Disma - The Vault Of Membros

Genre: Death Metal (gonna start doing this since labels don't show at the bottom of posts.

When I stumbled upon Disma I almost shat myself. Reading the band's description, I saw that the band's members were from two of my favourite death metal bands: Incantation and Funebrarum. Naturally this demo rules harder than the lovechild of Stalin and Franco. Seriously if you're even a little into death metal this should be a priority for you. The drumming is superb, the riffs are inhuman and the vocals...well...the vocals are courtesy of Craig Pillard (Incantation, Disciples of Mockery) i.e. they destroy. I haven't enjoyed a demo this much in ages.

Die

And one more time, to really drive it home: Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns (1997)

All symphonic black metal sucks a lot.
Except Goat Horns.
Get it.

In a similar vein... Primordial - To The Nameless Dead (2007)

Folk metal is gay. (except Falkenbach)
Primordial isn't.
Get TTND.

Coalesce - Ox (2009)

Metalcore sucks.
Coalesce don't.
Get Ox.

Defeater, Ceremony and Cursed. Need I say more?

Defeater

Ceremony

Cursed




Basically don't feel like writing a whole lot tonight, but where these three albums are concerned I'm lucky because I am not required to say much. This is because the albums I have here are so good they need no one ranting on about how good and listen-worthy they are. I mean if you're a hardcore nut you'll have them already.

Simple: If you want some INSANELY good hardcore here you go. And you're welcome.

Signed
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Qwe

Defeater - Travels
Ceremony - Ruined
Cursed - II

Mew - No More Stories (2009)

I've been on an indie binge lately, and Mew happen to be one of the bands I started listening to recently. An exact description of their sound, or a relative comparison, is hard; they're very eclectic. Giddy electronics mixed with heartfelt, authentic instrumentation are at the core of their sound; on No More Stories, Mew wears their hearts on their sleeves. Sugary melodies, intoxicating atmospheres combined with alluring vocals make for a relaxing, feelgood experience that just makes you want to get up and flail around like a complete moron. Maybe. The full title of the album is actually No More Stories; Are Told Today; I'm Sorry; They Washed Away; No More Stories; The World Is Grey; I'm Tired; Let's Wash Away (minus the semicolons, which I added for clarification), and despite being overly long and a little bit pretentious, works as a nice segue into the album (clocking in at 50 minutes, it may seem long, but it's alive for every moment). If you're feeling a bit down, maybe feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders every day, give Mew a spin. If it doesn't make you feel better, you're probably dead on the inside already anyway.

Happiness.

Black Sabbath - Self-Titled and Paranoid

Do you consider yourself a heavy metal fan? Have you listened to Black Sabbath? No? THEN STOP FUCKING LYING. Anyone who hasn't listened to these guys cannot consider themselves a metal fan. This was the band that started it all. Formed in Birmingham in the late 60s, they started as a heavy blues-rock band but became something more. The world's first "heavy metal" band.

Owing their newer, heavier sound to guitarist Tony Iommi's change in technique following a hand injury and also a change in publicity tactics(To quote Ozzy Osbourne: "We saw people coming out of the movie theatres after watching horror movies and we thought 'Why don't we do that, scare people?'") they released their first album, Black Sabbath in February, 1970, on Friday the 13th. Paranoid was released in October of the same year.

It's pretty laughable to think of Black Sabbath as a demon-summoning, blood-drinking bunch of incredibly evil necromancers when we now have Portal, Suffocation and the like, but just imagine what this must have sounded like back then. The down-tuned guitars and violent, creepy lyrical content combined with crushing riffs would have been awesome to behold. This was THE FIRST heavy metal band. I wish I'd been there.

Black Sabbath

Paranoid

Portishead - Third (2008)

Portishead, along with Massive Attack and a few others, are one of the pioneers of the little known genre "trip-hop". Truth be told, I don't know all that much about the genre, except that it's incredible when done right. Third is Portishead's third (get it?) album, and their first in 14 years. Combining precision instrumental work, gripping atmospheres and incredibly beautiful (but haunting) vocals. The lyrics focus a lot on relationships and despondent emotions (Neon Smile is my favorite track, listen to the vox). This album makes the top 5 of Phones' 08 albums quite easily. Definitely an album to sit back and chill to, and we can always use another one of those.

Album here.

On a side note, me and qwe will try our hardest to post regularly, but as mentioned, many things have come up (women, school, work, women), so sorry for the lack of posting.

Sorry Guys

Been away for awhile, posting sporadically. Both of us actually. We have our reasons, a lot going on etc. Hopefully posting will pick up in a couple of weeks when Phones and I have sorted everything out.

Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth

I hate power metal. It's a genre full of boring, contrived acts repeating age-old melodies and harmonic ideas, not to mention the insanely stale lyrical content. It's always "PREVAIIIILLLL" and "FIIIIIIIIRE" and "HEAAAAAAAART" over perfect fourths, fifths or rising sixths. Basically power metal can go fuck itself.

This then, is a rare album. A bona fide good power metal album. And the best part is, this isn't just good. It's bloody INCREDIBLE. The vocals are passionate and soaring, but the production gives them a certain rawness that keeps them from entering "massive pussy" territory.
The music itself is stirring and catchy as hell, standout tracks being "Into the Storm" "Nightfall" and "Thorn" The album has a concept to it, which is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Silmarillion."

Seriously this blog is so elite it will only post one power metal album ever. And it's this one. That means you should get it.


Trust me.

Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Luxusvernichtung

Oh man oh man is this album awesome. What exactly "this" is is a healthy dose of German grind. Thrashy and fast enough to kill your whole family, but enough fun that you'll keep listening. 55 songs. 38 minutes. The drumming is insane and the riffs are deadly. If you're a grind fan this is a must.

Also everything's in German, which is pretty funny if you want it to be.

GET

Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki - Symphony No. 3

To be completely honest, my knowledge of the classics, musically speaking, is not very thorough. Truly, the only thing that leads me to post this is that I believe no matter who you are, no matter what you listen to, you must be able to enjoy music like this if you are going to call yourself a fan of music at all. Admittedly, I don't listen to classical music often, but it has always been one of, if not my favorite, genres to appreciate and listen to. A well written metal song might take a few days, a few weeks, maybe a year. A concerto, a symphony... these are years in the making, pieces of art reserved for people who have patience, who can enjoy effort. So, indulge yourself in this moving, beautiful artwork. Where it will take you is up to you and your willingness to give in to the passion of the music. This is where music came from; we are blind to the future if we are deaf to the past.

Indulge.

GZA & DJ Muggs - Grandmasters

This blog is lacking some hip hop (and actual recent posts, my bad people), so being the generous old rag that I am, I thought to supply you all with an awesome SLAB of the stuff right here right now. And you WILL download it because it's sick as fook.

GZA was the most talented and lyrically interesting of all the Wu-Tang members, known for his inventive comparisons and clever rhymes. Grandmasters is a chess-themed collaboration between him and DJ Muggs, the producer for Cypress Hill.
The beats are brilliant and GZA's unique flow and lyricism will keep you listening all the way through. I love this album so so so much. If you liked Liquid Swords but didn't like the beats then I have two things to say to you: 1) You're a colossal failure and 2) Try this out because it's likely these beats will appeal to you more.

Trust me mang get it.

20 minutes of black intensity (sorry,it's not a crash segment) Deathspell Omega - Mass Grave Aesthetics (2008)

20 minutes; that's all it takes for this little band to show that they are some of the best around and some of the best that will be.
20 minutes of incredibly well done black metal, of refreshingly bearable vocals, grim leads and stunning pauses.
20 minutes is the time it takes this little band to segue between blazing intensity and quiet insistence more skillfully than most black metal bands can segue between albums.
20 minutes is how long it takes to listen to this album; 20 minutes is not very long at all.
20 minutes later, you will want more.

20 minutes later, you still won't have it.


20 minutes of awesome.

The Bloody Beetroots - Romborama

Get your bottom moving and boogie and jive and whatever else the kiddies are doing these days.

Here's a sampler for y'all to get a taste



And here's the album

Fugazi -13 Songs

I occasionally make mixtapes of my music for people I know. These people invariably have inferior music taste to myself and are initially perplexed by the kinds of music present on the discs I burn for them. For example, my girlfriend didn't like Darkthrone or Converge, nor did my sister like The Microphones. My brother liked Summoning though, so that's a point for Qwe.
The problem is that lot of the music I listen to could be percieved as "inaccessible." Sometimes that label pisses me off because inaccessible implies the music having a totally unlistenable nature. However, I will admit that some of my music may take some getting used to. This shits me, because it's hard to show someone who hasn't the listening patience I have music that will take them time to get into.

They all like one band though: Fugazi.

Blending energy and passion with musicality, swagger, catchiness and breathtaking songwriting chops, these guys have crafted a brilliant slab of post-hardcore that basically everyone in the world would like, given half a chance. My mother, father, sister and brother all like Fugazi. From the anthemic "Waiting Room" with its killer opening bassline, to the awesome lyrical phrasing on "Burning," this is seriously a release not to be missed.

Although if you're a huge music elitist like we are, you've probably heard this album already. Aw screw it, even if you have heard it before, GET IT AGAIN MAN

Dangers - Messy, Isn't It (2010)

2010 has had some pretty shitty releases so far if you listen to shitty music. If you listen to good music, however, then you've already got a golden gem on your hands. Dangers' new album is a 19 song long, 36 minute journey of pure unadulterated hate. Lyrical content ranges from political injustice, social strife and personal struggle, all shouted and screamed in a painful, heartfelt manner. Not only that, but the lyrics are, for the most part, completely discernible, which lends itself to the credibility of the band; not only do they have good writing, they can show it, too. You might be wondering, though; hardcore doesn't survive without the riffs. What about the riffs? The riffs are amazing. Don't worry. Catchy, heavy, creative and more, spread across 19 songs to give all of them life, Messy Isn't It will not dssappoint unless you're ready to disappoint yourself.

Get it here RIGHT NOW.

Gavin Castleton - Home

Wow this was a great find. I'd seen this album floating around various locations but had never bothered to check it out. Reading reviews and looking in a few places, I deemed this album as one that merited a listen. I'm glad I did. This is a phenomenal album filled with quirky instrumental turns and insanely funky bass lines. The opening song has an almost broadway-esque vocal delivery and some songs have a definite element of hip hop in them. I say element because there's still room in the music for progressive rock, funk, salsa and electronica. SALSA and ELECTRONICA and PROG ROCK. I mean come ON. The music is all at once catchy as hell, danceable, musically virtuosic and sonically rich. You can keep coming back to the music and each time you'll feel the same rewarding feeling. This album is fantastic and comes highly recommended. Even more highly recommended than normal. Just get it.

Genghis Tron - Cloak of Love

You know what's awesome? Good grindcore. Y'know what else is? Groovy electronica. But hey, just because both are good doesn't mean they'll be good when combined right? I mean, that's like scooping ice cream on top of a steak. Actually hang on.

Ok so ice cream and steak rules. Gonna call it Steak Cream. Aw man that sounds appetizing as HELL. Anyways back to this band. Their music is a mix of electronic ambiance/groove and grind, the best example of which is the track "Arms" which you can see here:



It's the Steak Cream of the music world and despite seeming like it'll be worth less than the sum of its parts, is a glorious listen, one that is catchy, rewarding, and face melting all at once. This is the coolest extreme music I've heard in awhile, and if you trust me, it'll be the same for you.

STEAKCREAMCORE

While being used for fixtures is nice, The Flashbulb - Kirlian Selections (2004) is also a wonderful ambient/electronic listen.

All right folks, sorry for being silent for so long. A lot of shit came up and it had to be dealt with... personally. Needless to say, a few less people are making deathcore now, and a few thousand less people are being deluded into believing they are hearing good music. Anyway, excessively candid murder admissions aside, I would like to present you with an amalgamation of musical styles: The Flashbulb. An electronic outfit by prolific musical prodigy Benn Jordan, who plays or programs all instruments on all of his releaes. Kirlian Selections is his 2004 release and is a more laid back and focused effort than his most recent work, Soundtrack to a Vacant Life. Benn Jordan is also an extremely generous man: he offers all of music for free on his website. On Kirlian Selections you will find a 28 song collection of various music styles, ranging from breakbeat to ambient to techno to dance and more. They are all routed in an electronic base, so if you don't like electronic music, you're a terrible person. For convenience, get it right here: click meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.