4040
Greg Clayman
@clayman #4040
OG web3 talent guy (ex-a16z, Chapter One, Google, lotsa startups), trivia nerd, metalhead
368 Follower 210 Following
I guess we get Moxie for sharing today. And I don’t have any Moxie, so this is exciting
One of my favorite vocal performances.
Ascendia released one absolutely killer album ~10 years ago and have been dicking around making terrible pop/metal lately. Haven't released a second album yet but based on some of the clips I've seen, I don't even know if it'd be listenable
Ascendia - At The End Of It All:
https://youtu.be/AAJu0JEazw8?feature=shared
Ascendia released one absolutely killer album ~10 years ago and have been dicking around making terrible pop/metal lately. Haven't released a second album yet but based on some of the clips I've seen, I don't even know if it'd be listenable
Ascendia - At The End Of It All:
https://youtu.be/AAJu0JEazw8?feature=shared
On /r/powermetal on Reddit, someone asked everyone’s favorite power metal albums from 2020-2023.
This was my list. Pretty weak, to be honest. Though 2024 has been solid - Sonata Arctica and Myrath are both my new #1 and #2 for this decade on this list.
Still a lot better prog and power metal-adjacent than pure power metal this decade though.
This was my list. Pretty weak, to be honest. Though 2024 has been solid - Sonata Arctica and Myrath are both my new #1 and #2 for this decade on this list.
Still a lot better prog and power metal-adjacent than pure power metal this decade though.
New Dragony album dropped today and my first impression is that it's not terrible!
Dragony - Dreamchasers
https://youtu.be/KB1JY2a2LMY?feature=shared
Dragony - Dreamchasers
https://youtu.be/KB1JY2a2LMY?feature=shared
Ayreon announcing more live shows in September 2025!
https://youtu.be/uxrPI9heYIM?si=rSZQKvGOiefYwdY9
I’ve done the VIP thing for two of the previous three but I think I’m likely skipping this one, unfortunately. Have ProgPower the week before (though in the past I’ve done both) and not having worked since June means a depleted bank account, wompwomp
https://youtu.be/uxrPI9heYIM?si=rSZQKvGOiefYwdY9
I’ve done the VIP thing for two of the previous three but I think I’m likely skipping this one, unfortunately. Have ProgPower the week before (though in the past I’ve done both) and not having worked since June means a depleted bank account, wompwomp
Been playing this every day but sharing for the first time.
Not a movie buff at all (and haven’t even seen 95% of these movies) but I’ve one or two guessed all of them so far; haven’t missed yet!
Not a movie buff at all (and haven’t even seen 95% of these movies) but I’ve one or two guessed all of them so far; haven’t missed yet!
Getting crushed at the casino this week and this has become my go-to rage-in-the-car-on-the-drive-home song
https://youtu.be/91mBYino-oU?si=WRmhst61N66iAb_0
https://youtu.be/91mBYino-oU?si=WRmhst61N66iAb_0
Veonity dropped their new lyric video for 'Carry On' today.
At one time these guys were one of my favorite bands but the last two (or three? I lost count) albums have been soooo generic. Not much to see here either, but if you want straightforward power metal, here ya go:
https://youtu.be/TgY45Mv-YLo?feature=shared
At one time these guys were one of my favorite bands but the last two (or three? I lost count) albums have been soooo generic. Not much to see here either, but if you want straightforward power metal, here ya go:
https://youtu.be/TgY45Mv-YLo?feature=shared
Borealis released this album two years ago today.
This track is one of my all-time favorite vocal performances. Matt Marinelli is the closest vocal comparison we have to Russell Allen, though there are times I prefer Matt’s tone even more (Russell has way better highs and vibrato though)
https://youtu.be/eiA99ht0ffs?si=7i-oM2f4bRmAqElg
This track is one of my all-time favorite vocal performances. Matt Marinelli is the closest vocal comparison we have to Russell Allen, though there are times I prefer Matt’s tone even more (Russell has way better highs and vibrato though)
https://youtu.be/eiA99ht0ffs?si=7i-oM2f4bRmAqElg
Went from chip leader to out in 3 hands in the WSOPC HORSE tourney yesterday taking arguably the most brutal beat of my life. Finished 19th or so when top 12 cashed.
Lost to a one-outer in seven card stud. Woman called all the way down drawing to a gutshot straight flush draw (I had made the nut flush on 5th) and peeled the 7 of spades to complete the straight flush on 7th.
Back to the casino in an hour to try to win another ring. This time in Triple Draw.
Lost to a one-outer in seven card stud. Woman called all the way down drawing to a gutshot straight flush draw (I had made the nut flush on 5th) and peeled the 7 of spades to complete the straight flush on 7th.
Back to the casino in an hour to try to win another ring. This time in Triple Draw.
About to start a long week at the casino for some World Series of Poker Circuit events and I have the exact same routine every time I go - which means wearing the same clothes, driving the exact same route, and listening to the same album as when I won my first major tournament.
The drive is ~45 minutes and I always listen to Parius - The Signal Heard Throughout Space.
When I get to the casino, this song - my ultimate hype song - should be playing:
https://youtu.be/z1ZPwjo1Y-M?si=pz5nJNmlqUouXOXM
The drive is ~45 minutes and I always listen to Parius - The Signal Heard Throughout Space.
When I get to the casino, this song - my ultimate hype song - should be playing:
https://youtu.be/z1ZPwjo1Y-M?si=pz5nJNmlqUouXOXM
Never had the opportunity to see Maraton, but TEMIC is playing ProgPower next year and that’s close enough, I guess
https://youtu.be/bkoVBcRQ24g?si=-RZcXu_8dkEc1bDy
https://youtu.be/bkoVBcRQ24g?si=-RZcXu_8dkEc1bDy
Been spending a lot of time in casinos this year and this song should scare me off but. . .it’s so catchy!
At some point I’ll heed the advice though:
Rage - 21
https://youtu.be/UArZqdKjQoo?si=Yomv3THkicpHiXpt
At some point I’ll heed the advice though:
Rage - 21
https://youtu.be/UArZqdKjQoo?si=Yomv3THkicpHiXpt
This song gets stuck in my head at the most random times:
Stormwarrior - Heading Northe
https://youtu.be/kWXS8zLeJ1o?feature=shared
Stormwarrior - Heading Northe
https://youtu.be/kWXS8zLeJ1o?feature=shared
Gave it a couple of playthroughs and the new Kingcrow album is very okay. Going to lump 'em all together here, but I find literally every Italian metal band to be super inconsistent; moments of greatness and then moments of mediocrity littered in the albums.
This was the first single from the new album:
Kingcrow - Kintsugi
https://youtu.be/h3leHXJwwds
This was the first single from the new album:
Kingcrow - Kintsugi
https://youtu.be/h3leHXJwwds
First track that stuck out to me on the new Bent Knee album.
I’m not even sure if they’re metal anymore, but 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Bent Knee - Illiterate
https://youtu.be/e-8jEFxSBlc?si=-PA8BHwEwICX2ck4
I’m not even sure if they’re metal anymore, but 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Bent Knee - Illiterate
https://youtu.be/e-8jEFxSBlc?si=-PA8BHwEwICX2ck4
Got through some of the new releases I’ve neglected and Leprous, Bent Knee, and Kingcrow are all really solid. I’m going to have to give them a few more plays because I’m not sure where I stand with them yet w/r/t my other top albums this year though.
Anyone here have opinions around the albums of the year yet?
Anyone here have opinions around the albums of the year yet?
Have a nice long flight tomorrow and excited to use it to catch up on a bunch of albums that dropped recently that I haven’t had the chance to check out yet.
Very little chance anything overtakes Azure for AotY, but looking forward to hearing the new stuff from Leprous, Bent Knee, Oceans of Slumber, Wintersun, etc. that I’ve been neglecting
Very little chance anything overtakes Azure for AotY, but looking forward to hearing the new stuff from Leprous, Bent Knee, Oceans of Slumber, Wintersun, etc. that I’ve been neglecting
Majestica is opening Day 3 of ProgPower 2025
This is going to be a blast. Hell of a way to open a festival
Majestica - Above The Sky
https://youtu.be/yt9Ma1W_0wI?si=x3SxUFKJui41tdsm
This is going to be a blast. Hell of a way to open a festival
Majestica - Above The Sky
https://youtu.be/yt9Ma1W_0wI?si=x3SxUFKJui41tdsm
Sonata Arctica is headlining Day 2 of ProgPower 2025.
For a long time (maybe 2001-2011ish), they were my favorite band. Have seen them live 10 times, but the last time was in 2014. Their latest album is a phenomenal return to form and I’m excited to see them play some tracks from it live next year.
And ‘White Pearl, Black Oceans’ is, and probably always will be, my all-time favorite song
https://youtu.be/uzxsxW0wBDA?si=0zjgGswrCaII2oar
For a long time (maybe 2001-2011ish), they were my favorite band. Have seen them live 10 times, but the last time was in 2014. Their latest album is a phenomenal return to form and I’m excited to see them play some tracks from it live next year.
And ‘White Pearl, Black Oceans’ is, and probably always will be, my all-time favorite song
https://youtu.be/uzxsxW0wBDA?si=0zjgGswrCaII2oar
Probably my favorite drum playthrough video ever. And, IMO, it’s VOLA’s best track.
VOLA is the 5th band playing Day 2 of ProgPower 2025. Returning after only a year away (most requested band in the festival’s history, I believe I read)
https://youtu.be/I4L7vOpz21U?si=dCWTG4foDtC6-mC4
VOLA is the 5th band playing Day 2 of ProgPower 2025. Returning after only a year away (most requested band in the festival’s history, I believe I read)
https://youtu.be/I4L7vOpz21U?si=dCWTG4foDtC6-mC4
Iron Savior is the fourth band performing on Day 2 of ProgPower 2025.
Never had the opportunity to see them and pretty excited for this. I get that a lot of their songs sound similar, but this track has always stood out for me. Absolutely love the chorus.
Iron Savior - Thunder from the Mountains
https://youtu.be/Cdu0FRk_0Uk?feature=shared
Never had the opportunity to see them and pretty excited for this. I get that a lot of their songs sound similar, but this track has always stood out for me. Absolutely love the chorus.
Iron Savior - Thunder from the Mountains
https://youtu.be/Cdu0FRk_0Uk?feature=shared
The Ocean is the third band performing on Day 2 of ProgPower 2025.
Video is 13+ minutes long, but well worth it. Not even a huge fan of their music, but can't deny that they're one of the best live acts in metal these days
The Ocean - Jurassic | Cretaceous (live)
https://youtu.be/_zpJgqJs35A?feature=shared
Video is 13+ minutes long, but well worth it. Not even a huge fan of their music, but can't deny that they're one of the best live acts in metal these days
The Ocean - Jurassic | Cretaceous (live)
https://youtu.be/_zpJgqJs35A?feature=shared