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Friday, May 06, 2005
"'Blues For The Red Sun' by Kyuss"
by
Bill Vogel III
Friday, May 06, 2005 A.D.
In 1992 a monumental release of Psychedelic Metal was unleashed by a definitive act in the genre, Kyuss. This paragon opus was "Blues For The Red Sun" [Chameleon Records], which still holds-up more than a decade later as the masterpiece that it is. Few Psychedelic Metal bands even come close to Kyuss, most fail miserably....
Kyuss bled deep bass grooves that shatter bones. Trippy, psychedelic guitars cut a massive, soulful edge that shined. Deep, clean vocals with a sharp glory rounded-out this wondrous gloom. Kyuss was THE Psychedelic Metal band-all apex and aggression.
There are so many great songs here. The very best one is "Green Machine," with a crushing groove that rattles your guts. "Thumb" is killer as well, with its angry lilt to the bleakness. Other great tracks include the instrumental "Caterpillar March," "Writhe," "Apothecaries' Weight," the stomp of "Mondo Generator," and "Thong Song." Kyuss is simply killer.
Overall, Kyuss still leaves a powerful impression even in today's musical brutality. Quality transcends trends. And Kyuss is quality. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Mondo Generator, Jimi Hendrix, Sons Of
Otis (a.k.a. Otis), Raging Slab, Queens
Of The Stone Age, Monster Magnet, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 3:07 PM
Thursday, May 05, 2005
"'Mafia' by Black Label Society"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 5, 2005 A.D.
After some time, Zakk Wylde's band Black Label Society has returned to the maelstrom. The Powercore Metal act's 2005 release, "Mafia" [Artemis Records], is a thunderous example of great modern Metal. This bleeds groove.
Black Label Society has a unique style, an intense fusion of masterful guitar work ala Wylde and bludgeoning, primal rhythms. It's Psychedelic Powercore Metal a dark, Southern heart. Clean, deep vocals are used throughout. Black Label Society has a trippy, surreal edge.
The finest of these fierce wonders is the dark, stoic ballad "Dirt On The Grave." One of their very best cuts, it puts the "power" into "power-ballad." It's both a little Bluesy and Gothic at the same time. And it is starkly poetic as well.
Other noteworthy face-smashers include "Death March," the hook ripping stomp "Say What You Will," the piano lilted gloom of "In This River," "Fire It Up," and "Forever Down." Black Label Society is one of a kind.
In conclusion, Black Label Society has a solid slab of quality Powercore in "Mafia." This is their best one yet. They never cease to amaze. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Damageplan, Drowning Pool, Exhorder,
Brick Bath, Pantera, Kilgore Smudge,
Mastodon, Godsmack, Rollins Band, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 7:13 PM
"'Leviathan' by Mastodon"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 4, 2005 A.D.
Mastodon is one diverse, powerful Sludgecore Metal band. Their 2004 opus, "Leviathan" [Relapse Records], is both extreme and eccentric. But every song bleeds utter groove.
Layers of dense roar, Psychedelic lead guitars, and machine precise drumming interlock into a euphony of beautiful crash. Clean yells and lightly growled, aggressive vocals add to their mesmerizing complexity. Mastodon takes massive brutality to a whole new level.
The best of these gargantuan cuts includes the punishing and trippy "Blood And Thunder," "Seabeast," the primal assault of "Iron Tusk," "Hearts Alive," and "Megalodon." (Sea monsters anyone?) Mastodon has a leviathan sound-dense, dark, and deep.
Overall, Mastodon is addictively aggressive and completely killer. This is a white whale worth hunting down.... Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Crowbar, Hate Theory, Los Terribles,
Iron Monkey, Pro-Pain, Cathedral,
Unsane, Genocide Superstars, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 8:50 AM
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
"'Cover Your Tracks' by Bury Your Dead"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 3, 2005 A.D.
One of the most monumental to recently emerge from the exploding Metalcore scene is Bury Your Dead. With a sound that is not only brutal but gut-crunching catchy, Bury Your Dead has built a loyal crew of amazed fans. Their 2004 opus of epic intensity, "Cover Your Tracks" [Victory Records], is a bludgeoning blunt force trauma of apocalyptic brilliance.
Bury Your Dead has a grinding, throbbing groove that gets buried inside of your head and explodes. Intense, sharp growled vocals hammer with a jagged glory. Blast-beats and dense guitars thunder ahead like charging daylight. Cataclysmic as the last night, Bury Your Dead leaves a permanent, abyss impression.
The most incredible cuts include the bone-crushing "Magnolia" (an amazing song), "Mission Impossible," the bruiser "Losin' It," "Eyes Wide Shut," and "Vanilla Sky." And yes, all of the songs are named after Tom Cruise movies. (I hope to God this is a clever publicity gimmick. If not, I don't even want to know....)
Bury Your Dead is brutal, catchy, and unique as a murder scene.
In summary, Bury Your Dead is where massive intensity collides with mad genius. Get yourself buried.... Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Summer's End, Hatebreed, Nile, A18,
Glass Casket, Cataract, Cannae, It Dies
Today, Atreyu, Buried Alive, Zao,
Acid Bath, Turmoil, All That Remains,
Lungbrush, Scar Culture, Crisis, All
Else Failed, Bleeding Through, Closer
Than Kin, A Perfect Murder, Breach,
Luddite Clone, Dead Horse, Lamb Of God,
Martyr A.D., Scars Of Tomorrow, Shadows
Fall, Killswitch Engage, Pitchshifter,
Rotten Sound, Hoods, Dead To Fall,
Soilent Green, Disrupt, Sourvein,
Negative Creeps, From A Second Story
Window, If Hope Dies, How It Ends,
December, Sinai Beach, Haste, Poison The
Well, Dim Mak, Still Remains, Stretch
Arm Strong, Living Sacrifice, Trivium,
Agony Scene, Beaten Back To Pure,
Between The Buried And Me, Eighteen
Visions, Darkest Hour, Paria, Unearth,
Deadlock, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 11:13 AM
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
"'Spell Of Retribution' by The Chasm"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 29, 2005 A.D.
The Chasm is a unique Death Metal band from Mexico City, Mexico. Their 2004 opus, "Spell Of Retribution" [Wicked World/Earache Records], fuses Classic New Wave Of British Heavy Metal guitar wizardry ala Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with early 1990's Death Metal. The result is phenomenal.
The Chasm has a razor-sharp sound. Medium intensity growls crawl through tight rhythms, and solid guitar bombast. Some odd-timing here and there adds a nice, experimental edginess, but without beating it to death. The Chasm relies on skill, not artistic trickery, to hammer away the mediocre competition.
The most outstanding cuts include the relentless "Conqueror & Warlord," the epic and melancholic groove of "Retribution Of The Last Years (I, The Pastfinder III)" (an amazing track), "Omnipotent Codex," and the impressive instrumental crunch of "From The Curse, A Scourge...." The Chasm has a primal grace that obliterates....
Overall, the Chasm is killer all the way. The Chasm is monumental. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Sepultura, Sodom, Bathory, Kreator,
Coroner, Obituary, Death, Gorefest,
Hypocrisy, Sinister, Exhorder, Grave,
Acid Bath, Repulsion, Believer, Sadus,
Immolation, Hellhammer, Konkhra,
Impaled, Entombed, Nocturnus, Usurper,
Sorrow, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 4:33 PM
"'Domine Non Es Dignus' by Anaal Nathrakh"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 23, 2005 A.D.
Blackened Industrial/Extreme Metal is the best way to describe the ferocious band Anaal Nathrakh. Their 2005 opus of brimstone and fire, entitled "Domine Non Es Dignus" [Season Of Mist Records], is a fitful display of fierce darkness. Anaal Nathrakh is devoid of peacefulness.
Anaal Nathrakh is a bleak, screaming bloodbath of euphonious darkness. Shrill, growled vocals erupt from mechanically precise rhythms and fiery guitars. Gothic elements are used, adding a melodic depth to the caustic assault. Anaal Nathrakh is stark and amazing....
Noteworthy cuts of tenebrous bleeding fury include "Rage, Rage Against The Dying Of The Light," the abysmal glory of "To Err Is Human, To Dream - Futile," "Oblivion Gene," and "This Cannot Be The End." Anaal Nathrakh is blisteringly primal.
Overall, Anaal Nathrakh is a bleak, relentless assault of sheer hostility. And it works excellently for them. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Acheron, Aborym, Hate, Centinex, Fog,
Throcult, Cadaver Inc., Order From
Chaos, Khold, Mayhem, The Abyss, Sigh,
Marduk, Children Of Bodom, Gorgoroth,
Dimmu Borgir, Void, Aeturnus, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 9:07 AM
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