Hate War Productions

LA scene promoter, Chris Hate War has released the following:

"Check out my web site @:

www.hatewarproductions.com

End of year DVD sale - Buy 1 get 1 Free...........

This is only good through tomorrow 12/31/09 - the cut off is 6:00 pm.

Pay Pal payments only - hit me up with any questions / orders & I'll get back to you ASAP.

Chris"

The quality of his videos can be seen on a number of youtube videos. Here is one:

Ad Hominem

To my amazement, Ad Hominem has remained completely underrated, perhaps criminally underrated. His location I would think would have people checking them out especially now that the French scene is gaining a lot of the recognition that it deserves. With bands like Deathspell Omega, Antaeus, Amesoeurs, Glorior Belli, Merrimack, certain bands of the LLN, among others, it's almost a no-brainer to check out a French Black Metal band. Despite having Anti-Semitic lyrics, Ad Hominem is misanthropic to the furthest possible extent. His interviews dispel all rumors in regards to it, not to mention his own symbols rather than exalting the "very cool" Nazi/Pagan symbols.

With an industrial touch in many aspects depending on what album, it definitely gives the listener a refreshing listen. Shifting riffs, groovy drumming, and shredded vocals enhance the experience in a number of ways. The latest release, "Dictator: A Monument of Glory", embraces chants heavily while giving the drums a much more authentic feel. While Climax of Hatred is standard Black Metal of high caliber, ". . . For A New World" covers the vocals in a thin layer of distortion.

Buy From Elegy Records

Overrated

There are plenty of bands out there that are getting far too much recognition. The recognition, regardless of who they are coming from (and they tend to be from people who don't listen to much or any metal at all), some bands don't deserve it. Now I am not saying that any of the below have never released strong records or aren't any good, I am just saying, don't be so ignorant.

Burzum is currently getting bigger and bigger. The sheer amount of publicity back then was large and it probably has doubled due to the Lords of Chaos book, Until the Light Takes Us, and the worse ever, Vargs picture being posted on numerous "hipster" forums, clothing etc etc. Despite being a complete Euronymous era Mayhem supporter, Burzum did release some quintessential albums (Burzum, Aske, and Det Som Engang Var). He is good at the Black Metal but the formula used didn't change as the times did and instead created something boring.

Wolves in the Throne Room is the next one. They have managed to blend in plenty of post-rock into Black metal but so has hundreds of other bands. Wolves in the Throne Room are great live, they have some very good songs, and they have a huge hipster following that is probably the reason why this band is huge. It seems to me that their beliefs are different from the traditional Black Metal aesthetics that their beliefs are often seen as their music. I haven't heard any hippie elements in their music, Post-Rock isn't very natural.

Mastodon is the next band. Leviathan sucks, a pretentious attempt at Metal from a fairly nu-metal band. Littering the majority of their music with sweeps and liquid movement, one can wonder where is the passion in this. Crack the Skye was good but plenty of people don't see it as anything extraordinary. Dragonforce made everything fast seem to be great. Dragonforce sucks too by the way.

Darkthrone, what isn't there to say about them. They introduced low-fi aggression and the fuck you attitude to Black Metal. After Transilvanian Hunger, the bad lost their cool and slowly became a Black and Roll, Punk band. Their older material is worth heavy praise but Black and Roll for the most part is horrible, there is such a fine line between good and bad that one should best avoid it. Darkthrone are on the bad side and well, they are being praised for this more than their older material that created a genre.

The Feathered Fog

For Your Viewing Pleasure:

Seligkeit - If I Could Feel

(Not the album cover)

Seligkeit is an unknown band, it brings a whole new level to "Underground". To my understanding the band is conducted by the same person of DSBM band, Lost Inside. Many side projects tend to intervene with one another, it's inevitable. Despite the inevitability, Lost Inside and Seligkeit have very few similarities.

Seligkeit is amazing. The production is clear and precise leaving you with a smooth listen. The DSBM approach and formula is different from many other bands. The songs are accompanied by plenty of variety. "If I Could Feel" can easily be compared to the later Hypothermia and is one of the stronger tracks. The song begins and ends with a melancholic and clean tone, despite being the longest track, I scream for more, it's cold and breathtaking. On the other hand, "Abandoned and Frail" erupts with warmth and hope. The mellow drumming on top of the shifting guitars creates a sort of need. The vocals are ghastly and distant, howled and whispered, wailed and moaned.

Seligkeit is full of surprises, unfortunately, it was a very short lived project.

8/10

Plenty of strong points, yet the intro and outro could have been replaced with 2 actual songs. It other words, it's too short.

Behemoth and Septic Flesh

I have missed Behemoth far too many times and I think I am going to have to miss them again. At first, I wasn't really looking forward to the show because I fucking hate Shining! I hate Kvarforth's attitude towards everything, his self righteous bullshit is beyond belief, and his excessive display of self-mutilation is what makes everything else look bad. Honestly, Shining has nothing in conjunction with DSBM aside from the lyrics, yet Shining is one of the more prominent and well known bands. Anyways, Septicflesh is good (I still wonder why they got rid of the space in the name but oh well), unfortunately, I may not go to the show. I am getting a tattoo on that day, my first, and well, the healing process won't be finished in one hour. With that being said, check out the tour dates featured in the links below.

Behemoth, Septicflesh, Lightning Swords of Death Dates

Lightning Swords of Death has replaced Shining. They finally get the recognition they deserve.

Food and Metal

I am no cook, nor do I even attempt to try, but this I may have to purchase. A cookbook featuring many recipes from some big bands ranging from vegetarian to carnivorous platters. I am sure there is something for everyone. The layout looks amazing, the pictures are professional, for 25 bucks, it's not a bad deal. When funds are more available and I finally get my Deathspell Omega fix (I ordered it at a record store and waiting for it to come in to avoid hefty shipping charges), I will be purchasing this.

Funeral Mist - Maranatha

Funeral Mist took the Black Metal scene by storm with their Salvation album. With an idiosyncratic sound consisting of inhumane growls, howls, moans and groans, disgusting and filthy music, and Latin lyrics in the vain of Deathspell Omega. When the words "him" and "lord" are turned and biblical references are used, it makes for a great listen.

With Maranatha, the approach is different. It's obvious that performing in Marduk has tainted the Funeral Mist entity a bit. A clear production denies any previous filth from being beat, the vocals still remain the same, yet effects seem to be used less. Blessed Curse is a focal point of the album. With a catchy melodic riff and a fanatic's sermon interlocked with Arioch's (Mortuus) vocals embeds itself. Choirs are used extensively giving that very Orthodox sound while dissonance is running through the back. Blast beats are prominent and powerful, the absence of the drum machine sets a new level of dynamics and the music becomes far more organic rather than over processed.

The music isn't as vicious as what the savagery of Salvation had introduced. The production is clear and the vocals aren't as processed which can be good or bad. Funeral Mist attempts to create something easily accessible than Salvation and in doing so, sacrifices a lot of what Funeral Mist had represented. One can listen to Maranatha a number of times but one can listen to Salvation twice that number.

6/10

Like what Funeral Mist has done to Marduk, Marduk has done to Funeral Mist

Clair Cassis

Everybody knows Velvet Cacoon. Everybody knows their thievery. Despite their dishonesty, I find myself listening to their music consistently. Josh of Velvet Cacoon exploits many stories and it's questionable to wonder whether they are true or false. There are plenty of false accusations but the sheep still follow it. I personally don't think their situation would have been blown out of proportion if the metal scene wasn't so hungry for band news. Josh states something similar to that in his interview with the Starlight Temple Society. I personally never really cared about their fake releases, the majority of them lack all Black Metal aesthetics or even anything else that I love about Velvet Cacoon.

Despite the many false claims, this seems to be quite true. Josh's new project, Clair Cassis. Clair Cassi remains on the lines of Velvet Cacoon but the thick nautical atmosphere is absent. Riffs and drums are heard under the high pitched whispered vocals of Josh. It's stated that he is working with a number of female musicians, that may be the one portion of the band that I really don't believe.

Glorior Belli - Meet Us At The Southern Sign

France is where the pinnacle of Black Metal is currently at. We all are amazed at such variation. From the very idiosyncratic and influential Deathspell Omega to the no holds bar aggression of Antaeus, what isn't there to like about France? Merrimack delves deeply into groove as much as Glorior Belli conjures up the blues.

From the very cover and imagery you can tell Glorior Belli have been studying southern history. Disabled cars in a rustic setting screams for the South. Glorior Belli unwrap their packages meticulously. Blast beats aren't heard often and slow rhythmic patterns are adopted in conjunction with high end tremolo picking. While "Manifesting the Raging Beast" is straightforward and in-your-face, Meet Us At the Southern Sign is a creeper. The vocals sound strangled and deep as if being choked. Leads are prominent and moody, they reek of blues. Glorior Belli have a close resemblance to Germany's Secrets of the Moon. Secrets of the Moon, unfortunately rely on heavy chugging, while Glorior Belli strays from the number of palm muted chords. Swamp that Shame is nearly club worthy. It's so upbeat and jazzy that you may find yourself swaying and moving your body rather than your head. Lyrical, one can infer that you can't play an Orthodox form of Black Metal with out the Vs and thous. Fortunately, I am a huge fan of that.

The production is clean and precise. It is fitting. As soon as the blasts begin to erupt a storm has come and swept those fields. Grittiness is heard while clarity is abandoned. The filth is moderate and does not have me grinding my teeth like Merrimack's "Grey Rigorism".

7.5/10

If you are a fan of blues, get it. If not, it may take some time to capture this feel.

V/A - The World Comes To An End At The End of A Journey

The Post-Rock/Shoegaze/Black Metal scene is surprisingly attracting a lot of attention. Ever since Alcest erupted the Black Metal scene with soft post-rock with hints of Black Metal with their debut full-length, Amesoeurs had created a large fan base, Lantlos and Liam spread their music throughout Europe and now you have these bands all over the world.

This compilation is alright. There aren't very many noteworthy songs considering how monotonous the whole album is. Dernier Martyr, Soliness, and Dopamine expand their wings and overshadow the other bands. Dernier Martyr create a lo-fi grass house. The drums are very low and the guitars are paper thin yet very high, bass is unheard throughout most of their songs, and the vocals just shatter your ear drums. The picking reeks of post-rock, while the drumming and vocals balance it out with blasts and rasps. The mid-tempo patterns grasp your attention including variations. Soliness on the other hand, make their appearance in this compilation very clear. Distortion is used lightly and clean tones are powerful. Skygaze itself resembles a sample, many portions of different songs binded together by fading of one pattern and the burst of the next. Dopamine is the last very memorable band. Providing the longest track on the compilation and definitely the most epic. Tempos break boundaries by blending them together flawlessly. Folk elements are prominent, while hints of post-rock are faint. Leads are used extensively giving a bluesy feel to the whole song.

Shyy provides one amazing song while Heretoir is very low tempo but not as capitvating as their EP or their newer material. Ethereal Beauty's production is uneven and shifting, something with lots of potential loses a lot of it with the songs exhibited on this compilation. And I still wonder, where the fuck is the Shoegaze in all this?

7/10

Dernier Martyr and Dopamine alone are worth the compilation.

Audiences

Marduk Vs Fan

I normally hate reading Blabbermouth because the stories tend to be criminally biased and the comments are even worse. I, fortunately, found the actual video from another source and this was just seen on Last.FM.

Anyways, many people consider Mortuus actions to be a bit harsh and unnecessary but personally, I think Mortuus has had every right to do that. The stage is higher than the floor for a reason, too have EVERYONE enjoy the show. I honestly see it to be disrespectful for random members of the audience stage diving or in this case hugging someone who gives off an unwelcoming image.

Portal Vs. Fan

Here is another occassion in which a spectator goes on stage acts like a dumbass and is dealt with proper amount of force, a push off the stage. One should not be on stage if the band does not condone any actions of the sort.

Typhus - Grand Molesters of the Holy Trinity

Typhus is a band that you just have to set down all set of morals and enjoy. Despite their over exaggerated a la Marduk lyrics, you can't deny the sheer talent that Typhus creates. Their Black Metal is distinct, melancholic riffs backed by mid paced drumming, ferocious melodies under harlot wails.

All Shall Worship Me In Despair

It's been quite some time since Typhus has released anything. With so much controvery revolving around Dark Horizon Records and the man behind it, I didn't expect anything fast. The sample song provided below is something that follows that Typhus formula for the most part. One thing that I find unique is the Inquisition like vocals. The croaking and ritual like incantations are definitely captivating while the drumming is quite intricate compared to Profound Blasphemous Proclamation. Typhus may once again steal my iTunes for 6 months straight.

I hope they come out with a new box set, my razor is stained after forgetting to clean it.

Merrimack - Grey Rigorism

Merrimack is criminally underrated. Their groove brand of Black Metal is capable of plenty of listens. Urgehal uses plenty of groove and they are loved by many, I would expect Merrimack to receive the same attention especially when Merrimack has some better moments.

Merrimack has groove. Their Black Metal goes from 0-60 in mere seconds and goes back down in the same amount of time. With abrupt changes, it is very unpredictable. Interestingly, the vocals at time remain the same speed creating a dirge like song, or even doom and sludge. The vocals are a key portion of the album. It sounds as if little reverb was used and Terrorizt is actually screaming. The sound is dry and raw. The guitars are a synthesis of many. From Evergrey chugging to Thrash palm mutes to Black Metal fiery. Despite blending so much, there isn't anything unique and different, just good riffs arranged very nicely. As for the drums, one can't be very groovy without some snazzy bass drum work. Blast beats are fast and precise but that's been heard and done far too long. Cymbals splash and crash while the snare is being thrown all over the place. During slower moments, some of the bass work is reminiscent of Incubus of Inquisition. The French sound is prominent, think Glorior Belli and Deathspell Omega.

This album would have been one of the best of the year if the production didn't sound like a million dollars. The production is just so crystal that I find myself grinding my teeth because the precision at times bugs me. The production is so even that any sense of obscurity is absent.

Merrimack have thrown on the relentless onslaughts of Black Metal and have actually created a very structured song. With upbeat drumming in a dark setting and variations among strategic placement, Merrimack are one of the many French bands that are giving French a good name.

8/10

Crystal Clear Production is ALMOST as bad as shitty lo-fi production.
Of course, I would listen to million dollar records more than $1 dollar pieces of shit.

Local Bands

Local bands often yield nasty consequences, at least the L.A. ones do. Despite the massive sea of mediocrity, boredom, and the lack of creativity, there are a select few that are definitely worth watching out for.

Nokturne followed a typical Black Metal pattern early on but evolved into something razor sharp and heinous. Everything from Kruelty Kampaign is definitely worth a listen. Kruelty Kampaign contains nasty and gritty guitars and machine gun blasting with one of the best vocal performances I have ever heard. The vocals over the next releases begin to fade but the razor sharp guitars and machine guns are still in tact.

Sanguis Imperem are a LA Death metal band. With 3 vocalists during live performances and snarls and growls on record, Sanguis Imperem are a force to be reckoned with. Military marches are ubiquitous and used to the best of capabilities. The guitars are thick and follow a slight Black Metal arrangement. Don't expect any technical neck fucking expect only War influenced savagery. The vocals are definite commands from the tyrants of LA.

Spiculum Iratus are another Black Metal band. Spiraling guitars and deep vocals on top of a powerful rhythmic bass and a shifting drum effect demands attention. The atmosphere is thick, the production is powerful. Despite their short existence, Spiculum Iratus are definitely worth checking out, the vocal performance alone is worthy of listening too.

I am sure this band is fairly known. Nocturnal Blood is dark and dirty. With obvious Demoncy and Beherit influences, one can't help not listen to them. Howling vomits and an even production is something many bands should take note of. Nocturnal Ghoul knows when to cut the crap and hold back the lo-fi production when necessary.

Other bands worth noting:

Bestial Incarnation
(inactive) Satanic Supremacy
Ritual Combat
Vatican (Black Legions Worship)

Marduk - Wormwood

Marduk, as of late, has really matured. Since the adoption of Funeral Mist frontman/only man, Arioch (Mortuus), the band has changed. Legion was accompanied by absolute brutality and unstructured repetition with Panzer Division Marduk and made a little change with World Funeral. Now with Mortuus as the frontman, latin has been used extensively and the music has a sort of orthodox feel.

The guitars take a jazz-like and bluesy feel. Tremolo picking is still used extensively, yet their are portions of songs, take Into Utter Madness for example which utilizes a melancholic like chord on the high registers. Certain songs are played slowly while the drums are played quick and intricately creating a catatonic atmosphere. Marduk has abandoned consistent blast beats and incorporated grooves and complex fills. Variation is prominent, Nowhere, No-One, Nothing begins with a simple escalating riff and converts into a bass line, while Whorecrown begins with bestial blasts and a light keyboard in the background. Mortuus has definitely created a name for Marduk with Rom 5:12 and now Wormwood. The similarities to Funeral Mist are light, with vocals and lyrics being the only thing relevant to one another. Mortuus remains possessed, his inhuman vocals are signature and at times frightening. Marduk has definitely made progress.

This is worth picking up. Marduk incorporates elements which were never used to much extent in previous albums. Groove is used tremendously among high register riffs. Bass is heard very often and actually carries a large load in a number of songs. The drumming is fast yet carries groove and intricate fills and slow patterns. Mortuus' vocals are serious, varied and wicked.

9/10

One of the best of the year.

Marduk - 12/4/09

Hearing how ticket sales weren't going so well for this show, I expected it to be not to Marduk's expectations. I think it exceeded their low ones. In a venue that was fairly packed yet dead for the opening bands, Marduk had to have been honored.

For some reason Merrimack played very early, they were the 4th band that played in the night. Merrimack's black metal reeks of groove and moments where you just have to move. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to headbang instead just bob his/her heads. The sound was superb, the earlier bands exhibited a cluttered sound but as Merrimack came on, everything was precise. The drumming was flawless, intricate fills were crystal clear, the guitars were dead on, and the vocals were very prominent. Terrorizt was definitely disappointed, sarcasm influenced his word choice, "California, you are too nice" to a meager applause.

Spiculum Iratus was the only local act that I had had a dire interest for. Their debut full-length is amazing, such a thick atmosphere and dark tone. The stage was decorated with goat skulls and chains, the set opened up with Dismantle of the Sensus Divinatus. There were a few vocal problems here and there and a major drum error at the end of the set. Despite those errors, the set was great, Orations Recited From The Mouths of the Jawless had me headbanging throughout and pounding my fist. Os Miserum moves around and gets the crowd going, still, the crowd has crossed arms.

Mantic Ritual was next and an interesting set they had indeed. Their retro thrash was surprising, the crowd was still dead. There was a little moshing and circle pitting, but for the most part their thrash, as expected, did not reach their ears. Solos were clear, drumming was precise, guitars were thick, and vocals were very clear.

Up next was Mictlantecuhtli, a local LA band that uses Aztec mythology and imagery in their Black/Thrash. Their set was ok, the drum set was knocked over, while the guitars were just sloppy. Their intricate chugging became cluttered, but towards their last few songs, it seemed to have been taken care of. The crowd went crazy for them, plenty of people were in the pit, the speakers were almost knocked over, the stage was rattling, stage presence was present indeed.

Nachtmystium was another big band on this bill. Sound problems were present during their first song. Vocals were completely out. The crowd received them well, crowd surfing, moshing, headbanging, and a strong response after every song. Surprisingly, old songs were played which pleased my ears, not that their newer material is bad.

Marduk was the band that we had all been waiting for for at least a year. After being rejected to tour the first time, it had to have made this show far better. With the crowd chanting "MARDUK MARDUK!", Marduk arrives and Mortuus sends out icy stares and evokes rowdiness. The first song's sound was horrible. Guitars were very low, bass was very high, and the vocals were very high. That problem was easily dispelled by the second song. Mortuus tends to send commands out like a leader of his Panzer Division, "ARE YOU READY FOR THIS LA?! I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO! LOUDER!" and "Are you fucking alive mother fuckers!?" he seemed pleased after the second response to those questions. 6th song in, a bible was burned in the crowd, unfortunately, I don't think Marduk had seen what had happened. The bible burner had become pepper sprayed and that seemed to have had a lot of people declare their dismissal. The crowd was indulging in Marduk. Wrath of Averse Sefira and the other roadies had to drag people outside of the venue due to excessive disruptions to the Marduk set. Marduk was definitely worth every penny and every minute of wait. Their old songs are best experienced in a live setting.

I often wonder, how do Merrimack feel to see the LA crowd so lively for other bands that don't deserve such praise?

"Close" Minded

It's been brought to my attention, especially through Last.Fm, that those that don't listen to metal on a daily basis often exalt the metal bands that they do listen to to such heights. Wolves in the Throne Room is a good band, no doubt, with lyrical themes aside, many metalheads don't listen to them, I am one of them. I listen to them sparingly only because their sound has no uniqueness. Drudkh manages to capture that sound flawlessly while Wodensthrone creates post-rock and folk atmospheres in Black Metal arrangements similar to the Wolves. Dragonforce is another band that seems to blow minds away. Despite having no talent aside from speed, many people believe them to be the pinnacle of power metal. With lacking variation and an easily acquired taste I can see why many of the other bands that play real Power Metal are often exiled.

Open-mindedness is good, but when opinions are made that include words like "Best Ever" then I suggest explore a bit. Your open-mindedness is in fact close-minded.

Deiphago

It's not often you find a band from Asia, aside from Japan, that manage to get their name across seas. What's even more surprising is that Deiphago are from the Phillipines, a land that has only produced a hundred metal bands. Deiphago play War Metal in the vain of Blasphemy. The vocals reek of early thrash while the music is extraordinarily filthy. Covered in grime and blood the guitars are buzzing while the drums are tumbling all over the place. Cymbals shatter as snares take charge and armies march. Revenge is a prominent influence with the odd blast beats. Something so filthy, it's so great. Noise to the untrained ear indeed, but unlike many War Metal bands that follow Blasphemy's example, Deiphago abandon deep rasp and encourage rabid high pitch screams and wails on top of filthy thick guitars and a hammered drums.

Baneful Genesis

Baneful Genesis Records is running a deal till the end of the year in order to gather funds for their future releases. And their future releases are very promising, such as the Legions of Astaroth full-length on vinyl as well as Vatican from L.A.'s newest EP. Among their selection remains some jewels, such as Lantlos' debut album, which has a bit of a post-rock feel under a Black Metal arrangement, Revenge and Black Witchery albums. The deal is as stated below:

To gather funds for our next releases we are having a temporary sale on all cds, purchase any 3 cds for only $20 USD with first class shipping included within the US. International customers will have same price but will have to add shipping to the total. To qualify you must email us with your order instead of going through our cart system.

Baneful Genesis

Spiculum Iratus - Summa Anti-Theologica

With so many bands spewing from the depths of the United States, no black metal bands really stick. They seem to follow the same formula that so many other bands follow and for that reason become forgotten.

Spiculum Iratus are a band that has paved their own path and demands your attention. Orations Recited From the Mouths of the Jawless bursts through your speakers after a short two minute intro chaining you down to a spiraling riff. The snare is battered consistently while being seasoned with interchanging cymbal work. Layered with howling vocals that demand raised fists and chanting along if the vocals were decipherable makes this memorable. The song changes pace with prayers in the vain of Deathspell Omega and once again picks up speed by introducing a more "depressive" chord. Dismantle of the Sensus Divinatus possesses one of the catchiest choruses in black metal. The song begins with a heavy thick atmosphere carried on by the drumming which evolves into shattered glass upon machine gun fire seizing your attention. St. Mlesna is introduced with a slower yet heavier approach, the vocals and guitars interlock with one another. As the guitars hit the higher notes, the vocals become deeper and vice versa.

Summa Anti-Theologica is definitely a leap forward from their previous split release with Bestial Incarnation. The sound is much thicker; the vocals contain effects that complement that album as a whole, blending in with the surrounding sounds. Improvements can be made in the mixing process but considering how underground this band is and the lack of funds that accompany it, the presentation of the album as a whole is amazing.

8.5/10

The dead sea does have a living creature

Black Metal Theory

Black Metal is often irrelevant to many of those in Southern California, at least in the area in which I reside. As of late, there has been a recent exposure, one that I don't quite agree with. As Euronymous has stated a number of times, what use is there to spread a message to those who are already aware of it? But then again, Wrath of Averse Sefira has said, Black Metal is an art yet it attracts many stupid individuals who fail to embrace the whole notion of it.

Until the Light Takes Us is a documentary that seems to be quite successful, I have yet to watch it. I missed the first screening, it seemed to have sold out quick! Second one is passing my radar, unfortunately. Although it doesn't seem to consist anything relatively new to those who have read up on Euronymous and Varg and their stupid conflict, but it still attracts. Primarily, those who aren't into it, flock to the event. Ironically, as soon as they delve deeper, the numbers become smaller.

Here is another interpretation of Black Metal to those which are unfamiliar.

http://blackmetaltheory.blogspot.com/

Black Metal is an art and it is unnecessary to ask what it is, one should feel the emotion not read up on it and assume the stance of devotion. It wasn't instant that I was listening to black metal religiously, nor was it instant that I began to create my own sort of ideology around the art.

One thing that has come out of this that can be positive, the vast vocabulary and intricate research may dispel those that believe it is music and nothing more.

Mastodon - Leviathan

I am giving Mastodon a number of chances to impress me. Now that I think of it, I do enjoy Crack the Skye far more than the Nu-Metal approach that Leviathan creates. Blood and Thunder opens up the album with a nu-metal like riff and nu-metal vocals. Thankfully, the nu-metal chugs and chords cease and metal takes it's rightful place. The album isn't as progress but is in fact technical. Plenty of neck-fucking here tends to steer me away and the vocals are definitely making me stir. I think I am allergic to Mastodon. Seabeast takes the music down a notch and throws some cheesy vocals on top of them. Hearts Alive may be the only song I actually did enjoy. This thirteen minute epic grabbed my attention with intricate drumming and nice long fills over a slow guitar.

The production of this album is very gritty, very low fi. A nice fuzz lies in the guitars and the drums are precise and crystal. The bass is drowned out and the vocals are at the same level as the guitars. The distance is far, the vocals are faint.

Crack The Skye was far better than this. The progressiveness of that album is prominent but Mastodon do create something catatonic. Leviathan on the other hand, is just technical, a bit of nu-metal, metal, and some hardcore blended into one. Crack the Skye got better after every listen, Leviathan gets more annoying after every listen. I read an interview and Mastodon stated that Leviathan created water, if by water they mean how fluid their fingers and arms move around their instruments then they have pinpointed that image. Blood Mountain will be the last chance they will receive until their new album.

5/10

My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything

I often wonder and even people at Bionics wonder, how is it that I enjoy Slowdive before My Bloody Valentine? My Bloody Valentine are definitely up there is the Shoegaze department. They remain as one of the biggest Shoegaze bands in one of the shortest lived scenes ever to exist. With the shoegaze genre beginning to grow once more with bands such as Panda Riot, Swoon, Ride, Autolux, and hell, Silversun Pickups can fall into that category, one can't forget the pioneers.

Isn't Anything is very different from their Loveless album. The first song has you thinking of everything but Shoegaze. The fuzziness isn't prominent and is instead pushed to the back. Drum are far higher in the mix and vocals actually have a chance of being heard and deciphered. The clear production disables the brightness in a sonic sea of distortion. Everything is so prominent and clear that the music is handed to you on a silver platter rather than having to analyze the song.

It isn't a bad album, but it isn't really shoegaze, there are moments in which distortion is heavily used, but as soon as it ends you may think it's a different band. Small moments of Shoegaze at times define a song but overall the album lacks what I loved in shoegaze, the necessity of critical thinking.

5.5/10

It Really Isn't Anything

Katatonia - Viva Emptiness

I am not too familiar with Katatonia but their only release besides Viva Emptiness that I have been exposed to was Brave Murder Day. Brave Murder Day was a nice blend of melody and brutality without sacrificing any emotional content.

Seven years later, the Swedish lords of Doom release Viva Emptiness in a very different setting than Brave Murder Day. Clean vocals are used throughout the album in vain of bands such as Chevelle. The guitars remain fairly metal but there are a number of times in which they stray far from the roots enabling a bit of thinness throughout the song. Keyboards are present to back up the guitars and set certain moods with a few melodies sprinkled in. Don't worry, if you hate Eyes of Rectum (Noctum) and Abigail Williams-esque keyboards that you will be fairly pleased with this. Drums remain simple, nothing exquisite, nothing off timing.

Katatonia attempt to create something different from their previous sounds, the definitely have, but in general is still remains similar to that which is outside of the metal genre.

6/10

Refreshing