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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Armageddon - Embrace The Mystery & Three + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Feb-19-2012 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2010 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 13 cd2: 13 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... n/a ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Armageddon Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Embrace The Mystery & Three Label : Century Media ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Re-released as 2CD ("Embrace The Mystery and ║ │
│║ Three") set with upgraded artwork, several bonus ║ │
│║ tracks and liner notes on November 16, 2009 in ║ │
│║ Europe and on January 26 in North America via ║ │
│║ Century Media Records. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ EMBRACE THE MYSTERY ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Creativity is a versatile beast, in which ║ │
│║ artists from many different fields can cross ║ │
│║ over to other fields to expand their horizons ║ │
│║ and provide insight into just how innovative the ║ │
│║ human mind can be. With so little to inhibit ║ │
│║ man's natural curiosity to grow and learn, in ║ │
│║ life, art and, indeed, Heavy Metal, there is ║ │
│║ nothing to stop albums like Armageddon's Embrace ║ │
│║ the Mystery from completely dominating one's ║ │
│║ listening habits. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Taking its cues from Angra, old Helloween and a ║ │
│║ myriad of melodic masters in between, Armageddon ║ │
│║ unleashed this masterwork on the world in the ║ │
│║ twilight of the new millennium, with Christopher ║ │
│║ Amott leading a pack of talented musicians on an ║ │
│║ unforgettable endeavour of metal mastery. ║ │
│║ Embrace the Mystery is an invigorated affair ║ │
│║ full of uplifting melodies and cacophonous ║ │
│║ riffing galore. Chris Amott's guitar playing is ║ │
│║ flashy, almost ornately so at some points on ║ │
│║ here, but he never forgets to write good hooks ║ │
│║ and memorable licks, which I think some people ║ │
│║ could really learn from. The guitar work on this ║ │
│║ album is simply magical, being both crunchy and ║ │
│║ emotive as hell. Even the drumming and bass ║ │
│║ playing are technical as hell, while still ║ │
│║ retaining enough melodic intricacy to stay Power ║ │
│║ Metallized. Vocal duties on here are handled by ║ │
│║ Rickard Bengtsson, who was also in Last Tribe ║ │
│║ when they were still active. He has a great ║ │
│║ voice, sounding right in between Bruce ║ │
│║ Dickinson's unstoppable charisma and Michael ║ │
│║ Kiske's light, fluffy wailing - sometimes he ║ │
│║ reminds me of Edu Falaschi from Angra, except ║ │
│║ Edu never sounded this good. He always sounds ║ │
│║ powerful and majestic, never losing an inch of ║ │
│║ his pristine metallic sneer. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The most interesting thing about this album as a ║ │
│║ whole is that it's a sort of retrospective look ║ │
│║ at the Power Metal genre from a musician who ║ │
│║ doesn't usually play the style. Embrace the ║ │
│║ Mystery is a refreshing twist on the genre, with ║ │
│║ lots of unexpected turns and honest surprises ║ │
│║ that sound completely natural, not forced at all ║ │
│║ - this is really a creative gold mine of ideas. ║ │
│║ Just listen to the title track, for example, ║ │
│║ with its jettisoning tempo and jarring verse- ║ │
│║ chorus melodies. Or perhaps "Worlds Apart," ║ │
│║ which contrasts a stirring and uplifting musical ║ │
│║ base and verse melody with perhaps the most ║ │
│║ tragic chorus on the album for one of its best ║ │
│║ overall songs. "Illusions Tale" has some of the ║ │
│║ most soul searing melody lines you'll ever hear, ║ │
│║ moving gracefully across a powerful, open ║ │
│║ soundscape that I just love. Or even just the ║ │
│║ straight ahead melodic riffing of "The Broken ║ │
│║ Spell" and "Blind Fury," which escape any kind ║ │
│║ of clichΘ at all with a heavy sense of dynamic ║ │
│║ and innovation to the writing, changing gears ║ │
│║ several times and remaining exciting. And that's ║ │
│║ not even mentioning the DragonForce-esque "Cry ║ │
│║ of Fate," with the most colorful and charging ║ │
│║ guitar lines yet, and the instrumental "Moongate ║ │
│║ Climber," which segues from heavy, jagged riffs ║ │
│║ to acoustic sections better than In Flames ever ║ │
│║ did. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ I am just completely floored by this. It's a ║ │
│║ thirty five minute album with a unique style, ║ │
│║ creative vision and musical accompaniment that ║ │
│║ many fifty or sixty minute ones donÆt have. ║ │
│║ There's really nothing else that sounds like ║ │
│║ Armageddon on this album, despite some arbitrary ║ │
│║ comparisons to the big bands of the Power Metal ║ │
│║ genre, and it is a shame that they haven't been ║ │
│║ putting out more material. Embrace the Mystery's ║ │
│║ title just about sums up the album as a whole, ║ │
│║ as this album is transcendent, beautiful, ║ │
│║ mysterious and soulful. It is a work of music ║ │
│║ that we just have to...well, embrace with open ║ │
│║ arms. It is a strange beast that people will ║ │
│║ interpret differently and have different ║ │
│║ favorite songs from. With a powerful stroke, ║ │
│║ Armageddon created a masterpiece in Earth- ║ │
│║ shaking Power Metal, and if you have a chance to ║ │
│║ hear it, I recommend doing so. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Christopher Amott Guitars ║ │
│║ Rickard Bengtsson Vocals ║ │
│║ Dick L÷vgren Bass ║ │
│║ Daniel Erlandsson Drums ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ THREE ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ From death metal he switches over to power metal ║ │
│║ and from there he ends up settling on heavy ║ │
│║ metal. Bengtsson isnÆt here to save the day and ║ │
│║ L÷vgren isnÆt around as backup, so he ought to ║ │
│║ have something else up his sleeve. Well, if the ║ │
│║ fact that Chris performs vocals on this album ║ │
│║ doesnÆt intrigue you enough, then you might as ║ │
│║ well go the extra mile and hear this one out. I ║ │
│║ kept thinking to myself how heÆd stack up; you ║ │
│║ know, the kid from Arch Enemy doing vocals in ║ │
│║ his own band!? If it was growling heÆd have an ║ │
│║ easier time since many listeners accept a broad ║ │
│║ range of harsh vocals, but if you donÆt nail the ║ │
│║ vocals down right in heavy / power metal then ║ │
│║ youÆre quite screwed. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As a result, the little recognition this album ║ │
│║ received all focused on the vocals, which I must ║ │
│║ say donÆt disappoint. AmottÆs vocals are ║ │
│║ something youÆd expect from, well, someone else. ║ │
│║ His voice is very clear and melodic, but itÆs ║ │
│║ hard picturing it coming from him. In some way, ║ │
│║ they sound a bit altered, which makes me a bit ║ │
│║ skeptical. Not saying heÆs flat-out lying, but ║ │
│║ after years of Arch Enemy, it just seems ║ │
│║ unlikely that heÆs performing the vocals. ║ │
│║ Anyway, the voice isnÆt high or cheesy, but very ║ │
│║ powerful, loud, and firm while sounding a bit ║ │
│║ boyish. The songs on here are straight up heavy ║ │
│║ metal tunes that center on the vocals to lead ║ │
│║ the crew to victory. They have this sing-a-long ║ │
│║ nature to them that you canÆt help but follow ║ │
│║ along with, be it in the car or in front of a ║ │
│║ city crowd. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Amott handles all the guitars once again, and ║ │
│║ the tone is stronger than the one found on the ║ │
│║ previous album. The tone also matches the ║ │
│║ clearer, more polished production style, but ║ │
│║ nothingÆs too glossy. The riffs are heavy while ║ │
│║ the bass support is deep, groovy, and grumpy. ║ │
│║ The leads take on the typical, harmoniously ║ │
│║ positive impression and the solos are the ║ │
│║ climaxes of the songs (ôWinter Skiesö being the ║ │
│║ best of the basic tracks). The formula may get ║ │
│║ tiring for some, like myself, but the diversity ║ │
│║ brought on by the vocals keep it lasting right ║ │
│║ up to the finish line. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Most of the songs are mid-paced or fast, and ║ │
│║ their simplicity doesnÆt give this album a whole ║ │
│║ lot of substance. In fact, itÆs so sapped of ║ │
│║ depth that the last album can be described as an ║ │
│║ ocean full of life while this one is like a ║ │
│║ puddle. However, the one song that nearly beats ║ │
│║ half of Embrace The Mystery is ôWell Of ║ │
│║ Sadness.ö As the longest song, it pretty much ║ │
│║ encompasses all the soul and resourcefulness one ║ │
│║ would hope for. The first half rides lightly as ║ │
│║ a somber, acoustic build-up with ChrisÆ most ║ │
│║ soulful performance on the album while the bass ║ │
│║ meanders along closely. Drums I especially love ║ │
│║ here because they sound very rich and juicy; ║ │
│║ Daniel takes his time with each hit of the kit, ║ │
│║ which doesnÆt have a single fault to it. The ║ │
│║ song finds itself heading into a more positive ║ │
│║ direction as the lead progresses in a jazzy ║ │
│║ fashion before erupting into the most remarkably ║ │
│║ moving solo on the album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ While not particularly original, the album still ║ │
│║ stands out amongst its Swedish peers for the ║ │
│║ vocals alone. With more basic song structures, ║ │
│║ powerful movements, and receptive vocals, Three ║ │
│║ manages to be another keeper. It isnÆt as ║ │
│║ profound as the first two, but that just means ║ │
│║ youÆll love it in a different way. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Christopher Amott Vocals, Guitars ║ │
│║ Daniel Erlandsson Drums ║ │
│║ Tobias Gustafsson Bass ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ DISCOGRAPHY ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Crossing the Rubicon Full-length 1997 ║ │
│║ Embrace the Mystery Full-length 2000 ║ │
│║ Three Full-length 2002 ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ - CD 1 - Embrace The Mystery [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Awakening [00:38] │
│ 02 - The Broken Spell [04:29] │
│ 03 - Blind Fury [04:07] │
│ 04 - Worlds Apart [03:06] │
│ 05 - Cry Of Fate [05:07] │
│ 06 - Illusions Tale [04:22] │
│ 07 - Moongate Climber [02:45] │
│ 08 - Embrace The Mystery [03:25] │
│ 09 - Sleep Of Innocence [03:51] │
│ 10 - Grain Of Sand [03:38] │
│ 11 - World Apart (Rehearsal) [03:03] │
│ 12 - The Broken Spell (Rehearsal) [03:42] │
│ 13 - Die With Your Boots On [05:33] │
│ - [ ] │
│ - CD 2 - Three [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Gathering Of The Storm [00:59] │
│ 02 - Burn The Sun [04:25] │
│ 03 - Stranglehold [04:39] │
│ 04 - Heart Of Ice [03:53] │
│ 05 - Well Of Sadness [06:04] │
│ 06 - Rainbow Serpent [04:38] │
│ 07 - Winter Skies [04:02] │
│ 08 - Final Destination [04:29] │
│ 09 - Spirit Kiss [02:17] │
│ 10 - The Contract [05:04] │
│ 11 - Winter Skies (Demo) [04:06] │
│ 12 - Sands Of Time (Demo) [05:46] │
│ 13 - Desecration Of Souls [04:21] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [102:2] min │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘