Speaking as I was a day or two ago about bands I haven't featured here in a while, let's talk about everybody's favourite Swedish death-cum-folk prog act, Opeth. Last year's 70's-syle opus Pale Communion was pretty solid, but I'm still of the opinion that Mikael and the gang will be hard pressed to ever top the fusion of melody and metal that is 2008's Watershed.
Like I've said before, I think Watershed represents the perfect proportional mix of Opeth's older death metal influences and its more recent forays into folk, prog, and 70's rock. Watershed is definitely a "start to finish" kind of album for me, meaning if I have my druthers I'd prefer to listen to the whole thing in one go, rather than cherry picking just a few songs from it.
If, however, I'm forced to pick just one track from Watershed, which in a sense I am, this time around I'm going with epic late-album number "Hessian Peel". This eleven-and-a-half minute monster is a microcosm of what makes Watershed great: moody and mellow acousticness gives way to crushing heavy about six minutes in. If you want the best of both Opeth worlds, "Hessian Peel" should be one of your first stops.
Showing posts with label Opeth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opeth. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Opeth - Beneath the Mire
Time for a little Throwback Thursday action, and this week we're going back an even decade to one of my favourite Opeth albums for a nice, crunchy slice of metal-fried prog.
I'm sure Opeth purists are screaming Blackwater Park at their computers already, but for my money Ghost Reveries remains one of the band's best. It came out right in that butter zone between Opeth's metal and prog phases, when they were in the process of going increasingly Rock but still had a firm enough grounding in Metal. Your song today, classic cut "Beneath the Mire", might be a little more on the prog-rockier end of things, and little lighter on the full-on metal than some of the other tracks from Ghost Reveries, but it's got its share of grooves and goodness.
It'd probably be a pretty good idea to put this whole album on, if you're looking for something to listen to, but at the very least do yourself the favour of jamming "Beneath the Mire". It's eight minutes well spent.
I'm sure Opeth purists are screaming Blackwater Park at their computers already, but for my money Ghost Reveries remains one of the band's best. It came out right in that butter zone between Opeth's metal and prog phases, when they were in the process of going increasingly Rock but still had a firm enough grounding in Metal. Your song today, classic cut "Beneath the Mire", might be a little more on the prog-rockier end of things, and little lighter on the full-on metal than some of the other tracks from Ghost Reveries, but it's got its share of grooves and goodness.
It'd probably be a pretty good idea to put this whole album on, if you're looking for something to listen to, but at the very least do yourself the favour of jamming "Beneath the Mire". It's eight minutes well spent.
Monday, 25 May 2015
Saturday: Caligula's Horse - Into the White
It seems like I just get things back on track and then they fall right back off the rails again. Oh well. Onward and upward, right? Saturday song it is then!
I've posted about Australian prog band Caligula's Horse at least a couple of times before, and now the time has come for me to do it again. The bad news is that I'm not doing so because of a new album or anything like that. The good news, though, is that I am prompted to do so by the recent emergence of a rippin' live video from their recent performance in Brisbane supporting none other than Opeth. Not too shabby, right?
"Into the White" originally comes from the 2013 Caligula's Horse album The Tide, The Thief, & River's End, and even though the version I'm linking to today is the recent live rendition, rest assured that you could alternately check out the album version of this one and be guaranteed to find the same melodic and melancholy progressive post-whatever in either case. This is eights minutes well spent, whether you're already a fan or not.
I've posted about Australian prog band Caligula's Horse at least a couple of times before, and now the time has come for me to do it again. The bad news is that I'm not doing so because of a new album or anything like that. The good news, though, is that I am prompted to do so by the recent emergence of a rippin' live video from their recent performance in Brisbane supporting none other than Opeth. Not too shabby, right?
"Into the White" originally comes from the 2013 Caligula's Horse album The Tide, The Thief, & River's End, and even though the version I'm linking to today is the recent live rendition, rest assured that you could alternately check out the album version of this one and be guaranteed to find the same melodic and melancholy progressive post-whatever in either case. This is eights minutes well spent, whether you're already a fan or not.
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Saturday: Secrets of the Sky - Three Swords
Not quite sure what kind of heavy you're in the mood for just now? I've got you covered, Saturday style, courtesy of California's Secrets of the Sky.
"Three Swords", the first track to be loosed from the band's upcoming Pathway, is just the kind of song to suit your indecisive palette. Slow burning and a little doomy for much of its first half, with a few sorta psychedelic sprinklings, "Three Swords" gets blacker and crustier and all around heavier towards its conclusion. It's eight minutes that flies by without ever overstaying its welcome.
If I had to make some band comparisons to give you an impression of Secrets of the Sky, I suppose I might say something like good Machine Head meets Opeth meets Cormorant, but really I'm as unsure what to call these guys as you are regarding what you're in the mood for just now. But why not just check out the song for yourself? Atta boy.
"Three Swords", the first track to be loosed from the band's upcoming Pathway, is just the kind of song to suit your indecisive palette. Slow burning and a little doomy for much of its first half, with a few sorta psychedelic sprinklings, "Three Swords" gets blacker and crustier and all around heavier towards its conclusion. It's eight minutes that flies by without ever overstaying its welcome.
If I had to make some band comparisons to give you an impression of Secrets of the Sky, I suppose I might say something like good Machine Head meets Opeth meets Cormorant, but really I'm as unsure what to call these guys as you are regarding what you're in the mood for just now. But why not just check out the song for yourself? Atta boy.
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Opeth - I Feel the Dark
I've decided to go with something a little lighter than the past couple of days' songs for your Humpday Wednesday, but still something that, despite being fairly chill, still has some proggy meat on its bones. So, that pretty much screams Opeth, right?
Things had been getting less death metal and more prog for Opeth for a couple of record's, but the 2011 album Heritage marks the the beginning of the shift from prog with some remaining metal sprinklings to full-on 70's vibe. Many old-school Opeth fans lament this transformation, but I've never had a problem with it, and today's song is a good example of why that is.
"I Feel the Dark" has a little bit of heaviness in its menacing middle section, but otherwise it's a study in acoustic-driven mellow groove, made a little more dreaming and ethereal by Per's keyboard work. It's the kind of track that really shows off the synthesis of styles that Opeth has pretty much perfected by this point. Heritage may not be everybody's favourite Opeth record, but "I Feel the Dark" is proof that it definitely still has some good stuff on it. Chill out and put this one on.
Things had been getting less death metal and more prog for Opeth for a couple of record's, but the 2011 album Heritage marks the the beginning of the shift from prog with some remaining metal sprinklings to full-on 70's vibe. Many old-school Opeth fans lament this transformation, but I've never had a problem with it, and today's song is a good example of why that is.
"I Feel the Dark" has a little bit of heaviness in its menacing middle section, but otherwise it's a study in acoustic-driven mellow groove, made a little more dreaming and ethereal by Per's keyboard work. It's the kind of track that really shows off the synthesis of styles that Opeth has pretty much perfected by this point. Heritage may not be everybody's favourite Opeth record, but "I Feel the Dark" is proof that it definitely still has some good stuff on it. Chill out and put this one on.
Friday, 6 February 2015
2014 Round-up: Loud Noises Ten Best of 2014
Well wouldn't you know it, 2015 is quickly slipping away from us, which means it's time I'd better get my shit together and get on with the Loud Noises 2014 Round-Up. And only a month or so late! As usual, we're going to start things off with a few of my favourite albums from the year that was 2014 (let's say around ten or so...), presented in no particular order.
- Job for a Cowboy - Sun Eater
This one not only warrants a spot on this list of ten great albums from 2014, it's also a front-runner for Biggest Surprise of the Year. You see, I never used to think much of Job for a Cowboy. I don't know what it was about their first couple of albums, but I wasn't really a fan and more or less wrote the band off in my head. I really only checked out Sun Eater on the strength of the first couple of tracks Job for a Cowboy released from it, but I've been pleasantly and thoroughly surprised to discover that Job for a Cowboy has become a pretty badass death metal band with just the right amount of technicality and even some proggy highlights applied here and there. Sun Eater slays, and it should be enough to convince anyone sitting on the Job for a Cowboy fence which side they should come down on.
- Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
Given metal's traditional, even stereotypical, popularity in places like Scandinavia and northern Europe, I guess I shouldn't be surprised in 2015 that there are so many kickass bands doing their thing in so many different places around the world. Maybe someday the novelty of learning metal isn't a strictly North American phenomenon will wear off, but for the time being I still find myself perhaps unduly excited every time I learn about a band somewhere else doing something just as awesome as what's going on right here at home. Case in point: Italy's Destrage, an incredibly talented band that doesn't let its high energy, frenetic riffing get in the way of its songwriting. Think a somewhat more metal Protest the Hero with the vein of spastic madness turned up to levels closer to Dillinger Escape Plan and you'll be approaching the right track. Are You Kidding Me? No. is a masterpiece, and I can't wait to hear whatever's next from Destrage.
- Killitorous - Party, Grind
If you've been following along for any length of time now, you've likely picked up on the fact that my tastes, while pretty diverse, tend towards the proggier end of the spectrum. But I do so loves me some death metal, especially when it's fast and techy, which is why Killitorous' Party, Grind hit such a sweet spot for me. I crowdfunded this one on a whim and the strength of one single, and boy was I gratified when my copy came in the mail and fucking killed. Party, Grind is fast and ferocious from start to finish, with enough trem picking, arpeggio sweeping, and blast beating to satisfy any tech-death aficionado. That Killitorous are Canadian is just gravy. A sophomore disc from these guys will be something to watch out for.
- Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails
Going into 2014, it was a pretty safe bet that big things were in store for San Francisco's Fallujah. They weren't exactly newcomers to the scene, but they were getting a newcomer kind of buzz for their 2013 EP Nomadic. Then when The Flesh Prevails dropped, the johnny-come-latelies like me all learned that the buzz was well deserved. In The Flesh Prevails Fallujah served up a major slab of dense and atmospheric progressive post-death metal. They managed to take what is clearly some incredible musicianship and make a record that translates all of it into intensity and none of it into showy excess. There's a lot here to digest, but the dedicated listener is most definitely rewarded with a modern classic.
- Closure in Moscow - Pink Lemonade
As much as I got into Pink Lemonade in 2014 (which was a lot), it's definitely a grower and not a shower, if you take my meaning. Fans of Closure in Moscow expecting the band's next disc to sound more or less like First Temple kicked up a notch or two are likely to have been a little turned off by the spaced-out prog rock that is Pink Lemonade, at least initially. The open-minded listener, however, was rewarded with a Mars Voltian jazz funk adventure that spans a whole fistful of genres. Post-hardcore, post-rock -- Pink Lemonade is post-whatever you can think of. Metal purists should think twice before they look down their nose at this one.
- Raiju - Haunt
I've posted about songs from this album a couple of times in the last little bit, so you should already have an idea why these guys have a spot on this list. Just in case you don't: take the punk-metal-influenced shreddy riffing of Protest the Hero, mix in the proggy, groovy low end of Periphery, add a dash of slick pop-prog from somebody like Coheed and Cambria, and you've got yourself a rough sketch of Raiju. Comparisons between Raiju and bands like those I just mentioned are especially appropriate given vocalist Scott Wagner's impressive vocal range. Raiju is another one of those bands whose sophomore should be absolutely epic if their freshman effort is any indication.
- Wake - Hail the Sun
When I was younger, we might well have called Wake and their debut LP Hail the Sun emo or screamo or something like that, earnestly at first and then perhaps derogatorily a little later on once we'd grown into our more metal listening habits. These days the catch-all term "post-hardcore" might be employed in polite company (although screamo is probably still the denigrating term of choice among genre naysayers). Whatever way you want to slice things, label-wise, Hail the Sun is an energetic, varied, vaguely poppy, vaguely techy record in the vein of bands like Dance Gavin Dance. More than that, though, I'd call it one of the best examples of "screamo" to come out in years (Dance Gavin Dance included).
- Opeth - Pale Communion
The last couple of Opeth records have been pretty polarizing for longtime fans of the band. Some have embraced the band's shift away from its death metal roots, while others have wholeheartedly rejected it. Luckily for me, I've been in the former camp since the electric/acoustic yin-yang of the Deliverance/Damnation double album, and I've listened to each new Opeth record fully expecting and accepting that we're not getting another Blackwater Park -- and that that's perfectly OK. If you're willing to concede that point and go into Pale Communion with that in mind, you'll discover a straight-up rock-solid prog record. Watershed is still my favourite of Opeth's less-metal offerings, but Pale Communion is definitely the strongest of their last couple.
- Archspire - The Lucid Collective
Technical death metal is in a good place at the opening of 2015, and there were a number of really solid albums in this genre last year that could arguably warrant a spot on my list of favourite albums from 2014. I've already mentioned one of them in Killitorous' killer debut LP Party, Grind and awesomely enough my next selection is also an act from the Great White North. Vancouver's Archspire adorn their merch with the slogan "Stay Tech", and a listen or two to their 2014 disc The Lucid Collective should demonstrate that they've got the chops to back it up. Machine gun-quick vocals, fretboard acrobatics, and light-speed drumming all line up just right on this one. Fans of the genre would be greatly remiss if they didn't check this one out.
- Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Last bust most certainly not least, I'm rounding out my list of 2014 favourites with another phenomenal album of technically proficient, compositionally progressive death metal from yet another badass Canadian band. I might, of course, be just a little bit biased, but I don't think you need to be to recognize the towering mountain of proggy death metal that Montreal's Beyond Creation have crafted for us in Earthborn Evolution. Dominic Lapointe's absolutely ridiculous bass work is worth the price of admission all by itself, to say nothing of the laser-precise performances of all involved. There's maybe a shade less sheer speed here than, say, Archspire or Killitorous, but the musicianship is so top-notch that it's hard to be anything but bewildered by this one.
And there you have it: another year, another ten kickass albums. As usual, narrowing the crowded field of good records from last year down to ten of my favourites wasn't easy, but I hope my making the tough calls means that, when deciding what to put on next, you won't have to.
I've got another couple of 2014 Round-Up posts planned, which hopefully won't take until spring to finish up, so stay tuned.
- Job for a Cowboy - Sun Eater
This one not only warrants a spot on this list of ten great albums from 2014, it's also a front-runner for Biggest Surprise of the Year. You see, I never used to think much of Job for a Cowboy. I don't know what it was about their first couple of albums, but I wasn't really a fan and more or less wrote the band off in my head. I really only checked out Sun Eater on the strength of the first couple of tracks Job for a Cowboy released from it, but I've been pleasantly and thoroughly surprised to discover that Job for a Cowboy has become a pretty badass death metal band with just the right amount of technicality and even some proggy highlights applied here and there. Sun Eater slays, and it should be enough to convince anyone sitting on the Job for a Cowboy fence which side they should come down on.
- Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
Given metal's traditional, even stereotypical, popularity in places like Scandinavia and northern Europe, I guess I shouldn't be surprised in 2015 that there are so many kickass bands doing their thing in so many different places around the world. Maybe someday the novelty of learning metal isn't a strictly North American phenomenon will wear off, but for the time being I still find myself perhaps unduly excited every time I learn about a band somewhere else doing something just as awesome as what's going on right here at home. Case in point: Italy's Destrage, an incredibly talented band that doesn't let its high energy, frenetic riffing get in the way of its songwriting. Think a somewhat more metal Protest the Hero with the vein of spastic madness turned up to levels closer to Dillinger Escape Plan and you'll be approaching the right track. Are You Kidding Me? No. is a masterpiece, and I can't wait to hear whatever's next from Destrage.
- Killitorous - Party, Grind
If you've been following along for any length of time now, you've likely picked up on the fact that my tastes, while pretty diverse, tend towards the proggier end of the spectrum. But I do so loves me some death metal, especially when it's fast and techy, which is why Killitorous' Party, Grind hit such a sweet spot for me. I crowdfunded this one on a whim and the strength of one single, and boy was I gratified when my copy came in the mail and fucking killed. Party, Grind is fast and ferocious from start to finish, with enough trem picking, arpeggio sweeping, and blast beating to satisfy any tech-death aficionado. That Killitorous are Canadian is just gravy. A sophomore disc from these guys will be something to watch out for.
- Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails
Going into 2014, it was a pretty safe bet that big things were in store for San Francisco's Fallujah. They weren't exactly newcomers to the scene, but they were getting a newcomer kind of buzz for their 2013 EP Nomadic. Then when The Flesh Prevails dropped, the johnny-come-latelies like me all learned that the buzz was well deserved. In The Flesh Prevails Fallujah served up a major slab of dense and atmospheric progressive post-death metal. They managed to take what is clearly some incredible musicianship and make a record that translates all of it into intensity and none of it into showy excess. There's a lot here to digest, but the dedicated listener is most definitely rewarded with a modern classic.
- Closure in Moscow - Pink Lemonade
As much as I got into Pink Lemonade in 2014 (which was a lot), it's definitely a grower and not a shower, if you take my meaning. Fans of Closure in Moscow expecting the band's next disc to sound more or less like First Temple kicked up a notch or two are likely to have been a little turned off by the spaced-out prog rock that is Pink Lemonade, at least initially. The open-minded listener, however, was rewarded with a Mars Voltian jazz funk adventure that spans a whole fistful of genres. Post-hardcore, post-rock -- Pink Lemonade is post-whatever you can think of. Metal purists should think twice before they look down their nose at this one.
- Raiju - Haunt
I've posted about songs from this album a couple of times in the last little bit, so you should already have an idea why these guys have a spot on this list. Just in case you don't: take the punk-metal-influenced shreddy riffing of Protest the Hero, mix in the proggy, groovy low end of Periphery, add a dash of slick pop-prog from somebody like Coheed and Cambria, and you've got yourself a rough sketch of Raiju. Comparisons between Raiju and bands like those I just mentioned are especially appropriate given vocalist Scott Wagner's impressive vocal range. Raiju is another one of those bands whose sophomore should be absolutely epic if their freshman effort is any indication.
- Wake - Hail the Sun
When I was younger, we might well have called Wake and their debut LP Hail the Sun emo or screamo or something like that, earnestly at first and then perhaps derogatorily a little later on once we'd grown into our more metal listening habits. These days the catch-all term "post-hardcore" might be employed in polite company (although screamo is probably still the denigrating term of choice among genre naysayers). Whatever way you want to slice things, label-wise, Hail the Sun is an energetic, varied, vaguely poppy, vaguely techy record in the vein of bands like Dance Gavin Dance. More than that, though, I'd call it one of the best examples of "screamo" to come out in years (Dance Gavin Dance included).
- Opeth - Pale Communion
The last couple of Opeth records have been pretty polarizing for longtime fans of the band. Some have embraced the band's shift away from its death metal roots, while others have wholeheartedly rejected it. Luckily for me, I've been in the former camp since the electric/acoustic yin-yang of the Deliverance/Damnation double album, and I've listened to each new Opeth record fully expecting and accepting that we're not getting another Blackwater Park -- and that that's perfectly OK. If you're willing to concede that point and go into Pale Communion with that in mind, you'll discover a straight-up rock-solid prog record. Watershed is still my favourite of Opeth's less-metal offerings, but Pale Communion is definitely the strongest of their last couple.
- Archspire - The Lucid Collective
Technical death metal is in a good place at the opening of 2015, and there were a number of really solid albums in this genre last year that could arguably warrant a spot on my list of favourite albums from 2014. I've already mentioned one of them in Killitorous' killer debut LP Party, Grind and awesomely enough my next selection is also an act from the Great White North. Vancouver's Archspire adorn their merch with the slogan "Stay Tech", and a listen or two to their 2014 disc The Lucid Collective should demonstrate that they've got the chops to back it up. Machine gun-quick vocals, fretboard acrobatics, and light-speed drumming all line up just right on this one. Fans of the genre would be greatly remiss if they didn't check this one out.
- Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Last bust most certainly not least, I'm rounding out my list of 2014 favourites with another phenomenal album of technically proficient, compositionally progressive death metal from yet another badass Canadian band. I might, of course, be just a little bit biased, but I don't think you need to be to recognize the towering mountain of proggy death metal that Montreal's Beyond Creation have crafted for us in Earthborn Evolution. Dominic Lapointe's absolutely ridiculous bass work is worth the price of admission all by itself, to say nothing of the laser-precise performances of all involved. There's maybe a shade less sheer speed here than, say, Archspire or Killitorous, but the musicianship is so top-notch that it's hard to be anything but bewildered by this one.
And there you have it: another year, another ten kickass albums. As usual, narrowing the crowded field of good records from last year down to ten of my favourites wasn't easy, but I hope my making the tough calls means that, when deciding what to put on next, you won't have to.
I've got another couple of 2014 Round-Up posts planned, which hopefully won't take until spring to finish up, so stay tuned.
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
James Norbert Ivanyi - Thumb Trick
Time for something weird for your Wednesday song. Not necessarily weird enough to warrant calling it Weird Wednesday or anything, but definitely something with an interesting, and somewhat sinister sounding, vibe.
Picture, if you will, the following: a progressive metal/heavy rock band reminiscent of Opeth, but sans Mikael's dreamy croon (ie: instrumental) and with the jazzy feel turned up to eleven. Now take the whole thing and warp it ever so slightly, just to the point that it starts getting twisted and evil-sounding around the edges.
What you end up with is an approximation of the work of Australian one man army James Norbert Ivanyi (hey, I wonder if he knows Plini...), whose sophomore album of instrumental coolness The Matter Circumvention was unleashed back in January. The whole record is a beautifully cohesive piece, but to get a taste like the one I've just tried to describe, I'm going to recommend you start with "Thumb Trick", which should have enough brooding menace and proggy groove to whet your appetite for the rest of the record. I know it's early in the year yet, but I smell some 'Best of 2015' accolades in The Matter Circumvention's future.
Picture, if you will, the following: a progressive metal/heavy rock band reminiscent of Opeth, but sans Mikael's dreamy croon (ie: instrumental) and with the jazzy feel turned up to eleven. Now take the whole thing and warp it ever so slightly, just to the point that it starts getting twisted and evil-sounding around the edges.
What you end up with is an approximation of the work of Australian one man army James Norbert Ivanyi (hey, I wonder if he knows Plini...), whose sophomore album of instrumental coolness The Matter Circumvention was unleashed back in January. The whole record is a beautifully cohesive piece, but to get a taste like the one I've just tried to describe, I'm going to recommend you start with "Thumb Trick", which should have enough brooding menace and proggy groove to whet your appetite for the rest of the record. I know it's early in the year yet, but I smell some 'Best of 2015' accolades in The Matter Circumvention's future.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Thursday: Alkaloid - Carbon Phrases
The boulder is continuing to roll up the hill here at Loud Noises, and I've decided to go with something nice and meaty for your Thursday song to make up for the fact that I'm taking literally forever to get caught up this time. Hope you've got nine and a half minutes!
Alkaloid is a death-prog supergroup that includes former members of some pretty obscura acts (see what I did there, Obscura fans?). Their debut LP The Malkuth Grimoire is both due out in 2015 and sure to be suitably metal based on that title alone. Case in point: album opener and first single "Carbon Phrases", the aforementioned nine-and-a-half-minute monster.
"Carbon Phrases" is darkly melodic, but also packing plenty of heavy. In particular, there's a section just shy of the five-and-a-half minute mark that's pretty face melting. All in all, the death-prog bits (heavier on the death, lighter on the prog) have a flavour that's a little reminiscent of old-school Opeth, something which might well endear Alkaloid to fans for whom Opeth's more recent retro-folk-jazz-seasoned offerings have been less than pleasing. Check out The Malkuth Grimoire next year for something big and stompy.
Alkaloid is a death-prog supergroup that includes former members of some pretty obscura acts (see what I did there, Obscura fans?). Their debut LP The Malkuth Grimoire is both due out in 2015 and sure to be suitably metal based on that title alone. Case in point: album opener and first single "Carbon Phrases", the aforementioned nine-and-a-half-minute monster.
"Carbon Phrases" is darkly melodic, but also packing plenty of heavy. In particular, there's a section just shy of the five-and-a-half minute mark that's pretty face melting. All in all, the death-prog bits (heavier on the death, lighter on the prog) have a flavour that's a little reminiscent of old-school Opeth, something which might well endear Alkaloid to fans for whom Opeth's more recent retro-folk-jazz-seasoned offerings have been less than pleasing. Check out The Malkuth Grimoire next year for something big and stompy.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Saturday: Opeth - Moon Above, Sun Below
Hey there stranger, talk about being late on the Saturday draw too... As all three of you may have noticed, I took a bit of an impromptu and unannounced vacation from Loud Noises over the weekend. It was the girlfriend's birthday yesterday, with a whole plethora of festivities populating the preceding days, so I decided that rather than rush things here (or worse, abandon her for extended periods of metal consumption) I'd just get back to you guys once things settled down.
We're both back to the grind today, and everything's pretty much back to normal around here, so that means it's everybody's favourite time: catch-up time. I've got a whole weekend to make up for, so let's get straight to a Saturday song to get things started.
Opeth's latest album Pale Communion is one of their most divisive yet. If you're into the jazzy 60's/70's folk-prog that the band's been moving towards for the last couple of records, you're in luck, because Pale Communion is the furthest down this particular path that Opeth has gotten yet. If on the other hand you're more of a fan of the heavier metal elements that the band has largely been moving away from for the last couple of records, you're out of luck, because Pale Communion is yet essentially another dose of retro-flavoured prog-rock.
Your Saturday song, "Moon Above, Sun Below", is one of the heavier songs on the album, and one of the songs that harkens back the most to albums like Watershed and Heritage. Don't get me wrong, there's still no death growls or anything, but it's still got a sinister metal-y vibe all the same. And any song with a running time of more than ten minutes is pretty metal, right? Have a listen to "Moon Above, Sun Below" and make the call for yourself.
We're both back to the grind today, and everything's pretty much back to normal around here, so that means it's everybody's favourite time: catch-up time. I've got a whole weekend to make up for, so let's get straight to a Saturday song to get things started.
Opeth's latest album Pale Communion is one of their most divisive yet. If you're into the jazzy 60's/70's folk-prog that the band's been moving towards for the last couple of records, you're in luck, because Pale Communion is the furthest down this particular path that Opeth has gotten yet. If on the other hand you're more of a fan of the heavier metal elements that the band has largely been moving away from for the last couple of records, you're out of luck, because Pale Communion is yet essentially another dose of retro-flavoured prog-rock.
Your Saturday song, "Moon Above, Sun Below", is one of the heavier songs on the album, and one of the songs that harkens back the most to albums like Watershed and Heritage. Don't get me wrong, there's still no death growls or anything, but it's still got a sinister metal-y vibe all the same. And any song with a running time of more than ten minutes is pretty metal, right? Have a listen to "Moon Above, Sun Below" and make the call for yourself.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Monday: Anciients - Falling in Line
Looked at your calendar lately? November went by faster than a two-minute speed-grind song, and it's now officially December, which means that it's also officially "End of the Year Best of" season. I'm not going to join the crowd just yet, but I thought it might be interesting to revisit at least a few of last year's picks over the next couple of weeks, starting with some classic-sounding proggy metal from today's band of Canucks.
Anciients' masterpiece of a debut Heart of Oak appeared on my Ten Best list last year, in addition to spending a lot of time in my CD player. It mixes a menacing, old-school sound with some new-school technicality and musicianship, with the result being a heady wizard's brew of melody and heaviness that should satisfy fans of multiple genres of metal.
Exhibit A is "Falling in Line", an epic eight-minute-plus bruiser of a song that comes complete with some badass lead guitar work. It's a bit of a slow burn at the start, but if you can handle the build-up in, say, an Opeth song, you'll be right at home with Anciients and "Falling in Line". Make some time in your schedule for this one.
Anciients' masterpiece of a debut Heart of Oak appeared on my Ten Best list last year, in addition to spending a lot of time in my CD player. It mixes a menacing, old-school sound with some new-school technicality and musicianship, with the result being a heady wizard's brew of melody and heaviness that should satisfy fans of multiple genres of metal.
Exhibit A is "Falling in Line", an epic eight-minute-plus bruiser of a song that comes complete with some badass lead guitar work. It's a bit of a slow burn at the start, but if you can handle the build-up in, say, an Opeth song, you'll be right at home with Anciients and "Falling in Line". Make some time in your schedule for this one.
Saturday, 2 August 2014
LAGO - Concede to Oblivion
The weekend is upon us at last, so you could probably use some heavy shit to jam out while you're taking in some sun and some of your poison of choice, right? I thought so, which is why today you're going to listen to LAGO.
Phoenix, Arizona's LAGO are set to release their debut LP Tyranny this fall, and they've already got a song streaming its way around the interwebs entitled "Concede to Oblivion". Why should you listen to the latter and possibly become interested in the former? I can't speak for the whole of Tyranny yet, but "Concede" is some rock-solid death metal that I find reminiscent of mid-catalogue Opeth, or maybe the deathier parts of a good Gojira song.
It might be a little early to tell for sure, but I'd keep an eye on LAGO if this kinda of death metal is your thing. They could be a force to be reckoned with in an album or two. Get in on the ground floor today.
Phoenix, Arizona's LAGO are set to release their debut LP Tyranny this fall, and they've already got a song streaming its way around the interwebs entitled "Concede to Oblivion". Why should you listen to the latter and possibly become interested in the former? I can't speak for the whole of Tyranny yet, but "Concede" is some rock-solid death metal that I find reminiscent of mid-catalogue Opeth, or maybe the deathier parts of a good Gojira song.
It might be a little early to tell for sure, but I'd keep an eye on LAGO if this kinda of death metal is your thing. They could be a force to be reckoned with in an album or two. Get in on the ground floor today.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Album of the Week(end): Opeth - Watershed
Super late on the draw with your album this week, but I'll use as an excuse the fact that I've got a little something in the works... a little something you'll have to wait a while longer for, but a little something I think you might enjoy. Anyways, rather than just skip the week, I've decided that this week you just have to spend the weekend doing your homework -- but you have to rock it extra hard. Hopefully that won't be a problem, given the subject matter.
What subject matter, you ask? Well, this weekend you're going to be getting closer to Opeth's 2008 monster Watershed. As any Opeth fan will tell you, I could recommend any number of albums from the band's catalogue, and for more than just a weekend, or even a week, but Watershed marks a...'watershed'... moment in my own personal musical journey. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. I really couldn't)
Back when this album came out, I was decently into Opeth, particularly their more recent stuff (the Damnation and Deliverance records, as well as Ghost Reveries), and I was also really starting to listen outside the mainstream metal box (or at least, I suppose, what I considered to be the mainstream metal box back then -- lots of metalcore, mainly). So when this Swedish band that I already considered to be pretty damn good put out the perfect mix of rock, metal, jazz, blues, and folk, all on a single record, I was pretty much instantly hooked.
Assuming (stupidly, perhaps) that you're not already familiar with this one, I'm hoping you'll get pretty instantly hooked too, since you've only got the weekend to sit with it. But really, any time you give to this classic over the next couple of days will be well spent. Don't let the fact that Opeth is a metal band turn you off if you're not a metal fan. Don't let the fact that this is the album on which Opeth really went non-metal turn you off if you are a metal fan. Any way you slice it, just revisit this classic as a favour to me, OK?
What subject matter, you ask? Well, this weekend you're going to be getting closer to Opeth's 2008 monster Watershed. As any Opeth fan will tell you, I could recommend any number of albums from the band's catalogue, and for more than just a weekend, or even a week, but Watershed marks a...'watershed'... moment in my own personal musical journey. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. I really couldn't)
Back when this album came out, I was decently into Opeth, particularly their more recent stuff (the Damnation and Deliverance records, as well as Ghost Reveries), and I was also really starting to listen outside the mainstream metal box (or at least, I suppose, what I considered to be the mainstream metal box back then -- lots of metalcore, mainly). So when this Swedish band that I already considered to be pretty damn good put out the perfect mix of rock, metal, jazz, blues, and folk, all on a single record, I was pretty much instantly hooked.
Assuming (stupidly, perhaps) that you're not already familiar with this one, I'm hoping you'll get pretty instantly hooked too, since you've only got the weekend to sit with it. But really, any time you give to this classic over the next couple of days will be well spent. Don't let the fact that Opeth is a metal band turn you off if you're not a metal fan. Don't let the fact that this is the album on which Opeth really went non-metal turn you off if you are a metal fan. Any way you slice it, just revisit this classic as a favour to me, OK?
Monday, 2 June 2014
Opeth - Cusp of Eternity
It's a good day to be an Opeth fan. Their new album Pale Communion might not be due out until August, but we finally got a taste of what to expect today with the release of the record's first single, "Cusp of Eternity".
If "Cusp" is any indication of the overall sound of Pale Communion, fans who've been digging the reinvention of Opeth as a 70's prog rock band will be well pleased. There's nary a death metal riff or growl to be heard, but there's not necessarily anything wrong with that. The song's still got a good groove, and a pretty rad guitar solo too.
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the rest of the album, and unlike what seems to be a good portion of Opeth's fanbase, I'm going to wait until I do hear the whole thing before decrying or lauding the band's latest step in their current musical direction. Even if you didn't especially dig Heritage or whatever, have a listen and keep an open mind.
If "Cusp" is any indication of the overall sound of Pale Communion, fans who've been digging the reinvention of Opeth as a 70's prog rock band will be well pleased. There's nary a death metal riff or growl to be heard, but there's not necessarily anything wrong with that. The song's still got a good groove, and a pretty rad guitar solo too.
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the rest of the album, and unlike what seems to be a good portion of Opeth's fanbase, I'm going to wait until I do hear the whole thing before decrying or lauding the band's latest step in their current musical direction. Even if you didn't especially dig Heritage or whatever, have a listen and keep an open mind.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Opeth - Master's Apprentices
Mastodon, eat your heart out, because Opeth have got you trumped in the new album department. Sure, we now know that Mastodon's Once More Round the Sun is nearing completion, but Opeth have done one better and not only released the title of their forthcoming disc Pale Communion but also announced a release date of June 17 to boot! Happy early birthday to me!
The first single from Pale Communion isn't due out for another month or so, so for now we'll have to delve into the band's back catalogue for a suitable song to celebrate the news of new Opeth. Tonight I'd like to suggest the epic "Master's Apprentices" from the 2002 disc Deliverance. It's anyone's guess what Pale Communion will sound like, but here's hoping it's got a little of this classic Opeth flavour.
The first single from Pale Communion isn't due out for another month or so, so for now we'll have to delve into the band's back catalogue for a suitable song to celebrate the news of new Opeth. Tonight I'd like to suggest the epic "Master's Apprentices" from the 2002 disc Deliverance. It's anyone's guess what Pale Communion will sound like, but here's hoping it's got a little of this classic Opeth flavour.
Monday, 25 November 2013
Monday Music Mayhem
At the risk of sounding like I'm making excuses (which I suppose I am... shut up...) I'm going to lay a good chunk of the blame for my apparent inability to keep to a schedule lately on my early morning starts at work. My normal day starts at five in the morning, and the combination of that ungodly hour and an average of probably only five or six solid hours of sleep beforehand, on a regular basis, is that, unless I catch up with naps or keep myself well-caffeinated, by the end of the week I often end up falling asleep well before I mean to, and before I've gotten all of the day's shit done.
But, to paraphrase the words of House Lannister, "a bearded man always pays his debts", so once again you're getting a hat-trick post today (that's three goals in a single game, for you non-hockey types out there), covering Saturday, Sunday, and today all in one shot. So let's get started.
For your Saturday song, I'm going to need you to close your eyes and picture the following: old-school prog-influenced death metal (think old Opethy kinda stuff) filtered through the lens of a band like Baroness, if Baroness drew its melodic sensibilities and plaintive passages more from straight forward rock and less from countrified bluegrass. Now open your eyes, and find that you're gazing at the totally badass album art for Cormorant's 2011 disc Dwellings. There's a good chance you don't know these guys, but you should, especially if the word picture I painted you above sounded at all flavourful to you. A caveat, however: only two of the seven tracks on Dwellings clock in at less than five minutes long, so first time listeners are in for some attrition. But if you give Cormorant a chance, songs like "Funambulist" will take you for a ride.
Next up, Sunday, and I'm going to do the unthinkable and take a single track out of the context of its "greater than the sum of its parts" album. You know the kind of album I'm talking about, even if I'm not doing the best job of articulating it right now: those magical records that work perfectly as a single piece of music rather than merely a collection of separate songs. Sure, those songs are good, but put 'em together and you've got a real slice of fried gold on your hands. Such is the case with "Quittance" from the debut LP Februus by Uneven Structure, a cool tune in its own right but also a piece of a much more awesome whole. Listen to "Quittance", but by all means listen to Februus from start to finish if you haven't already. Djent has become kind of a bad word, but Uneven Structure will show you one example of how powerful that kind of a sound can be.
And for today, Monday, we're going to do a bit of a throwback to how I used to run Mondays around here with a Metallica Monday.In particular I'm picking "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", an old favourite of mine from way back when I was in high school and we used to attempt a few Metallica covers when jamming. Between us, we knew all the obvious ones, but we also liked to dust off this lesser-known (or lesser-liked, anyways) cut from 88's Master of Puppets, so I encourage you to dust it off too.
Whew. Caught up. Again. Meet you back here tomorrow? Deal!
But, to paraphrase the words of House Lannister, "a bearded man always pays his debts", so once again you're getting a hat-trick post today (that's three goals in a single game, for you non-hockey types out there), covering Saturday, Sunday, and today all in one shot. So let's get started.
For your Saturday song, I'm going to need you to close your eyes and picture the following: old-school prog-influenced death metal (think old Opethy kinda stuff) filtered through the lens of a band like Baroness, if Baroness drew its melodic sensibilities and plaintive passages more from straight forward rock and less from countrified bluegrass. Now open your eyes, and find that you're gazing at the totally badass album art for Cormorant's 2011 disc Dwellings. There's a good chance you don't know these guys, but you should, especially if the word picture I painted you above sounded at all flavourful to you. A caveat, however: only two of the seven tracks on Dwellings clock in at less than five minutes long, so first time listeners are in for some attrition. But if you give Cormorant a chance, songs like "Funambulist" will take you for a ride.
Next up, Sunday, and I'm going to do the unthinkable and take a single track out of the context of its "greater than the sum of its parts" album. You know the kind of album I'm talking about, even if I'm not doing the best job of articulating it right now: those magical records that work perfectly as a single piece of music rather than merely a collection of separate songs. Sure, those songs are good, but put 'em together and you've got a real slice of fried gold on your hands. Such is the case with "Quittance" from the debut LP Februus by Uneven Structure, a cool tune in its own right but also a piece of a much more awesome whole. Listen to "Quittance", but by all means listen to Februus from start to finish if you haven't already. Djent has become kind of a bad word, but Uneven Structure will show you one example of how powerful that kind of a sound can be.
And for today, Monday, we're going to do a bit of a throwback to how I used to run Mondays around here with a Metallica Monday.In particular I'm picking "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", an old favourite of mine from way back when I was in high school and we used to attempt a few Metallica covers when jamming. Between us, we knew all the obvious ones, but we also liked to dust off this lesser-known (or lesser-liked, anyways) cut from 88's Master of Puppets, so I encourage you to dust it off too.
Whew. Caught up. Again. Meet you back here tomorrow? Deal!
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Opeth - Wreath
Rather than getting all proggy on you again (can you tell I like prog?) we'll stick with some heavier shit in tonight's quickie post. Yes, as you can tell from the title of this post, I'm going with some Opeth, but I promise it's not 70's prog-folk Opeth.
Your song this evening is the relatively brutal "Wreath" from 2002's Deliverance. I say 'relatively' because while it's not the all-out onslaught of earlier Opeth, it's also not the more acoustic guitar-laden stuff of more recent albums. Deliverance, the heavy counterpart to the gentler Damnation, is therefore the middle road, moderation in all things-ish happy medium of heaviness in the career of one of my favourite bands, and that's why you're getting the title track tonight. Good luck sleeping tight after that little lullaby.
Your song this evening is the relatively brutal "Wreath" from 2002's Deliverance. I say 'relatively' because while it's not the all-out onslaught of earlier Opeth, it's also not the more acoustic guitar-laden stuff of more recent albums. Deliverance, the heavy counterpart to the gentler Damnation, is therefore the middle road, moderation in all things-ish happy medium of heaviness in the career of one of my favourite bands, and that's why you're getting the title track tonight. Good luck sleeping tight after that little lullaby.
Friday, 20 September 2013
The Song of Frigg's Day: Opeth - Ghost of Perdition
Now that I've finally gotten around to posting the song I had prepared for yesterday, we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Song of the Day: The Faceless - Planetary Duality II: A Prophecies Fruition
California tech-death band The Faceless (aka The Michael Keene Show) no doubt picked up a lot of new fans with last year's stellar Autotheism, which was a perfect blend of Opethian beauty meets Arsis-up-to-11 beast.
Friday, 10 May 2013
Song of the Day: Opeth - Porcelain Heart
All too soon, it's happening again: my girlfriend is making another trek to Ikea to get more furnishings for her new apartment. But take heart, my fellow males: it looks like I don't have to go.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Song of the Day: Opeth - The Grand Conjuration
They should make "I survived Ikea" T-shirts. They really should. And when you get one, it should come with a copy of any Opeth album.
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