Fair enough, opinions are not facts. Ziltoid does kick ass though.

And I forgot to put Evolution4.0 by Thunderstone on the list.

I appreciate everyone's opinions! Cool CD's too. I actually have all of those CD's and it is Ziltoid that stays the course. It's just my opinion. Just like my favorite Fates Warning CD is Disconnected and my favorite SYL CD is The New Black...just preferences.

Plus, what everyone seems to NOT recognize is that Ziltoid is ONE man - not a band. My gosh just DEV! Jeez, to produce something of this quality on an individual basis deserves a 10/10 just on that fact alone!

I appreciate the tastes of others, but refuse to partake in flaming. The Threshold CD is stunning though, but still doesn't hold my attention like Ziltoid! What can I say except I am what I am and I like what I like. I think the only CD that may give Zilly a run this year is Steve Vai's new 2 CD with the orchestra...it is going to smoke! Ironic, huh?

T

I appreciate everyone's opinions! Cool CD's too. I actually have all of those CD's and it is Ziltoid that stays the course. It's just my opinion. Just like my favorite Fates Warning CD is Disconnected and my favorite SYL CD is The New Black...just preferences.

Plus, what everyone seems to NOT recognize is that Ziltoid is ONE man - not a band. My gosh just DEV! Jeez, to produce something of this quality on an individual basis deserves a 10/10 just on that fact alone!

I appreciate the tastes of others, but refuse to partake in flaming. The Threshold CD is stunning though, but still doesn't hold my attention like Ziltoid! What can I say except I am what I am and I like what I like. I think the only CD that may give Zilly a run this year is Steve Vai's new 2 CD with the orchestra...it is going to smoke! Ironic, huh?

T

Disconnected is one badass album. Kevin Moore adds so much to whatever he does...

Whats this about a new Steve Vai album? I did not hear about this. Any vocals on it?

I don't know if there are any vocals or not. You can check out the info here: http://www.vai.com/

It "sounds" like it is going to be badddddassssss!! Going to see him in Philly!!

Of the mentioned albums, I have Rush Snakes and Arrows which is a better album than the last ones from past 10 years or more and they definitely have their best days behind them in terms of originality, intensity and sound....IMHO! I miss the most interesting keyboard stuff they did in the 70/80ies, which added a whole lot to the Rush sound. Faves are Grace Under Pressure (great sound and intense moods), Hemispheres (fat and heavy), but also Moving Pictures (suffice to tell of its well known qualities) and Hold your Fire (a bit commercial mainstream like, but great songs and melodies). Back to topic....ZILTOID has great melodies, a great varity of moods, a fat sound, great intensity with that odd sense of humor added...in other words...ZILTOID (and most of other The Devs works) is UNIQUE! Hardly comparable to any other Band/Artist IMO.

From the new Dream Theater album I just heard one song - Constant Motion, just when the singer started singing like Hetfield (I hate Metallica and everyting sounding like that) I was totally pissed. To be honest I just know a handful of Dream Theater songs from any past albums and to me it always sounded like "prog metal construction kit", lacking soul, depth and that particular kiss ass factor to be found in Devin´s works. Great musicians don´t necessarily make a great band, writing great songs and that. I might find cool stuff on their albums if I find the opportunity to listen to some of them. The desire and time is little though.

Would be interested to listen to some of the mentioned bands albums above, (Porcupine Tree, Nocturnal Rites ,..) but my final conclusion still ist that ZILTOID is unique, not to be compared.

Waiting for Biomechanicals Cannibalised later this year though...

of the mentioned records i only heard the fream theater one, and that's by far no comparison. it's got some very interesting moments, but there's too much metallica and muse on this record to make it a standalone piece of work and it has very little depth and credibility to it.
a decent piece of prog i'd say, but it doesn't pull the herring off the plate (as we say here).

what makes zto a considerable candidate is simply the originlatiy. devin sounds like no-one else, whereas most other bands do. he also has an "ingredient x" that sets his work apart from all other rock/metal music i know.

opinions, right?

i got the new shadows fall cd the day it came out,listened to it that day and haven't touched it since,maybe i'll get around to listening to it again but i've got so many other cd's i'd rather listen to at the moment

From the new Dream Theater album I just heard one song - Constant Motion, just when the singer started singing like Hetfield (I hate Metallica and everyting sounding like that) I was totally pissed. To be honest I just know a handful of Dream Theater songs from any past albums and to me it always sounded like "prog metal construction kit", lacking soul, depth and that particular kiss ass factor to be found in Devin´s works. Great musicians don´t necessarily make a great band, writing great songs and that. I might find cool stuff on their albums if I find the opportunity to listen to some of them. The desire and time is little though.

Dude, Dream Theater INVENTED the prog metal construction kit, they're allowed to use it. That said, the new album is pretty horrendous, apart from a couple of tracks.

From the new Dream Theater album I just heard one song - Constant Motion, just when the singer started singing like Hetfield (I hate Metallica and everyting sounding like that) I was totally pissed. To be honest I just know a handful of Dream Theater songs from any past albums and to me it always sounded like "prog metal construction kit", lacking soul, depth and that particular kiss ass factor to be found in Devin´s works. Great musicians don´t necessarily make a great band, writing great songs and that. I might find cool stuff on their albums if I find the opportunity to listen to some of them. The desire and time is little though.

Dude, Dream Theater INVENTED the prog metal construction kit, they're allowed to use it. That said, the new album is pretty horrendous, apart from a couple of tracks.

LOL ...maybe I´ll find one or more good tracks on one of their albums, who knows. I think i´m a little bit biased, thinking all those guys coming from that well known music schools, just want to pull of what they learned in endless "how does that scale work over that chord progression and how fast can I play it, if I interrupt with just 28 breaks in 1 minute..." sessions. As said I´m biased.

Just recently discovered "Mastodon" to be quite an interesting "prog" band. Want to listen to more stuff of them. However...

Devin pairs his great technical abilities (as singer, guitarist, musician, author, producer/engineer..) with "guts/balls", open minded creativity and the freedom not to pull of meaningless radio stuff for any major record company. I´ll purchase any his albums without the necessity to prelisten any time! Still have Infinity, City, Physicist and some other stuff on my purchase list, so even if Devin won´t release any new stuff the next 1-2 years maybe, i´ve yet enough to discover of him in the meantime.

and btw. Downloaders....DIE! Devins music is worth any darn Euro/Dollar he demands from you maggots!