It's been a while since I did a game review as the last time I tackled one was back in August last year with the Silent Hills teaser, P.T, as I do tend to stick to reviewing those in the horror genre and nothing had really whet my appetite until recently.
Resident Evil 2 was released by Capcom on January 25th this year, and has become one of the most talked about games of the year so far.
I myself am a big fan of the franchise and have been since my first experience of Resident Evil 4 almost 15 years ago which is mad to think about. I even have the Umbrella logo tattooed on my left arm. Sure the series morphed into something really silly by the time the sixth instalment in the main series was released, but I've always had a blast with these games.
Back in January of 2017, Resident Evil 7 was released to a huge amount of hype as the series was going back to it's survival horror roots and it's a game I still pick up to try again time after time because I love it so much. It was pretty common knowledge that fans of the series had been crying out for a remake of the second game from 1998 after the remake of the very first Resident Evil proved that there were still plenty of scares to be had from the old days. Our wish was granted and Capcom totally outdid themselves here.
As well as this being the best looking game in the series by far, it might just be the best one we've had yet in terms of gameplay. The series has gone back to the over-the-shoulder perspective rather than the fixed camera angles of the previous remake and it makes all the difference as it's the smoothest it's ever been.
In terms of the story I only know bits and bobs from the original as I haven't played much of it despite owning a physical copy of the original game so I can't comment too much on the similarities but from what I've heard, most of it is intact like the original bosses and layouts of the maps.
As you begin the game, you have 2 campaigns to choose from as you can play as rookie cop Leon Kennedy, or Claire Redfield who is searching for her brother Chris from the original game. After having played through the campaigns around six times now, I don't really have a recommendation of who to start with as both campaigns are pretty similar but I think Leon is perhaps the best place to start as Claire has to deal with tougher enemies early on. Playing as Leon first will give you a chance to have some experience with these enemies.
Both characters aim to get to the police station to get off the zombie infested streets and find a place of sanctuary. Sadly the police station may be just as dangerous. As well as having to fend off the undead found inside, you find that the police station used to be a museum which is why there's so many strange puzzles involving old statues that unlock underground tunnels to sewers and other items you need. I did say that this series is a bit weird.
As you explore the police station you start to find branching paths between the rooms and after a couple of playthroughs, I knew the layout of the station like the back of my hand and knew which areas to avoid and which ones I needed to get to for vital items. It's pretty fun to start trying to speedrun and now that I know my way around I've been able to complete one run in less than 3 hours which isn't very impressive now that Youtube is filled with people finishing a run in less than an hour.
Let's talk about the enemies. I'm of the opinion that zombies aren't scary. I've never found them scary and my interest in them has only waned with pop culture's obsession with the undead freaks in the likes of The Walking Dead and so, so many games involving them. That being said, I've never been more freaked out by zombies than I was here. These things are just spot on with the sickening sounds that they make throughout the station and their movements are just so unnatural. Seeing the shadow of one stumbling across a hallway towards you while you try to decide if it's worth it to waste the few bullets you have left is nightmare fuel that'll stay with you. They aren't as dumb as they used to be either, as you can risk just trying to run by them to conserve ammo, but some will just immediately lunge right at you and take a chunk out of your neck. They also like to stay silent behind corners until you blindly walk into them and jump out of your skin in fright. Some like to play dead and only wake up when they have you trapped. They're fantastic and I want more games with zombies like these.
The Lickers have also made their anticipated return and my god these things are terrifying. When you know you have to deal with one, it becomes a game of choice as you can either try to take it out which will most likely end in your death or a lot of health and good ammunition lost, or you can choose to sneak by them as they are blind, and that is a tense experience you won't soon forget as you're just waiting on them to suddenly realise you're in the room with them and slice your head from your body. Or you can get to a point where you have to fight two of them at once and you turn the console off for a while because you really don't need that kind of stress in your life.
In terms of bosses, the one that appears the most is William Birkin, also known as 'G', as he has infected himself with the G-Virus and is slowly mutating into something almost unworldly. He's the first boss you face in the basement of the station and it's like a game of cat and mouse except the cat is a mutated man with a big eye protruding from his right arm and trying to hit you with a pipe. It's an easy fight if you know what to do but can lead to your death if you're not careful. The future battles with Birkin do get progressively more difficult as the mutation increases each time, but I always have fun with these.
And now we have the star of the show: Mr X. Oh how I love you Mr X. I'm not gonna lie, I did laugh a little when I first saw him as he looks adorable in his little fedora and trenchcoat (Pink Panther theme playing in my head the entire time), but once you realise he's a total bullet sponge and will stop at nothing until you're dead, he can become a pretty scary Tyrant. After you first encounter him, he continues to stalk you throughout the station and you now need to plan your routes in order to avoid him. Hearing his footsteps echo through the halls and sounding like they're coming ever closer to you is some unnerving stuff and trying to avoid him can lead to some fatal moments like running through a hall that also has zombies and a Licker you forgot about which quickly becomes instant death.
In my fourth playthrough while playing as Leon, I found for the first time that Mr X can burst through an area on the ground floor to get to you and I have to say that many bricks were shat in that one moment. The game's filled with moments like this and I love it.
The only real complaint I have is more of a nitpick, but I do wish that the 2 campaigns could be just a bit more different to each other. Thankfully it's not exactly the same as there are different enemy placements, item locations, and new puzzle solutions to keep it feeling a little fresh, but it's annoying having to kill the same enemies or unlock the same doors as you did the first time. Still though at least it feels different in a few ways and even has a different final boss and story elements that do help a lot. Plus walking through a hallway expecting a Licker and instead having Mr X head straight for you out of the darkness is an "Oh fuck" moment I'm sure a lot of players have had.
Outside of the main campaigns, you can also unlock a bonus mode known as '4th Survivor' where you play as Hunk and have to get through to the police station with only the items you have on you. I've only played it the once and need to try it again, but it is a good bit of fun and a good way to test your skills. Capcom has also recently released free DLC with 'Ghost Survivors' which is similar to the other campaigns but with different characters, pickups and even new enemies to deal with. In today's world of microtransactions it's nice to see game companies do something for free for once.
If it isn't obvious I totally love this game and I really feel like it could revitalise survival horror as it has become a bit stagnant in recent years with only games like Alien Isolation and Outlast keeping it going. With Silent Hill now out of the game (fuck Konami), Resident Evil can stay happy in the knowledge that it's still the master of the genre. It's the first game I've had a proper obsession with in what feels like forever and I'm happy to have that love of gaming back again.
I urge you to pick this game up if you haven't already, whether you're a horror fan or just love games, this is a game you need to try. You won't be able to put it down and you get so much for your money in terms of replayability and unlockables. This is a remake that is going to hold all future remakes to a higher standard and I can promise you won't be disappointed. Welcome to Raccoon City.
Tuesday, 19 March 2019
Monday, 4 March 2019
Slipknot (1999)
Today I thought I'd try something different since I'm still mulling over a couple of recent releases as I think I need more time with them before I start giving my opinion on them. Recently, Slipknot announced a massive American tour (please come to the UK) even being joined with the likes of Volbeat, Gojira and the mighty Behemoth. Not only that, but they've finally given a scheduled release date of their highly anticipated 6th album which is now set to explode onto the scene on August 9th this year and I cannot wait.
I'm so excited about this that I plan on revisiting all five of the Knot's previous releases in celebration of this wonderful news, starting with this little release you may have heard of. As well as this being the year of a new Slipknot album this is also the year that they are headlining the Download festival in Donington and I'll get to see them live for the first time. Not only that, but June this year marks the 20th anniversary of this release which is mental to think about.
As far as the band goes I've been a big fan of theirs since high school after my first time listening to Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) and have listened to them ever since. They seem to get trashed on by metal 'purists' but you can't deny their genuinely good songwriting and overall creativity. There's a reason why they're still massive today.
A little background on the album. It was released on June 29th 1999 by Roadrunner Records and of course was a huge hit and made the band instant stars on the metal scene. Of course it wouldn't be Slipknot without a little controversy but we'll get to that as I go through the whole album. After a re-release following a lawsuit to remove the song 'Purity' from the record, it ended up going double platinum in the US and is still the bands best selling album today. But how does it hold up almost 20 years later? Let's take a look.
For context, I'll be looking at the 10th Anniversary version of the album on Spotify up to the song 'Eeyore' as I believe this is how the original album was meant to be heard (even without Frail Limb Nursery) and every song after this just sounds like a B-Side bonus, so sorry fans of 'Me Inside', that won't be mentioned here.
The intro track is '742617000027' and is 36 seconds of a screeching DJ track with the words "The whole thing, I think it's sick", preparing you for what's to come and what I think a lot of teenagers parents were thinking of the album at the time.
Right after this intro we explode right into '(sic)' and what might just be Slipknot's greatest moment so I can't think of a better way to start things. This is a song I've been able to listen to over and over again for years without becoming tired of it and it still holds up as an absolute adrenaline pumping anthem of a song that makes me want to start a one-man mosh pit in my bedroom. This is where the Maggots are born and try singing "You can't kill me cos I'm already inside you" without growling your vocal chords out of existence. I dare you. Here comes the pain!
You'd think the momentum would stop here but Slipknot had other plans with 'Eyeless'. Starting with a high pitched guitar riff and Corey Taylor letting you know that he's not fucking around, this is another win. Slipknot has always been against the fakeness in the world with an example being Hollywood, and this appears here with the chorus line "You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes". And how about that screaming of "Motherfucker" at the end? I'd swear someone was being murdered inside my speakers. Another fast and furious track that's an album highlight.
Things slow down a bit with "Wait and Bleed" but that is by no means a bad thing as this another one of Slipknot's best ever songs and is the first one to really let us hear Corey's fantastic clean vocals that he would utilise more on later releases. According to the band, this song is about a man who has constant dreams of suicide by slitting his wrists. One day he does it and it's not a dream. He tries to fall back asleep but it turns out that this is the end for him. Dark stuff and yet somehow not the darkest this album would get. The song was also nominated for a Grammy and for good reason. This song, while short, is fantastic while it lasts and is probably the closest this album comes to a mainstream song and yet still manages to keep it's edge all the way through.
Any thoughts you might have had about the band going a little more clean are absolutely vanquished by 'Surfacing'. This is a live favourite of the band and is usually used to close their sets and for good reason. With their entire discography this might be the most vicious, brutal and bombastic song the band has every recorded and I love every second of it. It takes me back to my days of teenage angst and is still good for getting out any frustrations with our cesspool of a society.
Fuck it all, fuck this world!
Fuck everything that you stand for!
Don't belong, Don't exist,
Don't give a shit, don't ever judge me!
Just wonderful. The band likes to announce this as 'your new national anthem' and I would be happy to sing along with my hand on heart and a tear in my eye. Another highlight in an album full of them.
If you needed a bit of a breather after that, you're in for a bit of hard luck as 'Spit It Out' is up next. This is another setlist favourite and is famous for having the band have an entire audience get down on the ground only to jump back up and cause chaos as the drop hits. Not gonna lie, I cannot wait to experience this in June. This is a nu-metal gem complete with rapping verses that I do wish the band would bring back at some point and a catchy as hell chorus that was designed for stadium play. We're five songs in and already have five classics. This is mental!
And along comes 'Tattered and Torn' to ruin the hot streak. It does have it's moments like Sid Wilson getting a chance to shine on the turntable but it's just not a very pleasant song to listen to. It feels like the band phoned it in here to give us something a bit more experimental that doesn't really work after the last five songs and kind of drains the adrenaline away. This isn't one I go back to listen to when I put the album on and is completely skippable.
Thankfully we're brought back to the light (poor choice of words for this track) with 'Purity'. So this song is involved with the controversy I mentioned earlier. The song was inspired by a story about a girl called Purity Knight who was kidnapped and buried alive. The band thought the story was real but it turns out it was a work of fiction and so the original writer threatened to sue the band and the song was removed from the album. Thankfully it has been allowed to be released onto newer editions of the album because this song is great. It's one of the slower ones on the album but ends up being one of the band's darkest songs due to it's subject matter and the fact that we're put in this girl's shoes while she's trapped in a coffin and can't breathe. It's almost claustrophobic and I'm surprised that the chorus is as catchy as it is. Another gem in the band's catalogue and one that wouldn't be out of place on 'Iowa'. Check it out if you haven't heard it before.
Next up we have 'Liberate' and once again it's another live favourite for the band as I'm guessing having an arena full of people screaming "Liberate my madness!" is as fun as it sounds. It also helps that the verses are bouncy as hell and perfect for a good bit of headbanging or jumping. Mosh pits were made for songs like this.
Following this we have 'Prosthetics' and this another slower one, though not as fascinating or as engaging as the likes of 'Purity' and only really succeeds in draining the adrenaline from the room once again. The song is based on the 1965 movie The Collector which is about a man that collects butterflies as well as humans. More nightmares! Yay! I'm not a big fan of this song which is strange since the subject matter is a serial killer which is right down my alley, but it just doesn't resonate with me. It's too long, the chorus is pretty bland and it only really kicks into gear in the last minute when it speeds way the hell up and makes it sound like we're in the psyche of a psycho. Not the worst song on the album but nowhere near the best.
Next is 'No Life' which I do enjoy but it can't help but feel a little generic compared to the rest of the album and comes across more like a lovechild of 'Spit It Out' and 'Liberate' with a rapping verse and screaming chorus. I won't lie though, that chorus is fun to sing along to. I'll give this one a pass since it's an easy listen, it's just I don't have much to say about it.
Next up is 'Diluted' and this one continues the trending topic of self hatred on the album that made this album so popular to us angsty teens back in the day. It still holds up as a good track with some great songwriting as the person in the song has given up on their disappointing heroes and all the phonies of society. Some fast-paced nu-metal and a banging chorus gives this one a thumbs up from me.
We're coming close to the end and the next track is 'Only One'. This one bucks the trend a bit as it has a fast, rapping verse and then a slower chorus which I'm pretty sure hasn't happened on the album yet. It feels like this one was designed for a live audience as I can imagine a few thousand people singing along to the chorus "Only one of us walks away!" and I'm kind of sad it's not gotten the setlist attention it deserves. It's also short enough not to overstay its welcome at all and comes across as another good track.
Now we have the track 'Scissors' which usually ends the album but with 'Eeyore' now being a separate track this isn't the case. Due to the latter being a secret track, the former would normally go for over 16 minutes, but now on it's own it's a doable 8:26. This is another slower track but for good reason as it explores the themes of self harm (try to think about the scissor sound effect without cringing) and drug abuse. Another dark moment for the band but one that is harder to revisit due to it's length and pace. Definitely not a bad song, but not as memorable as it maybe could have been. If it was shortened to the length of 'Purity' it definitely would have some major potential. I know there are fans of this song, but for me it's another skippable one.
Finally we have 'Eeyore' and is a short, frantic, secret track that the band still likes to play live from time to time. They really don't fuck around and go all in and almost go to the realms of death metal here. A fun track and a great note to end things on.
Overall this album is still a classic, and is still a favourite of mine. Sure it's not perfect with a couple of tracks bringing the tone way down and a couple of generic ones that aren't too memorable, but there is way, way, way more good than bad and so many songs that recommend listening to and songs that are still considered Slipknot and nu-metal classics. Check it out and be converted into a Maggot if you haven't already.
Tracks to download: (sic), Eyeless, Wait and Bleed, Surfacing, Spit It Out, Purity, Liberate, Eeyore
I'm so excited about this that I plan on revisiting all five of the Knot's previous releases in celebration of this wonderful news, starting with this little release you may have heard of. As well as this being the year of a new Slipknot album this is also the year that they are headlining the Download festival in Donington and I'll get to see them live for the first time. Not only that, but June this year marks the 20th anniversary of this release which is mental to think about.
As far as the band goes I've been a big fan of theirs since high school after my first time listening to Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) and have listened to them ever since. They seem to get trashed on by metal 'purists' but you can't deny their genuinely good songwriting and overall creativity. There's a reason why they're still massive today.
A little background on the album. It was released on June 29th 1999 by Roadrunner Records and of course was a huge hit and made the band instant stars on the metal scene. Of course it wouldn't be Slipknot without a little controversy but we'll get to that as I go through the whole album. After a re-release following a lawsuit to remove the song 'Purity' from the record, it ended up going double platinum in the US and is still the bands best selling album today. But how does it hold up almost 20 years later? Let's take a look.
For context, I'll be looking at the 10th Anniversary version of the album on Spotify up to the song 'Eeyore' as I believe this is how the original album was meant to be heard (even without Frail Limb Nursery) and every song after this just sounds like a B-Side bonus, so sorry fans of 'Me Inside', that won't be mentioned here.
The intro track is '742617000027' and is 36 seconds of a screeching DJ track with the words "The whole thing, I think it's sick", preparing you for what's to come and what I think a lot of teenagers parents were thinking of the album at the time.
Right after this intro we explode right into '(sic)' and what might just be Slipknot's greatest moment so I can't think of a better way to start things. This is a song I've been able to listen to over and over again for years without becoming tired of it and it still holds up as an absolute adrenaline pumping anthem of a song that makes me want to start a one-man mosh pit in my bedroom. This is where the Maggots are born and try singing "You can't kill me cos I'm already inside you" without growling your vocal chords out of existence. I dare you. Here comes the pain!
You'd think the momentum would stop here but Slipknot had other plans with 'Eyeless'. Starting with a high pitched guitar riff and Corey Taylor letting you know that he's not fucking around, this is another win. Slipknot has always been against the fakeness in the world with an example being Hollywood, and this appears here with the chorus line "You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes". And how about that screaming of "Motherfucker" at the end? I'd swear someone was being murdered inside my speakers. Another fast and furious track that's an album highlight.
Things slow down a bit with "Wait and Bleed" but that is by no means a bad thing as this another one of Slipknot's best ever songs and is the first one to really let us hear Corey's fantastic clean vocals that he would utilise more on later releases. According to the band, this song is about a man who has constant dreams of suicide by slitting his wrists. One day he does it and it's not a dream. He tries to fall back asleep but it turns out that this is the end for him. Dark stuff and yet somehow not the darkest this album would get. The song was also nominated for a Grammy and for good reason. This song, while short, is fantastic while it lasts and is probably the closest this album comes to a mainstream song and yet still manages to keep it's edge all the way through.
Any thoughts you might have had about the band going a little more clean are absolutely vanquished by 'Surfacing'. This is a live favourite of the band and is usually used to close their sets and for good reason. With their entire discography this might be the most vicious, brutal and bombastic song the band has every recorded and I love every second of it. It takes me back to my days of teenage angst and is still good for getting out any frustrations with our cesspool of a society.
Fuck it all, fuck this world!
Fuck everything that you stand for!
Don't belong, Don't exist,
Don't give a shit, don't ever judge me!
Just wonderful. The band likes to announce this as 'your new national anthem' and I would be happy to sing along with my hand on heart and a tear in my eye. Another highlight in an album full of them.
If you needed a bit of a breather after that, you're in for a bit of hard luck as 'Spit It Out' is up next. This is another setlist favourite and is famous for having the band have an entire audience get down on the ground only to jump back up and cause chaos as the drop hits. Not gonna lie, I cannot wait to experience this in June. This is a nu-metal gem complete with rapping verses that I do wish the band would bring back at some point and a catchy as hell chorus that was designed for stadium play. We're five songs in and already have five classics. This is mental!
And along comes 'Tattered and Torn' to ruin the hot streak. It does have it's moments like Sid Wilson getting a chance to shine on the turntable but it's just not a very pleasant song to listen to. It feels like the band phoned it in here to give us something a bit more experimental that doesn't really work after the last five songs and kind of drains the adrenaline away. This isn't one I go back to listen to when I put the album on and is completely skippable.
Thankfully we're brought back to the light (poor choice of words for this track) with 'Purity'. So this song is involved with the controversy I mentioned earlier. The song was inspired by a story about a girl called Purity Knight who was kidnapped and buried alive. The band thought the story was real but it turns out it was a work of fiction and so the original writer threatened to sue the band and the song was removed from the album. Thankfully it has been allowed to be released onto newer editions of the album because this song is great. It's one of the slower ones on the album but ends up being one of the band's darkest songs due to it's subject matter and the fact that we're put in this girl's shoes while she's trapped in a coffin and can't breathe. It's almost claustrophobic and I'm surprised that the chorus is as catchy as it is. Another gem in the band's catalogue and one that wouldn't be out of place on 'Iowa'. Check it out if you haven't heard it before.
Next up we have 'Liberate' and once again it's another live favourite for the band as I'm guessing having an arena full of people screaming "Liberate my madness!" is as fun as it sounds. It also helps that the verses are bouncy as hell and perfect for a good bit of headbanging or jumping. Mosh pits were made for songs like this.
Following this we have 'Prosthetics' and this another slower one, though not as fascinating or as engaging as the likes of 'Purity' and only really succeeds in draining the adrenaline from the room once again. The song is based on the 1965 movie The Collector which is about a man that collects butterflies as well as humans. More nightmares! Yay! I'm not a big fan of this song which is strange since the subject matter is a serial killer which is right down my alley, but it just doesn't resonate with me. It's too long, the chorus is pretty bland and it only really kicks into gear in the last minute when it speeds way the hell up and makes it sound like we're in the psyche of a psycho. Not the worst song on the album but nowhere near the best.
Next is 'No Life' which I do enjoy but it can't help but feel a little generic compared to the rest of the album and comes across more like a lovechild of 'Spit It Out' and 'Liberate' with a rapping verse and screaming chorus. I won't lie though, that chorus is fun to sing along to. I'll give this one a pass since it's an easy listen, it's just I don't have much to say about it.
Next up is 'Diluted' and this one continues the trending topic of self hatred on the album that made this album so popular to us angsty teens back in the day. It still holds up as a good track with some great songwriting as the person in the song has given up on their disappointing heroes and all the phonies of society. Some fast-paced nu-metal and a banging chorus gives this one a thumbs up from me.
We're coming close to the end and the next track is 'Only One'. This one bucks the trend a bit as it has a fast, rapping verse and then a slower chorus which I'm pretty sure hasn't happened on the album yet. It feels like this one was designed for a live audience as I can imagine a few thousand people singing along to the chorus "Only one of us walks away!" and I'm kind of sad it's not gotten the setlist attention it deserves. It's also short enough not to overstay its welcome at all and comes across as another good track.
Now we have the track 'Scissors' which usually ends the album but with 'Eeyore' now being a separate track this isn't the case. Due to the latter being a secret track, the former would normally go for over 16 minutes, but now on it's own it's a doable 8:26. This is another slower track but for good reason as it explores the themes of self harm (try to think about the scissor sound effect without cringing) and drug abuse. Another dark moment for the band but one that is harder to revisit due to it's length and pace. Definitely not a bad song, but not as memorable as it maybe could have been. If it was shortened to the length of 'Purity' it definitely would have some major potential. I know there are fans of this song, but for me it's another skippable one.
Finally we have 'Eeyore' and is a short, frantic, secret track that the band still likes to play live from time to time. They really don't fuck around and go all in and almost go to the realms of death metal here. A fun track and a great note to end things on.
Overall this album is still a classic, and is still a favourite of mine. Sure it's not perfect with a couple of tracks bringing the tone way down and a couple of generic ones that aren't too memorable, but there is way, way, way more good than bad and so many songs that recommend listening to and songs that are still considered Slipknot and nu-metal classics. Check it out and be converted into a Maggot if you haven't already.
Tracks to download: (sic), Eyeless, Wait and Bleed, Surfacing, Spit It Out, Purity, Liberate, Eeyore
Sunday, 24 February 2019
Rotting Christ: The Heretics
The Heretics is the most recent album from black metal stalwarts Rotting Christ and was released on February 15th 2019 by Season of Mist Records.
The Heretics is the 13th studio album released by the band and one I've been keeping an eye on for a while now since the first single The Raven was released. I'm not too familiar with the band's previous works and the only other album I've listened to is Theogonia (2007) which I did enjoy and will need to give it another listen at some point.
For a bit of a background on the group, they are a Greek black metal band formed in 1987 and they are considered to be one of the first black metal groups in this region at the time, and are still regarded as one of the more influential bands as well. They have attracted a bit of controversy due the bands name and an incident which nearly resulted in them being banned from playing in Malta due to a fan putting one of their posters on the door of a catholic church. That did not go down well at all. Personally, the anti-religious stance of the band doesn't bother me at all and if anything only attracts me to them even more.
This year I am going to get a chance to see the band perform live twice, once in April at the Lord of the Lands festival and then again at Bloodstock in August, so it's a band I've been looking to get to know better so I can enjoy their performance a little more when the time comes. With this album's release I decided to jump in head first and I'm glad that I did.
Let's take a look and see how good this one is.
One thing to note before a delve into the tracklist is that this is a surprisingly accessible album. I know people seem to hate that term when it comes to metal music, but here it's definitely a good thing as this album is a great chance for anyone new to get themselves interested in the bands other material.
The first track is In the Name of God and is a great opener for the album. It starts with a spoken word intro which becomes a bit of a theme of the whole record which I'll get into later. This is a track that let's you know what you're getting into when it comes to the rest of the record, from what sounds like a haunting church choir in the background to the anti-religious message as the song appears to be mocking those that pray to God for the death of their enemies which is obviously against what their beliefs should really be:
O'Lord our God, help us to tear their bodies to bloody shreds with our shells.
Help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded.
The music helps to back this up to with the drums playing like a marching band from hell is on it's way to war with the world. Great start.
The next track is Vetry Zlye and I have no idea what that means. This might actually be the most accessible track on the record and it's one of the better songs. The haunting choir returns and this time we even have female vocalist to help the band out on the chorus which is spoken in a different language. It actually reminds me of Swallow the Sun's most recent album and works well because it's the only time she's used so it gives the song a more unique feeling to it and stands out from the rest as a result. This one also ends with spoken word, but again I'll get to that later.
Up next is Heaven & Hell & Fire, which is a bit of a mouthful of a title and hey! another spoken word intro! My favourite. Another good track here as we get something a bit different with that pesky haunting choir covering the verses, and Sakis Tolis's growling vocals taking care of the catchy chorus. More spoken word sections which 3 songs into the album are starting to get a bit tiresome, but some great guitar work brings it back around along with the fun chorus. Right at the end we get another bit of the bands seemingly controversial message:
I do not believe in the creed professed by the church
By any church that I know
My own mind
Is my own church
Next song is Hallowed Be Thy Name and no this is not a cover of the Iron Maiden classic, but is an original song and what might be my favourite of the entire album. It's quite slow and very atmospheric, almost like a church hymn in reverse. This is one I'd like to hear live because having the crowd sing along to the chorus could be a lot of fun. This is another one that seemingly takes a dig at religious warfare with the mentions of war and fire in between the chanting of a prayer.
Up next is Dies Irae, which disappointingly almost starts in the exact same way as the opener just without the spoken intro. I can't say too much about the lyrics here as only the chorus is in English, but just like Heaven & Hell & Fire, the verses are sung by that background choir with the chorus being an entirely spoken word section. This isn't a bad song by any means but is one of the more forgettable tracks that the album has to offer and comes across as filler. On an album that's only 43 minutes long, that's not a good thing.
Sadly things get a little worse on the next track I Believe as this is easily my least favourite song on here. It is a shorter song sure, but I just find it so uninteresting with the same riff throughout the full song and the whole thing is done in spoken word with some background singing that also doesn't change throughout. Definitely a track to skip.
Thankfully we pick things up again with Fire God and Fear, which ends up being one of the best tracks on the album. Another spoken word intro and this one brings us back to the anti-religious message:
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
The song keeps it's momentum going throughout, until it builds up to an absolute belter of a guitar solo that gives me goosebumps and is an album highlight for sure. This is more like it!
Up next is The Voice of the Universe and this is another that leaves a lot to be desired. It starts off well enough with a heart-pumping guitar and drum combination that feels like it's building up to something explosive but never really goes anywhere. The chorus in the middle does save it slightly as the sound picks up a bit, but before it can go anywhere more interesting we just go back to where we started and I'm left disappointed by a pretty mediocre track.
The penultimate track is The New Messiah and brings up back up to speed again. This is the shortest track on the album at 3:07 and I adore the background chanting of Neo-Messiah as it just sounds so satanic and I'll admit that it's fun to sing along to. Hopefully it's one they add to their setlist. While short, the album is surprisingly atmospheric and it's one worth listening to again. Even with yet another spoken word outro.
Finally we have The Raven which was the main single from the album and possibly the best song on here. The guitar riff is godly, and this is the one of the only times I enjoy the spoken word sections as the come from the Edgar Allen Poe poem of the same name and really adds to the atmosphere of the whole song. The instrumental sections are breathtaking and the guitar solo is just fantastic and I only wish there was more of this to find throughout the album.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this album and it's one I'll definitely be revisiting as time goes on. It does have it's issues like a few forgettable tracks and WAY WAY too many spoken word sections that almost get annoying as the album goes on, but there's a lot here to like too.
Like I said at the beginning, this is quite an accessible album for those looking to try the band out and there's a lot of songs on here I truly enjoy. There's more good than bad and that's enough for me to give it a recommendation.
Tracks to download: Hallowed Be Thy Name, Fire God & Fear, The Raven
If you have any albums you want me to review, let me know! I'm always keeping my out for new stuff to sink my teeth into and might revisit some older albums for some fun or to tie in with a new release.
The Heretics is the 13th studio album released by the band and one I've been keeping an eye on for a while now since the first single The Raven was released. I'm not too familiar with the band's previous works and the only other album I've listened to is Theogonia (2007) which I did enjoy and will need to give it another listen at some point.
For a bit of a background on the group, they are a Greek black metal band formed in 1987 and they are considered to be one of the first black metal groups in this region at the time, and are still regarded as one of the more influential bands as well. They have attracted a bit of controversy due the bands name and an incident which nearly resulted in them being banned from playing in Malta due to a fan putting one of their posters on the door of a catholic church. That did not go down well at all. Personally, the anti-religious stance of the band doesn't bother me at all and if anything only attracts me to them even more.
This year I am going to get a chance to see the band perform live twice, once in April at the Lord of the Lands festival and then again at Bloodstock in August, so it's a band I've been looking to get to know better so I can enjoy their performance a little more when the time comes. With this album's release I decided to jump in head first and I'm glad that I did.
Let's take a look and see how good this one is.
One thing to note before a delve into the tracklist is that this is a surprisingly accessible album. I know people seem to hate that term when it comes to metal music, but here it's definitely a good thing as this album is a great chance for anyone new to get themselves interested in the bands other material.
The first track is In the Name of God and is a great opener for the album. It starts with a spoken word intro which becomes a bit of a theme of the whole record which I'll get into later. This is a track that let's you know what you're getting into when it comes to the rest of the record, from what sounds like a haunting church choir in the background to the anti-religious message as the song appears to be mocking those that pray to God for the death of their enemies which is obviously against what their beliefs should really be:
O'Lord our God, help us to tear their bodies to bloody shreds with our shells.
Help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded.
The music helps to back this up to with the drums playing like a marching band from hell is on it's way to war with the world. Great start.
The next track is Vetry Zlye and I have no idea what that means. This might actually be the most accessible track on the record and it's one of the better songs. The haunting choir returns and this time we even have female vocalist to help the band out on the chorus which is spoken in a different language. It actually reminds me of Swallow the Sun's most recent album and works well because it's the only time she's used so it gives the song a more unique feeling to it and stands out from the rest as a result. This one also ends with spoken word, but again I'll get to that later.
Up next is Heaven & Hell & Fire, which is a bit of a mouthful of a title and hey! another spoken word intro! My favourite. Another good track here as we get something a bit different with that pesky haunting choir covering the verses, and Sakis Tolis's growling vocals taking care of the catchy chorus. More spoken word sections which 3 songs into the album are starting to get a bit tiresome, but some great guitar work brings it back around along with the fun chorus. Right at the end we get another bit of the bands seemingly controversial message:
I do not believe in the creed professed by the church
By any church that I know
My own mind
Is my own church
Next song is Hallowed Be Thy Name and no this is not a cover of the Iron Maiden classic, but is an original song and what might be my favourite of the entire album. It's quite slow and very atmospheric, almost like a church hymn in reverse. This is one I'd like to hear live because having the crowd sing along to the chorus could be a lot of fun. This is another one that seemingly takes a dig at religious warfare with the mentions of war and fire in between the chanting of a prayer.
Up next is Dies Irae, which disappointingly almost starts in the exact same way as the opener just without the spoken intro. I can't say too much about the lyrics here as only the chorus is in English, but just like Heaven & Hell & Fire, the verses are sung by that background choir with the chorus being an entirely spoken word section. This isn't a bad song by any means but is one of the more forgettable tracks that the album has to offer and comes across as filler. On an album that's only 43 minutes long, that's not a good thing.
Sadly things get a little worse on the next track I Believe as this is easily my least favourite song on here. It is a shorter song sure, but I just find it so uninteresting with the same riff throughout the full song and the whole thing is done in spoken word with some background singing that also doesn't change throughout. Definitely a track to skip.
Thankfully we pick things up again with Fire God and Fear, which ends up being one of the best tracks on the album. Another spoken word intro and this one brings us back to the anti-religious message:
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
The song keeps it's momentum going throughout, until it builds up to an absolute belter of a guitar solo that gives me goosebumps and is an album highlight for sure. This is more like it!
Up next is The Voice of the Universe and this is another that leaves a lot to be desired. It starts off well enough with a heart-pumping guitar and drum combination that feels like it's building up to something explosive but never really goes anywhere. The chorus in the middle does save it slightly as the sound picks up a bit, but before it can go anywhere more interesting we just go back to where we started and I'm left disappointed by a pretty mediocre track.
The penultimate track is The New Messiah and brings up back up to speed again. This is the shortest track on the album at 3:07 and I adore the background chanting of Neo-Messiah as it just sounds so satanic and I'll admit that it's fun to sing along to. Hopefully it's one they add to their setlist. While short, the album is surprisingly atmospheric and it's one worth listening to again. Even with yet another spoken word outro.
Finally we have The Raven which was the main single from the album and possibly the best song on here. The guitar riff is godly, and this is the one of the only times I enjoy the spoken word sections as the come from the Edgar Allen Poe poem of the same name and really adds to the atmosphere of the whole song. The instrumental sections are breathtaking and the guitar solo is just fantastic and I only wish there was more of this to find throughout the album.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this album and it's one I'll definitely be revisiting as time goes on. It does have it's issues like a few forgettable tracks and WAY WAY too many spoken word sections that almost get annoying as the album goes on, but there's a lot here to like too.
Like I said at the beginning, this is quite an accessible album for those looking to try the band out and there's a lot of songs on here I truly enjoy. There's more good than bad and that's enough for me to give it a recommendation.
Tracks to download: Hallowed Be Thy Name, Fire God & Fear, The Raven
If you have any albums you want me to review, let me know! I'm always keeping my out for new stuff to sink my teeth into and might revisit some older albums for some fun or to tie in with a new release.
Sunday, 17 February 2019
Top 10 Albums of all Time
So I figured since I may be doing more regular music reviews (here's hoping) I thought I'd do a post that lets you get to know me a little better and where my musical taste really comes from.
These are the 10 albums that I've ranked as my all time favourites, and while I may now be delving into the abyss of much heavier music and so this list may change with my taste, I'm pretty sure most of these will stay fixed in place for the foreseeable future.
My only rule for this list is that I'm only allowed one album per artist otherwise the list would be filled with albums by my number one choice. Next to each album I will include honourable mentions that were close to the top spot and before I start the top 10, I'm just gonna make some honourable mentions with artists that didn't make the list but deserve some recognition. Here we go:
AC/DC - Back in Black
Anthrax - Among the Living
The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Dio - Holy Diver
Ghost - Prequelle
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Motorhead - Overkill
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Nirvana - Nevermind
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
Trivium - Ascendancy
And without further ado, here's the top 10.
10. Slipknot - Iowa (2001)
Honourable Mentions - Slipknot (1999), Vol 3 (2003), .5 The Gray Chapter (2014)
Slipknot is a band that I started really loving towards the end of my time in high school and I did think they were one of those bands I would grow out of, but in nearly ten years it still hasn't happened and if anything has only grown stronger. The band have never put out a bad album with All Hope Is Gone being considered the worst and yet still being a damn good record that's worth a listen.
After a career full of highlights, Iowa has always stood at the top of the mountain and for very good reason. It's definitely the most consistent album of the band's catalogue as there's no bad songs to be found and for an album that's over an hour long that's pretty commendable. It's the most brutal and twisted the group have ever sounded and with it they created a masterpiece that people can relate to even today. Plus it's a pretty great choice for a gym playlist and it's one to throw on whenever you're feeling down. I'm finally getting my chance to see them live at Download this year and I cannot wait for the Disasterpiece that awaits.
Tracks to download: People = Shit, The Heretic Anthem, Everything Ends, Left Behind
9. Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit (2015)
Honourable Mentions - There is a Hell.... (2010), Sempiternal (2013)
Now this is one that's definitely gonna divide opinions. And before anyone asks, no, I did not like amo. At all. As far as I'm concerned That's The Spirit is their last great album. If you want to know how much this album actually means to me, I actually have tattooed on my left arm. This albums main theme is dealing with depression and the negative feelings in your mind, and without getting too deep into my own story, it's an album that has helped me with my own mental health issues when I was feeling at my worst and I am eternally grateful to the band for that.
Aside from that, the music is just insanely good. It doesn't matter to me that it's not deathcore or even as heavy as some of the stuff on Sempiternal, this is still rocking enough to enjoy and every single song stands out on it's own. After seeing the band live, I can attest that most of these songs were created especially for a stadium atmosphere with some of the catchiest and adrenaline-pumping choruses you'll find anywhere else. If you didn't like amo and haven't heard this, definitely give this a try.
Tracks to Download: Doomed, Happy Song, Throne, Avalanche, Drown, True Friends, Follow You, Oh No
8. Death - The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
Honourable Mentions - Every other Death studio album
I'm not kidding when I say that Death have never released an album that can be considered any less than brilliant. I don't think I could even rank them worst to best as I would feel too guilty about calling any one of them the worst. I can, however, call this one the best. Even the hoodie I wear daily has the album cover adorning the back of it. It's almost like the band knew that this would be their last album and went all out in creating the final piece of their legacy to make it as epic and memorable as possible.
As well as having 8 outstanding original tracks, the album even ends with a great cover of Judas Priest's 'Painkiller'. Death have long been known as one of the greatest death metal bands of all time, and if you want to check them out, I would highly recommend starting with this classic. You can't go wrong.
Tracks to download: Scavenger of Human Sorrow, Bite the Pain, Spirit Crusher, Flesh and the Power it Holds, To Forgive is to Suffer
7. Judas Priest - Painkiller (1990)
Honourable Mentions - British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Firepower (2018)
This was a pretty hard choice to make between this and Screaming for Vengeance, but it terms of pure heavy metal, I don't think Painkiller can be beaten. When anyone mentions metal music this is one of the first albums that comes straight to mind. It starts off with the title track and the best song on the entire album which you might think would dilute the rest of the record. Far from it as every other track holds its own and just adds to the barrage of pure heavy metal as it assaults your ear drums in the best way possible. Plus, Night Crawler is almost the perfect metal song for Halloween. Don't listen with the lights off.
Tracks to Download: Painkiller, All Guns Blazing, Metal Meltdown, Night Crawler, A Touch of Evil
6. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (2017)
Honourable Mentions - Leviathan (2004), Blood Mountain (2006), Crack the Skye (2009)
Again, this was another tough choice as I was tempted to put the epic Leviathan here, but Emperor of Sand is the album I've easily listened to the most as it's my album of choice when I just want to relax. This is another case of every song on the record being a winner, and the concept of the desert wanderer that's been handed a death sentence and how it ties into real life hardships of the band is always fascinating to me. After a couple of albums that were at the lower end of Mastodon's discography, this was the band back on top where they belonged. Sure they aren't as heavy as they used to be, and the song Show Yourself has some poppy elements, but you cannot deny the songwriting skill of this group. After seeing them perform last month I can attest to the crowd-pleasing moments of Steambreather and Ancient Kingdom. The album also has my favourite Mastodon track in the form of Roots Remain which is definitely a recommended listen. The band may have a new album out this year and I can't wait to hear what they have in store.
Tracks to Download: The Sultan's Curse, Steambreather, Roots Remain, Ancient Kingdom, Clandestiny, Precious Stones, Jaguar God
5. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
This is the only band to not have any honourable mentions because I don't think they've ever came close to matching it, and while the Use Your Illusion albums may be good, they aren't close to being mentioned in the top albums.
Anyway this album will always have a lot of love from me as Guns N' Roses were the first rock band I really got into when I was much younger, as pop music was just boring to me (moreso nowadays) and I needed something different. Enter Guitar Hero 3 and the first playthrough of Welcome to the Jungle had me hooked and I had to hear more, and the rest is history. I might not even be writing this right now if not for this album. The album itself is a tremendous piece of 80s 'sex, drugs and rock n' roll' style of hair metal and still stands out even today. It's helped by the fact that every song is in your face and has some of the all time great rock songs in form of the previously mentioned Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child of Mine.
Last year at Download, I got the chance to truly enjoy their fantastic 3 hour set and I hope it isn't the last time I get to see them. Easily one of the best days of my life.
Tracks to Download: Welcome to the Jungle, It's So Easy, Nightrain, Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, My Michelle, Sweet Child of Mine, You're Crazy, Rocket Queen
4. Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986)
Honourable Mentions - Show No Mercy (1983), South of Heaven (1988), Seasons in the Abyss (1990), Christ Illusion (2006)
Even putting this at number 4 I feel is too low, but given the next 3 albums on the list, it'll need to settle in here. I feel ridiculous even explaining why this album is here as it may be the most beloved by metal fans, and everyone already knows that this is one of the best thrash metal albums to listen to in it's entirety. I honestly don't think we'll ever get another album like this in our time, as much as great bands like Power Trip may try. Given that the album is also bookended by 2 of the greatest metal songs ever recorded only adds to it's legacy. If you haven't listened to it already, what the hell is wrong with you? Go listen to it and be converted like the rest of us.
I did get to see the band perform last November and it was one of the best gigs I've been to and I'm hoping I'll get to see them one last time at Download this year.
Tracks to Download: The full album but especially Angel of Death and Raining Blood
3. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
Honourable Mentions - Black Sabbath (1970), Master of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Heaven and Hell (1980)
Yeah this is a pretty cliche album to have on a top albums list but I can't help it. I love it too much and along with Appetite of Destruction and the next 2 albums, it's one of the biggest influences on my musical taste. I've been listening to a lot of doom metal lately and I can't help but think of Sabbath whenever I listen to them. This is another album that doesn't need much explanation as just about everyone has to be aware of it's influence on the metal genre. And who doesn't know the riff of Iron Man at this point? An all time classic that needs to be listened to if you haven't before, and if you have then just throw it on for old time's sake.
While I've never gotten to experience the majesty of Sabbath live, I did get to see Ozzy Osbourne at Download last year and he played a few of the songs from this album with War Pigs being a definite highlight.
Tracks to Download: War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots
2. Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
Honourable Mentions - Kill 'Em All (1983), Master of Puppets (1986), ...And Justice for All (1988), The Black Album (1991), Death Magnetic (2008)
As easy as it may be to make fun of Metallica, they were one of my first metal bands that I fell in love with when being introduced to the metal genre and this album has always been the main highlight. While Master of Puppets is always considered the favourite (and for good reason as I really considered it for this list) I've always felt that this was the superior album as it was the most diverse with songs like Fight Fire with Fire and Creeping Death opening up the mosh pits, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Call of Ktulu (goddammit guys it's Cthulhu) bringing the atmosphere, and Fade to Black giving what I believe to be the best song in the bands massive catalogue. The worst song on here is probably Escape and even that one is worth a listen as it's pretty underrated. A career highlight for one of the biggest bands in the world.
I'm getting to see Metallica live in London this year and I cannot wait to hopefully hear some of these songs played live. A tremendous achievement.
Tracks to Download: Fight Fire with Fire, Ride the Lightning, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black, Trapped Under Ice, Creeping Death, The Call of Ktulu
1. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)
Honourable Mentions - Iron Maiden (1980), Killers (1981), Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), Live After Death (1985), Somewhere in Time (1986), Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988), Brave New World (2000), Rock in Rio (2001), Dance of Death (2003), A Matter of Life and Death (2006), The Final Frontier (2010), The Book of Souls (2015)
As those honourable mentions and 3 of my tattoos can attest, Iron Maiden are my all time favourite band and this is the album that started it all. Powerslave may be technically better, but this one has always been my favourite and the one I always go to when I'm in the mood to listen. The album is known for having 3 of Maiden's mainstay live songs, but there's so much more to it than that. Children of the Damned is dripping in atmosphere with one of Bruce Dickinson's best vocal performances, and we also have underrated gems in the form of The Prisoner and 22 Acacia Avenue. Gangland and Invaders may not be the greatest Maiden songs but they are great placeholders in between the bigger songs and so serve a great purpose. Hallowed Be Thy Name has long been considered the greatest metal song of all time and I have to agree and the title track might just be my favourite song of all time. I don't think anything will ever take this album's place here.
I have gotten to see these guys twice live, and last year in Newcastle is what I hold as the best gig I've ever been to and I doubt it'll ever be beaten. Up the Irons.
Tracks to Download: Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
These are the 10 albums that I've ranked as my all time favourites, and while I may now be delving into the abyss of much heavier music and so this list may change with my taste, I'm pretty sure most of these will stay fixed in place for the foreseeable future.
My only rule for this list is that I'm only allowed one album per artist otherwise the list would be filled with albums by my number one choice. Next to each album I will include honourable mentions that were close to the top spot and before I start the top 10, I'm just gonna make some honourable mentions with artists that didn't make the list but deserve some recognition. Here we go:
AC/DC - Back in Black
Anthrax - Among the Living
The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Dio - Holy Diver
Ghost - Prequelle
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Motorhead - Overkill
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Nirvana - Nevermind
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
Trivium - Ascendancy
And without further ado, here's the top 10.
10. Slipknot - Iowa (2001)
Honourable Mentions - Slipknot (1999), Vol 3 (2003), .5 The Gray Chapter (2014)
Slipknot is a band that I started really loving towards the end of my time in high school and I did think they were one of those bands I would grow out of, but in nearly ten years it still hasn't happened and if anything has only grown stronger. The band have never put out a bad album with All Hope Is Gone being considered the worst and yet still being a damn good record that's worth a listen.
After a career full of highlights, Iowa has always stood at the top of the mountain and for very good reason. It's definitely the most consistent album of the band's catalogue as there's no bad songs to be found and for an album that's over an hour long that's pretty commendable. It's the most brutal and twisted the group have ever sounded and with it they created a masterpiece that people can relate to even today. Plus it's a pretty great choice for a gym playlist and it's one to throw on whenever you're feeling down. I'm finally getting my chance to see them live at Download this year and I cannot wait for the Disasterpiece that awaits.
Tracks to download: People = Shit, The Heretic Anthem, Everything Ends, Left Behind
9. Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit (2015)
Honourable Mentions - There is a Hell.... (2010), Sempiternal (2013)
Now this is one that's definitely gonna divide opinions. And before anyone asks, no, I did not like amo. At all. As far as I'm concerned That's The Spirit is their last great album. If you want to know how much this album actually means to me, I actually have tattooed on my left arm. This albums main theme is dealing with depression and the negative feelings in your mind, and without getting too deep into my own story, it's an album that has helped me with my own mental health issues when I was feeling at my worst and I am eternally grateful to the band for that.
Aside from that, the music is just insanely good. It doesn't matter to me that it's not deathcore or even as heavy as some of the stuff on Sempiternal, this is still rocking enough to enjoy and every single song stands out on it's own. After seeing the band live, I can attest that most of these songs were created especially for a stadium atmosphere with some of the catchiest and adrenaline-pumping choruses you'll find anywhere else. If you didn't like amo and haven't heard this, definitely give this a try.
Tracks to Download: Doomed, Happy Song, Throne, Avalanche, Drown, True Friends, Follow You, Oh No
8. Death - The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
Honourable Mentions - Every other Death studio album
I'm not kidding when I say that Death have never released an album that can be considered any less than brilliant. I don't think I could even rank them worst to best as I would feel too guilty about calling any one of them the worst. I can, however, call this one the best. Even the hoodie I wear daily has the album cover adorning the back of it. It's almost like the band knew that this would be their last album and went all out in creating the final piece of their legacy to make it as epic and memorable as possible.
As well as having 8 outstanding original tracks, the album even ends with a great cover of Judas Priest's 'Painkiller'. Death have long been known as one of the greatest death metal bands of all time, and if you want to check them out, I would highly recommend starting with this classic. You can't go wrong.
Tracks to download: Scavenger of Human Sorrow, Bite the Pain, Spirit Crusher, Flesh and the Power it Holds, To Forgive is to Suffer
7. Judas Priest - Painkiller (1990)
Honourable Mentions - British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Firepower (2018)
This was a pretty hard choice to make between this and Screaming for Vengeance, but it terms of pure heavy metal, I don't think Painkiller can be beaten. When anyone mentions metal music this is one of the first albums that comes straight to mind. It starts off with the title track and the best song on the entire album which you might think would dilute the rest of the record. Far from it as every other track holds its own and just adds to the barrage of pure heavy metal as it assaults your ear drums in the best way possible. Plus, Night Crawler is almost the perfect metal song for Halloween. Don't listen with the lights off.
Tracks to Download: Painkiller, All Guns Blazing, Metal Meltdown, Night Crawler, A Touch of Evil
6. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (2017)
Honourable Mentions - Leviathan (2004), Blood Mountain (2006), Crack the Skye (2009)
Again, this was another tough choice as I was tempted to put the epic Leviathan here, but Emperor of Sand is the album I've easily listened to the most as it's my album of choice when I just want to relax. This is another case of every song on the record being a winner, and the concept of the desert wanderer that's been handed a death sentence and how it ties into real life hardships of the band is always fascinating to me. After a couple of albums that were at the lower end of Mastodon's discography, this was the band back on top where they belonged. Sure they aren't as heavy as they used to be, and the song Show Yourself has some poppy elements, but you cannot deny the songwriting skill of this group. After seeing them perform last month I can attest to the crowd-pleasing moments of Steambreather and Ancient Kingdom. The album also has my favourite Mastodon track in the form of Roots Remain which is definitely a recommended listen. The band may have a new album out this year and I can't wait to hear what they have in store.
Tracks to Download: The Sultan's Curse, Steambreather, Roots Remain, Ancient Kingdom, Clandestiny, Precious Stones, Jaguar God
5. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
This is the only band to not have any honourable mentions because I don't think they've ever came close to matching it, and while the Use Your Illusion albums may be good, they aren't close to being mentioned in the top albums.
Anyway this album will always have a lot of love from me as Guns N' Roses were the first rock band I really got into when I was much younger, as pop music was just boring to me (moreso nowadays) and I needed something different. Enter Guitar Hero 3 and the first playthrough of Welcome to the Jungle had me hooked and I had to hear more, and the rest is history. I might not even be writing this right now if not for this album. The album itself is a tremendous piece of 80s 'sex, drugs and rock n' roll' style of hair metal and still stands out even today. It's helped by the fact that every song is in your face and has some of the all time great rock songs in form of the previously mentioned Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child of Mine.
Last year at Download, I got the chance to truly enjoy their fantastic 3 hour set and I hope it isn't the last time I get to see them. Easily one of the best days of my life.
Tracks to Download: Welcome to the Jungle, It's So Easy, Nightrain, Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, My Michelle, Sweet Child of Mine, You're Crazy, Rocket Queen
4. Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986)
Honourable Mentions - Show No Mercy (1983), South of Heaven (1988), Seasons in the Abyss (1990), Christ Illusion (2006)
Even putting this at number 4 I feel is too low, but given the next 3 albums on the list, it'll need to settle in here. I feel ridiculous even explaining why this album is here as it may be the most beloved by metal fans, and everyone already knows that this is one of the best thrash metal albums to listen to in it's entirety. I honestly don't think we'll ever get another album like this in our time, as much as great bands like Power Trip may try. Given that the album is also bookended by 2 of the greatest metal songs ever recorded only adds to it's legacy. If you haven't listened to it already, what the hell is wrong with you? Go listen to it and be converted like the rest of us.
I did get to see the band perform last November and it was one of the best gigs I've been to and I'm hoping I'll get to see them one last time at Download this year.
Tracks to Download: The full album but especially Angel of Death and Raining Blood
3. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
Honourable Mentions - Black Sabbath (1970), Master of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Heaven and Hell (1980)
Yeah this is a pretty cliche album to have on a top albums list but I can't help it. I love it too much and along with Appetite of Destruction and the next 2 albums, it's one of the biggest influences on my musical taste. I've been listening to a lot of doom metal lately and I can't help but think of Sabbath whenever I listen to them. This is another album that doesn't need much explanation as just about everyone has to be aware of it's influence on the metal genre. And who doesn't know the riff of Iron Man at this point? An all time classic that needs to be listened to if you haven't before, and if you have then just throw it on for old time's sake.
While I've never gotten to experience the majesty of Sabbath live, I did get to see Ozzy Osbourne at Download last year and he played a few of the songs from this album with War Pigs being a definite highlight.
Tracks to Download: War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots
2. Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
Honourable Mentions - Kill 'Em All (1983), Master of Puppets (1986), ...And Justice for All (1988), The Black Album (1991), Death Magnetic (2008)
As easy as it may be to make fun of Metallica, they were one of my first metal bands that I fell in love with when being introduced to the metal genre and this album has always been the main highlight. While Master of Puppets is always considered the favourite (and for good reason as I really considered it for this list) I've always felt that this was the superior album as it was the most diverse with songs like Fight Fire with Fire and Creeping Death opening up the mosh pits, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Call of Ktulu (goddammit guys it's Cthulhu) bringing the atmosphere, and Fade to Black giving what I believe to be the best song in the bands massive catalogue. The worst song on here is probably Escape and even that one is worth a listen as it's pretty underrated. A career highlight for one of the biggest bands in the world.
I'm getting to see Metallica live in London this year and I cannot wait to hopefully hear some of these songs played live. A tremendous achievement.
Tracks to Download: Fight Fire with Fire, Ride the Lightning, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black, Trapped Under Ice, Creeping Death, The Call of Ktulu
1. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)
Honourable Mentions - Iron Maiden (1980), Killers (1981), Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), Live After Death (1985), Somewhere in Time (1986), Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988), Brave New World (2000), Rock in Rio (2001), Dance of Death (2003), A Matter of Life and Death (2006), The Final Frontier (2010), The Book of Souls (2015)
As those honourable mentions and 3 of my tattoos can attest, Iron Maiden are my all time favourite band and this is the album that started it all. Powerslave may be technically better, but this one has always been my favourite and the one I always go to when I'm in the mood to listen. The album is known for having 3 of Maiden's mainstay live songs, but there's so much more to it than that. Children of the Damned is dripping in atmosphere with one of Bruce Dickinson's best vocal performances, and we also have underrated gems in the form of The Prisoner and 22 Acacia Avenue. Gangland and Invaders may not be the greatest Maiden songs but they are great placeholders in between the bigger songs and so serve a great purpose. Hallowed Be Thy Name has long been considered the greatest metal song of all time and I have to agree and the title track might just be my favourite song of all time. I don't think anything will ever take this album's place here.
I have gotten to see these guys twice live, and last year in Newcastle is what I hold as the best gig I've ever been to and I doubt it'll ever be beaten. Up the Irons.
Tracks to Download: Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Thursday, 14 February 2019
Ross's Album Reviews - Swallow the Sun: When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light
Well this here is my first foray into doing a review for a full album. I've done many movie reviews and a few game reviews in the past (cheap plug for www.rosscosreviews.co.uk if you want to read them) so this is a little daunting as I want to do the material justice.
If this is shit, I apologise but I'm hoping I'll get a proper grasp of the concept once I've had a bit of experience with it. Anyway enough about me and onto the music.
First a little background on the band. Swallow the Sun are a Finnish band and I want to say that their style is melodic doom metal but I can't vouch for their previous records as I haven't actually heard them.
This album is their seventh studio album since their formation in the year 2000 and was released by Century Media Records just over three years after a titanic triple album known as Songs from the North I, II, & III which I do plan to power through at some point.
This is my first experience with Swallow the Sun as I only really discovered this album after seeing that the band had been announced for the Bloodstock festival in August and I wanted to check them out since I'm going there. I have to say that I made a great decision in starting with this album.
Sadly, three years before this album's release, guitarist Juha Raivio lost his life partner and Trees of Eternity bandmate Aleah Starbridge to cancer. In the time after her death he formed a new band known as No Stars Upon the Bridge with lyrics based on poetry she had written.
I mention this because it does feel like the grief that Juha still held was poured into practically every song here and it almost comes across as a tribute to her memory as well as some catharsis for the guitarist.
The album kicks off with the title track and in my opinion it was definitely the best choice to start things off as it immediately lets you know what you're in for in the remaining 45 minutes of the album. The song is 7:27 in total and does not drag at all for a longer song with a nice mix of slow, almost Sabbath-like riffs before seamlessly shifting to acoustic guitar with clean vocals before hitting us right in the chest with a booming chorus with growling vocals that could fit on any black metal album and yet still completely understandable. Easily one of the best songs on here and we're just getting started.
I also really like the addition of a background female vocalist as it almost feels like Aleah is there in spirit and it really complements Mikko's vocals when appropriately used. It really feels like all the emotions are coming out here and the 'Shadows' coming into the light represents the grief from Aleah's passing coming out to us on this record.
Next up is The Crimson Crown and is the longest song on the album 7:57 and while I would I would have preferred a shorter song after the first one was already that length, it's still not a bad place to have it on the record. The song definitely has a more melodic, folky feel to it and the bass gets more of a chance to shine in the quieter moments. The female vocalist returns as well for some enchanting duets with Mikko. I was even getting some hints of Iron Maiden with some of the softer guitar picking before the volume is turned up again. I'm a sucker for a good guitar solo and there's a spine-tingling one as we near the end.
While I prefer the first song, this is still a song worth checking out and the near 8 minutes passes by in a flash.
Up next is Firelights and is one of the shortest songs on the album at 5:41 and is one of my favourites. It starts with a haunting melody that sticks with you even after the song is over. It can be quite chilling to listen to, especially when we reach the backing vocals whispering 'The phantoms, the nightmares' before hitting a chorus that may be destined to be a live favourite as it's so easy to sing along to and will get stuck in your head. This is the first song that brings up a constant theme of the album in the form of 'water' or 'drowning' which I do think ties into the theme of grief as Juha is being dragged down to the depths by his emotions. The female vocalist and black metal style of singing are used sparingly and to good effect.
Track 4 on the album is Upon the Water and seems to be the album favourite according to the Spotify download numbers but it's not hard to see why. This is yet another album highlight for sure. The song starts with a lovely dual guitar riff before switching a very melodic verse. Another big chorus is here and it's one I'd imagine sounds terrific live, especially if the harsher vocals are on point. Another one that hits all the emotional high points as well with more lyrical choices that seem to point towards the passing of Aleah such as 'Low tide is gone forever' and 'I want you to bury me'. Strong stuff.
Next up is Stone Wings and wouldn't you know it we have another fantastic song. You can tell that the band has found a great formula here with many quieter moments leading to a big loud chorus to really get your blood pumping. It's reminiscent of the Blackwater Park days of Opeth. This might be the best big chorus on the entire record which is saying a lot.
It might be the most melodic song here and yet also still has perhaps the heaviest moment on the album with a bridge that has lyrics that feel like they came from a death metal album while also mixing in the earlier harsher vocals. Best song on the album for my money and the one to really check out to see if you like this.
Next up is Clouds on your Side and is the shortest song on the album at 4:47 and it might be my least favourite song on the album, but is still a good song showing just how great this record is. While the formula is getting slightly repetitive with the softer verses, another memorable chorus is more than enough for me to also recommend this.
The penultimate track is Here on the Black Earth. This is one of the more emotional songs on the album as you really feel Juha's heart breaking here and some of the lyrics break my own heart listening to it.
'Death tore out the flesh from my bones
Left my soul so pale and hollow
My hands reach into the void
Where you used to be'
Very powerful words that stayed with me. I also can't help but fall in love with another great little guitar solo. Another album highlight after a slight disappointment in the previous track.
And that leads us to the final gut punch on this journey in the form of Never Left. Ending where we started off, this is one of the longer songs at 7:50 and easily the most powerful song on here. Through the lyrics you get a sense that Juha is questioning his reason for going on without anything to fight for. The song ends on a sad note:
'Empty rooms
But you never left
Empty house
But you never left
Empty heart
But you never left'
If you've lost someone close to you, this song is a hard one to get through, nevermind the rest of the album. While the title track was the perfect opener, this is the perfect ending and I couldn't imagine any other song being placed here. Just pure beauty here.
It may seem obvious that I'm in total love with this album and it's so true. I can see this easily making it to the top of 'Best of 2019' list when I eventually get there and I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something with some real heart to it and one that will require a couple of listens to really get the full effect.
While it's just barely a 'metal' album due to a lot of softer moments, there's enough here to keep even the most ardent metal fan invested. Hell I listen to a daily dose of Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth and Anaal Nathrakh and I still found this to be a beautiful album worth listening to over and over again. Give it a try.
Rating: 9.5/10
Sunday, 30 December 2018
Ross's Wrap Up: Top 10 Movies of 2018 (with 2 bonus lists)
And so it is another year passes and I get to reflect on the time that passed. Unfortunately I haven't been able to see every movie that's came out this year but that's something I aim to remedy in 2019 as I'm sure there's movies I missed this year that would have easily made this list. So what made it to the top? Let's take a look.
10. Ready Player One
Starting at the top we have one of the best Spielberg movies not even made by the man himself. This is one I actually got to see twice in the cinema. As a movie it's an absolute blast as you find yourself totally rooting against the evil corporation, and the pop culture references felt like they were made just for me. Also that Stanley Kubrick's Shining sequence will forever remain in my heart. If you love retro movies and video games, definitely give this a shot.
9. Deadpool 2
This movie had the unfortunate distinction of having to follow up what has to now be considered a modern classic in the first Deadpool. While this may not have been quite as good, it was still a worthy sequel to the original as you can tell everyone involved is just having fun with this. Ryan Reynolds is still fantastic in the lead role and the addition of Josh Brolin as Cable was just brilliant. One of the funniest movies of the year and hopefully we'll get a sequel.
8. A Star Is Born
I feel like I'm gonna get crucified by some people for putting this so low on the list. I feel like this movie had an insanely strong Act 1 and 2, but Act 3 just fell a little short for me and didn't have the same emotional impact for me as it seemed to for so many others. Still this is a great look into the difficulties of fame and fortune and how we deal with it. The soundtrack is great (even if a few relatives have played it into the ground) and worth checking out.
7. Bohemian Rhapsody
I'm a big fan of Queen and so this was a biopic I was eager to see when I first saw the trailer and heard everyone raving about it. While it wasn't perfect and the life of Freddy could have been explored a little more, I can't fault the performances as Rami Malek was phenomenal as Freddie Mercury and deserves many accolades for his efforts. The final 10-20 minutes of the Live Aid performance was just tremendous and it's a movie moment I can't wait to revisit again.
6. Black Panther
I almost totally forgot that this movie came out this year as it feels like it's been out forever but that might just be because it was February that it was originally released. This one has already been critically lauded to hell and back and for good reason. This is one of the MCUs standout out movies and seemed to come out of nowhere as we'd only seen Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. I think it's safe to say that Black Panther has entered the hearts of millions seeing as the movie is now the 9th highest grossing of all time and in terms of the rest of the MCU, it only trails behind the huge Avengers movies so this is an impressive feat to say the least. Check this one out immediately.
5. Ralph Breaks the Internet
I'm surprised myself that this one made it so high onto the list, but I genuinely adored this. I was already a big fan of the first movie and this one was even better in my opinion. It managed a balancing act of telling an engaging, emotional story (one that got to me) while also providing some hilarious moments in the form of Disney's many many intellectual properties and even some observations on modern society that surprised me. Disney knocked it out of the park and I don't think they can do any wrong at this point.
4. Hereditary
This movie. Jesus this movie. I'm gonna be honest I don't think I've had a movie psychologically affect me like this since The Babadook. There are some images and sounds from this movie that are forever burned into my mind and I'm afraid that they'll never leave. The atmosphere is almost deafening in how dreading it is and the performance of Toni Collette has to be commended as this couldn't have been easy for her. I want to make it clear that this isn't a movie filled with jumpscares and monsters in closets. This is is psychological horror that burrows itself under your skin and refuses to leave until you've torn your flesh in an attempt to remove it. I love it.
3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I have to be honest and say that I wasn't really looking forward to this one before release. I'd been so accustomed to a live action Spider Man that an animated one (and one that wasn't Peter Parker) made by Sony didn't really appeal to me and even the trailer didn't tempt me. Thankfully I was very incorrect in my assumptions and this turned out to be better than I could have hoped and I'll even say it's better than any live action Spider-Man we've ever had. The story is interesting, the multiple Spider-Men, Women and..... animals were all great and all had their own unique personalities to the point where I'd love to see them in their own adventures. While the Kingpin wasn't the greatest villain, he wasn't really the focus. This was a blast from start to end and I had a huge smile on my face all the way. Consider me a fan of Miles Morales now.
2. Halloween
Yes while this isn't better than most movies on this list or even the best horror on the list, this is one I just personally adored to the point where I've now seen it 3 times in the cinema and plan to purchase the Blu Ray as soon as it's released. Hell I even bought the damn soundtrack on vinyl. The original Halloween is one of my all time favourite movies and this movie felt like a true sequel to that. Michael Myers was once again scary. He wasn't some plot point like Laurie Strode's brother or the tool of a satanic cult. He was just pure evil incarnate and I loved him more than I have in a while. Also Jamie Lee Curtis was just superb as Laurie and deserves some kind of award. Just please no more sequels Hollywood. This was the perfect ending for such a hallowed character.
1. Avengers: Infinity War
Of course this had to be number 1. I've raved about this movie all year and I'd easily slot it into my top 5 movies of all time. I saw it 3 times in cinema and have seen it a further 2 times since it was released on Blu Ray. This movie had the seemingly impossible task of making the culmination of 10 years of work and effort satisfactory and it did it in spades. Every major character got a chance to shine, Thanos was a fantastic villain and one of the best we've ever seen in terms of comic book movies. It did all this and still had the balls to give it's audience the bleakest ending possible, making even Empire Strikes Back seem like a happy ending in comparison. This is a movie I've been waiting years for and the wait was worth it.
And now for a little bonus I thought that I'd list my 5 least favourite films of the year. Like I said earlier, I haven't seen every movie this year so I' sure that there were others that could make the list, but these were the ones I witnessed that deserved to be panned in my eyes.
5. Fifty Shades Freed
This one's a bit of a cheat since I haven't actually seen this outside of the trailer, but the fact that this movie exists and the fact that I have seen the first one and know that this is more of the same except with an actual ending earns its place here. Let's hope Twilight fan fiction never sees the light of day again.
4. The Cloverfield Paradox
While not a distinctly terrible movie, this one was just a big disappointment. I'm a big fan of Cloverfield and 10 Cloverfield Lane, but sadly this movie doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as those ones. This was just a complete bore from start to end and then it tried to salvage itself by showing the monster from the first Cloverfield to try and tie into the franchise in a move that felt lazy and uninspired.
3. The Nun
In fairness I wasn't really expecting much from this, but come on surely there could have been some effort put in here. I thought the filmmakers had learned their lesson after the first Annabelle movie, but sadly this might have been even worse with a boring plot and even more infuriating scares. How do you fuck up the potential of a zombie nun! That should have been golden. Unless she makes an appearance in the next Conjuring movie, I think this may have been the last we'll see of The Nun.
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Boy was this a disappointment. I feel like I'm one of the only people that really enjoyed the first Jurassic World and it's one I've watched a few times since. So when the trailer dropped I was pretty excited. I don't know what happened here but this was a mess. Many of the plot elements from the first are copied here (scientists creating an even more dangerous dinosaur, evil corporation involved) and with that, they even added a confusing and uninteresting clone storyline that didn't need to be here. The actors barely even try as everyone here is just in it for the paycheck and it sets up for a sequel that I'm no longer interested in.
Oh and when you advertise Jeff Goldblum, I expect way more that just the trailer scenes in the movie. That might have been the worst sin this movie committed.
1. Fantastic Beasts: The Crime of Grindelwald
And now for a bonus list that's a bit different. I thought I would show a bit more personality for anyone that may not know me and thought I'd give a bonus list of my 10 favourite albums that came out this year. This year has been huge musically for me as I've discovered dozens of new bands I'd never listened to before and have been to more gigs than ever before.
I've had the Download Festival which featured some favourites like Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne and Guns N Roses, I went all the way to Newcastle for an Iron Maiden gig which still may be the best night of my life, got to witness the final gig of Slayer in Glasgow, and had one of the more emotional nights of my life where I got to see Bring Me The Horizon live. If it's possible, 2019 looks like it may be even better. With that said, here's the 10 albums that made my year that little bit better. Hope you enjoy.
10. Biffy Clyro - MTV Unplugged Live at the Roundhouse London
Might be a little bit of a cheat here since this is a live album with only one new song, but this is one I've been listening to since it's release and I friggin' love it. Biffy are one of the best bands in the mainstream just now and their performance here was just great from some of the better new tracks like Medicine, Re-Arrange and Small Wishes, to the modern classics we love like The Captain, Many of Horror and Bubbles all sounding great even when stripped down to an acoustic set. The version of Machines on this album is a song I use whenever I'm feeling a bit down and with that kind of power, I couldn't leave this off.
Recommended songs: Machines, Many of Horror, Opposite
9. Evanescence - Synthesis
Again this one's a little bit of a cheat as most of these songs have been released before and there's only a couple of new tracks, but every song has been updated with an orchestra behind it and it makes almost every track sound better than it ever has. Amy Lee's voice is better than ever and I'd highly recommend the live album that recently came out as I got the chance to see these guys live back in April and the performances were just stunning.
Recommended songs: Imperfection, Lost in Paradise, My Heart is Broken
8. Satan - Cruel Magic
This is one I've only listened to recently, but where the hell has this band been all my life? This is exactly what I was looking for. This is classic 1980s heavy metal to a tee and something that we need way more of in the current metal scene. The vocalist Brian Ross is just totally on point here and deserves a ton of praise. If you like your classic Iron Maiden, Dio or Black Sabbath then this is a band you'll want to listen to.
Recommended songs: Into the Mouth of Eternity, Cruel Magic, The Doomsday Clock
7. Horrendous - Idol
Horrendous is a band I've quickly fallen in love with since I first listened to this album and while they've only been around since 2012 and have four albums, their music is intricate and their album covers epic. I mean look at that thing! It's horrific and it's already my wallpaper. Lovecraftian nightmares always go down well with me (as you'll see later) and this is what first attracted me to them. The entire album is definitely worth a listen for death metal enthusiasts from the quiet, dread-filled opening of ...Prescience to the epic ending of Obulus, this one is worth your time.
Recommended songs: Soothesayer, Golgothan Tongues, Devotion - Blood for Ink
6. Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit
Another one I've only listened to recently but my god has this one stuck in head since. I'm not even sure how to describe this band as I feel like they can be listened to by all kinds of music fans and find themselves loved. They tend to mix the worlds of scream metal, blues and even slave chants for what is quite the muscial experience. After this I'll definitely be checking out more of the band's work. Every track stands out on it's own and the instrumental breaks lend themselves well to the experience. Check them out no matter your musical preference.
Recommended songs: Gravedigger's Chant, Don't You Dare, We Can't Be Found
5. Anaal Nathrakh - A New Kind of Horror
I might lose a few people with this but this is the kind of music I need in my life. This might just be the most visceral band I've ever listened to and I love it. This album was made in reference to the 100th year since the end of the First World War and the horrors that came with it and even includes many machine gun sound effects that add to the experience. This isn't a happy album but is short at 32 minutes and not a single second is wasted. I imagine this is what serial killers hear in their head while they commit their atrocities. Definitely not recommended for everyone.
Recommended songs: Obscene as Cancer, The Reek of Fear, Forward!, The Horrid Strife
4. Judas Priest - Firepower
This was one was a bit anxious about before it's release as Judas Priest are one of my all time favourite bands and their recent work hasn't exactly been stellar. Thankfully Priest were more than up to the task and released what it probably their best album since the fantastic Painkiller. Every song here is a hit with a few that can more than live up to Priest's classics from decades past. I'm seeing them in February and I can't wait to hear some of these in person.
Recommended songs: Lightning Strike, Never the Heroes, Rising From Ruins, Spectre
3. Revocation - The Outer Ones
This is another one that's quite recent, but it's one I've quickly fallen in love with as it just hits all the right notes for me. The band doesn't stick to one kind of metal and tends to mix the best elements of thrash and death metal for a refreshing sound. That's not to mention some of the face melting guitar solos that are some of the best I've heard in a while. Also just look at that cover! I already have a poster for this on my wall due to it's cosmic nature. Many songs also feature stories that you would likely hear in many of H.P. Lovecraft's tales of the unknown. All killer no filler. Consider me a fan.
Recommended songs: Of Unworldy Origin, That Which Consumes All Things, Fathomless Catacombs, The Outer Ones
2. Architects - Holy Hell
This is an album I've been looking forward to for some time and there's a bit of a story behind it. Sadly back in August 2016, the band's founding member and guitarist Tom Searle passed away after a three year battle with skin cancer. It didn't seem like the band would ever make an album again, but then decided to make one that Tom would be proud of. Mission accomplished lads. This album is just terrific and you can just feel the emotion dripping through every song as the guys unleash their grief through their stunning music and especially the juggernaut of a single that is Doomsday. I'm getting to see these guys in a few weeks and I can't even imagine how emotional the night will be. Metalcore is in safe hands.
Recommended Songs: Doomsday, Hereafter, Royal Beggars, Modern Misery, Holy Hell, A Wasted Hymn
1. Ghost - Prequelle
I did keep going back and forth between the number 1 and 2 slots, but I think I'm happy with this at the top. Ghost is band I first listened to in June this year, and since then they've gone on to become of my favourite bands as I just can't get enough of them. Their songs are filled with satanic references and tales of rituals and the darker side of religion that I gravitate towards. Prequelle might actually be their best as it's the sound of a band maturing for the best and not sticking to one sound.
This album features some of their catchiest songs and some slower ones that are definitely worthy of a listen as well. There's even two great instrumental tracks with Miasma (that sexy saxophone solo!) especially being a true highlight of the album. It's not heavy or metal or even rock a bit of the time, but it doesn't need to be. It's just Ghost and travelling down to see them with Metallica next year will be an honour.
Recommended Songs: Rats, See the Light, Pro Memoria, Dance Macabre, Witch Image, Miasma, Life Eternal
Have a happy new year everyone. And thanks for reading. It means the absolute world for me.
Friday, 28 December 2018
Ross's Movie Reviews: Black Christmas (1974)
Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! And of course I have to be a weirdo about it and review a horror movie associated with this time of year.
Let's dive straight in and see if this one is a holiday classic that can be enjoyed every year. For anyone interested in checking this out, I was able to watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
No major spoilers.
In terms of horror, this is a pretty historical movie as it is considered one of the earliest slasher movies and inspired other filmmakers such as John Carpenter who would end up directing Halloween four years later, so without this movie that classic may have never even existed.
In terms of the story it is pretty simple. While a sorority house is having a Christmas party, a stranger decides to climb into the house with the intent to pick off potential victims one by one.
First off I'm actually surprised at how tame this movie was overall as there is a distinct lack of gore which I was definitely expecting after hearing about how brutal this movie supposedly was and how it was close to being banned at the time. I think even Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was more violent than this. It's not a bad thing at all though as the film has it's own ways of disturbing the audience.
For example, none of the kills are actually ever shown properly and you're only really shown the implications of how that particular person was murdered and it does work well. Do you remember that scene from Reservoir Dogs where the cop is having his ear cut off but the camera pans away while it's happening, leaving the viewer to picture the horrific scene in their head? This movie is quite like that with one scene where a character has a hook thrown into their face, and all you see is their body shaking from the impact and all you hear is the scream of pain from the victim. It's very effective and more memorable as a result.
Now usually in these kinds of slasher movies the characters are all pretty much throwaway and are there simply to add to the body count, but here every girl has their own distinct personality like the housemother, Mrs MacHenry, who I found hilarious as she constantly goes into her hiding places for her booze when the girls aren't looking for a cheeky drink.
I was rooting for these girls and even found myself nearly shouting at the TV towards the end of the film because I didn't want to see any of them die. I'd also heard that the movie is pro feminist which is true to an extent as none of the girls come across as weak or make dumb decisions.
We also have our main girl Jess who announces to her boyfriend at the start of the movie that she's pregnant but doesn't want to keep the baby. Her boyfriend tries to stop her but she's determined to get rid of it. There's a few scenes like this in the movie with Jess almost being forced into doing what she doesn't want to by him, only for her to deny him and do what she wants to do. It's actually pretty refreshing considering the time period.
And then we have the killer. After watching this I have no doubt in my mind that this is one of the all time great slasher villains just due to the subtlety alone. Throughout the whole movie he pretty much remains nameless (he's known as Billy because he keeps uttering this name to himself) and faceless. You never see what this guy looks like which adds to the mystery of his identity since it could be a character we already know, and also leaves you picturing what he looks like with your own thoughts and fears to make him even more terrifying.
When he's alone he's a raving lunatic making no sense at all, but when he's on the hunt, he's as silent as a cat ready to pounce on the next bit of prey. You can see clearly where the inspirations for Michael Myers in Halloween came from.
If I was to have any criticism of the movie I would say that for a 90 minute movie it does slow down a little in the middle with not much going on which does hurt the replay value slightly, but it isn't enough to derail the movie and if anything adds to the tension of wondering when Billy will strike next.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this movie as I wasn't expecting much but ended up getting a fun slasher that was better than most horror movies today. This is one I'll be keeping for watching only at Christmas time. If you enjoy slashers or just want something different at Christmas then I'd definitely recommend checking this out on Amazon Video or the DVD/Blu Ray.
Rating: 8/10
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