Mayan temples, voodoo rituals, redcoats, monsters, a Boeing 747 piloted by a vocalist and a bassist trying to shoot the audience with his bass guitar. Yep, Iron Maiden‘s back in town, and we were there. Because of course we were.
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Author Archives: Ralph Plug
[Live review] – Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Ziggo Dome
If you’d told people three years ago that Jeff Lynne and Electric Light Orchestra would return to the stage, you’d probably be scoffed at, and rightly so. Sometimes, though, Strange Magic happens (ha!), and ELO is touring throughout 2016. Sounds from the Dark Side attended the gig in Amsterdam. Continue reading
Avantasia – Ghostlights
Sometimes I get the feeling that Tobias Sammet just doesn’t care much for Edguy anymore. Whilst the last few albums were okay at best, he seems to save his best material for Avantasia these days. And again, Edguy’s last album pales to 2016’s Ghostlights. Continue reading
Funeral Whore – Phantasm
Funeral Whore is a Dutch death metal band, releasing its second album after several line-up changes and a four year break. But was it worth the long wait? Continue reading
Rotting Christ – Rituals
A neat three years after Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, Rotting Christ return to the fray with a new collection of not-really-black-metal-anymore. It’s a collection of ten great songs, but it’s not for everyone. Continue reading
[Live Review] Ennio Morricone – 60 Years of Music – Ziggo Dome Amsterdam
Everybody and their aunts know the theme to The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Sergio Leone’s seminal spaghetti western masterpiece. It’s also the main draw for most of the people attending Ennio Morricone’s 60 Years of Music tour, as becomes apparent on Sunday night in Ziggo Dome. But there was more, much more to enjoy. Continue reading
Rhapsody of Fire – Into the Legend
Since Italian cheese metal mongers Rhapsody (with or without Fire) split up into two Rhapsody’s (one with, one without Fire), we’re getting a whole lotta Rhapsody on our plates. After Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody (sans Fire) last year, now it’s the semi-original Rhapsody of Fire’s turn with Into the Legend. Continue reading
David Bowie – Blackstar
Who would have thought Blackstar would turn out to be David Bowie’s final album? As it turns out, not many, other than Bowie himself. Here, we take a long, hard look at the man’s parting gift to the world. Continue reading
Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
If you would have told me that one of my favourite albums of the year would be a power metal album by what’s essentially a joke band, I would have scoffed at you. As it stands, however, Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards is just that: one of the best power metal albums of the year. And yes, I know I’m late to the party. Continue reading
Ulysses – #eMotion
For all Ulysses does right on #eMotion (and they do a lot of things very right indeed), they do start out with what might be the most annoying opening riff I have heard in a very long time. It’s almost annoying enough to turn the album off and do something else. Almost. Because if you did, you’d miss out on an hour of extremely good progressive metal.
soundsfromthedarkside 