Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?

khaos

By khaos
in Forum Games

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 69.6k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • FatherAlabaster

    7916

  • MacabreEternal

    5176

  • RelentlessOblivion

    4094

  • GoatmasterGeneral

    3661

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

gregsbrews
gregsbrews

Death - Human

GoatmasterGeneral
GoatmasterGeneral

Slayer - Hell Awaits, 1985   Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion, 1985  

MacabreEternal
MacabreEternal

Immolation - Acts of God (2022) Number eight on my end of year list that if I am being honest, the boredom of being unable to do much of anything with COVID has led me to do an end of y

Posted Images

BlutAusNerd Newbie

BlutAusNerd

Posted
Posted
'Kinetic' by Arcturus. Mixed bag, these guys, occasionally great and occasionally pretty boring.
That's the opening track from one of my favorite albums, and I have a hard time believing that someone would find it to be a mixed bag. It's really varied, but everything they do on that album floors me. The instrumentation is also fantastic, Hellhammer's drums, Garm's vocals, and Steiner's keyboards in particular stand out.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Iceni Newbie

Iceni

Posted
Posted

'Ruins Underneath the Waves...' by Sulphur Aeon.

That's the opening track from one of my favorite albums' date=' and I have a hard time believing that someone would find it to be a mixed bag. It's really varied, but everything they do on that album floors me. The instrumentation is also fantastic, Hellhammer's drums, Garm's vocals, and Steiner's keyboards in particular stand out.[/quote'] It just gets a bit monotonous or mild for my liking at times. I agree on the keyboards, though, the piano in particular is good. The Sham Mirrors and La Masquerade Infernale are the only ones that I've liked so far, I might want to try their debut again though.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GorboGorboze Newbie

GorboGorboze

Posted
Posted
How's that? I remember liking what I've heard from the album' date=' but I have yet to hear it completely.[/quote'] Holy fuck this album is wonderful! It seems to me like it has the most atmosphear of all their albums. I say atmosphear because it is so gloomy, but not atmospheric in a repetitive way. In fact it never stays long in any single grove, but keeps moving from thing to thing. Now I'm no expert, but I would say that parts of it border on funeral doom, except for the constant change ups. I really love it. It's heavy, heavy, heavy for sure, but very tight musically. More than a couple bits, early in the album, seem kind of punk rock, punk rock in a metal way. I don't guess that is surprising. It seems to me like Lee Dorrian tones down the affectation that he had on his vocals for all of Cathedral stuff. It is still there, just a bit less wiggly (in bending upwards at the end of every phrase as he usually does) if that's a good way to put it. I don't usually really notice the drumming on an album, but it is truly awesome on this album, that might be largely because the drums are so prominent in the mix that I say that. There is also some crazy organ playing, so be careful if you try to listen to the album in full. Why is it called the Last Spire? Do they want us to know they do not plan to make another album? You'll have to pardon me for talking about this album (or the band for that matter) as though I know it well, I don't really, but It will likely be my favorite Cathedral album ever.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Midi Newbie

Midi

Posted
Posted
Why is it called the Last Spire? Do they want us to know they do not plan to make another album?
I can't comment on the details of the choice of the album title, but it has indeed been announced that The Last Spire is their last album. I believe some if not all members started a new doom metal band though. I haven't heard any of that material, but I did hear pretty positive stuff about it from the people who have.
0
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Sacred Reich "Awakening"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • 5

        Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Immortal Bird "Thrive on Neglect"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      I
      • 1

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Vltimas 'Something Wicked Marches In'

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 3 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Candlemass "The Door to Doom"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,


      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Overkill "The Wings of War"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • 0

        Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,
    View All
×
×
  • Create New...