Aki's Blog

Lots of bands have already announced albums to be released in 2009. Oh my god, I’m having a musical stroke…

Dream Theater's latest album - a special edition of Systematic Chaos.

Sometime in the spring (I’ll see them live on Sweden Rock Festival in the beginning of June as their first gig for the upcoming tour), progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater will release their so far untitled tenth studio album described by the band as:

[...] a DT album with A Change Of Seasons, Octavarium, Learning To Live, Pull Me Under and The Glass Prison….all on one album.

Today it was revealed that one of my all time favorite bands, Finnish symphonic power metal giants Nightwish will release a live DVD/CD entitled “Made in Hong Kong (and Various Other Places)“, as a result of their Dark Passion Play Tour.

On the doom metal front, British My Dying Bride will release their tenth studio album “For Lies I Sire” on an untold date in 2009. Track listing is already revealed! After still rolling as heavily on their 2006 release “A Line of Deathless Kings“, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

Again some Nightwish news: They have reported they’ll soon draw back to record their seventh studio album, and they have also said both Tuomas and Marco have several finished songs. Probably to be released in either late 2009 or early 2010!

For later years: Dutch symphonic rock / metal band Within Temptation has announced their next album to be released in 2010, and American power metal Kamelot are planning their tenth album in 2011!

 In 1982, Monty Python filmed a concert performed at the Hollywood Bowl, a concert with a perfect mix of their most famous sketches as well as new material written especially for the concert.It’s  a show with some of my absolute favorite sketches, including the Lumberjack Song, the Ministry of Silly Walks and Nudge Nudge, and some great new ones as well, for example the Crunchy Frog sketch, How Sweet to Be an Idiot and Comedy Lecture.The only thing avoiding it to receive 10 stars instead of eight is the non-includance of the Dirty Fork sketch and that it’s so damn short, 01:17 h.

 ********eight stars

Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish has reported their forthcoming release of a photojournal by Ville Akseli Juurikkala (photographer of bands such as HIM, Apocalyptica and The 69 Eyes), with photos from their 2007 – 2008 Dark Passion Play Tour, entitled Dark Passion Gallery. Gah, a wasteless thing, sure, but I still NEED it. €25. Cannot… afford…

After barely listening to one of my top favorite bands ever, Finnish power metal Sonata Arctica, for almost half a year, I’ve fallen back again – ofcourse resulting in listening to them almost exclusively. Especially their latest album Unia (2007) has caught my attention, and it all started as I heard the bonus track “Out in the Fields” (Gary Moore cover) for the first time, a few days ago. Unia is also one of those albums you really don’t get the first time, but after a few listens… it’s great. Caleb is still my favorite song on the album, and one of their best songs together as well.And the fact that I’ve fallen back into Sonata Arctica is great for the fact that I’m seeing them live on November 1st as well! 

Things are getting more and more certain that I’ll see Finnish progressive power metal act Sonata Arctica live at the 31:st of October this year, in Huskvarna, Sweden. I’ve never seen them live before, but I know people who have and they’re supposed to be a great live band. Wish me luck.

Sandra just sent me Nightwish’ unofficial Tavastia bootleg, a twenty song live recording from September 26, 2007 – their second concert with Anette. A great set of songs, great sound and all! It also featured how the band was given the Platinum Awards for their Dark Passion Play album. It’s great to hear Anette sing the old songs. Tarja rule her on for example Nemo, Wishmaster and Dark Chest of Wonders (well, most of the songs to be honest, but what to expect?), but I really like her versions of for example Ever Dream, Sacrament of Wilderness and She is My Sin.

Track list:

1. Intro – Ressurection
2. Bye Bye Beautiful
3. Cadence of Her Last Breath
4. Dark Chest of Wonders
5. Ever Dream
6. Come Cover Me
7. Amaranth
8. Sacrament of Wilderness
9. The Islander
10. The Poet and the Pendulum
11. She is My Sin
12. Sahara
13. Sleeping Sun
14. Slaying the Dreamer
15. Nemo
16. Platinum Awards for Dark Passion Play
17. Eva
18. Wishmaster
19. Wish I Had an Angel
20. Outro