Witherfall : "Sounds of the Forgotten"

 

These guys are one of the few bands doing this sort of thing that gets it right. I think it is because they are not skimping on the thrash side of the genre, which gives them a darker, more aggressive sound. Joesph Micheal took the mantle from Wurrel Dane on the last Sanctuary tour I caught, so this makes sense. Though on the other side of the coin, they also like their power ballads, so that brings them back toward the power metal status quo. To their credit despite the more Bon Jovie moments of the song they do build it up to a heavy enough place for my liking. With the first two songs, drummer Chris Tsaganeas proves himself capable of sitting alongside any metal drummer doing it today.

Things get darker to the point of almost sonically neighboring King Diamond on "Insidious". The neo-classical touches to the guitar playing aid in this. It is well-written and balances flash with head-banging grit. "Ceremony of Fire " is a more rapid-fire affair that could spark Sanctuary comparisons. Though it also has a more anthemic Judas Priest feel. Another factor that plays to their fact is that Micheal's voice carries a piercing menace rather than sounding like Boston or Journey. Which is too mainstream radio for me. That kind of music is too feel-good. I can't relate to that I want to feel bad about music. So far they have not crossed the line into feel-good music. 

The title track works well enough as the previous one, I appreciate where they are going into the chorus as it has a big anthemic quality, but not too feel-good. There are these minute-and-a-half interludes on this album that are more like theatrical bridges rather than songs, so I am not counting them when it comes to this review. "When It All Falls Away" starts off more like a ballad. It is very 80s, as it could have been any band from LA in the late 80s. that was labeled as metal. His singing is impressive but I wish they had come in kicking ass with it. Great guitar playing, but the song is less driven and focused. 

"Opulent" is more of a guitar showcase. It confirms they can play flamenco guitar in case you were wondering. They close the album with the ten-minute "What Have You Done". If it had been a ten-minute power-ballad that would have been a deal breaker. The vocals do have a more melodic and flowing pattern to the verses. The chorus is as soaring as you might expect a band like this to go for. Almost operatic in the manner this is approached. They do get their feet under the song and get into the chugs and gallops as needed. Around the 7-minute mark when things drop all the way down, it works well enough, they could have had more of a jammy feel coming out of it., though they do capture this as the song comes to its climax.  I will give this album a 9 and see how it sits with me. 

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the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers- 60 to 51

Now we are getting deeper into the second half of the list, harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself  in what we are doing here which is  focusing  not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists. 

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

60-Warrel Dane 

The late  Nevermore / Sanctuary singer was a myriad of shifting registers that held dramatic power, but rather than sounding too triumphant and happy there was something dark and bleak to his delivery which appealed more to me.

   

59 Tracy Chapman

Like many artists so far on this list if you judge them by their radio hits, then you only know a fraction of what they are capable of. Sure her hits give you a glimpse of her urgent alto, but they do not show you the full scope of her voice and the emotional colors at her command.

   

 58-Lauren Mayberry

 Seeing her band Chvrches live, you can hear how it is the opposite of most pop music , she is holding back in the studio. One of the best live bands I saw last year and she is a pivotal force of their sound.

 

57- Mark Lanegan 

 He took what Leonard Cohen did and made it rock. His brooding gravely voice is the sound of your soul exhaling it's last joint. The darkness inside him was more introspective than that of Alice in Chains or the other Seattle scenesters, Mark was not tied to a scene but timeless.

   

56- Robert Smith

If you have not already noticed singers on this list and though that it was odd I had not ranked them higher due to how much I like them, then this one will really high light the fact this is not a list of my favorite singers but a judging based on the merit of their pipes, which I feel Smith's are overlooked ,however he is good at what he does, if he covers say Zeppelin it is going to sound like a Cure song not Led Zepplin as he sticks close to his range of sound, which is beautifully glum.

   

 55- Glenn Danzig

Some of you are wondering how I ranked Danzig higher than Robert Smith. Well his voice is more powerful. Robert is more emotive, but I would not want to hear him sing the Misfits. Now Danzig might have shit the bed on his album of Elvis covers, so it is everything else that got him to this place on the list.

   

 54- Joni Mitchell

 She might be a folk singer, but she knows how to emulate jazz phrasing with her voice. She has a very original style of singing that is all her own. Sure the Counting Crows might try to rip her off, and Sheryl Crow might owe her career to her, but there is something very pure to Joni's voice that can not be denied.

   

 53-Annie Lennox 

 Her wide range only extends the manner with which she can play the 80s diva role with. Her alto is androgynous as her look. Her solo work stood up against her 80s classics.

   

 52- Ozzy Osbourne 

 Most conversations regarding the Ozz-man have to do with his Sabbath days. While he knocked the hell out of notes on Hole in the Sky, lets talk about his solo work where he covered a lot more ground and settled into his role as being a mad man so he uses his voice to convey the desperation needed to make you a believer.  

 51-Miley Cyrus

 She is not just Hannah Montana gone wild and twerking, in fact that has nothing to do with her voice. The fact she tackles songs by Led Zeppelin, Metallica and the Cocteau Twins live is a testament to the range of what she can do as the powerhouse of singer she is. I tried to put Ozzy in the spot of above her , but there was no way I could be honest with myself and say that was real.