dream theater:
Dream Theater is most expressively what I call "talent metal". Most people would call it "progressive metal". Their earlier works have decided Rush traits, while they have a live cd with almost all covers from groups like Journey, Pink Floyd, Elton John, etc... Mike Portnoy is one of the best drummers in existance. He would be an influence for me, if he weren't so much better than me.

www.dreamtheater.net

king's x:
King's X is a good old fashion ballad-based, hard rock, band from Texas. Doug Pinnick is the king of the 12-string bass. Ty Tabor plays a sultry guitar. Jerry Gaskill is a machine. Their forum has a logo with Southparky graphics and says "Delivering quality music since they were sperm". I think that pretty well sums it up.

www.kingsxonline.com

living sacrifice:
Living Sacrifice is was (*whine*) a speed metal turned death metal turned deathcore band from Little Rock, AR. If anyone says, "Evanescence - Hoot!!!" I'll scream. Honestly, I've never been a fan of speed metal, so I didn't like their first couple albums, but then I was introduced to "The Hammering Process". The rest is history.

www.livingsacrifice.com

meat beat manifesto:
Meat Beat Manifesto is UK techno at its finest. Jack Dangers rocks, especially when DJ College is rhyming with him. He's been on a few soundtracks, many remix albums, and a bunch of other techno artists worked with him on a remix of his debut album, this past year. I can recommend all of his albums, but especially the newer ones.

www.brainwashed.com/mbm

morningstar:
Morningstar is the band for Eaglestar Fellowship Church in North Carolina. The best thing that I can call them is a jam band. They play music from many styles, many of their songs are over ten minutes, and they have a lot of solos (even some great drum/percussion ones). The voilins and mandolins will blow you away. Notice how their picture is just a bit classier than the rest? That should tell you something about their music.

www.eaglestar.org

mortal / fold zandura / juggernautz:
Jyro Xhan just creates cool music. It's darned near instinctive. First there was Mortal. They were electro-industrial. Then, there was Fold Zandura. It was much poppier. Then, there was Juggernautz. It was straight electronic power-worship. Wait a sec, then, there was Mortal? And this time they broke all the rules. Where did the singing go? What's this growly stuff? Where are the guitars, too?

http://www.mortalfold.150m.com/ - unofficial

the cure:
The Cure...
That really is all that needs to be said. I even did Robert Smith hair on a couple occasions. They have longevity down to an artform. Their first album came out in 1979. That makes them 25 years old, their latest album came out this year, and they are still on tour.

www.thecure.com