The best way to end your weekend

For most people it’s the end of the weekend today but for me, it’s the start of my weekend because I had to work all week, including Saturday and today, and the next two days I don’t have to work so I’ll spend them with my favorite hobby: listening to metal, which is also the ultimate way to end your weekend!

So tomorrow you’re going back to work, school or what-the-hell-ever it is you’re doing and I’ve got an advice for you. If your supervisor or teacher gets on your nerves, just HANG HIM HIGH!

Review: Opeth – In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall (DVD/CD)

In the words of Mikael Åkerfeldt, Opeth are bringing Death Metal within the walls of fine culture, in their latest DVD release recorded from their concert at the UK’s Royal Albert Hall. Metalheads may be “fucking ugly” (Åkerfeldt’s words again), but the Death Metal on display here certainly is not. Summing up the brilliance of Opeth‘s music as merely Death Metal only tells one side of the story, as they combine the harshest sounds of Death Metal with everything from Prog Rock, to Folk and Jazz, to The Blues. Opeth‘s music is like the Beauty and the Beast of Metal, with equal measures of both beautiful solemn music and brutal beastly Metal.

So how well do the band perform live? Well damn well, everyone should know that, but is this boxset worth your time and money? And how does it compare to past Opeth releases? Only one way to find out… Click that ‘Continue Reading’ button my friends.

Amon Amarth make a good System

Is there no limit to Amon Amarth‘s talent? Not content with writing some of the greatest Metal songs ever, the band have decided to improve other songs. System of a Down aren’t exactly the best band ever, and they’re heavily overrated, but don’t let that stop you checking out Amon‘s cover of SOAD‘s Aerials above. They don’t just cover the song, they completely re-create it into a far superior song.

Right now I’m more confused than when I first saw a picture of Brad Pitt topless when I was 14. It’s a System song, but good… How did Amon Amarth do this!? Should I like it? Of course I should, it’s Amon Amarth!

Some Saturday interviews

It’s a late Saturday afternoon, you’re hungover and your head is pounding as you’re listening to the boring sounds of someone indulging in a 50 minute fretboard wank. No you’re not stuck in a guitar shop listening to some old man showing off, you’ve only gone and put a John 5 solo album on by mistake. Quick, put some Amon Amarth on before you die of boredom.

What does that have to do with interviews? Well it seems that I accidentally clicked on a John 5 interview by mistake, which, in case you care, can be found here.What I really wanted to be listening to though, is this interview with Amon Amarth‘s bassist, Ted Lundström, found here.

Amon Amarth will be releasing their 8th studio album Surtur Rising on March 29th (cover art found above, albeit cropped). Be sure to pick it up if you know what’s good for you.

In other news, a bunch of musicians you couldn’t care less about were also interviewed, including the Accept guitarist, my Grandma, and the drummer from Epica.

Five bands you should give a chance

Hey there! Are you getting sick of bands like Slipknot, As I Lay Dying and System of A Down polluting your ears? If you are, I have five bands you should strongly consider listening to. I’m not necessarily saying you should drop the three bands I just listed (although you really should). I just think it’s always good to continue expanding your musical tastes in metal.

I’m doing this rant because these five bands rock and I feel more people should be listening to them (and others in the genre), so make the jump for these five bands!