Ragen

I don't own any pure guitar albums, even though I play guitar. I'd like to but I'm always short for cash so it often isn't an option. If I could I'd look into John Petrucci's solo work and Guthrie Govan. bUZK9dasP8s&

Creative Zen Stone Plus. No fancy lists for artists, genres, etc but it has a shuffle mode, you can select albums from a list and it has a small screen that gives you the song title. All you need for about £30-£40. Only problem is that the stock headphones lose the comfortable furry bit that protects your ears. They are still usable after this falls off but it's a little bit annoying.

I heard the first 4 seconds and knew this would be good. Very tight rhythm section, great power metal vocals and some ace riffs. The breakdown and solo stood out for me, I doubt I could pull of the licks you did there. And I know I couldn't write a song anywhere near as good as this.

Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory Possibly my favourite album. It's not the best musically, although it's up there. Nothing compares to it though in terms of the atmosphere felt through the album. It feels alive, as though the music tells the story. The ending track is so epic it's mindblowing.

They are good starter amps. Mine couldn't keep up with my drummer (he's exceptionally loud) but they are great for everything up to and including busking. I really should invest in a new power supply for it, it's been kicking around my room for months with nothing to power it.

Absolutally brilliant. I saw them on the Unholy Alliance tour and they played my perfect AA set. Death in Fire, Twilight of the Thunder God, Freewill Sacrifice, Cry of the Blackbirds, The Pursuit of Vikings. I was in heaven.

The Bezerker? Guessing you already know of them but they are the only grindcore band I ever got into. Something different - try Between the Buried and Me. Great music, nevermind great metal. Pick up Colors. You could also try Strapping Young Lad if your into something more industrial.

Between the Buried and Me - Ants of the Sky

Dream Theater - Misunderstood

Only way to find out which strings you like is to buy a pair and try them out. If you're using an Electric I recommend Ernie Ball Strings for long lasting, high quality strings. The gauge will depend on what tuning you play in and your preference. Start off with .10's and try out .9's and .11's too. If you detune, you might want to try out .12's and .13's as well. For acoustics, I use .14's Martins. Not that I ever change my acoustic strings (as in 2+ years since the last change).

Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons Absolutally godly piece of music. Favourite ever.

Absolutally +1 on the guy who posted 10000 Days by Tool. My contributions: Dream Theater a Change of Seasons [hide=]I remember a time My frail, virgin mind Watched the crimson sunrise Imagined what it might find Life was filled with wonder I felt the warm wind blow I must explore the boundaries Transcend the depth of winter's snow I'll always remember The chill of November The news of the fall The sounds in the hall The clock on the wall Ticking away "Seize the Day" I heard him say Life will not always be this way Look around Hear the sounds Cherish your life While you're still around I sit down with my son Set to see the Crimson Sunset (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) Many years have come and gone I've lived my life, but now must move on (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) He's my only one Now that my time has come Now that my life is done We look into the sun "Seize the day And don't you cry Now it's time To say good-bye Even though I'll be gone I will live on Live on" Chose only my favourite bits of the song.[/hide] The Bezerker - Reality [hide=]The uncreative juices flow from all but a selective few and even those they tend to be wasted, you have taken pride in a lifeform that you think you know but what you do not know is it's rotting, it is so unfortunate that this is how our world must be but why must i accept reality, is this reality? how can i exist amongst you people when i feel this way when all that seems so wrong is everywhere, A world without substance feeling so superior i am discontent with lies and with ineffective lives, should i grieve for mankind or live out my life to be free of pain i'll want it back again, so to be one with man i must be false to myself any effort's futile for my life is just mine, i have visions of worlds that are unparalleled my attempts are in vain to walk this earth without shame, for being human, This is my reality and you do not have to accept it you are only human with excuses and complaints, couldn't you be something greater come on now you know the answer you are so absorbed with your own pathetic lives, why should i feel pity for you i don't think i know the answer, have you ever thought about opening your closed eyes, what is it that you're afraid of, don't you want to see yourself, couldn't bear to see yourself as i see you.[/hide] Those lyrics scared the hell out of me when I first read them and made me really consider what I was spending my life doing. Wasn't a pretty picture.

Mayhem - Freezing Moon Quality black metal song.

Seems like a lot of mainstream metal to me. Have you heard of melodeth (the genre)? It's a bit heavier than the stuff you're listening to but still has some catchy hooks which make it easier listening than straight up Death metal. Try Arch Enemy, In Flames, Amon Amarth and Children of Bodom for some still fairly mainstream but decent metal bands.

Electric Wizard are awesome stoner metal. Pick up Dopethrone for some crushing rif[bleep]e.

Gotta +1 this. This could be the perfect song in my opinion. Took me a few listens to get it but I absolutally love every moment of this song. The transitions between sections are perfect and the music is just quality.

Haven't done this for a good few months (or at least it feels that way). Devin Townsend Book of Job (local band) Nile Slayer Mastodon Electric Wizard Dream Theater Opeth Machine Head Tenacious D

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath. Picked up the album for £4.

I did. There was a few others in the cinema who did likewise. I admittedly looked more like a character from Men in Black than James bond though.

By Bourne action do you mean way too much shakey camera? If so then I agree, it did use that effect a bit too much (I find it hard to follow the action when it's used so using it at all is too much for me). I thought this film was pretty weak compared to Casino Royal but still kind of enjoyable. I gave it 6/10.

I'm not a massive Trivium fan, however I think Shogun was a solid effort. Not as good as Ascendancy but there were a few goodish songs. Best album of the year for me would be Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God or Protest the Hero - Fortress. I agree that it was a pretty poor year for metal though.

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone (Album) This is some of the heaviest stuff I've heard.

Tool - 10000 Days

The second one by far. The first seemed a bit too simple and without vocals/ awesome drums there just wasn't enough going on. Is the recording going to be done properly? As in with real guitar's, bass and drums? Because I doubt people would pay any money for something programmed in that manner, especially if there is no vocals.