Friday13th: Prog On Discovery M3

Friday13th 05.29.19	Voting ends next Tuesday.
Divaman 05.29.19	Interesting. So what's the common thread here, Friday? You've always got a reason behind the matchup.
e210013 05.29.19	Ok. Let's check both. It seems that we have here more heavy stuff than in the two previous journeys.
TheNotrap 05.29.19	The Prog M3 has begun
Zig 05.29.19	The 2010's prog round.
Friday13th 05.29.19	Yeah they don't have much in common besides being heavy in their own way and fairly new. I'm guessing 2 is complex in a flowing, easy to follow way with emphasis on lyrical themes. I read somewhere it's a concept album? My pick is very complex musically (especially harmonically) but the lyrics are mostly absurdist and nonsensical.
e210013 05.29.19	Thanks for your clarification Friday. Let's see what both reserve to us.
e210013 05.29.19	By the way, guys. "Permutations" is also available on Spotify.
SharkTooth 05.29.19	Sweet, more prog
Jethro42 05.29.19	She's SO HEAVYYYYYYYYYY
Friday13th 05.29.19	Ooh I'm digging "For the Fallen" on 2. I am getting Helloween/Queensryche/Theocracy vibes.
Friday13th 05.29.19	So I had the pleasure of seeing the The Mercury Tree play live this month. They played mostly songs from their new album, Spidermilk, complete with 17 EDO guitars and keyboard. I was extremely impressed that they could replicate an album like that live. Like Jethro, I was torn between which album by the band to choose, but I still think I made the right decision. Permutations is more traditionally prog than Spidermilk, which is more microtonal and avant-garde. If you guys like the stranger songs on Permutations like "Ether/Or", I highly recommend trying their newest album.
TwigTW 05.29.19	Listening to The Mercury Tree now and it's very interesting. It's not what I usually listen to (which, of course, is why I'm here--to try new things.) It will take a bit of digesting.
Divaman 05.29.19	I see that Mercury Tree has a new one out this year, so if I like this one, maybe I'll give that one a listen as well.
TwigTW 05.29.19	After one listen, I'm liking the powerized. This is a good match. It's going to be an interesting week.
Divaman 05.29.19	After first listen of each, it's very close for me. I don't have any clear preference yet.
bgillesp 05.29.19	Things have been a bit odd for me the past week, but I'll do better about staying on this from here on
Jethro42 05.29.19	I already have a clear penchant for one of them, but it's just a start.
e210013 05.29.19	After my first listening of "Permutations", (I still didn't check "The Mirror's Eye" till now), I must say that it seems to me a very weird album. I think it's more weird than heavy. But I agree with Twig. It will take a bit of digesting. However, it seemes to me that we are going to have another interesting prog week. Heavy, weird but interesting. This is one of the things that I like most on Friday's tournements. The unpredictability and the diversity of his tournaments. This is only possible thanks to him, really. Thanks pal.
bgillesp 05.30.19	Liking this Powerized one so far!
Casavir 05.30.19	I'm getting Angra vibes off of Powerized so far.
Papa Universe 05.30.19	Permutations certainly is an odd experience. I did not enjoy it, similarly as I do not enjoy staring at a cascade of colourfully saturated botched magic eye pictures. I understand that its appeal is in how confusingly it is played, but at the end of the day, intentional or not, it still sounds really off. The Mirror's Eye on the other hand is like Avantasia's opening band. It is theatrical in the corniest fashion imaginable. But I suppose that is the appeal. It is ridiculous, but fun. I know it's maybe a little early for voting, but then again, I can always change my vote. I vote for Powerized.
Casavir 05.30.19	Going to go with Permutations on this one.
bgillesp 05.30.19	Powerized started out strong, but went on a little too long for me to stay invested. Also tracks like "King Alas!" were too cheesy even for me, and brought it down some. On Mercury Tree now
Friday13th 05.30.19	1-1 @Papa ouch, that's one way to put it haha. I knew I wasn't recommending a crowd-pleaser, but you might find it clicks on the second listen. Admittedly, a lot of it is novelty factor. Like take the title track, "Ether/Or" or "Sympathesizer" and tell me if you've ever heard other songs like that. I'm going to give Mirror's Eye a second listen to give it a fair chance. I certainly liked what I heard. I'm a sucker for big counterpoint harmony sections ala Savatage or Theocracy. It's like Gentle Giant but in a metal context. I would agree power metal can be overly "corny" but I only occassionally felt that way listening to Mirror's Eye.
Papa Universe 05.30.19	I don't think I've ever heard anything like it before, but that doesn't automatically make it good. I've never seen a pink possum with antlers either, but its uniqueness will barely be worthwhile functionally.
Friday13th 05.30.19	@Papa sure, I mean those were my exact feelings listening to Trout Mask Replica or Obscura. I did change my mind after the second time listening to one of those though :]
bgillesp 05.30.19	I can confidently say my vote is for 1 at this point although my exact opinion on it isn’t completely settled
Friday13th 05.30.19	2-1 Casavir bgill Papa
Divaman 05.30.19	>I've never seen a pink possum with antlers either, but its uniqueness will barely be worthwhile functionally. Really? I see them all the time. Think they run wild 'round these parts.
sharkshanna 05.30.19	While listening to these, Permutations sounds like something I might actually actively listen to.. so, cool. The Mirror’s Eye, I will not listen to ever again. my vote is 1.
Scheumke 05.30.19	I guess it would only be fair for me to abstain from voting on this one, since I actually play in Powerized, and I cant in good consience vote against my own band in the first round of this. So it wouldn't really be a fair vote. I guess this is the fairest way to do it.
Divaman 05.30.19	Don't let Papa fool you, Scheumke. Most of us vote when our picks are being voted on, and most of us wind up voting for the albums we nominate (since we already like them, or we wouldn't have nominated them in the first place.) It's up to you, but there's certainly no shame in voting, even if it's your own band.
Divaman 05.30.19	Think I know who I'm going to vote for now, but I need one more listen of each (probably tomorrow) to make sure.
Jethro42 05.30.19	From the start, I felt comfortable with The Mercury Tree, probably because I already know the first two albums from the band Virus (NO). More doomy, Virus (NO) are using similar experimental elements. In second order, maybe two other bands I'm familiar with since a decade, which are Shaolin Death Squad and Dog Fashion Disco; they're kinda taking the same path as Permutations to a lesser extent. i mean, I'm used to that kind of weird, technical stuff, so I find myself loving it a lot. Powerized is good symphonic power metal, but I'm not familiar with that kind of music. The closest I've been within the genre is Symphony X. i used to love them, but I don't listen to them anymore. In fact, I'm not into metal anymore, so I became more selective about it. i clearly prefer Permutations, but I'll give to The Mirror's Eyes another chance before voting.
Jethro42 05.30.19	The Mirror's Eye to be more exact, sorry. @Friday, i will certainly listen to Spidermilk as well, but only if you listen to the Unreal City's second album ''Il Paese Del Tramonto'' Fair enough... hahah
Friday13th 05.31.19	@Jethro I accept. It's a deal! haha I've had Shaolin Death Squad on my checklist for a while, so I'll have to check that and Virus.
Jethro42 05.31.19	Shaolin rules. It's more like theatrical, cinetic alternative prog metal with rather simple - but effective - structures and filled with shifting movements and creativity. It's much more straightforward than Permutations. Try Virus (NO) first. It's way more comparative.
Zig 05.31.19	The Mirror's Eye is just not good. Found it to be monotonous and annoying.
Sabrutin 05.31.19	Ah yes the round of two modern prog metal albums longer than a hour each. Basically my antichrist hahaha
Friday13th 05.31.19	lol
e210013 05.31.19	I checked "The Mirror's Eye" only today. As a debut impression, it's a good modern prog metal album in the same vein and tradition of the genre. I'm a bit late on this journey. And I'm going to be very busy next weekend. So, my decision can only be made in the next week, maybe tuesday. Probably, this time I'm going to be one of the last to made my decision. Have a nice weekend bros.
Jethro42 05.31.19	^I don't like to take the risk of being the decision maker :) So I stay in my position and i'm voting for Permutations that is more of my style by a mile. Good weekend to you too, e21!
e210013 05.31.19	Thanks my friend, the same to you. But, unlike you I like to be an important person deciding the things. Lol.
Friday13th 05.31.19	4-1 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Papa I will not vote just to be fair to Scheumke. As much as I liked Powerized, Mercury Tree still gets my full endorsement. I know...shocker!
SharkTooth 05.31.19	I just started 1 and yeah I can def. hear the math rock. for some reason the opening also reminds me of king crimson I'm looking forward to this record
Jethro42 06.01.19	Drummer is of the same style as Jon Theodore from The Mars Volta, and I ended up thinking perhaps both bands have their similarities. The Mercury Tree is a bit more nutz, though. There is no song at all I dislike. Somewhere close to 4.2/5 for now. I still think they have something in common with Virus.
Zig 06.01.19	1 gets my vote just because is more interesting although I didn't enjoy it that much. Hardest round to get through both albums.
Friday13th 06.01.19	5-1 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Zig Papa
Papa Universe 06.01.19	well, call my vote Pete Buttigieg, cause it's just one and a half supporter.
Scheumke 06.01.19	I did not get that reference papa xD.
Papa Universe 06.01.19	if you knew who he was, then the joke wouldn't work.
Divaman 06.02.19	I'm ready to vote. At first listen, I felt somewhat positive about both of these albums, but with repeated listens, I found my enjoyment went down a little, probably because both albums feel too long for my tiny ADHD brain. The Mercury Tree isn't really my kind of music at all. I definitely hear the King Crimson influences here, although the band this album made me think of most is Gentle Giant, which isn't one of my favorites. The music is well played and very clever, but it's just not that enjoyable for me, because a lot of it is what sounds to me like inside-out music. The Powerized is stylistically more up my alley. I didn't really like the vocalist that much - I hear him as very Geddy Lee, and while I've come to appreciate Lee over the years, he was an acquired taste for me. I don't feel that his voice is interesting enough to carry a full album of this length. On the other hand, at least the music sounded right-side-out to me, and I particularly liked some of the piano work, and the orchestral parts. I don't listen to enough of this style of music to have a really good frame of comparison - the closest I can come is Dream Theater if you replaced James LaBrie with a Geddy Lee style vocalist. (But I know that doesn't really cover it). In any even, my vote is for Powerized.
Friday13th 06.02.19	5-2 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Zig Papa Divaman @Divaman "inside out" is a funny way to describe The Mercury Tree. I can see why someone might hear Gentle Giant just based on the busy-ness. I agree about Powerized, I think some of the piano parts are really good like on "Forever Roaming." The songs "For the Fallen" and "God of this World" are the kind of power metal that I like. Big sweeping stuff with interesting flow and dark/heavy enough when it needs to be.
Jethro42 06.02.19	Gentle Giant is a good call!..They have a song named ''Inside Out'' on their last album. One could say it's the last classic Gentle Giant song. Love it.
TwigTW 06.02.19	I think I've finally got my head around The Mercury Tree. It's the most active listening I've done in a while. There are a lot of interesting things going on in there.
tmthycnnlly 06.03.19	Interestingly I had come across Mercury Trees before this tournament and passed them off as an interesting group that just didn't click with me. Listening to them again (perhaps more deeply) I was surprised how much I enjoyed this record and some what controlled chaos these guys put me through. Power metal has always been too melodramatic for me and powerized hasn't changed that. Vote goes to Permutations
Friday13th 06.03.19	6-2 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Zig tmthy Papa Divaman
wham49 06.03.19	I will refrain from voting this week, was busy as hell and have not gotten to it, Will try on 4
Sabrutin 06.03.19	Permutations is much better than expected, it's actually quite pleasant in its own way. I also didn't dislike The Mirror's Eye, which surprised me because I'm not really a fan of symphonic metal, and definitely not a fan of modern metal production, but it was just catchy enough to have an identity, at least. So yeah this round wasn't as problematic as I feared. I vote for Permutations.
Friday13th 06.03.19	7-2 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Zig tmthy Sabrutin Papa Divaman
TheNotrap 06.03.19	The Mercury Tree's opener is interesting
Jethro42 06.03.19	Yeah Notrap, album starts with a bang with the first 3 songs. I really love the t/t When I gave The Mars Volta as a reference, give them a try; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Z99cGSfzs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9em_zIbiPlM
MrSirLordGentleman 06.04.19	I'm not the biggest fan of either album so far but Permutations certainly seems to have a more original and interesting sound. But Mirror's Eye certainly has some cool moments as well, specially towards the ending for me so yeah, don't know which one I'll pick yet
Jethro42 06.04.19	Another one if I managed to open your appetite; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnw7Hi6iIKE
MrSirLordGentleman 06.04.19	Yeah, I'll go with Permutations. As I said, I'm not a big fan of neither of the albums, but Permutations has tons of originality on its side imo which helps for it to make an experience that's difficult to forget
TheNotrap 06.04.19	Cheers Jethro. I'm jamming Permutations now at the office and I'm enjoying it. A Jethro's link is mandatory checking, will peek at The Mars Volta asap.
TwigTW 06.04.19	I enjoyed The Mirror's Eye. It has a lot of nice ups and downs, like a rollercoaster. It's a fun ride, from beginning to end. I warmed up to it immediately... Permutations was not an easy listen for me. It grew slowly, but grow it did. There are a lot of nice things going on musically. Every time I listen, I find something new to enjoy. For that reason, my vote goes to Permutations.
TheNotrap 06.04.19	I really enjoyed Permutations, great album. And yes Jethro, the title track is easily one of the highlights ;)
TheNotrap 06.04.19	The Mirror's Eye is a totally different creature ...let's jam this prog power
TheNotrap 06.04.19	"The Mirror's Eye" isn't my cup of tea, I've never been much fan of this power metal approach, however it's by no means uninteresting and I fully understand the people who like this prog pm style. My vote goes to Permutations, which I quite enjoyed. Both albums were nice picks, congrats Friday & Scheumke.
e210013 06.04.19	After 4 auditions of both albums here is my verdict: The Mercury Tree - Permutations: I never heard anything about this album or band before. This is an album very difficult to digest after a first listening. The music is very experimental with many effects added to the instruments. The heavy guitar riffs are present and some spacey interludes, to create a unique sound of heavy progressive, post-rock. The band have been influenced by Porcupine Tree, which I love, and at times you think it's Steven Wilson that sings. Besides, I also can see clearly some influences of Gentle Giant, always a very beloved band by me. This is an album that after repetitive listenings, it always grew up on me. Powerized - The Mirror's Eye: I was very curious about this album and this band, especially because this is a new proposal and we have a member of this band with us. And I must say that this album is better than I expected. I've no problems with this genre of music, but in the last years I became a bit deceptioned with this genre of prog. In general it tend to be repetitive and without creativity, what seems to be an incongruity as a prog act. Still, in this case and despite it didn't bring to us anything substantial new, the album is very good and very ballanced too. It hasn't any weak points and I particularly like the begining and the ending of the album. I agree with many of the opinions of the other contestants. "Permutations" is a very difficult album to digest in the beggining and "The Mirror's Eye" is a very nice listening album. Still, despite I've no problems in listening "The Mirror's Eye" several times, it has nothing new to offer to me with the repetitive listenings. However, that isn't the case with "Permutations". With repetitive listenings I can always see something new. So and definetelly, I'm sure this is an album that can grows on me. So, I decided to rate "Permutations" with 4.0 and "The Mirror's Eye" with 3.5. So, my vote goes to "Permutations".
Scheumke 06.04.19	And I guess with that we have a winner! Congratulations Friday! You had one great pick that I enjoyed a lot. Curious to see how far it will go.
Friday13th 06.04.19	11-2 Casavir bgill sharkshanna Jethro Zig tmthy Sabrutin Gentleman Twig Notrap e21 Papa Divaman @Scheumke it appears so! I definitely liked your band's album. I think it got an overall good response from a group of guys who may not typically listen to progressive power metal. Hope you guys keep making music!
Friday13th 06.04.19	Okay, we didn't hear from hansolo and Sharktooth, but I'll go ahead and call the match for Permutations so we can start the next round.
TheNotrap 06.04.19	Hahah damn, only know I realize it was Scheumke's band. Congrats man, keep rocking and good luck ;)
e210013 06.04.19	Yeah, I agree with Friday. I hope Powerized continue making good music. But, if it's allowed to me to give you an advice and without seeming too much patronizing, I sincerely hope that your band can develop that style, I mean the prog metal style. I hope that your band can evolve, as a true prog metal band, always searching to create something new into the style. As an example of two of the best, most representative and founder members of that style, I hope that Powerized can follow more the path of Fates Warning instead of Dream Theater. All of you must never forget that prog means to progress not stagnate in the genre. Long live to prog.
Scheumke 06.04.19	Haha thanks for the advice and support guys, much appreciated. We will continue making music, in fact a lot of material has already been written and yes, there is a lot of evolution in there. Can't wait for yall to hear it ;)
e210013 06.04.19	You live in a Country with a very deep tradition in prog, as you know. Some of my favourite prog bands and artists are from your country. So, my best wishes to you and your band, sincerely.
hansoloshotfirst 06.04.19	yeah, would have voted for 1.