Tau Cross : "s/t"

So you that when Away from Voivod is in a side project now with some of the guys from Amebix and the curst band Misery, so of course I am going to be all over this. The first song falls somewhere between Celtic Frost and Motorhead. It's harder and darker than Voivod, but also  there is now space prog to be found. The first few songs are a much more straight ahead metal affair than you might expect from these guys. "Fire In the Sky" pretty much takes a full chug ahead and "Stone Cutter"  thrashes in a similar manner to "Orgasmatron" era Motorhead, though it is darker.

Ron the Baron Miller throaty vocals are more sung than Lemmy's and on a song like "Midsummer" you can hear some of the Killing Joke influence.Miller sometimes sings more than others times though he never really a growls, but rather tends to gurgle.  It sounds like some one takes the mic for the higher vocal that starts off "Hangman's Hyll". This ends up becoming almost a hard rock folk song. Like Hawkwind jamming with Spinal Tap. The folk infusion does not end there. It carries over into "We Control the Fear"that finds the vocals staying in a lower register, but still capable of holding a smooth melody. This comes to an end with the almost industrial pound of "You People".  Here the Hawkwind collides in the bleak Drugged heaven with Killing Joke. The metallic side of the band begins to once more return as the dominate personality though you can here British post-punk mixing with the chug and punk vocal chants chiming in.

The vocals have a more Fields of the Nephilim urgency on "Sons of the Soul".  When the higher vocals comes in it offsets the lower vocal and creates a more Pink Floyd dynamic. More big industrial tinged metal kicks you in the face on "the Lie". When I say it's industrial I am not saying there are drum machines , but it has a big post-apocalyptic chug like 90s Killing Joke. On this song the guitar solos take it in more of a rock n roll direction, along with the more subdued Dave Gilmore like vocal that coasts in at the end. They keep turning it up past ten on "Our Day". The more folk side resurfaces  to close out the album with "the Devil He knows His Own".This feels more like a outro rather than a song in and of its self. This wasn't what I thought it was going to sound like , but then again I am not complaining either.I'll give this one a 9.5. It could grow on me in either direction at this point , but there are more reasons for it to sway towards a 10 , though the songs are a little simplistic in nature, especially if you compare it to Voi Vod, making it sound like Away is taking it easy. The vocals are where the album shines the most along with the feel the band puts behind the guitars.




 

The Weekly Shuffle

If you don't know what this is by now I am not sure why you are reading it, hitting shuffle on the Ipod and seeing what pops up.

"Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin- One of my old bands use to cover this one, and I would ask the crow if they had their 20 sided dice ready. This is one of their many tributes to Tolkein, which is a strong argument to put the Sabbath vs Zeppelin debate to rest. John Paul Jones is the star of this show for sure.

"Movie Screen" by Chelsea Wolfe-No big surprise here. I like the trip hop element in this song and truth be told stumbled across Chelsea Wolfe in connection to the whole "witch house" movement that kind of came and went in electronic music. Live I think this songs comes across even better as in the studio it sounds like she is sometimes holding back.

"the Unknown Knows" by Voi Vod - A tragically under rated band that merged from the thrash scene of the 80's, they are one of my all time favorites. Like most of the under dogs I root for these guys had a lot going against them as they were too weird for your average Slayer fan at the time and they were from Canada. so they eventually began to give into being Rush's country men and things got proggy, even on "Nothingface" which was a break through album of sorts for them. Then grunge came. This song is one of the albums heavier moments , but still is filled with some of the punk sneer they tend to carry like Killing Joke. Way ahead of their time, if this came out today it would still sound current.

"Black Moon" by Killing Joke - Speaking of Killing Joke, "Pandemonium" has always been my favorite album by them as it blends melody with the stark industrial sounds that they pretty much single handedly influenced...ok Swans helped too.This song this typical of the great moodiness this album dwells on. The vocals sound great and the guitars have a lot of sonic coldness behind them. .

"Mourning Sun" by Fields of the Nephilim - These guys alway hit a perfect blend of dark sonics, menace and mystery and when you listen to this song you can really hear how it influence the most recent Watain.

"Sunbather" by Deafheaven- Well it's getting hard to separate these guy's music from their career choices, as the band is now playing Bonnaroo. A closer listen to this song proves the only thing separating them now from a band like Russian Circles is  their vocals. Kylesa has played both Bonnaroo and Coachella and they are still playing bars so their might be hope.

"I'm Still In Love With You" - Thin Lizzy- As far a ballads go, this one is done pretty right. Not a fan of love songs, as lyrically they tend to run the sames lines. The guitar playing and the drumming on this song kick all kinds of ass.

"The Stars Are All Out Tonight" by David Bowie- This album continues to grow on me with each listen, which is a good thing as it is probably the last we will get from him as he just had another Birth day and I doubt we are going to hear a 70 year old Bowie crank another out.

"Invaders" by Iron Maiden- Growing up I thought of this song as a fast forward classic as compared to the rest of the album it's fairly straight forward, but after covering it I grew a new appreciation for it.

"Forever Animal" by Beast Milk- Before the fervor that built around Climax last year, these guys were already kicking ass, though I caught a more Hawkwind vibe from them than the goth thing back then and his vocals have come a long way.          

The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums: 10 to 1

Here we are at the final top ten of our The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

10- Dissection-Strom of the Light's Bane

This Swedish band bridged the thrash with black metal.



9- Dio - Holy Diver

Last In Line is a great album and it set Dio apart from the other bands he had sung for, but Holy Diver is tighter more dynamic song writing.



8- Voi Vod- Dimension Hatross

Light years ahead of it's time this sci-fi based Canadian thrash band took a turn to
progressive.

7- Slayer -South of Heaven

Sure Reign in Blood is a great album, but this is where thrash got it's groove back .



6-Ozzy Osborne- Diary of A Madman

Blizzard might have the hits but Diary is darker and harder. The title track alone sets it apart from his first solo album.



5-Mercyful Fate-Don't Break the Oath

The vocals on this blow the other Fate albums out of the water and the guitar tone is fuller.



4-Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny

They go beyond just rock to more dark and progressive place here.



3- Black Sabbath- Sabotage

Not the tired old greatest hits, but a drug band who dabbled in rock.



2-Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast

For any one who wants to say Dianno era is better, none of the songs could have seen the light a day with him singing them.



1-King Diamond - Abigail

This album has every element you could want from a metal album, blazing leads, amazing drumming and some of the best vocals ever recorded with the power of Halford , but delving in much darker places. The heaviest of his solo work.

The Top 15 Albums of 2013

Here is the cream of the crop from 2013



15-Tribulation - the Formulas of Death

For a death metal band to have made this list, it says something about the fact they aren't afraid to drift into jamming.



14-Voi Vod- Target Earth

The Canadian metal masters did it again. Why they beat Tribulation for this spot ? These metal veterans are more refined songwriters.



13-Altar Of Plagues -Teethed Glory & Injury

Sadly the project's swan song right when they found the perfect sound.Why it beat out Voi Vod?  Has more kick.


12-Savages- Silence Yourself

These gals take the Siouxsie influence and meld into into their own punchy sound. Why it beat out Altar of Plagues? Tighter songs that demanded more listens.



11- Skinny Puppy - Weapon

More synth driven with with EDM friendly beats. Why is beat out Savages? Cooler grooves



10-the Black Heart Rebellion-Har Nevo

Dark and primal, heavy but not quiet metal , this former hard core bands matures in the best way possible.Why is beat out Skinny Puppy? More organic warmth that bred more feelings.



9-Loss Of Self- Twelve Minutes

If you  compared these guys to Deafheaven and dismissed this band , then you have really missed out.  Why They beat out Black Heart Rebellion? Heavier and more  anguished, yet ambient.



8-Merchandise-Totale Nite

Normally I don't like e.p.s , but I will take whatever I can get from this Florida band. Why they beat out Loss of Self? They would have ranked higher but this is just an e.p.



7- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Push the Sky Away

Cave keeps it classy, respecting his legacy. Why it beat out Merchandise? It was a full length album.



6-Sigur Ros - Kveikur

The Icelandic band comes down from the clouds to add some balls to their new album. Why it beat out Nick Cave? They songs had more movement to them them.



5- In Solitude -Sister

These Swedes grew into their own and put the Merciful Fate comparisons to rest. Why iy beat out Nick Cave?  Rocked harder.



4-Beastmilk -Climax

They took the whole post-punk resurgence and made it more balanced from every end of the sonic spectrum. Why it beat out In Solitude? Catchier songs.



3- Watain - the Wild Hunt

How could they out do themselves after Lawless Darkness? They didn't try. They took the next logical step forward in their spiritual journey.  Why it beat out In Solitude?  Last Fm said I listened to it ten times more.



2-David Bowie - The Next Day

It's not Bowie's best album, but it's pretty impressive that he still has it at 66. Why it beat out Watain? Well this is David Bowie, so this singing chops are better than everyone else on this list.



1-Chelsea Wolfe- Pain is Beauty

Wolfe goes even darker on this painfully beautiful album. She knows how she wants her voice to haunt the songs, then wails like a desperate siren detoxing off dope.  Why did she beat David Bowie? This was a tough call, but in terms of who took more chances and evolved their sound it goes to Wolfe.

2013's Top 15 Metal Albums

 Here's the top 15 albums of the year, despite some of the score a few of these albums got over the course of the year, they grew on me or smacked me right from the get go.These all demanded enough listens to secure their place in the crowded confines of my iPod.



15- Castevet-Obsian

This New York band crafted a find slab of experimental blackish metal, that did not lean too much on overdone blast beats.



14- Lycus- Tempest

Beautiful funeral doom that served as the perfect soundtrack to some of the year's more depressing moments.



13- Aosoth - An Arrow In Heart

The French continued to bring it this year, with some deathly blackness.



12-Cara Neir -Portals to a Better, Dead World

Weird crusty black metal with punk attitude out of Texas.



11- Batillus- Concrete Sustain

This New York band's crushing release combined industrial with dirty sludge.



10-Ihsahn - Das Seelenbrechen

Former Emperor front-man experiments with his solo sounds and continues to push the envelope forward.



9 -Darkthrone- the Underground Resistance

Black Metal veterans revisited the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and didn't break any new ground but had a lot of fun.



8-Deafheaven -Sunbather

If they continue to drift further into the dream land, this might be the last time you see them on this list , as they will have officially crossed over into not being a metal band. But this album did a great job of riding the line.



7-An Autumn For Crippled Children-Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love

Another artist who rode the line to the edge of what we think metal can be .



6-Tribulation - the Formulas of Death

This album really grew on me and after seeing them live it all clicked further into place. They are a death metal band who isn't afraid to drift into jamming.



5-Voi Vod- Target Earth

The Canadian metal masters did it again, even after losing their long time guitarist Piggy. This album shows the kids how to do thrashing sci-fi metal right.



4-Altar Of Plagues -Teethed Glory & Injury

Another album that continued to grow on me as it demanded repeat listens. Sadly it's the project swan song right when they found the perfect sound.



3-Loss Of Self- Twelve Minutes

If you just read reviews comparing these guys to Deafheaven and dismissed this band , then you have really missed out. They blend black metal with some very dark sonic elements and are nothing short of awesome.



2- In Solitude -Sister

This album gave the number one album a run for its black soul. I had to check Last Fm to see which one I listened too more. These Swedes grew into their own and put the Merciful Fate comparisons to rest.



1- Watain - the Wild Hunt

How could they out do themselves after Lawless Darkness? They didn't try. They took the next logical step forward in their spiritual journey. This album continues to unfold with each listen. The word occult has be thrown around in metal this year, it means hidden and that is what this album uncovers where others pretend

Weekly Shuffle

If you are a new reader, this is where I hit shuffle on my iPod and review the first ten tracks to play , as it gives me a chance to touch on bands not often covered on here or things I might have missed. If you are a regular to the blog then you know the drill.

"Freewill" by Rush, - I have always thought if you only knew Rush by their radio songs then you didn't have accurate picture of what they really do, this song is a counterpoint to that argument as its actually quiet good,I think the solo is one of Lifeson's best and the do some interesting thing that don't make them comes across as a Styx wannabe.

"Belus Doed" by Burzum, I love Varg, this first post incarceration album I think has aged well so far , I love the drone and his vocals sound like the perfect frothing of a wild creature cornered by a mob of torch wielding Jews. It is Varg we are talking about here. You gotta love someone who is not afraid to stand up for extreme views in metal and say fuck you to political correctness , after all site that what metal is about?

"Lace up your boots" by Cult of Youth, They get some death in June comparisons, but this has an angrier New Model Army raging through the country side doing and Irish jig in combat boots feel to it, I like the aggression even though it's not metal .

"Rainy Day Woman" by Waylon Jennings , For a country song this has a reckless drive lurking beneath the strum of the guitar , happy music for outlaw bikers? He is the real deal no questions asked even if you don't like country music, and I have a respect for the real outlaw shit not the pop stuff getting passed off as country now.

"Epitome xiii" by Blut Aus Nord, the French men descend darker into the murky depths of the restless soul. I love the feel to this one, the moaned vocals floating just under the water's surface like they were drowned in a baptismal. A perfect black metal song without the normal convention you expect like blast beats, granted they took this waaaay further and now sound like they want to be the Cure, but hey I love the Cure so I'm ok with it, this thing is so sonic and dark it's sickening , I am asking myself why I don't listen to it more even as it plays now. The guitar evolves getting creepier as they songs builds awesome.

"Over reaction" by Voi Vod, you should know how if feel about this band and this is classic Killing technology era shit that confirms it, if you haven't checked out my review of their new one do so ,that album kills it almost as har das this era when they has the raging punk fury intermingled with their futuristic take on thrash which is still ahead of its time go ask Meshuggah if you beg to differ. This isn't even what I would consider the strongest song on Killing technology but it still brings it in a manner that more mind blowing then the best shit their peers t this time could manage.

"Womderful Woman" by the Smiths, this has their trademark lazy saunter, the haunting refrain in the chorus, this is classic like the Beatles, in fact even cooler, than the Beatles in my book, the world owes the Smiths because if it wasn't for them every thing would still sound like foghat and Van Halen. O.k shredders, when was the last Van Halens cock rock sounded like it came from anywhere but the eighties? This is timeless, even with the product as it was and Morrisseys croon lurking in the reverb.

"Cold Spring" by, Old Sliver Key, I can't remember if I covered this one when it came out two years ago I was till overlapping with Global Domination back then , this is a collaboration between Neige of Alcest and the dudes from Drudkh, I think this session really helped shape the process for the next Alcest album and made it a little ore rock n roll. I had gotten burned out on Drudkh the time so didn't give this one much of a shot when it came out but it's really good stuff, very uplifting like Alcest but doesn't float off to fairy land.

"Pslam 69" by Ministry, talk about standing the test of time, I have been going back and getting more heavily into industrial again there's a lot of Great stuff to be rediscovered, I think a lot of it I was too fucked up to really hear when it came out, though like this album I played the hell out of it, I think Al's voice sounds perfect on this song, it's mean as nails spit from a possessed Strom trooper as the death Starr goes down.

"the shortest Straw" by Metallica, well...these guys don't get much mention here, I did like them at one time , And justice for all is my cut off point, there is undeniably a lot of great thrash riffs , and is song has a cool hook wedged right in the middle. The chug leading into..shortest straw challenge liberty/ down by law, live in infamy/ rub you raw, ..it's great your they look like fools in the rain now but this album rocked despite the great American sellout that was the "One" video . Now it's safe to say die hard Metallica fans these days are more likely to listen to Godsmack and Nickleback than any real metal but I'm not deleting this from my iPod either so that says something.

Voi Vod : Target Earth

O.k I'm going into this with expectations set on stun. I have a lengthy history with this band I picked up "Dimension Hatross" when it came out and have been a fan ever since, though that most long term relationships with a band there are highs and lows, in fact I just became o.k with the Eric Forest albums, something I doubt I'll be able to do with the Jason Newstead years, but now we are looking at life without Piggy. The deceased guitarists sound was such an integral part of their sound until I enter this with some trepidation.

The album rooooaaars to life with the title track. Snake employs a familiar robotic chant in his delivery. His weather voice carries a new coating of grit to it which matches the heavier tone than any incarnation of the band he has fronted since "Dimension Hatross" while I love "Nothing face" and " Angel rat" this album has a heavier denser feel to it than either of those, which at the time marked Voi Vod headed from the confines of thrash metal.

First let's get my initial impressions of Chewy out of the way before we get into the meat of the first song. At first listen I wasn't blown away by his tone.But after a few listens it's growing on me. When it comes to soloing he is more of a shredder than Piggy. Though to Piggy's credit I always thought of the more dissonant nature he approached soloing to be an important element in the bands sound...until the took on a more rock n roll direction.

Blacky's bass kicks off the futuristic rumble that's "Target Earth" the guitar certainly serves up a Piggy tribute, the mix is weird when it fades momentarily to allow for it build back in. I like the lower register Snake sings in when his voice floats underneath the pounding. In six minutes a lot of ground gets covered, the songwriting is more progressive that a verse chorus structure and more in movements. There are many of the classic staples of there sound right from the first few minutes, like the angular syncopated churn of the riffs. Away's drumming sounds like a much younger man behind the kit as he is killing it like he did on Hatross and has always been one of my favorite metal drummers.

"Kluskap O'kum" is more straightforward than the opener, it even has the old school thrash gang vocals chime in. The songs strong points are the power of Snakes vocals, the muted chug in the last minute,it has all the elements from say "War and Pain" era but wi out Snakes scream. The more progressive side creeps back with " Empathy for the enemy" which has Nothingface like melodic singing on it but the tight chugging is heavier than anything from than album, the grit on Snake's voice is more apparent here. Its similar to the kind of wear and tear Robert Plant was showing but the time they got to "Coda". The vocals are well produced and Snake is aware of what he has to work with going tinpot this album and makes it sound heavier as a result.

"Mechanical mind" is very Dimension Hatross sounding, and as a whole I would say that's the album this one has the closest resembelence to. This one churns like angular maze, the melody slithers and moans from within. I think Chewy's playing on this really shows his grasp of what makes the band great and it's some of Snakes best singing. In the face of the cyber ambiance , there is still aggression and drive. This a perfect Voi Vod song in many respects, the solo adds to this and while Chewy is a technical graceful guitarist he doesn't allow this to hamper what the band is going for.

"Warchaic" starts slow and reflective, then builds into a forward drive that brings to. Inds some of their more rock nroll moments though it stays darker. Snake's voice really sounds great on this album. There is some particularly tasty guitar work about two minutes in, the drums pound it all into place mid way through.

"Resistance" for the greater part has more of a punk rock feel like something from Angel Rat. It feels like a slight step back into the Newstead days, perhaps it's left over from those sessions, way too straight forward me even with the quick punchy part, though it might grow on me over time. The guitar solo is more Piggy like in dissonance. The slower section at the end darkens it up and provides a redeeming element.

"Kaleidos" has an angular bounce to it, in parts is a little too bright for me. There is a disjointed collision but it's the goal rather than a mistakes it congeals back together when they intend it too. The chug at two half minutes pulls it bck together and the spacey interlude bridging some of these parts is a good touch as well. I suppose this could be their wink at Nothing face. It does darken back up towards the end, but of course on this one being one of my favorite bands faces more scrutiny as I hold the, to a higher standard.

"Corps Etranger" gets darker and militant in the intro reminding us of their Pink Floyd influence before going to thrash. The punches on this are technical and cutting . Every thing grinds like gears on a steam punk space ship of some kind while flying ahead, until the really weird march in the final minute and a half where the French robots march out.

"Artefact" back to the nothing face, before the chords take on their signature dring of discord. the drums drop into tribal double bass at times. I suppose this is where the Hawkwind influence becomes apparent.the syncopation is what brings this back into a more tasteful form I prefer to digest from these guys, something I might appreciate more with further listens. The closing chords of the 1:30 defiance is really only thirty seconds of a song and it weird way for the album to end so I won't factoria in when scoring this one. I will put this one at 9.5, as they more straight forward Angel Rat punk sections bring to mind the Newstead years, when Voi Vod is straightforward I prefer it with the type of sonic scathing they delivered on Killing Technology . But for a comeback album , and one that is missing a key component , they have surpassed by expectations by far, which is an achievement considering how night the bar had been raised. If you have ever had any Intrest not only in these guys but in sort of cyber progressive metal which they might have spawned....Tool, Fear Factory, Neurosis, Meahuggah, then class is in session .

The Weekly Shuffle

The second installment where I put my iPod on shuffle and review what ever pops up.

"Technocratic Manipulators" by Voi Vod. This band was so far ahead of their time it's ridiculous. I think Dimension Hatross was their creative peak as they started going in a more Floydish route on Nothingface. for those who say good music is just matter of opinion I think that can be argued, as how well it stands the test of time gives it a more definable quality and Voi Vod is a good example of this. Think they mistepped on Angelrat or they would have gotten the recognition they deserve.

"Mandatory Suicide" by Slayer. I think South of heaven is my favorite Slayer album, the songwriting is more balanced blend of melody and groove with the teeth to it that these guys are known for. This album wasn't the heaviest thing even back when it came out but it was more well written than their peers at the time. Sure Tom came closer to singing on Seasons but I think the spoken word section at the end of this one is just as effective and Dave's double bass underneath it rules.

"VI" by Mgla. I haven't been able to give this "With Hearts Toward None" album a solid enough listen its on my reviewe before the years end list, which I need to get cracking on. The drums stand out as they deviate from what you expect from this sort of death/black metal hybrid. In Poland dreaming of Sweden must be this guys mantra though as its in the same color spectrum as old Dissection.

"Hello Space Boy" by David Bowie. There is more than likely going to be a Bowie song on the Shuffle every week because my iPod is just loaded full of it as he is my Elvis. If I was going to introduce Bowie to Metal head this is one of the songs I would play for them as it has the industrial pound to it. This is one of the rare cases where Bowie jumped on a bandwagon rather than create, but when you take Scary Monsters into consideration he was just revisiting ground he already laid. The piano underneath this is incredible. Reeves is getting it done here as well metallic in the guitars slicing through the song but keeping texture what an awesome player I miss him.

"the Gateway" by Cult of Youth. I already reviewed "Love will prevail" it's no secret I hold it in high regard , I like where the vocals sit in the mix on this and the drums are getting it done as well, the guitar is a little lost but the song has drive to it an interesting layers keep being introduced through out.

"Figurative Theatre" by Christian Death. Speaking of standing the test of time I can't tell you how many times I have blared this album since high school, most of those I was high out of my mind so this album always holds things on it that sound new to my ears, some of the best lyrics ever penned. Rozz Williams albums with these guys are iconic.

"Void Hanger" by Darkthrone yes there is a band named after this song because that's how awesome Darkthrone is . I like the post cvlt years. The singer of eyehategod said "Plaguewielder" is his favorite album. The lyrics on it seem more mature and less hoary than the stuff that came after this which has more of a Venom feel to me. I like those punches in the verses. The gallop section is pretty rocking your face off as well. The blasty mcnasty at the end winks at what you first loved them for without apologizing for where they were going at the time.

"Life Eternal" by Mayhem, another case where it might not be their cvltest moment but I like it. This is pretty melodic for these guys. The vocals on this one are an acquired taste they work for me like early Celtic Frost. The drums are really where it is at one this song. Though the bass work is audible and pretty damn good to compliment the drumming, allowing the guitar to drone on top of this. Until today I never realized how long this song is as it normally takes a hypnotic throb in the background. Of course when these guys go blasty they do it well.

"Look at you Over there Ripping the Sawdust from my Teddy Bear" by Alice Cooper. A hidden gem from the Special Forces album, it reminds me that Alice could at one time really sing, I like his croon on the chorus. Like disco Kiss , new wave Alice is a favorite of mine, Still I don't think he belongs on the Dio tribute album coming out as he doesn't have the chops in this day and age to pull it off.

"Little Red Corvette" by Prince. Hey there is no shame in my game,not only am I glad this came on but it reminds me to put more Prince on my iPod. He is one of the best guitarists out there, with a impeccable tone. Sure this is a pop ditty but he does pop ditties better than any more...well maybe not better than the "Let's Dance" album but close. You can be as brootal as you want but can't deny the mans talent. An unreal voice as well and he knows how to use his range to serve the song.