Daniel's Forum Replies

Wonderful Australian progressive metal for fans of Opeth, Xanthochroid & Persefone.

This weekend's list is my Top Ten Drone Metal Releases Of All-Time:

01. Sunn O))) – “Black One” (2005)

02. Boris – “Boris At Last -Feedbacker-“ (2003)

03. Jesu – “Jesu” (2004)

04. Monarch! – “Omen” (2012)

05. Neptunian Maximalism – “Eons” (2020)

06. Boris with Merzbow – “Rock Dream” (2007)

07. Corrupted – “Llenandose de gusanos” (1999)

08. Earth – “Extra-Capsular Extraction” E.P. (1991)

09. Sunn O))) – “Monoliths & Dimensions” (2009)

10. Earth – “Earth 2: Special low Frequency Version” (1993)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/137

I've taken a little bit of creative license with a few releases that offer much more than drone metal (see the Neptunian Maximalism, Boris with Merzbow & Corrupted records for example) but I figured that if it wasn't for the drone metal link then they may not be on the site at all so why not allow them to qualify for a list like this one.

In this week's episode of "Fuck, how old am I getting dude!" we discover that three records that had a major impact on my life at the time all turned 30 years old today:

I'd discovered Soundgarden through their 1989 record "Louder Than Love" (their vidoe clips for "Loud Love" & "Hands All Over" to be more specific) but they really took things to the next level with their much more consistent & weighty "Badmotorfinger" album. I regard it amongst the best couple of releases for the grunge movement as a whole & it's a true testament to the genius of Chris Cornell as a front man. Alternative metal music doesn't get any better than that.

The Gorguts album was undone by its timing to an extent. It could have been significantly bigger if it had been released a year or two earlier & it isn't unique enough to be regarded as a classic. Still, it got many replays in the months after I picked up the CD. I think I first became aware of them after seeing one of my female friends wearing their t-shirt at a death metal gig very shortly after release & I quickly purchased the album. There are a couple of timeless death metal belters on there too.

"Effigy of The Forgotten" changed my life really. I don't think it's Suffocation's best work & I don't think it eclipsed the "Human Waste" E.P. that I'd loved so much but it took the brutality & technicality levels of death metal up a good couple of notches & set a new benchmark for the rest of the scene. It would go on to inspire me as a musician for the rest of the decade & has lost none of its potency to this day.

It's interesting that my rating has gone in the other direction as I've dropped it back half a star. At the time of release I was completely blown away by the sheer virtuosity, precision & attention to detail that Ne Obliviscaris have achieved. I mean all of the instrumentalists are performing at a level that was completely unheard of for an Australian band & it left me feeling a huge sense of national pride. The lead guitar work of Benjamin Baret is spectacular, the bass lines of Brendan Brown are wonderful & Daniel Presland is frankly the best metal drummer this country has ever produced & you can easily hear the time that the band have put into developing every piece that's included over the nine years they'd been in existence to that point, an extremely long time before a debut full-length when you think about it. It really shouldn't be a surprise when you find out that three of the pieces made up the "The Aurora Veil" E.P. a full five years earlier as this artist clearly likes to refine their craft to the nth degree. Regardless of that though, to have all of these dudes pop up on the one release from a band that I'd never even heard of before was astounding & the fact that I quickly had the pleasure of seeing them all perform this material live several times in quick succession only added to their appeal.

That being said, I do have to admit that there was always an internal battle going on inside me when contemplating my overall feelings for "Portal Of I" & I remember struggling with it when I first tried to rate it too. Whenever I revisit "Portal Of I" I'm left with no doubt at all that it's a genuine progressive metal masterpiece but at the same time I find that it it's also a little too melodic (& at times even pretty) for my personal taste. The more brutal moments certainly get my blood pumping in a way that few bands can manage (see the one-two punch of "Xenoflux" & "Of the Leper Butterflies" or the magical closer "Of Petrichor Weaves Black Noise") but the folkier parts of the album where the violin work of Tim Charles takes the forefront don't always maintain that level of enthusiasm, especially the sections that hint at a folk metal jig which isn't something I want to hear in my extreme metal. Plus, the harsh vocals of Xenoyr do tend to be a touch generic some of the time if I'm being honest. I really dig Charles' Mike Patton-ish clean vocals but I'm not sure his hooks are quite strong enough to have them ringing in my head for days afterwards. (Hint: don't take your girlfriend to see them live as their ovaries tend to pop out of their bodies in a frantic attempt to devour him). 

So while I find "Portal Of I" to be a really refreshing, intriguing & generally impressive metal experience (particularly the drumming of Presland which is the clear highlight in my opinion), I now have to be honest with myself & admit that it's simply a touch too accessible for me to be placing alongside the Slayers, Morbid Angels & Suffocations in my Hall of Metal Glory. It's the uplifting positivity of the atmosphere that I'm a little bit at odds with. I have a few melodically inclined records in my Hall but they all tend to be deeply mournful & melancholic, traits that "Portal Of I" can't claim to (& never tries to) possess. Nonetheless, this is a perfect representation of the progressive metal subgenre in every respect & it deserves all of the praise that it receives.

For fans of Opeth, Xanthochroid & Persefone.

4/5

Classic Finnish doom metal for fans of Saint Vitus, Lord Vicar & Spiritus Mortis.

Well, you needn't have worried Sonny because I was always gonna enjoy a monolith of pure doom like this one. Yes, it's extremely lengthy & there's not going to be nearly enough variation to keep your more casual punter entertained but I've always been partial to a truly authentic doom metal sound & you won't find much more authentic than this. There are some truly immense & lumbering riffs on this muthafucker. The Geezer Butler inspired bass work is highlighted by a monstrous tone that beefs up the whole album & there's a bluesy early Sabbath feel to the atmosphere a lot of the time too with those classic rocking-to-sleep rhythms. The traditional doom metal bands of the 1980's were certainly a major influence on Reverend Bizarre's sound in that respect, particularly Saint Vitus.

Albert Witchfinder's vocals aren't the strongest you'll hear but they suit the imposing atmosphere well enough. In saying that though, I do think "III: So Long Suckers" had the potential to become a genuine classic with a top class metal front man. The slower, heavier numbers are quite spectacular (see "Sorrow", "Funeral Summer" & "Caesar Forever") although none of them run their full course without changing things up a bit along the way. You're unlikely to identify anything particularly original here but there's an undeniable quality to everything that Reverend Bizarre attempts. The pointless hidden track that closes the record was a bit of a disappointing way to end 130 minutes of premium doom metal but I still find "III: So Long Suckers" to be a very rewarding experience for the more discerning & committed doom metal aficionado.

For fans of Saint Vitus, Lord Vicar & Spiritus Mortis.

4/5

Updated my list to include Boris' "Pink' album at the top. It's debatable as to whether it's a genuine Stoner Metal release or not however Stoner Metal is its only tag on Metal Academy so why the fuck not. Anyway... Sleep have now been completely dumped from my list which is interesting given their legendary status in the scene.

01. Boris - "Pink" (2005)

02. High On Fire – “De vermis mysteriis” (2012)

03. Electric Wizard – “Let Us Prey” (2002)

04. Adrift For Days – “The Lunar Maria” (2010)

05. Electric Wizard – “Supercoven” E.P. (1998)

06. Electric Wizard – “Dopethrone” (2000)

07. Boris – “あくまのうた (Akuma no uta)” (2003)

08. Electric Wizard – “Come My Fanatics…” (1997)

09. Elder - "Spires Burn / Release" E.P. (2012)

10. Down – “NOLA” (1995)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/135

Here's my old review from the Metal Academy podcast several years ago:

"Night On Bröcken" is a record that’s more significant from a timeline point of view than from an artistic one as it represents the more humble beginnings of one of the more iconic US metal bands of the 80’s. Connecticut five-piece Fates Warning would go on to become one of the most important bands in the development of the progressive metal subgenre & they remain a metal powerhouse still to this day but their debut full-length represents their more humble of beginnings with the Metal Blade Records backed release sporting a sound that showed very little in the way of invention or artistic license.

The crude cover art gives you a strong indication that the album might not be as polished as the rest of the band’s star studded back catalogue & that definitely proves to be the case with Fates Warning simply testing the waters by emulating their NWOBHM heroes. It’s interesting that the album title is referring to a German mountain that’s famous for its association with witches as referenced in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s tragic play “Faust”. The title of Stormwitch’s debut album “Walpurgis Night” from around the same time is actually referring to the night that the witches traditionally met at the top of Bröcken so it seems to have been a popular topic for metal bands of the time.

The production job on “Night On Brocken” isn’t horrible but it is a little inconsistent with some songs sounding a little flatter than others. You can clearly hear all of the instruments but the overall sound comes across as pretty dry which is more in line with what you’d expect from a well put together demo tape. Interestingly, Metal Blade house producer Bill Metoyer was behind the mixing desk along with label head Brian Slagel & it’s pretty clear that they were still finding their way as far as how to package a professional sounding metal release goes but this is not a disaster by any means.

The thing that most makes “Night On Brocken” stand out from the rest of the Fates Warning back catalogue though is the style of music it presents with very little in the way of genuinely progressive material on display here. Instead we get a straight down the line NWOBHM direction with Iron Maiden being the primary influence. So much in fact, that I regard a lot of this album as pure plagiarism. The galloping riffs & harmonized guitar lines all sound oh so familiar & you can often pick the exact songs they’ve been crafted around. The album does have a somewhat more US feel to it though which is probably as much to do with the production as anything else, particularly the guitar sound.

But it’s iconic front man John Arch who is the most noticeably trying to clone the mighty Irons & while there are certainly moments when you struggle to tell that this isn’t Bruce Dickinson himself there are more where he just sounds like an average imitation. There are times when Queensryche’s Geoff Tate springs to mind too actually but even though he’s the clear focal point of the band, it’s an inconsistent performance from Arch here as some of the songs see him sounding quite pitchy or straining to reach the more mid-range notes in his repertoire. He seems much more capable with the higher pitched screams but for all his failings he IS the most memorable feature of Fates Warning’s sound at this early stage. When he gets it right we see Fates Warning’s best moments & I have to say that I find them difficult not to enjoy.

The musicianship on display isn’t of the same sort of standard as that we would hear on Fates Warning’s progressive metal counterparts Queensryche’s debut E.P. a year prior but they’d show a lot of development in that area over the next year or so. The sort of technical wizardry we’ve become used to hearing from the prog metal elite was beyond them at this point but they were certainly a more than serviceable heavy metal band. And for that reason I struggle with the common consensus that “Night On Bröcken” was a failed venture. Yes, it clearly showcases a young band that was still very much finding their sound & was more comfortable to simply test the waters with a safe & generic brand of song-writing but it’s pretty well put together nonetheless & I find myself enjoying around two thirds of the material here. The weaker songs aren’t horrible. They’re just a bit flat sounding with their more generic & basic riffs providing little to get enthusiastic about. The stronger material on the other hand offers enough in the way of soaring vocal lines, chuggy metal riffage & general enthusiasm to keep this old metalhead reasonably engaged even if the album lacks those couple of genuine highlight tracks to make it truly memorable. I’d recommend that fans of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest & Queensryche give the album a chance but it’s doubtful that you’ll find anything too life-changing.

3.5/5

Spine-chilling Burzum-inspired atmospheric black metal from the Ukraine. For fans of Ygg, Winterfylleth & Wodensthrone.

Drudkh - "Blood In Our Wells" (2006)

This one should be right up your alley Xephyr. Think atmospheric black metal with a Pagan edge to it ala Ygg, Winterfylleth & Wodensthrone.

Don’t expect much metal on the MonumentuM record Andi. The links are tenuous at best. The main reason that “In Absentia Christi” is spoken of in metal terms is the links to Euronymous as it was released on his Deathlike Silence label. It’s really a gothic darkwave release in my opinion. I only cleared it for inclusion on the general consensus rather than my own personal feelings but it’s one of my all-time faves none the less.

This week's list is my Top Ten Gothic Metal Releases Of All Time:

01. MonumentuM – “In Absentia Christi” (1995)

02. The Gathering – “Nighttime Birds” (1997)

03. Tiamat – “Wildhoney” (1994)

04. Type O Negative – “October Rust” (1996)

05. Paradise Lost – “Icon”

06. The Gathering – “Mandylion” (1995)

07. Paradise Lost – “Draconian Times” (1995)

08. Type O Negative – “World Coming Down” (1999)

09. Swallow The Sun – “Emerald Forest & the Blackbird” (2012)

10. Paradise Lost – “Tragic Idol” (2012)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/136

Aaaahhhhhh.....so there's potential for Vinny's impressions to grow over repeat listens then. I understand now.

It seems pretty obvious to me. The gothic chick is about to commit suicide after catching her man in intimate embrace with the blonde & knocking her unconscious. She brought her midget cronies & animals with her. He's still having a better morning than I am though.

Just so we're clear, am I to understand that you didn't like it much then Vinny?

No but it is compulsory for you to sigh & shake your head whenever you spot them in the playlist each month Sonny.

Yeah I've been meaning to check them out for some time now as I know you're a big fan & I trust your judgement when it comes to all things doom. Thought I'd throw myself in the deep end too.

Here's the November feature release nominators:

THE FALLEN: Sonny, Ben, Daniel

THE GATEWAY: Saxy S, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: Vinny, Xephyr, Andi

THE HORDE: Daniel, Vinny, Ben

THE INFINITE: Andi, Xephyr, Saxy S

THE NORTH: Ben, Vinny, Xephyr, Daniel, Sonny

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny, Ben, Daniel

THE REVOLUTION: Andi, Daniel

THE SPHERE: Daniel

October 2021

1. All Out War – “Resist” (from “Truth In The Age Of Lies”, 1997)

2. Unearth – “Incinerate” (from “Extinction(s)”, 2018) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Lorna Shore – “To The Hellfire” (from “…And I Return To Nothingness” E.P., 2021)

4. Bullet For My Valentine – “The Last Fight” (from “Fever”, 2010) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. From Autumn To Ashes – “Short Stories With tragic Endings” (from “Too Bad You’re Beautiful”, 2000)

6. Poppy – “Breeders” (from “Eat (NXT Soundtrack) E.P., 2021)

7. Attack Attack! – “Smokahontas” (from “Attack Attack!”, 2010)

8. Shadows Fall – “Destroyer Of Senses” (from “The Art Of Balance”, 2002) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Circuit Circuit – “Pray” (from “Circuit Circuit” E.P., 2021)

10. Zao – “Times Of Separation” (from “The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation”, 1997)

11. Destrage – “Jade’s Place” (from “The King Is Fat ‘n’ Old”, 2010)

12. Strongarm – “These Times That Try Men’s Souls” (from “The Advent Of A Miracle”, 1997)

13. Misery Signals – “Five Years” (from “Of Malice & The Magnum Heart”, 2004) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Born Of Osiris – “Angel Or Alien” (from “Angel Or Alien”, 2021)

15. Amaranthe – “Drop Dead Cynical” (from “Massive Addictive”, 2014)

16. All That Remains – “Behind Silence & Solitude” (from “Behind Silence & Solitude”, 2002)

17. Every Time I Die – “The Logic Of Crocodiles” (from “Last Night In Town”, 2000)

18. After The Burial – “Pendulum” (from “In Dreams”, 2010) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Wristmeetrazor – “Our Distress Entwined” (from “Replica Of A Strange Love”, 2021)

20. Wanderer – “Marionette” (from “Liberation From A Brutalist Existence”, 2021)

21. MouthBreather – “I Leave” (from “I’m Sorry Mr. Salesman”, 2021)

22. Converge – “No Heroes” (from “No Heroes”, 2006) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

23. Conducting From The Grave – “And Our War Will Dawn” (from “Revenants”, 2010)

24. Yautja – “Tethered” (from “The Lurch”, 2021)

25. Fawn Limbs – “Twitching, Lapsing” (from “Darwin Falls”, 2021)

26. Threat Signal – “One Last Breath” (from “Under Reprisal”, 2006) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. Rings Of Saturn – “Seized & Devoured” (from “Embryonic Anomaly”, 2010)

28. Deformity – “Night Scars” (from “Murder Within Sin”, 1999)

29. Job For A Cowboy – “Entombment Of A Machine” (from “Doom” E.P., 2005)

30. Slaughter To Prevail – “Demolisher” (from “Kostolom”, 2021)

October 2021

1. Evile – “War Of Attrition” (from “Hell Unleashed”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

2. Dagoba – “Black Smokers (752 Farenheit)” (from “Poseidon”, 2010)

3. Vulture – “Gorgon” (from “Dealin’ Death”, 2021)

4. ZnöWhite – “Bringing The Hammer Down” (from “All Hail To Thee” E.P., 1984)

5. Intruder – “Cold-Blooded Killer” (from “Escape From Pain” E.P., 1990) [Submitted by Vinny]

6. Annihilator – “The Fun Palace” (from “Never, Neverland”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

7. Gojira – “Another World” (from “Fortitude”, 2021)

8. Anthrax – “The Enemy” (from “Spreading The Disease”, 1985) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Slayer – “The Antichrist” (from “Show No Mercy”, 1983) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Rigor Mortis – “The Haunted” (from “Freaks” E.P., 1989) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Blood Feast – “Kill For Pleasure” (from “Kill For Pleasure”, 1987) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Corrosion Of Conformity – “Consumed” (from “Animosity”, 1985) [Submitted by Vinny]

13. Forbidden – “Twisted Into Form” (from “Twisted Into Form”, 1990)

14. Powermad – “Terminator” (from “The Madness Begins…” E.P., 1988) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Demolition Hammer – “Under The Table” (from “Time Bomb”, 1994)

16. Acid Drinkers – “Superstitious Motherfucker” (from “Broken Head”, 2000)

17. Sepultura – “Mask” (from “Sepulquarta”, 2021)

18. Paradox – “Collision Course” (from “Collision Course”, 2000)

19. Iron Reagan – “Miserable Failure” (from “The Tyranny Of Will”, 2014)

20. Artillery – “The Devil’s Symphony” (from “X”, 2021)

21. Flotsam & Jetsam – “The Wicked Hour” (from “Blood In The Water”, 2021)

22. Violator – “Futurephobia” (from “Annihilation Process”, 2010)

23. Cryptic Slaughter – “Hypocrite” (from “Convicted”, 1986) [Submitted by Vinny]

24. Obsolete – “Still” (from “Animate//Isolate”, 2021)

25. Lich King – “Act Of War” (from “World Gone Dead”, 2010)

26. Scythelord – “Equanimity” (from “Earth Boiling Dystopia”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

27. The Crown – “Doomsday King” (from “Doomsday King”, 2010) [Submitted by Daniel]

28. Ranger – “Storm Of Power” (from “Where Evil Dwells”, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

29. Nekromantheon – “Dead Temples” (from “Visions Of Trismegistos”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

October 2021

1. Der Weg einer Freiheit – “Aufbruch” (from “Finisterre”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

2. Fluisteraars – “Verscheuring in de schemering” (from “Gegrepen door de geest der zielsontluiking”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

3. Thron – “The Prophet” (from “Pilgrim”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

4. Arcturus – “To Thou Who Dwellest in the Night” (from “Aspera Hiems Symfonia”, 1996)

5. Deafheaven – “Violet” (from “Roads To Judah”, 2011) [Submitted by Daniel]

6. An Autumn for Crippled Children – “To Set Sail to the Ends of the Earth” (from Lost”, 2010) [Submitted by Ben]

7. Falkenbach – “Ultima Thule” (from “...En Their Medh Riki Fara...”, 1996) [Submitted by Vinny]

8. Departure Chandelier – “Life Escaping Through the Candle's Smoke” (from “Antichrist Rise to Power”, 2019) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Odal – “...um Ewiges zu schaffen” (from “Welten Mutter”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Duskmourn – “Deathless” (from “Fallen Kings & Rusted Crowns”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

11. Mayhem – “Chainsaw Gutsfuck” (from “Deathcrush” E.P., 1987) [Submitted by Sonny]

12. Progenie Terrestre Pura – “[.subLuce.]” (from “oltreLuna”, 2017) [Submitted by Ben]

13. Cresent – “The Fires of Akhet” (from “Carving the Fires of Akhet”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]

14. Khandra – “In Harvest Against the Sun” (from “All Occupied by Sole Death”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]

15. Abigor – “The Rising of Our Tribe” (from “Orkblut - The Retaliation” E.P., 1995) [Submitted by Ben]

16. Anaal Nathrakh – “When Fire Rains Down From the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown” (from “When Fire Rains Down From the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown” E.P., 2003) [Submitted by Ben]

17. Sadistik Exekution – “Fukking Death” (from “Fukk”, 2002) [Submitted by Daniel]

 October 2021

1. Symphony X – “The Damnation Game” (from “The Damnation Game”, 1995) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Carbonized – “My Hate” (from “Screaming Machines”, 1996)

3. Russian Circles – “Arluck” (from “Blood Year”, 2019)

4. Fantômas – “Book 1: Page 4” (from “Fantômas”, 1999)

5. Astronoid – “A New Color” (from “Astronoid”, 2019)

6. Syncatto – “Möbius” (from “A Place To Breathe”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

7. OSI – “ShutDOWN” (from “Office Of Strategic Influence”, 2003) [Submitted by Xephyr]

8. Leprous – “White” (from “Tall Poppy Syndrome”, 2009) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Fates Warning – “Fata Morgana” (from “Awaken The Guardian”, 1986) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Between The Buried & Me – “Revolution In Limbo” (from “Colors II”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

11. Jinjer – “Mediator” (from “Wallflowers”, 2021)

12. Big Brave – “Half Breed” (from “Vital”, 2021)

13. Evergrey – “Broken Wings” (from “Torn”, 2008) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Scale The Summit – “Narrow Salient” (from “The Migration”, 2013) [Submitted by Xephyr]

15. Faxed Head – “Rest Stop Cleaning” (from “Chiropractic”, 2001)

16. Cleric – “Poisonberry Pie” (from “Regressions”, 2010)

17. Cynic – “Veil Of Maya” (from “Focus”, 1993)

18. Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa – “Liturgy for the Ekzunreh” (from “Corrupted Pillars Of Vanity”, 2021)

19. Dir en Grey – “Reiketsu nariseba” (from “Uroboros”, 2008) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Ænigmatum – “Fracturing Proclivity” (from “Deconsecrate”, 2021)

October 2021

1. Altarage – “Altars” (from “Nihl”, 2016) [Submitted by Vinny]

2. Carcass – “Flesh Ripping Torment Limited” (from “Torn Arteries”, 2021)

3. Acausal Intrusion – “Transcending The Veil” (from “Nulitas”, 2021)

4. White Stones – “Chain Of Command” (from “Dancing Into Oblivion”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Arch Enemy – “Nemesis” (from “Doomsday Machine”, 2005) [Submitted by Ben]

6. Runemagick – “Dethrone The Flesh” (from “Enter The Realm Of Death”, 1999) [Submitted by Ben]

7. Unbounded Terror – “Dreamlord” (from “Nest Of Affliction”, 1992) [Submitted by Vinny]

8. Funebrarum – “Perish Beneath” (from “The Sleep Of Morbid Dreams”, 2009) [Submitted by Ben]

9. Canker – “Hand of God” (from “Earthquake”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Teitanblood – “Whore Mass” (from “Seven Chalices”, 2009) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Avulsed – “Sweet Lobotomy” (from “Eminence In Putrescence”, 1996) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Diskord – “The Endless Spiral” (from “Degenerations”, 2021)

13. Dipygus – “Plasmoidal Mass (Slime Mold)” (from “Bushmeat”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

14. Haemorrhage – “Traumaggedon” (from “Hospital Carnage”, 2011) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Qrixkuor – “Serpentine Susurrus - Mother's Abomination” (from “Poison Palinopsia”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

16. Vital Remains – “Dechristianize” (from “Dechristianize”, 2003) [Submitted by Ben]

17. Drumcorps – “Better Days” (from “Better Days” E.P., 2021)

18. Antediluvian – “Obscene Pornography Manifests in the Divine Universal Consciousness” (from “The Divine Punishment”, 2021)

19. Socioclast – “Surveillance/Normalization/Examination” (from “Socioclast”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

20. Machetazo – “Revientas” (from “Ruin”, 2013) [Submitted by Vinny]

21. Effluence – “Unholy Liquid” (from “Ballistic Bloodspray” E.P., 2021)

22. Wormed – “Tautochrone” (from “Exodromos”, 2013) [Submitted by Vinny]

23. Nile – “In The Name Of Amun” (from “What Should Not Be Unearthed”, 2015) [Submitted by Ben]

October 2021

1. Lunar Shadow – “Red Nails (For The Pillar Of Death)” (from “The Smokeless Fires”, 2019) [Submitted by Xephyr]

2. Unleash The Archers – “Northwest Passage” (from “Explorers” E.P., 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Therion – “To Mega Therion” (from “Theli”, 1996)

4. Savatage – “Sarajevo” (from “Dead Winter Dead”, 1995) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Iron Maiden – “The Writing On The Wall” (from “Senjutsu”, 2021)

6. Quartz – “Stand Up & Fight” (from “Stand Up & Fight”, 1980)

7. Queensryche – “Walk In The Shadows” (from “Rage For order”, 1986) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Russell Allen & Jorn Lande – “Hymn For The Fallen” (from “The Great Divide”, 2014) [Submitted by Xephyr]

9. Spirit Adrift – “Invisible Enemy” (from “Forge Your Future” E.P., 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

10. Chastain – “Black Knight” (from “Mystery Of Illusion”, 1985) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. The Lord Weird Slough Feg – “Asteroid Belts” (from “Traveller”, 2003) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Pharaoh – “Lost In The Waves” (from “The Powers That Be”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

13. Kobra & the Lotus – “High Priestess” (from “High Priestess”, 2014) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Dark Moor – “Halloween” (from “The Fall Of Melnibone” E.P., 2001) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Warlock – “Touch Of Evil” (from “Triumph & Agony”, 1987) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Powerwolf – “Dancing With The Dead” (from “Call Of The Wild”, 2021)

17. Crystal Viper – “The Cult” (from “The Cult”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

18. Grand Magus – “Holmgång” (from “Triumph & Power”, 2014) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. HammerFall – “Any Means Necessary” (from “No Sacrifice, No Victory”, 2009) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Significant Point – “Into the Storm” (from “Into The Storm”, 2021)

21. Helloween – “Out For The Glory” (from “Helloween”, 2021)

22. Mystik – “Lake Of Necrosis” (from “Mystik”, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

23. Edu Falaschi – “The Ancestry” (from “Vera Cruz”, 2021)

October 2021

1. While She Sleeps – “No Defeat For The Brave” (from “Sleeps Society”, 2021)

2. Dry Kill Logic – “Rot” (from “The Darker Side Of Nonsense”, 2001)

3. Body Count – “My Way” (from “Violent Demise: The Last Days”, 1997)

4. Serj Tankian – “Harakiri” (from “Harakiri”, 2011)

5. Living Colour – “Information Overload” (from “Time’s Up”, 1990) [Submitted by Vinny]

6. Sôber – “Diez años” (from “Paradÿsso”, 2002)

7. Katatonia – “Behind The Blood” (from “City Burials”, 2020) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Lantlos – “Cocoon Tree House” (from “Wildhund”, 2021)

9. Godsmack – “Keep Away” (from “Godsmack”, 1998)

10. Linkin Park – “From The Inside” (from “Meteora”, 2003) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Bad Wolves – “Zombie” (from “Disobey”, 2018) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Mudvayne – “Cultivate” (from “The Beginning Of All Things To End”, 2001)

13. Atreyu – “Catastrophe” (from “Baptize”, 2021)

14. The Apex Theory – “Apossibly” (from “Topsy-Turvy”, 2002)

15. Flaw – “Only The Strong” (from Through The Eyes”, 2001)

16. Kittie – “We Are The Lamb” (from “I’ve Failed You”, 2011)

17. Blindside – “Invert” (from “Blindside”, 1997)

18. Saliva – “Click Click Boom” (from “Every Six Seconds”, 2001)

19. Clawfinger – “Out To Get Me” (from “A Whole Lot Of Nothing”, 2001)

20. Chevelle – “Ghost & Razor” (from “Niratias”, 2021)

21. Architects – “An Ordinary Extinction” (from “For Those That Wish To Exist”, 2021)

22. Sevendust – “The Day I Tried To Live” (from “Blood & Stone”, 2020)

23. Hamlet – “Antes y después” (from “Insomnio”, 1998)

24. Disturbed – “Ten Thousand Fists” (from “Ten Thousand Fists”, 2005) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Entombed – “Addiction King” (from “Same Difference”, 1998)

26. The Bread Scientists – “Slug” (from “Troposphere”, 2021)

27. Hacktivist – “Cold Shoulders” (from “Hacktivist” E.P., 2012)

28. Tallah – “We, The Sad” (from “Matriphagy”, 2020) [Submitted by Daniel]

29. Beartooth – “Below” (from “Below”, 2021)

October 2021

1. Midnight Odyssey – “Dawn-Bringer” (from “Biolume Part 2: The Golden Ord”, 2021)

2. Body Void – “Wound” (from “Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

3. Melvins – “Isabella” (from “King Buzzo”, 1992)

4. Lacuna Coil – “Senzafine” (from “Halflife” E.P., 2000) [Submitted by Ben]

5. Earth – “Thrones & Dominions” (from “Phase 3: Thrones & Dominions”, 1995) [Submitted by Daniel]

6. King Woman – “Celestial Blues” (from “Celestial Blues”, 2021)

7. Solitude Aeturnus – “The 9th Day: Awakening” (from “Through The Darkest Hour”, 1994)

8. Pentagram – “The Ghoul” (from “Pentagram”, 1985) [Submitted by Daniel]

9. The Slow Death – “Famine” (from “Siege”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

10. Black Lodge – “Dissonance” (from “Covet”, 1995) [Submitted by Ben]

11. Esoteric – “Dominion Of Slaves” (from “The Pernicious Enigma”, 1997) [Submitted by Ben]

12. Vouna – “Vanish” (from “Atropos”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

October 2021

1. Static-X – “Regeneration” (from “Project Regeneration, Vol. 1, 2020)

2. Master Boot Record – “Himem.sys” (from “Floppy Disk Overdrive”, 2020)

3. Oomph! – “Unsere Rettung” (from “Unrein”, 1998)

4. DEAFBRICK – “O antropoceno” (from “Deafbrick”, 2020)

5. Crossbreed – “Underlined” (from “Synthetic Division”, 2001)

6. Killing Joke – “Invocation” (from “Hosannas From the Basements of Hell”, 2006)

7. Lord Of The Lost – “Loreley” (from “Thornstar”, 2018) [Submitted by Vinny]

8. Eisbrecher – “Tanz mit mir” (from “Die Hölle muss warten”, 2012)

9. Pain – “Designed To Piss You Off” (from “Coming Home”, 2016)

10. Deathstars – “Tongues” (from “Termination Bliss”, 2006)

11. Lard – “Mate, Spawn & Die” (from “The Last Temptation Of Reid”, 1990)

12. Rob Zombie – “The Satanic Rites Of Blacula” (from “The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy”, 2021)

13. Godflesh – “I, Me, Mine” (from “Us & Them”, 1999)

14. Ghostemane – “Convoluted” (from “Fear Network II” E.P., 2021)

15. Uniform & The Body – “Contempt” (from “Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back”, 2019)

16. Uniform – “Alone In The Dark” (from “The Long Walk”, 2018)

17. Samael – “Rain” (from “Passage”, 1996) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. 3TƎETH – “Atrophy” (from “shutdown.ɘxe”, 2017)

19. Sybreed – “ReEvolution” (from “Slave Design”, 2004)

20. Ministry – “Unsung” (from “Animositisomina”, 2003)

21. Andrew Hulshult – “Departure To Destruction” (from “Dusk (Original Game Soundtrack), 2018)

22. P.H.O.B.O.S. – “Wisdom” (from “Tectonics”, 2005)

23. Black Magnet – “Anubis” (from “Hallucination Scene”, 2020)

24. Fear Factory – “Cognitive Dissonance” (from “Aggression Continuum”, 2021)

25. Mick Gordon - “Rip & Tear” (from “Doom (Original Game Soundtrack)”, 2016) [Submitted by Daniel]

26. Autarkh – “Lost To Sight” (from “Form In Motion”, 2021)

27. Dagoba – “The Things Within” (from “What Hell Is About”, 2006)

Ground-breaking early 90's technical death/thrash from Florida, USA. For fans of 90's Death, early Cynic & the techier Pestilence albums.

Atheist - "Piece Of Time" (1990)

Florida tech death/thrash legends Atheist's 1990 debut album "Piece Of Time" made a significant impact on me & was high on my rotation list at the time but as soon as their follow-up "Unquestionable Presence" was released I kinda forgot about it as the band's sophomore effort was a clear step up from the debut & an undeniable classic. It's been interesting to rediscover the point that Atheist were at in their creative & artistic journey with "Piece Of Time" this week as it's generally regarded as somewhat of a classic too.

The opening title track is an absolute belter & sounds exactly like the material from "Unquestionable Presence" which is a sure-fire indication that it was the most recently composed track included on the album. The other material sees them varying the amount of traditional thrash metal & more progressive elements & I'm willing to bet that I could piece together the exact order that the tracks were written because you can easily hear the band developing their sound over the course of the nine songs. For that reason, I've never found "Piece Of Time" to be quite the finished product however it undeniably represents a huge step up in ambition for the extreme metal movement. No one had attempted anything like this before & the more atmospheric & progressive parts of the album were a particular revelation that would be expanded upon significantly on later releases. Death, Cynic & Pestilence can all be found to be trying very similar things in the years that followed too & I don't think that's a coincidence.

The level of musicianship on display here is absolutely outstanding, particularly the shredding lead guitar work & Roger Patterson's super-interesting bass lines which take an up-front position in the mix. Kelly Shaefer's vocal delivery has never really struck me as being particularly "death metal" though & sounds more like a raspier thrash front man like Sadus' front man Darren Travis than it does Chuck Schuldiner. I probably would have preferred a little more extremity there to be honest but then again... that may have changed the feel of the album completely so it may be for the best.

Overall, "Piece Of Time" is a ground-breaking & highly influential debut that offers consistent quality & strong hints at the potential that was to be fulfilled in the coming years. 

For fans of 90's Death, early Cynic & the techier Pestilence albums.

4/5

Happy 35th anniversary to an album that made a life-changing impact on me as a youngster. "Somewhere In Time" was the very first Iron Maiden record I ever heard in full & it essentially signaled the flood gates being flung open with other forms of music being cast aside in favour of an increasingly more extreme taste in metal music. I don't think I've ever really lost my connection to that first experience as "Somewhere In Time" is not only still my favourite Maiden record but it's also my favourite heavy metal record overall.

Richie Hawtin - "Decks, EFX & 909" (1999)

The first proper release DJ mix CD from my all-time favourite techno producer. It's very rhythmic & loopy, not nearly as cerebral & minimal as Richie would go on to become in later years.

Very professionally produced US stoner rock for fans of Samsara Blues Experiment, Black Pyramid & early Weedpecker.

Elder - "Spires Burn / Release" E.P. (2012)

So my Top Ten Stoner Metal Releases of All Time list has only been live for four days & I've already made a change to it. This 22 minute two track E.P. from Massachusetts stoner metal outfit Elder has really impressed me. In truth it kinda sits halfway between stoner metal & stoner rock in my opinion with hints of a grungy Smashing Pumpkins/Soundgarden thing going on at times too. The bass guitar sound is absolutely enormous & the instrumentation is really interesting with the touches of psychedelia being of particular interest to me. Elder possibly just need a world class vocalist to bump this band up into the top tier as Nicholas DiSalvo is simply serviceable which isn't all that unusual for a stoner metal act. Overall though, this a very consistent & extremely solid example of the genre which would be unlikely to leave you disappointed if that sounds like your bag. The fact that it's bumped Sleep's "Dopesmoker" out of my top ten should be reason enough to check it out.

For fans of Samsara Blues Experiment,  Black Pyramid & early Weedpecker.

4/5

A wonderfully short & blasting grindcore classic for fans of Napalm Death, Brutal Truth & Cretin.

Repulsion - "Horrified" (1989)

The only album from legendary Michigan-based grindcore godfathers Repulsion was actually a collection of old demos that was distributed by Carcass on their own label Necrosis Records. The band's demos are often recognized as some of the most seminal examples of the early grindcore movement & are commonly credited as being responsible for popularizing the use of blast beats as a primary creative tool which has always added to the appeal of "Horrified" but, despite these claims, it's a damn fine record in its own right. It doesn't sound like a collection of demos to be honest as the vast majority of the tracklisting offers a similar style of song-writing & production. The death metal component in Repulsion's sound is often overstated in my opinion. They really sound very much like a particularly aggressive thrash metal band that has recruited a grindcore drummer, kinda like former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris has joined Slayer with Venom front man Cronos behind the microphone & that can't be a bad thing. The groovier riffs don't appeal to me half as much as the pure blast-fests like "The Stench of Burning Death", "Crematorium" & "Maggots in Your Coffin" but they rarely hang around for long. "Horrified" is a top five grindcore record for me personally & serves the purpose of the subgenre perfectly i.e. a brutal blast of energy that doesn't require much thought or overstay its welcome.

For fans of Napalm Death, Brutal Truth & Cretin.

4/5

"Never Say Die!", "Technical Ecstasy" & "Forbidden" are the only Sabbath records I don't have time for. In saying that though, I don't think they've released anything essential since "Mob Rules".

I don't wish to be a contrarian (no stop laughing, I really don't!!) but I think TE is unduly lambasted by Sabbath fans, especially considering that it has an average rating on RYM less than The Eternal F@*$ing Idol for chrissakes!! Yes, She's Gone is a bit wimpy, the Bill Ward fronted It's Alright isn't great and Rock 'n' Roll Doctor is a bit naff, but Back Street Kids is a decent opener. You Won't Change Me and Gypsy are brilliant tracks and Dirty Women, besides the un-PC lyrics has one of, if not THE best Tony Iommi solos ever. I get it that if you bought it as the new Sabbath album at the time after following Sabbath through the classic years, you may have found it disappointing, but how many people can say that? Conversely, it was the first Sabbath album I shelled out good money on and as such was my first proper metal purchase, so maybe my opinion is coloured by that, but I still get plenty of enjoyment when I play it (which I do often enough).

Look, I do think that "Technical Ecstasy" starts & finishes quite well (strangely "She's Gone" is the highlight of the album for me) but I really struggle with the four track run in the middle of the record, particularly "It's Alright" & "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" which are amongst Sabbath's worst failures in my opinion. Also, I think it's a stretch to call it a metal record. I actually don't think it knows what it's trying to be but a hard rock tag seems much more appropriate to me. I'd comfortably take "The Eternal Idol" over it. In fact, I'd take "The Eternal Idol" over six or seven of their albums as I quite like it.

Classic Bay Area thrash metal for fans of Metallica, Exodus & Death Angel.

Testament - "The New Order" (1988)

"The New Order" saw Testament taking on a fresh new sound which included a growing reliance on melody & a more mature approach to song-writing. There are still plenty of the energetic thrash riffs that made "The Legacy" so appealing but the numerous acoustic sections & extra melodic content accentuate the heavier moments which gives them greater significance. Alex Skolnick's guitar solos are the clear highlight here & they lifted him to legendary status with me as a budding young shredder. His ability to create truly memorable lead solos without compromising on the technical wizardry was mind-blowing. Greg Christian's bass performance has plenty of energy & should not be overlooked either. He reminds a lot of Anthrax's Frank Bello at times while Chuck Billy's vocal display is top notch. Unfortunately there are some negatives to speak of though. The production is well short of the mark (especially in the rhythm guitar department) & this removes any chance "The New Order" had of reaching true thrash classic status with me personally. Louie Clemente's drumming is also pretty basic which leaves much of the material feeling like there's some untapped potential that could have been uncovered with a more adventurous & exciting approach.

As for the songs themselves, we have a pretty consistent record overall. The Aerosmith cover "Nobodys Fault" is the clear weak point & sounds more like Skid Row than a thrash band. It should certainly have been omitted as it's simply not at the same standard as the originals but I think the rest of the material is very solid. Of the proper songs my highlights include the title track, "Disciples Of the Watch" & "Into The Pit" but the real highlight for me is two-minute instrumental "Hypnosis" which shows Skolnick's lead guitar skills at their absolute best. It's a soaring & highly emotive performance that easily manages to overcome the production issues that hold back the rest of the album (which is partly due to it's lack of rhythm guitars in all honesty).

Overall, "The New Order" is a quality thrash metal album that had the potential to be a real classic with a bit more care in the production department. It's certainly a worthy follow-up to Testament's more widely celebrated debut which has a slight of edge over it's younger sibling with me these days thanks to its raw & aggressive tone. 

For fans of Metaliica, Exodus & Death Angel.

4/5

45 years old today & still just as disappointing.

Wow, some of these anniversaries just make me seem so old these days. 30 YEARS?? WFT dude!? I picked this release up on CD fairly soon after it was released as I was a really big fan of Vinnie's 1986 debut album "Mind's Eye". Both are outstanding examples of the instrumental guitar shred album. He was one of the most underrated guitar heroes ever in my opinion as he had a wonderful sense of melody & could actually write songs.

For this weekend's weekly top ten list I thought I'd tackle the stoner metal genre:

01. High On Fire – “De vermis mysteriis” (2012)

02. Electric Wizard – “Let Us Prey” (2002)

03. Adrift For Days – “The Lunar Maria” (2010)

04. Electric Wizard – “Supercoven” E.P. (1998)

05. Electric Wizard – “Dopethrone” (2000)

06. Boris – “あくまのうた (Akuma no uta)” (2003)

07. Electric Wizard – “Come My Fanatics…” (1997)

08. Elder - "Spires Burn / Release" E.P. (2012)

09. Down – “NOLA” (1995)

10. Sleep – “Sleep’s Holy Mountain” (1992)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/135

Let's see what ya got guys!

X Japan - "Art Of Life" E.P. (1993)

I'm not sure why I thought I needed to check out this underground classic of an E.P. from Japanese visual kei godfathers X Japan after not finding any enjoyment whatsoever in 1998's "Art Of Life Live" E.P. but I definitely got what I deserved here. "Art of Life" comprises of a single 29 minute epic that takes the listener on a melodic journey through various different movements & phases. It's certainly quite an ambitious & progressive undertaking from a conceptual view point however the base of the work sits within the symphonic power metal spectrum. There's no doubt that "Art of Life" is a beautifully composed & executed piece of art however it's also cheesy as all fuck which isn't terribly surprising for a Japanese power metal release. I particularly struggle with the symphonic component which culminates in a lengthy section where the piano becomes the main focal point. "Art of Life" is far from awful but I think it's fair to say that I had no business venturing anywhere near it. *quickly retreats into his 80's thrash comfort zone*

For fans of Galneryus, Versailles & Light Bringer.

2.5/5

Spectacular Birmingham-based funeral doom metal for fans of Evoken, Thergothon & Skepticism.

Here's my updated top ten (baring in mind that I don't believe in the one release per band philosophy):

01. Pig Destroyer – “Natasha” E.P. (2008)

02. Sunn O))) – “Black One” (2005)

03. Boris – “Boris At Last -Feedbacker-“ (2003)

04. Esoteric - "The Maniacal Vale" (2008)

05. Rosetta – “The Galilean Satellites” (2005)

06. Neurosis – “Souls At Zero” (1992)

07. diSEMBOWELMENT – “Transcendence Into The Peripheral” (1993)

08. Isis – “The Mosquito Control” E.P. (1998)

09. Isis – “Panopticon” (2004)

10. Celtic Frost – “Monotheist” (2006)

Here's my updated list:

25. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger" (1994)

24. Carcass - "Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious" (1991)

23. ISIS - "Panopticon" (2004)

22. Suffocation - "Despise The Sun" E.P.

21. ISIS - "The Mosquito Control" E.P. (1998)

20. diSEMBOWELMENT - "Transcendence Into The Peripheral" (1993)

19. Neurosis - "Souls At Zero" (1992)

18. Botch - "We Are The Romans" (1999)

17. Rosetta - "The Galilean Satellites" (2005)

16. Slayer - "South Of Heaven" (1988)

15. Immolation - "Close To A World Below" (2000)

14. Esoteric - "The Maniacal Vale" (2008)

13. Suffocation - "Pierced From Within" (1995)

12. Boris - "Boris At Last -Feedbacker-" (2003)

11. Alice In Chains - "Dirt" (1992)

10. Death - "Human" (1991)

09. Morbid Angel - "Altars Of Madness" (1989)

08. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (1988)

07. Mick Gordon - "DOOM (Original Game Soundtrack)" (2016)

06. Akhlys - "The Dreaming I" (2015)

05. Sunn O))) - "Black One" (2005)

04. Pig Destroyer - "Natasha" E.P. (2008)

03. Deathspell Omega - "Kenose" E.P. (2005)

02. Burzum - "Filosofem" (1996)

01. Slayer - "Reign In Blood" (1986)

Esoteric - "The Maniacal Vale" (2008)

Jesus Fucking Christ! Birmingham-based funeral doom metallers Esoteric's 2008 fifth album "The Maniacal Vale" is utter genius. I'm absolutely blown away by it & think it might actually be the finest example of the subgenre I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Don't let the 100 minute double-album format put you off because the band cover a surprising amount of ground for an artist of this type. The post-metal influence is beautifully incorporated without ever sounding forced & the vocal performance is nothing short of spectacular. What a production job too! Look, I won't bother going into it more than that as Sonny's review sums up my feelings splendidly. Let's just say that Esoteric are comfortably the greatest funeral doom metal band of all in my opinion & this may just be their finest hour.

For fans of Evoken, Thergothon & Skepticism.

5/5

Here's my updated top ten:

01. Esoteric - "The Maniacal Vale" (2008)

02. Esoteric – “Paragon of Dissonance” (2011)

03. Esoteric – “Metamorphogenesis” (1999)

04. Evoken – “Atra Mors” (2012)

05. The Howling Void – “Shadows Over The Cosmos” (2010)

06. Thergothon – “Stream From The Heavens” (1994)

07. Monolithe – “Monolithe II” (2005)

08. Ea – “Ea” (2012)

09. Ea – “Au ellai” (2010)

10. Remembrance – “Fall, Obsidian Night” (2010)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/132

Galaxy 2 Galaxy - "A Hitech Jazz Compilation" (2005)

A compilation of old & newer Underground Resistance material that incorporates jazz into their traditional Detroit techno arsenal. I pulled the CD out from a box in my garage this morning. I originally bought it for the opening intro track "Metamorphosis" which I used as an intro to a studio mix I put together back in the mid-to-late 2000's & also for a wonderful track called "Return of the Dragons" which I used to play live. My most memorable moment with that particular track was dropping it as the closing track of an outdoor festival in Kangaroo Valley called "Party Under the Stars". It was 6 AM & there was still a pretty sizable crowd of munted punters on the dancefloor, most of whom were on LSD. The sun was just starting to come up & the green lasers were winding their way through the thick mist that was layered between the hills. It was an amazing site. Unfortunately the rest of the compilation is much too jazzy for my taste to be honest.

Acid Bath - "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" (1996)

Well it hasn't taken me long to make adjustments to the Top Ten Sludge Metal Releases Of All Time list I posted yesterday, has it? I've been meaning to give Louisiana sludge metallers Acid Bath's third album "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" a few spins ever since really enjoying their 1994 sophomore album "When The Kite String Pops" a year or so back & the results have proven to be equally rewarding. Acid Bath are the type of band that are very difficult to pigeon hole as the sludge metal tag seemed to be used predominantly in the absence of anything better suited. Sure, there are definitely a few sludge tracks amongst this lot however there's a lot more to this band than that. In fact, I'd suggest that there's probably as much stoner metal here as there is sludge with a very strong grunge influence & a noticeable Southern feel about everything they undertake. You can also expect to hear a bit of hardcore punk, death metal, darkwave & dark ambient scattered across the tracklisting too if you listen closely however it all somehow seems to sound like Acid Bath which is a definite feather in the band's caps. I love their crunchy guitar tone which is heavy as fuck & reminds me of Crowbar while the vocal performance of Dax Riggs is a major drawcard with his clean delivery sounding like a deeper version of Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme mixed in with a bit of a gothic influence at times. The stripped back acoustic tracks like "Dead Girl" are great but there's no surprise that it's the heavier material like the death metal-inspired "Locust Spawning" & the doomy album-highlight "Graveflower" that really float my boat. "Paegan Terrorism Tactics" is another great record from Acid Bath & I find it impossible to split the band's two classic releases.

For fans of Eyehategod, Melvins & Crowbar.

4/5

Vinny, I'll be surprised if you don't enjoy this one as I know you liked its predecessor & this one is just as good in my opinion.

I actually included one of the tracks from this album in the October playlist a few days ago Xephyr.