some monkeys


seminar ii: zozobra is well good. it was noe of those albums terrorizer tried saying were as good as tsib. they loved that trick in reviews. they had ten out of ten, but beyond that they had 'seriously, this is as good as tsib!'

the seraphim fall, by bloodlet, was another one. i had never been so disappointed on a first hear of a band ever. i like them now, but the comparison was one fuck of an albatross for them.


it pains me to say it, but cave in schmave in.

and i can't be bothered searching, but one of my metal bros enquired about the label back on black. they do vinyl stuff. well i can confirm they are legit, as they got the vinyl rights to obzen.

that's right, i got me some obzen action! looking forward to this

stoner metal is the bomb-diggity.

one of my faves: fu manchu's king of the road

Fo Shizzle, homie! I'm pullin' down the Fu album as I type. Hey, are you comin' to Opeth on Sunday?

Additionally, allow me to withdraw some of my aforementioned zeal for the stoner metal. I must have really been on a kick with it last night, 'cuz it was the coolest thing in the world. As of this morning, I like some of what I've listened to, but I'm beginning to have the same issue I have with doom..... It's just tooooo sllloooooowwww. But, there are still some serious riffs n' jazz.

Nice! Made out of Babies has posted the release date for their new album, The Ruiner. It's pretty far off.... June 24th.
Julie Christmas is definitely my favorite female vocalist in metal.

Sask, if you get an early release, let us know how it is.

Also posted the opening track from their new album, which is pretty rad after the first listen.
Made out of Babies - Myspace

Tis awesome. I got it the day before I left last week.

I'm in Cleveland, all done my Paganfest coverage. It's been a crazy fun time. Montreal was the best overall, but for the pure inebriation factor, Springfield VA takes the cake. Again, don't miss this tour, guys. All four bands are great, but Eluveitie has turned into my favourite of the lot musically. On a more 'let's get the Canadian completely wasted' level, Tyr takes the cake. Why I didn't take pics of the shenanigans I'll never know.

sounds killer..anxious to read the piece.

Maybe you should take up bocci ball. Anything but bowling, really.




Yeah he sounded really good, I thought.

I agree.. as much as I love the stuff, it can get a little old. It's very simple stuff and wears out quickly. Like the Sahg II album... I still love it but I'm "over" it now. Six months from now, though, I'll think it's the shee-iznit again. I'm streaky like dat.

Woo Hoo! Always like it when albums that I've been awaiting don't suck.

I do the same thing....... Come to think of it, I've been meaning to go back to spending time with the likes of Katatonia, Burst, and Ephel Duath (Painter's Palette, since it's their only good album). Actually, going back a bit further, I think it may be time to give Refused-The Shape of Punk to Come a spin. I haven't listened to that in at least a year and it still holds up.

ooooh yeah I've been meaning to give them a listen. Not too familiar with Refused.

Here's your opportunity, good sir. Refused was truly way ahead of their time and, sadly, their blueprint for the "shape of punk to come" never came to fruition. I say @$#& you Blink 182, Good Charlotte, MXPX, and the like. Long live pretentious as hell Swedish punk.

To anyone who isn't familiar with them, I think they're metal/hardcore enough to appeal this thread. Ten years after the fact, allow me to present Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

There's a lot of GOOD stuff here. My favorites include;

Worms Of The Senses / Faculties Of The Skull
New Noise
Refused are Fucking Dead (one of my all time favorite riffs)
The Shape of Punk to Come
Tannhuser / Deriv (seriously.... is that a cello in a "punk" album?)

Back home, no more crazy Viking adventures for me. Gonna sleep and sleep and sleep.

Toronto, Montreal, and Springfield ruled.

That Refused album is basically one of the greatest hardcore albums ever made. Amazing piece of work.

So yeah, the new Opeth is amazing. Like any other Opeth album, it's going to take a lot of listens to digest it all.

I freaking love it, too. Way more clean vocals than even I had hoped for. He seems much more comfortable with his melodic voice right now.

Definitely.

James D- Meant to thank you for the Taint link. Album's not bad, but it didn't do a lot for me, honestly. A little Clutch-meets-Coverge/Botch/Coalesce with hard rock flourishes. Decent riffage in places, but none of it seemed terribly original or memorable.

Have you heard the track he does on Ihsahn's new album? I agree, he's a better singer now than he's ever been.

No, I'll have to track that down.

No need!

"Unhealer"
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6w6n9j

5-2-08
KORY CLARKE joins TROUBLE
Amidst many rumors it has been announced earlier today that
KORY CLARKE, of WARRIOR SOUL will be the new front man
effective immediately.

The news comes as the band returns to their Chicago homes
following a successful European Tour.

Trouble founder and guitarist, RICK WARTELL explains IT WAS
A MUTUAL AGREEMENT, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART IN THIS
BUSINESS AND IF YOU ARE NOT INTO IT A HUNDRED PERCENT THEN
IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. WE ALL FELT IT WAS THE BEST THING
FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS.
IM SURE ERIC WILL CONTINUE MAKING MUSIC AND WE WISH HIM
THE BEST.

RICK WARTELL went on to say WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE
KORY STEP IN AND TAKE OVER THE VOCALS FOR TROUBLE. HE IS
BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE FRONTMEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR MANY
YEARS. HE WILL ADD A NEW DEMENTION THAT WE CAN USE.
IT IS NOT LIKE WE JUST PICKED OUT SOME GUY TO FILL IN,
THIS IS ONE OF ROCKS MOST DYNAMIC AND CREATIVE FRONTMEN
IN THE INDUSTRY.
I KNOW THAT WHEN TROUBLE FANS GET A TASTE OF WHAT KORY
DOES, THEY WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED AT ALL. ANYONE WHO
HAS SEEN KORY WITH WARRIOR SOUL ALREADY KNOWS WHAT TO
EXPECT, AND IT’S AWESOME.

TO CATCH AN EARLY GLIMPS OF THE NEW LINEUP, SIGN UP
FOR THE TROUBLE LIVE WEBCAST, JULY 11, 2008
(FROM, WWW.DEEPROCKDRIVE.COM) AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN COMPUTER.



5-2-08
It is with my deepest regret that by mutual agreement
that Trouble and I have parted ways effective immediately.

I love them very much and I wish them nothing but the
best. At this moment in time I just can’t handle touring
anymore.

All I want to do is write songs and work on my new project
Black Finger. I am sorry and I love you all.

-Eric


Well....I'm really glad I saw them in Aurora last month. They are one of my top 5 bands ever. I also looooove Warrior Soul, but I always thought Kory Clarke would be better for Velvet Revolver. Anyway, this is good and bad. Eric out of Trouble is like my pancreas out of me. I hope this means more albums with more frequency, but who knows.

Just thought I'd share for anyone who cares.

wagner's out?! and they just played europe? i'm discombobulated.

I could never get into Warrior Soul.

Not my up.....but I always thought this album was so good. Only Kory and Pete (bass) are original, but it rocks me:
WARRIOR SOUL - Space Age Playboys
http://www.qfile.de/dl/54228/4001.rar.html
http://www.qfile.de/dl/54227/4002.rar.html
pass : kru5ty

^^^^^Doesn't work, apparently......well.....I'll try later.

I loved the first 3 albums, but then they went too far into punk and I lost interest (Space Age Cowboys being the album I can't stand!). Funny, because I'm a conservative and Clarke is about as openly anti-Republican as any musician I've ever heard. The first album is amazing. They always straddled the punk line, but once the original guitarist left, all they did was punk and i was done with them.

I'm also a huge Trouble fan, but didn't like the last album. Wagner sounded uninspired. This should be interesting.



Thanks! This is quite good.

Does the rest of this album have similar melodic elements, but with different vocalists? I might have to hear the whole thing.

That's the only track with a guest vocalist. Ihsahn does the rest, and I think it's his strongest vocal work to date. Overall, the entire album is outstanding in my opinion. The d/l link was posted a few pages back, just do an in-thread search and you'll find it.

well I posted an early review/notes of WATERSHED

http://allmediareviews.blogspot.com

3.5 Stars/7/10

it's at #8 on my list..but I honestly don't foresee it moving anywhere but down. It's not bad, but not addictive.

on the flip-side..

I am quite excited about the upcoming Subterranean Masquerade as I put on SAD today and I think it finally clicked. Promoted to 4-stars..the last 3 tracks are great.

I also listened to Agalloch's "The Mantle" today..what a journey..I'm slowly becoming a big fan of both them and of course Sculptured.

Yeah. Its pretty good but nothing special. There's only one or two songs that I would come back to I think.

I'll try and get you the 1st album at some point since I think its far better.

check out this piece on Norwegian Black Metal (Gorgoroth mainly) from of all places, NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/0...metal_cu_1.html

Woah! Subterranean Masq is putting out a new album? They're a definite guilty pleasure and I'm happy to listen to anything they put out.

I like The Mantle, but truly prefer Ashes Against the Grain as Agalloch goes. I uploaded a copy awhile back, but I think my link is dead. Let me know if you need another copy.

On a funny note.... as much as I enjoy Agalloch, Sculptured, and Subterranean Masquerade..... those guys are douche bags... ridiculously arrogant and they are pretty awful live. I guess I should probably narrow "those guys" down to the ones that are in Agalloch, as I've never seen Sculptured or Sub Masq play or heard any interviews with them.

Groovy

Ya know... I disagree. I actually prefer Secrets and Lies to the Ruin of Nova Roma. I think that Secrets and Lies is much more of a fun listen. That being said.... I meant to upload a copy of Ruin of Nova Roma, but forgot...... I'll get online soon.

Here it is.

Taint - The Ruin of Nova Roma

So, I saw Opeth, BTBAM, and 3 last night. Lots of fun.

BTBAM started off a little shaky, but the second half of their set was intense and wicked awesome.

Opeth was much less "evil" than I would have expected. Mikael (spelling?) seems like a nice guy. Even with two new members, they're all seasoned performers and put on a kick ass show.

As far as 3...... I've never been too big of a fan. I have The End is Begun and have had a rough time getting into it. That being said.... HOLY CRAP! Those guys are phenomenal live. They even upstaged Opeth. If anyone else is planning to attend any of the Progressive Nation tour dates (or are lucky like me and get an "off tour" date where Opeth is headlining) make sure you get there in time for 3. I suppose I better give The End is Begun a few more tries after that show.....

I don't think Sculptured ever tours, but Don Anderson is in both them and Agalloch. I forget, I once read a breakdown of the members of SM I recall having connection with some other groups, but I forget if Agalloch was in there. No matter, a lot of douches make good music.

if you have that Agalloch record, I'd go for it being up-ed

The new SM album is called "In Pastille Colors"..not sure of when it comes out, maybe late Summer?

Also I take it you skipped Dream Theater at PN?

I know 3 is a can't miss live..but others may not. If you're going..don't get there late!

I finally was able to have a chance to spend some time with the new Opeth, and no surprise, I love it. I really like their 70s prog direction, and the The Drift influence that the band kept mentioning over the past year or so is definitely palpable. Akerfeldt's singing is so strong these days. And like Ghost Reveries, the arrangements are nowhere near as convoluted as previous albums, they just flow comfortably. It's disciplined. Oh, and I love how "Burden" slowly goes out of tune. He must have had someone turning the tuning pegs as he played. "Heir Apparent" is my favourite track so far...

So... if I'm up on my trivia...... Sculptured actually shares 2 members with Agalloch, Don Anderson on guitar and Jason Walton on bass. From what I remember, Don Anderson seemed to be amongst the less douchey of the crew. As far as Sub Masq, I believe it was the drummer that was in both bands. That being said, I think Agalloch now has a new drummer.......

Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain

If you're interested, the singer for Sub Masq also sings for Novermber's Doom, who I've never gotten into, but others seem to enjoy them.

Definitely didn't skip Dream Theater, but there are a couple "off tour" dates and this was one. So, Opeth was the headliner, not DT.

I gave The End is Begun a full listen today and I'm still having trouble getting into it..... .any other albums you'd recommend?

They played Heir Apparent last night! It was quite rad!

3 - well TEIB is a pretty good gauge on their sound, but I honestly prefer WAKE PIG and the mostly live and funky "Half Life" just a little more. Not enough people talk about how good HALF LIFE is. I can UP it if you want, especially since it's not that readily available from what I know, altho maybe online it is.

November's Doom: name is familiar, but I take it they are not quite like SM?..the vocals are probably not my favorite parts of them..but I still may like them.

Don Anderson does seem like a reasonable, albeit opinionated guy. I read an interview with him earlier this year, and that was what I took from the interview.

thanks again for the Agalloch!

Just when you think Portal couldn't get any creepier, they outdo themselves.

Seriously, WTF.

LOL!

---------------------------

On Opeth. I gave it quite a lot of listens over the past week or so. I think I can safely say that its better than Ghost Reveries (which I loved). Love the Arch Enemy dude's solo's, add something new to the table. Akerfeldt brings to goods as usual. Not only is the guy a geniunely amazing vocalist, but the way his playing style, the way he constructs songs, is just something that is so unique. A modern day metal legend for sure.

Heir Apparent is just the dogs bollocks. Genuinely great song. The Lotus Eater, Hessian Peel and Hex Omega are all brilliant, if not quite as good as the aforementioned. Pocelein Heart, Coil and Burden (apart from that bit at the end. sorry sask, it's shit ) are really good as well.

B+/A- album I think.

I don't mind the end of Burden, but it goes on for too long. He should have shortened it and it would have been much more effective.

What's going on with these freaks as of late? New record or tour? I loved that Outre record.

Someone was seriously affected by Grandfather Clock from Captain Kangaroo!

Other metal albums I've been digging of late.

Arsis - really cool Carcass, metal thing going on here. Loving the playing on this. I'm with Soundscape with this. Very good.

Origin - My love for Brain Drill has subsided in place of this tbh. I simply cannot get enough of that first song 'The Aftermath'. The sweep riffs on that song are just to die for. Incredible band. Thanks for the link Burzum.

Incidentally I'm liking that Avsa as well, although I do find it hard to find a time in the day where that would be appropriate.

Septic Flesh - Communion - Anyone on this? From Europe somewhere (Greece?). Interesting take on death metal. They make excellent use of sampling/synths etc to make this really original and frankly scary sound. Sort of remind me of blighty's own Biomechanical.

Awesome. Yeah, I think it's my most listened to album of the year, I play it at least once almost every day. A fucking masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. I'm seeing them on the 21st, I'll be interested to see if they can pull this stuff off live.

I really have to get that Origin. I'm amazed at all the positive reviews.

this thing is pretty:

Ltd edition Japanese import of the first three classic Opeth albums packaged together for the first time in a beautiful Japanese digi box set. (via plastichead)

Click to view attachment

I actually managed to find Half Life on eMusic.... Seems cool, thus far. Bit of a Sublime/Incubus thing going on..... while many metal threaders won't admit it.... those two are a couple of our guilty pleasures.

If you happen to have Wake Pig hanging around somewhere, I'd love to give it a listen.

I actually put on Brain Drill last night to see how the two albums measured up. Let me tell you, no comparison.

BD is just technicallity for the sake of it, without any thought for cohesiveness or structure. Whilst its interesting, I feel its only because you're being bombarded with these ridiculous sounds (ridiculous drummer, even faster blast beat than the origin guy).

Origin on the other hand, you can tell that they've put far more thought into their songs which alongside the technicality, makes for a great listen. That bit of the aftermath, just after 3 minutes is just sooooo good. Then it goes into that breakdown. Fuuuuck! This is metal pushing the boundries for sure.

Oh, and what about that 9 minute finale?!