Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?

khaos

By khaos
in Forum Games

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 67k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • FatherAlabaster

    7836

  • MacabreEternal

    5095

  • RelentlessOblivion

    4004

  • GoatmasterGeneral

    3396

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

gregsbrews
gregsbrews

Death - Human

GoatmasterGeneral
GoatmasterGeneral

Slayer - Hell Awaits, 1985   Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion, 1985  

MacabreEternal
MacabreEternal

Immolation - Acts of God (2022) Number eight on my end of year list that if I am being honest, the boredom of being unable to do much of anything with COVID has led me to do an end of y

Posted Images

JamesT Mentor

JamesT

Posted
Posted

Primal Fear - Self-titled debut

Primal Fear - "Black Sun"

Primal Fear - "Devil's Ground"

Primal Fear - "Seven Seals"

Primal Fear - "New Religion"

Primal Fear - "16.6 - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

Primal Fear - "Rulebreaker"

Primal Fear - "Apocalypse"

Primal Fear - "Metal Commando"

Primal Fear - "I Will Be Gone" (EP)

Primal Fear - "Code Red"

Yep, it's been a great day!

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MacabreEternal Veteran

MacabreEternal

Posted
Posted

Marduk - Those of the Unlight (1993)

Spending my time off work this work trying to get through some more critical listening, with the focus today being on albums I have never really gotten along with but cannot always recall why.  

Moving away from the death metal of the debut (although random leads still punctuate Those of the Unlight which do feel out of place still on a black metal record), the sophomore is a much stronger affair in terms of musicianship and songwriting.  We are a long time before the blasting fury of Panzer Division Marduk and things feel much more controlled here and the bass is given a very open reign across the album, seemingly mapping a mature trajectory in its wake.  

The main challenge I have with this album still is that it is more than a bit boring.  Whilst I am not looking for a dynamic edge to proceedings I do still find that most of Those of the Unlight just passes me by.  I do not get the praise that this record gets from peers who consider this Marduk's magnum opus.  It somehow sounds like black metal only done half-right, occupying this odd environment where it is knocking at the door of bm most definitely but sounds more gothic in places than I would exepct it to.  I can't shitcan it by any means but I just feel the transition to full blown black metal had yet to be completed in full at this stage.

3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Arioch Veteran

Arioch

Posted
Posted
46 minutes ago, MacabreEternal said:

Marduk - Those of the Unlight (1993)

I confess to knowing little about Marduk. I read your comments and have just listened to a few extracts from Those of the Unlight and I really liked it, unlike their Panzer Division Marduk which I'm unable to listen to in its entirety, so much so that I have the impression that even if I go from one track to another, I'm always listening to the same one.

Thanks for mentioning it, I'm going to get that one.

Seprevation - Consumed (2014)

 

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MacabreEternal Veteran

MacabreEternal

Posted
Posted

Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos (1989)

Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos

This one has always been a struggle for me due to the production job that sounds too suppressed and muffled.  Being familair with all of the Bolt Thrower discography I just cannot fight the feeling that the band are somehow restained from getting into full flow here.  The guitar sounds sterile and there is no weight to the drums or bass for me.  It is ironically like a blistering black metal album in its production values at times.  I had thought this was due to me owning a remastered, FDR version but from listening to the original album I can see that the master tapes are the source of the problem.  Tishy drums and somehow a scratchy effect to Karl's vocals to boot.  Content would be superb if it had been produced properly.

2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MacabreEternal Veteran

MacabreEternal

Posted
Posted

Immolation - Failures For Gods (1999)

Immolation - Failures for Gods

Normally a guaranteed win with anything I discovered by them, Failures for Gods has always been the exception to the rule for me with Immolation's otherwise fantastic discography.  With only Alex Hernandez new in post, the same line up that produced Dawn of Possession and Here In After somehow managed to go off the boil with album number three.  I will call out early in the review that although Hernandez is a fantastic drummer, his performance on this record is dubious and suffers from some mistiming on top of a poor mix and production that makes the drums sound too wet and tepid.  His perfomance on Failures for Gods is nowhere near the level of confidence that is obvious on the follow up to this record, Close To A World Below (my favourite Immolation album).

To be clear though, the let downs on this album are not all down to Alex.  Paul Orofino does little to help the band with a production job that sounds murky and claustrophic.  Guitars sound stifled, as if struggling to find space to fill with their angular sound.  The clicky sound to the drums does nothing to help this sense of confinement and in the end, only Dolan's vocals get anything like the attention they should in the mix.  Again, this problem did not persist when Orofino continued to produce Immolation albums for the next few releases so I suspect that Failures for Gods was his first death metal production job (or one of his first at least) and so he had quickly learned his trade come the next album.

This album is full of the trademark Immolation attack coming straight out of the traps with the monstrous Once Ordained making the bands intentions clear enough on track one.  But a few of the tracks on here feel cumbersome in nature with that familiar shifting sound becoming more of a lurch, certainly without a consistent sounding percussive backdrop to shape and guide it at least.  The threat of the melodic and lead work of the guitar is all but tamed in the grander scheme of things, sounding more monotone than menacing.  Thankfully little more than a blip on the discography, Failures for Gods is cursed by a tired production job and some lack of focus on all details and is an album that I rarley visit as a result.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

Posted
Posted
24 minutes ago, MacabreEternal said:

Immolation - Failures For Gods (1999)

Immolation - Failures for Gods

Normally a guaranteed win with anything I discovered by them, Failures for Gods has always been the exception to the rule for me with Immolation's otherwise fantastic discography.  With only Alex Hernandez new in post, the same line up that produced Dawn of Possession and Here In After somehow managed to go off the boil with album number three.  I will call out early in the review that although Hernandez is a fantastic drummer, his performance on this record is dubious and suffers from some mistiming on top of a poor mix and production that makes the drums sound too wet and tepid.  His perfomance on Failures for Gods is nowhere near the level of confidence that is obvious on the follow up to this record, Close To A World Below (my favourite Immolation album).

To be clear though, the let downs on this album are not all down to Alex.  Paul Orofino does little to help the band with a production job that sounds murky and claustrophic.  Guitars sound stifled, as if struggling to find space to fill with their angular sound.  The clicky sound to the drums does nothing to help this sense of confinement and in the end, only Dolan's vocals get anything like the attention they should in the mix.  Again, this problem did not persist when Orofino continued to produce Immolation albums for the next few releases so I suspect that Failures for Gods was his first death metal production job (or one of his first at least) and so he had quickly learned his trade come the next album.

This album is full of the trademark Immolation attack coming straight out of the traps with the monstrous Once Ordained making the bands intentions clear enough on track one.  But a few of the tracks on here feel cumbersome in nature with that familiar shifting sound becoming more of a lurch, certainly without a consistent sounding percussive backdrop to shape and guide it at least.  The threat of the melodic and lead work of the guitar is all but tamed in the grander scheme of things, sounding more monotone than menacing.  Thankfully little more than a blip on the discography, Failures for Gods is cursed by a tired production job and some lack of focus on all details and is an album that I rarley visit as a result.

Huh, it's my third favorite after Here In After and Closer To A World Below, it never stood out as bad to me.

1
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.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Sacred Reich "Awakening"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      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
      • 5

        Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Immortal Bird "Thrive on Neglect"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      I
      • 1

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Vltimas 'Something Wicked Marches In'

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 3 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Candlemass "The Door to Doom"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,


      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Overkill "The Wings of War"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      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
      • 0

        Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,
    View All
×
×
  • Create New...