Metal Fans: Thoughts on this progressive metal project?

Dan Swano - gotta be one of the most multi-talented and creative people to ever grace metal.

You'd be really hard pressed to find someone who was involved in so many projects and played so many different genres - Melodeath, Prog, Death, Black, Avant Garde this dude did it all.

The youtube guy really summed it up nicely "it is a rather unique mix of progressive metal, death metal, jazz and gothic rock" The sound is very interesting. You just don't get bored with this record - everything is constantly shifting, reshaping itself, great experience. Druming didn't do much for me though.

I really can't answer now... I am simply blown away. This is some of the most incredible things I've ever heard really. I LOVE it.

I'll edit later on, I am going to listen to some more of his stuff and get back to you right away... For now only thing I can say is this is really amazing music. Too bad the project was kinda short... highly orgasmic though :D

* Thanks for the links!!! I really really enjoyed his vocals on Nightingale and the band in general. Although the harsh vox suit the music much better sometimes I can't help wondering why they can't use the clean voice... like in one of Absu's tracks from Tara you get these really awesome Dio like vocals. The power metal thingy was funny yeah but I find most of PM to be weirdly amusing so it's fine.

I have to study for my exams but I wanna make sure I get as much as possible out of Swano because his stuff is amazing. Not someone I'd skip over. I enjoyed Crimson II as well ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4aJa87-wDA&feature...

MA: Griefcase the thrashy intro was OK but then came the searing hunting melody which really grabbed my attention. The songs keeps alternating between those two and I think that a more 'tasty' drumming would have gone a long way to make the transitions more exciting.

Some of the riffs don't really do it for me though (luck of strong drumming is also a pet peeve of mine, they're a solid backup but not much more). Swano's vocals are interesting. I find the melodic guitar passages to be really unique and eerily beautiful. It was soo much more enhanced when those synths came in I was totally blown away. Then came another happy go lucky kinda melodic part which was nice contrast. Then there's this nice odd time signature part. I find the 'thrashy' part to be sloppy honestly.

The chamber like vocals (as well as the distorted vox) were interesting as well. They add a nice touch. I liked the ending but as far as the 'story' of the song goes I don't really get it. Seemed like an experimental song more than anything. Pretty nice though :D

Before I Close My Eyes Forever aggressive intro suits me better but I'm not a huge fan of speaking in songs. But then came the melody again... orgasmic... Then relentless headbanging but the drumming is a bit of a let down. I think that some technical double bass would accentuate the Death metal parts nicely instead of those blast beats. Snare ain't chubby though it ain't brilliant either. I was always expecting the song to get HARDER so I think a climax in this respect wasn't reached.

Instead we got a 180 change in rhythm and after that I got some of that fukcing aggression. The creepy vox work well here too. Then the song got really experimental with that keyboard before switching to some punky basic rhythm and sweeping guitars. Overall I feel the song isn't extreme enough becuase of the shifty proggy nature. The death vox are very welcome though. I just felt it didn't satisfy me emotions completely. Cymbal beats were a nice touch. The jazzy part was hella cool as well.

Lots of interesting stuff on this song. That being said I think I'd prefer some more extremilaty something like Atheist completely mindblowing Jazzy Rhythm like in Mother Man ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utqWrkVEQvI

Or Sigh's utter craziness on tracks like Slaughtergarden Suite ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpGbcxq4SnQ&feature...

Still considering it's practically a one man's show it's very impressive. Most enjoyable parts were melodic guitar, some more Avante Garde or Death would give the edge I'm looking for I think. I think I'm getting somewhat of a man crush on this guy really :P

Very nice rec tron, it's just me nitpicking on stuff I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT.

But meh I've just written what I thought. Thanks again!! =D

MQ2: Oh wait can't ignore the mq now can ya? Yeah I'm gonna ramble some more LOL

'Tallica did some nice stuff on Garage, Inc.

Crash Course In Brain Surgery ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiKFSZ8B3xs

Stone Cold Crazy ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZWCp-vUFkY

Hey dude

Getting a bit late here. Will answer properly in the morning hopefully.

* I'm not too familiar with Dan Swano other than Edge of Sanity (mostly the earlier stuff). I can't really compare this to his other projects, because well, I haven't really listened to them (or at least don't remember listening to them), but I kinda like it, and kinda don't. Some of the riffs are really good, and the songs even have a really good black metal-ish atmosphere at points. But on the other hand, the vocals are a bit out of the place (particularly the odd back up vocals), the structures are a bit messy and could be smoother, some of the thrashier riffs are pretty bland, and the drum sound could've been much better.

Interesting, but not something I'd regularly listen to.

MA2: Priest performed many great covers, I particularly like Johnny B Goode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zxoGFjFJlk

I have never heard of Dan Swano. Although I just Wiki'd Him, wow he is quite the contributor to Metal.

Griefcase: This song is great! Might have to get use to the Vocals, but It's really sounding good. And it's playing on 240p on youtube haha.

Before I Close My Eyes Forever: This song sounds even better. It's so odd, (Maybe because I don't listen to Progressive Metal).

MQ2: That was a very nice cover!

Well Therion did a cover of Thor (The Powerhead) by Manowar. Manowar being my favorite band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol0D1tdw0BA

But as for Manowar doing a cover, not sure of all of them.

@Tron: wow nice, very nice, he's an icon haha. needless to say very talented! Thanks!

Dan doesnt surprise me anymore you know...i already have about 4 or 5 of his other projects stuff..so one more addition is cool :D

The first song sounds like a mix of some melodic prog with old school death/thrash...quite nice..i was surprised by his vocals though! I was expecting a growl..not shouting..its not bad though..

The next song is more progressive..i like this more..reminds me a little bit of Believer..very nice melody too...and nice riffs..really nice song!

This cover i've heard! I really like his version...

And yeah..Dream Theater has covered full albums of Maiden, Floyd, Metallica...live!

hmmm.. lets see... *do I still have psychic abilities?* Dan Swano?

holy sh*t I still got it!

I do like this Owen, not as much as Nightengale, but good nonetheless. I don't have time to elaborate I have to work. production for yet another generic, trendy local band. can't complain though I still enjoy it a little things could be a whole lot worse. I could be having to go to work at McDonalds and dealing with @ssholes at the drove through who treat you like sh*t and think they are better than you.

thanks for sharing buddy! goodnight! :D