Ashes Against the Grain[/i] has been bumped up to my top three albums of 2006 so far.

Jesus fucking allah buddah jewgod, I just heard Dragonforce for the first time. The inhuman shredding from 4:00 to 6:00-ish of "Through the Fire and Flames" pretty much melted my face off. I went back and listened to that section three times. Sort of hope that's their one and only song ever, because what could possibly top it?

Yeah, I recently listened to Dragonforce and Edguy. Dunno what it is about those bands, but for some reason I cannot resist that shit. It's so over-the-top and ludicrous but it connects with me on some kind of post-ironic level where my inner headbanger just goes "..... FUCK YEAH!"

The new Lamb of God finally leaked. It's a pretty good album if you like LOG (I sure do), but I was hoping for something a little bolder, I think. Sevenouttaten kind of CD.

Jesus fucking allah buddah jewgod, I just heard Dragonforce for the first time. The inhuman shredding from 4:00 to 6:00-ish of "Through the Fire and Flames" pretty much melted my face off. I went back and listened to that section three times. Sort of hope that's their one and only song ever, because what could possibly top it?

I'll have to keep an eye out for it. I'm just hoping it's not as Panteratastic as Redneck is. That song is such an obvious copy, I almost don't want to like it on general principle.

But, yeah, I'm going to see Dragonforce with BTBAM on Friday, and I'm pretty psyched.

New Motorhead, Kiss of Death and it sounds exactly like you think it does. A top...25 year-end contender, of course. This album makes it nine in a row for the Lemmy-Phil Campbell-Mikkey Dee trio lineup, which has been together for eleven years now (fourteen if you count the 4-piece-with-Wurzel-on-2nd-guitar lineup which immediately preceded it).

Fortunately, the Pantera shtick is only for that one song. The rest is what you'd expect from LoG. Hearing it again last night, it actually sounds very good.


You lucky dummy.


Yeah, it's a good one. Much more rock 'n' roll than Inferno, which is alright, but it doesn't have a great heavy song like "In the Name of Tragedy" (which has got to be their best song in the last decade). "Sucker" is probably my favourite on the new album.

Agreed Sask.....Lemmy is such an underrated songwriter. The lyrics are brilliant. I have seen them 17 times the first time in 1984 at the Aragon Ballroom with Mercyful Fate and Exciter opening up for them on the "No Remorse" tour. Lemmy is a true original. The DVD "Stagefright" should be viewed by all to how music should be done

The DVD "Stagefright" should be viewed by all to how music should be done

Swedish sources have confirmed to BW&BK that Jon Nödtveidt, frontman for Swedish metal pioneers DISSECTION, has committed suicide.

More details are expected in the coming hours. Stay tuned for updates as further information surfaces.

In late May, Nödtveidt announced in the band's final interview that “With Reinkaos (their latest album) we have reached the ending chapter. Dissection’s work is done and this is our legacy."

More recently Dissection had cancelled their two scheduled appearances in North America set for early September (in Los Angeles and New York City) due to "continued delays via the US Immigration Services" after Nödtveidt was denied legal entry into the United States.

About the shows being cancelled, Nödtveidt commented: "We knew from the beginning that there was a risk that I might be denied entry into the US because of my past but we (the band and the agencies involved) were prepared to take that risk. It's very unfortunate for everybody involved; the fans, the band and its representatives as well as the promoters. I have served my time and we were really looking forward to these final gigs. To our American fans: In spite of everything; see you in spirit! Fuck the Law! Chaos Forever!" bravewords.com

The latest clip of DragonForce goofiness:

"Operation Ground and Pound"

My god is that awful. Sounds like Dream Theater meets Journey.

Just got back from Sounds of the Underground. Not as good as last year's, but it still had its moments. Like a year ago, the Canadian dates are all indoors, which was good, cos it was a scorcher outside today.

The show had probably the biggest anticlimax I've seen in 22 years of concertgoing. In Flames absolutely mopped the floor with As I Lay Dying. It wasn't even funny...in fact, it was kind of embarrassing. Everyone was there for In Flames. The floor was packed, everyone was singing all the words, the band had a killer light show, it was all great. The setlist was havy on Reroute/Soundtrack/Clarity, but since I'm one of the few fans who loves those albums, I was quite happy:
Pinball Map
Leeches
Cloud Connected
Trigger
Graveland
Come Clarity
The Quiet Place
Take This Life
My Sweet Shadow

When In Flames finished, lots of people left, and between AILD's songs, it was dead silent. Nobody but the 100 in front cared at all. They're a B level band at best, and have a few good songs ("The Darkest Nights" and "Confined"), but there's no way they can headline a tour like this, and it was painfully obvious. The vocals are far too one-dimensional, and the singer was a pompous ass, standing on the riser doing Christ poses.

Behemoth was phenomenal ("Conquer All" and "Chant For Eschaton 2000" were godly), and I loved Cannibal Corpse. Holy hell, can Corpsegrinder scream...they're so much better live. The new songs killed, and "Fucked With a Knife" (which was dedicated to the ladies ) and "Devoured by Vermin" were awesome. Trivium try way too hard, the poor kids ...their new song is so much better than the older stuff, though, and I have high hopes for the album. B;ack Dahlia Murder was surprisingly good. And GWAR was GWAR. They brought out Gor-Gor this time. That was my fourth time seeing GWAR in 21 months. The shtick is fun, but tends to get old over and over again. Does anyone ever know what songs they're playing? Does anyone even care?

A question: who are the bigger fucking idiots, GWAR fans, or those hardcore karate dancing twits?

Oh man, In Flames! Cannibal Corpse! GWAR! all under one roof. What an awesome lineup, you lucky thang! Good to hear CC is good live--I've always been leary of seeing them, although Brian Slagel did say how normal they are IRL. "Return to Flesh" has some of my favorite riffs ever.

That's exactly why I like it.

So you fuckers like power-metal, do ya.

Have I got a song for you...



...and it's right here.

So the new Isis album In The Absence Of Truth comes out on Halloween. Here' the cover:



You can download the first track off the album here. More of the same from them I suppose, but I like it.

That's exactly why I like it.

I BOUGHT TICKETS FOR THE 10/18 MAIDEN SHOW AT THE ALLSTATE ARENA TODAY.

They're pretty good seats, too.

My wife isn't coming with me ... this is actually the first show in the ten years we've been together that I've gone without her to. I have her blessing to go alone. I'm going with a co-worker instead.

MAIDEN. TICKETS.

I'm fucking excited.

In other news, this same co-worker let me borrow an assload of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate albums.

GRANDMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Japanese underground icons Corrupted create droning, sludgy, painfully slow death/doom metal and ambient music along the same lines -- or should that be trenches? -- as bands like Earth, Boris, and Sunn O))). Formed in Osaka, Japan, circa 1994, the reclusive group is comprised of vocalist Hevi, guitarist Talbot, keyboardist Takehito, bassist Jose, and drummer Chew, and has issued an inordinate number of singles, EPs, split discs, and full-length albums over the years (including 1997's Paso Inferior, 1999's Llenando de Gusanos, and 2004's Se Hace por los Suenos Asesinos) -- but always under their own idiosyncratic terms. These include holding anything remotely resembling rock stardom in utter contempt, mysteriously writing all of their lyrics in Spanish, and refusing to even take promo shots, so that the only known images of the group are those snapped by fans at their concerts.

This disc opens with a 17 minute ambient folk dirge, just acoustic guitar and harshly whispered/grunted vocals. In Spanish (as always) and rumblingly hypnotic. Like a ultra grim, creepily acoustic Neurosis, all stripped down and stretched out. Never imagined just a voice and an acoustic guitar could be so fucking scary, but for almost twenty minutes, the low end folk sludge stretches on seemingly forever, narcoticizing and mesmerizing, before the second track drops like a ton of lead Marshall stacks. Massively loud and perplexingly heavy, HUGE slabs of downtuned guitars pour molten riffs down your willing throat, filling you with black tar melodies, jagged limb smashing drumming, and bass so low it seems to loosen the earth's crust around you. The final track picks up the pace, to barely midtempo, but certainly a breakneck speed for a lumbering behemoth like the Corrupted. Drummer Chew (formerly of Omoide Hatoba) gets to go all Animal on this track, smashing everything within reach, the only thing keeping him behind the kit is the impenetratable wall of mile-thick ocean-deep sonic sludge, like pouring a bucket of hot molasses on a porcupine. Or dropping a sea anenome in a vat of hot glue, or like listening to Black Sabbath with your ears full of mud. Where Boris is channelling all sort of seventies rock, and stoner riffage, albeit through their own slow motion filter, Corrupted are just really fucking scary. A huge uncontainable, slithering, squirming, unstoppable, slow-motion, crusty metallic black hole.

And GWAR was GWAR. They brought out Gor-Gor this time. That was my fourth time seeing GWAR in 21 months. The shtick is fun, but tends to get old over and over again. Does anyone ever know what songs they're playing? Does anyone even care?

A question: who are the bigger fucking idiots, GWAR fans, or those hardcore karate dancing twits?

I BOUGHT TICKETS FOR THE 10/18 MAIDEN SHOW AT THE ALLSTATE ARENA TODAY.

They're pretty good seats, too.

My wife isn't coming with me ... this is actually the first show in the ten years we've been together that I've gone without her to. I have her blessing to go alone. I'm going with a co-worker instead.

MAIDEN. TICKETS.

I'm fucking excited.

In other news, this same co-worker let me borrow an assload of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate albums.

GRANDMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Random metal upload of the week:


Corrupted - Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos

I've been obsessed with these guys lately and wanted to spread word of their greatness.
RIYL: Earth, Sunn, Boris etc.

Sweet. That's really cool. I like The Trooper the best all time. With Die With Your Boots On coming in second. Ironically from the same LP.

This is metal at it's finest.

I hate most metal when you can't understand the singer. Especially when you read the lyrics and realize he has the intellect of a stunted moron.

I like my metal from intelligent Brits who know how to fence very well. How can you beat this:

"Youll take my life but Ill take yours too
Youll fire you musket but Ill run you through
So when your waiting for the next attack
Youd better stand theres no turning back

The bugle sounds as the charge begins
But on this battlefield no one wins
The smell of arcrid smoke and horses breath
As you plunge into a certain death

The horse he sweats with fear we break to run
The mighty roar of the russian guns
And as we race towards the human wall
The screams of pain as my comrades fall

We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground
And the russians fire another round
We get so near yet so far away
We wont live to fight another day

We get so close near enough to fight
When a russian gets me in his sights
He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow
A burst of rounds take my horse below

And as I lay there gazing at the sky
My bodys numb and my throat is dry
And as I lay forgotten and alone
Without a tear I draw my parting groan"

[raises hand...]

So I saw Christ Illusion in the store today, and somehow held off. I'll be playing it tomorrow for sure.

Any early reports?

You can download the first track off the album here. More of the same from them I suppose, but I like it.

So I picked up Wolves in the Throne Room Diadem of Twelve Stars. Pretty cool stuff.

My favorite album of the year thus far. I've been completely addicted it for three months.