Michal Jelonek: Violin Oriented Rock Music from Poland

Friday, February 03, 2012 in Classical Music, Heavy Metal, Polish Music, Rock, Violin

I really like classical music oriented rock music. Yesterday I wrote about Anna Phoebe who performs rock with her violin. Today, I would like to write about the other violin hero Jelonek. Michal Jelonek is a Polish musician and composer who perform rock music with classical music elements. If you like Anna Phoebe, you will like him too. It is really nice to hear classical melodies with heavy guitar riffs. Anna combines rock music with eastern melodies; he combines rock music with classical music. Both musicians are my favorites in this genre that I suggest them extremely. Michal Jelonek is a reputed musician and composer in Poland that he has been featured on over 30 albums from Polish musicians and groups. His contribution of those albums ranging from rock to classical music, folk, pop, heavy metal and world music.

This video has been placed here upon permission of Michal Jelonek. Visit his website for more materials.

Michal Jelonek worked with many musicians in various genres that he played over 1600 concerts in many countries like Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and some Middle and Eastern Europe countries. He also makes music for advertisements and movies. He released two albums in 2007 and 2001. I really appreciate the progressive line in his music that progressive elements make his music unique and original. He plays with nine musicians in his albums that instrumental variety is very good. He also has a metal band named in Hunter.

Let us see Michal Jelonek’s discography and some of my suggestions. If you check his website, you could see his collaborations with the other musicians. I will only write about his solo albums.

• Jelonek (2007) is the self titled debut album that it is baroque influenced album. This album is my favorite that guitar sound was adjusted very well. BaRock, B-East, Vendome 1212, A Funeral of a Provincial Vampire, War In The Kids Room, Mosquito Flight, and Pizzicato-Asceticism are my favorite songs. I could say the album is a masterpiece. You will enjoy hearing every song in the album. Do not hesitate to buy this album, if you want to hear baroque melodies with hot guitar riffs. You also could hear some melodies from Vivaldi!
• Revenge (2011) is the last album of Michal Jelonek. Although this album contains more heavy metal elements, he still keeps progressive line. Cockroaches Empire, Owl's Pathetic Song, Romantic Revenge, Sabre Dance, Schizo Ferret, Cementary Woodpeacker Promised Kadish, and Lord Mantis Dilemma. I also suggest the album extremely.

 

Michal Jelonek is a talented violinist and composer that both Jelonek and Revenge albums satisfy your expectations from violin oriented rock music. If you are a rock fan, if you like violin performers do not lose him. You could visit Michal Jelonek’s website to listen and buy his albums. You also could find video clips and more information about Jelonek and his band Hunter. He also has a live DVD named in Przystanek Woodstock 2010. I also suggest the DVD to watch his perfect live performance.

http://www.jelonek.art.pl/en

Bye for now!

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Diablo Swing Orchestra: Avant-garde Metal with Jazz Elements

Monday, January 16, 2012 in Diablo Swing Orchestra, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Rock, Sweden

Diablo Swing Orchestra is very interesting Avant-garde Metal group from Sweden. I like northern metal groups. They know how to make music with using Nordic elements. Therion is my favorite group from Sweden that you could find an article about them, if you click here. Diablo Swing Orchestra is very interesting group that makes you hear jazz, swing, gypsy music, blues, flamenco, classical music, and opera elements with hard guitar riffs. I could say, it is a metal opera and cabaret. If you like to hear funny music combined with many styles, press play button on the player was given below. Their first album The Butcher’s Ballroom is distributed in Creative Common License. You also could download the album from the link on the player. Please read about copyright issues at the bottom of the post.

Royalty Free Music - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO

The origin of the name of the group comes from an urban legend form 16^th century. The group performed musical work against to the church. They also performed music in secret ways because of the church’s imposition. Finally, they killed by the church. Although there are many groups combine symphonic items with different styles, Diablo Swing Orchestra should be distinguished from the others. Diversity and variety with funny songs in their music cheer up listeners. The sound of the group magnetizes listeners who do not listen to rock and related styles.

Diablo Swing Orchestra formed in 2003 with an EP named in Borderline Hymns. In 2006, they released their debut album. The Butcher’s Ballroom is very good album for a debut. It made me to listen to an album from a group performs many years. You could listen to the album from the player above. Ballrog Boogie, Heroines, Wedding March for a Bullet, and Pink Noise Waltz are my favorite songs. Download the free album to be fascinated. In 2009, Sing Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious album was released. The album is as successful as the first album. They raise the bar continuously that their progressive sound gets better day by day. A Tap Dancer's Dilemma, Siberian Love Affairs, Vodka Inferno, A Rancid Romance and Stratosphere Serenade are my favorite songs. Their live performance is also very good. The second album also released as a DVD.

Diablo Swing Orchestra is working on their new album will be released in the first quarter of 2012. I am waiting for Pandora's Pinata album impatiently. I believe that you will enjoy hearing the band’s music. Spectacular musicianship, diversity of music, combination with jazz and classical music elements, operatic vocals will fascinate you. Meet with their unique music and performance.

You could also visit their website.

http://www.diabloswing.com/

Bye for now!

Special Note: The album given above created with Creative Commons License and some rights reserved. You could copy, distribute, advertise and play this album as long as you:

• 
  Give credit to the artist

• 
  Don't use this album for commercial purposes

• 
  Don't alter, transform or build upon this album

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Therion: Classical Music and Opera in Gothic Metal

Thursday, January 05, 2012 in Classical Music, Gothic Music, Heavy Metal, Opera, Rock, Sweden, Therion

Therion! It is a gothic metal band from Sweden. Maybe some of readers will close the page, after hearing heavy metal. If you think in this way, reconsider your decision. Otherwise, you will lose one of the best classical music with rock album. Several days ago I sent a post about Danney Alkana who performs classical music by electric guitar. If you want to know him, you could click here to read. His virtuosity will impress you. Anyway, it was fashionable that record an album with classical music orchestra. We listened to classical music in different form, styles and albums. In this article, I will give short information about Therion, and I will introduce one of the best classical music with rock and heavy metal album the Miskolc Experience. I believe that you will enjoy with Therion and their melodic songs.

 

All the permissions were taken from Therion’s recording company Nuclear Blast Europe to issue this video.

Therion is a Sweden based gothic metal band. It is well known and high reputed band in gothic music world. Classical music elements, well arranged chorus, and rock music elements with gothic line make their music impressive. There are many gothic and melodic metal bands, but Therion is one of the best. Therion have a song named in the Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah. I know more than fifty people that they buy Therion albums, after they listen to this song. You also could find this song in the album introduced below. I could suggest Therion’s Vovin album for beginning. Deggial, Sirius B and Lemuria is the other suggested albums. If you like hard electric guitar melodies and perfect choir music, I could suggest the Secret of the Runes album. It is a concept album about Scandinavian Mythology. Their live performance is very funny and nice. I have been to their concerts three times in Istanbul. It is really appreciate able performance.

The Miskolc Experience! The album fuses classical music, opera and heavy metal. Could you imagine that a rock group involved in an opera festival? Miskolc is a city in Hungary. In every summer International Opera Festival of Miskolc is held. Maybe, Therion is the first band invited to an international classical music organization. Therion played with classical music orchestra, Miskolc Bartok Choir and Choir of Miskolc National Theatre, and these records were arranged as an album. The album consists of double CD’s. The first CD contains songs from some of the most famous composers like Mozart, Verdi, Dvorak, and Wagner. The second CD consists of Therion’s own songs with the orchestra and choir. Let’s see the songs in the album.

CD 1

• Clavicula Nox: It’s Therion’s own song and a good start.
• Dvorak: Excerpt from Symphony no. 9: Harmony between orchestra and group is perfect.
• Verdi: Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spotigle from Il Trovatore: It’s a masterpiece. Maybe it is the best arrangement in this album. You should listen to choir. It is extremely suggested.
• Mozart: "Dies Irae" from Reqiuem: It was my dream. A rock band plays Requiem perfectly. I hope Therion plays all parts of Requiem. I believe that it will be excellent with the band’s musicality.
• Saint-Saens: Excerpt from Symphony no. 3
• Wagner: "Notung! Notung! Niedliches Schwert!" from the Ring: It is an opera with rock. Tenors’ performances are very good.
• Wagner: Excerpt from the Overture from Rienzi: Harmony between the band and the orchestra is perfect.
• Wagner: Second Part of "Der Tag Ist Da" from Rienzi: Heavy metal opera! Tenors and sopranos’ performances should be appreciated.
• Wagner: First Part of "Herbei! Herbei!" from Rienzi: A perfect opera again.

CD 2

This CD contains Therion Songs with classical music orchestra and choir. It is as perfect as the first CD.

• Blood of Kingu
• Sirius B
• Lemuria
• Eternal Return
• Draconian Trilogy: Extremely suggested.
• Schwarzalbenheim: Extremely suggested.
• Via Nocturna
• The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah: After you will listen to the song, you will be a Therion fan.
• Grand Finale

Therion gave us a nice album to appreciate it. Harmony between rock and classical music elements, choir performance, and opera in heavy metal are really perfect to listen. It’s a masterpiece; it’s one of the best in this concept. Don’t lose the album. Please find official website of Therion. You could find more information about their albums, listen to previews, and buy their albums. Please, also check their MySpace profile to listen to some preview songs. Enjoy it!

http://www.megatherion.com

http://www.myspace.com/therion

Bye for now!

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Ulytau: Classical Music meets Folk and Rock

Thursday, December 15, 2011 in Classical Music, Dombra, Heavy Metal, Kazakhstan, Turkish Music, Ulytau

Have you ever listened a group makes Rock music blended with classical music and local elements? There are some rock based classical music albums from famous singers and groups such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Danney Alkana. This kind of music is one of my favorites, I will post some reviews about this kind of albums in my following posts. Today, we will know more about a group Kazakhstan which performs metal music combined with classical music and local music elements.The group was founded on 2001 to merge Western and Eastern music with some traditional Turkish instruments. Their music combines the sound of violin and electric guitar with the Dombra. It is a traditional two stringed instrument from middle Asia which made by the old Turkish civilizations in Middle Asia.

We can say Ulytau is a trio including violin, dombra and electric guitar. The group performs instrumental music. Although their music is Heavy Metal, the music is easy listening, likeable and beautiful. Alua Makanova plays violin, Maxim Kichigin plays guitar, and Erjan Alimbetov plays Dombra. And, there are some guest performers who play bass, drum, keyboard and so on. They only have one album released in 2006. The group also released a video DVD in 2009. The group had some concerts in Germany, England, Scotland, Poland, USA, Turkey, China, Japan and Russia.

Their album Jumyr-Kylysh was released in 2006, the same album released in Germany in 2009 named in Two Warriors. Let’s know more about the album.

Track list of the album is given below. 

• Adai
• Winter (Four Seasons)
• Kurishiler
• Jumyr-Kylysh
• Ata Tolgauy
• Toccata and Fugue
• Turkish March
• Yapyr-Ai (folk song)
• Teriskakpai

• Kokil

At the first sight to the track list, we can see some acquaintance songs. Winter Four Season is the Winter section of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Turkish March is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous march, and Toccata and Fugue is Johann Sebastian Bach’s immortal composition. They perform those compositions very well and harmony between guitar and violin is perfect. They are extremely suggested songs in the album.

Adai is their awarded song. They were awarded the Golden Disc for this song. Jumyr-Kylysh is a perfect song with Dombra, Violin and Guitar. You should listen Dombra’s sound especially. Two stringed instruments made the music likeable.

They only have one album and this album deserves your interest. Buy it to support the group to get new albums. I believe that they will carry their music to higher levels. Finally, the group’s website is given below. You can listen some of their songs on their MySpace profile.

http://www.ulytau.ru
http://www.myspace.com/ulytau

Bye for now.

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Pentagram: Progression of Turkish Heavy Metal

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 in Heavy Metal, Pentagram, Rock, Turkish Heavy Metal, Turkish Music

Today, I would like to introduce a heavy metal group from Turkey. Actually I do not want to introduce any Heavy Metal groups, because, you could find so many sources to find information about Heavy Metal bands. Moreover, I would like to introduce Pentagram. This group is a milestone of Turkish Metal. Pentagram’s music is very original, high quality and multicultural. Do not think that it is a satanic metal group considering group’s name. There aren’t any satanic elements in their music and lyrics. There is a Black Metal group named in Pentagram in another country. Pentagram is known as Mezarkabul in Europe. Mezarkabul is a Turkish word but, there is not any English meaning or description. It is a kind of ritual.

This video has been created with Creative Commons License. Pentagram sings a Turkish song. (Live)

In 80’s, there were some new Turkish Heavy Metal bands, but their musicality was very poor and primitive. Although there were some famous Rock singers in Turkey, Turkish listener meets Heavy Metal in early 90’s. in 1993, Metallica came to Istanbul first time. I can say that it was a dream. We were hungry for heavy metal, and Metallica made us honored. So many groups in Turkey followed some trash and speed metal groups like Metallica and Megadeth.

In 1990, Pentagram released first album named in Pentagram. It is a speed / trash album. Sound is very primitive but, it is very good album. If you compare with the last albums, you could see Turkish Heavy Metal’s progress. I do not suggest this album to listen, because, it is an ordinary small band album. You could not get any idea about Pentagram.

The group released new album in 1993. The album’s name is Trail Blazer. I can say, it’s the first milestone of Turkish Heavy Metal. Although, album’s sound, riffs, musicality is a bit poor, it was a milestone. There weren’t any band made the music in this way. When I listen this album, I see that sound is primitive. But, in those years, it was an unbelievable album. At least you should listen, Secret Missile, Fly Forever, Living on Lies and Vita Es Morte songs from video sharing websites. East melodies and heavy metal was blended in this album. It was primitive, but it was a good signal for future creation.

About five years, the group did not make any album or demo. But they were known as the best Turkish metal band. Finally their album released in 1997. Anatolia is the new album’s name. This album is the other milestone of Turkish Metal music. Sound, vocals, and musicality were not primitive and poor anymore. Pentagram gave us a professional heavy metal album. Anatolia album is highly recommended. East melodies and folk were put into the music successfully, and we listened east and west at the same time. They also made some Turkish songs although they make lyrics in English. 1000 in the Eastland, Dark is the Sunlight, and Anatolia are the masterpieces of the album. Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayım is a Turkish folk song, but it was combined with Heavy Metal successfully. Time is an instrumental song. I can say it is the best music in this album. You will listen east in west forms. You will never feel regret if you listen this album.

In 2001 they made a double album. Albums name are Unspoken and Bir. Unspoken released was released world wide in 2001, Bir was released in Turkey. Those albums sound is impressive. Pentagram’s music and sound are very professional. First time I listened those albums, I supposed that I listened albums from the United Stated or England. Bir consists of Turkish songs, Unspoken consists of English songs. And they have two common instrumental songs named in Mezarkabul and For Those Who Died Alone. You will see that Anatolian and Turkish elements were integrated into the music perfectly.

Bir, Seytan Bunun Neresinde, Kam, and Tigris songs are extremely suggested songs form Bir album. Bir means one in Turkish. In Esir Like an Eagle, Lions in a Cage, Unspoken, and We Come from Nowhere songs are suggested from Unspoken album.

After 2002, they did not make album. They released some live records and DVD’s. But, they are working on their new album. It will be released soon. You could listen their new song on group’s website given below. Please, listen their songs and see Turkish Heavy Metal’s progress. If you like them, buy their album to support.

http://www.thepentagram.net/

Bye for now!

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