Newsletter 1 July 2023

Week Ending:
1 July 2023

Album Of The Week

TheBigBlack

But Here We Are

Foo Fighters - But Here We Are (2023)

[Alternative Rock]

It probably goes without saying, but this is an album about loss. The death of Taylor Hawkins in March 2022 would have left a large hole in the band, but this isn't the first time Dave Grohl has had to work through grief with music - He had to do the exact same thing almost 30 years prior. He is an older (and arguably wiser) man now, and the songs target his thoughts, but often not through an open outpouring of emotion. Many lyrics are veiled references disguised as odes to lost loves or losing direction. An album highlight, 'Hearing Voices', is more direct in its messaging whereas something like the brilliant opener 'Rescued' is more alluding to the pain of needing to be supported through chaos. Musically the album suffers from a bit of a slump in the middle, but overall this is the best album the band has produced since its early days, and playing it alongside the classic 'The Colour And The Shape' reveals a lot of stylistic similarities between them. The album closes on a sombre note with 'Rest', really nailing home the dark themes overall, and musically using passages from the album opener. Powerful stuff.

mindkiller8

Better Off Dead

Sodom - Better Off Dead (1990)

[Thrash Metal]

German band playing black metal turned to a thrash metal band in the late 80's and gave us a landmark effort in Agent Orange in 1989. However this review focuses on the next effort Better Off Dead. I have no idea how I found this band to listen to, however listening to this today, I still love the true German thrash metal that it is. If you had Millie from Kreator singing then you would hardly notice the difference. Now that is not to suggest that Tom isn't a killer singer. More-so the respect this band should have in German thrash metal. And of course no other band could write arguably the most evil song known in 'The Saw Is The Law'. Some might say a cheesy name, but the lyrics depict a great story. If this doesn't get you up and singing your lungs out to each word, then you aren't alive. What I mostly like listening back to this effort is the album carries your interest all the way through. 'Bloodtrails', the title track, through to the last track 'Stalinorgel' which is a brilliant ending. A couple of covers respectfully executed well and we have a great release. Should have got more credit than they did in such a thrash laden period for metal music.

Core Discographies: This Year's Releases Coming Soon

These are new releases coming to Core Discographies soon.

All new releases are available.

Digital Library: Tagged Releases

These are new releases completed in the Digital Library this week.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Enslaved
Heimdal

[Album]
3 March 2023
Black Metal (Progressive)

Location(s):

Fascination Street Studios

MP3

FLAC

Enslaved
Heimdal [HD Version]

[Album]
3 March 2023
Black Metal (Progressive)

Location(s):

Fascination Street Studios

MP3

FLAC

John Zorn
444

[Album]
1 March 2023
Jazz

MP3

FLAC

John Zorn
The Fourth Way

[Album]
31 March 2023
Jazz

MP3

FLAC

John Zorn
New Masada Quartet Vol. 2

[Album]
10 March 2023
Jazz

MP3

FLAC

Tumbleweed
Killer Weed

[Album; Compilation]
24 March 2023
Stoner Rock

MP3

FLAC

Iron Maiden
Maiden Japan [HD Version]

[E.P.]
15 November 2021
Heavy Metal

MP3

FLAC

Jeff Ament
I Should Be Outside

[Album]
10 August 2021
Grunge Rock

'I Should Be Outside' is the fourth solo album by Jeff Ament.

Performer(s):

Jeff Ament - Vocals / Bass Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

John Zorn
New Masada Quartet

[Album]
29 October 2021
Jazz

MP3

FLAC

Horsehead
Electric

[Album]
?? November 2019
Alternative Rock

'Electric' is the fourth studio album by Horsehead. It is their first album in 20 years.

MP3

FLAC

Bloodbath
The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn [HD Version]

[Album]
26 October 2018
Death Metal

MP3

FLAC

Mortiis
Perfectly Defect [Reissue]

[Album]
1 June 2018
Rock (Industrial)

MP3

FLAC

Mark Lanegan
I'll Take Care Of You [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Mark Lanegan
The Winding Sheet [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Mark Lanegan
Whiskey For The Holy Ghost [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Dan Peters - Drums [Guest]

Jack Endino - Production [Producer]

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
Let There Be Rock [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
Highway To Hell [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
Powerage [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
If You Want Blood, You've Got It [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

AC/DC
High Voltage [HD Version]

[Album]
7 October 2014
Hard Rock

MP3

FLAC

Alice Cooper
Greatest Hits [HD Version]

[Album; Compilation]
7 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Alice Cooper - Vocals [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin' [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Joe Satriani
Flying In A Blue Dream [HD Version]

[Album]
8 November 2014
Rock

MP3

FLAC

Ozzy Osbourne
No More Tears [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

MP3

FLAC

Ozzy Osbourne
No Rest For The Wicked [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

MP3

FLAC

Ozzy Osbourne
The Ultimate Sin [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

MP3

FLAC

Ozzy Osbourne
Bark At The Moon [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

'Bark At The Moon' is the third studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. This is Osbourne's first album to feature guitarist Jake E. Lee and only studio album to feature drummer Tommy Aldridge. It marks Ozzy's change to a synth infused pop-metal sound, with both its sonic production, and in Ozzy's imaging. A commercial success, the album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard album chart and within several weeks of release was certified gold for over 500,000 sales in the United States. To date, it has sold over 3,000,000 copies in the United States. In the U.K., it was the third of four Osbourne albums to attain silver certification (60,000 units sold) by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in January 1984.

MP3

FLAC

Alice Cooper
Billion Dollar Babies [HD Version]

[Album]
3 December 2013
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Alice Cooper - Vocals [Member]

MP3

FLAC

Hidden Intent
Walking Through Hell

[Album]
16 November 2013
Thrash Metal

'Walking Through Hell' is the debut album by Hidden Intent.

MP3

FLAC

Mortiis
Perfectly Defect [Extended Version]

[Album]
11 July 2011
Rock (Industrial)

MP3

FLAC

Jet
Shaka Rock

[Album]
19 August 2009
Rock

'Shaka Rock' is the third studio album by Jet.

Label(s):

EMI Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Horsehead
Onism

[Album]
?? April 1996
Alternative Rock

'Onism' is the second studio album by Horsehead.

MP3

FLAC

Tumbleweed
Galactaphonic

[Album]
?? June 1995
Stoner Rock

'Galactaphonic' is the second studio album by Tumbleweed. It peaked at No. 6 on the Australian charts.

MP3

FLAC

Naked City
Torture Garden

[Album; Compilation]
1 November 1990
Jazz

'Torture Garden' is a compilation album by John Zorn's Naked City. It features vocalist Yamatsuka Eye on vocals. The album collects the 42 'hardcore miniatures' recorded by the band. Nine of these short intense improvisations were spread across 'Naked City' (1989) and the other 33 would feature on the next album, 'Grand Guignol' (1992).

MP3

FLAC

Saxon
Crusader

[Album]
?? February 1984
Heavy Metal

'Crusader' is the sixth studio album by Saxon.

Performer(s):

Biff Byford - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Carrere Records (Region: International)

Location(s):

Sound City Studios

MP3

FLAC

Saxon
Power & The Glory

[Album]
?? March 1983
Heavy Metal

'Power & The Glory' is the fifth studio album by Saxon. This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler and was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in the fall of 1982.

Performer(s):

Biff Byford - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Carrere Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Girlschool
Demolition

[Album]
30 June 1980
Hard Rock

'Demolition' is the first studio album by Girlschool. It was produced by experienced sound engineer Vic Maile and reached No. 28 in the U.K. Albums Chart, following the rising of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM) phenomenon. The tour supporting the album included high-profile support slots at Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep shows.

Performer(s):

Vic Maile - Production [Producer]

Label(s):

Bronze Records (Region: Europe)

Digital Library: New Additions

These are new releases added in the Digital Library this week. These will be tagged at a future date.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

Cynic
ReFocus

[Album]
2023
Death Metal

Extreme
Six

[Album]
9 June 2023
Hard Rock

'Six' is the eighth album by Extreme. The name of the gorilla that appears on the cover of the album is Pakenuga - a composite of the first two letters of each band member's first name (Pat, Kevin, Nuno, Gary).

John Zorn
444

[Album]
1 March 2023
Jazz

John Zorn
The Fourth Way

[Album]
31 March 2023
Jazz

John Zorn
New Masada Quartet Vol. 2

[Album]
10 March 2023
Jazz

Kalmah
Kalmah

[Album]
2023
Death Metal

Metallica
St. Anger Live Rarities (Vinyl Club)

[E.P.; Live]
13 June 2022
Thrash Metal

Performer(s):

James Hetfield - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Kirk Hammett - Guitar [Member]

Robert Trujillo - Bass Guitar [Member]

Lars Ulrich - Drums [Member]

The Rolling Stones
Licked Live In NYC

[Album; Live]
2022
Classic Rock

Bloodbath
The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn [HD Version]

[Album]
26 October 2018
Death Metal

Kalmah
Palo

[Album]
2018
Death Metal

Mortiis
Perfectly Defect [Reissue]

[Album]
1 June 2018
Rock (Industrial)

Mark Lanegan
I'll Take Care Of You [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Mark Lanegan
The Winding Sheet [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Mark Lanegan
Whiskey For The Holy Ghost [HD Version]

[Album]
20 November 2015
Grunge Rock

Performer(s):

Mark Lanegan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Dan Peters - Drums [Guest]

Jack Endino - Production [Producer]

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin' [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan [HD Version]

[Album]
4 March 2014
Classic Rock

Performer(s):

Bob Dylan - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Joe Satriani
Flying In A Blue Dream [HD Version]

[Album]
8 November 2014
Rock

Ozzy Osbourne
No More Tears [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

Ozzy Osbourne
No Rest For The Wicked [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

Ozzy Osbourne
The Ultimate Sin [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

Ozzy Osbourne
Bark At The Moon [HD Version]

[Album]
14 October 2014
Heavy Metal

Kalmah
Seventh Swamphony

[Album]
2013
Death Metal

Mortiis
Perfectly Defect [Extended Version]

[Album]
11 July 2011
Rock (Industrial)