Full Lengths
Band/Artist: Bedroom Rehab Corporation
Song: Basilosaurus
Album: Red Over Red
Style: Psychedelic Stoner/Doom Metal/Rock
country/location: New London, Connecticut, USA
release: 2013
There are bands that only seem to get better every time I see them live. Connecticut's Bedroom Rehab Corporation is one of them. Then I learn their recordings perfectly convey the energy, heaviness and rifftastic nature. This 2 piece powerhouse proves that just bass and drums are all one needs to make killer metal. Adam's bass work and tonework is spot on psychedelic and heavy, Meghan provides powerful 1 2 punch drums that pumps up the hard rockin nature of their craft. Adam's voice is gravelly and bluesy, giving an authentic feel. If you ever get the chance to see them live, do it. Their energy on stage is infectious! One of New England's finest!
Band/Artist: Savage Master
Song: Ready to Sin
Album: With Whips and Chains
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
release: 2016
There are bands that only seem to get better every time I see them live. Kentucky's Savage Master is one of them! This is the true heavy metal from the days when the occult was subject, imagery was dark and twisted, riffs were crafted like ritualistic creations, and frontwomen didn't sing but bark their sinister and sinful words. Wendy O Williams herself would consider this beast a protege! These are savage anthems that would send Tipper Gore running to the closest Parental Advisory sticker. If you ever get the chance to see them live, do it! Their energy on stage is delicious! One of the finest new heavy metal bands!
Sloth Single Of The Week
Band/Artist: Sloth
Song: I'm Half Way There (10/25/16)
Album: I'm Half Way There (10/25/16)
Style: Noise
country/location: Tampa, Florida USA
release: 2016
So there's this band called Sloth who for the last two or three years have been releasing a noise track practically every day with silly/weird/whatever titles. It's all just noise, but for the fun of it, I thought every other post I'd post one here for no reason other than I find them hilarious. Anyways this one is called I'm Half Way There (10/25/16). This might be the most pleasant enjoyable noise single I've heard from them. Imagine super heavy sludge distortion that doesn't change notes or sound. Just stays there. Kinda like Sunn 0))) without any changes whatsoever. Though the more I listen to it, the more I think I hear changes but I'm not sure if that's my brain or the actual track. Anyways, enjoy!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Stuff I Done Listened To Post 3: Dream Theater, Deiphago, БУТ, Deconsecrate
Full Lengths
Band/Artist: Dream Theater
Song: Our New World
Album: The Astonishing
Style: Progressive Metal
country/location: Long Island, New York, USA
release: 2016
I guess technically I listened to this album this week. I mean, Dream Theater played this over 2 hour long album in its entirety at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester and I was witness to it. This incredibly overwhelming but thoroughly enjoyable hunk of the most proggy prog metal. It was so much prog! Dream Theater is true to form here. Actually I'd say that it's a return to form for them; Going back to the days when they would release concept albums packed to the brim with prog based metal opposed to the more heavier material of recent. This is the type of metal that Berklee kids can only dream (theater?) of constructing. Heh, during the show there was this dude that would occasionally yell out what key the song was in or what scale the music was composed in. "Mixolydian!" or "What time signature was that!?" Oh good times!
Band/Artist: Deiphago
Song: Satan Mongers
Album: Satan Alpha Omega
Style: Black/Death Metal
country/location: Manila, Philippines (1989-2004); Heredia, Costa Rica (2004-present)
release: 2012
There are bands that are often described as violent assaults. In comparison, Deiphago's music is so violent that it would be considered a war crime in some countries. Hailing from the Philippines and Costa Rica, this war machine of a band pummels you with a black/death metal fury that few will be able to stand. This is the real stuff, nothing watered down nor held back. Just pure unadulterated aggressive sound. Love it!
Band/Artist: БУТ
Song: Insidious
Album: Call For Nemesis
Style: Grindcore
country/location: České Budějovice/Zlív, Czech Republic
release: 2012
So if there's one thing in music that is a constant, it's that the Czech Republic produces the best grindcore in the world. Not sure what it is about that region of the world, but every Czech grind band I've ever heard has been incredible. БУТ is a prime example of this. The band kills! This is beefed up, bold riffed grind. They know how to grab your ears with a groovy recognizable riff and then bash you into submission. The vocalist has the most awesome grind bark this side of Napalm Death. Damn, I wish I could see them again!
Band I'm Listening To A Result of the Metal Archives Random Band Feature
Band/Artist: Deconsecrate
Song: Tidebringer
Album: Nothing Is Sacred
Style: Death Metal/Hardcore
country/location: Ypres/Zwevegem, West Flanders, Belgium
release: 2015
So this week/post's edition of the Random Band band selection is a hardcore infused death metal band from Belgium. So far in my digestion of this band, Deconsecrate sounds like a promising act, molding the brutality of death metal with the in-your-face qualities of hardcore in a way that brings out the best of both styles. The vocalists goes back and forth between death growls and hardcore barks with ease. The guitar work is straight out of the Suffocation/Cannibal Corpse schools of brutality with breakdowns that the NYHC scene would be proud of. This is quality!
Band/Artist: Dream Theater
Song: Our New World
Album: The Astonishing
Style: Progressive Metal
country/location: Long Island, New York, USA
release: 2016
I guess technically I listened to this album this week. I mean, Dream Theater played this over 2 hour long album in its entirety at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester and I was witness to it. This incredibly overwhelming but thoroughly enjoyable hunk of the most proggy prog metal. It was so much prog! Dream Theater is true to form here. Actually I'd say that it's a return to form for them; Going back to the days when they would release concept albums packed to the brim with prog based metal opposed to the more heavier material of recent. This is the type of metal that Berklee kids can only dream (theater?) of constructing. Heh, during the show there was this dude that would occasionally yell out what key the song was in or what scale the music was composed in. "Mixolydian!" or "What time signature was that!?" Oh good times!
Band/Artist: Deiphago
Song: Satan Mongers
Album: Satan Alpha Omega
Style: Black/Death Metal
country/location: Manila, Philippines (1989-2004); Heredia, Costa Rica (2004-present)
release: 2012
There are bands that are often described as violent assaults. In comparison, Deiphago's music is so violent that it would be considered a war crime in some countries. Hailing from the Philippines and Costa Rica, this war machine of a band pummels you with a black/death metal fury that few will be able to stand. This is the real stuff, nothing watered down nor held back. Just pure unadulterated aggressive sound. Love it!
Band/Artist: БУТ
Song: Insidious
Album: Call For Nemesis
Style: Grindcore
country/location: České Budějovice/Zlív, Czech Republic
release: 2012
So if there's one thing in music that is a constant, it's that the Czech Republic produces the best grindcore in the world. Not sure what it is about that region of the world, but every Czech grind band I've ever heard has been incredible. БУТ is a prime example of this. The band kills! This is beefed up, bold riffed grind. They know how to grab your ears with a groovy recognizable riff and then bash you into submission. The vocalist has the most awesome grind bark this side of Napalm Death. Damn, I wish I could see them again!
Band I'm Listening To A Result of the Metal Archives Random Band Feature
Band/Artist: Deconsecrate
Song: Tidebringer
Album: Nothing Is Sacred
Style: Death Metal/Hardcore
country/location: Ypres/Zwevegem, West Flanders, Belgium
release: 2015
So this week/post's edition of the Random Band band selection is a hardcore infused death metal band from Belgium. So far in my digestion of this band, Deconsecrate sounds like a promising act, molding the brutality of death metal with the in-your-face qualities of hardcore in a way that brings out the best of both styles. The vocalists goes back and forth between death growls and hardcore barks with ease. The guitar work is straight out of the Suffocation/Cannibal Corpse schools of brutality with breakdowns that the NYHC scene would be proud of. This is quality!
Monday, October 17, 2016
Stuff I Listened To Post 2: Amon Amarth, Riverside, Itoarazi, Sloth
Band/Artist: Amon Amarth
Song: Twilight Of The Thunder God
Album: Twilight Of The Thunder God
Style: Melodic Death Metal
country/location: Stockholm, Sweden
release: 2008
Kicking off this post is one of my old favs, Amon Amarth! The masters of viking themed riff tastic melodic death metal. Sure they've been doing this novelty for years and they haven't deviated much, but god damn are they good at their craft! This album is among my favs and I always make a point of listening to it while driving around New England in autumn.
Band/Artist: Riverside
Song: Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?)
Album: Love, Fear and the Time Machine
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
country/location: Warsaw Poland
release: 2015
I've been a fan of Riverside for sometime now but somehow didn't get around to listening to this record until relatively recently. Major major failure on my part for this album is absolutely stunning. It's been on rotation for at least a month now. A collection of prog rock songs\ that are wonderfully mellows showcasing optimistic melancholic songwriting with Mariusz Duda's trademark angelic voice, Piotr Grudziński's (RIP) soulful and skillful guitar work, Michał Łapaj's blend of 70s prog and somber atmosphere and Mittloff's time changing rhythms. This is a prog fan's dream come true.
My Talented Friends
Band/Artist: Itorazi
Song: Dickinson
Style: Ambient/Experimental/Electronic/Cowbell
country/location: Worcester MA
release: 2016
So this is my buddy's ambient/electronic/experimental project in which he does all sorts of cool sounding music and experiments. This particular track appeals to me in so many ways. For one thing, I can say that I have a fever for cowbell and this song gives me a huge dose of cowbell. That's cause all the sounds on this track was created by a cowbell manipulated and distorted and altered into different sounds and beats. Well hope you enjoy or not!
Sloth Single
Band/Artist: Sloth
Song: Socky Octy!!
Album: Socky Octy!!
Style: Noise
country/location: Tampa, Florida
release: 2016
So there's this band called Sloth who for the last two or three years have been releasing a noise track practically every day with silly/weird/whatever titles. It's all just noise, but for the fun of it, I thought every other post I'd post one here for no reason other than I find them hilarious. Anyways this one is called Socky Octy!! Best way to describe most of this, imagine you're listening to a song with a very booming bass on some large but crappy speakers and you turn it up until it sounds all boofy and such. And then instead of music it just stays there. Well hope you enjoy or not.
Song: Twilight Of The Thunder God
Album: Twilight Of The Thunder God
Style: Melodic Death Metal
country/location: Stockholm, Sweden
release: 2008
Kicking off this post is one of my old favs, Amon Amarth! The masters of viking themed riff tastic melodic death metal. Sure they've been doing this novelty for years and they haven't deviated much, but god damn are they good at their craft! This album is among my favs and I always make a point of listening to it while driving around New England in autumn.
Band/Artist: Riverside
Song: Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?)
Album: Love, Fear and the Time Machine
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
country/location: Warsaw Poland
release: 2015
I've been a fan of Riverside for sometime now but somehow didn't get around to listening to this record until relatively recently. Major major failure on my part for this album is absolutely stunning. It's been on rotation for at least a month now. A collection of prog rock songs\ that are wonderfully mellows showcasing optimistic melancholic songwriting with Mariusz Duda's trademark angelic voice, Piotr Grudziński's (RIP) soulful and skillful guitar work, Michał Łapaj's blend of 70s prog and somber atmosphere and Mittloff's time changing rhythms. This is a prog fan's dream come true.
My Talented Friends
Band/Artist: Itorazi
Song: Dickinson
Style: Ambient/Experimental/Electronic/Cowbell
country/location: Worcester MA
release: 2016
So this is my buddy's ambient/electronic/experimental project in which he does all sorts of cool sounding music and experiments. This particular track appeals to me in so many ways. For one thing, I can say that I have a fever for cowbell and this song gives me a huge dose of cowbell. That's cause all the sounds on this track was created by a cowbell manipulated and distorted and altered into different sounds and beats. Well hope you enjoy or not!
Sloth Single
Band/Artist: Sloth
Song: Socky Octy!!
Album: Socky Octy!!
Style: Noise
country/location: Tampa, Florida
release: 2016
So there's this band called Sloth who for the last two or three years have been releasing a noise track practically every day with silly/weird/whatever titles. It's all just noise, but for the fun of it, I thought every other post I'd post one here for no reason other than I find them hilarious. Anyways this one is called Socky Octy!! Best way to describe most of this, imagine you're listening to a song with a very booming bass on some large but crappy speakers and you turn it up until it sounds all boofy and such. And then instead of music it just stays there. Well hope you enjoy or not.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Stuff I've Listened To Post 1: Agatus, The Devil's Blood, Irisa, Midnight Chaser
Full Albums
Band/Artist: Agatus
Song: The Invisible (The Fifth Portal To Atlantis)
Album: The Eternalist
Style: A melting pot of black metal, heavy metal, 70s prog, epic metal
country/location: Athens, Greece
release: 2016
I read a review of this album that said this album is a melting pot of black metal, NWOBHM, 70s prog and epicness. It was so true that I couldn't come up with my own analogy so I stole it. The riffs are straight out of 1980s Britain and the tone and atmosphere is straight out of 1990s Scandinavia. But then there are synth lines and drum fills that Rush and Dream Theater fans would love. It fits so well together!
Band/Artist: The Devil's Blood
Song: Feverdance
Album: The Thousandfold Epicentre
Style: Occult/Psychedelic/Prog Rock
country/location: Eindhoven, Netherlands
release: 2011
I've had this CD in my collection for a few years now after seeing them at MDF and I'm just getting around to giving it a thorough listen. The Devil's Blood is often labeled as a retro band or a throw back to the early 70s, however I would say that their sound is more an update to that style and feel. They certainly sound like they would've fit in perfectly at the original Woodstock with all the psychedelic atmosphere and occult themes. That said, they are not in a haze with the past but using those influences as a template!
Random Stuff I Stumbled Upon
Band/Artist: Irisa
Song: Blue (Eiffel 65, 1999)
Album: GameBoy by Superclima
Style: Alternative Rock - Art Rock
country/location: Córdoba, Argentina
release: 2015
So I was going to post an Eiffel 65 song that I had stuck in my head as a result of my wife indirectly mentioning a lyric from it (which I'll save for another day heh), but somehow I stumbled upon this little gem. This is probably the closest one will ever get to hearing a stripped down organic version of this song. It's still pop and electric, but it has electric guitar leads, violins, Latin American rhythm, a relaxed and clean singer, 4 part harmony sections, funky bass lines. It really is refreshing. I might have to check out more from this band!
Band I'm Listening To Right This Second As A Result of the Metal Archives Random Band Feature
So every other post I do, I'm going to click the Random Band link on the Metal Archives (yeah I'm a MA nerd!) and if I can listen to them (there are tons of bands that are very hard to find recordings of), I'll post about that band. This post's selection is:
Band/Artist: Midnight Chaser
Song: Lion's Choice
Album: Lion's Choice
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Oakland, California
release: 2014
As luck would have it, Midnight Chaser came up! I've seen their name come up on awesome lineups including some of my favorite new trad/heavy metal bands (Visigoth, High Spirits to name a few). This is high octane balls to the wall fist pumping heavy metal that is chock full o' riffs, soaring vocals, guitar solos, anthemic songwriting. This is the real deal! I really really hope these guys come around to Ralphs and play, cus I can't imagine this being anything less than the best!
Band/Artist: Agatus
Song: The Invisible (The Fifth Portal To Atlantis)
Album: The Eternalist
Style: A melting pot of black metal, heavy metal, 70s prog, epic metal
country/location: Athens, Greece
release: 2016
I read a review of this album that said this album is a melting pot of black metal, NWOBHM, 70s prog and epicness. It was so true that I couldn't come up with my own analogy so I stole it. The riffs are straight out of 1980s Britain and the tone and atmosphere is straight out of 1990s Scandinavia. But then there are synth lines and drum fills that Rush and Dream Theater fans would love. It fits so well together!
Band/Artist: The Devil's Blood
Song: Feverdance
Album: The Thousandfold Epicentre
Style: Occult/Psychedelic/Prog Rock
country/location: Eindhoven, Netherlands
release: 2011
I've had this CD in my collection for a few years now after seeing them at MDF and I'm just getting around to giving it a thorough listen. The Devil's Blood is often labeled as a retro band or a throw back to the early 70s, however I would say that their sound is more an update to that style and feel. They certainly sound like they would've fit in perfectly at the original Woodstock with all the psychedelic atmosphere and occult themes. That said, they are not in a haze with the past but using those influences as a template!
Random Stuff I Stumbled Upon
Band/Artist: Irisa
Song: Blue (Eiffel 65, 1999)
Album: GameBoy by Superclima
Style: Alternative Rock - Art Rock
country/location: Córdoba, Argentina
release: 2015
So I was going to post an Eiffel 65 song that I had stuck in my head as a result of my wife indirectly mentioning a lyric from it (which I'll save for another day heh), but somehow I stumbled upon this little gem. This is probably the closest one will ever get to hearing a stripped down organic version of this song. It's still pop and electric, but it has electric guitar leads, violins, Latin American rhythm, a relaxed and clean singer, 4 part harmony sections, funky bass lines. It really is refreshing. I might have to check out more from this band!
Band I'm Listening To Right This Second As A Result of the Metal Archives Random Band Feature
So every other post I do, I'm going to click the Random Band link on the Metal Archives (yeah I'm a MA nerd!) and if I can listen to them (there are tons of bands that are very hard to find recordings of), I'll post about that band. This post's selection is:
Band/Artist: Midnight Chaser
Song: Lion's Choice
Album: Lion's Choice
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Oakland, California
release: 2014
As luck would have it, Midnight Chaser came up! I've seen their name come up on awesome lineups including some of my favorite new trad/heavy metal bands (Visigoth, High Spirits to name a few). This is high octane balls to the wall fist pumping heavy metal that is chock full o' riffs, soaring vocals, guitar solos, anthemic songwriting. This is the real deal! I really really hope these guys come around to Ralphs and play, cus I can't imagine this being anything less than the best!
Sunday, October 9, 2016
And so it begins.... again!
So I'm back! Who knows how long this'll last. But I'm changing the format a little. I'm just gonna be posting Stuff I've Listened To This Week! A collection of, well, stuff I've listened to this week and/or recently. Anyways hope you enjoy!
Couple disclaimers:
1. I'll be posting tracks/songs/stuff from various sources bandcamp, youtube, etc. I will try to give credit where credit is due! If any of the original owners prefer that I change to them or want better credit or even to remove them please let me know privately. I will be understanding and oblige your requests (though I'll probably be a little bummed if you ask me to remove stuff but hey it's all good!).
2. Everything written in this blog are my opinions and do not represent any organization or company I might be working for/with. Any complaints or disagreements should be directed at me and no one else.
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