MOTD - Blind Guardian: And The Story of 2010 Ends

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Blind Guardian
Song: And the Story Ends
Album: Imaginations from the Other Side
Style: Speed/Power Metal
country/location: Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
release: 1995

Today is the last day of 2010. The last day of the first decade of the second millennium of the twelve trillionellium! There is no band worthy enough to herald this special occasion then the mighty Blind Guardian! The legendary band that creates some of the most epic music ever. Blind Guardian is respected and enjoyed throughout the metal world and beyond. (Even non-metalheads have thrown the horns up for this incredible band)

For this momentous day, the final track off their 5th studio album Imaginations From The Other Side is a perfect song to lead 2010 out. This album, my personal favorite, you could almost say is a transition album, from their raw & thrashy speed metal early albums to their more progressive and symphonic epic later material. It retains the crisp and edgy production of the late 80s while having the irresistible and multi-layered choruses that define Blind Guardian. The guitar tone is unmistakably Blind Guardian and Hansi's voice is in true form; every word and every melody performed with the serenity of a crooner and the sharpness of a razorblade. I can think of no better music to bring closure to an incredible year. As 2011 approaches, the story of 2010 ends.

Blind Guardian - And The Story Ends

MOTD - Halford Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Halford
Song: What Child Is This
Album: Winter Songs
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Birmingham, England, UK
release: 2009

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, blah blah blah something something something mouse.

Well this weekend was Christmas. That holy day of holy days. That special day where kids wake up at ungodly hours to run to a highly decorated evergreen coniferous tree to unwrapped divine presents. While I can't say I celebrate this holiday in any traditional sense, I do kinda understand the specialness of it, and thus would like to pass on some holiday well wishes to my readers. Who else to wish you a Merry Christmas than the legendary voice of Judas Priest!

This is Halford's contribution to the world of holiday/Christmas music, a collection of metal/rock versions of Christmas carols and original seasonal themed songs. Unlike the powerful heavy metal anthems of Judas Priest, a lot of this music takes on a lighter, sincere and almost personal approach, particularly in this calm but epic metal tinged rendition of "What Child Is This." The metal crunch provides the power to this lullaby while pop/rock elements provide a glorious and infectious feeling. Halford sounds just as strong as he would on a Judas Priest record, however he is more relaxed, just letting his natural voice triumph (no falsettos here). It's really a beautiful and epic piece that does the original composition justice. "What Child Is This" is one of my favorite Christmas carols.

Well, I hope your holiday season was a joyous one (whether you believe in the religious aspects or not)! Merry Christmas to all, Happy Hanukah to all, Happy Kwanzaa to all, Happy Boxing Day to all!

Halford - What Child Is This

MOTD - Twisted Sister: Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the metal is so delightful!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Twisted Sister
Song: Let It Snow
Album: A Twisted Christmas
Style: Heavy fuckin Metal
country/location: Long Island, New York, US
release: 2006

Last night it was blissfully snowing in Boston and all I could think was "it's a beautiful night for holiday music!" Nothing says happy holidays than holiday music. Those cheerful and infectious tunes that are blared throughout malls and corporate America. Unfortunately, most of it is watered down and overproduced. However there is hope for the season, Twisted Sister's A Twisted Christmas. All of your favorite Christmas songs twisted into heavy metal anthems that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and cause your head to bang harder then a hammer on your neighbor's face. Twisted Sister has put their signature crunchy, rumbling hard rockin' stamp on these tunes. Just pure & simple, punchy & fun Christmas songs, with the mighty Dee Snider providing an arena worthy delivery. Ok okay, it's true, this is totally over the top and lacking in anything groundbreaking, gosh darn it's too much fun and oh so awesome! So in short:

"Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the metal is so delightful. Since there's no place to go BLAST TWISTED SISTER TIL YOUR FUCKIN' EARS BLEED!"

Twisted Sister - Let It Snow

MOTD - Crowbar: An Aggressive and Violent Muddy Swamp

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Crowbar
Song: All I Had (I Gave)
Album: Crowbar
Style: Sludge Metal
country/location: New Orleans, Louisiana, US
release: 1993

Last week I was introduced to the mighty Crowbar, tearing it up at the Middle East. It was an all star night of sludge with two of Boston's best locals (who will most definitely be featured soon) plus Georgia's bearded sludge kings Black Tusk. I understood why Crowbar was one of the big influences/founders of the style known as sludge metal. The riffs were super heavy and thick with a slightly bluesy tough, Kirk's voice was the most gruff and rough I have ever heard (dare I say like an angry grandfather haha), the pace of the songs ranged from prodding doom to almost speedy thrash. The term sludge made sense for them, it was literally the musical equivalent of walking through a muddy swamp. An aggressive and violent walk at that, appealing to hardcore kids and metalheads alike. The show kinda reflected this feeling for it was a completely packed and squished show, impossible to move around, especially when the moshpit happened. Anyways, here's a track from Crowbar's 1993 self titled album. Hopefully this makes up for the fact I haven't posted any true sludge yet!

Crowbar - All I Had (I Gave)

MOTD - Gevolt: On Hanukah, Find a Partner & Dance!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Gevolt
Song: Tum Balalaika
Album: Yiddish Project
Style: Industrial/Folk Metal
country/location: Israel
release: 2008

We're in the middle of the 8 day celebration known as Hanukah. In honor of that latke eating, candle lighting holiday, I'm posting a couple Jewish themed tracks for you!

What do you get when you take Rammstein, make the members Israeli, add a folk violin, and make the lyrics in Hebrew or Yiddish? You get this fantastically charming and fun band, Gevolt! The lead singer sounds uncannily like Till Lindemann and the music has that crunchy distortion plus the mechanical industrial qualities you find in Rammstein. However the music is based upon traditional Jewish folk songs. This track being a Russian/Polish folk love song sung in Yiddish which gained popularity at the beginning of Israel's formation. The lyrics talk about finding a clever wife for marriage, who knows answers to all questions. Gevolt's arrangement still captures the loving dance like feel of the song, the violin adding that nice folky tough. I particularly love this song, I often get this strange urge to dance with some lovely lass whenever it comes on! At the very least, I attempt to sing along with the chorus despite my lack of Yiddish hehe. Hope you enjoy! and Happy Hanukah to all!

Gevolt - Tum Balalaika

MOTD - Rotting Christ: Originally a Grind Band? Cool!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Rotting Christ
Song: Asthmatic Apoplexy
Album: The Other Side of Life (split with Sound Pollution)
Style: Grindcore/Death Metal
country/location: Athens, Attica, Greece
release: 1989

A little interesting post for you all! Don't worry, I'll be going back to New England series in a bit!

So I discovered that everyone's favorite Greek black metal band, Rotting Christ, started out as a grindcore-ish death metal band. Given my love of all things grind, I was curious how this sounded. Figured I'd share one of these old tracks. Well, it sounds like late 90s death/grind, just as I had hoped! This quick song has it all, unrelenting blast beats/punk rhythms, early death metal tremolo guitar leads/riffs, raw & gruff vocals, and poor production (though not as bad as I was expecting). It's good old school death/grind (or least I think you could call it that)! Anyways, enjoy!

Rotting Christ - Asthmatic Apoplexy

MOTD - Scaphism: New England Is Death Metal

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Scaphism
Song: Pathogenic Bacteria
Album: Rib tickling Brutality And Hilarious Atrocities demo
Style: Death Metal
country/location: Boston/Worcester, MA
release: 2010

(ok trying this again again hehe)

Well, it's about time that I posted some stuff from my scene! New England has an incredible metal/hardcore scene that is unparalleled. To quote thrash band Hatchet, "Boston, you put the bay area to shame!" So many incredible bands and dedicated people make this scene diverse, exciting and just, well, awesome! I attend on average 3 or 4 shows a week, most of them being all local shows. The metal and hardcore has flowed in this area for ages, with there being stellar bands (national and obscure) since the 1980s if not earlier. Let me introduce you to some bands and projects from New England.

With super chunky riffs that cause unrelenting headbanging, a precise & rawly moshable rhythm section, and a death metal spokesperson whose disgusting and offensive words come out as clear as if they were yelled directly into your ear, Scaphism is one of the staples of the New England metal scene. Their music is truly death metal, no core influences, no progressive elements, no overly technical breakdowns, just good ol' fashioned asskicking death metal. Live they are a tight machine of brutality, playing at least 3 or 4 shows a month and each set is being as exciting as the last (I've seen them at least 20 times and I'm always looking forward to seeing them again). This song is a prime example of their unique but true sound. If they ever tour the country, you do not want to miss them! Tell em I sent yah!

Scaphism - Pathogenic Bacteria

MOTD - a completely unreadable band!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Intracerebrally Consuming Cephalalgia Through The Cranium Macerating Debrisfucked Manure Ingested Remains Of The Mindfucked Cataplexic Wicked Mankind Whom Fistfucked The Progenies From The Deepest Depths Of The Analmaggot Raped Human Pieces Of Erotic Shitmasses Which Gave Birth To Worthless Eunuchs As Travesty For Cumstained Whorefaced Sluts Enslaved By This Stupid Society Full Of Fetal Garbages
Song: Infected And Grilled Human Genitals Stuffed With Force To Mouths Of Facialized Grandmas Tied On Maniacly For Dozens Of Sexual Anomaly Experimentals
Album: Ingurgitating Succulent Chunks Of Regurgitated Feces In Deviated From Ass To Mouth Game As Degraded And Drowning In Slimy Buckets Of Bukkake Fluids
Style: Goregrind/Pornogrind
country/location: Helsinki/Espoo, Uusimaa Finland
release: 2009

As soon as I saw this band logo, I knew that I had to post something by this band! Metalsucks.net does a weekly or so contest thing to see if anyone can correctly identify a completely unreadable band logo. This one was clearly the most ridiculous and the most difficult, though six people got it (which is unthinkable). This band, Intracerebrally Consuming Cephalalgia Through The Cranium Macerating Debrisfucked Manure Ingested Remains Of The Mindfucked Cataplexic Wicked Mankind Whom Fistfucked The Progenies From The Deepest Depths Of The Analmaggot Raped Human Pieces Of Erotic Shit, or simply 55 (representing the number of words in their name), is what you might expect. A silly, gorey, ridiculous goregrind/pornogrind band with gurgling vocals, inhuman drum machining, poorly produced guitars, and lots of porno, disgusting "lyrical" themes. This music isn't for the faint of heart nor is it for the overly serious. In fact, it's really not for anyone other than people like me who enjoys ridiculous shit like this haha. Seriously though it's not as bad as it could be, though I can already hear everyone groaning at this post haha.

Intracerebrally Consuming Cephalalgia Through The Cranium Macerating Debrisfucked Manure Ingested Remains Of The Mindfucked Cataplexic Wicked Mankind Whom Fistfucked The Progenies From The Deepest Depths Of The Analmaggot Raped Human Pieces Of Erotic Shit - Infected And Grilled Human Genitals Stuffed With Force To Mouths Of Facialized Grandmas Tied On Maniacly For Dozens Of Sexual Anomaly Experimentals

MOTD - The Ciem Show: A Marriage Of Prog and Experimental

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: The Ciem Show
Song: Scene IV: Anamorphic Sleep
Album: Only to Exist in Dreams
Style: Dark Progressive Metal/Experimental Rock
country/location: New Egypt, New Jersey, US
release: 2009

Let's try this again!

Here's a project/band based out of New Egypt, New Jersey (which is coincidentally where two close friends of mine who got married recently are from! heh). This band/project is primarily by a dude known as Ciemnosc (hence the name) who is/was also in Abysmal Gates and Abazagorath (these were the bands I recognized at least). The Ciem Show is as the style/genre says, a dark styled progressive metal band with a little bit of an experimental angle. It's a smorgasbord of prog metal influences. You can hear the ambiance and atmosphere of Devin Townsend's solo work , the heavy and detuned styles of Meshuggah, and the operatic and bizarre qualities of the avant garde like Devil Doll and Frank Zappa. It's pretty good stuff though overwhelming at times. This song took a couple listens before it grew on me to the point that I really appreciated it. Parts of it stand out as memorable sections while others just kinda fly past without being noticed. There are some pretty awesome riffs and melodies used here. See what you think!

The Ciem Show - Scene IV: Anamorphic Sleep

MOTD - GRIND!!!!!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Enabler
Song: Fucking Wartorn
Album: Eden Sank to Grief
Style: Grindcore/Sludge/Hardcore/Death Metal
country/location: Milwaukee, WI
release: 2010

THAT'S RIGHT! IT'S A FAWKING POST!
Yep, another attempt to get back into a posting groove! Who knows if it will work haha.

I was drawn to post something by this incredible band, Enabler, who I got to see twice last week and was completely won over by them. Featuring members of Today Is The Day, Abaddon and Trap Them, this Milwaukee band is a smorgasbord of extreme sounds. Sludge-thick guitars are played at hardcore/grindcore intensity and crust punk rawness, with screams that savagely pierce ears. You can hear that they were just as influenced by early 80s d-beat/crust punk as they were early 90s Swedish death metal. Into that mix, the occasional atmospheric reverbed guitars are constructed in allowing for a brief touch of melody. They do this without loosing the grind as fuck feel that permeates this music. If you get the chance to see them live, please do for they are a great live band!

Enabler - Fucking Wartorn

MOTD - Evans Blue: Time To Get Radio Friendly Generic!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Evans Blue
Song: I Blame You
Album: Evans Blue
Style/s: Post-Grunge/Alternative Rock, Hard Rock
country/location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
release: 2009/10

A fellow metal/music blogger buddy of mine was asked to review this alternative rock band Evans Blue. Not exactly the most exciting thing to review for a metal person, but apparently he'll get more metal things. I decided to support my buddy and post something by this band even if it means my metal cred takes a nice clean dive, but then again my metal cred often takes dives (ie Attack Attack!).

So who exactly is Evans Blue? They're exactly what you might expect when I say they're a radio friendly, post-grunge/alternative hard rock band that sounds like every other radio friendly, post-grunge/alternative hard rock band ever to come out in the late 90s and early 00s. Think TRUSTcompany or Chevelle or 10 Years. They're far from the worst band out there, they do their thing well. Their new vocalist has a good voice for this style; powerful, clean and melodic with just a touch of angst (not too much), plus he can scream/shout when he needs to (again not too much). I'm a sucker for song intros with reverbed/effected guitars. The chorus is what you'd expect, a grand chorus that's meant to be sung along at shows and while you're driving along listening to your favorite alt. rock station. Again, it ain't awful, but they are generic as fuck and bland haha. Oh well. Anyways, take a listen for the fun of it!

Evans Blue - I Blame You

temporary change of download links

Until I can find a cheaper server or server like solution, I'm going to be posting mp3s via Mediafire (sorry if this bothers people). Not only is it free and relatively easy to upload the mp3s, it's free! My previous server/thinger turned really expensive and unhelpful, so mediafire it is! Not sure if there's any limits to the number of files or file space, but assume that after say 20 to 30 posts (ha, like I'll reach that any time soon), I'll start removing stuff. If anyone wants reups of anything, let me know, I'll be happy to send them!

(The last post is via Mediafire)

Scratch that! I'm using dropbox (huge thanks to Max Cantor for being totally metal and awesome and introducing me to this even before I was needing to change!) and there'll be regular old links. I have a 2.26 GB limit so I'll occasionally clean it out, but for now I got a lot of space! The last post is not Mediafire!

MOTD - Outraged that I haven't posted in ages, but it's time to get back to the Metal!

Mp3 Of The Day

So obscure the album cover is missing!

Band/Artist: Outrage
Song: Too Hot To Touch
Album: Prophecy (demo)
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Perth, Western Australia
release: 1991

So I'm going to give a shot to getting back to this! No guarantees, but at 2AM on a Thursday morning, I have this strange urge to get something posted. Well here it goes...

The past month has been pretty frickin hot around New England. One time I came home, turned on the cold water faucet and out came hot water. Essentially the perfect weather for some good ol' fashioned, cheesy fun, classic rock inspired, heavy metal! This band Outrage hailed at one point from Perth, Australia, releasing one 11 song demo and that's about as much info anyone has about them. Can't say I'm surprised they never got far for they're nothing special, but they're a fun rockin heavy metal listen. The riffs on this song are pretty simple though effective and enjoyable. The singer's delivery is cheesy with a little extra power in parts (he can hit the high notes when he wants). Like all heavy metal songs, there's a solo! It's actually a nicely done solo, reminiscent of classic rock with the organ providing a backing. Again, nothing fancy here, but it's a good slab of plain traditional fun heavy metal. The type of music you'd blast while driving a hot rod or motorcycle down the highway! Check it out!

Outrage - Too Hot To Touch

MOTD - Spinal Tap Proves Why They Are Experts On The Sun

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Spinal Tap
Song: The Sun Never Sweats
Album: Break Like The Wind
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Squatney, UK
release: 1992

This weekend I saw a documentary about the most influential rock band in history, Spinal Tap. Through this breathtaking film, I discovered so much about this band that I had known before. Through their wild adventures, their attention to detail and their punctuality I learned so much more about a band that shaped the very foundation of heavy metal and rock n roll. In honor of this greatest of greats, I present to you one of my favorite tracks. A little lesser known then their groundbreaking hits like "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" or "Stonehenge", it is still a fantastic piece of heavy metal art. With an excellent opening guitar riff that grabs you by the nuts and drags you through a galloping rhythm, "The Sun Never Sweats" is a bluesy hard rockin masterpiece from Spinal Tap's 1992 album Break Like The Wind (also a masterpiece). Chugging guitars follow David St. Hubbins as he provides us with rockin' vocals that sings the tales of pirates, angels and elephants, explaining to us that the sun never sweats (which is quite true, though as my friend Alyse points out, the sun showers). And what great heavy metal song is without solos? This one certainly isn't! Bluesy heartfelt solos and licks can be found through the song, including a great homage to the classic Christmas song "What Child Is This?" (or is it Greensleeves? not that it matters). In any event, it's a shame that this song isn't played on the radios more often, for this song is a tribute to the greatness of Spinal Tap!

(In all seriousness, this song rules! hehe)

Spinal Tap - The Sun Never Sweats

Also, I want to use this legendary opportunity to give a shout out to my buddy and fellow metal blogger Jordan who is slightly less metal than Spinal Tap (which is high praise)! Also a shout out to Alyse for providing an amazing insight to the minds of Spinal Tap!

MOTD - Yob: Gorgeously Crushing Doom

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Yob
Song: The Great Cessation
Album: The Great Cessation
Style: Stoner/Doom Metal
country/location: Eugene, Oregon
release: 2009



Man, it's been awhile since I've posted anything. I've been busy and honestly haven't been feelin' it! Now I'm ready to post some stuff again. For some reason, this song seems like a great way to get back in the groove.

The irony is that I wanted to post this one back in June and July haha. If there is one song that I'll associate with 2009, it is this one. I must've listened to this song about 10 times a day and each time I discovered something new about it. Yob is a band that produces incredibly heavy and powerful stoner/doom. Music that just pounds you into submission, but does it with such a sorrowful grace that you feel out of breath both from the shear beauty and the crushing heaviness. This song is no exception, with wall of sound heavily distorted guitars fitting like a glove around epic haunting vocal melodies that are grand, vast and full of such passion that you get goosebumps when they reach their peaks (specifically at around 8:50 and 9:20. At least I get them). This transitions perfectly into a long drawn out slab of phenomenally condemning music that crushes you with heavy heavy meaty distortion until you feel flattened by the weight. The twenty minute length may be intimidating, but this song flows so well that it doesn't feel lengthy. Every time the last blasts of noise faded into oblivion, I'd be amazed that such an amazing amount of time had passed. It's an impressive piece of heavy music.

Yob - The Great Cessation

Bobfest 2010! Wren's Quarter Of A Century Metal Birthday Bash!

This is my birthday bash!  I hope you all (well those who are in the area) can come out and rage with me!

(my friend Nick from Fxxk Everyone made the flyer!)