Musical Ramblings: 3 makes good first impression

This week brings you a review of one of the bands that are on Metal Blade records. The company was nice enough to send me two great CDs so it's time to share the first one with you that I tried to set up last week with Porcupine Tree reviews. I now introduce you to the amazingly talented and unique band, 3.

3
The End Is Begun Special Edition

First off, no, I didn't make any mistakes (like usual). That title is correct. I never heard of this band until this CD came to me. I featured Porcupine Tree last week because on the cover of this disc features testimonies from some of today's best prog rock bands. One, in particular, is from Porcupine Tree's mastermind, Steve Wilson. Actually, if you dig Porcupine Tree, Dream Theatre, Coheed and Cambria, and Opeth, I think you'll actually really dig this CD.

This style is hard to describe because it branches out to so many different genres of music. There's some folk, a lot of prog, some killer metal style riffs, groovy hard rock hooks, jazz and more!

If you are a fan of the bands I mentioned but don't like any whiny vocals or death metal growls (like the amazing Opeth) then you'll be happy to know that the vocals are crisp and clean the whole way though. The lead single from the disc, “All that Remains,” will have you humming along the first time you hear it.

This is a band that should be sampled and I'm not going out and fetching their back catalogue to hear the rest of their stuff (which you get a taste of with the bonus DVD featuring three live tracks and two music videos). One thing is for sure, musicians out there have to check out singer/guitarist, Joey Eppard, play his acoustic guitar. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of players in my day.

In Flames' new CD, has already come out by the time you read this, so make sure you go out and get it. Also, Opeth's Still Life in now available as a double digipak featuring a 5.1 mix of the album on DVD (as well as a remixed version on CD). Ministry just released Cover Ups, which you probably guessed by the title is a covers CD. It looks very promising and I'll be picking it up. This week, you'll be able to pick up Nine Inch Nails' new disc as well. Goodbye money, hello ear drum damage.