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Battle Of The Bands [part 18]

Round 18 of 18. Here we go people. The last round before the winners start facing off. This round will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and closest yet. I don't want to reveal too much yet, but I can tell you that more than three bands will be competing this time around... The Mars Volta took the last round in a close battle. Tomorrow the quarter-finals will begin, with the winners of each round facing off against each other. Here are the rules again: - Each round there will be three bands - The band who receives the most votes (via comments) moves on to the next round. - Each round lasts 24 hours. - Only one vote each round per member. - These are the preliminary rounds, then there are also quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals - In the event of a tie, a faceoff will occur between the disputed albums. - The final two will be an EPIC SHOWDOWN! So, let's get started: NOTE: The 'average sputnik rating' I get by adding all of the bands album ratings together and averaging them out.
1Converge

Round 1, 2nd Place - Latest album: Axe To Fall / Average Sputnik rating: 3.81 / Incredibly prolific punk-metal road dogs Converge were formed in 1990 and after several singles and the requisite growing pains, released their first full-length, Halo in a Haystack, in 1994. By the release of their fourth full-length, Jane Doe in 2000, Converge were regarded as one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the punk underground.
2Cynic

Round 2, 2nd Place - Latest album: Traced In Air/ Average Sputnik rating: 3.45 / Cynic, alongside Death and Atheist, is the forerunner to [the] experimental side of death metal. Instead of sheer heaviness, Cynic incorporates jazz and ambient sections into their music while maintaining a level of technicality that is unheard of. Before splitting up in the mid 90s, Cynic left with merely one album, Focus, which stands as a testament to the opportunities of death metal.In 2007, Cynic reunited to do a couple shows across Europe. Their new album entitled 'Traced In Air' has been recorded and was released November 17 in Europe and November 25 in American in 2008.
3Sigur Ros

Round 3, 2nd Place - Latest album: me? su? ? eyrum vi? spilum endalaust / Average Sputnik rating: 3.86 / Sigur R?s an Icelandic band that create some of the most unusual sounds heard in recent music. Coming from Iceland, the band formed in 1994. The band use some pretty standard instruments, yet create a remarkable sound. Their instrumentation is just the standard guitar, drums, bass and keyboards. Guitarist and vocalist, J?nsi often uses a cello bow to play his guitar. One of the most unique things about Sigur R?s though, is J?nsi's vocals. In the words of the band's official site, the sound of J?nsi's voice is halfway between that of Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and a choir boy.
4William Shatner

Round 4, 2nd Place - Latest album: Has Been / Average Sputnik rating: 3.3 / Former Star Trek actor. Has released two albums- The Transformed Man and [the critically acclaimed] Has Been.
5Opeth

Round 5, 2nd Place - Latest album: Burden / Average Sputnik score: 3.65 / Ask any metal fan in the world and they'll tell you there's no band quite like Opeth. Since 1990, Opeth (Stockholm, Sweden) has been writing some of the most unique and extreme progressive metal ever created. With roots spanning from death metal to jazz and 70's progressive, Opeth is an extreme act like no other. Mikael Akerfeldt's voice shifts between the most soothing clean singing ever heard and the most menacing death metal growls this side of the threshold of hell. With him and Peter Lindgren making up the guitar arsenal, their riffs flow with atmosphere as well as a beautiful acoustic side and blues-influenced metal solos. The rhythm section is near perfect with Mendez and Axenrot providing the clean, subtle basslines and jazz/Latin-influenced drums. Despite the unusual influences for a band such as this, Opeth blends their distinct influences into an undeniably progressive metal sound.
6Protest The Hero

Round 6, 2nd Place - Latest album: Gallop Meets the Earth / Average Sputnik rating: 3.27 / Formed in 1999 as Happy go Lucky, Protest the Hero is a Canadian Metal band from Whitby, Ontario . They have released the EP A Calculated Use of Sound (2003) and their recent full length Kezia (2005) with the indie label Underground Operations. On January 23, 2006 the band officially signed with Vagrant Records for United States releases. Kezia was released in Canada on August 30th, 2005 and in the US on April 4, 2006. They toured from September 2005 to June 2006 in support of Kezia as well as taking part in the Vans Warped Tour. Protest began writing their newest album in January of 2007 and finished the record in August of that year. The album, Fortress, was released on January 29th on Vagrant Records.
7Animal Collective

Round 7, 2nd Place - Latest album: Fall Be Kind / Average Sputnik rating: 3.45 / Animal Collective were formed by childhood friends Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), and Avey Tare (Dave Portner) after establishing their own label in New York. After some material only available around New York, the band began picking up steam by switching to Castup Plate label, and also solidified their lineup with Geologist (Brian Weitz) and Deakin (Josh Dibb). They released more, but never with all four members until 2003's Here Comes the Indian, the first album with the Animal Collective name. It was a dense mix of psychedelic and folk, splashed with noise. They garnered critical acclaim as they continued, with either their textural craziness, or stripped down campfire songs.
82Pac

Round 8, 2nd Place - Latest album: Pac's Life / Average Sputnik rating: 3.42 / Tupac Shakur (June 16, 1971 ? September 13, 1996) was an American rapper and one of history's most successful both commercially and critically. Also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, Tupac's songs are renowned for describing the violence and hardships in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Tupac is the highest-selling hip hop artist in history, with over seventy five million albums sold worldwide, including over fifty million in the United States.
9Mr. Bungle

Round 9, 2nd Place - Latest album: California / Average Sputnik rating: 3.61 / Mr. Bungle are an experimental band, consisting of guitarist Trey Spruance, drummer Danny Heifetz, bassist Trevor Dunn, alto sax player Theo Lengel, tenor sax player Clinton McKinnon and vocalist Mike Patton. Creating eclectic, abstract music happens to be their specialty. Mr. Bungle, the first release from the band, featured rapid changes in music along with encompassing many different styles. This would later pave the way for 1995's Disco Volante, their least accessible album to date. California, the band's last release, features songs in the styles of the beach boys, the entire album being based mainly off the eponymous state. There are mixed feelings in the band getting back together, some members saying it could happen, and some denying these claims.
10The Beatles

Round 10, 2nd Place - Latest album: The Remasters / Average Sputnik rating: 3.64 / The single biggest band of all time, The Beatles need no introduction. Over 30 years after their split, the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death made global headlines this year, just months after Paul McCartney opened and closed London's Live 8 extravaganza. In other words, even though we're now a long way past the band's existence, their legacy is virtually incalculable.
11Napalm Death

Round 11, 2nd Place - Latest album: Time Waits For No Slave / Average Sputnik rating: 3.66 / Napalm Death are an English Grindcore band. They are noted for being the first band to play the style of grindcore. The band was formed in the village of Meriden (near Birmingham), England in May 1981 by Nicholas Bullen and Miles Ratledge. Although other groups had previously played fast and aggressive music with a similar style, Napalm Death are credited with defining the grindcore genre through their blend of post-punk, hardcore punk and metal musical structures, aggressive playing, short song lengths, fast tempos, and deep guttural vocals. The group coined the term 'grind' to describe the music they played with particular reference to the sound of American post-punk group Swans.
12Propagandhi

Round 12, 2nd Place - Latest album: Supporting Caste / Average Sputnik rating: 3.82 / Formed in Winnipeg, Canada in 1989, Propagandhi is currently comprised of Chris Hannah (a.k.a. Glen Lambert guitar, vox), Todd "The Rod" Kowalski (bass, vox), David Guillas (a.k.a. The Beaver, guitar) and Jord Samolesky (drums, backup vox). One of Fat Wreck Chords first bands, Propagandhi mixes the Epi/Fat mid-90's punk rock sound with some 80's thrash and prog-rock song structures and musicianship, along with militant left-wing polemical lyrics. Engaging, intelligent, and most importantly, ROCKING, Propagandhi is essential.
13Joe Satriani

Round 13, 2nd Place - Latest album: Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock / Average Sputnik rating: 3.88 / Along with teaching some of the top rock guitar players of the '80s and '90s, Joe Satriani is one of the most technically accomplished and widely respected guitarists to emerge in recent times. Born on July 15, 1956, in Westbury, NY, and raised in the nearby town of Carle Place, Satriani -- inspired by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix -- picked up the guitar at the age of 14 (although he was initially more interested in the drums). Quickly learning the instrument, Satriani began teaching guitar to others and found a kindred spirit in one of his students, Steve Vai. By the late '70s, however, Satriani had relocated to Berkeley, CA. With his sights set on his own musical career, "Satch" kept teaching others, including such future rock notables as Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Larry LaLonde (Primus), David Bryson (Counting Crows), and jazz fusion player Charlie Hunter.
14King Crimson

Round 14, 2nd Place - Latest album: The Collectable King Crimson, Vol. 1 / Average Sputnik rating: 3.68 / King Crimson is one of the most innovative and enduring bands of the 20th century. Despite breaking up two separate times, the band continues, because, as Robert Fripp puts it, "King Crimson has a life of its own. It is a creative identity quite apart from the musicians who comprise it." The first incarnation of King Crimson was born in late 1968. By July, 1969, they were playing the famous Hyde Park free concert in London, lead by the Rolling Stones, only their seventh gig. And by October they had already released In the Court of the Crimson King, a groundbreaking album that set the bar for progressive rock for years to come. Their debut incorporated jazz fusion, epic Mellotron, proto-metal, and innovatively nightmarish themes into their lyrics.
15Between The Buried And Me

Round 15, 2nd Place - Latest album: The Great Misdirect / Average Sputnik rating: 3.9 / Between The Buried and Me gained respect in both Hardcore/Metalcore crowds and in the Metal scene with their self titled debut LP. The group are from North Carolina and signed to Victory Records, home to many popular hardcore acts. Between The Buried and Me have an extremely unique sound with the melding of styles that they use. But not only do they meld these styles well, they have mastered every single style that they incorporate into their sound. This is a rare feat for a band at their age. Between The Buried and Me show a diversity in their music, similar to bands like Opeth and The Dillinger Escape Plan, although their overall sound isn't completely similar to either band. At the same time, it has a very interesting synth style possibly like that of Dream Theater and Kamelot. All in all, they are for sure to be somewhere out of most newer bands' league.
16Wu-Tang Clan

Round 16, 2nd Place -
Latest album: 8 Diagrams / Average Sputnik rating: 3.74 / The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip collective of nine New York rappers, legendary for their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). With 36 Chambers, and early Wu solo albums, they changed the face of rap, introducing surreal lyricism and RZA's production techniques ranged from raw to cinematic. The members are GZA/Genius, RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and U-God. As the 90s progressed, their group and solo efforts became less critically acclaimed, and faded out of the spotlight for a while. Their popularity resurged with more recent releases getting attention, with Ghostface's Fishscale, Masta Killa's No Said Date. The renewed interest lead to their 2007 group album 8 Diagrams, their first since ODB's death in 2004, and 6 years since their last.
17Coheed and Cambria

Round 17, 2nd Place - Latest album: Neverender DVD / Average Sputnik rating: 3.98 / Coheed and Cambria were formed in 2000 out of the remains of the band Shabutie. Singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez recruited Mic Todd (bass), Travis Stever (guitar) and Joshua Eppard (drums) to form Coheed and Cambria. Two years later their debut, "The Second Stage Turbine Blade," was released on Equal Vision, which gathered a lot of fans quite fast. Formed around the story of the couple Coheed and Cambria, this album was the first chapter (actually the second, a prequel is to come in the future) of the ongoing tale told in the concept albums the band releases. After excessive touring and a near breakup, the follow up album was recorded in 2003, entitled "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3". The album displayed pop punk-like songs, next to Rush tinged progressive rock songs
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