Throughout its history, heavy metal was a beautiful and pristine thing. Bands of burly dudes with long, unkempt hair sung about important topics like slaying dragons, chasing women, and partying. Then, at some point during the 1990s, the cancer of nu metal started to metastasize in the powerful body of the metal gods. Bands started singing about relationships and their feelings in an effort to gain mainstream popularity and get played on MTV. Were not talking about an obligatory power ballad here and there”some bands sung about nothing else than how miserable they were and how sad they were over a failed relationship. Some bands even resorted to such gimmicks as grooming themselves. This shouldnt be confused with the hair metal era when bands like Motley Crue were wearing makeup and platform heels”the bands were more in to carefully groomed goatees and other sissy like pandering to their feminine fanbase.

The good news is that the ‘nu metal’ movement has been met with a serious backlash. Among the defenders of traditional metal values is Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about subjects of interest to vikings such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas.

Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to identify themselves as Viking metal, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.

The bands international popularity began to take off in 1998, when they signed with Metal Blade Records and released their major label debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall. Their most recent releases on Metal Blade”2004s Fate of Norns and 2006s With Oden On Our Side”has seen the band become one of the top metal acts in North America as well as their native Sweden.

Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records and released their latest album in September 2008 called ‘Twilight of the Thunder God’. The album continues their thematic examination of their Viking ancestors, and has become their biggest seller to date.

Heavy metal is gaining strength and resuming its powerful greatness under the marauding sound of Amon Amarth. The band tours constantly, and their powerful live show has earned them a reputation as one of the ‘must see’ concert acts. In 2006, they released a DVD entitled ‘Wrath of the Norsemen’ that brings their live experience to home TV screens.

David Glisan is heavy metal editor for The Savage Science, a website covering both MMA news and heavy metal music. He’s an expert on boxing, MMA and other fight sports, and reportsUFC news for several mainstream sports broadcasts and websites. He’s practiced several martial arts forms since childhood and holds a black belt in judo.

Nothing screams rock and roll more than a guitar that honors the guitarists signature and band of one of the biggest bands or artist. Unique signature models of guitars are an important part of any manufacturers line up and provides credibility and influence from the celebrities of today and yesterday that play and recommend their guitar. It is also an important part of the overall marketing campaign of the manufacturer – but it is a great way of selling more instruments.

Made in Korea, the Epiphone Supernova is the personal guitar of Noel Gallagher from the band Oasis – the largest, most influential, controversial and greatest rock group of the last twenty years. Noel is the songwriting brains behind Oasis, whist his brother Liam is the swaggering lead singer, always in the eye of the paps and definitely famous for his loud and brash persona, being rude and out of this world rock star credentials. Oasis are known for tunes such as Don’t look back in anger and Live Forever and their brand of “Brit Pop” and acoustic and electric stands the test of time and is as influential to todays upcoming stars. Although Oasis are more chilled out now and not as quite as popular, Oasis are continually producing great albums under the direction of Noel – who reports he plans to release his solo album in the near future.

The 95 Epiphone Supernova is a specially designed version of the Sheraton, another one of the makers more popular guitars. However, the Supernova you and I can get today is not the same one as the type used by Oasis though. During the promotion of the Oasis album, Whats The Story Morning Glory, Noel was pictured playing a custom designed Epiphone Sheraton painted with the union jack logo. Designed to mimic that actual guitar, the commercial guitar version does have a different shape, style and a few minor alterations such as having different models of humbuckers, Alnico 57s as opposed to mini humbucker pickups which can be found in the original. The originating instrument played by Noel hangs in the O2 arena in London, England as part of the British Music Experience.

The %KEYWORD1% is no longer made but was made in several colors including the famous signed union jack design requested by Noel. The other colors were blue to represent the Manchester City football team that the band champions, Cherry Red and a very rare Ebony Black model. The guitar features big block fret markers, a slim and long scale kneck, a rose wood fretboard, a vintage tremolo, a laminated body which allows it to be light to hold and much better to play. The pickguard has Noel Gallagher’s signature on and features the Epiphone brand logo.

The %KEYWORD1% generates clear sounds that are suitable for blues or rock. Sounding quite a bit like a more pricy Gibson guitar, the %KEYWORD1% will produce the sound you want. The manufacturing quality is great and should be without major issues or defects.

The %KEYWORD1% is an excellent guitar and well worth buying – even more so if you also like the band!

Hip-hop stars are mostly known for their R18 language. Their songs are often overflowing with obscene language, which sort of gets them in hot waters. However, there are some music artists who can get away with it. May it be due to their longevity, credibility, or appeal to the audience, these acts get away with cursing and not be reprimanded. There are only very few artists that I can think of. One of them is Blink 182. The other is Jack’s Mannequin.

I must admit I only got interested in the band because of Andrew McMahon who was previously from Something Corporate. His amazing talent with the piano is what appealed best to me. And I can say that there are a lot of people who also appreciate this thing about him. He works magic with his fingers. Once he sits down at the piano and get those fingers working, you better get ready because you will be taken to music nirvana.

When you listen to his songs, you will realize that Andrew has a gift of words. He writes so well he can make a song memorable with its verses. With words, he can vividly paint a picture in your mind. He can also use it to divert the attention off some not-so-pleasant words to the more appropriate things. This is why he can get away with some obscene language in his songs.

When you listen to Bruised, you will hear the story of a boy who finds it hard to leave somebody behind. With the help of Andrew’s writing ability, you will be able to vividly picture the image in your mind. Combined with metaphors and other languages, he is able to make you understand what he has to say.

I’m Ready is a song that will help you feel better after a break up. Listen to this and you will no longer have to suffer pain. The song has a solid writing behind its lyrics, plus a great sounding melody. It will surely appeal to you.

When you listen to it as a whole, you will notice that the album is heavy with good melodies and beats. Songs, either slow- or fast-paced all have that distinct impression on listeners. The songs are also infectious. Songs like La La Lie will get you humming without you knowing it. Dark Blue shows just how good Andrew is at the piano. Combined with simple and relatable lyrics, the piano arrangement effortlessly makes this single amazingly great.

Other tracks in the album like Miss Delaney has lyrics that clearly paints an image in your mind. Such songs will put a stamp in your mind because not only was it well-written, it also has a very good sound to it. It can even get you up and dancing. Rescued, is another beautiful song but unlike Miss Delaney, this is very calming, something you can even use to put you to sleep. In this track, Andrew’s flair for playing the piano is clearly evident.

Jack’s Mannequin’s Everything in Transit, aside from being a very well-made record, is a testament to Andrew McMahon’s talent in writing and playing the piano.