Tag: nightwish

I Swear It’s Not Angry Music

What is your favorite genre of music?

My favorite genre of music is “heavy” metal. I say that because the bands I listen to fall into many sub-genres of metal. Some of the bands I listen to are so much heavier than the others. I wasn’t always into metal music. I only started getting into it when I was in my teens. Before that, I mainly listened to classic rock and country. And, as a surprise to many people, the Backstreet Boys.

The band that got me into metal was Metallica. They’re one of the first heavy bands I remember listening to. Aside from Metallica, I also remember listening to Linkin Park (Hybrid Theory and Meteora), as well as System of a Down. I remember feeling like listening to System of a Down made me a rebellious teenager. I just saw System of a Down live for a second time this summer and they put on an amazing show!

As I got older, my tastes expanded. By the time I reached high school, I was listening to Deathstars, Cradle of Filth, and Marilyn Manson. I remember making a mix CD to play in my CD player on the way to school (yes I’m old). Deathstars and Cradle of Filth were also my introduction to screaming vocals. Cradle of Filth is still active, but it’s been some time since Deathstars has put out an album. I’ll occasionally listen to both, but not as much as I once used to.

From there everything is a blur. I got into more bands. Some heavy others not. My first ever concert was Volbeat, Lacuna Coil, Motorhead, and Megadeth. I don’t remember what year that was, but it was an awesome show. I saw them at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL. I’ve since seen Nightwish there as well as Epica and Sabaton.

For a long time, Iron Maiden had been my favorite band. I’ve seen them live 3 times so far. As time went on, Sabaton took the number 1 spot. I’ve also seen Sabaton 3 times. Currently, I think the number 1 spot belongs to Lorna Shore. I’ve seen them twice, once as a headliner, but they are all such talented individuals.

Funny thing with Lorna Shore, I could never listen to deathcore. I felt like my head would explode. My actual introduction to Lorna Shore was on TikTok. I had come across the final breakdown in “To the Hellfire” and thought it was from a Call of Duty zombies video. I was so completely wrong. Even after hearing that, I didn’t listen to them.

It wasn’t until Pain Remains that I gave them a legitimate chance. Pain Remains changed everything for me. I thought Pain Remains was as good as it would get for Lorna Shore and deathcore. Then they released a new album this year called I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me. It’s just as good, if not better than Pain Remains. Lorna Shore has written several songs that just hit you right in the feels. They’re relatable and that’s why I love them so much. Their music speaks directly to me in a way no band has ever been able to do before.

I often say silly things like “I listen to angry music because it makes me happy.” Or my other favorite thing to say at work is “They scream in my ear so I don’t scream out loud.” It’s dumb, but it’s also true. Some things can’t be sung. They have to be screamed. And when I hear that screaming in my ear, everything feels OK. It’s the calm I need in a sea of chaos. The heavy music and screaming keeps me calm in stressful situations. And that’s something I’ll forever be grateful for.

Repeating a First Experience

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. Not for any particular reason, either. It just popped into my head. There have been a few TV shows and movies I wish I could see again for the first time. Even albums I wish I could hear again for the first time. Things that just hit different when I first experienced them.

What are these things I wish to experience again for the first time? In terms of music, the album Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Nightwish. I have been a fan of Nightwish for years, and that album absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it. To this day, that album holds a special place in my heart as being one of the only albums to truly leave me speechless.

There are three TV shows I wish I could see again for the first time. They are Daredevil, The Punisher, and Vikings. Daredevil and The Punisher were everything I wanted them to be and more. I was so upset when they were canceled, but I have a new hope with Daredevil: Born Again being made by Disney. I also loved every bit of Vikings. It’s true, after Ragnar died, it lost something, but I also feel they did a great job carrying the show on without him. Bjorn was a very worthy successor to Ragnar.

As for the movies I wish I could watch again for the first time? A few circled around in my head. I don’t necessarily want to see the entire movie again, but the Darth Vader hallway scene from Rogue One is something I wish I could see again for the first time. I remember seeing that for the first time and being both excited and terrified at the same time. It was such an amazing feeling.

But the only movie I wish I could see again for the first time is Avengers: Endgame. It had so much buildup and years of waiting behind it. Endgame also had so many special and memorable moments that I’d love to witness again for the first time. It wasn’t a perfect movie, but I really did enjoy watching it. I’ll never forget the giddy feeling I got when I realized that Cap could actually lift the hammer. Nothing but pure joy.