Risk - Dirty Surfaces

Remember when I posted Risk's second album?  That was almost a year ago now, which means it's been long enough to post their third (and best) album: Dirty Surfaces.  Everything that you liked (or hated) about Hell's Animals can again be found, only more refined this time.  Here we see Risk picking up the pace and showing that they're a real Thrash band and not middle of the road fence-sitters.  The technicality and lyrics have also been improved making this record better than it's predecessors in every way.

surf westphalia!

Drottnar - Stratum

It's been a while since I posted something really complex and technical (especially in the Black Metal realm), but here it is.  Drottnar remind me very much of late-era Mayhem and Satyricon's most underrated Rebel Extravaganza.  It's ultra-modern Black Metal with musicianship seldom heard in the genre.  I feel obligated to inform you that Drottnar are a christian band.  Turn you off?  Too bad.  This band kills it.  And I'd rather listen to this than any of the shit Varg is farting out these days.

R. Kelly's doo doo butter

Inside Project - A History of Violence

What we have here is my favorite Hardcore album of the season.  This shit is tough-as-nails and packs enough surprises to keep the interest high.  There's just enough tasteful spits of blast beats and Death Metalish riffs to break up the mosh.  The production is nice too.  True, the lyrics are at times misogynistic, but I think most of you won't notice or care.  If you do care, feel free to skip it.  I mean, tough Metalcore like this is usually sketchy in some way or another.  It's good, but it ain't Posi-core.

geto boyz

Hell Theater - Reincarnation of Evil

Hello again!  Sorry for the long pause, but I've been hella stressed with the process of moving.  I'm getting more settled in now so I should be approaching the sad attempt at regularity that I'm known for.

So here's an album that I downloaded a couple weeks ago.  Hell Theater remind me a lot of Portrait (whom I posted a while ago).  There's a strong Mercyful Fate influence and an overall early 80's vibe.  They don't bring that vintage feel as well as Portrait does, but this is still a valiant effort.  They do, however, succeed in combining their Black, Speed, and Classic Metal influences into one cohesive whole.  In reality, those sub-genres really were not that different from each other 30 years ago.  The inherent cheesiness, aggression, and epic sensibility that Metal represents is well displayed here.

dude, I'm on the rag

Lene Lovich - Stateless

An unusual post for me, but also totally run of the mill as far as my tastes go.  Lene Lovich is a true heroine in the Post-Punk, Proto-Goth, "crazy girl" scene of the late 70's.  I always thought of her as the American equivalent to Nina Hagen.  She may not have the classical chops of Nina, but she still has attitude and character for days.  The songs are simple yet strange with Lene's voice always as the focal point.  You really have to hear this to know what I'm talking about.

get at me, blog

Konkeror - The Abysmal Horizons

Greetings, poglodytes.  I'm now transmitting from the "Rose City" Portland, Oregon (soon to be renamed "Bro's City").  That means that I'm now living in a place with an actual scene.  I might even start doing concert reviews, who knows?  

So anyway, there's this new record that I got on my computer and it's pretty good.  Konkeror play moderately melodic Death Metal and do so very well.  Their style is vaguely reminiscent of The Chasm and Necrophobic, yet more brutal and modern.  You might like it.

kissed by a bro on the grey

Slaughtered Priest - Confess Your Sins

It seems that these days there's an endless stream of Black/Thrash bands coming out of every corner of the globe.  Every one of them obeying the strict code of bullet belts, black & white album covers, and the most boring riffs outside of a Krabathor album.  At first glance you would judge Slaughtered Priest as just another one of those faceless formula bands, and you would be so fortunately wrong.  What Slaughtered Priest lack in originality and good taste, they more than compensate with amazing riffs and uncompromising consistency.  Each song is a killer built on top of an unrelenting D-beat.  These power-chord riffs are so fast and fluid, they would make Coroner, Rigor Mortis, and Destruction jealous.  With an audible bass and livelier production, this could have been a modern classic.  Even without those, it's still great.  Confess to the dead!

greco-roman wrasslin'

Acrania - An Uncertain Collision

For about two years now, I've been waiting for a band that combines my favorite sub-genre (Death Metal) with my favorite woodwind (Saxophone).  That band has finally arrived.  Acrania are actually a diverse Metal/Jazz hybrid with influnces reaching far back into Mexico's ethnic history as well as modern Metal that most of us grew up with.  This isn't just a regular Death Metal band with some sax solos (although that would be pretty sweet).  An Uncertain Collision is primarily driven by Jazz and latino rhythm styles that create a very loose feel, almost danceable.  The multi-layered drumming is also incredible, so good that it slightly overshadows the rest of the band.  But that's ok, as I'm sure we've all heard enough metronomic blast-beats to last us the rest of our lives.  Not just some nerdy white guy talking about "exotic" far away cultures that he's only read about, Acrania are the real deal, showcasing their own musical heritage.

it's in the trees, it's coming!

R.I.P. The Living Broway

It's inevitable that with "intellectual property" hysteria all mp3 blogs will eventually be terminated.  That has been the fate of our favorite Metal/Pet/Idiocy blog, The Living Doorway.  I may make fun JGD a lot, but truth be told, Triple B wouldn't exist without The Living Doorway.  Just like that Portlandia episode about Battlestar Galactica, I'm gonna go to his house and demand that he write a sequel.  It could happen...  

Lento - Anxiety, Despair, Languish

There are many genres that I love to hate, but then there's always a band that's so good I have to eat my own prejudiced words.  This is what I wish all Instrumental Post-Metal bands sounded like.  The dreary quality that seems to link all Post-Metal is still evident, but the annoying droney, repetitive quality is not to be found.  Instead, these songs actually develop and show dynamics and melody.  Not quite enough melody to make me forget the lack of vocals, but close.  Pretty close to how Kylesa would sound if they decided to go instrumental.  Those of you with beards will dig it.

a necessary queef