Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?


khaos

Recommended Posts

6 minutes ago, navybsn said:

I liked everything up through Reroute at the time it came out (even saw them on that tour), but I'd say it hasn't aged well. When I feel the mood for In Flames, it's Colony or earlier. The stuff that came after just hasn't aged as well.

Nothing they did has aged well IMO. I got into them along with all the other Gothenburg stuff, but somewhere along the way it started sounding like bubblegum. Even Jester Race and the EPs don't make the cut for me anymore. I can't say that completely makes sense, because I still like a bunch of other old melodeath, but such is life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In terms of stuff becoming dated I was thinking the other day how so many early 2000s big albums ala In Flames or Soilwork or Killswitch Engage or even Opeth seem to have been consigned to history and don't get mentioned much these days.

Cryptopsy - None So Vile

Demilich - Nespithe

Morbid Angel - Formulas Fatal To The Flesh

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Nothing they did has aged well IMO. I got into them along with all the other Gothenburg stuff, but somewhere along the way it started sounding like bubblegum. Even Jester Race and the EPs don't make the cut for me anymore. I can't say that completely makes sense, because I still like a bunch of other old melodeath, but such is life.

I can't disagree with that at all, but I can still stomach the early stuff 1-2x per year better than anything that came later. Same for any Gothenburg stuff. I wouldn't put Opeth in the same category, but I do find that I really don't listen to melodeath in general these days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, navybsn said:

I can't disagree with that at all, but I can still stomach the early stuff 1-2x per year better than anything that came later. Same for any Gothenburg stuff. I wouldn't put Opeth in the same category, but I do find that I really don't listen to melodeath in general these days.

 

I am in the same boat.  I've kept a handful of melodic death metal albums, primarily from the 1990s.  They get a spin every so often.   Same with power metal.

Everything else I got rid off.

I only checked out that Halo Effect album because Michael Stanne was involved!

 

I do lump Opeth in with melodic DM for the period I like (Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries).  Their really early stuff is closer to black metal.

 

God Macabre - The Winterlong

Cianide - The Dying Truth

Yattering - Human's Pain

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/8/2023 at 7:43 PM, zackflag said:

Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy (2023)

I was ready to shit all over this album but I can't.... cuz it's surprisingly good. The best thing these guys have done by a pretty wide margin.

Well that's a bit of a shock seeing as how you've been on the record slagging them off in the past. So now I guess I'll have to have a listen and see for myself. Not familiar with their previous material although I know I checked out their debut when it came out I just don't remember anything about it. 

Death metal of the brutal variety from Ohio. For the most part they do at least manage to avoid most of the worst deathcore tropes like pig squeals n stuff which is a good thing imo. Record sounds good and heavy, and the bass is featured prominently, lots of brutal chugging and some gurgling happening here but it seems to be a little light in the actual riffs department. A few tracks in it seems the snare sound could be an issue for me at times as well. I'm not gonna shit on this and say it's worthless garbage, there are some enjoyable moments here, but it's not something I'm tempted to buy. I've been known to listen to a little brutal death now and then, not a huge part of my musical diet but I probably pick up 2 or 3 each year that could fall into that bdm category. But this doesn't quite make the grade for me as far as the fun factor, groove, riffs and memorability are concerned. Strange how very mediocre examples of these niche sub-sub-genres end up being the ones to blow up and get wider noteriety. Almost as if there were no rhyme or reason to the universe.

 

But anyway...NP: Gvla - Ira, Germany

 

                              

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...