Into The Storm

Once more, the german bards find their way to Greece. It's no mystery considering the response they get. Ydrogeios club was packed full with an enthusiastic crowd. Looking at the age distribution, I'd say the new fans are few, but the old ones were all there. Well, so was I!
Typical for Ydrogeios club, the sound was average at best but I must say I am so used to it by now that it hardly bothers me. This must be how all greeks feel about the inadequacy of every other aspect of this state. Anyway! Blind Guardian stormed into stage with "Into The Storm" after a minor delay. Watch the video for details! They take a while before getting into new material but noone seems to mind! "Born In A Mourning Hall", "Nightfall" and "The Script For My Requiem" are an immense pleasure before we get to "Fly".

Hansi (vocals) is nervous about the new material, saying "whether you like it or not, we have to play it". He's exaggerating; their last two albums were very well-received considering that metal audiences do not react well to change. The problem is that most of the new songs have trouble to work on stage, even though they are great on the cd. Luckily, the bards know to balance their set and give the fans what they want. "Vallhala" brings deliverance with its amazing chorus, "Mordred's Song" was probably my favorite part of the concert, "Majesty" was, well, majestic! There was more..."Welcome To Dying", "Time Stands Still", "Skalds And Shadows", "This Will Never End" and the 14-min epic "And Then There Was Silence" (another amazing song that is sadly poor on stage) closed the first part of the concert.
After the obligatory "we want more" buisness, the bards returned for three songs that never get old : "Imaginations From The Other Side", "The Bard's Song In The Forest" (pure magic) and "Mirror, Mirror". I'm sure everyone left the club with a huge smile on their faces. Yep, it's been over 20 years of Blind Guardian...and it never gets old.

We Are Meme Machines

I had previously refered to the concept of memes, but it took me a while to actually get to read Susan Blackmore's book. It is definitely a thorough presentation of what memetics is all about and the most revealing aspect about it is the field's extreme infancy and doubtful future. Don't get me wrong. Blackmore has some really brilliant ideas that could be the solution to difficult problems like the origin of language and the idea of self (I am sure Douglas Hofstadter's "I Am A Strange Loop" has a lot of insights on this subject - you will probably wait another year for a review of that one!).
The general idea behind memetics is that from the moment a species, namely us, developed the ability to imitate a second replicator was born, the meme. As a consequence, humans, unlike most animals, evolved under the pressure of not just one replicator, the gene, but two. The two replicators care nothing for us - we are merely their vehicles - but they also don't care for each other. Memes and genes aren't always allies. Susan Blackmore does a great job at explaining the interactions between the two replicators and how those interactions worked to bring the human species to its current level. The memetic theory does provide some powerful explanations and Blackmore follows the scientific method and suggests a number of tests for her theories. I am not sure if there have been attempts at them and the reason for this is that there's no clear benefit from a theory of memetics. Scientific theories provide more than explanations - they provide solutions and predictions - and there are considerable criticisms on whether memetics will be able to provide either. Blackmore is very fair when it comes to criticism, she cites a great number of authors, scientists and philosophers from all sides of an argument, but she's a little bit obvious when she's promoting her theory. That's understandable, of course, and doesn't substract from her integrity.
Despite what will become of memetics, "The Meme Machine" is a wonderful book as it makes you look at the world in radically different ways - this can only be positive.

Floor Ends Eternity

After Forever are definitely not newcomers and they hardly were a band to be ignored. Part of the rich atmospheric metal dutch scene, it is hard to stand out when there's The Gathering and Within Temptation to compete with. Not to mention the fact that the so-called gothic/atmospheric/operatic or whatever you want to call it metal is a genre that was repleted so fast that it was very hard to convince you are not another dull copycat. After Forever managed to do just that and keep their name to the surface, but not exactly near the clouds.
However, it is their new self-titled album that is their undeniable peak and one peak that leaves many, many others looking up in their direction. The band managed to trim their music enough so that songwriting could shine, without compromising their character one bit. "After Forever" is full of majestic classical music, furious heavy riffs, catchy melodies and a variety of rhythms and vocals. The vocals...miss Floor Jansen is simply a wonder. We already respected her, but she really really shines on this one... she goes from epic operatic singing, to being aggressive and powerful and then to fragile pop with remarkable ease.
Since words hardly do justice to the music described, you should really listen to the magnificent "Evoke".

Black Requiem

Virgin Black had impressed me at first listen when their debut "Sombre Romantic" was released. It was the combination of dark classical music, modern gothic metal and most original and expressive vocals. They were compared with Saviour Machine back then, which was justified, but their new album "Requiem - Mezzo Forte" will allow some to invoke the holy name of Dead Can Dance. The band's requiem, which will apparently come in a trilogy, shares a lot with "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" (an album everyone should own) but you will also make favorable comparisons to My Dying Bride. Grayh's vocals are an interesting mix of Aaron Stainthorpe and Eric Clayton which gives the dramatic effect that Virgin Black's music asks for.
The album gets heavier as it progresses, but it never stops justifying its title. Darkness, sorrow and despair are portrayed through music in a very effective, almost religious, way. It may become overwhelming at times, but there are beautiful moments as well. If you can find beauty in darkness, you will appreciate Virgin Black's music.