Chelsea Wolfe : "the Dark"

 The 9th studio album by the wonderful Ms. Wolfe opens with the soulful "Cold" that finds less of the ghostly reverbed vocals and her singing out at full voice in a more accesible manner. The also worked with producer Jennifer Decilveo who has also worked with the Gossip., Miley Cyrus, Bat For Lashes, and Hozier. Her voice sounds great nd it fits comofrtably in her hweelhouse. She continues this more  raw vocal production on "Seethe" which is also more straight ahead rock. It is not as dark as her previous work. Not too far removed from say Florence and the Machine. The drums groove thanks to having Tori Amos' drummer Matt Chamberlin playing on this album fand Troy from Queens of the Stoneage / Failure also lends his guitar talents, but serving the song so much you would not notice it was him.  

"Humours" is more back to the shadows basic for her, which she knows she needs to return to based on her fanbase which includes people like me who expect this sort of thing. If anyone was wondering if she coulkd sing ofr was just hiding behind the stylistic apporach with effect this album clears that up. It ameks sense consdiering artists she influenced like Ethel Cain are playing bigger venues. There is a more rock feel to "Swallower" though it does include many of her sonic staples like tinges of haunting guitar notes that ring out.  

"Halo" ambles along with a hooky flow. So far the vibes of this album remind me most of  "Birth of Violence'.  It is weird tha Angel Olsen collaborator Ben Babbitt lent a hand on the title track as it's stripped down to her just playing guitar. It is not until two minutes in that other layers of sound begin to rise around it. So they just helped her flesh it out. "Turn the Key" finds Robin Fink of Nine Inch Nails dropping some guitar in. "I'm Not There" is a slice of Americana tinged songwriting that is not foreign territory for her.

"Death is Not the End' goes from themore delicate fragile vocal to aheavier sonic dirge of emotion drivintg thesong. The album closes with "Dancer in the Sky" which is another introspective ballad. She slowly builds it up from the minimalist piano line, andit is one of her most compelling vocal performances. I am not sure if her new  found soberiety is what is making her more comfortable in her own skin but that is what it sounds like to me ,and it is clearly working as it's another flawless album from her,. I will give this one a 10. Out on LornaVista.

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the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2023

Rock music continues to be one of the last vestiges of picking up instruments and playing songs the artist has written.  With metal having a more loyal market, it feels like less straight-up rock music is coming out, but then again it's not something I always look for. There is a very specific feel of moodiness, melody, and underlying mental health issues I seek out from rock music, and these albums touch on varied corners of that sound.  After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Rock albums of 2023.

10-Vulture Industries- "Ghosts From the Past"

This Norwegian band strips away some of the darkness and most of the metal to reach a  middle road with their post-COVID comeback.  This allows them to create the space to establish melodies. There is a slight hint of the Northern European folk history of their homeland creeping into

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/vulture-industries-ghosts-from-past.html

 

9-Iggy Pop-"Every Loser"

At the ripe age of 75 Iggy Pop released his 20th album.  Duff Mckagan helps him out along with enlisting a who's who of rock royalty to collaborate with, featuring members of Jane's Addiction, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam. Pop described this album as geared to beat the shit out of the listener, but employs more of the cool and collected hints of his 80s new wave past. Which still works really well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/01/iggy-pop-every-loser.html

8-Buckcherry-"VOL 10"

They kick things off with more of a down-home bluesy swagger that they take in more of a party direction that retains the anthemic charm of their previous hits. They have stripped things down to the bare basics, closer to what they did on the first album, with none of the radio aspirations that fueled some albums. Lets fact it those aspirations worked pretty well as there were a couple of songs that did gain a great deal of radio play. Thus making me respect their self-awareness when it comes to where they stand in the bigger picture of the music industry. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/buckcherry-vol10.html

7- Twin Temple -"God is Dead"

This Duo from California returns with their "Satanic" doo-wop. The band claimed their debut album dropped back in 2019 was recorded in a day and a half, live with only two or three takes. If that is the case then this album only took half a day. There is a rawer sound to what unfolds here, though more orchestration, and arrangements that recall Phil Spector's "wall of sound". They are true to the era they are paying homage to, The way they nailed the sound this time with the lo-fi production that still allows the vocals to stand out, takes the sting out of the lyrics, as this could fit on a Sirrus radio oldies station and almost go unnoticed. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-twin-temple-god-is-dead.html

6-Alice Cooper-"Road"

The 29th album from this legend finds the Coop keeping it real and recording this one live in the studio with his touring band. Done with minimal overdubs, Alice sounds great and the opening track  "I'm Alice" makes it clear at 75, his voice remains where he needs it to be. The songs wink heavily at his classic sound from the 70s, sometimes almost recycling the riffs.  Often lyrically self-indulgent abragging about how great his band is live.  If this was done by anyone else it would not work as well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/alice-cooper-road.html

 

5-Tigercub- "The Perfume of Decay"

This trio from England plays a glammed-out style of rock that feels like a darker, more androgynous take on what Muse does. This is displayed on the title track opens the album. A trickle of angle guitar cascades of the groove, as the vocals coo over it all. They work more of tense groove rather than feeling the need to glitter-bomb everything with grandiose choruses. The choruses are highly melodic and hooky enough to draw you in. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/tigercub-perfume-of-decay.html

4-LA Guns -"Black Diamonds"

As long as both Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns are on board then I am fine with LA Guns. This album finds them continuing to kick ass while their arena-packing peers are fat floundering fools. If these guys can still do it with dignity then we should be expecting the same from the Motley Crues of the world. They open this album with a more Zeppelin-like groove. At 66 Phil Lewis sounds incredible. They stay true to the era they are from, while not sounding dated. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/la-guns-black-diamonds.html

3-The Menzingers-"Some of it Was True"

They set the bar really high for themselves on "Hello Exile", its country leanings carried a convincing twang. This time the slick production has toned down some of the edges with these punk bar anthems. Lyrically it retains the charm of albums past.  They reach a new level of songwriting with tons of conviction poured into the voice of Greg Barnett, which has both the quiver of nervous vibrato and the more punk snarl to punch out the songs' accents.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-menzingers-some-of-it-was-true.html

2-Rolling Stones -"Hackney Diamonds"

This is the Stones's 26th album. They are arguably the greatest rock band ever.  However, this legacy gets threatened with every album they decide to drag their career out with. Keith is having to adapt his playing around his arthritis. Richards is 79, and Jagger is 80. Supplemented by producer Andrew Watt, who helped write three songs. The Jagger / Richards songwriting machine keeps rolling. Don Was who makes more sense for the band than the pop producer Watt, who has also worked with Iggy Pop and Ozzy. Jagger sounds more youthful than any other 80-year-old could ever dream. I guess that deal with the Devil he made worked out wonderfully. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-rolling-stones-hackney-diamonds.html

1-Queens of the Stoneage - "In New Times Roman..."

This album has a weird vibe that takes multiple listens to wrap your ears around. At casual listen all the key elements are in place, though perhaps due to the almost too pristine production.  Homme's vocals are in his normal cadence, but the highly compressed guitars have odd effects on them.  Though not a huge departure for the band, it perhaps does not rely on grooves as heavily as "Villains". The tripped-out jams are entertaining. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/queens-of-stone-age-in-new-times-roman.html

The Top 10 Rock Albums of 2023 so far

As the Doomsday Clock races, time speeds up, finding  2023 already at it's midpoint. These  lists serve as a decent snap shot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received  promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my in-box, so they are really going to need to bring it in order to compete with the top five albums on this list. Rock is being defined here as  basically anything that is not metal, pop, or goth. It might be a little darker or heavier than what you listen to , so we are going by my definition since yours's can't be trusted. 

"But wait that is M....,"

Shut up... in 2023 if you are not bringing it at least as hard as Pantera , it's not metal .We are in a darker and heavier world so the soundtrack even when it is only rock n roll, should still fit the times.  I have included links to full review if you want to check these out and with all that said here are the top 10 Rock albums of 2023 so far. 

10- LA Guns - "Black Diamonds" 

 As long as both Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns are on board then I am fine with LA Guns. This album finds them  continuing to kick ass while their arena packing peers are fat floundering fools. If these guys can still do it with dignity then we should be expecting the same from the Motley Crues of the world. They open this album with a more Zeppelin like groove. At 66 Phil Lewis sounds incredible. They stay true to the era they are from, while not sounding dated .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/la-guns-black-diamonds.html

9-Riverside -"ID. Entity" 

This album is very impressive and not too prog for its own good. These guys remember that they  are songwriters first and foremost. They are also songwriters with something to say that goes a long way with me. More speculation than shredding is a lesson todays prog bands could learn from. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/01/riverside-id-entity.html

 8-Tigercub- "the Perfume of Decay" 

This trio from England plays a glammed out style of rock that feels like a darker , more androgynous take on what Muse does. This is displayed on the title track opens the album. A trickle of angle guitar cascades of the groove, as the vocals coo over it all. They work more of tense groove rather than feeling the need to glitter bomb everything with grandiose choruses

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/tigercub-perfume-of-decay.html

 

7-Narrowhead- "Moments of Clarity"

Now  this band coats their songs with the glaze of shoegaze . The vocals are more introspective. The title track has a harder syncopated jangle, as they remind you, they did not leave their distortion pedals at home. The vocal lines pack a hookier punch hookier, as their song writing has been sharpened this time around. They use a similar formula, but with more dynamic ebb and flow 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/narrow-head-moments-of-clarity.html

  6- Queens of the Stone Age - "In New Times Roman..." 

The band does what they to well, though upon a  casual listen all the key elements are in place , though  perhaps due to the almost too pristine production, they sit weird together. Homme's vocals are in his normal cadence, but the highly compressed guitars have odd effects on them.  Though not a huge departure for the band, it perhaps does not rely on grooves as heavily as "Villains" .  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/queens-of-stone-age-in-new-times-roman.html

  5-healthyliving- "Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief"

Bringing together musicians from Scotland , Germany and Spain, this trio kicks up an impressive melancholic brand of driving rock that borders on metal. This keen sense of dynamics is what I listen for in music from all genres. The stark alto of Amaya is expressive. While  she is not a Siouxsie clone, you can hear traces of that influence. She proves to be a powerful singer capable of belting it out as needed.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/healthyliving-songs-of-abundance-psalms.html

4-Deathvalley Girls- "Islands in the Sky" 

This album is darker than their previous once ,as the band firmly adheres to creating astounding layers of sounds, but still serving the songs with them. They combine the 60s pop ballad feel with their more psychedelic pondering  creates something closer to Siouxsie and the Banshees than you might expect. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/death-valley-girls-islands-in-sky.html

   

3-Royal Thunder- "Rebuilding the Table" 

It's been seven years since their last album and the band went through some personal shit before returning reconfigured with drummer Adam Diprima back in the fold.  They can not be accused of doing more of the same and the lengthy break brought a fresh coat of sonic musing to the table. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/royal-thunder-rebuilding-mountain.html
 

 

2- Metallica- "72 Seasons" 

Sure there is  is some recycling and clock punching, to keep it from being perfect, but if you are a Metallica fan and wish the "Black Album' was more metal and power ballad free then this album is for you. It's fun which has earned it repeat listens . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/metallica-72-seasons.html

1-Spotlights - "Alchemy for the Dead" 

 This trio's sound has continued to evolve, as it not places them some where between the shoe gazing side of post-hardcore and sludge. This album  gets better with each listen, and the shadows of it's mood seep into your head.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/spotlights-alchemy-for-dead.html

Queens of the Stone Age : "In New Times Roman..."

 The opening track from the band's 8th album is tinged with the kind of weird it takes multiple listens to wrap your ears around. At casual listen all the key elements are in place , though perhaps due to the almost too pristine production, they sit weird together. Homme's vocals are in his normal cadence, but the highly compressed guitars have odd effects on them.  Though not a huge departure for the band, it perhaps does not rely on grooves as heavily as "Villains" .  The second song finds the band returning to more familiar sounds, with a straight ahead rock bounce back in their blood.  By the time we get to "Negative Space" it is clear their formula for writing songs has not changed, the difference lies in how all the instruments sound, and where they sit in the mix, along with the all the extra sounds haunting the edges of the songs. 

There are some grooves but they are under a thick narcotic haze. This becomes even more exaggerated on "Made to Parade" . Midway in it feels very much like what you expect from these guys even amid the big studio tricks woven around the songs. The first single "Carnavoyeur" breaks from the predominant mood of the album by going in a more early 60s garage pop direction. The atmosphere is thicker, and the casual croon of Homme shifting over the drugged dance of instrumentation behind him. On previous albums it had become apparent they were transitioning from a stoner rock band to a psychedelic band. It is more noted on this album than perhaps even before. When the rock n roll strut of  'What the Peephole Say" saunters around , you are still seeing trails around it. 

"Sicily" is the only moment where it feels the weird gets the better of their songwriting. "Emotion Sickness" is pretty straightforward, though still finds the colors from the 60s dripping from it as well as a slight Queen influence, though the herky-jerky stays at the forefront. The album ends with the nine-minute "Straight Jacket Fitting" it creeps along the normal dark alleys you expect these guys to stumble from. It is perhaps not catchy. I will round this down to a 9.5, for that reason, the melodies are not as hooky as previous albums, there are plenty of tripped-out jams to keep you entertained and they embrace many shades of weird.  

.

Loose Sutures : "Sado Sex for Dummies"

This trio from Italy plays a grooving retro style of stoner rock that is not unlike the bong inspired boogies of Atomic Bitch Wax. Queens of the Stoneage is another band that is bound to come up in the discussion of their sonic zip code. The can be best heard in that way the drums are beat the hell out of and how the angular , but melodic guitar riffs slither around those drums. The second song works of a shift in the production, the vocals fall back behind everything, and a more garage feel occurs. I prefer the groove of the opening track but this works as well. The song has more of a jammy feel as the guitar solo wanders off. "Sadism and Gallows' further proves they have studied at Josh Homme's school of riff. The vocals have a more unhinged feel, rather than the smoother croon Homme employs which helps them stand apart more. 

"White Line" meanders around more. Yes it is doomier, but it lacks the grooves of the previous song, giving it less to hook me in with. When it does pick things up from it's lumber, to launch into more of a boogie the vocals do not feel as motivated. Alain Johannes from the 90s band Eleven, lends a guitar solo to "Kinky Katy" . Alain was also a member of Queens of the Stonage for a bit. This song has a more tense creep which works for me. The guest appearances from former members of Queens of the Stoneage keep coming as Nick Oliveri lends his voice to "He's My Friend". His screaming adds another dimension that allows the band to show their punk side. By punk think MC5 or the Stooges. 

"Cowbell From Hell" is another bong water bathed boogie. The vocals could use a little more purpose. The song is simple but works for what it is. "Black Star Flashing" offers perhaps the album's widest dynamic range, and a darker mood. I will give this album a 9 , despite being marginally derivitive, they capture solid grooves and bring a party to the songs, in a raw and rowdy that has a deviant atmosphere . It is being released on Electric Valley Records.  

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-90-81

Now  past the half way point of our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

 90- David Byrne

The nervous vibrato in his voice sells the cheerful façade in his lyrics. His delivery is always smooth and he can reach into his upper register with frantic glee. Sure there have been singers lower on the list who can belt with more power, but none are as distinct as Byrne.

   

89-Klaus Meine 

The more familiar radio anthems of the Scorpions may not convince you that he should place this high, but the deeper tracks is where he really shines and emotes. Perhaps this does not place him as equals to singers of other metal bands of the time, but he is better than most

.  

88- Matt Barlow

The gruff aggressive chest register to his high Paul Stanley like wailing make him the best man on the microphone for Iced Earth. They have had singers whose screams are higher and growls harsher, but it the balance of Barlow that makes him the best man for that job.

 

87-Geddy Lee

Despite his voice being an acquired taste there is not denying the power he can belt his shrill tenor with. Rush fans will tell you there is more nuance and depth to his voice than a casual listener might perceive from their radio hits , which are not a fair indicator of what he is capable of.

 86--George Harrison 

All but one Beatle is a great singer, their voices worked better as a unit. However when it is time to take the spotlight there is thoughtful tenderly reflective quality to George's voice. 

 

 85- Greg Puciato

His solo work and side projects have allowed him to really open his voice up and make the most of it rather than beat his pipes from the fury of the screaming he once did. He has clearly taken notes from the best singers of the 90s.

 

84--Kurt Cobain

Kurt had to die because he knew he could not pretend and play the game of the music industry. Sadly it got written off by his drug use and no one took his warning to heart. His raw voice was real. He was not pretending to have angst he was releasing it through this song. Typically terrible live, but he captured what could have been in the studio. 

               

83- Dave Gahan

There is something about the fluid baritone that makes the listener feel Depeche Mode's front man was struggling with the concepts of God , drugs and sexual identity. This in turn made listeners confront there own such struggles, there is power to a voice that can do that.

 

 82-Josh Homme

For someone who fronts a hard rock band his voice is very smoothly. He always sounds matter of fact like the drugs just kicked in. He conveys melancholy without whining. 

81 Orville Peck

If all there was to his gimmick was just being a gay country singer who wears a mask, he would not be on this list. However he has a great resonate baritone, a quite the range when he decides to use it including blending his head register smoothly. 

the Top 10 Albums of 2017

So this list was complied by shifting through the albums at the top spots of all the other top ten lists. These are the albums that are the best  regardless of the genre. I will probably do a top 10 list for just metal. Anyway in most cases this just came down to what I listened to more. I can review albums and dissect them, but at the end of the day the deciding factor is what stands the test of time and begs to be listened to over and over again. This year I also offered brief explanations as to why each album placed where they did and how it is they beat out the album beneath them.

10- Igorrr- Savage Sinusoid

This project from France is collective that would like be beyond categorization, and while they can be broken down to the death metal sum of their parts they progress beyond metal and throw a collage of electronics and operatic vocals at you.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/10/igorrr-savage-sinusoid.html

9- Ride- "Weather Diaries "

 Robert Smith once refused to play a festival unless this band was added to the bill, so that has to factor into why they took the number one spot. I mean lets face it they are one of the forefathers of shoe gaze, they proved to be more versatile than other bands in the genre.The guitar tones on this album are incredible. The breathy vocals you are used to hearing on shoe gaze albums, come in but stronger than some of the breathy moans as they are able to harmonize and ride the groove with confidence. They beat out Igorrr by just being an album that commanded more plays over the course of the year so basically defaulted to Last Fm.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/07/ride-weather-diaries.html

8- Tombs- the Grand Annihilation" 

 Any questions regarding Tombs legitimacy as black metal is cleared the fuck up right from the first few notes. The guitar tone peels your faces off and leaves you a bloody stain on the all behind you.  Mike Hill's growl has a Neurosis like rasp to it when they song slows down as the lyrics are articulated. The songs are all respectable lengths rarely venturing over the seven minute mark.This is a more metallic effort than "All Empires Fall". The chords sometimes dip into the shadows , but darkness is not as pervading. If you thought the more post-punk elements were diluting the more metallic properties the front end of the album is up in you as metal as it gets. Then if your tastes fall more on the dark side as mine do than you have to hang on and your get that too. It beat out Ride as it is more of a fitting soundtrack to the apocalypse to come.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/06/tombs-grand-annihilation.html

7-Morbid Angel-"Kingdoms Disdained"

 This shows you that my initial response and review of an album sometimes needs time to soak in the full scope of what an album is about. With this one I had to get past the fact that this is not the classic line-up, but a line up that has made a new classic. While I have yet to go back and give the other Steve Tucker album's a second chance, I would find it hard to believe that they could come close to picking up where this album which is more bombastic than "Domination" picks up the torch. The post- "Domination" out put to me was hard to wrap my head around as being Morbid Angel, this album is clearly Morbid Angel, so when one of your favorite bands that your grew up with re-kindles the flame and takes you back to place in time, thus the sense of nostalgia beats out Tombs best effort.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/11/morbid-angel-kingdoms-of-disdain.html

6-Gwar - "Blood of Gods" 

 The elephant in the room becomes their strength. Blothar the new singer, is the old Beefcake the Mighty taking on a new mantel. So they promoted from within. I can deal with this better than if it was some new guy they just brought in.The new sound took getting used to even though, he did handle the vocals on the song "Nice Place to Park". So his voice is not totally alien. He has a more Blackie Lawless like metal quality. This album needed a few listens before I could connect the changes.  It with a much more straight ahead metal feel in the vein of mid 80s thrash. Each listen connected the dots a little more making it catchier than Morbid Angel.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/09/gwar-blood-of-gods.html



5- Halsey-Hopeless Fountain Kingdom

Another album like Gucci that I did not review for the blog, but got a ton of play on the ole iPod. I did write up something for it on Treblezine, in their top 50 songs of the year  for the song "Eyes Closed" and I did reference the fact when I reviewed Taylor Swift.I think the grooves on this album are more on point and she has some interesting perspectives lyrically, which put it over the dumb barbarian odes of Gwar.

 

4- Converge- "The Dusk In Us"

 20 years ago I got into this band called Converge. Someone told me they were like Sunny Day Real estate if they were a hard core band. In the 20 years that passed they haven't let me down, though things have changed. Guitarist Kurt Ballou is now an experienced producer. With the guitarist behind the mixing board , the guitars are warm and organic sitting in the mix with every thing else. The band's punk side is more invigorated here, yet this album does have a great deal of experimentation and sonic diversity.  The sonic power of this album overcame Halsey's pop hooks. 

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/11/converge-dusk-in-us.html

3- Young Thug - Beautiful Thugger Girls

I never actually reviewed this album for this blog. It's not only a lot of fun with great declarations like how he is Bill Gates step-son or that he is the black Christian Gray and has 50 shades of Bae, but it is musical. There is real guitar on this. Does he mumble? yes. He also sings.Not the greatest voice ever and it's aided by auto tune, but he makes an effort to write songs that stand out from his peers. He made fools of Future, Gucci and 2Chainz who re-heated the same old same old.Why did it beat out Converge? The dumb fun of this album made me listen to it more than Converge.

 

2-KMFDM- "Hell Yeah"

 The legendary act who walks the line between electro and industrial returns like a drug against war, stronger than maybe not ever before, but certainly more powerful than most of the albums since Tohuvabohu. I am glad the guitar is receiving more focus on this album which makes songs like the opening track sound more like their classic work. The vocals work really well over the groove and the guitar accents the chorus. It's not until the more dancey Lucia track " Freak Flag" that we begin getting mixed messages from the band who was just telling us only the tough with survive. They begin wanting you to embrace individuality. This would not be a problem if their name didn't mean "no pity for the majority". This is the band that once instructed us to free our hate. Aside from this is pretty much a flawless album that earns repeat listens with ease and stands right behind their classic material. When KMFDM is on their A-game they prove even better than Young Thugs best hooks.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/08/kmfdm-hell-yeah.html

1- Queens of the Stoneage- "Villians"

. I needed them to quit playing around and rock out. While they did not return to the kind of aggression that kicks you face, they do rock out in more of a coked out 70s manner. In interviews Homme has called what they do a rock version of electronic music and I can hear that in some of the grooves n this album. It's clear years in the vocal booth have improved Homme's singing . He has always had a pleasant voice, but showcases his croon to a fuller extent on this one. The album grew on me to earn it's place here. Brand New could have been in this place to, I defaulting to Last Fm on this one to break the tie.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/08/queens-of-stoneage-villains.html

the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2017

Rock is anything that is rooted in the blues origins, here there are many different brands of rock some harder than others. It's less heavy than metal, with typically more attitude than any genre except may be punk. Some of these bands are hard rock, but not heavy enough to make even the main stream metal list I am going to be working on. This year on all the lists I am including a reason why it beat out the album under it, to provide some clarity. Rather than obsess over what belongs where I defaulted to what Last Fm said I listened to more. In some cases the answer is a little more complicated that. I have included in most cases links to the reviews so you can get a bigger picture. So I'll let you read this list for yourself and stop with the commentary.

10- Atomic Bitchwax- "Force Field" 

10- Atomic Bitchwax- "Force Field"

This album is a lot of fun, they are typically thought of as stoner rock, but the bpms are dialed way up on this album. Maybe it's the cocaine, which is all the more reason this one is just partying rock n roll. Sure they race off in a cloud of bong smoke when the album gets going , but it's in your face attitude gives you the middle finger in the most upbeat manner possible.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-atomic-bitchwax-force-field.html

9-Crystal Fairy-s/t

The singer from Bosnian Rainbows fronts this super that combines  Buzz Osborne  with the dudes . While she steals the show they churn out some rock that is both burly and angular , almost slightly Zeppelin but through a filter of sludged rock n roll. More dynamics than Atomic Bitchwax.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/02/crystal-fairy-st.html

8-The Black Angels- "Death Song"

 The opening track off their new album "Death Song" holds all the qualities that originally attracted me to their sound. It's dark and sonic with a exotic pulse. Though the bulk of the album finds them drifting out into a more Stone Roses like psychedelia. More depth in the song writing than Crystal Fairy.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-black-angels-death-note.html

7-Ryan Adams- "Prisoner" 

 This album is pretty introspective but still manage to rock as it is balanced out  with  punches and melody in a manner not unlike some of Tom Petty's more rockin moments from the late 70's -early 80's. Classic rock styled guitar solos are sprinkled in the album though less frequent than say War on Drugs.  Adams vocals still carry the twang I associate with his work . More depth of feeling to the vocals on this one than the Black Angels.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/01/ryan-adams-prisoner.html

 6- Quicksand-"Interiors"

This band is under rated, I think they are more like a post-hardcore version of Tool, as they almost could hang with Maynard and the boys until after "Undertow" then the drugs kicked in and Tool got the unfair advantage. Well if you think Tool takes a long time to make an album this once took 22 years. The opening song is strong , it sounds like these guys are back in true form even if the guitarist got kicked off the tour for trying to steal from a drug store, every body has their shit.  The syncopation is there and the guitar sound is dialed in. More groove than Ryan Adams.

5- Mastodon-" Emperor of Sand"

 Overall this might be the band's best album since "Crack the Skye" so it will be making the much envied trip over to my iPod and then I will see how it stands the test of time. For now I'll round it up to a 9.5 as some of the songs that didn't hook me in as strongly as the groovier poppier numbers still have room to grow on me. Better vocal hooks than Quicksand.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/03/mastodon-emperor-of-sand.html

4-Royal Thunder- 'Wick" 

 A more organic feel to this one. While it's a step in more of a hippie rock direction away from "Crooked Doors" they have grown as musicians and this became a album I never go tired of. It had more emotion to it than Mastodon so that why it is here at number four.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/03/royal-thunder-wick.html

3- Chelsea Wolfe- "Hiss/ Spun"

This is the first album that is not a hard left turn in another direction and works off a similar formula to it's predecessor. The heavier dynamics are much more metallic and even has guests coming in to donate harsher vocals. So perhaps she is reconciling her self to her metal fan base...is that selling out ? If it is then it's on her own terms. The albums more powerful moments put it where it is. Even in my mild disappointment that she was not striking out on new ground again, it still drew me in an earned the listens to be here in fact perhaps more than the top two albums, but I feel the top two bands went out on a limb and stepped forward into more new ground which is why they beat her out, though it's a more powerful album than Royal Thunder.


http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/07/chelsea-wolfe-hiss-spun.html

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My thoughts on the whole Jesse Lacey are here...
http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-strange-case-of-jesse-lacey.html.

I really only care about the music, in fact what kind of music that is worth two shits don't have a member who is a train wreck, it's only rock n roll. On further listens this album grew on me and looks at some of his mental health issues. They took more risks and struck new ground in a more rock direction while Chelsea Wolfe heated up the leftovers from her previous album.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/08/brand-new-science-fiction-full-album.html
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1- Queens of the Stoneage- "Villians"

. I needed them to quit playing around and rock out. While they did not return to the kind of aggression that kicks you face, they do rock out in more of a coked out 70s manner. In interviews Homme has called what they do a rock version of electronic music and I can hear that in some of the grooves n this album. It's clear years in the vocal booth have improved Homme's singing . He has always had a pleasant voice, but showcases his croon to a fuller extent on this one. The album grew on me to earn it's place here. Brand New could have been in this place to, I defaulting to Last Fm on this one to break the tie.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/08/queens-of-stoneage-villains.html

Queens of the Stoneage : "Villains"

I need these guys to quit fucking around and rock out. Is this possible ? The proliferation of kraut rock synths that open this album at first don't make this dream seem likely. But the do lock into 70s rock groove.It reminds me a little of Judas Priests disco moments...yes, Turbo lovers I am talking to you. That is not to say this is a bad thing, as I don't mind a touch of pop to what they do.  "The Way You Used To Do" is not as tightly written and sounds like they are jamming on a White Stripes b-side. With their first three albums , you still could see how this descended from Kyuss. On this album that connection is still blurred. "Domesticated Animals" almost sounds more Nine Inch Nails than Queens of the Stoneage.

Its good to hear that four songs in this continues to be better than expected. There is more of a mid pacing to "Fortress" The vocals sit well in the groove of the song. There's a more frantic punk like energy to the attack of "Head Like A Haunted House". Synths be damned they still managed to find the groove for "Un-Reborn Again". It's on the angular side. The bass line is pretty solid on this one. This is not only far from metal, but not even aggressive enough to be referred to a hard rock, When they back off even further on "Hideaway". This is my least favorite song on the album as it's the kind of ball-less meandering that weighed "Like Clock Work Down".

They pick up the pace for "the Evil Has Landed". There is a more Led Zeppelin like boogie to this . In interviews Homme has called what they do a rock version of electronic music and I can hear that here. On the closing title track of sorts, it's clear years in the vocal booth have improved Homme's singing . He has always had a pleasant voice, but showcases his croon to a fuller extent on this one. It's more of a ballad than I had  hoped for , but overall as a song grows on me. The first song got me enough to make me round this one up to a 9 and give it a shot on my iPod , it also made me miss their early work and want to hunt down those albums.

Iggy Pop : " Post Pop Depression "

He is the last man standing from a by gone era of Punk. For me losing Iggy would be a bigger blow than Lemmy. I got a ton of play out of both the Stooges and Motorhead in the 8th grade, but started listening to Iggy first and as this album shows, Pop still has it in him while the last Motorhead album, saw Lemmy already waning. Iggy sounds better than he has in sometime. I'm sure Homme's sense of production, doesn't hurt. The first song sounds like you would expect from Iggy Pop, playing with Queens of the Stoneage. While I disliked Queens of the Stoneage's last album, this coupling has injected new life into Pop. His croon is more careful and Josh's backing vocals work well with his voice. Iggy sounds almost as good as he did on "Blah Blah Blah".

"Gardenia" has a new wave pogo to it's groove. The slink of " American Valhalla" is well carried in it's bass line, but as a song it wanders around like it's too high in some of the bridges. This trait has also characterized some of the most recent QOTSA albums. The Arctic Monkey's drummer Matt Helder's taps more than really lays into his kit, which might be appropriate for the songs in their current state, but I can't help but think "In the Lobby: might have more punch if he hit harder.The star of the album is bassist Dean Fertita, from Queens and Dead Weather, who is a groove monster. "Sunday" doesn't have a groove that is focused as the previous songs and sounds like they gliding along on some Stones influenced indie rock. Pop's lyrics are back in their clever form here. You can still hear Bowie's influence on him, as this barrows from the "Scary Monsters" album.

Pop comes closer to the mic with the stripped down " Vulture" . This album finds Pop closer to what I expected out of hims though there is  darker and more textured instrumentation that reminds me of Wovenhand. There is a more Led Zeppelin like strut to the opening of "German Days" that drops down into something almost gothy with Pop is crooning in his lower register.The angular guitar works well in the middle of the song and it has some of the album's best riffs. They relax into lounge lizard disco on 'Chocolate Drops". This is not the first sound you expect to hear on an Iggy album, but it works so I have complaints. He has touched on so many genres throughout his career nothing should be a surprise at this point. Not as soulful as something from "Young Americans" , but this would not have worked on a Stooges album.

There is also some soul to the vocal harmonies  that open "Paraguay" which closes the album out. Then it morphs into the verses that much more straight forward. Then the song returns to a heavier version of the melody the song began with as Pop narrates over this . There could be a little more pay off from this build and over all the album could stand to rock out a little more. However it exceeded my expectations by far and sees Pop returning to back to almost a more new wave sound, which considering "Raw Power" isn't being re-created anytime soon, works for me and I'll give it a 9 and see how the more indie rock elements grow on me.