High on Fire - Snakes For The Divine

High on Fire is one of the few bands around today that manages to catch the spark of old school metal and combine it with the ripping-riffage of Sludge Metal. Their newest effort combines these two things in such a potent brew that it's hard to believe it was released in 2010. Aspects of fantasy and substance abuse ooze from every oriface of this bongwater drenched epic produced by ex-Sleep guitarist Matt Pike. Each song is PACKED with epic moments and licks that will drive any metalhead howling to the moon. The opening track splits the sky with massive drum sounds and a Judas Priest-esque guitar line and then all hell breaks loose in the form of eathmoving riffing that leads into Matt Pike's trademark Lemmy-style growls that send you reeling from intensity. Then there's the song 'Bastard Samurai'; this bad boy has been clogging my ears since I've gotten hold of it. This is literally everything I want out of a metal song; massive riffs with awesome lyrics about Samurai's cutting down Yakuza dogs. It makes my Hanzo sword quiver with delight if you catch what I'm tossin'. If you consider yourself a metalhead of any sort go out and buy this; it's even going on sale for $7.99 at Best Buy with 3 extra bonus tracks and if that's honestly not a good enough price then you can go fuck yourself. These guys are and still will remain one of the best acts that metal will ever produce. For fans of Motorhead, Celtic Frost, St. Vitus, Sleep and Melvins.

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Gaza - I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die

This is one of those records that makes me froth at the mouth and while my skin crawl with every note. Great aggressive sludgy mathcore that combines the howling of Khanate with the fanged ferocity of Converge and Botch into an all out jihad of noise. Each song is a testament to extreme anger distilled into a musical form. When pushed to the point where I think I'm going to shove a pencil into someone's throat this is usually the album I turn to. Putting this on and breaking shit is probably one of the most calming actions in the universe. Fucking excellent piece of music.


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Retro Thrash Week Wrap Up: Exodus - Bonded By Blood

While it's not a 'Retro Thrash' record per-se. This is an album that helped get the ball rolling and definitely my favorite Thrash Album of all time. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this bad boy from beginning to end. Each riff, each drum fill and every bit of rollicking thrash mayhem is just pure fucking awesome. This is something that needs to be in your possession if you claim to like thrash in any shape or form. This is a classic.


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Retro Thrash Week Day 6: Toxic Holocaust - An Overdose of Death

Once again, it's been a long day. I just narrowly missed posting an entry tonight and instead I'm going let someone else do the reviewing: "With the recent resurgence of thrash metal and the waves of new bands, there's a danger groups like Toxic Holocaust will get lost in the shuffle. Their latest effort An Overdose Of Death makes it evident that is not going to happen. It's old school thrash played fast and loose with ripping riffs and frequent solos.

Toxic Holocaust has a more ominous edge than a lot of thrash bands. Slayer is an obvious influence, along with other Bay Area groups like Exodus, Testament and early Metallica. There's also traces of punk in their sound. The songs on An Overdose Of Death are typical thrash, but very well played with really catchy riffs" -About.com







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Retro Thrash Week Day 5: Flesh Made Sin - Dawn of The Stillborn

Just had a long day and way too lazy to write my own description so:

"First rate classic aggressive thrash metal which recalls some of the biggest names from the 80's scene: Slayer, Devastation, Destruction, Kreator, to name a few. The music is fast-paced most of the time, with some nice technical touches whcih brings to mind another great band of recent times (not active anymore)- Hypnosia. This band is a fine addition to the thrash metal renaissance of recent years. " Bound By Metal


Same policy as always: You like it, you should buy it. If you like it and DON'T buy it, you're a total shitkicker.

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Retro Thrash Week Day 3: Municipal Waste - Massive Aggressive

Well at this point most people know what they're getting into when they listen to Municipal Waste; fast, furious, tongue-in-cheek thrash of the party variety. After the smashing good time I had listening to 'The Art of Partying' I couldn't be any more interested in their newest release 'Massive Aggressive'. Though due to my ever expanding library I've had little time to listen to it but while it's not the most original release it's still a good one to spin when the booze is flowing.


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Retro Thrash Week Day 2: Gama Bomb - Tales From The Grave In Space

Fantastic Thrash Metal from Ireland that shouldn't be missed by anyone who's into the genre. This band is so quirky and fun that I can't help but have a good fucking time when I listen to them. Take equal parts Exodus, Municipal Waste and then add liberal amounts of Sci-Fi movies, Saturday Morning Cartoons, zombies and video games. This is some pretty geek-savvy metal and I gotta admire that considering most metal bands are more interested in acting hard or kvlt to care about having fun. While not terribly original, this recore is still a fuckin' blast to put on and thrash about to. Hell the band even offers it up for a free download on their label site. So I trust that after listening to this while playing old Sega games you'll buy it.

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RETRO THRASH WEEK! Havok - Burn

In honor of one of my favorite genres finding its way back into my heart I'm going to be doing a week long spot on Retro Thrash and Old School Thrash, hopefully relighting that fire or introducing you to something new completely. Fast, Fun and utterly Brutal; the albums that slide up in the upcoming weeks have quickly become staples of my collecting and I'd recommend them to anyone looking to have a rip-roaring good time.


Day 1:




Havok - Burn

This new band has distilled everything good about the Thrash scene of yore. Combining riffing akin to Death, Slayer and Exodus; this album is like taking a time machine back to the days of jean jackets, Nike Vandals and upbrimmed baseball caps. Impressive drumming lines the album like a velvet outline while the constantly riffing guitars march and shred through acres of bodies and artillery fire. Also a rare occurrance (for me at least) the bass player seems to be extremely up front, sometimes even taking lead position with incredible punk-styled melodies thrown in between hectic drums and soaring guitars. This album recaptures everything that was once good about Thrash Metal; back when Metallica wasn't producing whiny bullshit, back when Morbid Saint was melting faces and back when Megadeth still had that piss and vinegar. Download if you want to rock the fuck out, purchase if you want to help revive Thrash.

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The Samuel Jackson Five - Goodbye Melody Mountain

This a band that I find myself constantly returning to. A band that plays instrumental rock that avoids the general formula of the genre. Here there are no attempts at crescendo driven mechanics, or pedal masturbation; here is a band that knows how to make cool music. The multitude of instruments on each album is amazing; ranging from the traditional bass, guitar and drums combo with the addition of a theramin, cello, flute, sax, violin, fiddle and lots of other cool shit. Each album bleeds with the influence of bands like Slint and Don Caballero but each also shines in its own light. Each song walks the catwalk between delightfully mathy and beautifully simplistic along with a lot of real rocking moments. The opener for their newest effort 'Goodbye Melody Album' starts off with rock of the epic variety mixed with great strings and some awesome drums. Then, the next song opens up with video game styled keyboards mixed with lovely piano; such a beaut of a song. Each album survives in it's own species apart from each other and the constant need to reinvent and rework is what I love about this band. The combination of Post-Rock and the Jazz ethic is always a winning combination. For fans of Do Make Say Think and Neil on Impression.

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Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu

Oranssi Pazuzu is an interesting blend of Black Metal, Kraut Rock and oddly enough...early Pink Floyd. This weird trip through space seems to take the listener through an odd amalgamation of all these genres without ever losing a beat. The flawless transition from genre to genre fits perfectly and gives the listener a real sense of depth for the entire project. It's easy to see why so many people are getting into this band. Personally, I got the album because I absolutely LOVED the album art and it turned out the music was pretty rad. Recommended for fans of Deathspell Omega, Fen, Faust and Between The Buried and Me.

Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu

Tracklist


1. Korppi
2. Danjon Nolla
3. Kangastus 1968
4. Suuri Pää Taivaasta
5. Myöhempien Aikojen Pyhien Teatterin Rukoilijasirkka
6. Dub Kuolleen Porton Muistolle
7. Muukalainen Puhuu
8. Kerettiläinen Vuohi


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Neon Genesis Evangelion Live Action Movie

I know this has been in the works right now but with rumors of Universal Studios getting together to do a trilogy of NGE live action films I can't help but post about it. Supposedly Steven Spielberg has been offered the project and Weta Workshop (Avatar, Lord of The Rings, King Kong and Narnia) are interested in doing the effects. Pictured above is some Weta concept art for the film. This promises to be amazing as Neon Genesis Evangelion is the 2001: A Space Odyssey of the anime world. This story is so oddly entrancing and rich with detail that I can't help but love it. The mix of mecha, metaphysical, theological and philosophical explorations and beautiful animation make this such a wonderful franchise. Here's to hoping this baby hits production soon!

Supercontinent - Vaalbara

These guys are a local Michigan act that produces rib-snapping Sludge that beats you into submission with Carcass-esque layered guitars mixed with the crushing majesty of bands like Isis, Pelican and Struck By Lightning. Not only does this blow most NeurIsis clones out of the water; this is the Sludge Metal equivalent to a rock opera about Michigan's geological evolution. Fuck The Ocean's 'Precambrian' snoozefest of predictable imitation, when it comes to this type of music this record is second only to the legends. With immense riffing throughout, songs like 'Earthrise', 'Lakes of Iron', 'Cataclysms' and 'Epoch' could level an entire city if you hooked them up to a massive stereo; the tectonic plates would shift from the sheer heaviness. Did I mention it was mastered by Scott Hull of Pig Destroyer fame and that they feature an ex-member of The Black Dahlia Murder? Buy this CD to help fund the release of new material.


Supercontinent - Vaalbara

Tracklist

1: Nebula
2: Earthrise
3: Lakes Of Iron
4: Cataclysms
5: Rain Gives Rise
6: In Rust
7: The Monolith
8: Impact Winter
9: Epoch

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Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at Barbican Centre, London

Conceptual artist Céleste Boursier creates a live soundcape by furnishing a walkthrough aviary with guitars and amplifiers. As the zebra finches flock to and from each instrument, music is created to the rhythms of every day life. Hell...a bird with a stick riffs out better than most guitarists I've worked with.

Do Make Say Think - Goodbye Enemy Airship The Landlord is Dead

Do Make Say Think is a breath of fresh air when it comes to post rock. Forsaking the EITS 'crescendo-chord-crescendo' formula of operation, they ply in favor of a jazz-influenced sound laden with rich effects and sweeping horns. The saxophone and flute parts are beautiful and the simplistic guitar is meditative and blunderingly brilliant in all of its rawness. Most of the album was recorded in a barn in Canada and if you turn your speakers up you can literally hear the barn doors creak, the crickets chirp, fall of feet on dirt and the mumbling of voices. This record has more than enough atmosphere to supply dozens of planets. This is the perfect album to pick you up out of a bad mood or calm frayed nerves. I recently purchased this album used after listening to it on and off for the past 4 years and still to this day it stands as a massive influence to the way I play and write music. Please purchase this if you can, Constellation Records is an honest label that does nothing short of amazing things.

Because this album should be experienced in all its glory I'm upping a 320kbps rip which will need to be downloaded in 2 parts. Trust me, it'll be well worth it.

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HeWhoCorrupts - The Discographer

HeWhoCorrupts are one of my favorite grindcore acts still active today. Not only do they create catchy, mathcore influenced grind that's heavy on the punk and sly on the metal; but they also end every show....naked. These entrepreneurs have created a niche for themselves in the extreme music scene by making their own blend of the hard-n-fast known as 'Hardcorporate'. They aren't just flapping their gums either, their company HeWhoCorrupts Inc. distributes music for great bands like Tusk, Russian Circles, 7,000 Dying Rats and Holy Roman Empire. This album combines all of their work prior to their newest EPs and includes some of the best grindcore ever committed to recording. Also, buy this or Tommy Camaro will cut off my legs and force feed them to me.

HeWhoCorrupts - The Discographer

Tracklist

Too long to list


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Lunch

This is the amazing lunch that my girlfriend and I prepared today. It includes vegetarian potstickers that she made herself along with hot chili and soy sauce in the koi dipping dishes. The tea is an African Red with Apple Accents mixed with fresh apple juice to enhance the flavor. Quite lovely and I recommend this combo to anyone who's looking for a light meal that's easy to make and extremely delicious.

US Christmas - Eat The Low Dogs

This record is just so out there that it has to be experienced first hand. This brand of Space Rock combines equal divisions of Hawkwind, My Bloody Valentine, Minsk, Neurosis and Earth. I talked with some of the guys before they played and I was eager to hear what they had to offer. The barrage of guitars is backed by a forceful rhythm section, sweeping theramin, plodding bass lots of pedal worship. I picked up this CD after seeing them open up for Baroness and I have to say that I was blown away hearing this live. The 3 guitarist created a heavy oxygen-starved atmosphere, the yowling vocalist crooned from behind an elk-skull adorned mic stand while the bass kicked you in the teeth; the 2 drummers synchronized and often went on tangents of elegant accenting while the drummer from Minsk played hand drums and other assorted instruments and all while a screeching distorted violen squaked like a pterodactyl being ripped apart by alligators. Powerful as fuck. This psychedelic trip through the old west will lead you through powerful imagery of light, darkness, deserts and bleeding corpses. This must be heard to be believed.


US Christmas - Eat The Low Dogs

Tracklisting

1: In The Light Of All Time
2: The Scalphunters
3: Say Sister
4: Silent Tongue
5: The Light and Trails
6: Uktena
7: Gallows Humor
8: Black Lung
9: Pray To The Sky


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Shrinebuilder - S/T

Supergroups keep popping up these days, with the likes of Chickenfoot (Boo! Hiss!), The Dead Weather (*crickets), Bloodbath (-Snore-) and Them Crooked Vultures (...meh) and most of them don't live up to the parts that make the whole. This band features members of Wino/St. Vitus, Neurosis, Melvins and Om/Sleep; let me tell you right now, this shit is as the kids say 'off da hook'. Highly recommended for fans of any of these. This ass-ripping cut of sly Psychedelic Doom will make your skull rattle if you already couldn't tell by its pedigree. This record is a monument to what's coming out of Neurot, Southern Lord and Ipecac; some of the best labels on the circuit. You need something to chill you out while still maintaining a heavy-handed atmosphere? Then this is for you. Did I mention that it was recorded in only THREE DAYS?! That means that this promises to be raw and powerful as if it was fresh out of the amplifier oven. Scott Kelly of Neurosis equates it as a record that reinforces "music as a religion and a means of communication. I listen to this project more than any other I've worked with and I listen to it LOUD". I highly recommend this for anyone who loves Doomy music or is looking to get into it for the first time. As always, you should buy this if you enjoy it; the boys at Neurot deserve it. The probability that if you don't and you enjoy it, you may not see another record from this supergroup.


Shrinebuilder - S/T

Tracklisting

1.Solar Benediction
2.Pyramid Of The Moon
3.Blind For All To See
4.The Architect
5.Science Of Anger

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Dreamend - The Long Forgotten Friend

This is a side project of Graveface from Black Moth Super Rainbow and I gotta say, it's fantastic. This record is basically like flipping through old scrap books in your head. Nostalgia drips off each track like a thick viscousy syrup and then oozes down into your throat to choke you up. It brings back memories in a flood; some good, some bad, some beautiful and some horrendously ugly. But nonethless, it's records like these that make me realize that life is extremely beautiful, hopefully it gives you a bit of a pick me up. Same policy: If you like it, purchase it.



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Wolves In The Throne Room - Black Cascade

Now I understand black metal isn't for everyone, neither is ambient music; the two put together seem to be the bane of a great deal of casual listeners along with 10 minute plus songs. Oddly enough, I am thankful for that; something this special shouldn't be wasted on the casual listener looking for cheap thrills. This album is a great example of black metal being inventive. Adding subtle doses of crust punk, shoegaze, drone, ambient and even some post-rock here and there, Wolves in The Throne Room managed to create on of the most unique metal records of the past decade. Not only is its euphoric atmosphere strengthened from previous releases but the addition of keyboards and bass adds such depth to these compositions that you can almost feel the wind biting your face as the wall of guitars comes down like fierce winter gales, the earth bass throbbing beneath your feet as the snowy keyboards pile around your collapsed body. Turn on this record, turn off the lights, light some candles and get ready for a musical journey through the Cascade Mountains. Also, please purchase this record if you have the chance. Not only does it go to support a monumental band but it also goes on to support Southern Lord; one of the best labels in history.


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Shoggoth Jasmine Tea

My girlfriend recently imported this tea for me and not only am I delighted in the fact that it's HP Lovecraft related, it's also the best tea I've had to date. This delicate mixture of Jasmine Green Tea is light and palatable when steeped briefly but if the tea pearls are given a chance to 'blossom' for a while in the pot you get a strong heady tea that alleviates the senses and as my lovely second-half will tell you "remind you of summer". After I drink a cup of this I walk away feeling cleansed and refreshed. I would highly recommend this beautiful blend while it's still available. The perfect cure for cabin fever here in the great white north.

10/10

Buried At Sea - Ghost

Perfect music for the winter season. Buried At Sea's sonic masterpiece 'Ghost' is one near-thirty minute track of staggeringly heavy doom metal. This hot slab of heaviness carries slight hints of Neurosis, Earth and Sunn along with its own signature atmosphere. This finely tailored journey is laden with sound samples and drenched guitars that drag the listener to the bottom like a waterlogged coffin. Also, as always if you enjoy what you hear please purchase it from the link listed below. These guys well deserve your dollar.

Buried At Sea - Ghost


Tracklisting

1: Ghost


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Magdalene - EP

Lovely Italian Screamo music mixed with Post-Rock flawlessly. Amazing vocals intermingled with writhing guitars that lead from calm to crescendo makes for a fierce, emotionally charged combination. It's relatively short but well worth putting on repeat. This album is now out of production and pretty hard to get a hold of but if you enjoy it, head to their Myspace and pick up their new CD.

Magdalene - EP

Tracklisting

1. Twain
2. Giochi Attimi Ricordi Macerie
3. Elegia
4. Coup De Foudre, Coup De Hache




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LSD and The Search For God - S/T

A great Shoegaze band that only has one album to their name. Soothing guitars with very noisy upstarts. Perfect for those dark nights spent home alone or laying in bed with someone extremely special. It's short but sweet and well worth the listen. I suggest that if you really enjoy it, that you buy it. Hopefully you enjoy it.


LSD and The Search For God

Track Listing

1. This Time
2. I Don't Care
3. Backwards
4. Starting Over
5. Starshine



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