Queen - Innuendo (9/10)

 This is by far Queen's heaviest song, and I would definitely count it as progressive metal. Right from the start, you know you're about to hear something very different, and I haven't really been able to find anything else that sounds like it.

Most rock bands that use synthesizers make it sound either like a video game, or more like pop. But the intro to this song just has one of the heaviest synthesizer sounds ever. Combined with the bass, it really creates an atmosphere where you feel the weight of it before the song even properly starts.

When it does start, the guitar sound just fits everything so well, and so does the choice of scales. The verses sound very dark, which matches the lyrics, while the choruses sound more epic, as if to give the energy to "keep on trying".

Then of course is the flamenco section and operatic section. Both of these are really quite unique, and they do fit the song unexpectedly well, especially when the electric guitar comes back and plays the solo that was played on acoustic guitar first. Also, it's impressive how many different sounds they managed to create using the Korg M1. It's not exactly known for its symphonic sounds, but it just goes to show the band's and producer's skills in programming the synthesizer.

The vocals throughout the song are also great, with both dynamic and tonal range, and the lyrics are very quite existential and somewhat critical of society in general, making them very relatable regardless of where or when you live.

The only reason I won't give this song a 10/10 is because Queen has of course already made a rock song with an operatic section in the middle, and although this one sounds very different and features some flamenco too, the concept itself doesn't really feel original enough to get a 10/10 from me. I really love the song though.

Dream Theater - The Mirror (8/10)

 The Mirror is probably Dream Theater's most relatable song if you ask me. Instead of having a fantasy-like storytelling, this song is very direct with its lyrics, but still vague enough that you can make it fit whatever struggles you yourself have had in life.

The delivery of the lyrics is also quite different from a lot of Dream Theater's other work, and I really like this style which combines a broad range of notes with a broad range of distortion. It really makes it feel personal.

Regarding the instrumentation, it's quite rhythmically interesting. The same sort of grouping of three notes is played by the guitar over and over again throughout most of the song, but it speeds up and slows down and sometimes goes "out of sync" with the drums, and it really makes the guitar part interesting even though playing three of the same note over and over again would not be interesting.

I also love the keyboards that Kevin Moore plays on this song. They sound dramatic, tense and full of emotion, in contrast with most of the "video game-like" stuff that Jordan Rudess does. At times, Moore does quick runs with a sound that's quite similar to modern Dream Theater, but I feel like the keyboards in this song stick to the context of the song much better.

There are only a few things that bring this song down for me. The first is the clips of spoken dialogue. I never really liked it in any song. I want the music to speak for itself, and often it feels like spoken words simply can't fit into a song. But with how limited the usage is in this song, I'm alright with it. The second thing is that there isn't really any catchy riff. Don't get me wrong, the rhythmic guitar riff is really interesting, and some of the keyboard parts and the short guitar riff at the end are a bit catchy, so it's still a really good song. But those two facts together prevent it from being a 9/10 or 10/10 for me personally.

Alter Bridge - Blackbird (9/10)

 Although this song has quite a basic structure, the dynamics and emotion are just incredible, especially with the various guitar sounds and amazing vocals. There are very few singers that have such control over the dynamics of their voice, going between a very fragile airy sound, almost crying and powerful belting in the span of the song.

The lyrics are also really beautiful. I often hear artists either being too direct with their lyrics or cover them with metaphors to the point where it sounds like a fantasy story. But in this song, Alter Bridge just find that perfect balance with beautiful metaphors while still making the meaning clear. It's one of the few songs that has made me cry multiple times.

The only detail that makes me deduct a point is the guitar solo. And I know a lot of people will disagree with me here, but I think the guitar solo is a bit too flashy for this type of song. I personally feel stronger emotions from the type of solo that for example Brian May does, where it can get into the shredding territory, especially for the sake of dynamics, but at the same time it's very thought out and controlled. So don't get me wrong, the guitar solo in this song is great, but since I personally think it could be better, I can't give the song the highest possible score.

I would recommend this song to people who like lots of dynamics and really emotional singing and lyrics. Although the sound is way different, I would probably recommend this to people who like Queen, just because of the dynamics. I would also recommend it to people who like Metallica's more emotional songs, and I think it's worth a listen for fans of Pain of Salvation.