JUCIFER! w/ guests at The Mansion. KIngston, ON July 28, 2011

I knew the venue was small. There was no way I was going to miss this.

What I could have missed were the openers. The first act, An Optional Circus, didn't know what they wanted to do. There was such a mix of styles thrown together (with very obvious seams) that they just sounded like a band that was trying so hard not to be "something" that they ended up being nothing. At times they sounded like Pearl Jam, Incubus, The Tea Party, Our Lady Peace and at times almost heavy.  I almost got the impression the singer just paid the rest of the band to play whatever he told them to. I have trouble seeing 5 guys all having that same vision. The drummer was a beast though. I just concentrated on him.

The Sitcoms were a more likely opener for Jucifer led by the fact that it was just a singer/guitar and a drummer. But it really ends there. Very artsy, in a lack of structure kind of way. I don't recall much in the way of a solid riff anywhere. I felt like I was at a coffeehouse. Again, drummer was pretty cool.

Do I really need to tell you how Jucifer was?  If you know anything about the legendary, almighty Jucifer, then no. But, (gasp) there may be some poor souls who have yet to bathe in the glory of the Amp Wall. It was a scaled down amp wall on this night but it still blew other backlines (for full bands) out of the water.  I'm not super good with gear, or inches, but I'm assuming they were all 12". 3-4 X s, 2-10 X s, and 2-8 X s cabinets. All jacked in to 1 guitar. And that's just what they could fit on the stage! I could see a pile of cabs stacked up in behind the wall. I even think they were using them.  Despite the limitations of, in Edgar's own words, "the smallest stage I've ever been on" those that turned up to risk their auditory senses were assaulted in a way only Jucifer can deliver.

As the smoke rolled across the room, the lights were aglow in crimson red. A hooded and cloaked figure revealed herself through the haze. Edgar Livengood stood sentinel clutching four drumsticks in each hand. He waited as a blast of drone and doom riffage brought forth the demons that would transform his entity and that of Gazelle Amber Valentine from mere humans into the beast known as Jucifer.  With the transformation complete, Jucifer laid waste to a multitude of senses. Auditory, visual, sixth, and common sense were obliterated. Even touch could not escape the onslaught as the space reverberated under the weight of a set heavy on material from Throned in Blood. Amber played like a woman possessed. Relentless and bent on total destruction. Edgar mercilessly beat the living shit out of his drums as if they were a dog that ate his mother.

As the last cymbal crash faded, and the low thrum of the final riff droned on into the infinite, the captive audience was relieved of their virtual hypnosis only to find themselves forever changed. And a part of their soul will remain empty until Jucifer inevitably returns.

My 40 Favourite Albums of 2010: 20-11

*DISCLAIMER! All rankings are based on 3 major factors. 1. I actually have to like the album. Nothing is included because it's on everyone else's list or because I think it would make my list look better. 2. I can listen to it no matter what I am in the mood for. 3. Overall play count/I actually paid money for it.  Remember, this is my opinion. It's not overly analytical. Most, if not all, rankings are VERY fluid. Don't get your panties in a bunch because your favourite band is lower than "that fucking piece of shit band!"*

As I get in to the Top 20, the reasoning changes slightly. There is usually some element that vaults the album in to this higher ranking. It could be that it's just really, really, really good, or a leap forward, or a comeback/return to form, or there is just something really unique about it. Enjoy the best of 2010.

#20.  Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier (ENG, EMI):  I got in to Iron Maiden in a weird way. It was A Matter of Life and Death that made me appreciate them. Before that, Dickinson's vocal style didn't appeal to me. I had a copy of Number Of The Beast back in high school (got it in a Columbia House metal grab bag with some weird Hendrix disc, The Best of Slaughter, a Varga (!) CD and something else) and sold it to a pawn shop. Then I got a used copy of Piece of Mind on cassette back in '09 and I was hooked. The Final Frontier may not be an all time Maiden classic but it's damn close. Dickinson, Steve Harris and the boys sure know how to write epic songs! There isn't a dud to be found here. I may have listened to this album more than any other last year. Thanks in large part to the fact that I could play it anywhere, in any company and it wouldn't scare anyone. (Unlike #19) It amazes me that a band can still be this good over 30 years into their career. Standout track "Where the Wild Wind Blows"

#19. Unearthly Trance - V (USA, Relapse):  For some reason I had Unearthly Trance confused as far as what style of metal they were. I thought they were operatic like Katatonia or Dark Tranquility or some other band I haven't given the time of day to. Or even the My Dying Bride kind of doom. I don't know where I got that idea from but motherfucker was I wrong! This is fucking DOOOOOOOOM! From the pits of Hell, the world is ending, beasts unleashed upon creation, fucking DOOM! I made a comment before and referred to V as "bowel evacuatingly heavy". I stand by that. They put the power in power trio with their earthquake inducing, thunderous riffs. At times, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Lypinsky reminds me of Floater vocalist Robert Wynia (Glyph remains one of my all time favourite albums). But most of the time his unearthly (hehe) screams sound like his voice is made of pure disgust for the human race. Vocals can make or break an album for me and these beastly bellows are a big reason V landed in my Top 20. Standout track: "Into a Chasm"

#18.  Ludicra - The Tenant (USA, Profound Lore):  This year's list has more black metal on it than ever before. Part of my growing interest in BM is due in large part to Ludicra, among others (as you will see). They opened my eyes to a bigger part of what black metal could be. Before listening to The Tenant I thought all black metal was bleak, monotonous, lo-fi Norwegian BM or keyboard laden, symphonic BM like Dimmu or CoF. (Neither of which you will find on this list) What's more, vocalist
Laurie Sue Shanaman made me reconsider what female vocals in metal were all about. ( I just thought Angela Gossow was a freak) Where traditional black metal (to me) feels like it's being bombarded by the wind, and is forced to endure it, Ludicra embrace the wind and use it to soar above the world full of sorrow and ugliness. The Tenant is an incredibly dynamic album that can go from beautiful to downright nasty on a dime. It earns #18 based largely on The Sickest Riff Of The Year on standout track "In Stable".

Jucifer - Throned in Blood

Jucifer releases have never been thought of as "light and airy" but there has always been a balance of the loud grind/death stuff and the lighter tunes. Not so on Throned in Blood. With the exception of closer, "Armageddon", there is no light and airy. Even it's not happy go lucky. It's all dark and claustrophobic. Not claustrophobic in the sense that there is too much going on and nothing has room. No, in the sense that it sounds like it was recorded in a basement. (Or their van) But really fucking cool.  Like they just set a couple mics on the floor and hit record. You can hear the hum of the amps and everything. Mind you, with Amber's backline, you can hear the hum 3 blocks away. The whole album has a very stripped down, DIY, personal feel that is lacking from modern metal anymore. It's all super-produced-cookie-cutter-for-the-masses-metal, where every note is planned and every mistake corrected.  Throned in Blood sounds raw and off-the-cuff. Sometimes I think that the whole thing is just a big jam session. Edgar and Amber have such great chemistry that I wouldn't be surprised if they could pull that off.
Jucifer are Jucifer for the music's sake. And that really comes through on Throned in Blood. You won't hear it plastered on mainstream radio, or see them opening for The Rolling Stones. You'll hear it on your stereo and in your head over and over again. And you'll see them in any venue that'll take 'em. And I can't wait.

Top 34 Albums of 2008 (updated)

I finally combed through everything I listened to that was released in 2008. It was an exhausting process and I think it took me over 2 months. Seriously. I based my list mostly on amount of spins, but a big part of it is how much I want to listen to it. Do I have to be "in the mood" for it? How does it make me feel? Do I crave more when it's over? How often does it get stuck in my head? Stuff like that. So it's really an amalgam of all those aspects.
As with previous years, I let personal bias get in the way. That being said, again this year there are two albums ranked 0. I can't listen to them objectively enough to properly rank them and honestly, they could put out anything and I would think it was pure gold.

0. Soulfly - Conquer (Less tribal, more metal. Max and Co. bring da shit!)
0. b) Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted (The Cavaleras are back together. Add in Rizzo and Joe Duplantier (GOJIRA!!) and you can't go wrong.)

I love Max Cavalera (as a musician) so much that anything he is involved in beats everything else but Clutch.

Here is the rest of the list. The Top 10 are pretty much in order (anyone could be my fave depending on the day) but after that, don't pay too much attention to the order. It's pretty close but it's very fluid. I've included the record label and the country of origin. Prosthetic, Hydra Head, Relapse and Metal Blade are most represented labels and the US, Canada and Sweden top the countries. I will try and add short comments or descriptions for each one at some time. Whenever I have the time, so keep checking back.

1. Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God (Metal Blade, Sweden)This is the first Amon Amarth I have ever listened to. I always shied away from viking metal. I thought they were like power metal. Then I listened to it. Again and again and again.....
2. Bison b.c. - Quiet Earth (Metal Blade, Canada) "These are my dress clothes!!"
3. The Sword – Gods Of The Earth (Kemado, US) What I love best about this album is the imagery the music creates. I visualized the theme for the video for "Fire Lances..." before I saw it.
4. Torche – Meanderthal (Robotic Empire/Rock Action/Hydra Head, US)I read about people bitching about this album. That it's too poppy, the singer sucks, etc. Well, yeah, it's catchy as shit and his voice is natural. Not over-polished. Right on!
5. Gojira – The Way Of All Flesh (Listenable/Prosthetic, France)I didn't like From Mars to Sirius. I tried. But this one is awesome! Maybe I just "get it" now.
6. Origin – Antithesis (Relapse, US)This album knocked me on my ass. Who knew a bunch of guys from Kansas could be so pissed off! Fast, heavy as fuck, and pure awesome.
7. ASRA – The Way Of All Flesh (Black Box/Relapse, US)RIP ASRA (which stands for Alleged Satanic Ritual Abuse). Like Destroyer Destroyer from last year, this is the music in my head. The screaming on this is incredible. The angriest album I heard this year.
8. Metallica – Death Magnetic (Warner, US)I don't know what everyone's problem with this is? Yeah, it's not MOP, but it's good!
9. Blacklisted – Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God (Deathwish, US) There is just something about this one that keeps me coming back to it. It's really personal and you can hear the emotion in it. Not in an emo way.
10. Ufomammut – Idolum (Supernatural Cat, Italy)One of my favourite bands that no-one other than me has heard of. Incredible toned doom. Light one up and enjoy. My Ufomammut t-shirt is my fave shirt ever.

11. Lair of the Minotaur – War Metal Battle Master (Southern Lord, US)Have you seen the video for the title track?!!!
12. Into Eternity – The Incurable Tragedy (Century Media, Canada)Another really personal album. Tim Roth left the band, but now he's back. Yes!!
13. Burst – Lazarus Bird (Relapse, Sweden) The vocals on this remind me alot of someone I can't think of right now. Someone good. Burst never disappoint.
14. Cancer Bats – Hail Destroyer (Distort/Black Market Activities, Canada)Cancer Bats have played a half hour away at least twice in the last year and I have missed them every time. I think the title track was my "most screamed along with" track of 2008.
15. Gridlink – Amber Grey (Hydra Head, US)I usually don't like grind but this is awesome. Jon Chang rules. I need to check out some Discordance Axis. 14 songs in under 12 minutes. I think every song on the Ufomammut is longer than the entirety of Amber Grey.
16. Deicide – Till Death Do Us Part (Earache, US)It's fuckin' Deicide.
17. Withered – Folie Circulaire (Prosthetic, US) Name a metal sub-genre, and Withered uses it in some capacity. I kind of have to be in the mood for Withered but it's a killer album.
18. The Gates of Slumber – Conquerer (Profound Lore, US)Anyone who knows me know I love stoner rock. I don't listen to it as much as I used to but that's because there aren't as many bands as good as The Gates of Slumber anymore.
19. Javelina – Javelina (Translation Loss, US) "Pronounced "hä-va-'lE-na" Killer tone, awesome bellows!
20. Pitch Black Forecast – Absentee (Fractured Transmitter, US)Gene Hoglan is on drums. Positive hardcore. Catchy too.
21. Century – Black Ocean (Prosthetic, US)The first of a trilogy. Heck yeah!
22. Deadbird – Twilight Ritual (At A Loss, US)Kind of in that southern doom/stoner vein.
23. The Acacia Strain – Continent (Prosthetic, US)I'm glad I listened to this before I saw pix of the band. They look like poser douchebags. I would totally dismiss them if the music wasn't awesome.
24. Dismember – Dismember (Regain, Sweden)Death metal lives!!
25. Feast Eternal – With Fire (none, US)I didn't even know they were a christian band til I went looking to see what label they were on.
26. The Haunted – Versus (Century Media, Sweden)You can't dispute quality. As much as you can tire of a genre, The Haunted still kick ass.
27. Jucifer – L'Autrichienne (Relapse, US)Very eclectic. English and French lyrics. Amazing live. Not for everyone.
28. Hail of Bullets – Of Frost And War (Metal Blade, Netherlands)Took me a couple listens to really get into this. It was the vocals that had to grow on me. But that buzzsaw guitar!!!
29. Kataklysm – Prevail (Nuclear Blast, Canada) Proof Montreal is the current metal capital of the world.
30. Black Ships – Omens (New Romance For Kids, Canada)Montreal again. I love this brand of hardcore.
31. Hemlock – No Time For Sorrow (Continental, US) I don't know why I like this so much. It's very accessible and catchy as hell.
32. Jex Thoth – Jex Thoth ( I Hate, US) What a freakin' voice!! Amazingly retro sounding psych/doom. Almost hypnotic.
33. Zozobra – Bird Of Prey ( Hydra Head, US)Caleb Scofield of Cave In and Old Man Gloom (english for Zozobra) and Isis' Aaron Harris on drums. This album is a monster post-metal experience.
34. Blood Ceremony – Blood Ceremony (Rise Above, Canada) Toronto's Blood Ceremony deliver the goods. From lyrics about witches, magic and drugs to FUCKING FLUTE SOLOS!! Amazing. Perfect music to totally trip out too. (if you're into that)

Live Album of the year: Clutch - Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings. It's the only one I listened to but it would win anyway. I have yet to watch the DVD version. (repeatedly kicks self in ass)

Live Performance of the year: Jucifer. I didn't get to many shows in the past year, but this was by far the best one.

Looking forward to in 2009:

Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague. (listening to it right now. It destroys!!)
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Titan - Colossus EP (awesome!)
Kylesa - Static Tensions
The Bakerton Group - El Rojo
Wino - Punctured Equilibrium
God Forbid - Earthsblood
Lamb of God - Wrath
Sepultura - A-lex (really not as good as I had hoped)
Architect - Ghost of the Saltwater Machines ( heard it twice so far and it's amazing. Mark McGee (ex- I Hate Sally, ex- The Chariot, Jesus Mullet) just joined on drums)

Iota, Jex Thoth and Jucifer

Iota - Tales: Plodding, nice paced groove. Great tone. Can't quite pin down who they remind me of. Sleep at bit, but not the vocals. The jammy parts (plenty of them) remind me of Clutch and The Bakerton Group. Oh hell yeah, baby! Maybe an apt description would be Clutch meets Monster Magnet. Love it. Horns up!

Jex Thoth - Jex Thoth: Psychedelic doom. Transcendental female vocals. Brooding Keyboards. I get sucked right in. Dark and ominous. Engrossing. Definitely a mood setter. I should suggest something from this album to MetalSucks for one of their Saturday Night Songs To Get Stoned To. The kind of stuff that makes you feel stoned just listening to it. Probably best listened to without distraction. In the dark. Horns UP!!

Jucifer - L'Autrichienne: You will never hear another band like Jucifer. Ever. How Amber and Edgar, the eternal nomads that they are, come up with some of this shit is beyond me. Drugs have to play a part. They go from quiet pretty songs, to Veruca Salt like pop-grunge, to flat-out grindfests. Truly amazing. I say them live once and it just blew my mind. They played mostly the hard and fast stuff but that's okay. I would like to have heard a more diverse set but when you have the biggest wall of amps I have ever seen behind you, you have to use them! I fuckin' love Jucifer. When I am able to edit this with an internet connection, I will post a link to a live review I wrote on my personal blog. If you haven't guessed, HORNS UP!!!