Dragonland is a Swedish power metal band from Sweden. They're also the first power metal band I've featured in my workout metal series of blog posts. They just have that extra element that makes them great to pump iron to. Sure, you could throw on any old power metal as you hit the gym, but nothing works quite as well as Dragonland. Let me tell you why.
The first thing you may notice about Dragonland, besides that they're awesome, is how heavy they are for a power metal band. It's got all the power elements right there; the high-pitched guitars, powerful vocals, quick drums and epic symphonic keyboards, but everything - especially the guitars - are just played in a crushing manner. The riffs are deep and methodical, giving a crushing feeling with every pick of a string. The drums also contribute to this feeling with slightly different patterns than are typically found in power metal. It's not just a constant double-bass-fest, they actually have drums that compliment the guitars and give the whole song that extra push.
The groundwork is solid, but then these guys throw a whole other epic layer on top of it. The keyboards are great and fit well with the rest of the music. They also add a bunch of other ambient noises just for the hell of it. The vocalist is very talented and belts out every word with the same amount of feeling. Plus the lyrics are always about something grand, whether it's an epic journey, battle or just being in space. While this is a typical thing in power metal, Dragonland pulls it off amazingly every single time. Every song has the same epic feeling backed by the hard hitting instrumentals.
They also like to throw in harsh vocals every now and then in case you need that extra push during your last set.
Dragonland is simply the best power metal band to work out to. They're heavy enough to keep you motivated and epic enough so you don't get bored. The lyrics are always about something grander than yourself so you stay motivated. And they're just an overall awesome band so you should be listening to them anyway. So throw them on your music player of choice and hit the gym, fatty.
-Zombie Viking
Showing posts with label workout metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workout metal. Show all posts
Monday, June 17, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Good Workout Metal #3 Fleshgod Apocalypse
You may be noticing a common theme in these workout metal posts, that the music is heavy and at least partially death metal. Well that's just what makes for good workouts I suppose. But now it's time for the deathest metaliest band of them all: Fleshgod Apocalypse!
The thing that makes Fleshgod so good to pump iron with is that they're always on. At any given point in a song, there's blaring blast beats or guitars or double kicks, or usually all three at once. Even the slower parts of their songs are about 1000 bpm above what a typical band would play. There are more snare hits in one Fleshgod song than there are on an entire album of, well, any other band in existence. Besides maybe Behemoth, but don't get me started on that. There are too many snares for any sane person between the two bands.
Fleshgod's songs are both beautiful and brutal, throwing in numerous symphonic elements throughout. It gives both the feeling of a good hard workout and of becoming a larger-than-life beast. It's hard to describe feelings though, so listen to the following song and feel.
Oh jeeze, I need to stretch after that. And find a shirt that's not ripped. Well at least now you know why everyone at a Fleshgod Apocalypse concert is jacked. I wouldn't go anywhere near that moshpit.
At the time of writing this I have just come home from a good workout. I was listening to Fleshgod, so I can attest to their magical workout metal abilities. Add them to your gym playlist, there's nothing more that needs to be said.
-Zombie Viking
The thing that makes Fleshgod so good to pump iron with is that they're always on. At any given point in a song, there's blaring blast beats or guitars or double kicks, or usually all three at once. Even the slower parts of their songs are about 1000 bpm above what a typical band would play. There are more snare hits in one Fleshgod song than there are on an entire album of, well, any other band in existence. Besides maybe Behemoth, but don't get me started on that. There are too many snares for any sane person between the two bands.
Fleshgod's songs are both beautiful and brutal, throwing in numerous symphonic elements throughout. It gives both the feeling of a good hard workout and of becoming a larger-than-life beast. It's hard to describe feelings though, so listen to the following song and feel.
Oh jeeze, I need to stretch after that. And find a shirt that's not ripped. Well at least now you know why everyone at a Fleshgod Apocalypse concert is jacked. I wouldn't go anywhere near that moshpit.
At the time of writing this I have just come home from a good workout. I was listening to Fleshgod, so I can attest to their magical workout metal abilities. Add them to your gym playlist, there's nothing more that needs to be said.
-Zombie Viking
Friday, May 24, 2013
Good Workout Metal #2 Eluveitie
Folk metal, you ask, isn't that just weird Finnish people prancing around in fields of daisies? Yes, I answer, there is quite a bit of that, but if you look just past the surface a whole new world opens up. Finntroll and Eluveitie are perhaps two of the heaviest folk metal bands you'll find in this so-called "new world". They also happen to be two of the most popular. Odd how that works out. While we're on the topic of working out though, let me tell you about Eluveitie. I'm sure Finntroll works too, but it's slightly harder due to their bridges and sometimes odd song structure.
There really is no feeling like pumping iron and hearing a flute in one ear and a freaking hurdy-gurdy in the other while some grizzled dreadlocks guy screams over everything at the top of his lungs. Then they throw in some grandpa's guitars for no reason. Hey Chrigel, you're not Swedish, you're no Skwisgar. You want to know how I know that? Name a popular folk metal band from Sweden. It's like those guys aren't trying hard enough. They've got the whole viking mythology thing down pat, just look at Amon Amarth. It seems to be combining that with classic folk instruments that they stop dead in their tracks. Sweden should learn a thing or two from Finland in that regard. Though I'm sure Finland could learn some things from Sweden as well. Either way, they both make some pretty awesome metal. Where is Eluveitie from again? Oh, right, Switzerland...
Now for this sound in your ear that I was previously talking about. The words are in a mysterious and extinct language, unless you're listening to an album other than Spirit in which case it's pretty much all English. There's at least 40 different instruments playing at any given time except for the "metal" sections, which are pretty much 50% of the song and consist solely of guitars and drums. It seems that the only thing Eluveitie is consistent with is their inconsistency. Honestly, I would strongly recommend that you listen to Helvetios if you plan on working out with certain songs from Slania and Spirit thrown in because the other two albums are way too slow and folky to work out with. Only certain songs from their first two albums though, since the band does get pretty in touch with Mother Earth at some parts. Those hippies.
Helivetios is definitely the best album to throw on your iPod if you're heading to the gym. It, more than any other Eluveitie album, is just a constant barrage of melodeath. I've said this in the past but this is not a bad thing, it just gets a bit tiring listening to the whole thing in one sitting. That being said, if you're going to work out, you're going to be tired anyway so a full sitting of Helvetios is just what the doctor ordered. It's great music to pump you up. The guitars are heavy and Chrigel's voice is like a shot of pure adrenaline. The folk instruments just serve to make the songs more catchy and to give everything some variety. It's all good.
Eluveitie is not just great folk metal, it's also good workout metal and for that they get a cool post on my blog. Keep it heavy brothers and sisters.
-Zombie Viking
 |
| Pictured: Daises. Dammit guys, get out of there! |
There really is no feeling like pumping iron and hearing a flute in one ear and a freaking hurdy-gurdy in the other while some grizzled dreadlocks guy screams over everything at the top of his lungs. Then they throw in some grandpa's guitars for no reason. Hey Chrigel, you're not Swedish, you're no Skwisgar. You want to know how I know that? Name a popular folk metal band from Sweden. It's like those guys aren't trying hard enough. They've got the whole viking mythology thing down pat, just look at Amon Amarth. It seems to be combining that with classic folk instruments that they stop dead in their tracks. Sweden should learn a thing or two from Finland in that regard. Though I'm sure Finland could learn some things from Sweden as well. Either way, they both make some pretty awesome metal. Where is Eluveitie from again? Oh, right, Switzerland...
Now for this sound in your ear that I was previously talking about. The words are in a mysterious and extinct language, unless you're listening to an album other than Spirit in which case it's pretty much all English. There's at least 40 different instruments playing at any given time except for the "metal" sections, which are pretty much 50% of the song and consist solely of guitars and drums. It seems that the only thing Eluveitie is consistent with is their inconsistency. Honestly, I would strongly recommend that you listen to Helvetios if you plan on working out with certain songs from Slania and Spirit thrown in because the other two albums are way too slow and folky to work out with. Only certain songs from their first two albums though, since the band does get pretty in touch with Mother Earth at some parts. Those hippies.
Helivetios is definitely the best album to throw on your iPod if you're heading to the gym. It, more than any other Eluveitie album, is just a constant barrage of melodeath. I've said this in the past but this is not a bad thing, it just gets a bit tiring listening to the whole thing in one sitting. That being said, if you're going to work out, you're going to be tired anyway so a full sitting of Helvetios is just what the doctor ordered. It's great music to pump you up. The guitars are heavy and Chrigel's voice is like a shot of pure adrenaline. The folk instruments just serve to make the songs more catchy and to give everything some variety. It's all good.
Eluveitie is not just great folk metal, it's also good workout metal and for that they get a cool post on my blog. Keep it heavy brothers and sisters.
-Zombie Viking
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Good Workout Metal #1 Varg
I thought I'd try this new thing because I've recently started working out and I listen to metal when I work out and stuff. There's undoubtedly some better bands to listen to while pumping iron compared to others. Bands that get you pumped up or are just plain heavy. This of course isn't just for people who work out, you can listen to these great bands any time, it's just that they're also great to listen to in the gym. Let's get this started.
The first band is Varg. These guys have been built from the ground up as good gym metal. Just starting with their name, it's the Norse word for wolf, the animal most associated with ripped Spartans. Or maybe it's just that one scene from 300... Either way, Gerard Butler is a hell of a man.
The actual music is pagan metal - a mix of melodic death and black metal with a touch of folk. I'm not sure what they're actually about since the lyrics are in German, but I think they have something to do with wolves and battles and apocalypses and having a good time, typical pagan and German stuff. By the way, the German lyrics just add to the whole muscley-man strong hard music deal. Listening to German just makes you feel stronger, even if you have no idea what they're saying. Their official website is so metal it doesn't even have an option for English. Nein!
The riffs are strong and the vocals heavy. The faster songs give a good constant beat to work out to. Normally, I'd skip over slower songs, but Varg really knows how to play crushing riffs, especially at a slower tempo. You can tear through an entire album during your workout since every song is just well crafted to what you're doing. I could not think of a better band to start off this series with.
If you're going for a workout and don't know what to throw on your iPod, check out Varg. They're heavy, catchy, German and have a good mix of fast and heavy slow songs to keep you going. They've also got sick face-and-body-paint. These guys are so extreme that people bring dumbbells to their concerts and just lift weights in the mosh pits. Trust me.
You can find Varg at:
metal-archives
Facebook
Youtube
http://www.varg.de/
-Zombie Viking
The first band is Varg. These guys have been built from the ground up as good gym metal. Just starting with their name, it's the Norse word for wolf, the animal most associated with ripped Spartans. Or maybe it's just that one scene from 300... Either way, Gerard Butler is a hell of a man.
 |
| Wolves! |
The riffs are strong and the vocals heavy. The faster songs give a good constant beat to work out to. Normally, I'd skip over slower songs, but Varg really knows how to play crushing riffs, especially at a slower tempo. You can tear through an entire album during your workout since every song is just well crafted to what you're doing. I could not think of a better band to start off this series with.
 |
| You there, start working out. |
You can find Varg at:
metal-archives
Youtube
http://www.varg.de/
-Zombie Viking
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