TheBigBlack's Rock Top 10 |
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Grinspoon
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Each Grinner's album is a tad lighter (and more radio-friendly) than the one before, but they still write great songs regardless, and this album has just enough crunch vs sing-along to make it well worth spending some time on. The recently announced they will pull the plug after this tour, so if this is their final album, it's probably not a bad note to end on. |
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
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Neil Young's first real effort for the year - Americana was a somewhat throwaway affair of traditional folk songs. This album was recorded at the same sessions, so I didn't really hold out much hope for it. Turns out this a wonderfully vintage sounding piece of wax that would fit nicely into the early NY repertoire. It certainly isn't going to win any new fans, but if you have ever enjoyed that laid back garage jam style Neil and The Horse are known for previously, you'll love this one too. |
Walking Papers
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I wasn't sure what to make of this on my first listen, I expected a rowdier album with the pedigree of the Seattle musicians involved. After a few listens though it got under my skin, and although it is mellow (I guess it is similar to Mad Season's 'Above'), it is still a great listen once you get to know the songs. |
KISS
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This has a good vintage KISS vibe that the previous album lacked. It feels 70's, but with a bright modern production. The band sounds on fire, and like they are having - as opposed to sounding like are too prove anything (like they did on 2009's Sonic Boom). |
ZZ Top
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Back in the late 70s, before they could afford fancy hot-rods and spunky models to sit in them ZZ Top played rough and dirty Chicago blues with a Texas flair. All these years later they have returned to that style - but dare I say even rougher and dirty that ever before. There is nothing here that hasn't been played by every boogie outfit in the U.S. since 1969, but these guys play it better than any - even at an age where beards that long are actually justified. Let's hope this isn't the finale for a great band. |
Smashing Pumpkins
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Each new Smashing Pumpkins album comes with it the promise of great flavours by Billy Corgan, and is usually delivered with a big bucket-o-nothin' when it actually arrives. Having said that, this is one of the better 'new Pumpkins' albums. It has some heavy punch alongside some lighter tracks, and is a pretty solid listen in most places. A song like 'One And All' could easily stand alongside any track on Melon Collie, and Drum + Fife sounds more like Machina era. I can't help but think it would be an even better album without the digital drum machine & keyboard sounds in some places. |
Bob Dylan
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Brilliant - The best Dylan album in 10 years. There is nothing more to say (and you wouldn't care if I did). I think I might anyway. The opening track is like a Dixie-land shuffle, reminding us of the vintage of Dylan, but it still has a modern chic. Pay In Blood and Scarlet Town show a little of the Dylan venom in the lyric, and the 14 minute title track details the titanic sinking in exquisite detail. In true Dylan style though, the sinking is told with some truth, some myth, some legend, and even some scenes from the movie! |
Storm Corrosion
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What a strange album. It is dark and brooding, but at the same time quite sunny sounding. When Akerfeldt and Wilson started collaborating (with Mike Portnoy on drums) I expected an album similar to late period Porcupine Tree. Then they announced that the material no longer required a drummer, and I wondered where it was all heading. The answer is - to a soundtrack to a movie that will never be made. This is like nothing either of them have done before, and it is actually a hard listen the first few times. |
The Mark Of Cain
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After so many years of waiting (and wondering if we would ever actually hear it), the wait is over - AND IT IS WORTH IT. In terms of style this fits nicely between Battlesick and The Unclaimed Prize, with a very 80's sound, which suits me just fine. Ill At Ease is possibly their best work, but Battlesick will always remain my favourite for starkness. Much like This Is This lead single Barkhammer is the track that stands out from the rest, not in terms of it being better - but it is certainly like nothing they have done previously. There is never a dull moment throughout, and no slower tracks like This Is This - it is trademark TMOC from start to finish - and after such a long wait, we wouldn't have expected anything else. |
Soundgarden
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Forget your Badmotorshlongers and your Superunknownrashes, this is THE Soundgarden album. It has pieces of every part of their puzzle, right back to their beginnings. It isn't a particularly easy album to access - there are no Black Hole Suns or Rusty Cages here. In fact many of the tracks don't even follow verse / chorus / verse. But it is rich and deep, like a Kardashian's bung-hole, but so much more rewarding. Repeat listens reveal something new at every corner. Soundgarden are back bitches! |
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TheBigBlack's Rock Honourable Mentions |
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Bob Dylan
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I won't go into the boring legalities here, but essential anything recorded must be releases within 50 years of recording or under European copyright law tit is deemed public domain. Due to so many Bob Dylan sessions tapes trading amongst collections the race is on for Sony to 'officially' release this stuff ASAP, or lose it. This first edition gives us outtakes from 1962 and a handful of home recordings and live tracks. It's a great listen for a Dylan fan, but it is unfortunate it had to be released under such cruddy circumstances. Let's see what we get next year! |
Smashing Pumpkins
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2012 is a big year for SP fans. Following on from last year's excellent Gish / Siamese Dream reissues, this year we see more reissues - and a new album! The original Pisces Iscariot was such an eclectic collection of songs, that the reissue was certainly expected to have some surprises. With early gems like My Dahlia and the brilliant cover of Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl included, this has everything it needs. Also as a bonus is a cassette reissue of the 1989 demo that started it all. The Mellon Collie reissue is also far from disappointing, with 3 bonus CDs and the usual DVD of extras. The only complaint from me is that the box didn't match the other reissues! Why Billy, why? The reissue series is shaping up to be a collectors dream. 10/10 |
Smashing Pumpkins
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2012 is a big year for SP fans. Following on from last year's excellent Gish / Siamese Dream reissues, this year we see more reissues - and a new album! The original Pisces Iscariot was such an eclectic collection of songs, that the reissue was certainly expected to have some surprises. With early gems like My Dahlia and the brilliant cover of Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl included, this has everything it needs. Also as a bonus is a cassette reissue of the 1989 demo that started it all. The Mellon Collie reissue is also far from disappointing, with 3 bonus CDs and the usual DVD of extras. The only complaint from me is that the box didn't match the other reissues! Why Billy, why? The reissue series is shaping up to be a collectors dream. 10/10 |
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TheBigBlack's Rock Dishonourable Mentions |
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Cold Chisel
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This is disgraceful. A band with a legacy like theirs, as one of the greatest rock bands in Australian history, should be embarrassed to release this. It sounds like a bunch of tired old men - which may in reality b what they are, but if that is the case, leave it alone and tour your hits. |
The Offspring
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Quite seriously, I would be ashamed of myself if I released this. A band with a legacy as long (and as great) as these guys should know better. From the opener (which sounds like it is the radio-friendly single. but it isn't even close), it is obvious this is an album that is made to sell product. Previous album Rise & Fall, Rage & Grace was brilliant (possibly their best), but unrelenting punk doesn't sell albums to the masses. And so we are left with this. and just when you think you can vomit no more for the sickly sweet taste - you get to the single 'Cruising California (Bumpin In My Trunk)' and that's where you press the stop button. Hopefully they will too if this is the best they can deliver us. |
Something For Kate
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Not only does it sound like it was recorded in a lounge room with a laptop (it probably was), there is nothing memorable about this. In fact the bonus disc I got with the deluxe edition had better tracks - the acoustic versions of the songs. |
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mk's Rock Top 10 |
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Corrosion Of Conformity
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First effort without Pepper on board so the vox takes a little more time to appreciate, but the music quality is still there, if maybe perhaps a bit more speed to it than the 'sludge/groove' we've come to expect. Track 2 is the standout and very classic CoC. For the rest you'll find some new sounds and pace in parts, but overall still an enjoyable release. |
Tremonti
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I've gotta ask why a guitarist part of a successful band feels the need to want their own band? Just about every guitarist from Pearl Jam has done so to some level of success, and we can't ignore Zakk of course, so why would Tremonti not give it a go? A great guitarist no doubt, BUT who thought he could actually sing? In some ways it's very paint-by-numbers and in the mould of your Nickelback-type bands, but as a debut, he's yet to fall for the radio-friendly approach and has some killer guitar riffs all the way through. All up, certainly worth some attention and makes my list. |
KISS
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For the past couple of decades these guys have been nothing but a small passing interest. Even when Sonic Boom was a return after an 11 year break, I still didn't care for them much. Fast forward to 2012 circa Kiss and could we have a more appropriate album title than this? A Monster indeed!! It is full of some very modern sounding songs with catchy riffs but mixed in with some great 70's sounding nostalgia like 'Back To The Stone Age' for example. Certainly made my ears prick-up and for that reason makes my list. |
Van Halen
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I'll put my hand up and admit that I have become a huge Hagar fan over the past few decades, so when David was coming back into the fold and with the way they treated Michael Anthony, I was as ready as ever to hate the heck out of this record. Turns out that me and humble pie had a short but necessary relationship to have - not only was I eating some of that, I was actually turning into a fan again!! Let's just put Tattoo to the side everyone - it's an easy song to hate. The rest though is a great listen. She's the Woman and modern classic example of what these guys used to pump out many years ago. TMOC was going to be hard to beat into number one, but this effort isn't very far behind! |
The Mark Of Cain
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Let's take a walk down memory lane for a bit here. When This is This came out, I was nervous - could they top Ill at Ease? Could it be that good? Turns out it wasn't as good..BUT..it was a classic in its own right. A record that took some time to like, but was a winner once the investment was made. Move forward (a long way forward) to the final news the crew were finally in the studio. We get Barkhammer as a tasty selection. My heart sunk on first listen, and the second and third. I was hoping this wasn't the best of the lot. Thankfully it wasn't. Not sure the reasoning behind that song being the first one they release to the starving fans, but its water under the bridge now. SOTTF has a wealth of songs to write home to your relatives about. I'm not sure where to start - the monotonous of Eastern Decline, the riffing in Milosevic, Kym doing his thing on 1000 Yards and then my fave Heart of Stone, which would fit right in I think on the Ill At Ease mantle. Just brilliant!! Guess I have to wait another 12 or so years for the next one. Forget me being old by then, these guys will be older!! |
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mk's Rock Honourable Mentions |
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ZZ Top
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Well hello, 10 years since the last release and close to 20 years since their heyday. Sheesh, those beards must be a good tinge of grey by now. Likewise the music has a tinge of grey to it also now. Much slower tempo and less catchy riffs from the two hairy folks. This is very much your southern rock/blues classic which they have always had as their foundation, so you can't fault them on that. Is it memorable for me? No, not really. But I am impressed they continue playing and releasing music. Cudos. |
Soundgarden
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I really want to like this, I really do. Problem being is that from about track 4 onwards there is more bad than good. The first few tracks are killer, however slower songs like Taree really show to me that the connection I had with them has shifted. In all honesty this record mostly fits in right after their last full-length. For me however I'd already started to lose interest in them with Down on the Upside. They get a mention in my list as I'm glad they are back together making music again and I can only hope for better days from here. |
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TheBigBlack's Metal Top 10 |
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Overkill
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Although I don't want my 10 to be too predictable, it does bring a smile to my face to see a few classics making the cut. This is the second quality album from Overkill in a row, which is first for them post-80s. The riffs are classic thrash, and the vocals are typical Blitz, with his course style wrapping around the music like seaweed around rice like a perfect sushi. These gentlemen have been doing this for close to 35 years now, so pulling an album with this much venom from their collective sphincter this late in the game is quite an achievement. |
Municipal Waste
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There is still a fair bit of tongue-in-cheek cheese here (that is part of the retro-thrash thang after all), but as always the actual tunes are well written, and playing is top notch. This is similar in places to vintage S.O.D. or Kreator, and that is great in books. Old school horns up salute. |
Gnaw Their Tongues
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With a name (and cover art) like that, you need to go in prepared. This certainly the most musical thing the band has done in recent years (is 'musical' a term usually used with Gnaw?). It still has the usual soundscape styles, but also has actual songs (well, there are instruments) buried underneath. |
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
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Yes - They have finally ascended from the depths to appear in my 10 again, but this is a very different band and sound to their Buried In The Backyard masterwork. This is still thrash, but on the death metal end, with even some blackened screams. Whereas the 2005 debut was about technicality, this is about speed and aggression. The vocals are infinitely better than 2009's Living For Death, and any of the hard-core tones found on that album are now thankfully gone. This is back to being pure modern thrash. |
The Faceless
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The Faceless is the most perfect name this band could have. They have so many styles and personalities on this album, that although they are a death metal band, they are clearly fans of a range of styles. Take some folk, some prog rock, some blackened thrash - and chuck it all in the cauldron. This is like the bastard child of Devin Townsend and Mikael Akerfedlt. |
Testament
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This is the masterpiece that Testament promised us - it was just announced a one album too early. The previous album (the long awaited 'come back') felt a little bit lost, and tried hard to find its identity. This one knows what it is, and tears out your jugular from the moment you press play. Songs like Rise Up and native Blood will become instant classics, and shall be played to many a raised fist at every concert from here on. |
Kreator
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Since their 2001 comeback the 'new' Kreator get better and better with each album. This is a thrash riffing frenzy that is unrelenting from start to finish. Vocally Mille is tighter than some of previous work. Every track here is a thrash leviathan. 'From Flood Into Fire' is a modern metal classic. |
King Parrot
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This is fucking intense, but amazingly unique and brilliant - and sporting all the Ozzie charm of a kangaroo in thongs drinking a can of Fosters (with a straw of course, to get drunk faster). I'd like to say it is modern thrash, but it goes far beyond that to almost being a grind band with high pitched vocals, so I really can't say what it is? Whatever it is classified as, it is fantastic - and even though it is only half hour long you'll need a nice warm cup of Bonox and a bed-e-buys when it is done, because you'll be exhausted. |
Enslaved
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An absolutely amazing blend of their black metal roots and a modern Viking metal style. There is even some old school death metal vocals amongst the fray. This really is a mixing pot of everything they have done before. The music has been taken far beyond anything done before, into newer progressive territories. The melodies are infectious, and the vocals are amazing. Everything about this screams masterpiece. |
Burzum
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Yes. I know. Burzum at number 1 is now about as predictable as knowing that guy next to you on the bus picking his nose is going to eventually wipe it on the seat - but it isn't my fault that everything (black metal related) that Mr Vikernes creates scrapes at the very being of my soul like nails to a black board. It has the most incredible blend of darkness and anger, even though his use of black metal vocals are fewer with each release. After a 20 year break, let us hope old Varg doesn't burn the demonic candle at both ends with this endless string of albums, and keeps producing quality black for a long time to come. |
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TheBigBlack's Metal Honourable Mentions |
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Down
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If they can put out 4 E.P.s of this quality over the next few months (as is the plan), then who needs an album? This is top quality Down, and a perfect example of what they do best. |
Gorlapse
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Yeah, the band is family, but that isn't why this is here. This is just great zombie metal. It can't really be plugged into a genre - its part death / part thrash - and the production is just dirty and garage enough that is it perfect. Bring on the full length album! |
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TheBigBlack's Metal Dishonourable Mentions |
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Ulver
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Ulver has made a career out of being unpredictable, but this one takes the cake. An album full of covers of obscure 60s pop and prog bands done in the recent Ulver 'ethereal' style. I don't have much to say about this, beside I won't be listing to it again any time soon. |
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mk's Metal Top 10 |
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Bonded By Blood
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I'll finally start to give these guys a little credit with their efforts in the new wave of thrash. Musically it is tight and certainly in that classic vein, however the vox is the one thing that I still can't relate to - he's no Joey, Tommy, Dave or James. |
Gojira
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I read that this is their best effort to date and with that I can't argue. It was their 2005 effort (2 records ago) that bought me into their world of guitar laden, angry technical death metal is probably the best way I can describe it. That's the uniqueness right there - this sound is quite unique and kudos to them. It has its dull moments in terms of repetitiveness particularly toward the end of the album but that squealing guitar complimented by a heavy bass line is attractive. |
Cannibal Corpse
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Hard to find good help these days - well a good DM release. Seriously there is no comparison when it comes to CC. I like the tempo mix they do very well these days and Corpsegrinder continues to nail it on vox. There is not much more to say really. You know these guys, you know what they are capable of and you know they NEVER disappoint!! |
Aura Noir
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Scrapes into the list partly on favouritism it must be said, the production is terrible. It sounds very distant and the more I think of it, this is more of a listen on your stereo rather than the headphones. Still, it's not as raw edged and fast paces as the last few efforts, but much like bands such as Khold - they have their style which is very noticeable and they do it very well. |
My Dying Bride
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Seriously, that brooding, dredging guitar sound shortly followed by Stainthorpes infamous hollows in the first 20 seconds of track one sets the scene for yet another chapter of despair and hopelessness you'd expect from these guys. From here however there is a noticeable difference between more recent releases and this one. It seems to be more 'mellow' and less 'anger' in the lyrics and musical approach. For this reason alone, it's not a winner in my book as much as recent efforts but still deserves some credit.` |
Candlemass
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This is a band I will always put every effort into liking. The general theme of the music is not far removed from that dark, sluggish, drag-yourself-into-a-hole space, with a little more of the keyboard, but I can forgive them that. We are now 3 albums in with Rob Lowe fronting the vox and this is where I still have a little bit of contention - he doesn't have the range of Messiah!! Interesting he left the band only a few weeks after this release. In any case, I just love the music, so can forgive that. Let's hope for a better music/vox match in the future. |
Ufomammut
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It has been a few years since I've listened to a credible lyric-devoid, down-tuned and crunching release. Thinking ISIS, Neurosis type style with an extra tonne of cement entering your ears to fill up all those cavities. They released two records this year and I've chosen the one that finally had me sinking to the bottom of the harbour with the sound. |
Enslaved
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This is possibly the best prog release I have heard for a few years. I've been concerned previously with listening to a full record given the keyboards etc they like to include. While they are still there, they don't seem to be as noticeable. The vox is a perfect complement to the music in the right places if that makes sense. Definitely worthy of a top10 place. |
King Parrot
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Blast beats, buzzing guitars and frenetic desperation in the vocals, what more could you want? Definitely a mood required to listen to this one. As everyone will know I do like some variation in smashing my face against a brick wall. This one does the smashing with a level of respect (thankyou fellas) but also offers the opportunity to take a breath, wipe the blood off your face with a used yiros wrapper and then continue said beating. If you don't like it, you've got shit on your liver folks!! \m/ |
Funeral Whore
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Brilliant slab of gritty death metal. Memories of old Carcass, Slayer and even Pungent Stench come flowing back to me with this one. Fast paced, but melodic also. A welcome surprise. |
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mk's Metal Honourable Mentions |
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Cattle Decapitation
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Ouch, that hurts. A wall of brutal sound that will stop you in your tracks and ask the question 'are you prepared to have your ears bleed?'. Would love to see these guys live as heck knows how they would do it. There are a bunch of newish death metal bands looking to deliver the listener something new. While I am still set in my ways (such as the new CC release for example) there is no question over these guys' chops and what they can add to the DM legacy. |
Cryptopsy
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A tricky one as they are pretty much at the top of their league in the death/grind scene, but unless you are a huge fan, it's likely you'll see this is a quality release but nothing new. That's where I sit. Interesting comparison would be to Cannibal Corpse circa 2002. Cryptopsy have a similar wall of sound but much more modern and relentless, not stopping for that slower melody, which for me is equally brutal if you can hold that with a Corpsegrinder vox happening. |
Napalm Death
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Well what can you say about these guys? No need to listen generally between records, however I'd suggest that you do listen to this one as it has some noticeable differences in style. Sure for the most part Embury and the crew are giving you a lesson (in case you needed it) on how to write a straight-up brutal DM release. However there are some points in the record where my ears pricked up in relation to some different sounds. I'd have to say I'm on the fence with this one, thus not an entry in the Top10 as you might expect. |
Nachtmystium
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No doubting the talent in this band and their interpretation of the BM sound. I really liked their Black Meddle efforts - it was the first time I had listened to their sound. This one now suffers the unfortunate circumstance of me comparing it to those records. For me it doesn't quite match it. Less aggressive and actually more complex in the sound if you give it a few listens. Is that what I'd like from these guys? Still undecided. |
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mk's Metal Dishonourable Mentions |
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Ihsahn
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So when you sing with a gravel voice as the legend has always done, I have no complaints. When you match it with music that Delta Goodrem could sing to, then I have a little bit of a problem with where the dude is heading. Seriously, its progressive with that growling verse/melodic chorus approach, but really are we hearing anything ground breaking here? Absolutely not. If anything the band provides the landscape of colour and our main-man simply provides the out-of-colour lipstick to what could be a far better effort given his pedigree. |
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