Top 5 Albums of 2010 that I just couldn't put on my real list.

The following are the Top 5 albums that I really enjoyed but couldn't put on my actual Top 40 Albums of 2010 List. For various reasons. Such as, I have always loved this band but there is nothing special or different on this album that makes it any better or worse that the rest of their albums.
In no particular order:

Monster Magnet - Mastermind: I have always loved MM. This album is full of cool riffs and great hooks. But so is every other MM album. Some songs actually sound like they have taken riffs from previous albums. I still love it though.

Lair of the Minotaur - Evil Power: Not as good as the last album but still lots of fun.

Arson Anthem - Insecurity Notoriety: It's Phil Anselmo and Mike Williams. I shouldn't have to say more. A nice quick listen but nothing to set it apart from the pack. Again, plenty of fun.

Karma to Burn - Appalachian Incantation: KTB continues to pump out wicked jams. But other than the song titles/numbers, I have a hard time distinguishing songs from albums. That said, I'd listen to this any time. You can't knock quality instru-metal.

Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy: This one of those bands that I try to like but I can't really love them. The music itself is exceptional but I am not a fan of the vocals. I included this one more because I feel guilty for not digging it more.

Sargeist - Let The Devil In

I am listening to this on pretty shitty speakers. I bet it sounds much better with headphones or on a decent stereo. Nevertheless, I not a big enough Black Metal fan to really get excited about this.

Sweet Cobra - Mercy

Does this feature members of Big Business? Sometimes it sounds like it does. Doesn't help it though. Just seems kinda average. I don't have time for average.

I prefer Black Cobra as far as that goes.

My thoughts on Decibel's Top 40 of 2010

I have nothing but respect for Decibel. It is my main source of recommendations for music to check out. I make time for the magazine whereas I don't have time to trawl the internet.  But, just because I think it's the greatest magazine since well, ever, doesn't mean I always agree with their lists. Enjoy.

 

40. Darkthrone - Circle The Wagons: Haven't heard this one. Doubt it would make my list anyway. Black metal is really hit or miss with me.

39. Lantlos - .Neon: Who?

38. Hail of Bullets - On Divine Winds: I've only listened to this once so far. Didn't impress me as much as ...Of Frost and War. Martin Van Druren as awesome enough that I will make time to listen to this more so I can give it a proper rating.

37. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis: I'm surprised this is so low on their list. I'm more surprised that I like it as much as I do. Never really liked DEP before. This one is great though.

36. Decrepit Birth - Polarity: A little too technical for me. If I am in the mood for techy, I'd grab this one over most.

35. Intronaut - Valley of Smoke: I prefer the old Intronaut. Before they got all proggy. If I were bathed in a valley of smoke, this would be transcen-fucking-dental. Maybe next time I go green, this will be my soundtrack.

34. Early Graves - Goner: I love it when names/titles are appropriate. Not in this case. RIP Makh Daniels. (Btw, this album is fucking awesome)

33. The Body - All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood: Haven't been able to "acquire" this yet. I must try harder.

32. Father Befouled - Morbid Destitution of Covenant: I think this is one of those albums that REQUIRES that you listen to it many times before you can make an accurate judgement on it. That's my plan anyway. Second listen was better than the first, so it only follows....

31. Deftones - Diamond Eyes: WAY better than their last one. It's really pretty incredible. Should be higher than this on my list.

30. Nachtmystium - Addicts: Black Meddle Pt II: Is there something wrong with me? I just can't get into these guys.

29. Christian Mistress - Agony and Opium: Seriously? I've booed bar bands better than this.

28. Unearthly Trance - V: This motherfucker blew me away!!

27. Fear Factory - Mechanize: Totally surprised me that Decibel ranked this one. Glad they did though. I loved Dino-era FF. And I love this. One of the few albums I actually bought this year.

26. Pivixki - Gravissima: Say what? Who? Avant-garde pianist? Free grind? No thanks.

25. Withered - Dualitas: Are you kidding me? 25?! Fuck no! Must be much higher! Possible AOTY!!

24. Ghost - Opus Eponymous: See Christian Mistress. I don't know what the big deal is.

23. Integrity - The Blackest Curse: This is pretty kick ass. I don't know if I'd rank it this high but it's fighting for a spot on my Top 40.

22. Kvelertak - Kvelertak: This is a "holy fuck!" album. As in, Holy Fuck this is good! and Holy Fuck what is going on!? Holy Fuck!!

21. Deathspell Omega - Paracletus: Meh.

20. Electric Wizard - Black Masses: Those who know me best know I love EW. The music itself makes me high. And when I AM high, look out.

19. Atheist - Jupiter: I don't like Cynic, Obscura, Periphery or other super-techy death metal bands either.

18. Burzum - Belus: I don't care if he's a church-burning murderer. This album is awesome.

17. High on Fire - Snakes for the Divine: Another of the few albums I actually bought at a store this year. Matt Pike is god.

16. Kylesa - Spiral Shadow: I still haven't finished transcribing my interview with Philip and Laura about Static Tensions (My AOTY for '09). This is one won't top my list this year but it should come close. Love it!

15. Horseback - The Invisible Mountain: Yeah, I don't dig the vibe.

14. Coliseum - House With a Curse: Why haven't I heard this yet?

13. Sailors With Wax Wings - Sailors With Wax Wings: Sounds like Pyramids, eh? Zzzzzzzzzzzz

12. Immolation - Majesty and Decay: Fuck yes.

11. Castevet - Mounds of Ash: Good. Not #12 good.

10. The Austerity Program - Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn: Haven't heard this yet but I don't think I'll like it anyway.

9. Nails - Unsilent Death: Heard nothing but good things about this. But still have not actually heard it. Must rectify.

8. Thou - Summit. I don't know if I would rank it this high but it's pretty fucking awesome.

7. Ludicra - The Tenant: Deserves to be this high based on the riff in "In Stable" alone.

6. Torche - Songs for Singles: I'm really slacking. I haven't got around to this yet.

5. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini: I want to like Enslaved, I really do. But I respect the hell out of them.

4. Dawnbringer - Nucleus: I think I tried to listen to this but couldn't finish it.  Not my bag.

3. Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones: I feel shame. I haven't got around to this one either.

2. Watain - Lawless Darkness: One of the best black metal releases of the year but #2 overall? I don't know about that.

1. Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit: I really am a slacker. It's on my "to download" list.

Valient Thorr - Stranger

Party music for not very tough bikers.

Death Angel - Relentless Retribution

You should know that I got in to the metal game a but late. I didn't start
listening to metal in earnest until around 1994. (Many thanks Pantera) So
I've been playing catch up with thrash ever since. Sure I knew the Big 4.
They're some of my favourite bands ever. But outside of that, I really
don't know much old thrash. So I have no history with Death Angel. I have
no basis of comparison to their other work. That being said, there is
nothing on this album that makes me want to rush out and find out what I
have been missing.
I also haven't told you anything about the album. Gallopping guitars, hard
hitting drums, bark/shout vocals that sound really fun to scream along
with. These dudes are tight. I like the speed and pacing. It sounds like a
really fun album that I should give at least equal credit to compared to
bands like Early Man and Municipal Waste. I'm gonna have to spend some more
time with this. And I expect to see this on my friend Todd's year end list.

Beneath the Massacre - Maree Noire

By rights, I should have turned this off as soon as it started. I don't
really like deathcore and I don't really like noodly guitars. This has
deathcore vocals and noodly guitars. The difference here is the vocals and
noodle are not there for their own sake. This is actual music. These sound
like songs. Not verse-chorus-verse no, but it's more than just showing off.
They do push my limits of tolerance for pure note overload but since it's
only an EP I can hack it. I bet the pits at their shows are SICK!

Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini

I can't say this is bad. It's just not my thing. I didn't hear much to
really captivate me and the unclean vocals aren't my favorite. I want to
like Enslaved but I just can't. Maybe I'm too narrow-minded.

Ghost - Opus Eponymous

Musically, this is somewhat tolerable. Almost. Even the vocals in and of
themselves aren't bad. But I still don't like it.
It sounds like the kind of band that you need to appreciate Mr. Bungle to
dig. I don't mind retro sounds but this is too weak retro. It's got no
edge. On shrooms, yeah this might send me off but 99.99% of forever, I'm
not trippin' on fungi so this does nothing for me.

Christian Mistress - Agony & Opium

You got the agony part right. It's agony listening to this. If I heard this
band at a bar is some shit town, drunk of my ass, I'd still say they suck.
How do bands like this get record deals?

Adversarial - All Idols Fall Before The Hammer

PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS METAL MAKE IT
STOP!!!!!! The production on this is so horrible I don't give a FUCK how
good it is. It sounds like the drum mic is swinging from a cord from the
ceiling. What better way to violate eardrums with that fucking awful snare
sound.

What a letdown!

I've been rippin' through lots of albums lately. I was expecting to be
treated to a torrent of great music. If I didn't expect it to be good I
wouldn't have downloaded it to begin with. I was seriously mistaken.
I have listened to (or skipped) more crap in the last couple weeks!! The
next few posts will all be shit related.

Melechesh - The Epigenesis

Rarely when I have big expectations for an album am I not disappointed. This is not one of those times. It delivered everything I expected. Maybe even delivered more by doing less. It's been a while but I remember their last album being much busier. The Epigenesis seems more basic. Not dumbed down though. Melechesh are able to weave Middle Eastern texture, rhythm and cadence into black metal. Yeah, it may not be "troo" but it proves that Black Metal doesn't have to be bleak metal. And it doesn't have to be boring. The guitar tones and vocals make it black metal but the riff style and varied drumming break that restraint on what some people would consider Black Metal. I need to MAKE the time to listen to this again and again because even though my first impression was a home run, I have a feeling it will get even better every time.

Skeletonwitch, Withered and Landmine Marathon @ Time to Laugh, Kingston, ON Nov. 26, 2010

I knew this was going to be a great night. How often do you get to see three bands of this caliber on the stage for $12? I would easily have paid $12 each! So in order to make things "fair" in terms of cost-to-enjoyment, I bought a shirt and vinyl from both Withered and Landmine. I got a 3/4 sleeve baseball style tour shirt from Skeletonwitch last time they were in town. So I ended up spending a bunch of money I didn't really have but it was worth it. However, my wallet wasn't the only thing that paid for it. A full 7 days after the show and I am still nursing a fairly painful bangover. (Special thanks to Chris Woodford of Toronto band Titan, for, to the best of my knowledge, creating that word.) Meh, some people pay for worse kinds of pain than pulled neck muscles. Like in Hostel 2, when the guy pays to kill the one chick and she ends up cutting his dick off with a pair of scissors. It can always be worse. Right, the show.
As usual I missed most of the first band. Fashionably late. I don't think I missed much with locals Ponderous Chain. They weren't horrible but they were brought down by the complete lack of stage presence displayed by their singer. This is metal, man! Put your fucking back into it! I do believe one  guitarist used to play for Rozea Haven and he's got some chops, so there is an upside here.
The other "beer band" on the bill was Darkness Rites. Pretty young band but they seemed to know what they were doing. Death metal with breakdowns but I wouldn't class them as metal/deathcore. Their singer was the polar opposite of the previous band's. He may have looked like a poser, but he had a pretty good set of lungs on him and he was VERY passionate. If I think my necks hurts, that guy is gonna need a team of Swedish masseuses to set him straight.
Landmine Marathon. This is where the self-induced bodily injury came in. I knew what to expect. I was quite well acquainted with their 2010 offering, Sovereign Descent. So when the band took the stage and singer Grace Perry started tearing us a new arsehole, (that lady can scream!) I (at least tried to) lead the neck-snappin' charge. Perry herself jumped off the stage a few times and engaged the crowd. At one point, she whipped me into the pit and tore another guy's shirt right off his back! That's fuckin' hardcore, dude. Despite having a shorter set, Landmine was able to rip out a mix of songs from Sovereign as well as some older tunes. I was a little rusty (ha!) with the tunes from Rusted Eyes Awake but that didn't matter. Their whole set was loaded with brutality. Their brand of doomy deathgrind is just as awesome live as it is on CD/vinyl/cassette (all formats were available). I'm not sure how many people knew who Landmine Marathon were at the beginning of the night (Let's be honest, most of the people were there to see Skeletonwitch), but by the time they left the stage, they'd gained plenty of new fans. And that's what touring is all about. Getting out there and getting the music heard. The merch table ended up being pretty busy but I did manage to get a shirt and a copy of Sovereign Descent on vinyl. In getting said vinyl signed by the band (Perry, guitarist Ryan Butler and Dylan Thomas, bassist Matt Martinez and drummer Andy York) I was able hang out with them for a little bit. I love when bands are approachable and easygoing. I tried not to be too much of a fanboy and since we shared some of the same views and interests, it was easy to talk about things other than music.(For example, how my daughter, Grace, insisted I tell Grace Perry that they have the same name. Spooky fact: my daughter was born the same year Landmine Marathon formed.) I sincerely hope Landmine is able to come back and play Kingston someday. They're the kind of band Kingston needs to see more of to help the fans embrace underground metal. Maybe next time I can stop moving my head long enough to actually SEE them perform. And maybe next time they can play "Steadfast Hate" because they just plain ran out of time. Right? (wink wink)
Speaking of not being able to see, Withered had all the stage lights turned off to set the mood. "Tortured blackened doom" doesn't call for flashy lights. It made perfect sense to create a dark and ominous atmosphere for dark and ominous music. Like Intronaut, the bass plays a central role in the band. And also like Intronaut, the bassist takes center stage flanked by both guitarist/vocalists. Being a bassist myself, I kinda like that setup. Again, I didn't SEE much of the performance as I did feel it. When I wasn't violently thrashing about to the driving black metal thunder, I was soaking in the soundscapes with my eyes closed. Like the time I saw Yakuza, the music goes so far beyond the visual that you feel the need to close off that input and let the sound penetrate. The blasts unleashed upon the masses came mostly from 2010's outstanding Dualitas. It was the first show by a more or less black metal band I've had the pleasure of attending. While I don't consider Withered your "typical" black metal band, by witnessing the raw force, emotion and passion of their set, I have gained a new level of appreciation for the genre in general. They are one of the first (that I know of) blackened doom bands to play Kingston and I felt like the crowd wasn't prepared for it. (Pre-Apostasy Behemoth came through once. I missed it.) I mean, there were people "into it" but I felt like saying "Come on people! It's fucking WITHERED!" Then again, I was one of the only people losing my shit when Jucifer, Psyopus, Cattle Decapitation, Yakuza, Terror and Intronaut played. (Not all at the same time!) I guess I'm just lucky to have a deep knowledge of great metal. It's hard to believe that after the aural pummeling doled out by these doom dealers, this now tortured soul was actually able to walk. The powerful and stirring set could just as easily brought me to my knees. (Bowing to the greatness, of course) Alas, there was some sah-weet merch to acquire. Besides, I wouldn't want to get trampled by the hordes crowding the stage for the headliners.
Ohio's Skeletonwitch are touring machines. Near constant touring as honed this band's abilities. By which I mean their ability to drink you under the table and still put on a killer show. These blackened thrashers know how to have a good fucking time! Master frontman Chance Garnette and Co have sharpened their live show to a razor sharp edge. They're tight, enthusiastic, and well, fun! Crowd pleasers to say the least. Back in July they played 3rd fiddle to High on Fire (NObody plays after HoF. Nobody) and Priestess but you'd never have known they were the openers. As headliners this time around, they were given more time to pound their catchy riffs and scream-along choruses into our eager eardrums. You can't help but at least nod your head or tap your feet. I've probably said this before but Skeletonwitch is fist-pumpin' metal. Cuz that's what you want to do the whole time. Throw your fists in the air in salute to a brand of metal that appeals to a wide range of fans. I saw fans there that looked 10 years old, and fans that looked like they were 10 years old when Black Sabbath first played North America. Long hairs, hardcore dudes, nerds (represent!), jocks, you name it. One of the most amazing things was that the bands they were touring with were just as excited as the people who paid to see them.That's when you know your doing something right. Rarely have I seen a crowd that unified. The band tore through a diverse set featuring tunes from their whole catalog. Whether it was a track from '09s Breathing The Fire or an older one such as my personal fave, "At One With The Shadows", the crowd gobbled up what the 'Witch was brewin'. It doesn't make much sense to have that much fun listening to songs about killing and dying but that's just what happens at a Skeletonwitch show. On CD, they feel much more sinister. But live, it's all about "having a good fuckin' time!" I guarantee you will. Skeletonwitch vowed to return but not without stipulations. Until they come back, we were instructed to "Drink beeeer! Smoke weeeeed! And eat some fucking pussy!" Sounds like a plan to me!
I was surprised that given the fact that some of the bands on the bill have a blackened element that there was no mention that show was on Black Friday. I thought that would have been a given. No worries, I got some shopping in and everything I bought was black!

Withered - Dualitas

Before I get in to the review, I just have to say that I am over the fucking moon excited to see Withered on Friday. I'd be stoked enough if was just them and some locals but they're playing with Skeletonwitch AND Landmine Marathon! I will barely be able to walk/talk/breathe by the time that show is over.
Anyway, I'll be reviewing the show so check back sometime next week to see how much self-destruction I caused.
Now, it's been a while since I've heard Memento Mori or Folie Circulaire but I get a different feeling from Dualitas. It could just be my horrible memory, but it seems more spacious than previous releases. While the oppressive parts are just as oppressive, they are interspersed with more, shall we say, reflective passages. After I actually shell out money to buy a physical copy of this (vinyl?) on Friday I may be able to confirm my theory that the theme of this album is duality. Not in a split-personality sense or "good and evil exist in all of us" way, but more of a two sides to every story idea. For example, some parts are loud and fast and powerful and make me think of war and destruction and all the adrenaline and hot blood that goes with that. That will then fall into a slower, more pensive sounding passage which brings to mind the other side of war. The loss and the sadness. But as I think about it more, the mournful side could be the reflection of the "victors" (no one wins in war). The part where the triumphant survey the destruction they have wrought and think, "What have we done?" "What have we become?" Every time I've listened to Dualitas I can't help but think about the two emotions that rise in my heart, triumph and sorrow. The driving black metal aspect conjuring images of militaristic conquest and victory and the slower, doomier aspect revealing the bloody aftermath and an overwhelming sense of loss. "Interlude" is one of the saddest sounding pieces of music I have ever heard while other parts of the record would flay the skin from your bones and laugh with terrible glee.
Withered have really outdone themselves in creating such an enjoyable yet emotionally draining album. Powerful, cerebral music with a soul.

Howl - Full of Hell

Quite often, a great album will conjure images in your mind regardless of lyrical content. Full of Hell does that very, very well. The following is what my mind sees.
The band are actually Cyclopean giants. They are performing the album in a natural amphitheater/cave opening at the top of a flaming mountain range.  This provides the soundtrack to an army of beasts laying waste to civilization below.
Now that may not sound like Harvard stuff but I have a feeling if I got my hands on a lyric sheet, there would be some upper-level intelligence going on. (somewhat unrelated but, RIP Buried Inside) See, to the best of my knowledge the members of Howl are vegan. And not to stereotype, but I don't know any meathead vegetarians.(See what I did there?)
Adjective time: thick, huge, warm, deep, resonant, frightening, destructive, desolate and as the Cyclopes' last notes echo across the mountains, mournful.

Yes, I'm alive.

I realized I haven't posted in over a month. But we just moved so that is keeping me really busy. Plus, we were without internet (!!) for a while too. But you don't want to hear about me, you want to hear about metal!

Kylesa - Spiral Shadow: I have only heard it once (so far) but that is all it took to know it kicks ass. Kylesa's previous offering, Static Tensions, took top spot on my Best of 2009 list so my expectations were high. The two are different enough that it's really not fair to compare them. Spiral Shadow sounds like a more mature album. It has a more spacious sound that Kylesa was moving towards with Tensions but instead of a small step, they took a giant leap. The album breathes more and allows Laura and Phillip to sing more rather than scream all the time. It also feels like a very deep album so I'll have to spin this many more times before I can give it the proper treatment. But one thing is for sure, Kylesa continue to push themselves in order to not release the same album over and over.

Salome - Terminal: I'm not even done this yet but, fuck me. Heavy fucking shit motherfucker. Bowel evacuatingly heavy. While wearing earbuds. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLYEAH - Stampede

You'd think something involving Vinnie Paul and members of Mudvayne would be good, wouldn't you? Okay maybe not. But at least something with Vinnie wouldn't be that bad? Sorry to disappoint. This is fucking horrible. "Metal" songs about "good ole boys", the "cowboy way", booze, etc. The whole thing feels like a joke but I know it's not. That's the sad part. No doubt my extreme distaste for country music lends some bias in this case it would be bad anyway. Most times a band will put their stronger songs near the front of the album but in this case, the worst songs are first. It doesn't get MUCH better but the cheese factor gets turned down a little. If you gave Kid Rock an extra shot of testosterone and slapped the hip-hop out of him, HELLYEAH wouldn't be far off. And if the studio version of "Alcohaulin' Ass" from the first record wasn't bad enough, they included a live version on this one!! Hellyeah! Fuck me. Metal for college jocks and posers. The members of this band used to be respectable! How does this happen?

As if that wasn't enough torment, I'm gonna listen to the new Helmet record now.

Heaven Shall Burn - Invictus (Iconoclast III)

I hesitate to class this as metalcore because I don't like most metalcore. But I like this and it's pretty much metalcore. It's got a hardcore "feel" and some breakdowns and a totally visceral metal vocal style. It's an angry SOB of a record. It makes me want to destroy things. Everything is great until the end of the record. The second to last track, "Given in Death" has some female guest vocals (I don't know or care who it is). It isn't a terrible song by any means but it's different enough from the rest that it doesn't really fit. The outro is sombre string piece. It's not bad either. But the bonus track...."Nowhere". Someone make it stop! It HAS to be a cover. Of who, I have no idea because I don't listen to crap. Eventhough the main lyric is "going nowhere" the song sounds upbeat. Poppy. I picture skinny jeans and bad hair. Neon shoelaces and all-over print hoodies. Shoot me now. This song has no right being on any record let alone this one. I would really like to know what possessed them to do this song. And if it's NOT a cover...why? Please tell me why?!

Gravemaker - Ghosts Among Men

Well that was fun!! Beefy NY-style hardcore!! Unbelievably mosh-worthy. Throw that puppy on with a few beers in ya and people could get hurt! Wicked! If you like Sick Of It All and/or Biohazard (minus the rappyness) you should like this.

Grave - Burial Ground

Short and sweet review.

Straight forward Euro-death. Unlike their (mostly) American brethren, Grave have no need for the over-technicality of much of today's death metal. They go right for the kill with brutal, working man death metal. Some melody and punk sensibilities work their way in to the mix so it's not just evil music and growling. Maybe some of these techni-death bands should realize that much of what makes an album good is feeling. Grave know that. Feel the death!!

Gaza

I just listened to He's Never Coming Back. Gaza is one of those bands that I've always wanted to listen to but could never get my hands on them. I finally did and I'll be trying harder from now on. I'm not going to say much other than it sounds really pissed off and I like really pissed off. I can only imagine how cathartic it must be to perform those songs. It's almost exhausting just listening to their top drawer sludgy hardcore. A very satisfying exhaustion though. Gaza has a newer one out don't they?

Fleshgod Apocalypse - Mafia

I can't understand a word this Italian death metal outfit is singing about. That's fine. It's death metal, I didn't expect to. My guess is it's something about the Mafia. As far as the 4 originals on this disc go, I can give or take. Very well performed and all that. There is some operatic singing that I could really do without. Death growls are good and the riffage makes me want to circle headbang. Drums are pretty good. The snare seems a little sharp though. Quite machine gun like. The EP ends with a piano outro that sounds very Mafia-esque but again, I could do without it.
Where is EP stands out if a top notch cover of At the Gates' "Blinded by Fear". Kudos.
And of course, the band's name itself pretty awesome.
Take it or leave it. It's not horrible, but it's not something I will go back to again and again.

Special K's

The other I was listening my way through the "K" section of my iPod. For such oddball letter, 2010 has produced some great (and not so great) bands that begin with the letter "K". I can't remember all the album names.

Kataklysm -  Heaven's Venom: Last year's Ex Deo album was great and the same dudes came back with a great Kataklysm record. Multi-dimensional Canadian Death Metal. Me likey.

Khoma: The name says it all even if it is spelled wrong. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Kingdom of Sorrow - Behind the Blackest Tears: Just what you'd expect from KoS. Better than Hatebreed but maybe not as good as Crowbar.

Kongh: The name makes me thing of King Kong and this band sounds that big and angry. Love it.

Kruger (can't remember album): Not bad. Actually not quite as good the second time around. Grower?

Kvelertak: What the fuck dudes?? At The Drive-in, Refused, The Hives and Billy Talent had a baby and named it Kvelertak.

Crucial Update!

Just thought I'd touch base with the hordes of you fans anxiously awaiting my increasingly infrequent posts. I apologize for disappointing you.

I mostly write at work and I've been on holidays. Cut me some slack.

Anyway, I'm FINALLY transcribing the Kylesa interview I did last May. As in 2009. Combination of an unfinalized disc, a dead battery, a missing cord and pure laziness led to the delay. But I am working on it today and with any luck I will at least have it on paper. And I might even have it posted by the end of the weekend. No promises. Most of it is old news by now (they have a new record coming out soon) but there still might be some interesting info in there.

In the meantime, go listen to Kongh. You shouldn't be disappointed by that.

Pro Pain - Absolute Power

This actually a pretty easy review. It goes like this: Take any previous Pro Pain album, change the name to Absolute Power, and voila. This may sound  a little harsh but, for as much ass as Pro-Pain kicks, their brand of fist-pumping, metalized hardcore just keeps kicking the same ass with every release. One distinguishing feature may be that I think I hear some guests on the album. I don't have access to info right now but I think I heard some vocals that sounded "Disturb"-ingly like David Draiman. (i.e. everyone's favourite hypocrite) I hope my ears are deceiving me.
I own one Pro Pain album and I am okay with that. Funny story about that album. Back in the day (c. 2000), I was walking home from a party (drunk!) listening to [the album I can't recall the name of] and finding myself powerwalking along in perfect lockstep with the album. (minus the elbow action and butt wiggle) If you've ever heard Pro Pain you know how fast that is for someone who had no business being upright anyway. (That was during my tequila phase) It was pretty funny to me because my legs were seemingly acting of their own accord. The funny to other people part, is that inevitably, I would have to urinate on this walk. I happened to be walking by a construction site. Naturally, there was a porta-potty. As a testament to my level of inebriation, I decided I should pee behind it so no passing cars would see me. Aaaaaalways thinkin'. Of course, when coming out from behind the porta-potty, I tripped on some debris and bloodied up my legs pretty good.  But I carried on powerwalkin' to that relentless Pro Pain beat. Good times.

5 Word Album Review: Black Label Society - Order of the Black

Better than the new Ozzy.

Cephalic Carnage - Misled By Certainty

Misled by Certainty is a most apt album title. I was certainly misled. I was certain that given the amount of positive press and ample advertising that this album would blow me away. But I was misled. It sucks. It didn't feel as cohesive as an album as I prefer. I can see how people would like it but I don't. There is some good tracks and some good moments but they are few. The second half of the album is just kind of, there. There was nothing that really grabbed me.  Now, Cephalic Carnage refer to themselves as hydrogrind. Or in layman's terms, weed metal. Perhaps if I were to partake in some weed, I might hear the gold that some apparently do. And since I don't get high near as much as I'd like, I doubt the opportunity will present itself. There's already way better stuff on my Potential Pot Playlist.

Yakuza - Of Seismic Consequence

I would just like to start by saying that I like Yakuza. As a band and as people. I've enjoyed their albums, seen them live and hung out with them for over an hour after the show. (I think I was the only person there who knew who they were. They opened for The Holly Springs Disaster a couple years ago.)
But I'm not really diggin' this one. For what they are trying to do, they do an excellent job. It's just a little too artsy for me. Maybe if I listened to their old albums I might find them too artsy now too. The title, Of Seismic Consequence, alludes to a heaviness that is going to affect things. I didn't so much get a feel of heavy as much as I did deep. I suspect that had I been paying attention to the lyrics (instead of reading album reviews) my "deep" theory would be validated. I'm sure it would be counter-productive to what Yakuza was trying to accomplish, but as a listener I am tempted to mess with the track listing. I'd split up the slower, softer tunes and the faster, heavier ones. Like 2 EPs rather than an LP. So one could listen to the softer tunes in the presence of those around them not so metallically inclined and not have it interrupted by a spazzed-out jazz-metal ball-buster.
Of Seismic Consequence is a nice deep, moody album interspersed with more metal moments. It's very much Yakuza and seems a logical step in that band's evolution. I just don't seem to be evolving at the same rate. I'll be sure to keep this on hand for those times when I feel like getting a little deeper.

A few words on, for the most part, crap.

I've gone through first runs of a lot of new stuff the last few days. I am been greatly disappointed. I don't have high hopes for much but I don't like being tortured.

The Acacia Strain - Wormwood: Sometimes I wish I was deaf. I think I got 2 songs into this before I realized I had a whole alphabet's worth of other stuff I could be listening to.

The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - Danza III: chug-chug-weedily-chug-weedily-weedily-chug-chug-chug-weedily-chug-etc. MELODY FUCKERS!

Danzig - Deth Red Saboath: Not bad. It feels like a grower but there is some pretty weak shit on it.

Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast: Brilliant musicianship. Above average songcraft. Not grabbin' me by the balls. Felt like it went on forever.Way too long.

Norma Jean - Meridonal: By rights, I should hate this band. But I don't. Have to listen to it more for sure. Heard most of it under less than ideal conditions.

Mendozza - (cant' recall right now): Pretty cool stoner/fuzz metal. I like it. Super bonus points for Sleep and Black Sabbath covers.

HELLYEAH - Stampede: They called it Stampede after everyone stampeded out of the listening party. Just plain painful to listen to at times. OH and a live version of "Alcohaulin' Ass"! What a treat. Why did that douche have to kill Dimebag?

On the bright side, I heard Sodom's cover of "Surfin' Bird". Awesome.