Blast From The Past: Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla
As a huge metal fan, I am surely a huge Judas Priest fan. Well the two are synonymous after all, because JP are in fact one of the very founders or our genre and not all metalheads today realize just how much they owe to Priest for their favorite bands sound!
It may have been Black Sabbath who introduced the world to dark / doom metal, but It was Judas Priest who were the first mainstream act to have the “Heavy” guitar double attack, they were the first along with Motörhead to bring the biker image to metal with the leathers and Rob’s Harley becoming a stage mascot. So even if you have never really gotten into this band, its well worth giving them a try and at least having something of theirs in your collection, because without them, there would simply not be the sounds that we know and love today and they have done some great songs through the decades.
Live Review: Rammstein 11-08-2011
It's not every day I get to write an article like this, so it gives me much pleasure to be the one to bring it to you. Fresh off the start of their Made in Germany 1995-2011 tour, I give you a review of Rammstein's latest tour offering.
What's it like? Actually, here's the thing: if you're planning on seeing them on this tour, I'd say the best option is not to read this or any other reviews or watch any clips, because you'll be spoiling much of the show. In case you don't care, well, by all means make the jump!
Dose of Krisiun
What with Guido’s excellent Death Metal onslaught stomping on our eyeballs this week, I think now is as good a time as any to review Krisiun's new magnum opus – The Great Execution.
Even though executed superbly, is it possible for a death metal album to have too many slow tracks? Yes it is. Does The Great Execution have too many slow tracks? No. But if the fence were any narrower opinion wouldn’t be able to straddle it.
So is it any good? Yep it’s excellent, in my humble opinion, if you like death metal there is no reason why you won’t like this, although to be fair in a couple of places it’s more metal than death metal -- but the Kolesne brothers are playing with such conviction it’s hard not to be swept away.
I dunno if different releases will contain different content but track 11 on my copy is a re-recording of 'Black Force Domain' from their first album released back in ’95. Personally I liked the original fine as it was but there’s nothing wrong with this re-recording either.
Excellent going to work sitting on the bus/tube music, and certainly worth 4.5 skulls out of 5.
Blast from the Past: Machine Head – Supercharger
Yep, that's right. I'm going there. Seen by many as the 'black sheep' of Machine Head's discography, and part of a period in the band's history that fans largely like to pretend merely did not exist. Supercharger isn't the most popular of albums and was viewed by some critics as being a further divergence from "real metal", instead having more than a nibble on the nipples of nu-metal. Dammit Machine Head, you shouldn't have stared into the eyes of Medusa!
Regardless, earlier this month, Supercharger turned 10-years-old. That's right, it's the tenth anniversary and what better time is it, to review the most controversial of Machine Head's releases (well, besides The Burning Red maybe)?
Make the jump fuckers before I get all bulldozer on your ass. It's Supercharger time y'all.
Review: Machine Head – Locust Vinyl (Metal Hammer)
Today sees the release of the new issue of Metal Hammer magazine in the UK. The magazine is celebrating 25 years "of keeping it heavy" making this issue a very special edition. No, I'm not on Metal Hammer's payroll, nor am I receiving commission for advertising the magazine, but as someone who was brought into the digital age kicking and screaming, the "free" Machine Head vinyl really does appeal to me. For years people, friends and lovers, have mocked me for clinging so tightly to CDs under their own misguided delusions that "MP3s are better". Now I get to enjoy the sweet analogue sounds of Machine 'fucking' Head on vinyl and I'm #winning as always.
Damn you Metal Hammer, you made me pick up your "fan pack" magazine in order to get a physical copy of Unto the Locust (fuck digital copies), and now you've tricked me into buying your 25th anniversary special. Ah well, so I guess it's time for me to clean the dust off my (*cough* dad's) record player and blast some Machine Head goodness.
Machine Head - Locust vinyl (Metal Hammer 25th anniversary exclusive)
1. Locust (Album Version)
2. Beautiful Mourning (Live)
3. Bite The Bullet (Live)
Side A begins with the song 'Locust' taken from the band's latest masterpiece, Unto the Locust. Those that heard the early 'advance mix' were no doubt disappointed with the track (I know I was), but the final album version kicked ass with a better mix and within the context of the album. Now imagine what it sounds like on vinyl and with huge Wharfedale professional speakers. The bass destroys and song as whole sounds incredible. Although not the best track on the album ('I Am Hell' could have really benefited from the vinyl treatment), it still makes for a great start to the record.
Side B contains the two live tracks. 'Beautiful Mourning' is a great track from The Blackening and a good choice since it doesn't always get as much attention compared to other tracks on the album. The performance is flawless and makes for a phenomenal listening. It's almost like the band are performing right in front of me. Each riff, each note, and each blast of the drum is played with complete precision. Final track 'Bite the Bullet' is also played brilliantly, but makes for quite an odd track choice. The song is far from being a favorite for me, but regardless, Machine Head are once again on fire.
Short, sweet, but definitely worthy of the £4.99 price. For more information on the magazine, click here.
Nektromantheon – Divinity of Death
Nekromantheon were formed in 2005 in some dismal corner of Norway, so I apologize for jumping on their bandwagon this late in the day, however I saw them play at the Live Evil bash at The Underworld in Camden (organized by Fenriz) and they absolutely blasted, so since then I’ve been meaning to pick up their debut album Divinity of Death, and now I finally have it.
When Slayer changed my musical perceptions all those years ago, showing me that there is indeed beauty in brutality I fell in love with thrash – it just seemed to tickle a part of my brain which is rarely tickled by any other form of music. But that was eons ago and over the years Decent thrash has become harder to find than rocking horse shit. Until now.
Divinity of Death really is rather good, and for a debut album it’s even better – yes I know they’ve had an EP and a couple of splits out, but I never heard them and this is their first full length product. Needless to say if you like thrash, you will like this album.
I don’t want to sound picky, but if Divinity of Death has one teensy weensy fault it’s that the singer has a very... Shall we say unvaried approach to his art. Doesn’t really matter as the album is only like 30 minutes longn and what he does he does really well, but it would be nice if he varied his approach just a tad, if only to prove that he can.
A jolly fine album, which easily warrants:
Blast From The Past: Slipknot – Iowa
Ten years ago, one band decimated the hundreds of Nu Metal bands and Pop artists taking up the chart slots. Armed with nothing but dark boiler suits, silly masks and sheer ferocity, Slipknot single handedly managed to bring Metal, real Metal, to the top of the charts with sophomore album, Iowa. Regardless of what you may think now, or what your opinion's of the quality of Slipknot's output, there's no denying this band have achieved a hell of a lot in their career.
The 13-year-old in me loved Slipknot. They were heavy, they were dark, and they said "fuck" a lot without jumping around like a clown (apart from Clown, as he obviously, erm, was a clown) while sporting a red cap. I hated people, and Slipknot hated people too (see 'People = Shit'). Ten years later, I still hate people, but Corey whines like Chad Kroeger in Stone Sour now and I've discovered "better" bands. Despite this, of course the band are re-releasing Iowa (Read: $$$), so now seems like the perfect time for a retrospective on the album. So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and make the jump.
Review: Machine Head – Unto The Locust
Four years after the phenomenal success of The Blackening, Machine Head return with Unto The Locust. As one of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year, the 'Head have everything to prove. Can they follow up with a similar successful album or will they lose steam, just like they did after their second studio album The More Things Change?
The band like to act as if The Burning Red, and especially Supercharger, never happened. I can understand that, because as a huge Machine Head fan, I like to act as if that never happened as well. But these two Nu-Metal albums actually did get released, therefore a lot of people doubt the band is able to keep up their momentum.
As much as I love this band, I've got to admit that I expected a lot from this album, but feared for the worst. These guys might be the ones that wrote the amazing 'Descend The Shades Of Night,' but they're also the ones who wrote the abysmal 'American High' -- with the exception of Phil Demmel.
So after all, Unto The Locust could be absolutely killer or it could make me kill myself. Make the jump to read my review of Machine Head's seventh studio album, and let's hope it's not my suicide note.
Review: Whitechapel – A New Era of Corruption
Deathcore is lame, pure and simple. It's scientific. By mixing the elements of the extreme styles of Death Metal with the gayness of Metalcore, you're left with something that resembles a farting fish. A farting fish with a hell of a lot of stolen At The Gates riffs in the background.
However, much like the English Language in regards to grammatical rules, for every genre rule, there are at least a million exceptions, if you're willing to look hard enough.
After hearing a song by Whitechapel earlier this year, and being rather impressed with it, it's time to review the band's latest album, A New Era of Corruption (released in 2010), and find out if the band can be one of these so called exceptions. Make the jump, fuckers.
Review: Rise to Remain – City of Vultures
Rise to Remain are a Metal band from London, UK, more often known as 'that band led by Bruce Dickinson's son'. Despite some critics arguing the band have risen to fame due to vocalist Austin Dickinson's rich and famous father, Rise to Remain have still received rave reviews for their live performances as well as their first 3 EPs, even winning some awards along the way.
Last week the band released their debut album, City of Vultures, and Dose of Metal has the only verdict you're ever going to need. Make the mother-fucking jumpalump for my review of one of Britain's fastest rising Metal bands.
Review: Staind – Staind
Oh noes, Staind have dun got heavy, yo'. And no, I'm not reviewing Staind twice, you'll be happy to know, but instead their new album (out tomorrow in North America) is very originally self-titled, as the band have run out of album names, as well as musical ideas.
So first, a little history lesson for the 3 people out there that care. Basically, the first couple of (3 at a push - and a hard push at that) Staind albums were pretty heavy. And by "pretty heavy", I mean not heavy at all. The albums in question, were never quite as shit as the shit that followed that "heavy" shit. If you get what I'm saying? So I guess after going all 'middle of the road' on our asses, and sales flopping more than my penis flops after seeing your mother, the band decided they need to go back to their roots for all 10 of their remaining fans. Fun times, right? Another piece of useless trivia, is that the band were discovered by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame, so we have so have something else to blame him for.
So if you're a Staind fan, make the jump off a high cliff for my exclusive review. Or if you're just intrigued to find out if the band can pull off a 'return to roots' album, or have a morbid sense of humor, you may also want to check it out, as my attempts at writing are both awesome and hilarious at the same time.
Review: Anthrax – Worship Music
Worship Music, Anthrax's tenth studio album, does not just come along with over sixty minutes of music, it will always be remembered for the happenings surrounding the band between 2007 and 2010.
When Anthrax announced their new vocalist -- until then, a mostly unknown Dan Nelson -- in late 2007, a lot of people were skeptical. Parallels could be drawn to the initial reactions John Bush received in 1992, who was also unknown to mainstream audiences despite his critical success with Armored Saint. Even though Bushthrax split their fanbase into two camps -- those who still loved the band and those who wished for a comeback of Belladonna -- the band finally released a critical acclaimed album in 2004. At the time hailed as a comeback to form, We've Come For You All marked Bush's last album with Anthrax.
People who were skeptical of Dan Nelson were proven right when he was fired from the band, in 2009. Even though the band had finished recording Worship Music by then, they decided not to release it with Nelson's vocals. After a short comeback stint of John Bush, Joey Belladonna returned to Anthrax in 2010. The band returned to the studio to rewrite and rerecord the album with him.
Worship Music is not just Anthrax's first album with Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence Of Time, it's an album that was four years in the making and saw three different singers. All of them were considered to record vocals for it and two of them actually recorded vocals for it.
Even though every Anthrax fan still has it in mind, you have to put all of it aside and listen to the album with an open mind. I tried and you can read my thoughts after the jump.
Review: Rising Pain – War Of Souls
Arizona has brought quite a few great bands to us over the years. For example Nuclear Death, Atrophy and most recently Job For A Cowboy. Rising Pain is a relatively new act (formed in 2002) from Phoenix, AZ and I'm sure they would like to be named among the best metal bands from said state.
To be perfectly honest with you, I have heard of the band before but never got around to check them out. They've released two full-lenght records (Existence Is Futile in 2007 and The Essence Of Decay in 2009) so far and this year marks the release of their most recent work, the EP War Of Souls.
I'm going to review that very EP right after the jump, to find out if they are indeed one of Arizona's finest.
Review: Thinning The Herd – Oceans Rise
You know what I like the most about writing for Dose of Metal? I get tons of music for free, and legally too. Most of the bands I'm covering for reviews, I didn't even know of before. In some cases, as with The Cleansing, Die, Reckless Manslaughter, Nephrolith, Colonel Blast and more, I'm really happy to be in a place where those bands -- or people who do promotion for those bands -- want me to write about their music. Simply because I also really, really enjoy that music.
In some other cases -- and I'm not going to name bands now -- I'd rather not write about them. I like to make fun of a band here and there but I really don't enjoy bashing unknown bands, even if they do deserve it. But sometimes I just can't help myself, like it happened in the Spotlight (R.I.P.) collumn a bunch of times.
You might just now be wondering why the hell I'm rambling so much. Well, it's simple. I've never heard anything by Thinning The Herd before, and I don't know anything about these three dudes either. I'd like to listen to their album, Oceans Rise, with a fresh and clean mind. I honestly don't know what I'm getting into with this band, but I would like to find out if they're going to end up in a section with the bands mentioned in the first paragraph or with the bands not mentioned in the second paragraph. Make the jump to find out.
Review: Trivium – In Waves (Special Edition)
Released yesterday in the US (and on a different date in 4 of the other countries in the world), Trivium have returned to the scene after almost 7 years of bursting into the forefront of mainstream Metal, and having lost some of their momentum in recent years.
Regular readers of Dose of Metal will know that I haven't always been that kind to the band, but being honest, I actually consider Ascendency a damn good album. Overrated? Maybe, but a bad album it is far from being. As the band grew in popularity, however, that is when the band began to lose themselves. The Crusade was nothing but a straight 'Tallica and Megadeth rip off, being nothing but a wank stain of a record. Then came Shogun, a massive improvement with some claiming it to be a return to form.
So, it's 2011, Trivium are back with another album. Despite my rantings, I actually gave lead single 'In Waves' a positive review last week. Now it's time to find out the verdict on the album, so make the jump.
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