Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?


khaos

Recommended Posts

4 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

I've only listened to a smattering of the prison albums and his later stuff, but actually I quite like the hypnotic quality of the ambient tracks on older Burzum albums. It's great when I'm painting, anyway, I probably couldn't sit through it if I wasn't working on stuff. I don't like the fake orchestra vibe, or the fake cinema soundtrack vibe, but Varg's tracks seem to use the sounds for their own merit. They get a little hokey but they don't strike me as artificial in the way the others do.

I guess it's time for me to revisit Mortiis and the Wongraven album... :D

I realise it's been a ridiculous amount of time since I listened to all the stuff I just used as good examples. I haven't heard 'The Shadowthrone' in ages, even though it's my favourite black metal album of all time. It sort of just sits there in the collection, radiating glory, and I forget to actually listen to it occasionally. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Me again, with no one posting anything they're listening to in the 8 hours since I posted! Cool. 

NP: Whitesnake - 'Live... in the Still of the Night' 

Bad bad boys, getting wild in the city! 

I should be brushing up on my Manowar in time for the Saturday night tribute show, but I got bitten by the Whitesnake tonight. Ow!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas 

I've been listening to this album again since I have reached 1994 on the "top ten lists of any given year" thread and honestly, it still doesn't fully click for me. I just feel that many black metal releases before and after this album came out just bury it in terms of consistency and quality. My feeling surrounding it has always been a resounding "eh". It has its moments but as a whole, I'd just rather listen to any other "classic" black metal release. 

Granted, I've always thought Mayhem was a complete joke of a band whose notoriety and aesthetic was more the reason for their place in the genre rather than their actual content but even as that emotion has cooled over time, their classic era just rings hollow for me when it comes to music. Hell, if anything, my favorite album of theirs might be Live in Leipzig. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas 

I've been listening to this album again since I have reached 1994 on the "top ten lists of any given year" thread and honestly, it still doesn't fully click for me. I just feel that many black metal releases before and after this album came out just bury it in terms of consistency and quality. My feeling surrounding it has always been a resounding "eh". It has its moments but as a whole, I'd just rather listen to any other "classic" black metal release. 

Granted, I've always thought Mayhem was a complete joke of a band whose notoriety and aesthetic was more the reason for their place in the genre rather than their actual content but even as that emotion has cooled over time, their classic era just rings hollow for me when it comes to music. Hell, if anything, my favorite album of theirs might be Live in Leipzig. 

 

Different strokes and all that, but they certainly deserve their place in history. Behind the notoriety for the non-music related items, the music itself was always the focus, being massively influential to a great number of musicians far and wide. For me, DMDS is the perfect black metal album, something that exploring several hundred other black metal albums has only reinforced. I know that not everyone will feel that way, but even if it doesn't click, at least you've tried.

 

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Ecthelion said:

Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas 

I've been listening to this album again since I have reached 1994 on the "top ten lists of any given year" thread and honestly, it still doesn't fully click for me. I just feel that many black metal releases before and after this album came out just bury it in terms of consistency and quality. My feeling surrounding it has always been a resounding "eh". It has its moments but as a whole, I'd just rather listen to any other "classic" black metal release. 

Granted, I've always thought Mayhem was a complete joke of a band whose notoriety and aesthetic was more the reason for their place in the genre rather than their actual content but even as that emotion has cooled over time, their classic era just rings hollow for me when it comes to music. Hell, if anything, my favorite album of theirs might be Live in Leipzig. 

Interesting. The only thing that took me a bit of time getting used to were Attila Csihar's vocals which I remember at the time being quite challenging, but of course now I'm entirely used to them (and have been for, you know, 20 years). For me, if anything there is that true 'x-factor' on 'De Mysteriis' that really elevates it. Hellhammer's drumming, those Euronymous/Snorre inspired riffs, the absolutely classic tracks and that deep, almost warm production. There's not a weak point on the whole album for me. 

I also really love 'Deathcrush', and even though I've had this for decades, the feeling continues to grow after initially seeing it as a bit of a curiosity. 

'Live in Leipzig' is just amazing too on a number of levels. So for me there are three absolutely phenomenal releases straight off the bat. 

Then, I clicked immediately with Maniac back on vocals when they made 'Wolf's Lair Abyss' and then 'Grand Declaration of War'. I saw them live for the first time on the 'Grand Declaration' tour, and as a young man of 21 it really had an effect on me that bands these days just don't have. 

Now, as seen in the 'Post your collections' thread in the Photo section of the forum, before you know it I have a pretty decent Mayhem collection. I would say that Mayhem are in my top 3 favourite bands of all time and definitely the band that I've collected the most. People do occasionally point to events overshadowing their musical output, but I don't see it that way at all. Obviously the history of the band is fascinating, and I'm not going to pretend that it doesn't appeal to me on some exotic levels, but for me it's always been about the tunes. 

Sorry, I guess I'm off the topic now. The problem is, I'm such a fast typer I can smash out ideas almost as fast as I can think them. In summary, 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' is a really special album for me, and I can just keep consuming it like... like... Gerard Depardieu at an all you can eat cheese and wine tasting festival.  Too much ain't enough. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok this place is getting creepy now. 6 hours with no post in the Now Playing thread? The most frequently used thread in the whole place? This is a bad sign. 

Anyway, I guess I'll just tell myself that I'm still listening to Manowar songs. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Requiem said:

Ok this place is getting creepy now. 6 hours with no post in the Now Playing thread? The most frequently used thread in the whole place? This is a bad sign. 

Anyway, I guess I'll just tell myself that I'm still listening to Manowar songs. 

I know it's been a while since you did anything but languish fitfully in your velvet-lined coffin behind thick curtains, cursing the daylight, lethargic yet curiously eager as you await the cover of dusk to slake your unholy thirst, but most of the rest of us need a little bit of real shut-eye every now and then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, deathstorm said:

Arch enemy the world is yours a great song  @FatherAlabaster the first track arch enemy with Jeff loomis is up 

Thanks man, but I fucking despise Arch Enemy. The sky could open up and Randy Rhoads himself descend from the heavens to play guitar on one of their songs and I probably wouldn't listen to it. But that's just me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...