Black Utopia

Black Utopia

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Constantly striving for the ultimate in frontier music magic, Derek Sherinian just seems to explode & unfold rapidly & efficiently with new collaborations, innovations, & daredevil feats of keyboard artistry. But all his past efforts have been band situations, whether that be providing a technological edge to acts like Alice Cooper or Kiss, or his work with Dream Theater at the height of their fame, or slamming along with equally formidable players in platforms like Platypus & Planet X. On this 2003 release Derek surrounds himself with some of the greatest talent from the worlds of rock & jazz - Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips, Zakk Wylde, Billy Sheehan, Yngwie Malmsteen, All DiMeola & more. 9 tracks packaged in a Digipak. Inside Out Music.

Tracks:

The Fury
The Sons Of Anu: For The Glory Of Enki/Of The Ashes Of Ur/Return Of The Nephilim
Nighmare Cinema
Stony Days
Starcycle
Axis Of Evil
Gypsy Moth
Sweet Lament
Black Utopia

Album Description

Constantly striving for the ultimate in frontier music magic, Derek Sherinian just seems to explode & unfold rapidly & efficiently with new collaborations, innovations, & daredevil feats of keyboard artistry. But all his past efforts have been band situations, whether that be providing a technological edge to acts like Alice Cooper or Kiss, or his work with Dream Theater at the height of their fame, or slamming along with equally formidable players in platforms like Platypus & Planet X. On this 2003 release Derek surrounds himself with some of the greatest talent from the worlds of rock & jazz - Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips, Zakk Wylde, Billy Sheehan, Yngwie Malmsteen, All DiMeola & more. 9 tracks packaged in a Digipak. Inside Out Music.

Customer Reviews:

Guitar gods unite!!.......2006-09-05

I first saw Derek in '94 filling in for Kevin Moore on the Awake tour. After leaving Dream Theater I totally forgot about him until randomly seeing this CD in a Tower Records store. I had no idea who was in the band but knew within seconds Yngwie was playing as I was a young guitarist back in the 80's in total awe of his early solo albums. I think it's great Derek allows himself to take a backseat here letting the guitar gods cut loose. Agree with other reviewers that the sound is pretty weak and the only real detriment to an otherwise stellar effort by everyone involved. Good to hear Billy Sheenan again. I saw him with Talas opening for Yngwie in '85! (sigh) I miss the 80's.

Really should be 5.......2006-08-31

First off musically wise this CD is phenomenal. Not only is the line up of musicians great, they all put in wonderful performances.

So why 3 stars? Because the engineering is GARBAGE! It is sooo annoying that sooo many quality musicians take the time to put together and produce such great music only to have the sound quality suck. The opening tracks especially sound like they were recorded in a tin box. Very flat, bass deficient, no depth at all. Not what I would expect from such a quality line up.
Mythology is much better, however not perfect either. Once again, too bad because this could be an awesome album instead of a mediocre one.

Great Virtuoso Album...Guitar Wise.......2005-08-09

This is a great album, but it does not show Derek Sherinian's best work on the keyboard. I would recommened this album if you like shred and speed metal, Sherinian is more of a background musician on this album, the guitar virtuosity steals the show.

Honestly I think this is some of Yngwie Malmsteen's best guitar work, he shows some lengthly emotional licks and solos here and there. Malmsteen has the same guiar sound through the whole abum. Zack Wylde plays more rhythm than lead on this album which gives way to Malmsteen, but Wylde's guitar sound is a little weak (I don't care, he sucks with his new music). The drumming is the backbone on the album, Simon Phillips unleashes a variety of sounds through his drumming to accompany the guitarists on the album. Steve Lukather is the neutral guitarist through the album with more feeling in his playing. Al DiMeola is a stunning classical guitarist on this album, his work on The Sons of Anu blew me away along with the surprise of a speed metal riff. There is booming base work with the two bassists Billy Sheehan and Tony Franklin in the album. Jerry Goodman (violinist) provides some eerie work to add to the album dark personality.

This is a great album, but it belongs to the virtuosity of the GUITAR, not the keyboard. I would definately recommened it. Guitar album of the year in 2003.

Sherinian Rocks!!!.......2005-06-27

Despite playing the keyboards, Sherinian knows how to make music that rocks. He always allows his guest musicians to take center stage, which is really cool. Axis of Evil alone is worth the price of the CD. This piece starts out menacing, then transitions into a beautiful keyboard melody, which leads to a crescendo of what I can only describe as showering guitars. Absolutely amazing! Fury is unbelievable as well. I don't understand the luke warm reviews. This is Sherinian's best.

Words Cannot Describe.......2004-10-17

While this is released as a Derek Sherinian solo album, don't be fooled into thinking this will be similar to a Jordan Rudess album, because it's not. This is an all-instrumental album with his backing band being Billy Sheehan on bass and Simon Philips on drums. The greatest part of the album is the inclusion of Jerry Goodman on electric violin, formerly of Mahavishnu Orchestra, as well as guitar gods Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde, and even Yngwie Malmsteen.
Derek Sherinian is smart enough to know that his keyboard work cannot carry this album alone, even though his chops are amazing throughout. Instead he gives way to the guitar gods as well as Goodman to incorperate many solos into their songs and they are phenominal. Lukather's songs are all jazz sounding, which are decent but not my favorite part of the album. The best parts come when Goodman and Sherinian trade off solos with either Wylde or Malmsteen (On "Axis of Evil" both Wylde and Malmsteen play together!). Sherinian has gotten Malmsteen to play his solos with passion, and that arrogance that usually comes with Malmsteen is gone, which makes his work even more impressive.
"The Fury" is a 0:51 intro to the amazing "Sons of Anu" which is a three part song with great solos by Goodman, Malmsteen, and Sherinian. "Nightmare Cinema" isn't as good as "Anu" but Wylde is still impressive. "Axis of Evil" combines Goodman, Wylde, Sherinian, and Malmsteen all in the same song! Solo after solo after solo, yet it is never repetitive and self-indulgent, truly a masterpiece. "Black Utopia" is arguably the best song (even at 8:51 long!) with Wylde as lead guitaist. Sherinian has his best solos here, as does Wylde. The songs that I did not mention are all of the jazz-influenced which were impressive, with great chops by Sherinian and Lukather, they just don't measure up to the Progressive Metal influenced ones.
Not only do I love to hear Malmsteen minus his pompous sound, it's great to hear that Wylde can still be outstanding with his fret-burning solos (I got scared after his terrible solo albums and his last two albums with Ozzy). I play no instruments yet this might be one of my top-5 albums of all time, even if it is instrumental. Let us all pray that Sherinian continues with albums like this.

Average customer rating:

Utopia Banished
Napalm Death
Manufacturer: Earache Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Harmony Corruption
Smear Campaign
Enemy of the Music Business
Order of the Leech
Noise for Music's Sake

ASIN: B000GRTQ2U
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Discordance
I Abstain
Dementia Access
Christening of the Blind
World Keeps Turning
Idiosyncratic
Aryanisms
Cause and Effect, Pt. 2)
Judicial Slime
Distorting the Medium
Got Time to Kill
Upward and Uninterested
Exile
Awake (To a Life of Misery)
Contemptuous
One and the Same [*]
Sick and Tired [*]
Malignant Trait [*]
Killing with Kindness [*]
Means to an End [*]
Insanity Excursion [*]

Average customer rating:

If you enjoy praising - you gotta have this one!
After such a long wait
This CD Was Waitin on Me
Excellent

Blessin' Waitin' on Me
Mark S. Hubbard & the Voices
Manufacturer: Utopia Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

It's All About You
He's a Keepa
20/85 The Experience
Where I Long to Be

ASIN: B0006213XK
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Help Me Praise Him
Blessin' Waitin' on Me
Right Now Praise
Deliverance - Mark Hubbard, , Donald Lawrence,
Deliverance (Reprise)
I Won't Let Go
Jesus Reigns
God Is Merciful
Praise Him in the Midst of Your Storm - Mark Hubbard, , Vashawn Mitchell,
When Jesus Came into My Life - Mark Hubbard, , Richard Smallwood,
When Jesus Came into My Life (Reprise)
I'm Fightin' (My Praise in My Weapon)
Lift Those Hands and Bless Him - Mark Hubbard, , Donald Lawrence,
In Your Presence - Mark Hubbard, , Richard Smallwood, , , Bishop Larry Trotter
No, I Won't Turn Back
No, I Won't Turn Back (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

If you enjoy praising - you gotta have this one!.......2006-09-14

I just got this CD after I heard our church choirs perform "I Can't Turn Back" and "There's a Blessing Waiting on Me". I waited too long to get this CD. Although it is two years old the music is relavant, uplifting, and invites praise. Donald Lawrence even appears as a guest. A must for your gospel CD collection. Truly a praise and faith builder CD.

After such a long wait.......2006-02-03

Great Album overall. I think that the song "I Won't Turn Back" was worth the Four Stars alone. Mark Hubbard has an inate ability to always come out with one or two songs in the album that absolutely jam. Such a welcome change of pace from the praise and worship format dominating gospel music today. I was afraid that Mark Hubbard was turning towards that genre. Album squelched any fear of that happening!

This CD Was Waitin on Me.......2005-08-16

Saints and friends, here's another for the 7-CD changer. Brother Hubbard and his choir produced an awesome compilation of sounds to thrill, calm and soothe us. Beginning w/the funk-inspired "Blessin Waitin on Me" to the worship-filled "Deliverance", you're gonna love this CD and the wonderful feelings of joy it produces. Take this w/you on long journeys, take it w/you on short ones. Buy copies for both friend and family because this is a powerful tool that can help anyone in the "Storms of Life" to use "Praise as our weapon"! Buy this and be blessed.

Excellent.......2005-01-07

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this. But this choir is strong. The songs are well-crafted and worshipful. Unlike many "one-hit choirs," this CD has all gems. You really can't go wrong. Richard Smallwood does a standout solo on the project as well. Overall, this CD is an excellent taste of good Chicago gospel.

Average customer rating:

masters of darkness!!!!!

Utopia A.D.
The Black League
Manufacturer: Spinefarm
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Doomsday Sun

ASIN: B00005V596
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

Transit Gloria Mundi
Empiria
Voice of God
Day One
To Suffer & To Smile
Tedium Vitae
Harbour of Hatred
Everlasting, Pt. 4
Rex Talionis
Blue Sky Magic
Citizen Cain
Desert Song
Utopia Anno Zero

Album Description

Second album for Finnish dark metal act featuring Taneli Jarva of Sentenced. Spinefarm Records. 2001.

Customer Reviews:

masters of darkness!!!!!.......2002-03-28

...I feel sorry for those who doesn't hear or known the existence of this band... this is the best thing to come from finland in a long time, better than all the amorphis COBs or whatever you hear from up north... find it, buy it and simply enjoy it... this is music only for intelligent sarcastic people!!!!

Average customer rating:

Night of the Black Wyvern [RARE]
Utopia Banished
Manufacturer: Fast Lane
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000ELXWCS

Product Description

1. By Mourning 2. Desolate Winds 3. The Plague 4. Night of the Black Wyvern 5. As it Descends 6. In Darkness We Burn 7. Voice of Disharmony 8. Forged in Blood 9. Utopia Banished 10. Forshadowing the Endless Quest

Average customer rating:

*** I LIKE BARNEY ***
A Puzzling Nature
Sorry
Napalm Death Banished!
pure genius

Utopia Banished
Napalm Death
Manufacturer: Earache Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Harmony Corruption
Enemy of the Music Business
Diatribes
Death by Manipulation
From Enslavement to Obliteration

ASIN: B000005834
Release Date: 1996-03-12

Tracks:

Discordance
I Abstain
Dementia Access
Christening Of The Blind
The World Keeps Turning
Idiosyncratic
Aryanisms
Caus and Effect (PT.II)
Judicial Slime
Distorting The Medium
Got Time to Kill
Apward And Uninterested
Exile
Awake (To A Life Of Misery)
Contemptuous
One And The Same
Sick And Tired
Malignant Trait
Killing With Kindness
A Means To An End
Insanity Excursion

Customer Reviews:

*** I LIKE BARNEY ***.......2006-07-24

This is by far my favorite ND album. Grindcore with a smigden of heavy metal. Great Riffs. I seen them on this tour at the Hollywood Pallaidium. Biggest pit I ever seen in my life.

A Puzzling Nature.......2003-11-07

Utopia Banished moves away from the genre-rewriting,precedent setting death metal of Harmony Corruption, but this doesn't a bit return to the band's grindcore roots that the successive Fear,Emptiness,Despair would be.While simultaneously maintaining an distinctive atmosphere of understanding or intelligence attended for a intellectual preson,the group here makes a combination of death metal and grindcore influences being crossed.Even if they are able to be understood comprehensibly,the band's lyrics in the past times were exemplifying justly on politics and culture in their terms,
but something must of happened to this band which looks unlikely for them to do by penning in some of these (pseudo)- lyrics that haveto do with scholarship or otherwise learning.
Sure you can get some interesting character behind the hidden truths of these lyrics with the help of a dictionary or English degree on literary works but anyone else is going to feel low in rank to intellectualism.Think of the issues involving these excessively so planned lyrics they appear unnatural,artificial or forced as a descriptive term but not literally applicable;
the group's lyrics result in accessibility that can't be reached by the construction of complex song structures that consist of many momentary modulation and resulting in being alittle repetitiveness.When it comes to certain things that can't be reached and become something valuable, but the songs seem to be difficult to like in Napalm Death's case.First of all,there aren't many hooks,transitional piece structures between verses and choruses,guitar riffs that are attractive,or rhythms that vary.Secondly,when the album moves on to other tracks, the band keeps changing styles as the heavy drummings from the explosive ''I abstain'' to start off with, then followed by taking od materials being put in newer forms without significant
improving lacking vitality of the same sounds to these too many songs to be counted that are not properly connecting.
On your rotating metal disc of a record for anyone who doesn't like these guys music should enjoy this album's puzzilg qualities, they try to prove the critics something on this album after the sellout type of judgement resulting to their move to traditional death metal hackneye harmony Corruption.It turns out to be bad fortune,the credibility through inaccessibility rebounded adversely on their originators to attend re-establishment serving refreshment to the comeback of Fear,Emptiness,Despair to seem more new.Utopia Banished is not a very good and it's Napalm Death's worst album.

Sorry.......2002-11-11

In my previous review, I said that the drummer was Mitch Harris. Well it turns out he doesn't exist. I was thinking of Mick Harris who isn't on this album. The real drummer with blinding speed is Danny Hearrea (Sp?). Sorry.

Napalm Death Banished!.......2002-10-18

To easily put it...one of Napalm Death's finest albums. It's as simple as that. Napalm Death being the leaders and most extreme band(these guys put any of those lame new bOOtul Death/Black Metal band to shame). It's still as extreme today as it was when it was released back in 1990.

Stand-out tracks: I Abstain, Demntia Access, The World Keeps Turning, and Aryanisms.

Alos on another note, the intro is pretty creepy sounding as well.

pure genius.......2002-10-15

Omigoddess, I'm glad to see this album again! No, it's not ND's fastest/ bloodiest/ grindcoriest album, and yes, it's attempting a benchmark. But I think it actually succeeds-- it's definitely more layered, say, (the magnificent) Harmony Corruption. And some tracks get downright creepy, "Contemptuous", for example, a wonderful echoing stomp. And you even get the patented throat-bleeding Barney Scream on a few songs to feed your bloodlust. Top picks: "Contemptuous", "I Abstain", "Got Time to Kill", "Dementia Access".

Average customer rating:

ultimate grind
Great Album

Utopia Sadistica
To Separate the Flesh from the Bones
Manufacturer: Season of Mist
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2H7D6
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

Meatbash
Cold Cuts
Rotten Siege
Final Extinction
Preternatural Pervert
Mereticious Murderess
Disconsolated Suffer
Pussyfer
Amputated Whore
Conflagration
Absolute Holocaust
Mass of Vipers
Brain Drain Faucet
Rot
Art of Aggression
Spoon
Bare Your Wounds for Me
Reek of Excrete
Revolt
Mutilated Virgin Slut
Profanity
Drowned in Semen
Manticore
Drunk & Nauseous
Condition Dead

Customer Reviews:

ultimate grind.......2006-11-16

FINALLY someone takes the thunderous "wall of sound" grind production/tuning and uses it with great riffs. Grind cds tend to get boring and monotonous as they just focus on the speed. This is the perfect mixture of blast beats and chugging buzzsaw riffs. Best grind cd that I have ever heard.

Great Album.......2005-10-04

Any fan of Carcass(old),,should get this album.
Gas drumer from the band H.I.M plays blast beat's like a thunder god.

Average customer rating:

Utopia Sadistica
To Separate the Flesh from the Bones
Manufacturer: Spinefarm
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0006O9NK8
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

Meatbash
Cold Cuts
Rotten Siege
Final Extinction
Preternatural Pervert
Mereticious Murderess
Disconsolated Suffer
Pussyfer
Amputated Whore
Conflagration
Absolute Holocaust
Mass of Vipers
Brain Drain Faucet
Rot
Art of Aggression
Spoon
Bare Your Wounds for Me
Reek of Excrete
Revolt
Mutilated Virgin Slut
Profanity
Drowned in Semen
Manticore
Drunk & Nauseous
Condition Dead

Album Description

2005 album from the Finnish grindcore act features Herr Arschstein (Pasi Koskinen, ex-Amorphis), Rot Wailer (Amorphis), & Pus Sypope (H.I.M.). Includes a special guest appearance from Carcass frontman Jeff Walker. Spikefarm.

Average customer rating:

Black Utopia
Derek Sherinian
Manufacturer: Zain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008PT0G
Release Date: 2003-04-28

Tracks:

Fury
Sons of Anu: For the Glory of Enki/Of the Ashes of Ur/Return of ...
Nightmare Cinema
Stony Days
Starcycle
Axis of Evil
Gypsy Moth
Sweet Lament
Black Utopia
Trojan Horse [*][Demo Version]

Album Description

Japanese edition of the Dream Theater keyboard virtuoso's third solo album has earliest release (worldwide 4-22-03) & includes the bonus track 'Trojan Horse' (demo). Guests include Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, & many more. Zain Records.

Album Details

Japanes Version featuring a Bonus Track: "Trojan Horse (Demo)".

Average customer rating:

Black Utopia
Derek Sherinian
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008YJFI
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks: