Best Unknown Bands and Artists

[Soul Reaper]

Who are the best signed bands or artists who are not generally known by the majority of music fans out there?

For example, Freak Kitchen.

[nosuchluck]

Brett Garsed & TJ Helmerich

[Soul Reaper]

He's not alive but Danny Gatton is one of the best 'unknown' guitarists.

http://www.larryhosford.com/Danny%20Gatton.gif

[Soul Reaper]

Loudness. They're big in Japan, not anywhere else. They influenced bands like Racer X and Dokken, so they've been around for a long time.

Their guitarist Akira Takasaki:

http://www.tricycle.co.jp/tricycle/artist/takasaki%20akira/takasaki.jpg

[Soul Reaper]

Picture on the back of one of their albums:

http://www.shinforce.com/cool/music/Loudness-TITE-b.jpg

[Jesterstar]

Necro...........Check him out at Necrohiphop.com. He runs his own business. he does it all on his own.

[nosuchluck]

Planet X - awesome instrumental progressive rock.

has Derek Sherinian, Tony Macalpine and Virgil Donati.

[secrets]

Riverside.

Only heard one of their songs but I really liked it.

[secrets]

You can get reviews and listen to Riverside here:

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=6315#rev iews

I'm getting their album.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Secrets, Soul Reaper-Why haven't you said Ozrics?

Dragonforce, Spock's Beard/Neal Morse, Motorhead (after Ace Of Spades), Symphony X, Shadow Gallery, A.C.T., just about any prog band from the last 20 years. Any band who can write/play prog deserves more respect than they get. In terms of rock music, it is very difficult to play/write.

Actually, I have heard of Loudness-there is a very short clip of them on the LIVE AID DVD. It was quite good, actually.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
Secrets, Soul Reaper-Why haven't you said Ozrics?


Shaun, my avatar says it already.

I've been promoting Ozrics here for ages anyway.

Good call though.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Yes, but in this thread, people might take more notice, because it's the reason behind the thing.

[secrets]

OK then:

OZRIC TENTACLES are simply put, legends of the UK underground. Inspired by a myriad of musical genres and musicians from Kraut-rockers KRAAN to guitar maestro Steve VAI, from ethnic Arabic to electronic techno, from HENDRIX to HILLAGE. OZRIC TENTACLES' music is a fusion of sounds, styles and genres that cannot be categorized nor plagiarized, such is its complexity.

Go here and find out more:

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=281

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Very Good!!!


Seriously, though, folks, they do kick ass, click on Secrets' link.

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
Secrets, Soul Reaper-Why haven't you said Ozrics

oops!!!

I was going to mention them but I didn't have enough time.

[Jano]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Picture on the back of one of their albums:

http://www.shinforce.com/cool/music/Loudness-TITE-b.jpg
Loudness was pretty big in France back them,Akira is a killer guitarist !!!
Roth on Soul reaper!

[Jano]

A big vote for you bro!!!

[Soul Reaper]

5 stars for you Jano. For knowing who Loudness are and liking them.

[nosuchluck]

like Shaun said...most prog bands would warrant a mention here. so lets try to mention non-prog bands....if thats possible!

[distortion9]

The Lizards (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lizards)

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Whitesnake pre-1987

[nosuchluck]

Budgie. they're not unknown, but they're hardly ever mentioned.

[nosuchluck]

Mercyful Fate - again, this isn't an unknown band, but few know about how much this band influenced Metallica's sound. their vocalist, King Diamond, is pretty annoying though...

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Budgie-that's a good point. 'Breadfan' has to be one of the best riffs ever, and 'In For The Kill' is a classic.

Actually, this thread is starting to sound like the 'Most Underated' thread now. Let's stick to unknown in the true sense of the word.

[Hollywood Jesus]

Loudness?

I have their mid-'80s US release and it kicks ass.

I had them down as one-release bands like Pretty Boy Floyd.

[Jano]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
Mercyful Fate - again, this isn't an unknown band, but few know about how much this band influenced Metallica's sound. their vocalist, King Diamond, is pretty annoying though...

Cool someone knows Merciful Fate,i've got the cover of "Don't break the oath" tatooed on my left arm.
Killer band and some fucking awesome musician every single one of it!!!

[nosuchluck]

Metallica just ripped off their sound! awesome band, but i cant stand King Diamond's falsetto voice...

[Jano]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
Metallica just ripped off their sound! awesome band, but i cant stand King Diamond's falsetto voice...

I understand,king Diamond voice is very special.You like it or you hate it!

[nosuchluck]

i could get past it for a while - but "Melissa" was just too hard to handle.

[Jano]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
i could get past it for a while - but "Melissa" was just too hard to handle.
Anyway do you know what's King Diamond do right now?

[Big Train]

A current band I am a big fan of is Grady, from Austin. It is Chris Layton's (of Double Trouble fame) new band. They are without a deal, but expanding rapidly. The sound to me is Soundgarden doing a blues album after practicing for a few years...

They are on Itunes and

www.shadygrady.net

[nosuchluck]

Originally posted by Jano
Anyway do you know what's King Diamond do right now?

honestly, i have no idea. last i heard, i think they were releasing some Mercyful Fate and King Diamond DVDs...

[Soul Reaper]

I've heard of a band called Diamond Head, but I don't know what they're like.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Diamond Head have been going for years (from the NWOBHM, to be precise).

Metallica covered about 4 or 5 songs on Garage, Inc.

Apparently, they supported Megadeth in London.

Am I Evil? is a popular Metal song.

They often pop up on compilations.

[nosuchluck]

Jeff Healey.

[secrets]

I recently got the album Out of Myself by a group called Riverside.

It's worth getting, especially if you like melodic and progressive rock.

Reminds me of some of my favourite bands: Marillion, Pink Floyd, Dream Theater.

The liner notes read:

'Riverside has created an emotional musical journey through dark and moody atmospheres that find kindred spirits in Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Anathema and Pink Floyd.'

Good stuff.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by secrets

The liner notes read:

'Riverside has created an emotional musical journey through dark and moody atmospheres that find kindred spirits in PORCUPINE TREE , Opeth, Anathema and Pink Floyd.'



PORCUPINE TREE

I was just about to say Porcupine Tree. Excellent band. Steve Wilson is great. Actually, I'm off to see them in Manchester tommorrow night.

[nosuchluck]

great choice. Porcupine Tree is a fine band.

[Soul Reaper]

Marillion?

Are they any good?

I've only heard of them. I haven't listened to any music!

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Marillion are a very popular prog band from the 1980's (they even had a number of hit singles when Fish was in them). We had a number of discussions about them in the prog thread. In fact, they released their first proper album in a while last year (they've been doing stuff over the interweb previously), and got a no. 7 hit single out of it. Not bad, eh, considering they are prog?

Actually, there was a programme on MTV2 at 6.30pm tonight called 'Let There Be Prog', and I just missed it, so I don't know who was on it (goddamn, it!!).

As for what the Porcupine Tree were like on Wednesday night, see the prog thread for a review (plus, a Floyd article with the headline "Pink Floyd Are Not Calling It Quits" according to Nick Mason, anyway.).

[secrets]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Marillion?

Are they any good?

I've only heard of them. I haven't listened to any music!

:eek:

Marillion (Fish era) were an excellent band. Really unique.

'Misplaced Childhood' is genius.

'Script for a Jester's Tear' is also excellent.