Wednesday, July 20, 2011

PRIMAL FEAR

Genre(s): Speed/Power Metal

Lyrical theme(s): Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Metal

Origin: Germany

Formed in: 1997

All Over The World [2010]

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Under The Radar
Battalions Of Hate
Killbound
Nuclear Fire
Six Times Dead (16.6)
Angel In Black
Sign Of Fear
Fighting The Darkness*
Riding The Eagle
Final Embrace
Metal Is Forever
Hands Of Time
Seven Seals
Chainbreaker

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

(Documentary) Heavy : The Story Of Metal [2006]

Director: Michael John Warren

Reviews

This is a really good doco that suffers from the way Heavy Metal is defined and (re)interpreted. It does a good job of exploring the birth and pivotal moments of metal, such as the first No 1 album, rise of the power-ballad, PMRC hearings, etc. However, it loses a lot of it's objectivity as it tracks metal's push into mainstream music. While the bands under focus are worthy metal ambassadors, the bands that barely get more than a mention unjustly lose their place in the evolution of metal (and Megadeth deserves more than a one-sentence mention!!!).

The value of this doco to the viewer is directly influenced by how broadly the viewer defines metal. Bare in mind that what was metal then was defined by it's proximity to acts like Wham!, Prince and Madonna, and as such, what was metal then may not sound like it now. This doco also seems to gloss-over current metal trends (SOAD!) and end its examination at the early 90's (perhaps, again, because of exactly how metal is currently defined).

However, it is still a good watch, well presented and produced, with heaps of TOP METAL NAMES discussing the music. This doco is flawed, but most definitely a must-see for fans of any-or-all metal.

(Documentary) IRON MAIDEN : Flight 666 [2009]

Directors: Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen

A chronological account of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden's 2008 world tour through India, Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Mexico and South America in a jet piloted by the band's front man, Bruce Dickinson. Features interviews with the musicians, their road crew and fans.

Storyline

Come fly with Iron Maiden and enjoy the hospitality of Flight 666 as the boys' take on the biggest tour of their career, flying around the world in their own private Boeing 757. This insight into the background noise that is the logistical workings' of the '2008 Somewhere Back in Time' World Tour is captivating, both behind the scenes as well as on stage. Performing in front of sell out crowds, this "Rocumentary" is an insight into the minds, bodies and souls of the family that is Iron Maiden.

Reviews

On January 30th 2008, Maiden embarked on the first leg of their most adventurous tour: the "Somewhere Back in Time" tour. Their means of transportation was a Boeing 757, which carried the band, the fans, and the crew, as well as up to 12 tons of stage equipment. The pilot? Vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

Flight 666 is an incredible documentary that documents the first leg of this adventurous tour. Made by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, the geniuses behind two other awesome documentaries, "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" and "Global Metal", this film is a treat for all Maiden fans.

During the 112 minutes, we see the band travel from country to country, with some breathtaking shots of the plane flying, and some great footage of the band when they're NOT on stage too. We even get footage of the band on the plane, having fun as usual. They do such things as go golfing, visit the Mexican pyramids, and much more too. The band are their usual selves with their usual sense of humor, which is expected! Of course Nicko has his usual hilarity too! The concert footage is flat out amazing. Real up-close-and-personal footage, it gets my blood pumping every time I think of it. No overdubs in the audio as well, and the great audio quality is enough to make you feel like you're at the concert. Watching this movie made me think back to when I saw them on the second leg of the tour, and what a magical night it was too.

In short, this movie is a must see for all Maiden fans, and all fans of good music in general. It's a must-own too! I already watched it 3 times! But you know the deal, 3 times is never enough... not even 1000 times is enough!

(Documentary) Global Metal [2008]

Directors: Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen

In GLOBAL METAL, directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn set out to discover how the West's most maligned musical genre - heavy metal - has impacted the world's cultures beyond Europe and North America. The film follows metal fan and anthropologist Sam Dunn on a whirlwind journey through Asia, South America and the Middle East as he explores the underbelly of the world's emerging extreme music scenes; from Indonesian death metal to Chinese black metal to Iranian thrash metal. GLOBAL METAL reveals a worldwide community of metalheads who aren't just absorbing metal from the West - they're transforming it - creating a new form of cultural expression in societies dominated by conflict, corruption and mass-consumerism.

(Documentary) Metal: A Headbanger's Journey [2005]

Directors: Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen

Sam Dunn is a 30-year old anthropologist who wrote his graduate thesis on the plight of Guatemalan refugees. Recenly he has decided to study the plight of a different culture, one he has been a part of since he was a 12-year old: the culture of heavy metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why this music has been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned and yet is loved so passionately by its millions of fans. Along the way, Sam explores metals' obsession with some of life's most provacative subjects - sexuality, religion, violence and death - and discovers some things about the culture that even he can't defend. Shot on location in the UK, Germany, Norway, Canada and the US, this documentary is the first of its kind. It is both a defense of a long-misunderstood art form and a window for the outsider into the spectacle that is heavy metal.

When this documentary starts showing at the multiplexes, it will be the biggest exposure this musical genre would have gotten thus far, aside from a few ridiculous lawsuits that went public throughout the years. The concept itself that mainstream audiences will be learning of everything from Dio's unique opinions on things to Norwegian Black Metal is quite appalling. More importantly, hopefully this documentary will clear once and for all every false doubt and misconception that Metal has always portrayed to the misinformed.

A head banger's journey starts off by examining Metal's roots, the long debate in regards to who was the first Metal band ever. Then, we are taken through an analysis of how metal sub-genres came to exist. Dunn also gives his thoughts about Metal's culture, viewpoints, religious standpoints, the fans and every other aspect of metal. Some of the veterans of the scene as well as some insightful outsiders give their interesting opinions to support the argument at hand. The film balances the serious aspects of Metal with some unintentional humor. Personalities like Alice Cooper, Bruce Dickinson, Alex Webster, Slipknot, Ghaal, Dee Snider, Doro, Ihsahn and many others offer their own individual thoughts in an intellectual way while bands like Mayhem make a fool out of themselves during a drunken interview.

Dunn is a true metal head. It is his passion, yet he gives a critical and sometimes subjective opinion of the music at hand. The documentary is extremely entertaining and informative. It made me proud to be a metal head. It even made me give bands I'm not too fond of another chance. Bottom line is, if you're a Metal fan you'll enjoy this from beginning to end. If you're a curious outsider, here's your chance to understand our world better and get a more defined opinion of our music. And even if you don't, well to quote Dunn at the end: "We're doing just fine without you…"