Thursday the 21st: Arsis - Unwelcome

     For this here belated Throwback Thursday, we're only going back a couple of years, but I think you'll be cool with it when your hear the song in question. Any comments about how uncool with it you are can be left below.

     "Unwelcome" isn't just the title track from the 2013 Arsis album, it's also the lead track, an big job for any song. I could go on all day with my thoughts about the importance of track orders and album pacing, particularly regarding opening tracks, but suffice it to say that first impressions are important if you want to make sure some listens to the rest of your record. Arsis made the right call putting "Unwelcome" at the top of the Unwelcome batting order, because it perfectly sets the tone for the deft, melodic technical death metal that follows. Arsis fan or not, I think you'll agree that "Unwelcome" makes a great opening salvo, so have a listen and see what you think.

Tuesday: Arsis - Martyred or Mourning

     It's been a while since I've gone back to make favourite Tech Tuesday well, so let's all pull up a bucket and quench our thirst for technical death metal with a cut from one of the genre's current greats. New album in 2016 maybe? Fingers crossed!

     I've been an Arsis fan since 2008's We Are the Nightmare shredded its way into my heart and showed me that fast and ferocious death metal could still be super heavy on melody and *gasp* hooks. It may sound like an oxymoron, but if ever there was a "radio friendly" tech-death band, it's Arsis.

     I don't know if I'd put today's song "Martyred or Mourning", from 2013's Unwelcome, on the radio playlist; I'll leave that up to you to decide. I will, however, say that this one's a great example of how tight and precise Arsis' riffing can be -- rhythm or lead, doesn't matter, James and the guys are always on point. I have no insider information regarding a new Arsis record (do I ever have insider information?) but with a 2-3 year cycle for the last couple of albums, even I can do the math and figure out it's been long enough since Unwelcome. Like I said, fingers crossed.

Tuesday: Arsis - Choking on Sand

     Well here we are once again: the top of the mountain is within sight, and we're ready to make a push for the summit. Time for a little bit of Tech Tuesday! And just because I think it's about time they rounded up their riffs and headed back into the studio, we're going to have another Arsis song, OK?

     Unwelcome, Arsis' last album, only came out in 2013, so there might not be anything in the works just yet. But Mr. Malone and Company have been working on a 2-3 year album cycle since, well, pretty much ever (not even counting EPs) so it wouldn't be that out of the question to hear some Arsis news sometime this year.

     In the meantime, let's have something from the aforementioned Unwelcome, shall we? Your Tuesday track is "Choking on Sand", which has some fleet-fingered-and-wristed riffing that makes this one metal enough for that badass song title. Check it.

Arsis - Denied

     More than likely, your Monday blues are currently in the midst of being drowned in a wash of green beer and misplaced Irish pride (misplaced in the sense that most St. Patrick's Day revelers are in fact not Irish at all -- a shirt saying "kiss me I'm Irish" doesn't make it so). But why not try some different medicine, namely some medicine of the technical death metal variety.

     If you're into anything at all tech-deathy, you should definitely already be familiar with Arsis, and if you're not into anything at all tech-deathy... well, what the fuck is wrong with you? St. Patrick's Day or not, a shitty Monday can be made better with some fleet-fingered riffing and shredding. Crank "Denied" from last year's Unwelcome (well, originally from the Leper's Caress EP and then re-released on Unwelcome) at your Paddy's Day party and see what kind of reaction you get from your friends. And if they don't like it, get new friends.

 

Song of the Day: The Ocean - Mesopelagic: Into the Uncanny

       When I was picking up my copy of the new Arsis album Unwelcome a week or two ago, I also happened to grab a copy of the newest album from German band The Ocean, and boy am I glad I did.

Song of the Day, Part 1: May the Fifth Be With You

     Yeah, I know Star Wars Day is actually May the Fourth. I get how the pun works. But I missed yesterday (my girlfriend's new apartment is still internetless at the moment) and the theme I'm going with for today's two-parter (or the titles anyways) is Star Wars. So use the Fifth, young padawan, and crank up something of the new and hotly anticipated Arsis album, Unwelcome.

Song of the Day: Arsis - Scornstar

     I try to keep ahead of all things heavy music, but believe it or not this isn't my "day job". Not even close. This means that I too often find myself a little behind in terms of news. As such I just found out today that there's already a single out from the upcoming Arsis album. Say what?! Maybe you've already heard it, or maybe you don't give a shit, but I feel it's my duty to bring it to you anyways.

     Your song tonight is "Scornstar", the first single from the upcoming Unwelcome from tech-death fan favourites Arsis. It hasn't been that long since the "Leper's Caress" EP and already it's time again for some new Arsis, and I for one won't complain one bit. And how about that song name? "Scornstar"? I'm diggin' it. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but I'm diggin' it.

Song of the Day: Arsis - Carve My Cross

     In part 2 of my 2012 year end round-up, I said that one of the albums I'm looking forward to that looks to be coming out sometime this year is the next disc from Arsis, Unwelcome. I also mentioned the fact that we have the EP Leper's Caress to keep us company in the meantime. So let's huddle beside it's warmth, shall we?