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Band:Blackmore's Night DVD:Castles & Dreams Released by:SPV USA Writer: Mark Carras Media: You Tube Click Album Cover To Buy Now

So I have been hearing about Blackmore’s Night for a few years now. I have heard many heated discussions over this band on metal forums everywhere. Sure it has the great and legendary Ritchie Blackmore, but he seems to have his own little Yoko Ono fronting the band for some damn reason. Well, the reason is that the lady can sing, has frightening amounts of charisma, and is pretty damn hot to boot! Imagine Blind Guardian unplugged with a chick singing. Maybe it’s just me, but I think Candice is more exciting to look at than Hansi. Not just because she is an attractive female, but also because she has more stage presence than Hansi has had on his best day. I just don’t get how any true metal fan can’t listen to this and not get excited about the project. The songs are very well written with more depth and textures then I think Renaissance music is supposed to have. Ritche does more noodling here then Yngwie on crack, so what the fuck are you all bitching about?

Yeah, I know what you are all thinking. “But Mark, it’s fucking Renaissance music and Renaissance music fucking blows!” Really? So you didn’t like Lord Of The Rings? You don’t listen to Blind Guardian? Now granted, this is not a full on metal assault. If you want that, go listen to the new Strapping Young Lad. When you are in the mood for something a little more mellow, this would be a good choice. This is the kind of thing I would put on in the morning when I am still waking up, at night when I am trying to relax, or maybe for an intimate evening with the wife. Guys, I have an idea for you. Go buy this DVD set, call in sick from work. Then go to the store and get a bag of Rosseta pasta with the white Ragu sauce (Yeah, I used this in my review of Journey a few months back). About an hour before your special lady gets home, cook that shit up (it’s as easier then mac & cheese, but looks and tastes like Olive Garden), then light a bunch of candles, put this thing in, and when she walks in the door tell her dinner is cooked and the kids have been sent to grandma’s house for the evening. Then play this DVD while you eat. Don’t worry about dessert. Something tells me she will think of something. This is mood music for the metal and rock fans of the world.

I have to say that the song “All For One” got on my nerves with it’s unimaginative and repetitive lyrics. Compared to the lyrics of the other material I was shocked to say that these lyrics were written by Candice as well. Other then that one song, I really liked everything else. They have a few classics from the Blackmore history, but you will barely recognize them as they are very much turned into Blackmore’s Night songs.

One of the interviews later on has Ritchie speaking perfect English, but with a narrator talking over him in some language I can’t understand. So you have to sit and read the closed caption. Why they put this on here I have no idea. I find it more of a repeat of what has already been said earlier without the ‘translation’ keeping you from understanding what is said. The real bummer is that the closed caption on this seems to be more of a paraphrase then being exactly what is said. So that makes this segment even more irritating to endure.

So the negatives of this are far outweighed by the positives. If you are open to renaissance music at all, you should get a hold of this thing and give the band a try. I got this from Netflix, so it’s not like you have to click the DVD cover above and plunk down hard earned cash just to check it out. This thing did Rock My Monkey and it proves to me that publicists should send me more stuff like this. This site isn’t called Metal My Monkey after all, so give me more rock, damnit!

Band:Blackmore's Night DVD:Castles & Dreams Released by:SPV USA Writer: Mark Carras Media: You Tube Click Album Cover To Buy Now

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