#17 - Van Halen

I was only five when these L.A. rockers exploded onto the scene with their hugely (for a hard rock band) successful eponymous debut, so I was pretty oblivious to it and the string of four excellent successive albums.  It wasn't until sixth grade and the release of their number one single "Jump" that I (and anyone else who had been living under a rock) finally got a listen to the infectious and unique amalgamation of pop, soul, punk and metal that was Van Halen.  By the time singles "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher" popped up on MTV, I had already acquired and fallen in love with their sixth album, 1984... I remember my aunt being somewhat scandalized by the album cover, which depicted a greaser-looking cherub smoking a cigarette from what might be a pilfered pack against the backdrop of a pale blue sky.  It turned out I had already unknowingly heard guitarist Eddie Van Halen's virtuosity and unique melodic approach on Michael Jackson's "Beat It" several months earlier in what still stands out as one of the best radio pop guitar solos of all time.

It's easy to point to Eddie as the key to the band's success, and you could certainly make that argument convincingly.  He was far and away the most virtuosic rock guitarist of the mid-to-late-70s, and while countless proteges have copped his pioneering techniques, I've never heard, in all the years since, anyone who combined the same chops and unorthodox approach to rhythm and melody.  But to me Eddie's fantastic guitar prowess was just part of the equation.  His brother Alex contributed a similarly unique feel on the drums, simultaneously drawing from disparate influences like surf rock, jazz, pop and of course heavy metal.  Gregarious frontman David Lee Roth, an unrivaled showman, drew from rock and R&B roots, and delivered an infectious combination of swagger and silliness with his rangy vocals and falsetto shrieks.  And one of the most enjoyable and unique aspects of Van Halen was the crystal clear backing vocals of Eddie and bassist Michael Anthony.  Here are one of my favorites of theirs, "Hot For Teacher" from 1984 and a pretty good quality live recording of them from 1979 playing "You're No Good".

10 Best Progressive Metal Albums of 2015

Okay so it's been over a year since I've posted, but I promise I've been thinking about you.  And as a token of apology for my neglect, I'm making this offering of the 10 best progressive metal albums of 2015.  These bands may not fit the conventional (and increasingly old-fashioned) boundaries around the genre, in that they don't all feature stratospheric vocals, heavy keyboards or 20 minute epics (although there is some of all of that here).  Rather, they're all bands who play progressive music in that they challenge conventions, themselves and their listeners with either compositional inventiveness, virtuosic performance, a unique approach, complexity or some or all of the above with music that impresses, surprises and delights.

In preparation for this post, I listened to several hundred albums released in 2015 and narrowed down first to about 80 that I really liked and finally to the 10 best which, without further ado, I now present to you.

10. Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic

I've written about this Raleigh, North Carolina band before.  Their latest album tones it down a bit, but it's still quite heavy, quirky and loaded with tight playing.  They do a great job of balancing twists and turns with catchy hooks on this album and it may be a bit more accessible than its predecessors but that's not to say that it's not a blast to listen to.

9. Khariot - Esoteric
This band from Perth, Australia is a new one to me.  I'm sure glad to have been introduced.  They clearly take a cue from brilliant Canadian metallers Gorguts with the brutal heaviness, atonal riffing and soloing, and the blazing drumming, but it does somehow sound fresh and a bit more modern.  And it's only two people!

8. Leprous - The Congregation
These guys have been favorites of mine for a while now, and this, their fourth full-length studio offering, doesn't disappoint.  It's a step back toward the heavy after 2013's Coal, which was a bit more somber and prog-rock than previous albums.  This polished work sits somewhere in the middle of that and their earlier, more buoyant rockers.

7. Piah Mater - Memories of Inexistence
Another new band, this time from Rio de Janeiro, this progressive death metal band plays an eclectic blend of heavy riffing and acoustic interludes, clean and growling vocals, reminiscent of Still Life era Opeth with perhaps a bit of more avant-tinged moments that remind me of Forgotten Silence.

6. Symphony X - Underworld

Another pristine effort from neo-classical prog-power stalwarts Symphony X, Underworld is similar in style and quality to their last couple of albums.  With the usual orchestral and choral sections, super tight ensemble work, odd and mixed meters, precise technical execution and blistering chops on all instruments, it's just one more in a long catalog of impressive albums.

5. Intronaut - The Direction of Last Things
Unbelievably, this Los Angeles based quartet just keeps getting better and better.  I've seen their unique sound described as post-prog metal, and I think that's about as good a box as any you could put around them.  It's loaded with twisty ensemble playing, unusual vocal harmonies and stunning rhythm section work.  As good as this album is, they're even better live and a highly recommended concert outing.

4. Orakle - Eclats
Orakle, from Paris, has apparently been around for at least 12 years, but this is the first I've ever heard of them, and am I glad I finally did!  Eclats is a pretty zany, but polished release, featuring a wide variety of vocal and compositional styles.  It's all very well put together and, while there are plenty of surprises, nothing seems out of place... a mature and enjoyable listen.

3. Alkaloid - The Malkuth Grimoire

The top three this (last) year are all incredibly impressive bands, starting with German supergoup Alkaloid, featuring members with impressive credits in Obscura, Necrophagist, Aborted, Noneuclid and Blotted Science (among others).  This album borrows some from the afore-mentioned bands, but is perhaps less solidly in the death metal camp than its predecessors.  Really great playing and interesting and enjoyable songs!

2. Gorod - A Maze of Recycled Creeds
Another French band, this time from Bordeaux in the southwest, Gorod's grown over the past 15 or so years into one of the most impressive and inventive technical death metal bands around.  Generally up-tempo and super-tight, this album walks the line between prog and death metal nimbly.

1. Panzerballett - Breaking Brain

This fantastic album by Bavarian jazz/metal hybrid instrumental band is a treat to listen to, but be prepared for twisty metal-infused jazz as opposed to the other way around.  Leads are handled alternately or together by guitar and tenor sax, soloing abounds as does humor, and the rhythmic complexity is never understated.  Make sure you make it to the cheeky "Mahna Mahna" (track 4) for a fun and unique cover, but the whole album is equally amazing.