Gelatinous Cube

REEEEEEEEEE

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

@Altered TundraWhile I have never really given them a proper go, I will say one thing. Rob Flynn is a top bloke. I've got a lot of respect for him, because I think he's a really intelligent, compassionate and well-informed guy. So because of that, one day I will give Machine Head some time.

Their cover of Hallowed By Thy Name is pretty good. Iron Maiden are one of my absolute favourite bands, and I usually don't like people's covers of them (especially "extreme" covers), but they did well. Especially on such a beloved track.

War Never Changes

Quinn hurried into the back of the car, keeping a paranoid eye on the surroundings. The shadows of dusk had lengthened into the cover of night, and it was enough to make him sweat with anxiety.
He cautiously slid a bullet into the empty chamber of his revolver.
Only fourteen left...at least we got something from those men.
He hadn't seen where the other two went, and suddenly felt a chill up his spine as he realized Charlotte was alone with their mysterious newcomer.
Something about that girl made him uneasy. Though, he supposed it was just the natural wariness you had to possess in order to survive. Quinn probably knew it better than anyone. He had seen through his own eyes the cruelty of man unbound. Had felt in his own hands the sadism of a man with nothing in the world left to lose. Had felt in his own heart that complete and utter absence of remorse in the slaughter and torment of the helpless.
Such self-pity would get him nowhere in this crumbled world, and no matter how great the act of atonement, no forgiveness ever seemed to match.
But if he could save one life, enrich one poor souls world in the slightest way...well, then that was something. A small grain of sand in an ocean of misdeeds and savage acts.
It was all he could cling to, after all.

He felt weary, his furrowed brow aching under the strain of the days events. All he wanted was to sleep, no matter how fitful his slumber would be. He was strangely grateful for having chanced upon Jake. Nothing about the man suggested anything untoward or nefarious. Indeed, he seemed as sincere in his helpful nature as anyone Quinn had ever met. His stature and general sense of poise seemed to hint at a past in law enforcement, but Quinn couldn't be sure.
He only wondered how much Jake might still cling to the tenets of protection and service should it come out that he was once of those dreadful Blood Army that the rest of the world so despised.
Just another bridge to burn, I suppose,he thought to himself with a deep, inner sigh.
Just another bridge to nowhere.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

I always acknowledged Octavarium, but never really gave it enough respect until recently. I passed it off as being too mainstream sounding, which on the surface it was. It's not until you actually take the time (hurrdurr) to really listen to it that you start to understand how much more complex it is.
And yes, These Walls was one of the first tracks on that album that made me take notice.
Although, I gotta say, a lot of Dream Theater's latter day stuff didn't grab me at first. Train of Thought, Octavarium and Systematic Chaos took a while for me. So did Six Degrees (despite The Glass Prison being my favourite DT song).

My absolute number 1 is still Awake though. That to me is probably the most encompassing album, and the strongest in terms of songwriting and performances. It was heavy, it was dark, but it was still melodic and it pushed their sound further outwards.
Then it's Images & Words, and then Scenes From a Memory.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

You know, I gotta be honest (and since it's the subject of the thread :P), I wasn't too keen on Dream Theater first time around. A friend of mine sent me Learning to Live and told me how great it was. I listened to it and liked it, but it just wasn't what I was expecting, so it didn't resonate with me too well.
A few years later I give them a go, and listen to Forsaken. I really dig it and go back to Images & Words and listen to Pull Me Under, Take the Time, Another Day and give Learning to Live another go.

Now I think Learning to Live is one of the greatest songs ever written and I cannot pick a single Dream Theater song I don't like in some way.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

@Altered Tundra Matt Barlow is an absolute legend. And not just for his range either. Few vocalists can deliver such an impassioned performance like he can. Perfect example: A Question of Heaven.
The Dark Saga is my favourite Iced Earth album too. :D

Stu Block in his own right is an incredible vocalist with a fantastic range, but I can't help but feel he's woefully underutilized in Iced Earth. Jon seems happier to have him do a (to be fair, quite good) Matt Barlow impression rather than let him come at the songs his own way. I was personally hoping for a return to Night of the Stormrider's sound, which I think Stu would have absolutely nailed, but Dystopia still turned out to be a pretty enjoyable album. Wasn't so into Plagues of Babylon, but it too had some decent material.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

Hell yeah. Iced Earth.

Actually found myself listening to a lot of Metallica lately. Nothing after their self-titled though. Love or hate that album, it has the best production of any heavy metal album ever, and with such a tight bunch of songs. I know a pretty vocal contingent of Metallica purists like to shit on that album, but as far as I can see there's an incredibly valid reason they took it on tour for three whole years.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

Both of those songs were Through the Fire and Flames.

All Dragonforce songs are Through the Fire and Flames.

Oooh! I thought of another one!

Gamma Ray. German Power Metal legends! I first started listening to them around 06/07, but asides from a few tracks I just couldn't get into them. Fast forward to 2013, and I decided to give them another go. I downloaded a compilation album and listened to it and I don't know...something just clicked and now I fucking love them.

Liking music you used to hate and music you used to like (but don't anymore)?

I used to listen to System of a Down daily. It was almost like a religious thing for me. Cut to a few years later, and I honestly can't stand them anymore. They write these ridiculous lyrics in an attempt to be really esoteric and subversive, but it's just total nonsense. Whatever meaningful message they're trying to convey is just lost in their inane gibberish.

On the other hand, when I was about 14-15 I hated any kind of metal with extreme vocals. Thought it sucked. Cut to me ten years later and while I certainly do enjoy clean vocals, I have discovered plenty of more extreme bands I love and listen to.

War Never Changes

Quinn mirrored Jake's sigh.
Dealing with the Blood Army was never pleasant, but every man dead was a deed well done. Still, they had only managed it because these men were sloppy and careless. And they'd had an angel looking after them.
Quinn muttered a quiet thanks to her, wherever she had ended up. She made good on her word and had protected them.
Still, there was little more time to waste. Darkness was encroaching fast, and Quinn could smell the faint odor of impending rain. It was just about the only bit of good fortune they had come across.
"Quick. Take whatever they have and hide the bodies. Rain is coming, should wash away the blood."
They would get through a night, of that Quinn was confident. Any longer than that and they'd be taking their chances.