WSOU Picks of the Week: Dream Theater, Amon Amarth, Primal Fear, The Word Alive
Seton Hall University’s WSOU radio is the only all-metal, all-the-time station currently broadcasting in the US, and as been a force in metal for DECADES. It’s also streamable online from anywhere in the world! Each week, the staff of WSOU shares their picks for the heaviest of the heavy, as well as the station’s charts for that week, right here on MetalSucks. Enjoy:
Dream Theater – “The Gift of Music” (Rachel H.)
It’s hard to go wrong with a band like Dream Theater. With a band so complex and powerful, this song off their latest album The Astonishing makes you want to listen to the whole thing. The album follows a script and includes near-flawless transitions between songs and lyrical flow, telling a thrilling story in the process. “The Gift of Music” lays down the scene of the struggling North Empire, bringing in a musical present and kick-starting a revolution that continues through the remainder of the album. Definitely one of Dream Theater’s greatest works.
Amon Amarth – “First Kill” (Garren L.)
Amon Amarth’s new single, “First Kill,” has only been out for a short time but it’s quite clear that new album Jomsviking is picking up where Deceiver of the Gods left off. While some may criticize Amon Amarth for not evolving their sound, others may find the band’s endeavor to write a concept album quite alluring. “First Kill” shows off the great ability that Amon Amarth have to create a compelling narrative and to match it with a powerful melodic death metal edge. This song makes me eager to see how Amon Amarth will develop a narrative over the course of the Jomsviking album.
Primal Fear – “The End is Near” (Garren L.)
The music of the German metal band Primal Fear can only be summed up as “Teutonic thunder.” Following in the footsteps of bands such as Accept and Judas Priest, Primal Fear have a created a thundering metal track which harkens back fondly to the metal anthems of the 1980s. Listeners will find themselves singing along to this catchy metal tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLRjJQCqCeo
The Word Alive – “Trapped” (Nick D.)
This track picks up where The Word Alive left off with their last album and shows the band’s continuous pursuit to evolve and climb the metalcore ladder. It combines their heavier side with their melodic side with an extremely catchy chorus that will go over well with live crowds, and brutal parts that will definitely encourage some moshing. The track is one of their more atmospheric, and the beginning briefly sounds like something the Deftones would write. “Trapped” has been out for about a month but it still holds up and builds my anticipation for their new album Dark Matter, dropping mid-March.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o52BE2sBB4
