 Susan - 09.11.2011 at 05:39
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| Well, this sounds remarkably intriguing. Nice review! |
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Written by Susan on 09.11.2011 at 05:39
Well, this sounds remarkably intriguing. Nice review!
It is, it is the most fun I've had with an album for months. Sure, it's long, but it totally pays off. |
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| Porcupine Tree? I'd say this is for me. |
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3rdWorldFuckface - 09.11.2011 at 11:43
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| Symphonic elements with prog/jazz... i shud check this out for sure. |
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| You can watch their video for the song Revelation here. |
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 .mrt - 09.11.2011 at 12:29
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X-Panda rules! I love the fact that they are from my home country.
But I don't understand why the reviewer didn't mention their most prominent influence - Dream Theater. |
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Written by .mrt on 09.11.2011 at 12:29
X-Panda rules! I love the fact that they are from my home country.
But I don't understand why the reviewer didn't mention their most prominent influence - Dream Theater.
I did mention 'several shredders', if you go to their site, you'll see they say they're influenced by Rudess and Petrucci as well as Liquid Tension Experiment... I think they did a better job at describing themselves than simply claiming to be inspired by DT guys. Subtle nuances, but very important  |
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jhook - 09.11.2011 at 15:35
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| Ohhhh im defiantly getting this |
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| Totally just hit me that the band name is a play on "Expander" |
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Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 09.11.2011 at 18:04
Totally just hit me that the band name is a play on "Expander"
I love word games but I have no clue what the word 'expander' means to you... so please elaborate, so I don't involve myself into a possible pervy discussion  |
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Written by Milena on 09.11.2011 at 18:07
I love word games but I have no clue what the word 'expander' means to you... so please elaborate, so I don't involve myself into a possible pervy discussion
Ha, no I'm sure it doesn't mean anything, I was just praising myself for noticing such a simple pun. Perhaps it could be a reference to band's style "expanding" in different directions, or the lengthy nature of the record. Or maybe they couldn't think of a good name and chose X-Panda for purely random reasons. |
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Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 09.11.2011 at 18:10
Ha, no I'm sure it doesn't mean anything, I was just praising myself for noticing such a simple pun. Perhaps it could be a reference to band's style "expanding" in different directions, or the lengthy nature of the record. Or maybe they couldn't think of a good name and chose X-Panda for purely random reasons.
I'll ask them via email and report my finds on this thread. |
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ErnilEnNaur - 09.11.2011 at 19:42
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| "Revelation" is the song that won me over. These guys might actually be the best new band from Estonia since... forever. |
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This one is absolutely right up my alley. I shall check them out asap.
Excellent review.  |
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Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 09.11.2011 at 18:04
Totally just hit me that the band name is a play on "Expander"
No I think it has more to do with crossbreeding people and panda bears. |
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 Ivor - 09.11.2011 at 22:20
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Written by Troy Killjoy on 09.11.2011 at 20:07
Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 09.11.2011 at 18:04
Totally just hit me that the band name is a play on "Expander"
No I think it has more to do with crossbreeding people and panda bears.
Or, you know, it's Monty Python style. "This panda is no more. This is an X-Panda." And so on.
On the topic, though. X-Panda is indeed excellent stuff. Definitely one of the better albums this year. And I'm not just saying because they are from Estonia and play prog/fusion. Although, both help.  The only thing they could have done better is use more vocals. The instrumentals are good by themselves, but with vocals this stuff sounds even better.
Oh, and excellent review, Mora! Keep it coming.
I. |
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Written by Ivor on 09.11.2011 at 22:20
On the topic, though. X-Panda is indeed excellent stuff. Definitely one of the better albums this year. And I'm not just saying because they are from Estonia and play prog/fusion. Although, both help. The only thing they could have done better is use more vocals. The instrumentals are good by themselves, but with vocals this stuff sounds even better.
Oh, and excellent review, Mora! Keep it coming.
I.
Oh, yes, I couldn't agree more, but the limited use of vocals grants them a lot of unique points, there's a lot of purely instrumental bands, and an 80% of metal bands with vocals like to put an instrumental track or two on the album - rare are the ones who do it the other way around
Well I plan a couple of guest reviews... but this front page business is fun, way more feedback I hope I'll get the opportunity to do more of it! |
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All this talk about the music and band name and no mention of this awesome cover art. Well, no mention of it aside from the end of your review. 
Maybe people need a bigger version:
 |
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Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2011 at 01:03
All this talk about the music and band name and no mention of this awesome cover art. Well, no mention of it aside from the end of your review.
Maybe people need a bigger version:
Oh yes, the awesomeness that is this cover. I'd buy a beer for the dude who did this, though by the look of it I'd say he's more into sushi. That's a guy who DIDN'T draw stickmen on his art class for sure *ashamed* |
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Written by Milena on 10.11.2011 at 01:08
Oh yes, the awesomeness that is this cover.
I love the concept. Open a fish, reveal a sky. With birds. That eat fish. With SPACE as a background. |
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Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2011 at 01:10
I love the concept. Open a fish, reveal a sky. With birds. That eat fish. With SPACE as a background.
Space as a PLATTER. God, that would be the most awesome restaurant ever. |
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Susan - 10.11.2011 at 08:29
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Written by Milena on 10.11.2011 at 01:19
Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2011 at 01:10
I love the concept. Open a fish, reveal a sky. With birds. That eat fish. With SPACE as a background.
Space as a PLATTER. God, that would be the most awesome restaurant ever.
Ha! WAY cool
And thanks Troy for posting a larger version of the cover. That is damn amazing/trippy/clever/wonderful. |
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Members of X-Panda thank you all very muchfor your kind words!
The ones interested in what we are doing can join our facebook community: http://www.facebook.com/XPandaband
We will buy a beer for the cover art maker |
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Written by X-Panda on 10.11.2011 at 08:52
We will buy a beer for the cover art maker
You do that. See if you can make him do the next one too |
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| Great album and awesome review. Thanks for leading me to this! |
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Written by BaneConall on 10.01.2012 at 21:01
Great album and awesome review. Thanks for leading me to this!
No prob dude! |
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