Taylor Swift : "Evermore"

 

Rolling Stone were idiots enough to call this Swift's goth folk phase. Sadly there are people even stupider than whoever wrote that and will believe it. This is a more introspective second chapter to what she started with "Folklore" which came out back in July. The vocals are in ethereal layers . The first vocals that has some pop meat to them and beat that moves is "Gold Rush". When comparing it to " Folklore" this is the first song that holds up against her vocal performance from this album. Not that there is anything wrong with the dreamy vibe to the first two songs, I am not sure they work of what are her strongest qualities. They are still solid songs for what they are . What they are happens to drift more like a ballad. 

I suspect these songs are leftovers from the "Folklore" sessions.  "Tis the Damn Season" does weave smart vocal melodies around a more indie rock instrumentation. "Tolerate it" I had to listen to a few times before it sunk in. The beat is really low in the mix, forcing the song to rely on the floating vocals  This is almost like her "Lionheart" mainly piano oriented ballads. I am not sure what I was expect from a collaboration with HAIM, but is more country than I expected. I fine with that as the song has great lyrics and moves well. The vocals carry most of the groove. I think it one of the album's stronger songs. With the hiding the cheating husband's body theme it sounds like there is some Dixie Chicks influence. "Happiness' works off with a limited instrumental arrangement. 

"Dorothea' has the kind of care free piano playing that could almost be on a Tori Amos album. The mood shifts to a more serious tone with here collaboration with the National. I like chorus of "IVY" the verses are not as focused . They are not bad , but when it comes to Taylor her vocal lines are normally immaculate in construction. The second verse does flow better. It might just be a better of this growing on me. I this is maybe the 3rd time I have listened to this album. There is still traces of county left in her DNA . You can hear them most clearly on "Cowboy like me" .  "Long Story Short" is one of the few returns to more familiar pop sounds. "Marjorie" almost get's lost in it's own ambiance.  When this album is referred to as experimental I suppose they are referring to her playing around with the phrasing on songs like "Closure' which is far from what we here consider avant garde. Not the strongest chorus on the album. This album is not on the same tier as "Folklore' but  not a long way off, The duet she did with Bon Iver is better than what she does here. Some of that has to do with the role he plays . He sang in his lower register on 'Folklore" here it is closure to what you expect from him. I will give this one a 9.5, so a half point down from "Folklore's" perfect score. Just because it is not perfect doesn't it is not great on it's own. 

Iress : "Flaw"

 I had been waiting on this album to pop up and waited so long I forgot about it. The first song is dark , yet soars . A little less blues based than King Woman , but in a similar realm, less doomy and more post rock gazing due to the spacious sonic scope it encompasses. I have already given this album a few spins . There is more of a 90s rock dynamic contrast to the second song. Their singer Michelle Malley ahs a wonderful voice that is full of emotion. She capable of softer delicate singing or belting it out . Her softer side shows up on "Dark Love" that finds them joined by cellos. This is more ethereal and wanders around in the atmosphere. I prefer the songs with more punch and percussion. But I their need to express themselves in this way. 

Two and a half minutes into "Shallow: the get to that place of punch and percussion. She also allows her voice to crack into a howl. It is almost Swans like in the way they paint with this shadowy grace. "Thieves" is one of the best songs written this year. I was telling a girl of interest that this would be the song to play if you were going to take mushrooms and have sex. I will get back to you on how that works out in January. It has a very slinky smooth groove. Yeah I like to have more sensual music playing when I am beating someone's ass raw. That is not a metaphor. It might not be their intention to ooze sex with that one but it is what I got from it. I also have yet to masturbate today so it might be going to my ears and causing me to hear that. 

The throbbing pulse of "Wolves" is not taking you to any darker corners , but the melodies caress you in the right ways . The last song is a stripped down and emotive take on folk. Her voice is allowed to crack with the raw emotion. I approve.  I will round this one up to a 10. If you like the doom folk of Chelsea Wolfe ,but want more of a shoe gazey vibe this was made for you.

Sepultura - "Quadra"

 

Someone on a Mr. Bungle fan page who called "Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny" the best metal album of the year, suggested this was a close second. Either he has a  keen ear for meh or is he onto something, well before I finish my end of the year's lists I better check. The first song seems like a rip off of Testament's "Over the Wall", I guess if you are young enough to not have heard this sort of thing when it came around the first time it is easy to be fooled. The first song is pretty typical of  a great deal of other recycled thrash . There is little to it that actually sounds like Sepultura. This could be any metal band. The bassist and guitarists are the only original members . Max's voice helped define the band and this Derrick guy has always been mediocre. He doesn't have a distinct personality to his voice and is like saying "Ok, insert generic metal vocal here" 

The second and third songs do not find them coming any closer to solidifying a personality for themselves . I call the songwriting on the first to albums without Max to have been better than pulling from the grab bag of stock metal riffs . Yeah they are playing fast. I got a hundred black metal bands in my computer who do faster better. Even when it comes to thrash Testament's new one smokes this so far , the why I need this album in my life is not yet answered. He doesn't always try to sound like Chuck Billy sometimes he does more of a Anselmo impersonation. But there is a new Scour album out. The begin working in more traditional Brazilian elements going into "Capital Enslavement". Aside from the sequencing being weakly mixed this is really the first song that is worth a shit.  

"Ali" finds them back to being a Testament tribute band. They are however better at it here than on the first few songs. Ugh 7 more songs to go, going to need more caffeine. The riffs improve on "Raging Void" . The rule here however is "Cool riffs alone does not a good song make". There is actual singing on this one. "the Pentagram" finds things becoming a little more interesting. Normally not into instrumentals and most guitar solos are boring , but they keep my attention here. Can the rest of the album? Well only for more songs. Yeah the Chuck Billy impersonation continues on "Autem" , but it's a little better than some of his vocals earlier in the album.  Generic metal vocals ? Um, yeah but a little catchier. 'Agony of Defeat" we get a 90s metal band power ballad with the emphasis on power. Devin Townsend would be proud. The last song features Emily from the Brazilian band Far From Alaska , who is the Dollar Store version of Ash Costello. I will round this album down to a 7, since the bar should be held higher for these guys since two of the members did play on great albums like "Roots" , "Chaos AD" , "Beneath the Remains" and "Arise" all of which smoke this well made yet very generic album.

the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2020

I changed things up a bit this year and got rid of the indie rock list though I did create a shoe-gaze / post -rock list , which in years past was what the indie rock list turned into. The rest of the bands got lumped in with post punk, so these are more straight up rock, but not packing enough punch for the hard rock list. Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there is only a couple new bands on this list. 

 The fact these artists 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. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 rock albums of 2020

10-Les Deuxluxes : "Lighter Fluid"

This Canadian band has a stripped down garage rock flavor dipped in the 60 , but not mired down in it's flirtation with yester years. The vocals of their singer add a velvety touch of sex to the affair as she playfully muses. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/les-deuxluxes-lighter-fluid.html  

9-Stuck- "Change is Bad" 

A refugee from the post punk list. They have a Gang of Four like skip to their step. Bouncy fun that is for the unnerved yet happy. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/stuck-change-is-bad.html

8-Cloud Nothings- "the Black Hole Understands" 

Less punk and more of a happy go lucky Pixies like mood to the songs this time around. This is bolstered by their prowess as song writers to once again find them on this list. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/cloud-nothings-black-hole-understands.html

7- The Death Valley Girls - " Under the Spell of Joy" 

They have gone in a different direction, but sounds like they are ingesting larger amounts of drugs. They expanded their sound with synths and sax . The bi polar nature of this album goes from peppy anthems kids could sing along with to droning Velvet Underground like hypnosis. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/death-valley-girls-under-spell-of-joy.html

6-En Minor -"When the Cold Truth Has Worn It's Miserable Welcome Out" 

Phil likes other music aside from metal. That is the point he wanted to make with this album. He seems to love Tom Waits and Nick Cave as that is the route he goes with his singing . The reason they beat out the Death Valley Girls for this spot is because this album is darker/ 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/en-minor-when-cold-truth-has-worn-its.html

  5-Blunt Razors- "Early Aught" 

The guys from Planes Mistaken For Stars are back. This time it is more stripped down and droning . Not folk, as it is too brooding like a storm that never hits. On the slow core side of rock but rock none the less. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/blunt-razors-early-aughts.html

4-Psychedelic Furs- "Made of Rain" 

They have aged better than most of their peers. This album doesn't feel dated or like they are parading the memories of their glory days around. These songs are fresh faced and stand on their own two feet. 

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-psychedelic-furs-made-of-rain.html

 

3- Black Foxxes - "s/t" 

They remembered to rock out more on this album. I want them moodier and sorting through their issues like they did on "I'm" not well, so they bounced back from a sophomore slump in a big way. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/black-foxxes-st.html

 

2- Playa Royale- "Bastards" 

If you miss when  Panic at the Drive in was not getting #meetoo 'ed and rocked out , then this band is for you. They are actually more explosive than Panic was. They have plenty of hooks to an almost pop degree but balance it with good rocking. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/palaye-royale-bastards.html

1-Morrissey - " I am Not a Dog On a Chain" 

This is not the most in your face rock record Moz has produced , but he gives less of a fuck now than he did when he released those albums. He takes more chances and his voice sounds great . I mean what bands like Black Foxxes and Playa Royale has in youthful energy, Moz has nuance. He is even more vital sounding now than the Furs. He has something to say about the world today. He is rolling over for anyone's hash tag and is not impressed by virtue signaling. Just what we need in 2020.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/morrissey-i-am-not-dog-on-chain.html

the Top 10 Death Metal Albums of 2020

Given the state of 2020 we need death metal more than ever. Death is something to be celebrated not feared and these albums help provide a sound track for that celebration. I do not like death metal that is too technical or only heavy so these bands all went above and beyond. Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there is only a couple new bands on this list. 

 The fact these artists 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. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top death metal albums of 2020

 10- Marche Funebre -"Einderlicht"

Overall everything that goes down in the first song is what I want from metal. It's heavy but catchy and melodic. They do not over due the guitar harmonies as many European death metal bands do. It more like a more ballsy version of Amorphis.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/marche-funebre-einderlicht.html 

9- Pyrrhon - "Abscess Time" 

The guys took the term progressive death metal in a new direction and progressed into a death metal version of the Jesus Lizard.  Plenty of crazed angular ugliness to wipe your face in. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/pyrrhon-abscess-time.html

 

8-Goat Necropsy- "Bloody and Fresh" 

The more death grind gore side of the genre is not normally something I am into but these guys, gave the blood shed more charm through their ear for riffage.  

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/goat-necropsy-bloody-and-fresh.html

 

7-Phobetor- "When Life Falls Silent" 

I like how they use dissonance and keep their melodies ugly. Yes there is also some degree of black metal influence particularly when it comes to the darker side of their ugly sound , but they are not blackened death metal. Branded as just extreme metal, I find most of this he this is used they are just a death metal band, and that is the case here. They have a more organic sound than many of the more modern death metal bands doing similar

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/death-is-june-phobetor-when-life-falls.html

6- Abysmal Dawn _ "Phylogenesis" 

While on paper this might not come across as something I would be into. These guys prove a point.. It doesn't matter how heavy or technical you are, you can still give a shit and write good songs. These songs are what wins me over against all odds. Yes the labyrinth of riffs might be a lot when they first hit you with it, but they prove to be catchy. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/death-is-june-abysmal-dawn-phylogenesis.html

5-White Stones - "Kuarahy" 

Do you miss the days when Opeth was death metal ? Well so does their bass player . So much so he started another band to recapture that sound. 

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/death-is-june-white-stones-kuarahy.html

4-Temple of the Void - "the World That Was" 

 Tired of the death doom band wagon every one was jumping on so I dis regarded this one when it showed up in my in-box. I regret doing that as holy shit this album is good. It is dark as fuck and darkness is what I listen for. At times they pull influence from bands like Alice in Chains and Ride as much as they were Morbid Angel, so how can you  not check it out.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/temple-of-void-world-that-was.html

3- Kruelty"- "Dying Truth" 

I do not always do brutal death metal. But when I do I like for it to sound like Kruelty. With some hard core influence to it. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/death-is-june-kruelty-dying-truth.html

2- Umbra Vitae-Shadow of Life" 

Jacob from Converge loves Entombed. He also likes other classic death metal. He created a band to pay tribute to this and it is as awesome or perhaps even more so than we could have hoped for. It was a tough call between this and the number one album , but the scope of what the top spot does beat this out. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/umbra-vitae-shadow-of-life.html

 

1-Pulchra Morte - " Ex Rosa Ceremonia"

This is the first time an artist has taken the top spot two years in a row. This speaks to how awesome these guys are. Even with a change of sound and new line up they still manage to earn this all on their own . It is not because I am a fan as I am an even bigger fan of Converge, but here we are tis album speaks for itself.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/pulchra-morte-ex-rosa-ceremonia.html

Death Valley Girls : " Under the Spell of Joy"

Not sure how this one slipped under the radar. Things have changed as they drugs they are getting must have gotten stronger the first song almost sounds more like Hawkwind , with the flourishes of saxophone. They have gotten some help this time around with a two guest keyboardist and a saxophonist. The second song is less tripped out than the opener and more of a bob your happy go lucky rock n roll ditty. The title track has more of a groove to it and hooks you in. This album is not as dark as the second song with a more upbeat mood despite the message of the lyrics is "Bliss Out" . Lyrically they remind you that we are all going to die. The Satanic subversive underpinnings are more subtle this time around. 

I enjoy as things begin to slow into a more hypnotic tripped out mood with songs like " Hey Dena". They meet in the middle with the new range of sounds on "the Universe' which slightly more Roxy Music. The two songs that follow this more tripped out turn are more jangly variations of straight forward rock that are not as dark. "10 Day Miracle Challenge" is fun. The guitar tones on this album are very raw. The production is also worth noting at it is rough around the edges but still very lush. I think this warmth gives the sonics of the album a lighter feel. Then things do get a little darker for "I Would Rather Be Dreaming" . Her vocals feel more emotive here. 

I am picking up hints of T-Rex and the Rolling Stones by the time we get to the last song. I guess the Velvet Underground applies to the droning nature of the guitar. I will  l round this up to a 9.5 and see how this grows on my.If you smoke pot on a regular basis I will click for you faster . This is a change for the band , but mature growth as to stagnate would have been the nail in their coffin in the valley. C

9.3

the Top 10 Punk / Hard-core Albums of 2020

Given the state of 2020 it might be surprising that punk was more atmospheric than angry this year. Not that I am into political punk. Those albums I gave up on after two songs.  These albums have more passion to them.  Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there is only a couple new bands on this list.

The fact these artists 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. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top punk / hard core albums of 2020

10-Eyes- " Underperformer" -

Danish hard core with a metal sneer to the beating they throw at your ears. Riff wise they have more in common with Converge than not. I can live with metal core if this is what it really is and not some type of  Suicide Silence bullshit. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/eyes-underperformer.html

 

9-Coma Regalia - "Marked" 

This band from Indiana is more screamo than Eyes . That is not to say they do not have their fair share of hard core to them as they do. They offer more mood and melody than Eyes , which is why they are number 9.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/coma-regalia-marked.html

 

8 Svalbard - "When I Die , Will I get Better?"

The dark hard core out fit from Bristol still has plenty of shoe gaze to cushion the break neck speed of their sonic thrashing. Coma Regalia is pretty melodic this guys take both ends of the spectrum and make them more dynamic. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/svalbard-when-i-die-will-i-get-better.html 

 

7- Infantisland - "Beneath" 

One thing I have noticed so far in this year's top 10 is atmosphere is a bigger factor from hard core. These guys have it , but they are also more chaotic than Svalbard. Sure screamo factors into what these guys do as well but they have their own twisted spin. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/infant-island-beneath.html

6- Spice- "s/t:

 A side project of the members of Ceremony that heavily embraces the indie rock / post hard core sound of the 90s. The singer of Ceremony lends his voice and does some of the best singing  of his career. to this and his singing is much better than it was on the last Ceremony album. It is more emotive. He comes much closer to singing. When it comes to the sound , they nailed it , but also care about the songs.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/spice-st.html

 

5- Pigs x7 -" Viscerals"

This band is influenced by sludgey metal , but at the end of the there is more Black Flag than Sabbath in their veins , if it confuses you then you just need to do more drugs. Because these guys are clearly high as hell. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs.html

4-Cro-Mags -" In the Beginning" 

Harley is helming this incarnation. He picks up where they left off with "Best Wishes". Even with their shit show drama , the Cro-mags will always be my favorite 80s hard core band. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/cro-mags-in-beginning.html

 

3- Higher Power - "27 Miles Underwater"

Ok so this album might not be for the zine reading punks with Integrity tattoos. This British band is like the love child of Snapcase and Sunny Day Realestate. It goes places that your normal hard core albums won't. That is because most of your normal hard core albums are boring . These guys bring new life into familiar old sounds.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/higher-power-27-miles-underwater.html

  2- Metz- " Atlas Vending" 

There is Am Rep quality of the 90s set against a more Stooges like swagger. Lots of attitude and angst but they still really care about the songs. I never really paid a great deal of attention to these guys before , but they have my attention now as this album really grew on me .

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/metz-atlas-vending.html

1- Coriky-"s/t" 

Not the fastest punk album of the year. The anger is filtered through the wisdom of age. Some might cry out wait this is not punk and to them I would say... shut the fuck up this is Ian Fucking Mckaye...he eternally punk. This album is almost the second coming of Fugazi.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/coriky-st.html