Band of the Undisclosed Time Period
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Demon
Hunter's newest album roars out of the packaging, swaggers over to your CD
player, and hops inside, planting a scribbled Do Not Disturb sign outside
just in case you think about playing something else. As it turns out, the
sign is unnecessary. Summer of Darkness is a credit to the entire melodic
metal genre. This is only the second album by this group, led by former
members of Training For
Utopia. The songs are powerful, intense, and surprisingly catchy. They also
strike a perfect balance between innovation and consistency: while there is
a definitive overall sound to the album, the individual songs display enough
variety to keep you guessing. Did I mention that Aaron Sprinkle also
produced this album, and should now be known around the music world by the
nickname "King Midas"? After you check out "Not Ready To Die" on the
Free Music page, click the picture to swing by Demon Hunter's site and watch
the video for "Infected". If someone, somewhere gives out an award for |
You’ll Probably Be Sorry If You Read This 
I do not choose
a Band of the Undisclosed Time Period lightly. There is a procedure…
First, I listen to
hours upon hours of music. Then I reserve a comfortable room in my apartment
and bustle back and forth with armfuls of liner notes, talking to myself about
the merits of various bands. I usually put on a goofy hat and chant the names
of the bands just to see what sounds good.
Once I narrow it
down to a couple of bands, I listen to them both again. Then I write one band’s
name down on a piece of paper and put inside a shoebox, approaching it with my
back turned to ensure that no one, including me, sees my vote cast.
Once my vote is
cast, I take my shoebox, put it in the car, and drive to a random location. I
open the shoebox and carefully count the vote inside. To ensure accuracy, I
count it again. Then I total the vote on a tally sheet and post it on the
windshield.
Finally, I drive
back, veering wildly at first, then driving more
smoothly once I remove the tally sheet from the windshield. I listen to the
victorious band’s latest album on the way home. When I arrive, I put my shoebox
away, update this webpage, and settle back into my normal routine of trying
desperately to find my medication.