Stratovarius- Visions(1997)- Rock/Metal Album Rating(#19)

Finnish neoclassical power metal act Stratovarius makes its debut on my ranking list with one of its strongest releases, Visions,  a concept album based on the prophecies of Nostradamus. Here's how I rate the 10 tracks on this record: 

1. The Kiss of Judas- 9.5(fantastic)- an amazing opener with outstanding guitar solos and a catchy chorus as well.

2. Black Diamond- 10(stellar)- probably their biggest hit; the guitar and keyboard work together perfectly to create an extraordinary neoclassical sound, while the vocal delivery and the chorus are mind-blowing.

3. Forever Free- 9(great)- a speedy, more typical power metal track that kees the energy at high levels.

4. Before the Winter- 8.5(very good)- the first ballad, a moody and atmospheric tune with a great chorus as well.

5. Legions- 9(great)- another upbeat,  fast power metal tune destined to keep the spirits high.

6. The Abyss of Your Eyes- 8(solid)- a slower, but nevertheless heavy tune, bringing more diversity to the record.

7. Holy Light- 8(solid)- an instrumental track allowing the musicians to show off their remarkable abilities.

8. Paradise- 10(stellar)- another dynamic tune with great lyrics and an insanely catchy chorus that will stick to your mind for quite a while after hearing the song.

9. Coming Home- 9(great)- the second ballad, a beautiful song which adds more atmosphere and melancholy to an album already filled with emotion.

10. Visions(Southern Cross)- 10(stellar)- an epic track with multiple facets, taking the listener on a 10-minute ride full of variety: from typical, fast power metal sections and another fabulous chorus to slower and more progressive parts, this song has all the ingredients to keep you engaged until the end.

ALBUM RATING: 9.10

TOP 3 SONGS:

1. Black Diamond

2. Visions(Southern Cross)

3. Paradise

Final Thoughts

An epic, sometimes melancholic, but also empowering and upbeat record, Visions deserves to be ranked high in a chart of the greatest power metal albums of all time. It is part of a streak of albums, from 1996 to 2000, which showed Stratovarius at the peak of their creativity, so I will definitely explore their other works from that golden age as well. 

Stronghold

                  

            

      Ancient house of wisdom

      Built with tears and sweat

      Gone's your glory hour

      But you stand strong yet.

      Rulers came to your gate

      Keen to kill and plunder

      Greed has sealed their fate

      They were struck by thunder!

      Many tried to tear your down

      But they failed and you're still well

      Like a jewel of the crown

      Full of great stories to tell!

   

Time(with Graphic Representation)

Dreamer- My Lyrics, AI pictures

Black Sabbath- Master of Reality-Rock/Metal Album Rating(#18)

I'm back after quite a while to rating rock/metal albums with the 3rd creation  from Black Sabbath's classical Ozzy era, but with a new approach. I'm going to rate each track in chronologocal order, see which tracks are in my top 3 and give the album my final rating, so here we are:

1. Sweet Leaf- 9.5(fantastic)- an outstanding opener; Tony Iommi coughing at the beginning of the song perfectly illustrates the source of inspiration for this remarkable track.

2. After Forever- 9(great)- a fast-paced song dealing with religion, it makes you think about some serious topics.

3. Embryo- not rated- Just a short instrumental which could be seen as an intro to the next tune.

4. Children of the Grave- 10(stellar)- one of the greatest anti-war heavy metal songs and a strong contender for my favourite Black Sabbath songs thanks to its powerful riff and chilling lyrics dealing with the ever present threat of a nuclear disaster. Simly brilliant!

5. Orchid- 8(solid)- the second instrumental of the album positioned between two great tracks gives the listener a short break before returning to heaviness.

6. Lord of This World- 9.5 - more fabulous riffs and exceptional lyrics expressed by Ozzy's unique voice. An amazing tune as well.

7. Solitude- 8(solid)- time for some melancholy with a beautiful ballad dealing with the unpleasant feelings of being alone after breaking up. 

8. Into the Void- 10- what a banger to close the album with! An outstanding doomy track with menacing riffs and once again excellent lyrics full of dread when referring to the end of the world, but also of hope, represented by the "freedom fighters" who manage to leave the Earth and head "into the void", where they will find a new planet to land on and start a new civilization. It's a scenario that is very likely to become reality one day!

Album Rating: 9.14

My Top 3 Tracks:

1. Children of the Grave

2. Into the Void

3. Sweet Leaf

Master of Reality, the 3rd album from the pioneers of heavy metal, could only get a high rating from me as it shows a young band at the peak of its creativity, a trend that would last for a few more years and bring us more great albums in the 70s! 

The Building of Illusions

           

       

   I'm standing lonely in the square

   A gentle breeze flows in the air

   The winter light shines on my face

   As I explore this special place.

   Behind me lies a building wide

   Where time and echoes seem to hide

   A mighty structure, stern and deep

   With lots of memories to keep.

   Within this palace and its walls

   The lust for rule and power calls

   And countless dramas still unfold

   Whose dark tales will one day be told.

   Temptation, greed, and lure of glory

   Are ingrained in this building's story

   Where people fight to reach great goals

   But many lose their hearts and souls!

Post Apocalyptic World

      Welcome to the land of snow

      To the white and freezing show

       Where  the good is lost and gone

       And the dark obscures the sun.

      Welcome to the world of sorrow

      Where there's no better tomorrow

      And no children left to laugh

      And each day is sad and tough.

     That will be the future world

     Full of grief, fear and cold

     If we let people in power

     Do as they wish every hour!

    We must not allow those fools

    To spread and enforce their rules

    And believe their web of lies

    If we do, then all hope dies!

The End of Summer

        

               

The end of summer days is near

The grass still green, the sky still clear

But soon the leaves will start to fall

And dark times will come for us all. 

There will be clouds, thunder and rain

Spreaders of sadness, gloom and pain

Yet not even the pitch black night

Can take our souls away from light!

Space Trip

                   

           

      Let's go on a lengthy trip

      Out of this world on a ship

      Far beyond the reach of man

      To fulfill our daring plan.

     Let us leave the Earth behind

     On a quest for peace of mind

     And fly towards the unknown

     Where no signs of life are shown.

     Let us be the ones to land

     On the first planet at hand

     Under clear and reddish skies

     Free of the terrestrial ties.

     We might stay there for a while

     Moving on with ease and smile

     Flat soil and rocks all around

    Till we climb on higher ground.

    Time will come for us to leave

     So much left there to achieve

     But don't worry, we'll return

     To discover, search and learn!

     

Wishes

                     

     Wish I had the wisdom

     To make each day great

     Wish I found the freedom

     To control my fate.

    Wish there were more sunlight

    On my dusty, narrow trail

    Wish I fel no pain nor fright

    Wish I had no way to fail!

    Wish I had some wings to fly

    Over fields, forests and hills

    Be the watcher from the sky

    And enjoy a life of thrills!

   

Sunshine in my Soul

           

         

    Sunshine, come and light my way

    Stay with me throughout the day

    Be my close friend and my guide

    On this wild and arduous ride.

    Even when the times get tough

    And I feel I've had enough

    You will still be there for me

    From darkness to set me free.

    Sunshine, beacon on my trail

    On harsh waters help me sail

    Always be within my sight

   Make my life joyful and bright!

  

Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind(1983)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking(#17)

British heavy metal titans Iron Maiden return to my ranking/rating series with their fourth studio album, Piece of Mind, so here comes my ranking, as usual, starting with my least favourite song and finishing with the one I love the most: 

9. Quest for Fire- 7(OK)

8. Sun and Steel- 7.5(Good)

7. Die with Your Boots on- 8.5(Very Good)

6. To Tame a Land- 9(Great)

5. Still Life- 9

4. Flight Of Icarus- 9.5(Fantastic)

3. Revelations- 9.5

2. Where Eagles Dare- 10(Stellar)

1. The Trooper- 10

 

 AVERAGE RATING- 8.88

There is no surprise regarding the winner- The Trooper is an absolute classic, a flawless track that doesn't need a chorus to active greatness- its galopant rhythm takes my mind on a journey to the battlefield, as this is just one of the history-inspired tunes Maiden have delivered throughout their long, spectacular career.

The second 10 for me, Where Eagles Dare, opens the album in a highly dynamic, energetic manner- a superb heavy metal tunes that doesn't drag for a single second of its six brlliant minutes.

The 3rd and 4th placed songs, Revelations and Flight Of Icarus, are also excelent. catchy, mesmerizing tunes; they slow down the pace a little, especially Revelations, a song which, just like The Trooper, shows that Iron Maiden are capable of creating mind-blowing songs even without a chorus. More greatness is achieved in the tracks ranked from 5 to 7 in my preference list, but there are also two less amazing tracks, which are not bad by any means, they're not just as exciting as the others, at least in my opinion.    Sun and Steel and Quest for Fire are tracks that I would never skip when listening to Piece of Mind, as they both have their strong moments.

With a respectabile average of 8.88, Piece of Mind has managed to beat the only Maiden I have ranked before, The Number of the Beast. which had an average rating of 8.62, but there are still plenty of outstanding Maiden albums that I have to rank, in the 80s as well as starting with the year 2000, when Bruce Dickinson returned to the band, but I'm quite sure that, after I finish ranking those albums, Piece of Mind will occupy a high position in my ranking of Iron Maiden records. I will always have a high regard for Piece of Mind, a remarkable album from a legendary heavy metal band!

 

Pantera neagră în vizită la Onești

 

16. Def Leppard- Pyromania(1983)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking

British hard/glam rockers Def Leppard are the newcomers on my album track ranking/rating serirs with the hugely successful Pyromania, so here is how I rank and rate the tracks from this record:

10. Action! Not Words- 8(Solid)

   9. Stagefright- 8

   8. Die Hard the Hunter- 8.5(Very Good)

   7.Billy's Got a Gun- 8.5

   6. Rock of Ages- 8.5

   5.  Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)- 9(Great)

   4. Too Late for Love- 9.5(Fantastic)

   3. Comin' Under Fire- 9.5

   2. Photograph- 9.5

   1. Foolin'- 9.5

    AVERAGE RATING: 8.95

A fierce battle was fought for the title of my favourite Pyromania track. Eventually, Foolin', an enthralling tune alternative slower parts in the verses with an intense and ecxeptional chorus, took the winning slot. Photograph, one of the English band's biggest hits, took the second spot. Even if I can include it in the category of tracks I have heard way too often, I can't deny its catchiness and appeal to the masses. It's an outstanding pop metal tune which exemplifica Def Leppard's shift from the hard'n'heavy sound of their first two albums to a more commercial approach that proved to be the recipe of big success for Def Leppard în the 80s.

Comin' Under Fire, a deep cut and one of the heavier tunes on Pyromania, takes the 3rd place ahead of the part ballad, part heavy track Too Late for Love, both of them being awesome tracks, which could climb to even higher positions if my preferences slightly changed one day. Rock of Ages, another massive hit from Pyromania, doesn't fascinate me as much as the songs from my Top 4, but I still appreciate its excelent chorus, so it's an enjoyable track too. In fact, there is no skippable material on this great album, as the other tracks also contain hooks and parts that are guaranteed to keepthe listeners engaged.

With an avergae of 8.95, Pyromania is a strong contender for the title of my preferred Def Leppard album, but it has some strong competition in the other album released by the band from Sheffield in the 80s, and I will analyze th as well to see who the winner is. Until then, I will close this post by saying yhat Pyromania is one of the catchiest hard/glam rock albums I can think of, and its huge success in the charts back in the 80s was fully deserved!

15. Ozzy Osbourne- Diary of a Madman(1981)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking

Ozzy Osbourne makes his second appearance in my series as a solo artist, and his fourth overall considering the two Black Sabbath albums I have ranked so far, with Diary of a Madman,  so here comes my usual ranking/rating, followed by more comments and thoughts:

8. Little Dolls- 8(Solid)

7.Believer- 8.5(Very Good)

6. Flying High Again- 9(Great)

5. S.A.T.O.- 9

4. Tonight- 9.5(Fantastic)

3. You Can't Kill Rock'n'Roll- 9.5

2. Over the Mountain- 10(Stellar)

1. Diary of a Madman- 10

ALBUM RATING: 9.18

Ozzy's sophomore solo album includes a series of outstabding tunes, and at the top of everything lies the title track, an ambițios, epic masterpiece with progressive elements, and a highly emotional middle section which sends shivers down my spine every time I hear the song, it's a beautiful piece of music which illustrates the inner turmoil of the protagonist, "the madman", no other than Ozzy himself.

The second perfect song for me on this amazing record, Over the Mountain, opns the album in full strength with a great drum intro and an awesome guitar riff. It's brilliant, catchy, dynamic and it includes an exceptional guitar solo from Rhandy Rhoades- it really makes you feel like flying high over a big mountain!

For the 3rd and 4th place I picked two slower, but also memorable tunes- You Can't Kill Rock'n'Roll and Tonight- which convey a lot of emotion and have remarkable choruses, which stick to my mind for quite a while after hearing them. 

Unlike Ozzy's debut solo album, which contains a track I'm not particularly fond of(read my ranking of Blizzard of Ozz and you will find out which one), here I enjoy every single track, so its high rating of 9.18 isn't surprising at all, placing it clearly above Ozzy's debut, which got a rating of 8.87, and allowing it ți make its way into my top 5 of the 15 records ranked so far. The high raking of Diary of a Madman is an obvious testimony of the brilliance of Ozzy's early solo work as it certified his return to the big league of hard rock/heavy metal giants, and he îs destined to remain there forever!

14. Sepultura- Chaos A.D.(1993)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking

It's time for Brazilian metal giants Sepultura to make their debut in my ranking series. My first choice from them was Chaos A.D., the album which marked a shift in sound from thrash/death to more groove-oriented metal, so here is.my track ranking/rating of this groundbreaking record: 

12. Kaiowas- 8(Solid)

11. Clenched Fist- 8.5(Very Good)

10. Amen- 8.5

  9. We Who Are Not as Others- 8.5

  8. Biotech is Godzilla- 8.5

  7. Manifest- 9(Great)

  6. Nomad- 9

  5. The Hunt- 9.5(Fantastic)

  4. Propaganda- 9.5

  3. Slave New World- 9.5

  2. Refuse/Resist- 10(Stellar)

  1. Territory- 10

  OVERALL RATING: 9.04

  The two tracks which open the album, Refuse/Resist and Territory, are also the strongest in my opinion, so I give them both a perfect 10. As in other cases, making up my mind on the winner was a really tough task, as they are both equally brilliant. Eventually I picked Territory as Number One because I find its slower, groovy rhythm, simple but remarkable chorus, and mind-blowing solo truly irresistible. Of course, Refuse/Resist is also an outstanding track, with an equally simple, yet effective chorus, full of attitude and rebellion against tyrannical authority, highly recommended to listen to whenever you feel the need to hear something truly empowering, so I can always change my mind and put în the first place.

This streak of amazing, empowering tunes continues with the third song, which is also my 3rd ranked track on the record, Slave New World, another harsh criticism of a society which often fails to respect a personal right to free speech and thought; the absolute highlight of the song is for me the line"We're not slaves, we're free", which în a few words perfectly embodies the spirit of metal.

The rest of the album continues to impress mostly with mid-tempo, groovy and undeniably catchy tracks, wirh the exception of the super fast and angry Biotech is Godzilla, which breaks this pattern. The all have plenty of harsh criticism of the wrongdoings of Brazilian society and the world în general, as Max Cavalera&Co. had plenty of sources of inspiration in all the bad things which made people's lives miserable. 

With an average of 9.04, Chaos A.D. is currently în the top half of the albums analyzed so far, so it's interesting to see whether it can beat the score of the previous couple of Sepultura albums which I'm going to rank and rate as well. Chaos A.D. is definitely an album worth listening to again and again, and one of the most important creations of Sepultura's illustrious career!

On The Path of Glory

 

               ON THE PATH OF GLORY

             by Sebastian Onciu 

     We're marching on the path of glory

     Creating our own fabulous story

     We are the chosen freedom fighters

     Inspiring bards, painters, and writers.

     Hot blood is boiling in our veins

     As we move on through woods amd plains

     Prepared to fight for our nation

     And bring back hope, joy, and salvation.

    We're warriors with hearts of steel

    Making our enemies' nightmares so real

    That whole armies tremble with fear

     When they see our soldiers appear.

     Invaders tried to take our fatherland

     A quick, short war is what they planned

     They thought that they would win with ease

     Now they're all down on their knees!

    The battle's over, the threat's gone

    And peace is back under the sun

    We will return to our ways

    To normal lives and happy days.

    The path of glory is complete

    The taste of victory still sweet

     We're restless, proud, forever free

     We'll never bow, we'll never flee!

13. Metallica- Ride the Lightning(1984)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking Series

The almighty Metallica is the second band(after Black Sabbath) to be featured for the second time in my ranking series with- you guessed- its second album, Ride the Lightning, so here is how I rate and rank the tracks from this legendary record:

8. Escape- 7.5(Good)

7. Trapped under Ice- 8(Solid)

6. The Call of Ktulu- 8.5(Very Good)

5. Fade to Black- 9.5(Fantastic)

4. For Whom the Bell Tolls- 9.5

3. Ride the Lightning- 9.5

2. Fight Fire with Fire- 10(Stellar)

1. Creeping Death- 10

OVERALL RATING: 9.06

Once again, the difference between the top 5 tracks on this super album is extremely small for me, but it appears that Creeping Death has wom the battle for my favourite track not only from Ride the Lightning, but- spoiler alert- from the entire Metallica catalogue. How could I not adore such a monstruos track with incredible riffs, a great bridge, fabulous guitar solos and deep biblically-related lyrics? This track has it all, so at least for the time being it has no challenger for the position of greatest Metallica track!

The positions from 2 to 5 have constantly switched throughout the years. Fight Fire with Fire currently occupies the honourable second place thanks to its sheer ferocity and breakneck speed, it's definitely the heaviest song on an already really heavy record! 

The title track takes the bronze medal, followed closely by the hits For Whom the Bell Tolls and Fade to Black. There's so much greatness în. these tunes that I feel tempted to rank'em all in 3rd place, but there has to be a separation, and the fact is enjoy Ride the Lightning slightly more than the other two tracks due to its Foster tempo, remarkable chorus and the fantastic guitar parts from the second half of the song.

As for the other 3 songs, I can briefly say that The Call of Ktulu is a cool instrumental, Trapped under Ice a solid, fast-paced thrasher, and Escape is a pretty good track as well, so obviously there are no skippable moments on Ride the Lightning.

So, is RTL my favourite Metallica record? Its overall rating of 9.06 place it incredibly close ahead of Kill'em All, which has 9.05, so basically they are equal for me, but there are a still a couple of top notch albums to be ranked in the nearby future(it's easy to guess which ones)  so after rating and ranking them as well I will have a clear picture of my favourite Metallica records.

To sum it all up, Ride the Lightning is a superb album, showing the prowess of a young band destined to conquer the world, a record I will never ever stop listening to with immense pleasure!

12. Nirvana- Nevermind(1991)- Rock/Metal Album Track Ranking Series

My rock/metal album track exploration series continues with my first foray into grunge rock, and I could start with the album which marked a turning point in the world of mainstream rock in the early 90s, Nirvana's Nevermind, so here is my track rating and rating of this famous album:

13. Endless, Nameless- 6(Mediocre)

12. Lounge Act- 7(OK)

11. Stay Away- 7.5(Good)

10. Territorial Pissings- 8(Solid)

   9. On a Plain- 8.5(Very Good)

   8. Polly- 8.5

   7. In Bloom- 8.5

   6. Lithium- 9(Great)

   5. Breed- 9

   4. Something in the Way- 9.5(Fantastic)

   3. Drain You- 9.5

   2. Smells Like Teen Spirit; - 10(Stellar)

   1. Come As You Are- 10

    

     OVERALL RATING: 8.53

 Two songs are in my selected list of  tunes who get my higher mark- 10. The burnout factor still doesn't apply to me in the case of  my second place, the famous Smells Like Teen Spirit; its iconic riff, rebelious attitude, almost chaotic lyrics and outstanding vocal performance from Kurt Cobain still keep me enthralled almost every time I hear this track, but I enjoy my number one track, the almost equally renowned Come As You Are just a little more, as I find its haunting riff, more atmospheric vibe and substantial lyrics even more captivați. Anyway, both are extraordinary tracks that în my opinion represent the pinnacle of Nirvana's short, but unforgettable career.

The rest of the album is also full of quality material, consisting mostly of harder, edgy, dynamic tracks full of hooks and accesibile verses and choruses, but also of beautiful ballads like Something in the Way and Polly, which illustrate Kurt Cobain's introspective side and inner turmoil. Out of these tunes I picked Drain You as my 3rd favourite from the album as I enjoy its melody, verse and catchy chorus to a greater extent than more popular songs like Lithium and In Bloom, but the fact is that there only one song I don't find interesting, the last one on the album; the others I either like(numbers12 to 7)or love(numbers 6 to 3).

To sum it all up, Nirvana's Nevermind is a remarkable album which heralded the beginning of a new era in the history of rock, as it conquered the world at the speed of light and it established the dominant position of grunge in the first half of the nineties. Sadly, Kurt Cobain decide to leave us way too early. Had he chosen to live, maybe Nirvana would also have had a long and prolific career and grunge wouldn't have faded away as fast as it did. Anyway, even with such a short career, Nirvana's influence on modern rock is huge and Nevermind can be seen as a classical rock album.

Dry Fountain

                  

  Fountain full of wisdom

  Once great source of water

  You have lost your freedom

  As the times got hotter.

 People came by your side

 Eager to quench their thirst

 Now you're just empty and dried

 As by an evil force cursed.

 There were great days of glory

 When seeing you was so fun

 Then came the end of your story

 Those days are over and gone!

 Yet, there's still water so clear

 And more wells deep and long

 On this vast magical sphere

 To which we all belong!