Your Music Evolution

Stabbing Westward
A good friend of mine lent me their "Darkest Days" album when I was very young and it was a definite stepping stone into the harder stuff I listen to now. They were my favorite band for a while -- I got all of their CD's -- but now I can't really listen to them anymore.

The Smashing Pumpkins
They're kind of a sentimental favorite of mine; my best friend loved them, introduced me to their music, and has since passed away. The "Adore" album always makes me think of him.

Opeth
My first foray into European metal. I eased into it with "Blackwater Park" and "Damnation." My favorite is now "Orchid."

Pain of Salvation
Still my favorite band ever. I listened to "Remedy Lane" once and was instantly hooked. "The Perfect Element I" pulled me in even more. Daniel Gildenlow's vocal range is amazing, and I even had the connections (thank you, Adrian) to get the opportunity to hang out with him once a few years ago.

Evergrey
Really good dark metal that got me into concept albums (before I realized Pain of Salvation's RL and TPE were concept albums). I'm not as happy with their latest, "Monday Morning Apocalypse," but "The Inner Circle" and "Recreation Day" were so fanfuckingtastic that I can forgive them. I adore Tom Englund. And I'm going to get to see them when they come to ProgPower USA this September!

And this brings us to . . .
Jorn Lande
My favorite power singer. EVAR. I own all of his solo albums and tons more from other bands he's been in, such as Masterplan, Ark, The Snakes, Leatherwolf, and Mundanus Imperium. He'll also be at ProgPower this year, too .

(Also included are various death metal bands including Dark Tranquility, Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth, and Axamenta.)

How ya doing, buddy?