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[miko2]

Today's Song: Weight of the World by Evanescense

Since I'm in a Goth metal mood I might as well feature a song by one of the biggest bands in the genre. Technically Evanescense is more of a "Gothic rock" band than a metal band... but they're unique for a couple of reasons. One is that they are actually an American band, from Little Rock, Arkansas in fact, playing in a genre that is almost entirely dominated by European bands. Despite this, they are one of the most popular and biggest-selling bands in the entire genre. Fans of the genre often are down on Amy Lee, partly because her band is not a real heavy metal band, partly because she really doesn't have the vocal range of many of the other female vocalists in the genre, and partly just because her band is so popular. She tends to have a lot of fanatical fans who insist that Amy is the best vocalist they've ever heard, which rubs other fans the wrong way. You know what fandom is like.

But it's difficult to deny that what Amy and her band do, they do very well. Weight of the World is one of my favorite tracks from their most recent cd.

Evanescense - Weight of the World (videoless video)
Evanescense - Call Me When You're Sober

Evanescense @ myspace

Speaking of Gothic metal bands and amazing vocalists... people have been wondering for 2-3 years what Nightwish will sound like without their former lead vocalist Tarja Turunen. Tarja was one of the founding members of the band and her Operatic vocals were a huge part of their sound, but the band fired her for reasons that get disputed quite a bit. In any case, the band set about searching for a new vocalist, and to the surprise of many stated that they didn't require her to have the same Operatic range as Tarja, or to be Finnish. They just wanted someone with a good voice.

Their new vocalist Anette Olzen comes from Sweden. No, she sounds nothing like Tarja. She's never been in a band before, but she does have an extensive background in singing. She has, I would say, more of a "rock" vocal style, and sings in a somewhat lower register than Tarja, but she clearly has a strong voice and sounds quite good. Less ethereal, more earthy, I guess I'd say. She was announced as the new singer on May 24, 2007, and wasting no time at all the band has already finished up their new cd, which is due out in September. The first video already is out so you can decided how much they've changed, or not changed:

Nightwish - Amaranth (with their new singer Annette)

Since fans can't help but compare the two: Anette vs. Tarja (This is just one of several videos on Youtube on the same theme).

You're never going to please all of the fans, but I think Nightwish is going to be just fine. ^_^

This video still makes me laugh: Nightwish - Wishmaster (the misheard lyrics)

A not-bad "misheard lyrics" treatment of Amaranth