I'm going full bandwagon jumper with a Throwback Thursday post for yesterday in honour of the untimely death of Static-X founder Wayne Static.
As I said when I posted on Facebook about this story earlier in the week, I was never a huge Static-X fan growing up. I did, however, grow up during the heyday of nu metal (please supply your own umlaut as desired) so I was definitely exposed to albums like Wisconsin Death Trip and Machine when they were first released. As a result, Static-X, like with so many other bands from around the same time, is a part of my musical history.
That's why I'm throwing your Thursday back to the first Static-X song I ever heard, "I'm With Stupid", from the band's aforementioned 1999 debut Wisconsin Death Trip. In terms of technicality and complexity, it's a pretty far cry from the kind of stuff I listen to now, but it's still a simple, fun headbanger with some added nostalgia value. Raise a glass this Thursday (or Friday, you know, whenever...) to Wayne his place in modern music history. Nobody will ever be able to rock that haircut that well again.
Friday, 7 November 2014
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Wednesday: Haken - Darkest Light
We're going a little less metal and a lot more prog for your Wednesday song, so hold onto your demiquavers, music dorks.
British prog purveyors Haken made quite an international name for themselves on the strength of last year's The Mountain, and now they've released a follow-up EP that is apparently based on some of the material from the band's very first 2008 demo recording. Said older material has definitely had the 2014 Haken update put on it though, as every bit of it sounds like a step forward from the band's last LP.
Let "Darkest Light", the opening track from the Restoration EP, be your barometer for the new/old material. It's full of intricate, labyrinthine riffing that still manages to have great groove. And besides being pretty epic, the whole thing's heavier than you might be used to from Haken as well. Check it out.
British prog purveyors Haken made quite an international name for themselves on the strength of last year's The Mountain, and now they've released a follow-up EP that is apparently based on some of the material from the band's very first 2008 demo recording. Said older material has definitely had the 2014 Haken update put on it though, as every bit of it sounds like a step forward from the band's last LP.
Let "Darkest Light", the opening track from the Restoration EP, be your barometer for the new/old material. It's full of intricate, labyrinthine riffing that still manages to have great groove. And besides being pretty epic, the whole thing's heavier than you might be used to from Haken as well. Check it out.
Tuesday: Son of Aurelius - Long Ago
A happy, if belated, Tech Tuesday to you! I've got something tasty for your Tech Tuesday this week, and while it's not necessarily the kind of, let's say, more straight forward tech-death I've been featuring lately, it is most definitely technically inclined.
I've written about California's Son of Aurelius before, and those of you remember those posts of yore might be thinking "but wait, Son of Aurelius are a tech-death band, what are you talking about?" Sure, their first album The Farthest Reaches is bona fide tech-death through and through, but their sophomore disc Under a Western Sun has a bit of a broader scope.
Technicality and musicianship are still there in spades, joined this time out by a proggier mindset reminiscent of the compositional journeying of bands like Between the Buried and Me. Under a Western Sun goes places, and if it meanders and wanders a bit more along the way than did its predecessor, it's nothing but a good thing.
Check out "Long Ago" for a badass, nearly seven-minute slice of what I'm talking about, complete with a cool little bass solo.
I've written about California's Son of Aurelius before, and those of you remember those posts of yore might be thinking "but wait, Son of Aurelius are a tech-death band, what are you talking about?" Sure, their first album The Farthest Reaches is bona fide tech-death through and through, but their sophomore disc Under a Western Sun has a bit of a broader scope.
Technicality and musicianship are still there in spades, joined this time out by a proggier mindset reminiscent of the compositional journeying of bands like Between the Buried and Me. Under a Western Sun goes places, and if it meanders and wanders a bit more along the way than did its predecessor, it's nothing but a good thing.
Check out "Long Ago" for a badass, nearly seven-minute slice of what I'm talking about, complete with a cool little bass solo.
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Monday: Machine Head - Night of Long Knives
My weekend sleep and work habits are apparently bleeding over into my week life. Help me fight back by reading the following!
Machine Head vocalist and guitarist Rob Flynn might have a penchant for starting what the kids call "beef" with people on various online outlets, but he's also got a thing for crafting some pretty solid metal songs. You might debate with me which Machine Head album is best, but I think you'll at least agree that there's some good stuff in the band's catalogue.
Don't worry, all of this is leading somewhere. You may, of course, be aware that Machine Head has a new record coming out next week. But maybe you're still on the fence as to whether or not Machine Head is still a band for you after all these years and album. Lucky you, because you don't have to wait until next week to find out whether or not you'll dig Bloodstones & Diamonds. You can listen to first single "Night of Long Knives" right now!
A suitably Machine Head-y melothrash tune with sprinkles of death metal, "A Night of Long Knives" is also a lyrical heavyweight, dealing with the Manson family murders. It's nothing earthshatteringly different, but it's pretty good Machine Head. Let's hope it bodes well for the rest of the album.
Machine Head vocalist and guitarist Rob Flynn might have a penchant for starting what the kids call "beef" with people on various online outlets, but he's also got a thing for crafting some pretty solid metal songs. You might debate with me which Machine Head album is best, but I think you'll at least agree that there's some good stuff in the band's catalogue.
Don't worry, all of this is leading somewhere. You may, of course, be aware that Machine Head has a new record coming out next week. But maybe you're still on the fence as to whether or not Machine Head is still a band for you after all these years and album. Lucky you, because you don't have to wait until next week to find out whether or not you'll dig Bloodstones & Diamonds. You can listen to first single "Night of Long Knives" right now!
A suitably Machine Head-y melothrash tune with sprinkles of death metal, "A Night of Long Knives" is also a lyrical heavyweight, dealing with the Manson family murders. It's nothing earthshatteringly different, but it's pretty good Machine Head. Let's hope it bodes well for the rest of the album.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Sunday: Unearth - Guards of Contagion
Had a chance to listen to Unearth's brand spankin' new record Watchers of Rule yet? If not, you should probably make yourself a chance somehow.
Unless of course you're one of those "metalcore sux" troo metalheads, although even then you shouldn't find much to complain about on the new disc. Sure, Unearth is one of those bands that's found its groove and and essentially keeps cranking out similar iterations of that groove, like a metal AC/DC, but man this particular time out is probably their best in a couple.
My favourite is still 2004's The Oncoming Storm, or maaayybe the 2006 follow-up III: In the Eyes of Fire, but Watchers of Rule is a bit of a return to form, so to speak. Watch Buzz tear through "Guards of Contagion" and see (and hear!) what I mean.
Unless of course you're one of those "metalcore sux" troo metalheads, although even then you shouldn't find much to complain about on the new disc. Sure, Unearth is one of those bands that's found its groove and and essentially keeps cranking out similar iterations of that groove, like a metal AC/DC, but man this particular time out is probably their best in a couple.
My favourite is still 2004's The Oncoming Storm, or maaayybe the 2006 follow-up III: In the Eyes of Fire, but Watchers of Rule is a bit of a return to form, so to speak. Watch Buzz tear through "Guards of Contagion" and see (and hear!) what I mean.
Saturday: Pianos Become the Teeth - Ripple Water Shine
Lately it seems like I've been postponing much of my week's sleep until the weekend, meaning I haven't been super productive the last couple of weekends. Let's work on that, shall we?
So, some catching up to do then, starting with a bit of pretty anticipated post-hardcore for Saturday. Though I've never been more than a passing fan of the band's past work, I've been reading a fair amount of hype (for lack of a better word) for the latest from Baltimore's post-everything Pianos Become the Teeth. Ever one to wonder what all the fuss is about, I've been checking out some streams of Keep You, and I have to say I'm glad I let the buzz guide my mouse hand.
Keep You is a big, majestic post-hardcore/post-rock record that combines the open, ethereal beauty so often found in post-rock with an ineffable melancholy. Maybe it's just me, but I hear a lot of nostalgia on this record, a lot of musical mourning for something lost. Could I be completely off the mark? Sure, but however you want to label or describe the sound of Keep You, it's still a hauntingly beautiful record. Check out album opener "Ripple Water Shine" if you'd like an example of the kind of bittersweet melodic sense I'm talking about.
So, some catching up to do then, starting with a bit of pretty anticipated post-hardcore for Saturday. Though I've never been more than a passing fan of the band's past work, I've been reading a fair amount of hype (for lack of a better word) for the latest from Baltimore's post-everything Pianos Become the Teeth. Ever one to wonder what all the fuss is about, I've been checking out some streams of Keep You, and I have to say I'm glad I let the buzz guide my mouse hand.
Keep You is a big, majestic post-hardcore/post-rock record that combines the open, ethereal beauty so often found in post-rock with an ineffable melancholy. Maybe it's just me, but I hear a lot of nostalgia on this record, a lot of musical mourning for something lost. Could I be completely off the mark? Sure, but however you want to label or describe the sound of Keep You, it's still a hauntingly beautiful record. Check out album opener "Ripple Water Shine" if you'd like an example of the kind of bittersweet melodic sense I'm talking about.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Friday: Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
How did I manage to post my Hallowe'en-themed Album of the Week post last night and yet not post my Hallowe'en-themed Song of the Day post? There are some mysteries man wasn't meant to understand.
The song I had intended to share with you is a classic piece of horror-themed metal history, and especially fitting given that last night was a full moon (I'm told, since I'm apparently an old man now and stayed in last night). "Bark at the Moon" is the title track and first single from Ozzy Osbourne's third solo LP, with its instantly recognizable main riffs and howling Ozzy.
So whether you barked at the moon last night, or are going to tonight, or spent your day today (or will do tomorrow) howling curses at your nocturnal indiscretions, Ozzy's got you covered. Have a go at "Bark at the Moon", and while you're at it have a belated Happy Hallowe'en too.
The song I had intended to share with you is a classic piece of horror-themed metal history, and especially fitting given that last night was a full moon (I'm told, since I'm apparently an old man now and stayed in last night). "Bark at the Moon" is the title track and first single from Ozzy Osbourne's third solo LP, with its instantly recognizable main riffs and howling Ozzy.
So whether you barked at the moon last night, or are going to tonight, or spent your day today (or will do tomorrow) howling curses at your nocturnal indiscretions, Ozzy's got you covered. Have a go at "Bark at the Moon", and while you're at it have a belated Happy Hallowe'en too.
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