Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?

khaos

By khaos
in Forum Games

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 66.9k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • FatherAlabaster

    7831

  • MacabreEternal

    5094

  • RelentlessOblivion

    4004

  • GoatmasterGeneral

    3387

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

BlutAusNerd Newbie

BlutAusNerd

Posted
Posted

Re: What Are You Listening To?

Skeletonwitch - whatever this new album is called, via Pitchfork. Hm. Kind of ugh, and kind of like candy. I could make comparisons to old Gothenburg stuff that I like, as well as thrash, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Background music at best?
It sounds to me like what people who aren't familiar with thrash would try to make if their background was in the melodic metalcore scene. Their riffs just don't sound right for the style, nor do their vocals, and their song structures are abysmal. Everything about this band just screams that they're trying to be something that they're not, and are having a really awkward time trying to pretend. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

Posted
Posted
It sounds to me like what people who aren't familiar with thrash would try to make if their background was in the melodic metalcore scene. Their riffs just don't sound right for the style, nor do their vocals, and their song structures are abysmal. Everything about this band just screams that they're trying to be something that they're not, and are having a really awkward time trying to pretend. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
I agree. I'm trying to listen past my distaste and see if there's anything worthwhile going on, though I'm tempted not to bother.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BlutAusNerd Newbie

BlutAusNerd

Posted
Posted

Re: What Are You Listening To? Black Harvest - Ingrate This is good stuff FA, I'm about halfway through and digging it. Love the melodies and tremolo sections, the only things I'm having a problem with are the snare drum sound and the guitar/bass sounding a bit empty on palm muted low notes. You may not favor this comparison, but this reminds me a great deal of Extol's Undeceived in a number of ways. The way the vocals attack around the flowing and abruptly changing tremolo riffs with the off time composition is similar to how they used to write, in addition to the vocals and production sounding like theirs on that album. That is a compliment though, as they are (or rather, were) a talented band. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

Posted
Posted
One of my top 10 albums of 2011, absolutely phenomenal and original blackened death metal IMO. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
I really like the guitar/bass work a lot. The drums, I bet they'd sound better if I wasn't listening through Youtube - very mp3-artifacty. The vocals aren't badly done or anything, they just conflict with the guitars and sound a bit muddy, especially where there's all that panned delay. I'm gonna play it again; I feel like it's a production issue really, I just wish everything was a little more distinct. But I could see myself getting into this quite a bit.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

Posted
Posted
Black Harvest - Ingrate This is good stuff FA, I'm about halfway through and digging it. Love the melodies and tremolo sections, the only things I'm having a problem with are the snare drum sound and the guitar/bass sounding a bit empty on palm muted low notes. You may not favor this comparison, but this reminds me a great deal of Extol's Undeceived in a number of ways. The way the vocals attack around the flowing and abruptly changing tremolo riffs with the off time composition is similar to how they used to write, in addition to the vocals and production sounding like theirs on that album. That is a compliment though, as they are (or rather, were) a talented band. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks! I recall liking Extol's music, no harm there, though I couldn't get behind their message... I'm not completely thrilled with the recording job I did on that album either. I moved around a lot (NC, PA, back to NC, back to NYC) during the time I was recording that. By the time it was finished I couldn't handle the prospect of recording every single instrument again for a potentially minimal gain, and most of my time was spent on Shiro-Ishii. In the end I decided to just leave it like it was. I've been fortunate to keep a pretty consistent setup for the newer stuff, and I feel like a professional mastering job would help a bunch.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BlutAusNerd Newbie

BlutAusNerd

Posted
Posted

Re: What Are You Listening To?

I really like the guitar/bass work a lot. The drums' date=' I bet they'd sound better if I wasn't listening through Youtube - very mp3-artifacty. The vocals aren't badly done or anything, they just conflict with the guitars and sound a bit muddy, especially where there's all that panned delay. I'm gonna play it again; I feel like it's a production issue really, I just wish everything was a little more distinct. But I could see myself getting into this quite a bit.[/quote'] It's definitely harder to appreciate their dense sound without a good set of speakers and high volume, or good headphones at least. There is a lot going on in their sound, and I find that I need to be in a place where I can concentrate to truly sink into it. Those kinds of vocals sometimes turn me off too, but I really like them here, they add to the cacophony. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
0
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...