Never thought I would see Haggard on your channel! Hope we get Therion as well, with Via Nocturna for instance. At 19:14 you touch upon one of the hallmarks of good Symphonic Metal like Haggard, it takes you on a journey or along for a quest. It's all about painting pictures in your mind! If you ever do Therion - Via Nocturna, see if you can spot the witches dancing in a never ending circle:)
Great reaction to this fascinating piece of music. I was recently joking with Jovana in the comments about Amy learning to do harsh deathcore style vocals, at least now Amy has a reference to what I was talking about. This Haggard song was actually a good one for Amy to be introduced to it, since it transitioned in and out of the style from a more classical style Amy knows well, doing so in a musically interesting manner. I was thinking Wagner more than Mozart as one who might have experimented with this vocal style, particularly with his mythological story telling in the Ring Cycle and heavier classical style. Amy, the very rapid bass drum beats is common to this and some other metal styles. The drummer uses two bass drum pedals on his drum kit in order to achieve this, since this rapid of a beat would be impossible just using the typical single foot bass drum pedal on his drum kit. I think it is used effectively here to transition into the metal parts of the song. I love the renaissance folk dance style of this piece music. Many modern listeners will be familiar with it from fantasy style video games, which are often set in a medieval or renaissance like environment, along with having the added magic and fantastical creatures.
Haha, yes, we were joking and the next thing, Amy listens to growling. And I agree that this was a good introduction to this kind of vocals for Amy, but I personally really don't like any of the vocals in this song. There are ones that sound much better, at least to me. And the music itself is not really appealing to me.
@@jovana_r I probably found this more interesting and artistic than most people here. And I like that Amy found elements she liked and could relate to. I'm sure with Amy finding the mix of classical themes with and deathcore elements interesting helped me to appreciate it more. In general, I'm not a fan of deathcore and these harsh style of vocals, although I sometimes find ones I do like (or at least appreciate their use). In this one I guess the harsh vocals fit more with the story theme and were in smaller chunks. I also really do like this renaissance folk style and the telling of a fantastical and mythical story. This is probably rooted in me liking fantastical and mythological type literature, movies/tv, and video games. The same with imaginary science fiction worlds. I liked how Amy thought that the music provided a soundscape and story where we can build an imaginary world. Sometime I guess I just like brief escapes from the real world into other imaginary worlds. It can help me see things from different perspectives, since they often explore real world themes in a different light.
@@LeeKennison I don't know. I guess I've heard so much of growling through my life, so I am kinda picky. Actually I am very picky when it comes to everything related to music. But I listened to few bands with harsh vocals many years ago when I was much younger and crazier. Now I don't enjoy it anymore. Very rarely I play a song or two, but that's all. And when it comes to escaping to acdifferent world, many bands, from different genres talk about that, but it is not for me. I personally like realistic stuff, something that I can relate to. But I do understand why you like escaping sometimes. I envy you for that. I cannot even read fantasy books and it really annoys me, but if I cannot imagine something as realistic, then I cannot the art either.
@@jovana_r I understand your perspective. We all have different likes, dislikes, and perspectives. Most adults are not going to get into fantasy (mythical) literature. Although many (not saying you) mistakenly assume it is all geared towards children and teenagers. A few more will read science fiction, since it doesn't have the same youth only stigma, but both are dealing with imaginary worlds. But then again so does most fiction (including TV and movies), most are just set in real world environments, but it is still imaginary people and situations. The better adult oriented fantasy literature deals with deeper topics, philosophies and perspectives, and I have found for me that examining them in imagined environments helps cut through subconscious biases that real world environments impose. I also can just enjoy and appreciate a well told story, regardless of any deeper meanings. Perhaps "brief escapes from the real world" gave the wrong impression. I still always try to stay very much rooted in reality. I actually try to see things as they actually are, rather than through my own distortion filters of beliefs, emotions, and prejudices; or those same sort of things that society tries to push on us. My trying to hold on to my ability to use my imagination to see things from other perspectives has helped with this. In this sense I guess I have never grown up. But just because this works for me doesn't mean it will work the same way for others. We are all different. Although I do think that story telling, along with music, are key things that help define us as humans (we all tell our own stories all the time). But then again, if I stopped thinking about these things I would at least spare you and others from my philosophical ramblings.😉
@@LeeKennison I love your philosophical ramblings. 😊 Whatever topic we might discuss it can be developed into a deep conversation and I am completely into it. The problem is only writing. Anyway, yes we are all different and I don't say that I cannot imagine some of fantasy or especially science fiction as realistic in my mind. I just say that most of it (mostly fantasy) I cannot. But, for example, I loved Game of Thrones. And as I've said, I really like some science fiction, but not the one that deals with space, but ones that are about parallel universes or travelling through time and similar stuff. I really like those. But this is only applied to books and movies. When it comes to music I am looking for realistic topics. Those that can emotionally move me or mentally challenge me.
I have a fond memory of Haggard. I watched them first on Rockharz 2008 in Förste. There was a guy with his daughter on his shoulders. Apparently the girls hearing protection slipped from her ears. The band saw this and stopped until the little girls hearing protection was readjusted. Great band. They have a great version of Herr Mannelig.
not the best song to be introduced to Haggard.....it would be nice if you could listen to Epur si Muove, or maybe Per Aspera ad Astra..... way better production
100% agree with you, as a Haggard fan this was also my first thought, this is too choppy of a song let alone as a first impression 😅 I hope she listens to their more coherent songs .
When I saw "Haggard" in the title I hoped it would be "Per Aspera Ad Astera" or "Herr Manneling" or "Eppur Si Muove"... It would be nice to hear her comments on these classsssics...
@@erdem327 Herr Mannelig wouldn't make for an interesting analysis, but yes, almost anything from Eppur Si Muove album would be great. My personal favourite is Of A Might Divine.
Unfortunately, this is a bad number from Haggard. All the music on the first two albums ("Awakening the centuries" and "Eppur si muove") is better. You should better listen to "Herr Mannelig", a trad. swedish song (Eppur si muove). This will express you.
This music is meant to have much more of a "literary" experience than any regular commercial music, a fantastic literary experience that is. A lot of metal fans also share geeky interests in fantasy, science fiction and magic realism, so this sort of music really strikes quite a few strings for metal fans. So the epicness of the music is the cinematic equivalent to, let's say - if you could listen to Game of Thrones in contemporary musical format - rather than reading or watching the show. As an opera singer myself I really love this kind of big time effort to accomplish exquisite listening experiences so complete, almost like authentic Opera attempts.
Hola Amy, es fantastico tener a Haggard en tu canal, ojala le des una segunda oportunidad, tal vez con "Of A Might Divine" o "Eppur Si Mouve", hermosas piezas musicales. Siempre relacione el sonido de esta excelente banda a algun tipo de rhapsodia o una evolucion mas 'heavy' del rondo veneziano. Saludos y gracias por compartir tu conocimiento con nosotros, gracias tambien a Vlad por poner estas grandes bandas en tu camino.
That communication between the classical and metal is amazing, I really love Asis work, and your reaction and impressions were great, hope Vlad likes it too, try "de la mort noir" is more heavy.
If you revisit Haggard, please check out "In a pale moon's shadow" from their earlier album. That one is less complex, if you like - but that's why it is less all over the place. Also, you can appreciate much better the excellent diction Asis can have when growling.
"...it creates it's own world" You are perfectly right. It's part of a concept album, which tells a fantasy story in the world Itheria, invented for a book, which Assis started to write at the same time. Unfortunately, the book has never finished. So the analogy to a film or videogame music is wrong, but the feelings You had were correct.
"Is all of this band's music like this?" YEEEESSSS.This particular album "Tales of Ithiria" was created by Asis with the intention of telling us a tale of an imaginary world like Game of Thrones, although I believe the album came out years before the television series. "lyrics that paints an image in our mind" That is the goal. "I still am not conviced that I love it." Did anyone try to convince you beforehand that you would like it? I recommend this same band's "The Final Victory" where it mixes fragments of lyrics in English, Latin and Russian or "Cantus firmus in A minor".
For me it lacks unity. Bits and pieces are very nice but then something different comes along. Some bits could be tied together to make something more unified and other bits could be tied together to make another sort of unity. And that's not very satisfying as a listening experience.
I doubt you have time now to read all the comments these days, but I''ll say my bit anyway...I found this piece a bit of fun though it would not induce me to check out more from this band. As well as operatic, there are some folky aspects to it too and these reminded me of the band Gryphon. These guys made their name in the 1970s with some retro, mostly instrumental folk and sometimes folkrock. The most unusual thing about them - if you like musical novelty - is that they performed their compositions with medieval instruments! I agree with some of the comments below asking for more of the most influential rock musicians/bands, and would add the Moody Blues, specifically their classically inspired 'Days Of Future Passed'. Mike Oldfield too was influenced by folk - you really need to listen to Ommadawn. Then, from the early 2000s the very ambitious folk rock of The Decemberists notably 'The Hazards of Love'. Anyway, bravo for tackling such a diverse range of artists.
Esa mezcla única, real y en ocasiones inesperada fue lo que hizo que me enamorara de esta banda en el 99. Ha sido mi banda favorita desde entonces y verles en vivo es una parte adicional que enriquece la experiencia sonora.
congratulations Amy, as always your analyzes are true masterclasses for music lovers. I never heard this band before and i enjoy It , so thanks for post It and your work.My English is not perfect but I have followed you since the first day without any major problems and from the first moment I felt great curiosity to see how a classics performer and total neophyte in the world of rock could be surprised. Everything is perfect but I am a little disappointed, I am 62 and a lover of good quality music, from folk, blues, even country, jazz to all branches of rock, funk, electronic, etc, all of them. I bought my first album with my savings at 12, A Hard Days Night by the Beatles. When you started with, Deep Purple, Zeppelin, Tull, Genesis, Quen I thought this is great !!. Unfortunately for me I think that you have not made the best choice in some bands not so much representatives or to an album like The Wall from P.Floyd when you have his two best works that are gems, Dark side of the Moon and Wish you were here, it is a personal opinion. I wonder why you haven't reacted to some legendary artists from 60s and 70s who were super influential until today and some were ahead of their time and who did help write the book of modern music. Bowie ( alters egos Ziggy Stardust , Aladin Sane, Thin white Duke .)pioner of Glam Rock The most influenciable in diferents ways ,not only in músic or fashion. Tiranosaurius Rex Lou Reed King Crimson Eric Clapton Emerson Lake and Palmer Santana Elton John . Anyway we love you ❤ and please Keep on rocking Amy. Greetings from Barcelona.
Such a great post. I appreciate how you articulated why you love this channel, while at the same time expressing your desire for the song selection focus you would like to see. Great examples. I also would very much like to see a big part of the focus on the classic rock and related genres of that era, primarily from the late 60s, the 70s, and some of the 80s. Everything else is important too, much of which I like very much. I probably have a greater appreciation of metal, 90s rock, and many contemporary artist than most of my generation, who grew up in the 60s and 70s. So I can enjoy songs like this, and always enjoy Amy's reactions and analysis. But my strongest roots will always be with what I grew up on (I'm 64). I think this also just happens to be the most creative and influential period of music, and thus deserves more of Amy's attention than the others. I think they have a pretty good balance, but it does start to become more noticeable when they go for a long time without looking at other bands from this era, other than just Queen, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles.
Good list. Actually Amy has reacted to King Crimson and ELP (one reaction each) - and I surely hope for more! In case you missed it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yvSAAdmgTFM.htmlsi=9r3a7NWyIs1PLk2Q ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tpq8ZpMi0ak.htmlsi=Cl_W80TY8LvChV2F
Hated this one. I felt really sorry for you Amy. I know I will offend avid fans of the band, but it's my truth. It just seemed like "look what we can do", in an attempt to be ground-breaking but it just sounded awful to my ears. I was going to give it a thumbs down, but that's unfair to the channel. You can only review the music put before you. Unsurprisingly, it's not going on my playlist!
Maybe going into it can elucidate why they do that way, "Ithiria" in the song is a state entering the war, the string part where the sopranos sing is the cry of the city in the start of the war, the joyful part in the beginning is the state in peaceful times, the drums enters to dictate the march of war, therefore the name of the song.
Not on my playlist either. And this is not rock music by any stretch. Still fun to listen to Amy's analysis and musings. The fun part to me was imagining this was from an episode of The Addam's Family where Lurch, the butler, starts to play the harpsichord and sing ( his would be the "bear" voice in this piece).
It would be amazing if you check Haggard's "per aspera ad astara", "herr manneling" or "eppur si muove"... Any way thank you for checking a song from Haggard
Haggard has much better songs than this one for example "All'inizio è la morte" or "Per Aspera Ad Astra" from the album Eppur Si Muove, but the full album is brilliant. "Awaking the Centuries" is another great song.
I am also reminded of movie or videogame soundtrack, but not in a way that entices me to continue with this band or re-listen to this piece. It's too melodramatic for me.
Im from Mexico and Haggard has won our hearts by singing our national anthem on one of their concerts in Mexico city.. they are so humble. i didnt spect to find a reaction to haggard here. Nice. You have my sub.
Great review, could you give it a try, like you did with Pixies and Nirvana, to Sonic Youth? The songs I think would fit perfect are The Sprawl and Wildflower Soul 👍
So cool you picked haggard...you are right how it creates another world or story in your brain...the thing is haggard albums are big stories..so your only getting a fraction of the story in this one song..only one visualization from the whole...
Heavy metal growling always strikes me as rather silly. It's like small boys trying to make themselves sound big and threatening, but they just come across as slightly amusing. Overall, this had a few "interesting" moments, but too incoherent to be satisfying.
Theater of Tragedy must be next...and then Therion. On another note, I think that Nietzsche would have loved tat Wagner used a voice like that, achieving the Dyonisius and Apolonian equilibrium, but Nietzsche was so disappointed that Wagner took a conventional approach to his compositions.
Because this piece has segments with a high melodic value it is surprisingly easy to listen to. But it's not my cup of tea. For me a clear case of trying too hard to make music rather than letting a composer's soul do the writing. Throw everything you have and the kitchen sink to make something grand and "more" is good, overkill every idea that went into creating this piece. And yet it is all BUT original or innovative. The idea of mixing classical music values with modern music aspects is old. How many groups in the 70's recorded Beethoven's 5th symphony with distorted guitars, raised tempos and synthesizers to name one idea. And in this era there are tons of symphonic metal groups out there and that is what this sounds like. As a Chef, what if I were to cook dinner at my home for 6 guests. I did groceries for this meal and used EVERYTHING! So, cooking spinach in butter for 6 people, since kosher salt was only available in a 2 lb. box, I just throw the whole box of salt in the spinach...because I have it! Also I cook 242 dishes because I am going to show my guests that I have those skills and I am mixing all disciplines, Asian cuisine, Italian, French, Mexican, you name it because I am there to expose on display my vast culinary knowledge. The dinner would be non sensible, it would not be enjoyable, the spinach would be outright inedible (more salt than spinach) and the whole meal, despite my strenuous efforts would miss what is the essence of enjoyable food. That's what this music sounds like to me. As with each video, I enjoyed the video, the review of this music and Amy's comments on it. Thanks
Awesome reaction as always. Would love for you to react to the band "The Warning". They are a 3 piece rock band all sisters from Mexico, trained in classical music as children. They came on the scene in 2014 with a cover of Metallicas Enter Sandman when they were just 9, 11 &14 years old. The cover went viral on RU-vid and has over 25 million views. Fast forward to 2023, Metallica was so impressed with them they were invited to play on the 40 yr anniversary of the Black album with one stipulation, they had to keep the same lyrics but come up with their own musical version. They currently have 3 records out and are working on their 4th. Also, they recently rocked live the 2023 MTV VMA awards with their song Evolve. Their 2nd lp is a concept album titled Queen of the Murder Scene that could probably be a broadway play. Their 3rd lp, ERROR, doesn't have a bad song on it. Please check them out, thanks.
Hello. I was expecting you to listen to Haggard at some point and I think I expected you to receive it with mixed feelings :). I discovered them many years ago and I had the chance to see them live in Bucharest. I am not a big fan of growl, but he uses this style very well and I can actually understand (part of) the words, so it is not just about the state it puts you in :). The only issue I find is that sometimes it doesn't make sense where it is used, or I don't see it. However, I like the combination between classical, rock and growl and I enjoy a lot 'Awaking the Centuries' and 'Eppur si muove'. Their albums are created as stories and might make a bit more sense to be listed from start to finish. If you can take some more "bear growl" (that was very funny), I am sure Vlad can recommend something from one of the two albums I mentioned. It might be that I 'clicked' with them, but I think those two are more coherent; at least they are 'worldly'. 'Thales of Ithiria' is has a fantastic story theme and, to me, it feels they are taking themselves too serious, considering the themes. What I mean is that the growl style does not always fit well with the lyrics or the story. But I guess he just likes to use, since he is so good at it :D. In the end, thank you! I enjoy your channel a lot. It's always nice that every time I see a video about a song I like or just know, I see it from a different perspective... even if you like it or dislike it, it doesn't change my feelings about them :). All the best!
I would like to suggest 'Dark Art' by Septicflesh. Their guitarist has a Master’s Degree in Concert Music and composes all the orchestrations for the band.
...my heart dropped when she hit the pause button for the first time^^ How...?!...!!!...?!?!?!?!??!??!............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Amy, thank you for this video. I never heard of this band before. In general, I try to avoid any music/band that has some word like metal or heavy in the title. That was interesting, but as usual the metal aesthetics is kind of too much for me. Too fast, too heavy, too much anything.
Amy, I have just two words for you. Yngwie Malmsteen. Okay, maybe I have a few more. I think you would really like ym and his Baroque Style mixed with heavy metal. His stylings lean heavily on Bach and Paganini. Without the grunting. LOL
Great reaction, Amy. I think this was a good song for you to be introduced to growling. And your analysis is really spot on. However, personally, I don't like anything about it. The melody was kinda annoying and I really don't like any of the vocals. Ok, I am not a fan of female operatic vocals at all, but when it comes to growling, there are singers who actually sound really good. This one wasn't my cup of tea and it didn't sound natural to me.
