Guestbook Click here to sign Darren visited on 8/10/2004 at 4:46:48 PM I saw this band a few times at the Starland Ballroom and out of curiosity, decided to visit this site finally. I’ve been reading some of the posts here the last few days and I can say that there are some valid points on both sides of this discussion. Ultimately, it’s the listener who decides what a band sounds like, so there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to that. I hear not only the Maiden and Priest references but also Fates Warning besides the countless other metal bands. I do hear a bit of Metallica in their song “Spark of Ire” in the verse rhythm part. Being a musician myself, what I can’t believe is that some of the people who are posting here are telling this band who their influences are. Only the band knows who they are. I have been playing original hard rock and metal music for over 30 years but I have been listening to and been influenced by mostly jazz music and jazz guitarists all my life. You won’t hear those influences in my music. As someone said in one of the other posts, being influenced by someone does not mean playing exactly like them. You take all your influences and mix them all together. What I think this band does is use their influences wisely. Some parts, a flash of Maiden can be recalled and sometimes I do hear a note of Thin Lizzy or Celtic music. Maybe a metal band influenced by Thin Lizzy comes across as Maiden. Who knows? I’ve also heard a bit of Motorhead, and Megadeth at their live shows. After seeing this band, they are a much better live then their demo shows. I take demos for what they are, just a demo. From what I understand, this demo was done over a year ago so they did have time to grow. What I would like to hear is their cd that they are recording now and then a better judgment can be made on their sound. Some of their songs do need a bit of a boost but what I do like about their songs is that they don’t sing the chorus over and over. This is something that not many bands do. But they do need “THE” song to further themselves away from the pack. Commenting on Liam’s post, if the drummer did do the fills that he suggested, the band would really sound like Iron Maiden. Concerning the drums, I don’t know if it was done on purpose or not but taking a step backwards and providing just a solid background maybe best for them at this point. The singer also sounds better when I saw them then on the demo. Though he once or twice sounded a bit weak on his screams, he did have decent range and he doesn’t use those vocal pedals that seem to be the rage lately where anyone could come across as Rob Halford. I also do agree that some of their titles are a bit cliché such as “Steel Angels”. These kinds of titles were cliché back in the ‘80’s but bands like Hammerfall and Wolf seem to be bringing this style back. Maybe this appeals to the newer, younger generation of metalheads. Overall, I think they are a pretty good band but not a great one, yet. If they continue on the same track and continually play, they can only get better. Liam visited on 8/9/2004 at 4:46:12 PM hello blokes! i've read the posts and here is my take on it. you can talk all about thin lizzy and irish music as much as you want. i've been listening to music for as long as anybody else, from my native home in the UK to my present home in the States. i've heard enough lizzy and maiden to be able to tell the difference, and eventhough there are some "irish sounding" riffs, so-to-speak, but it still evokes Iron Maiden. and these few moments do conjur up the vision of dwarves dancing around. i hear metallica in this band for about two seconds, so forget that analogy. the double leads are very maiden like at times. listen to street angel right before the lead, it sounds like something right from Iron Maiden's Powerslave album as well as after the lead. come on lad, it's got maiden written all over it. i listened to leveller's wish as you talked about. the intro has a tinge of lizzy, but still sounds like maiden. it's too heavy to be lizzy. you guys are metal, thin lizzy was not. I could go on and on with comparisons. But maybe, maybe there is something to what you said about maiden being influenced by thin lizzy a little. At times the riffs are similar when it comes to the single note type riffs. overall, the biggest problem is the song writing. it's common, for lack of a better word. If this band got a singer with more range and originality, and a drummer who was more luck with fills and double bass, they might be pretty good. also the lyrics and titles are so common, again for lack of a better word. and i am not trying to bash anyone in the band. it's just my opinion that you need a singer with range and a kick ass drummer to be in a Metal band. but i do agree that it's only rock and roll and there is no reason to rag on it. you guys are doing what you want, and that's good enough! Tallyhoe! I'll have no computer after i leave this post, so unfortunately i won't be able to read the reply, if one at all. probably not until a month or so or even at all. i'm packing up and moving on. Reply: Forget to pay the rent again, Liam? Rich visited on 8/7/2004 at 4:49:52 PM www.thatssometal.com has posted a review and pictures of Arctic Flame and their show opening for Wasp at the Starland Ballroom. A great band and a nice bunch of guys, we wish them continued success and growth. Look for their debut Cd which is being produced and recorded as I type by Jack Frost from Seven Witches. Cheers! • www.thatssometal.com Jake visited on 8/6/2004 at 4:46:27 PM If i may interject on behalf of Doug, as smug as he may seem. I think he has a point. Also, Thin Lizzy didn't start using two guitars until around 1976, maybe 1975. Maiden established themselves around 1977 and released their first cd in 1978. It doesn't seem likely that Thin Lizzy played a big role in influencing Iron Maiden. I just read something that stated all their influences and nobody cited Lizzy as one of them. Now, I only have my research to back it up, so...take it for what it is. Also many many years of listening to both bands and many more. But I listened to the music on this site, and hear no influence of Thin Lizzy or Jethro Tull in any shape or form, but definitely Maiden and Priest...and other bands similiar to them. I'm sure you guys might be influenced by those two bands, but it surely doesn't show. Just my opinion. Only so many bands can actually do something original. As long as you like it, do it.---------Reply: Hello Jake. Thanks for taking the time to write. Being influenced by a band doesn't mean sounding like them. Look at Maiden's influences and they sound nothing like them. Blackie Lawless is influenced by the Beatles and the Who. WASP sounds nothing like them. Alot of our riffs have been taken from strict, traditional, Irish melodies, just set to metal. Listen to our song, "Levellers Wish" which is is loaded with Celtic form. It sounds to me, more like a Lizzy song than Maiden. If songs or riffs come out sounding "Maidenish" that's not our intent. We have a sound engineer working on our cd who has worked with Guns and Roses. He stated that our music sounded like an "Irish Metallica". I agree more with that then being compared to being a Maiden clone band. To compare us to Priest or Maiden is the easy way out. Not much thought or study behind that. There are alot of true metal bands that fall into that category today. Metal is more of an attitude and community then about originality. It is very rare that a metal band comes along and can be called original. It hasn't happened in along time. Hey, everyone has their opinion but it's not gonna stop us from doing what we want. The only people that we care about are the people who support us and we have alot of those. If you don't like what you hear, move on to the next band. It's that simple. Also, Thin Lizzy had the idea for twin guitars in 1975 with "Fighting" and fully used that system on "Jailbreak" in 1976 and up until their break up. They got the idea of twin guitars from the band Wishbone Ash, but they just set it to hard rock. Everyone from Maiden to Def Leppard has stated that they were all influenced by their twin guitar sound. Maiden is known for doing covers of their influences. They have done Lizzy's "Massacre".Thanks for the post Jake! steve visited on 8/5/2004 at 4:08:51 PM ok doug halford, dont come on this site and start talking about thin lizzy because you have just seen a dvd. THIN LIZZY, the double lead guitar riffs are obviously way out of you league. IRON MAIDEN, wouldnt be anything today without the influence of the boys. Now i have been listening to maiden for 20 years and worked with them back in the 80s, dont tell me this band are ripping them off. You and those others at the show. please i hope you dont "STAY METAL" Doug visited on 8/5/2004 at 10:31:33 AM Hello, McFly! I am not confusing the twin guitar melodies with your guitarists rhythm. The songs themselves sound like Iron Maiden, not the leads. These guys could never write leads as brilliant as Maiden. One of the guys just sweep picks, no feeling what-so-ever, but he does that well. And why would it be that the review that was posted on your site and several people I talked to at that show say the same thing? I know all about Thin Lizzy and their celtic roots. I just watched a two part DVD from England about them. And even how they got two new guitar players after only having one for awhile. Phil was quoted as saying he would never go back to the single guitar line-up again. I think it's so funny that you think you know so much and everyone knows so little. The fact remains that your songs are a direct rip-off of Maiden and even a little Priest. Even the intro on your site, it sounds "like" a weak Halford scream. But the site is nice. I give props when deserved and the one guy does have skills, the chubby one. And tell that mess of a bass player to stop wearing those gay-ass boots. What year do you think this is? And I hope to God your new "Jack Frost Is Nipping at My Nuts" produced demo sounds better than the downloads on your site. Oh, I don't only hope, but i pray for all humanity! Stay metal? Give me a break!----------Reply: Why spend so much time at this site when you don't like what you hear? Find something that you do like and concentrate on that. We know that not everyone is going to like what we do. Big deal, who cares! It's entertainment, not a cure for cancer. There are lots of people that are into what we are doing and we will continue doing it, no matter what anyone says, so just move on with your life. There's a reason why there are so many critics and few musicians....any asshole can be a critic. Thanks for proving that point. McFly? Talk about being stuck in the '80's. Sorry we won't see you at the next show but you won't be missed. steve visited on 8/4/2004 at 5:16:40 PM doug dont talk about tim's ears, jackass, you must be deaf. have you ever heard iron maiden. start listening dude!!!!!!!! Doug visited on 8/4/2004 at 11:50:48 AM Oh young Timmy, your mommy must not have cleaned your ears that day of the wasp show. These guys have about as much originality as an Iron Maiden COVER BAND! It's downright despicable.---------Reply: So I can take it that you won't be coming to any future shows! Damn! Tim visited on 8/3/2004 at 6:01:13 PM I saw you guys play with Wasp. It was a kick ass show. Are you guys greatly influenced by Maiden? It's about time some good "real" rock bands come out instead of this POP PUNK ROCK shit. Keep up the good work.------Reply: Thanks, Tim. We are influenced by all metal but mainly by traditional Irish music. Most people confuse the twin guitars leads as being "Maidenish". Those guitar parts are taken from Celtic melodies. It just show you the limited knowledge of music that some people have (see above post). We have more in common with Jethro Tull and Thin Lizzy than Maiden or Priest. Thanks for the post! JJ's Boyfriend visited on 8/2/2004 at 1:21:02 PM JJ wouldn't know a good band if it hit him on the head - show was great & they were well received. They stay true to their roots and kick major a$$. Rhythmic guitar, along with excellent drumming & sound vocals make this an excellent band. Instead of getting information from a website, come listen for yourself, dumba$$. < Previous Page       Next Page > Sign the guestbook... Name: Email: * Web Site URL: Web Site Name: Message: * Your email address will not appear on the site. **The band approves all guestbook messages before they appear on the site.**

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