This is my inaugural post in a category I call Underappreciated, and unlike the overrated titans, These two bands I am highlighting today get relatively tiny fan-fare and it is time to change that in my opinion (Seriously these two probably get less than a lot of the bands I’ll be highlighting in the future). Both these bands do their thing well and don’t just sound like the rest of their genre; and I’d like to recognize them here today.

Iced Earth

Definitely one of the first bands that came to mind when I came up with this category. Quality, Breadth of catalog, and relatively low audience. A power metal style but with a thrashy twist or maybe just heavy metal in general. Still, I think it has appeal to all rockers and many of their songs have a softer tone and subject matter. Either way I think they definitely deserve more listeners, making it a perfect candidate for this category. Riffs are relatively simple but also many times pretty catchy. Angels Holocaust (name brings imagery, doesn’t it?) has the distinction of having one of the best supporting rhythm riffs under a solo I’ve heard; weird distinction but noticeable because generally solo supporting rhythm isn’t supposed to be noticeable but here it’s such a good riff. The vocalist really carries the band to an elevated level letting them reach their potential as a whole since all of them are good musicians. They’ve released so many albums to date, so their catalog is probably getting a little inundated with subpar but still there is a lot of good in here that warrants getting into. They do a lot of Concept Albums (or in some cases multi-album concepts) which I guess some people like it or leave it. Bonus, their album art is very striking, some of the top images in a genre known for album art.

Songs to get you into them

Watching Over Me

Angels Holocaust (Reworked Version)

I Died For You

Question of Heaven

Dragons Child

Mammoth WVH

I am not sure I would’ve discovered this band if it wasn’t for them opening for Metallica on their recent tour (though to be clear they are not metal at all), but I am really glad I did. And there is more to them that meets the eye too. WVH stands for Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the legendary Eddie Van Halen, and that talent was inherited. They only have 2 albums (EPs) so far, but I wouldn’t be able to tell because it sounds like they’ve refined their sound already. I say they because I like to give other members of the band as much credit as I can but really this case has an argument that it is truly the frontman WVH; he even composed every part of the first album before getting band mates to tour with him and contribute to the second album. The style reminds me of Foo Fighters (which perhaps not coincidentally Dave Grohl also composed all parts of their first album as well). It’s a bit slower than Foo Fighters (maybe even slightly poppier) but I just feel the similarities in the “size” of the music, just has that little Epic feel a lot, while not accomplishing that with solos and extremely distinct sections (though WVH is a talented soloist as exemplified in Take A Bow); probably more so in the extended vocal belts with strong riffs underneath on a lot of songs, and it’s just really strong and dynamic riffs all around. These guys may not be Underrated per se because they are early in their careers, but you really need to check them out and they should be getting much more play across the mediums. I am really looking forward to their next album. Daddy would be proud.

Songs to get you into them

Mammoth

Take a Bow

Like a Pastime

Epiphany

Mr. Ed