Epica - "Never Enough"

Can't you hear me screaming, once again? Voices you can't hear

Rating: 6/10

The song: A very vocal driven symphonic metal song, to me it speaks of an abusive relationship, of any sort, boyfriend/girlfriend, boss/worker etc or and drug addiction. The guitar solo is alright, very minimal, nothing special. Overall the song is quite good but not incredible.
The album: The Album, The Divine Conspiracy is the third album by Epica and their first concept album. The concept that guides the songs is that God created many different religions for humanity to figure out and overcome them so as to discover that, in nature and essence, they were all in fact the same one (hence the name, "The Divine Conspiracy"). They perform a blend of progressive metal, gothic metal, and symphonic metal.
The artist: Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band known for their use of a female lead vocalist. They have released five studio albums to date with the most recent being Requiem for the Indifferent, released on March 9, 2012.

Balkan Beat Box - "Habibi Min Zaman"

one... two... three... four oh hep-beck min zaman

Rating: 7/10

I might be a bit biased, but let me tell you why Balkan Beat Box is an excellent band. Combining the resounding brass and light guitar with an electro snap on each beat, this band brings together the exotic sounds of the Balkans and the tech-based beats of today in an impressive manner. I'd heard this song on the dance floor plenty of times, but I now have a new appreciation for it as a single listener. Nu Med brings the BBB back to their playful antics without straying too far from their core sound.

Black Sabbath - "God Is Dead?"

The voices echo in my head, is God alive or is God dead?

Rating: 9/10

The song/Interpretation: An epic return for metal band Black Sabbath, staring with a pounding bass and Ozzy Osbourne's singing it combines classic Black Sabbath with the sound from the time with Ronnie James Dio. To me it tells the story of a man who is questioning his religious beliefs after all the crazy things that have been done in the name of religion such as 9/11. The brilliant thing though is that the song doesn't clearly side with either God is dead or God isn't dead but leaves it completely open up the listener interpretation.
The album/artist: This song is the first single released from Black Sabbath's upcoming album "13" which will be the first album released by the band since 1995 and the first album with singer Ozzy Osbourne since 1978. It has all the original members of the band except drummer Bill Ward.

Avantasia - "The Toy Master"

Don't you be afraid, come and step inside, take a look around

Rating: 7/10

The song: A very classic melodic metal song, starting with a melodic intro and then jumping right into a heavy guitar riff and then slowing back down for the first verse.
The album: The Scarecrow, released in 2008, is the first album of "The Wicked Trilogy", a trilogy of concept albums which follows the tragic story of a lonesome creature, emotionally isolated from his environment and suffering from a distorted sensory perception.
Interpretation: This song is extremely unique, explicitly to me it is about an insane dictator who is talking to someone. He refers to his people as "Toys", himself as the "Master of the toys", and the country as his "Toy factory". However there is another very interesting interpretation that I really like which is that the song is a metaphor for capitalism and materialism. The "kids" are people being lured into to wasting their money on useless "toys" from the "toy factory", a company

Bastille - "Things We Lost in the Fire" + Deux Freq Remix

ticket stubs and your diaries... i read them all one day + The original Alt Rock track:

Rating: 7/10

Bastille has only recently popped up on my radar, but this Alt Rock band has some serious punches to throw. Their song "Things We Lost in the Fire" is transformed from a melodic track to a pumping electronic sound by this solid dubstep mix. It's negotiable as to whether this "Deux Freq Remix" is an improvement to the original (which I've included, so decide for yourself), but it's certainly has a slot in my playlist. This song speaks of memories, but I think the real message is about moving on. To quote: "i was the match and you were the rock... maybe we started this fire."

Nightwish - "The Islander"

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world, horizon crying the tears he left behind long ago

Rating: 8/10

The song: The music is composed of an acoustic guitar combined with a flute and a piano, which synergise incredibly well together flowing exceptionally with the words.
The album: Dark Passion Play by Nightwish was released in 2007, and was their first album with new lead singer Anette Olzon. It featured some songs in a very different style from their previous work, with softer metalesque ballads (such as The Islander).
Interpretation: I personally interpret this song as a song about a man who has lost everything he has loved and is contemplating suicide. This is hinted at in the music video, with the anchor representing him holding on to life. When he throws it off the cliff he is giving up and all the shadows of everything he loved in life come to greet him and welcome him in death.

Mali Music - "Ready Aim"

wanna make the lame man run again... make the blind man see the sun again

Rating: 5/10

To whet the taste buds of those looking forward to his new album (dropping 2014), Mali Music has released a powerful new track into cyberspace, and it's gaining quite the support. Stretching from his gospel origins, Mali preserves his message in a Pop style. A tad slow, this song is held up less by the (quite frankly dull) chorus, and more by the rolling low-mid synths, which keep you nodding as this track sets off.

KlangKuenstler - "Freudentraene"

Rating: 8/10

KlangKuenstler translates quite literally to "sound artist", and this man truly deserves his title. The orchestral rises played under a waving synth and soft beats give this piece the texture of a Van Gogh brush stroke. This trance/techno combo might get a little repetitive, but it had me leaning back and closing my eyes to anything but the music. And that's what it's all about.

Kinky - "Soun Tha Mi Primer Amor"

busco un recipiente donde colocar el presente [looking for a container in which to place the present]

Rating: 7/10

Rumbling tribal beats and that memorable Spanish patterning make this track an excellent dance tune. Kinky experiments with a Middle Eastern vibe, while still keeping true to their Mexican roots. Made in 2002, this song still holds well on the dance floor. Besides, it's just plain ridiculous.

Passion Pit - "Smile Upon Me"

there's a place... in this world... where people like me are found by people like you

Rating: 6/10

There's nothing like that moment when I'm sinking into a melody, and "Smile Upon Me" brings just that feeling. Ethereal voices and synths ping-pong around your head, while a soothing series of snaps and clicks keeps this track danceable. As the third track in Passion Pit's "Chunk of Change", this song exemplifies the airy quality of the album.