Friday, March 31, 2017
Power Trip: Nightmare Logic
PowerTrip are like an 18-wheeler mounted with a battering ram driving full blast into a traffic jam. They channel their aggression through old-school thrash with modern intricacy but it is like a wet dream for lovers of that dirty raw aggressive metal. The riffs will induce head-banging and shit eating grins. The feral energy of the album is addictive.
Friday, March 3, 2017
2016 in Review
2016 absolutely destroyed last year in the number of great albums released. Month after month they kept coming out and bringing it.
Album of the Year:
Magma by Gojira In a year of fierce competition a French band wins the crown (amazing because the French never win anything). The lead singer/guitar player relocated to NYC and without reducing the mammoth heavy sound of Gojira they created a technically catchy album. They took risks with their sound, easing back at times on the technicality while also incorporating more clean vocals. That statement could immediately lead to the counter argument of selling-out, but that's just pathetic; Gojira expanded their sonic palette thus becoming an even greater band than they already are.
Now that, that's out of the way...
Hardwired? To Self-Destruct by Metallica If there ever was an elephant in the room it would be a new Metallica release. I've been a big fan but I've sat the sidelines since St. Anger, enjoying their live releases and of course good stuff of the past. So what drew me back in...Hard to say but glad to say I took the plunge, it was rewarding. Hardwired grabs all the best moments of their classic albums (Masters through Black) but doesn't repackage them. The tracks are welcoming in the fact the nothing seems to be forced and they aren't rushing anything for the sake of speed or drawing it out be creative. The songs are just flat out enjoyable metal tunes. Given all the drama that seems to engulf Metallica that is biggest compliment I can give this album and why it's one of the best of the year.
The Serenity of Suffering by Korn An immensely heavy album with a true classic Korn vibe. Deep, deep lurching riffs with funky bass, bludgeoning beats and those incredible roars of Jonathan Davis. There is absolutely no doubt that is a Korn album from the moment you hear any moment on this album. Lately whenever when I have been craving super heavy (which has been a lot) this is what I've been spinning. A Korn album has not filled that need since Take A Look in the Mirror which was probably a decade ago. In addition to being flat out heavy is the damned catchiness of the vocals, the weirdness of Head and Munky, Fieldy bass-slaps, and total Davis freak-outs! The songs are locked in and focused, nothing sloppy here. This album plays like a greatest hit album welcoming back fans of the past and rewarding those who stuck with them.
The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser by Rob Zombie For an artist known for extravagant (and entertaining) live shows the lead story from Zombie was "cutting out the filler". That left many scratching their heads since long albums was never something associated with him and filler was always cool horror movie clips spliced with gonzo sound effects. Amazingly Zombie smashed even more heavy circus sci-fi anthem horror metal into this album than ever before while cutting the playtime to under 40 minutes. In addition to that he managed to make an even more catchy completely unplayable radio rock anthem than Sick Bubblegum with the new track Well, Everybody's Fucking in A U.F.O.
Dystopia by Megadeth Dave Mustaine and crew return to doing what made them so beloved; speed thrash. With Chris Adler on the drums Dave rips through songs and solos with reckless (yet technical) abandonment. The album is a great recovery after Super Colliders middle of the road rock focus. Dystopia the title track is by far and away one of the best Megadeth songs of the decade. The bleak future vision is a perfect fit in the pantheon on Megadeth's classic albums like Rust in Peace and Countdown.
Battles by In Flames In the live setting Anders Friden screams and growls roar to life with vibrant urgency that then sweeps into sing along crowd pleasing chorus bliss hasn't been well captured in recent releases. With, Battles that issue has been laid to rest and best of live In Flames is splattered all over this album. Dueling guitar melodies, full-throttle riff assaults, electronic flourishes, and big chorus' await those willing to dive in.
The Violent Sleep of Reason by Meshuggah An album title that could have ended with Violent and excluded "The" Meshuggah refuse to dial back and take a breather. Clockworks the opening track is massively epic, encompassing everything that is Meshuggah - aggression, rhythmic complexity, throat curling growls, and headbanging nirvana. Good thing for listeners that is only the beginning of this beast. Recorded as a live unit, this album does have a looser live feel. That is basically a fun fact for long-term fans who have seen them live and can actually tells the difference. The Meshuggah machine is such a rhythmical monstrosity it is hard to believe that they can play live.
Feathers & Flesh by Avatar A band not of afraid of theatrics most easily recognized by their attire but best appreciated due to song-writing that keeps you wondering what is next. "The Eagle has Landed" is by far the heaviest and oddest track I heard on the actual radio recently (thank you Hard Drive Live and metalheads in WI). The track has great riffs, odd freak-sideshow bounce, and full body vocal roaring which segways into a catchy chorus (whenever it actually comes around). Avatar does owe SOAD a bow when it comes to some of their bizarreness but at no times are they simply imitating. The album does not weaken the deeper in you go; it gets heavier (One More Hill), sludgier (Black Waters), and even happier (Night Never Ending). Avatar has been hitting the road hard since the release and building a well-deserved rapid fan-base.
Jomsviking by Amon Amarth "The first man I killed...I rammed my sword straight through his throat and stood there watching him die". Opening lyrics of the one only true viking death metal band, Amon Amarth! Filled with thrash riffs, melodic solos, and bar brawl chain chorus' these Sweds know how to spin an epic tale of metallic bliss. Raise Your Horns! Raise them up to the sky! We will drink to Glory tonight!
Incarnate by Killswitch Engage The heavyweights of the metalcore scene continue on the firm path the laid with return of Jesse Leach on Disarm the Descent. On this outing Jesse was able to fully contribute to the composing of the music rather than just singing on completed tracks. The songs play to his strengths and style that he burned into the ears of so many fans back in the day on Alive and Barely Breathing. The guitars duel and then plunge into those classic synchronized KSE crushing riffs throughout the album.
Brotherhood of the Snake by Testament One of two thrash albums on this year's list. Testament built up a lot of rage the past five years and it has been unleashed. Stronghold is the most pure thrash speed rager I've heard in twenty years; rapid fire vocals, shredding solos, and pummelling drums - DAMN thrash is awesome!
Album of the Year:
Magma by Gojira In a year of fierce competition a French band wins the crown (amazing because the French never win anything). The lead singer/guitar player relocated to NYC and without reducing the mammoth heavy sound of Gojira they created a technically catchy album. They took risks with their sound, easing back at times on the technicality while also incorporating more clean vocals. That statement could immediately lead to the counter argument of selling-out, but that's just pathetic; Gojira expanded their sonic palette thus becoming an even greater band than they already are.
Now that, that's out of the way...
Hardwired? To Self-Destruct by Metallica If there ever was an elephant in the room it would be a new Metallica release. I've been a big fan but I've sat the sidelines since St. Anger, enjoying their live releases and of course good stuff of the past. So what drew me back in...Hard to say but glad to say I took the plunge, it was rewarding. Hardwired grabs all the best moments of their classic albums (Masters through Black) but doesn't repackage them. The tracks are welcoming in the fact the nothing seems to be forced and they aren't rushing anything for the sake of speed or drawing it out be creative. The songs are just flat out enjoyable metal tunes. Given all the drama that seems to engulf Metallica that is biggest compliment I can give this album and why it's one of the best of the year.
The Serenity of Suffering by Korn An immensely heavy album with a true classic Korn vibe. Deep, deep lurching riffs with funky bass, bludgeoning beats and those incredible roars of Jonathan Davis. There is absolutely no doubt that is a Korn album from the moment you hear any moment on this album. Lately whenever when I have been craving super heavy (which has been a lot) this is what I've been spinning. A Korn album has not filled that need since Take A Look in the Mirror which was probably a decade ago. In addition to being flat out heavy is the damned catchiness of the vocals, the weirdness of Head and Munky, Fieldy bass-slaps, and total Davis freak-outs! The songs are locked in and focused, nothing sloppy here. This album plays like a greatest hit album welcoming back fans of the past and rewarding those who stuck with them.
The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser by Rob Zombie For an artist known for extravagant (and entertaining) live shows the lead story from Zombie was "cutting out the filler". That left many scratching their heads since long albums was never something associated with him and filler was always cool horror movie clips spliced with gonzo sound effects. Amazingly Zombie smashed even more heavy circus sci-fi anthem horror metal into this album than ever before while cutting the playtime to under 40 minutes. In addition to that he managed to make an even more catchy completely unplayable radio rock anthem than Sick Bubblegum with the new track Well, Everybody's Fucking in A U.F.O.
Dystopia by Megadeth Dave Mustaine and crew return to doing what made them so beloved; speed thrash. With Chris Adler on the drums Dave rips through songs and solos with reckless (yet technical) abandonment. The album is a great recovery after Super Colliders middle of the road rock focus. Dystopia the title track is by far and away one of the best Megadeth songs of the decade. The bleak future vision is a perfect fit in the pantheon on Megadeth's classic albums like Rust in Peace and Countdown.
Battles by In Flames In the live setting Anders Friden screams and growls roar to life with vibrant urgency that then sweeps into sing along crowd pleasing chorus bliss hasn't been well captured in recent releases. With, Battles that issue has been laid to rest and best of live In Flames is splattered all over this album. Dueling guitar melodies, full-throttle riff assaults, electronic flourishes, and big chorus' await those willing to dive in.
The Violent Sleep of Reason by Meshuggah An album title that could have ended with Violent and excluded "The" Meshuggah refuse to dial back and take a breather. Clockworks the opening track is massively epic, encompassing everything that is Meshuggah - aggression, rhythmic complexity, throat curling growls, and headbanging nirvana. Good thing for listeners that is only the beginning of this beast. Recorded as a live unit, this album does have a looser live feel. That is basically a fun fact for long-term fans who have seen them live and can actually tells the difference. The Meshuggah machine is such a rhythmical monstrosity it is hard to believe that they can play live.
Feathers & Flesh by Avatar A band not of afraid of theatrics most easily recognized by their attire but best appreciated due to song-writing that keeps you wondering what is next. "The Eagle has Landed" is by far the heaviest and oddest track I heard on the actual radio recently (thank you Hard Drive Live and metalheads in WI). The track has great riffs, odd freak-sideshow bounce, and full body vocal roaring which segways into a catchy chorus (whenever it actually comes around). Avatar does owe SOAD a bow when it comes to some of their bizarreness but at no times are they simply imitating. The album does not weaken the deeper in you go; it gets heavier (One More Hill), sludgier (Black Waters), and even happier (Night Never Ending). Avatar has been hitting the road hard since the release and building a well-deserved rapid fan-base.
Jomsviking by Amon Amarth "The first man I killed...I rammed my sword straight through his throat and stood there watching him die". Opening lyrics of the one only true viking death metal band, Amon Amarth! Filled with thrash riffs, melodic solos, and bar brawl chain chorus' these Sweds know how to spin an epic tale of metallic bliss. Raise Your Horns! Raise them up to the sky! We will drink to Glory tonight!
Incarnate by Killswitch Engage The heavyweights of the metalcore scene continue on the firm path the laid with return of Jesse Leach on Disarm the Descent. On this outing Jesse was able to fully contribute to the composing of the music rather than just singing on completed tracks. The songs play to his strengths and style that he burned into the ears of so many fans back in the day on Alive and Barely Breathing. The guitars duel and then plunge into those classic synchronized KSE crushing riffs throughout the album.
Brotherhood of the Snake by Testament One of two thrash albums on this year's list. Testament built up a lot of rage the past five years and it has been unleashed. Stronghold is the most pure thrash speed rager I've heard in twenty years; rapid fire vocals, shredding solos, and pummelling drums - DAMN thrash is awesome!
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