10 Artists You Really Ought To Check Out™

[Chthonic]

I see that everyone and their grandmother has an opinion on what songs should be going into Rock Band, so I figured I'd throw in my 2¢ :D

I've generally tried to leave more "abrasive" types of bands out of the list, just focusing on general rock/metal stuff that I think would fit this kind of game. So, without further ado, I present 10 Artists You Really Ought To Check Out™

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clutch

Great 5-piece rock band hailing from Germantown, Maryland.

Media:

"Electric Worry" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab6lr2b66Ig)
"The Mob Goes Wild" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z78PjvfCVTQ)
"Burning Beard" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s7P6s0YXGk)

Band Website: http://www.pro-rock.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/clutchband

Ioannis Anastassakis

Phenomenal Greek guitar player, with a ferocious list of credentials. Winner of several prestigious guitar competitions, professor of music at his university, guitar coach to many of Greece's most talented guitarists today etc etc...

Media:
Check out "The Final Jam" and "Altered State Of Consciousness" at his Myspace

Website: http://www.ioannis.org/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ioannisanastassakis

Devin Townsend

Canadian madman/musical genius. Ayup, these things go hand in hand.

Media:

"Vampira" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugvJrYv2a9U)
"Depth Charge" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrvQ-W7Yvwo)

(Also, check out the live version of "Bad Devil" at HevyDevy.com)

Band Website: http://hevydevy.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/devintownsenddtb

Savage Circus

Power Metal outfit cobbled together by Thomen Stauch, formerly of Blind Guardian. Good stuff.

Media:

"Evil Eyes" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwwvS4bx-mk)

Band website: http://savage-circus.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/savagecircus

Opeth

Progressive Metal band from Stockholm, Sweden. They blend together a multitude of different styles in their music, resulting in some very unique songs.

Media:

"Harvest" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxaFANthouM)
"A Fair Judgement" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFFWDUhuMDg)

(Also, check out "Harlequin Forest" at their Myspace)

Band Website: http://opeth.com/
Myspace: http://myspace.com/Opeth

Porcupine Tree

Prog-rock group from England. They've put out some amazing stuff over the years, and are still going strong.

Media:

"Shallow" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyCyJGczwG0) (No video available, unfortunately)
"Piano Lessons" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CvxoeasJ2E)
"Fear of a Blank Planet" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUnAxegUJu0)

Band Website: http://www.porcupinetree.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/porcupinetree

Orphaned Land

Isreali Metal band, these guys are known to blend middle-eastern influences into more traditional rock and metal arrangements, usually with great results.

Media:

"Norra El Norra" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQGd10MzDv8)
"Ocean Land" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWUeSZGQcR4)

Band website: http://www.orphaned-land.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/orphanedmyspace

Electric Eel Shock

Three crazy Japanese garage rockers. 'nuff said.

Media:

"Beat Me" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpaSoD67PUg)
"Bastard!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA8EraiJItk)

Band website: http://www.electriceelshock.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/beatme

Infectious Grooves

Funk rock outfit led by Mike Muir. A party essential.

Media:

"Therapy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgahybHQC-o)
"Punk It Up" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLetfd4oLSE)

Band website: http://www.bozos.com/ig/
Myspace (fanmade): http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=75629250

Liquid Tension Experiment

An instrumental project/collaboration between Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci of Dream Theater, along with Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin.

Media:

"Paradigm Shift" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeva6nuzElA)
"Acid Rain" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmo1VW_wA_o)

Band website: http://www.yesiknow.com/lte/
Myspace (fanmade): http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=162520180

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, here's a quick list of more bands plus a couple of links:

Arnocorps
Ayreon
Beatallica
Beyond The Embrace
Biomechanical
Black Merda
Black Stone Cherry
Corrosion of Conformity
Dark Tranquillity
Demons & Wizards
Dream Evil
Dryad's Tree
Ecliptica
Edge of Sanity
Evergrey
Finntroll
Fireball Ministry
Fu Manchu
High on Fire
Immortal Souls
In Flames
Jackalope
Katatonia
Kyuss
Lacuna Coil
Mastodon
The Meads of Asphodel
Monster Magnet
NoFX
Opposition Party
Pitiful Reign
Q-Box
Scar Symmetry
Shadow Gallery
Skyclad
Soilwork
Spiritual Beggars
The Creepniks
The Gone Jackals
Turbonegro


Brian Posehn - "Metal By Numbers" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chiVMrWMHko)

Lawnmower Deth - "Kids in America" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1iKBNxsXFE) (cover)

Hope y'all find something to your liking here. Cheers!

[A_Perfect_TOOL]

I second Clutch! I've seen them at a few club shows up here. Pure Rock Fury is a great CD.

And a big hell yes to Mastadon!! One of my favorite bands, although may be better suited for GH, but I'd poop myself if we got them in either game.

Thats a decent list, gonna have to check out a lot of the bands I never heard of, based on the ones in your list that I have.

Have you heard of Isis? Kinda sorta Mastadon-y/Tool-ish. Another of my favorite bands, and kind of in the vein of a lot of the bands on your list.

And lol to Beatallica. Sgt Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band!

[Chthonic]

I second Clutch! I've seen them at a few club shows up here. Pure Rock Fury is a great CD.

And a big hell yes to Mastadon!! One of my favorite bands, although may be better suited for GH, but I'd poop myself if we got them in either game.

Thats a decent list, gonna have to check out a lot of the bands I never heard of, based on the ones in your list that I have.

Have you heard of Isis? Kinda sorta Mastadon-y/Tool-ish. Another of my favorite bands, and kind of in the vein of a lot of the bands on your list.

And lol to Beatallica. Sgt Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band!

:D I think Clutch would be perfect for this kind of game. "Power Player", for example, would make an excellent addition to the track list.

Glad you like the list. I think you might find some neat stuff on there. Also, I've listened to Isis a little bit, but I still don't know them very well. I'll probably check them out better when I get the chance. Cheers, mate.

[Obnysalt]

Uh-oh, it looks like someone has confused "unknown" with "good" again.

It's a shame how these things happen.

[bounchfx]

needs more dredg and oceansize, otherwise, great list.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

^ ur about the only guy other than me to have mentioned oceansize, i applaud you good sir

[LavatoryLoveMachine]

Savage Circus is awesome. Too bad Thomen and Piet Sielck had a falling out :(

[Sora124]

Some excellent bands there, Opeth, In Flames, Porcupine Tree, Devin Townsend, Ayreon.

You have a very educated taste in music, I must say :P

Another band to check out :

http://www.kamelot.com (Kamelot)

Songs to look up:

March of Mephisto (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWSbtBJ6bxU)

Ghost Opera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwiLhqkj4UU)

[Chthonic]

Some excellent bands there, Opeth, In Flames, Porcupine Tree, Devin Townsend, Ayreon.

You have a very educated taste in music, I must say :P

Another band to check out :

http://www.kamelot.com (Kamelot)

Songs to look up:

March of Mephisto (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWSbtBJ6bxU)

Ghost Opera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwiLhqkj4UU)

Nice. I've known about them peripherally for a while, but maybe I should take a bit of time to get properly acquainted with their music.

[progROCKER]

YAY liquid tension experiment.