end but I don't mind it now.

Gamma Ray - Sigh No More: Has it's moments but it is a step down from the debut.

Justicar - Outbound Flight: Over the top vocals that remind me Walls of Jericho, Target Earth and early Stormwitch. All classics, bring on the full length!

Attacker - The God Particle: Another great effort.

Master of the Rings is a great album, seems a bit overlooked.

Black Rider wrote:Master of the Rings is a great album, seems a bit overlooked.

Yeah, just recently I have come to appreciate it more. Maybe it was too hard rock and people were hoping for more neoclassical speed. I remember liking Helloween but wishing they were pumping out albums with more songs like Save Us and Twilight of the Gods. I wanted them to release something that would have competed with Scanner's Hypertrace. I do think this and Time of the Oath are the best Andi Deris albums. I may take another look at the Derris part of the catalogue though.

Angra - Aurora Consurgens and Aqua

Bronze Age wrote:

Black Rider wrote:Master of the Rings is a great album, seems a bit overlooked.

Yeah, just recently I have come to appreciate it more. Maybe it was too hard rock and people were hoping for more neoclassical speed. I remember liking Helloween but wishing they were pumping out albums with more songs like Save Us and Twilight of the Gods. I wanted them to release something that would have competed with Scanner's Hypertrace. I do think this and Time of the Oath are the best Andi Deris albums. I may take another look at the Derris part of the catalogue though.

Gambling With The Devil is my favorite Halloween album Time is also great.
I need to listen to Hypertrace again, been awhile.

Waking up with STEELHEART - DEMOS 1990-92 same songs when they were known as Red Alert

Megadeth - The Threat is Real
Anthrax - Nothing
Iron Maiden - Running Free
Motorhead - We Are Motorhead
Megadeth - One Thing
Metallica - Dyer's Eve
Rush - Subdivisions
System of a Down - Pictures
Megadeth - Devil's Island

Angra - Omni

Fabio Lione is just so awesome on this! A great album.

Megadeth - The World Needs a Hero

Pretty underrated imo. Good album

Alex Lifeson - Victor (1996)
An eclectic album of 11 songs (15 songs on the expanded 2024 remix)featuring: hard rock, 5 instrumentals, 3 vocalists (one sounds like Geddy), 3 bassists, a few spoken word songs, Alexs' wife sounding like a valley girl on 'Shut Up' and a sprinkle of humour

Balance Of Power - Fresh From The Abyss (2024)

My second listen. Soooo good