I'm currently listening to the album From Mars to Sirius. Why? It was #9 on the list I was recently talking about.
I don't really understand this band. Their progressive elements bore me and their melodies annoy me. They are very heavy- br00tal, even- but it does nothing to satisfy me. I recognize their talent, sure. Not many bands can pull off the shit they do. Death metal accompanied with progressive elements, technical playing, the occasional thrash or groove riff. It’s just that the final product sounds better on paper. Honestly, it feels like a task to listen to this. The songs stretch on a bit too long and the music is just weird.
I recommend you check this band out anyway because they are very unique, but if you don't "get it" I'm with you.
While I’m here, let me talk about Opeth. I also respect this band. I also cannot listen to them. Too progressive, the heavy parts too weird. Their album Ghost Reveries made #10.
\m/ \m/
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Kylesa- Static Tensions
Okay, I listened to this album today on my computer while writing a track-by-track review. At the sixth or seventh track in, I was getting restless; by the eighth track I was getting pissed; by the ninth track I basically just stopped writing. This was to be my second track-by-track review, yet I'm already getting sick of them. Maybe it's because the albums I listen to are comprised of tracks that more or less the same? Maybe, maybe not. My cards are on the former, though.
It was then I realized what I knew all along- this album was a far better listen on good headphones (so I had a reason to listen again and post a "real" album review). I'll tell you why.
----------------
At their core, Kylesa is a sludge metal band, but they've got influences from psychedelia, hardcore punk, crust punk, doom metal, and more. Basically they play music that is hard to find elsewhere. On their 3rd album Static Tensions, Kylesa step it up a notch. Their two drummers finally find their niche. On tracks such as "Said and Done" and "Running Red" they are at war with each other (figuratively of course), playing different beats/rhythms. This makes for a good headphone listen, as each drummer is "assigned" his own speaker. The guitarists often slow down to allow the drummers breathing room, for their mammoth beats to be clearly heard, especially on the tribal-funky album closer "To Walk Alone" as well as "Perception."
The guitarists play sludgy riffs as well as some doomy riffs. The song "Nature's Predators" is sort of like a palindrome; it opens with the sound of rainfall, leads into a slow, doomy riff, and then explodes into a loud riff with personality to boot. This section makes "Nature's Predators" stand out among the rest of the tracks on Static Tensions, for it sounds nothing like the other tracks. Then the slow, doomy riff from the beginning takes hold, and the song ends with the sound of rainfall. "Only One" is full of sick riffing and jamming.
The album opens with the fun, high-energy "Scapegoat." It doesn't really showcase Kylesa's talent, but it is an awesome track to say the least. I wouldn't call "Said and Done" brutal, but it definitely has a darker/heavier atmosphere. "Unknown Awareness" has a melodic atmosphere and is instantly catchy. "Running Red" is also a slow track, but has some cool riffs and the chorus is very catchy.
This album is polished compared to earlier releases, yet to the unsuspecting listener they are still a noisy garage band. But that's what makes Static Tensions so satisfying. They're a garage band with soul.
*Somewhere between Recommended and Highly Recommended. I'm not denying its greatness, but I realize this album isn't for everyone*
\m/ \m/
It was then I realized what I knew all along- this album was a far better listen on good headphones (so I had a reason to listen again and post a "real" album review). I'll tell you why.
----------------
At their core, Kylesa is a sludge metal band, but they've got influences from psychedelia, hardcore punk, crust punk, doom metal, and more. Basically they play music that is hard to find elsewhere. On their 3rd album Static Tensions, Kylesa step it up a notch. Their two drummers finally find their niche. On tracks such as "Said and Done" and "Running Red" they are at war with each other (figuratively of course), playing different beats/rhythms. This makes for a good headphone listen, as each drummer is "assigned" his own speaker. The guitarists often slow down to allow the drummers breathing room, for their mammoth beats to be clearly heard, especially on the tribal-funky album closer "To Walk Alone" as well as "Perception."
The guitarists play sludgy riffs as well as some doomy riffs. The song "Nature's Predators" is sort of like a palindrome; it opens with the sound of rainfall, leads into a slow, doomy riff, and then explodes into a loud riff with personality to boot. This section makes "Nature's Predators" stand out among the rest of the tracks on Static Tensions, for it sounds nothing like the other tracks. Then the slow, doomy riff from the beginning takes hold, and the song ends with the sound of rainfall. "Only One" is full of sick riffing and jamming.
The album opens with the fun, high-energy "Scapegoat." It doesn't really showcase Kylesa's talent, but it is an awesome track to say the least. I wouldn't call "Said and Done" brutal, but it definitely has a darker/heavier atmosphere. "Unknown Awareness" has a melodic atmosphere and is instantly catchy. "Running Red" is also a slow track, but has some cool riffs and the chorus is very catchy.
This album is polished compared to earlier releases, yet to the unsuspecting listener they are still a noisy garage band. But that's what makes Static Tensions so satisfying. They're a garage band with soul.
*Somewhere between Recommended and Highly Recommended. I'm not denying its greatness, but I realize this album isn't for everyone*
\m/ \m/
Snapshots
I have been listening to [previewing] some metal albums these past few days. My thoughts:
Napalm Death- Time Waits For No Slave
Wow! This album is great. I'm starting to think I like grindcore more than I thought (I'm digging the new Brutal Truth, Agoraphobic Nosebleed- though their earlier stuff is good, too- and I love Pig Destroyer).
Lamb of God- New American Gospel
By no means a bad album. Very heavy. Still, I think I'm one of the few [teenage] metalheads who don't like them. I just don't understand the appeal. They don't jump out at me.
Tool- Lateralus
Vince at MetalSucks literally showered this record with love. I have to say it bored me. I liked "The Grudge" and that's about it. The album's structure is just baffling- there's 13 tracks, 4 or 5 of which are creepy intermission tracks. Yet, the album still lasts 79 minutes. I'll give the album another try, though.
The Dillinger Escape Plan- Miss Machine
These guys have good songs but I still don't feel the urge to buy one of their albums. They don't have enough good songs to make me want to buy the album. I liked this slightly better than Ire Works, though. In any case, I'd love to catch them in concert.
Trap Them- Seizures in Barren Praise
Awesome! Trap Them play crust punk, which is a mixture of grindcore and hardcore punk. This album jumps out at me and begs me to buy. I think I'll give in.
Early Graves- We: The Guillotine
I actually only heard five tracks off this album, but I like it A LOT. Early Graves also plays crust punk, but they have a different sound. Maybe they have some thrash thrown in.
Kreator- Hordes of Chaos
Kreator are a great Thrash band, yet this album failed to excite me. It's too inconsistent if that makes any sense.
Sylosis- Conclusion of an Age
I actually only heard a few tracks off this album. Unlike Early Graves, I stopped playing it. You're probably wondering why, and I shall tell you why. These guys have wicked thrash riffs, yet they have have too much melodeath involved. The Haunted is a thrash band with some melodeath thrown in, yet they don't overuse it. Sylosis does. That's why I couldn't get into this record.
Machine Head- The Blackening
I finally listened to this album, and wow! It's awesome. Balls-to-the-wall heavy. Pretty epic songs, too; most are 9 minutes or more. I will have to pick this up soon, most definitely.
Nachtmystium- Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1
I posted about these guys at ZuneTracks. They're mind-blowing. Basically, they play psychedelic black metal. I can't stand black metal but the style of black metal they play is irresistible.
\m/ \m/
Napalm Death- Time Waits For No Slave
Wow! This album is great. I'm starting to think I like grindcore more than I thought (I'm digging the new Brutal Truth, Agoraphobic Nosebleed- though their earlier stuff is good, too- and I love Pig Destroyer).
Lamb of God- New American Gospel
By no means a bad album. Very heavy. Still, I think I'm one of the few [teenage] metalheads who don't like them. I just don't understand the appeal. They don't jump out at me.
Tool- Lateralus
Vince at MetalSucks literally showered this record with love. I have to say it bored me. I liked "The Grudge" and that's about it. The album's structure is just baffling- there's 13 tracks, 4 or 5 of which are creepy intermission tracks. Yet, the album still lasts 79 minutes. I'll give the album another try, though.
The Dillinger Escape Plan- Miss Machine
These guys have good songs but I still don't feel the urge to buy one of their albums. They don't have enough good songs to make me want to buy the album. I liked this slightly better than Ire Works, though. In any case, I'd love to catch them in concert.
Trap Them- Seizures in Barren Praise
Awesome! Trap Them play crust punk, which is a mixture of grindcore and hardcore punk. This album jumps out at me and begs me to buy. I think I'll give in.
Early Graves- We: The Guillotine
I actually only heard five tracks off this album, but I like it A LOT. Early Graves also plays crust punk, but they have a different sound. Maybe they have some thrash thrown in.
Kreator- Hordes of Chaos
Kreator are a great Thrash band, yet this album failed to excite me. It's too inconsistent if that makes any sense.
Sylosis- Conclusion of an Age
I actually only heard a few tracks off this album. Unlike Early Graves, I stopped playing it. You're probably wondering why, and I shall tell you why. These guys have wicked thrash riffs, yet they have have too much melodeath involved. The Haunted is a thrash band with some melodeath thrown in, yet they don't overuse it. Sylosis does. That's why I couldn't get into this record.
Machine Head- The Blackening
I finally listened to this album, and wow! It's awesome. Balls-to-the-wall heavy. Pretty epic songs, too; most are 9 minutes or more. I will have to pick this up soon, most definitely.
Nachtmystium- Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1
I posted about these guys at ZuneTracks. They're mind-blowing. Basically, they play psychedelic black metal. I can't stand black metal but the style of black metal they play is irresistible.
\m/ \m/
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I screwed up
As "Colony of Birchmen" began, I realized that this would be a perfect time to review Blood Mountain, but alas, half of the album has already gone by. I'll save it for another time.
Plus, the reason I am listening to Blood Mountain is because I am listening to all the albums in MetalSucks 21 Best Albums of the 21st Century (obviously, metal albums, though some are being disputed if they are metal or not, especially Slipknot, Hatebreed, and System of a Down). Remission has also been in the list. They are at #13 now, and it's almost guaranteed that Leviathan and Crack The Skye will be in the list- they are better than Remission and Blood Mountain after all. So when I listen to those I'll post reviews up here, hopefully...
(Maybe I'll make it up to you guys by reviewing something else today. Ah, who am I kidding, I'm talking to a brick wall. I don't need to show anyone that I'm sorry.)
\m/ \m/
Plus, the reason I am listening to Blood Mountain is because I am listening to all the albums in MetalSucks 21 Best Albums of the 21st Century (obviously, metal albums, though some are being disputed if they are metal or not, especially Slipknot, Hatebreed, and System of a Down). Remission has also been in the list. They are at #13 now, and it's almost guaranteed that Leviathan and Crack The Skye will be in the list- they are better than Remission and Blood Mountain after all. So when I listen to those I'll post reviews up here, hopefully...
(Maybe I'll make it up to you guys by reviewing something else today. Ah, who am I kidding, I'm talking to a brick wall. I don't need to show anyone that I'm sorry.)
\m/ \m/
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Lazarus A.D.- The Onslaught
Brief Overview
The problem with thrash today is that all the bands are retro/revival/Let's see who can sound the most like Exodus! I won't name any names, though. Lazarus A.D. offers a solution. Obviously they take influence from Exodus and other 80's thrash bands, but they slip in some modern thrash elements too. Thus, they sound like a novel [thrash] metal band.
some album reviews... Metal Martyr, Heavymetal.about
Last Breath- This is an almost-perfect opener. The riff is very memorable. The solo is mind-blowing. A breakdown follows the solo, and suddenly the song becomes much heavier, accompanied with harsh screams.
Thou Shall Not Fear- The intro to this song does not guarantee anything, but after several seconds the jamming begins. When the vocals hit, the song all of a sudden becomes HEAVY. The solo in this song is very nice. Overall this song is much heavier than Last Breath.
Damnation for the Weak- This song is very cool and different, complete with gang vocals. It has a cool, unique guitar in the intro and other parts of the song. I do not play guitar so I do not know the proper term for what I am hearing but I think if you listen you will know what I mean.
Absolute Power- Great song. It's a bit slower but is still very heavy.
Revolution- The solos in this song are the best I've heard so far. In the first verse the vocalist changes his yell a few times, making him sound kinda like Testament's vocalist.
Rebirth- The vocalist brings back his rough Testament-like yell. What I like about this song is its sweet riff. If I'm not mistaken there is also a solo in the intro.
Lust- There is sort of an experimental guitar here at times, if you know what I mean. As I said, I don't play guitar so I don't know the proper terminology. Aside from that, this song sounds kinda the same as the other tracks.
Forged in Blood- This is one of the heavier tracks, I think. Especially during the verses. Following the vocalist's yell "Bang your head!" there is an epic jam, although kinda brief. The final seconds of the song have pretty sweet guitar, too.
Every Word Unheard- Good track, but for some reason I cannot comment on this one.
Who I Really Am- I think I hear blastbeats on this one. Yep, this one's pretty damn heavy. Awesome track. Solid closer.
Final Statement
Some of the tracks sound the same but are still magical. This is a must-have for thrash fans, highly recommended for other metal fans.
\m/ \m/
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
This is Metal Crepes...
Hello and welcome. Here at Metal Crepes I get to discuss metal, the best music on Earth. Starting off, I pledged to post track-by-track reviews, but by the second time I got bored of writing track-by-track reviews and began to write actual album reviews. (Look at the first track-by-track review I posted- it sucks.)
So what's with the name? I was trying to think of a clever name, and this popped into my mind. Metal Crepes doesn't mean anything in particular. It doesn't mean anything at all. However, feel free to come up with your own explanation of the name. Hit me up with your theories.
Finally, I don't expect anyone to actually read this blog. This is mainly for me. But if you stumble upon here, try to enjoy your stay. I'm not gonna upload albums so forget it. I can recommend a good blog for that though, it's called Angrychairs. Not that I use the blog personally, but it has a great selection =)
\m/ \m/
So what's with the name? I was trying to think of a clever name, and this popped into my mind. Metal Crepes doesn't mean anything in particular. It doesn't mean anything at all. However, feel free to come up with your own explanation of the name. Hit me up with your theories.
Finally, I don't expect anyone to actually read this blog. This is mainly for me. But if you stumble upon here, try to enjoy your stay. I'm not gonna upload albums so forget it. I can recommend a good blog for that though, it's called Angrychairs. Not that I use the blog personally, but it has a great selection =)
\m/ \m/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)