Tamut Amen: Demo (2011)

Review

I'm not quite sure why it is that I've talked about Israeli metal so many times in the past year, but I've run across some very good bands from the holy land. Tamut Amen (Hebrew for "May you die") is no exception.

This 2010 demo is five songs of high-speed, no-bullshit black metal. Perhaps owing to various members' tenure in grind-related bands Whorecore and Tea with Satan, the songs are all short and blistering, with no extra fat.

Their sound should be familiar enough. The guitar tone is warmer than your typical BM, and the production is top-notch for a demo, but otherwise it's pretty standard. Musically, what stands out is the excellent drumming, which is more fill than blast but no less violent for it.

The Verdict: The world is just starting to discover Israeli metal, and Tamut Amen is good enough to be among the vanguard for their home country. I give the demo 4 out of 5 stars.

Download the demo from Mediafire

Tamut Amen on Soundcloud

Tamut Amen on Facebook

A Transylvanian Funeral: The Outsider (2010)

Review

Forbidden Records recently provided me access to a couple of promo records via their Bandcamp page. One of those I passed up because of my own personal reasons, but I dug into The Outsider by A Transylvanian Funeral. As it turns out, it's the one-man black metal band of label owner Sleepwalker.

The project is based out of Tucson, Arizona, proving once and for all that Arizona is more than just a haven for deathcore. The desert has quite a bit in common with the frozen North, both forbidding wastelands that harbor dangerous wildlife in deceptive abundance.

New Polls

For those of you on a feed-reader, you may not be able to tell that I have added two new polls. I want to know how you feel about cassettes on the cusp of 2012. I also want to know what formats of music you listen to (although I have left off streaming and radio options, as well as more obscure and limited options like reel-to-reel). Let me know what you think.

Giant Squid: Cenotes (2011)

Review

As you may already know, Grayceon's latest album made my list of the Top 25 Metal Albums of 2011. After getting into that band, and learning more about cellist/vocalist Jackie Perez Gratz, I decided to check out her other current band, Giant Squid.

The first thing you might notice about the album cover, graced as it is by two fish-headed fertility goddesses. (As Phillip J. Fry once lamented, "Why couldn't you be the other kind of mermaid--the kind with the fish part on top and the lady part on the bottom?") Listening to it, I picked up bits and pieces that sounded like they were talking about marine biology. The lyric sheet shows it's marine biology as metaphor describing a woman, a child, or other things . . . . Yeah, I don't get it either.

Return Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will resume my normal posting schedule. For now, check out http://theasheaters.blogspot.com/, where you can find out any new information on one of black metal's most underappreciated bands, including free music like the new cover of "Children of the Grave", and some Misfits covers.

Christmas Break

I hope you've enjoyed List Week. I will be taking a break from blogging until after Christmas. I'll see you then.

The Top Ten Metal Albums of 2011

Top 25 List

See the introduction and the first 15 albums of the top 25 by clicking here.

[Note: the links below will send you to my original articles on the albums. The album picture will send you to an Amazon link to preview/purchase the album.]

10. Vreid: V

When you're talking about extreme metal, adding 'n' roll to the end of a genre tag is usually a deal-breaker. Does anyone actually like Entombed's Wolverine Blues? Does anyone care about Six Feet Under? But sometimes, a mix of black metal and good old rock 'n' roll can be a beautiful thing. Case in point: Vreid's V. This record keeps all the important parts of black metal--the ugly sound, the energy, the riffing style--but gives it a boost with some more accessible bounce to the writing. The occasional clean singing and synths are never enough to over-polish the sound, and the production is just raw enough while allowing you to hear everything that's going on. And, oh yeah, the songs are catchy.

9. Amebix: Sonic Mass

The crust legends reunited and took a risk by doing something entirely different. The risk paid off. There are a wide variety of styles on the record, from dark folk, to crust, to metal, to alt-rock. To be quite honest, it's not all perfectly successful. I reviewed Sonic Mass just last month, noting its imperfections and quirky nature. But quirky, imperfect albums are the ones that grow on you and get under your skin. Their imperfections serve to make them more memorable, more unusual, and simply better. (The first four Metallica albums are widely regarded as some of the best metal albums of all time, but can you honestly say that any of them is perfect?) This one has already dug further under my skin, and will likely get many more listens over the coming months. And years. Few comeback albums can compare.

The Top 25 Metal Albums of 2011: 25-11

Top 25 List

Before 2011 had begun, a handful of metal sites were declaring it to be the year of progressive metal. With expected releases from the likes of Opeth, Mastodon, Meshuggah, Origin, Decapitated, Obscura, Necrophagist, and many less extreme prog acts, it certainly seemed like that could happen.

But what happened instead? Opeth went rock. Mastodon got decidedly less proggy. Meshuggah never got around to releasing an album (Necrophagist will seemingly never release theirs). With the three flagship prog metal albums turning out to be not quite what was expected, it's a pretty tough sell to call 2011 the Year of Progressive Metal.

Instead, 2011 was quite a mixed bag. It could be called the Year of Old-School Death Metal, with many newcomers as well as a few old-timers making a comeback. But I'm going to call it the Year of Doom. Death, black, grind, and avant-garde metal all make strong showings on my list, but doom beats them all.

Really, we had a good variety this year. No single album stood out from the pack quite as much as last year's Eparistera Daimones, but I think it's a good thing that the winner is not so obvious.

I reviewed something like 125 new albums this year, many because I sought them out, and many others because they were submitted to me. This list drops 100 of them, to focus on the absolute best. Without further ado, here are the Top 25 Metal Albums of 2011.

Promoter Exchange of 2011

This year, bands, labels, and promoters have taken some small notice of my blog. This has led to my discovering a lot of interesting new music. But it's also led to some much less interesting e-mail in my inbox. Here is my favorite exchange of the year (it literally made me laugh out loud), with the promoter's and band's names redacted:

Promoter: Afternoon Kelly,

Hope you are well. I'm currently working with the UK band **** who have previously toured with Limp Bizkit, Pendulum, Deftones and Serj Tankian.

They have just announced details on their brand new 5th album "*** *****" and I was hoping you might be interested in running the news up on your blog as well as featuring the track "* ***** ***" which is taken from the record.

If you need anything else then please let me know.

Thanks

FMA: Sorry, I don't generally do news; just reviews and editorials. Also, name-dropping Limp Bizkit is probably not a good idea generally.

Promoter: No problem. They've toured with Nickelback too but I took that out instantly.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life in 2011

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Metal Dictionary

The Metal Dictionary has finally been published to the site! It is intended to be a one-stop source for definitions of all things metal, although without getting too far into the technical aspects of musicianship.

I recognize that the entries are not complete, and that new definitions will have to be added. Since the dictionary itself does not allow comments, please add your suggestions as a comment on this post. Here are the guidelines:

1. suggest anything which should be added to the dictionary, or changed from the dictionary--you don't have to be specific

2. if you would like to provide an actual definition of a term, please also state
a. how you would like to be credited (what name you want to use), and
b. your web site address, if any

The Best Metal Song of 2011

Mastodon: "Curl of the Burl" (from The Hunter)



This song is ridiculously catchy. It's immediately accessible, yet I could listen to it a thousand times without tiring of it. It makes you want to sing along, and play air everything.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney in 2011

Top 8 List

Mostly, I write reviews for this blog. But whenever I have the time and the right idea, I'll write something else, and that something else usually gets a good response (if I say so myself). Here are just a few of my favorites.

8. What Is Heavy?

This one definitively answers the question.

7. The 10 Most Metal Classical Compositons

Everyone always says metal and classical music have a lot in common. Here are a few examples of classical music that will appeal to metalheads.

6. Are "Real Songs" Disappearing from Metal?

Well, are they? Maybe you're looking at it the wrong way.

5. Women in Metal

This article explores the status and contributions of women in metal today, looking at how far they've come, what they bring to the fold, and how we view them.

4. 7 Reasons I Listen to Metal

Why do I like metal? Here are just a few reasons, and I think you'll find something you haven't thought of before.

3. The 10 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time

Of course, this is a matter of taste moreso than metal guitarists would be, but I'm pretty happy with the list.

1 and 2. Metal and Christianity, Part 1 and Part 2

In this one, I explored two questions: Why I don't see a problem with listening to metal as a Christian, and why I don't see a problem with being a Christian while I'm a metalhead. Thought-provoking and comment-encouraging stuff.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Top 3 Metal EP's of 2011

Top 3 List

3. Tree of Sores: Tree of Sores

Tree of Sores created something that's full of crusty riffs, dissonance, and no shortage of heavy, as my review noted. It was available for whatever price you wanted when I reviewed it, but apparently it's been successful enough that they've started charging for it. I'd say it's worth it.



2. Cynic: Carbon-Based Anatomy

Cynic have continued their evolution/experimentation, and have created something far more compelling than their previous EP. It's catchy and atmospheric, and wholly worthy of the Cynic moniker even if it's not completely metal.

1. The Ash Eaters - The Cruel Side EP

If you aren't already familiar with this one-man black metal band, you should be. There's really nothing not to like about these hypnotic riffs, and, what's more, it's free.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums of 2011

Top 3 List

OK, so it would be a little presumptuous of me to create a definitive list of the best non-metal albums of the year, considering that there isn't a lot of non-metal that I've listened to this year (about 10-13 albums, depending on how you want to categorize them). But I have listened to a bit, and some of it really impressed me.

3. Opeth: Heritage

I like Opeth's Heritage. Yes, they have taken a dramatic (if expected) turn by abandoning metal, but it still sounds like them. And even though they've dropped the brutality of death metal, the album is still dark, and it's still one of the most dynamic records I heard this year. It's tough to say goodbye to the band I knew, but I like this new band anyway. I can't wait to hear what they do next.

2. Graveyard: Hisingen Blues

In my review, I asserted that, song-for-song, this is just as good as any Led Zeppelin album. Obviously it's not as revolutionary, since they sound pretty much like they're from 1968. But you can't ignore songs that are this catchy, and are played with this kind of energy.

1. The Devil's Blood: The Thousandfold Epicentre

Holy crap, is this album good. Have you ever heard that Coven album from the 60's, more noted for having a song called "Black Sabbath" and the band's claim to be Satanists than for any intrinsic merit? Well, The Thousandfold Epicentre is like that, only 1000 percent better. There are some heavier rock riffs to ground it a bit more, and the female singer has a style that's to be taken much more seriously. And did I mention how catchy it is?

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012

Top 5 List

You've heard all the criticism of death metal founding fathers Morbid Angel failing in their attempt to make industrial rock a la Marilyn Manson. And there's no way you missed the horrible backlash against Metallica's WTF? collaboration with Lou Reed. I shouldn't even have to mention Ozzy's name, but the original Black Sabbath lineup is reuniting, apparently because the rest of the guys were tired of having too much credibility.

Sadly, I predict we can look forward to more classic bands shitting on their own legacies in 2012.

5. Venom will collaborate with one of the biggest music stars of the moment, releasing At War With Bieber.

4. Suffocation will tap infamous producer Bob Rock, release a new album, and win a Grammy.

3. Immortal + Skrillex = Black Dubstep

2. Motörhead will release an album that's actually different from any of their previous 21.

1. Celtic Frost will reunite and make a hair metal album. Oh, wait . . .

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal for 2011

Top 3 List

3. Liturgy: Aesthetica

I already included this one as one of my five worst albums of the decade, so you know where I stand. But there were actually quite a few people who like it, and it has made several best-of-the-year lists. Most of the controversy came about not because of the music itself (which, even its supporters would have to admit, borders on the ridiculous in places) but because of all the pretentious things their frontman has said. And not only pretentious, but almost anti-metal--like his assertion that black metal doesn't have to be negative.

2. Leviathan: True Traitor, True Whore

While facing charges of sexual assault, Leviathan's Wrest had the stones to release an album with a title that could be interpreted in a few ways--none of which make him look any better. Plenty of people have talked about it, but really, what did you expect? This guy is true, unapologetic black metal to the core.

1. Opeth: Heritage

Forget felony charges hanging over your head, the real headline this year is "Most Beloved Band in Metal, No Longer a Metal Band." Opeth's switch to prog rock honestly should have come as no surprise to anyone who's followed them for the past decade, but it's still quite a shock to get through the whole album without hearing a single one of those magnificent death growls. Just as controversial are the wide range of opinions on the album, from absolute hate to open embrace.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

Best Metal Album Cover of 2011

Oranssi Pazuzu - Kosmonument

This album cover is just perfect. I don't know who did it, but it has that classic Dan Seagrave 3/4 underneath viewpoint and H.R. Giger style biomechanical features. If you can mention both of those artists in describing it, I don't see how you can go wrong.

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The Top 5 Rejected Names for New Korn Album

Top 5 List

By now you've noticed Korn decided to give their new album the same title as a high profile metal release within underground metal, i.e., Tombs' Path of Totality. They changed it by adding "The" at the beginning. But that wasn't the only album title they considered.

5. The Sonic Mass

4. The Heritage

3. The Lulu

2. The Relentless Reckless Forever

1. The The Hunter

All 2011 List Week Posts:

- The 5 Worst Metal Albums
- Best Metal Album Cover
- The 3 Most Controversial Albums in Metal
- The Top 5 Ways Classic Bands Will Shit on Their Legacies in 2012
- The Top 3 Non-Metal Albums
- The Top 3 Metal EP's
- The Top 8 Blog Posts on Full Metal Attorney
- The Best Metal Song
- The 2 Biggest News Items in My Personal Life
- Promoter Exchange
- The Top 25 Metal Albums: 25-11
- The Top 10 Metal Albums

The 5 Worst Metal Albums of 2011

Bottom 5 List

There were a hell of a lot of good albums released in 2011. On Friday, I'll give credit where it's due. But there were also some major piles released this year. I may not be an expert tracker, but I know shit when I see it.

I have not listened to the reputed abominations created by Morbid Angel or Metallica. Illud Divinum Insanus (average Metal Archives score: 37%) and Lulu (average MA score: 17%) may well be the two worst albums of the year. They were so roundly criticized as the work of hubristic out-of-touch has-beens that I steered clear. But I didn't manage to avoid every train wreck.

5. Turisas: Stand Up and Fight
Average MA Score: 78%

Given the score on MA, I'm probably in the minority on this one. Admittedly, I don't get the point. Folk metallers Turisas take all the cheesiness of power metal, but strip it of the killer guitar playing and vocal acrobatics. I guess some people like power metal for all the wrong reasons, and Turisas fulfill that need entirely. I really, really don't get it.

List Week

All this week, I will be posting end-of-year lists and whatever else at a much more crowded schedule than my usual once-per-day. Keep checking back every few hours to see what else has been posted.

The Best Albums of 2010 That I Didn't Hear in 2010

Top 5 List

End-of-year list season is upon us again. We're just over a week into December, and it seems I'm already behind everyone else in releasing my lists. They're coming next week, just so I can keep up with everyone else. But if I had my way, best of year lists wouldn't come out until February of the following year. The reason is, it's tough to hear everything by the beginning of December.

My list from last year was published on December 19, and there were at least 5 albums that could have gotten mention on the list, but for the simple fact that I hadn't heard them yet. This top 5 list will rectify that.

5. Ludicra: The Tenant

The Tenant was so good it made me check out Ludicra's entire back catalog. Then, the news came that the band had broken up. I don't feel enough emotional attachment to the band to make me feel sad, but the strength of this discography is proof enough that their end is a tragedy. The Tenant is the capstone of a fantastic career. My review noted the music is feminine without being girly; that is, a pure form of femininity unburdened by societal expectations. A unique take on black metal that will be missed.

Unleash the Archers: Demons of the AstroWaste (2011)

Review

Quite some time ago, I reviewed the debut album of Canada's Unleash the Archers. I praised their unselfconscious brand of power/thrash/melo-death because of its balls-out intensity, catchy songs, and the powerful singing of frontwoman Brittney Hayes. She remembered that positive review, and provided me with a copy of their sophomore effort, Demons of the AstroWaste. The prospect of any improvement in this already excellent band had me practically frothing at the mouth.

Then I listened to it, and was reminded of the so-called sophomore slump. It's not that the new album is bad. The elements of great singing, great riffs, catchy choruses, and high intensity are all still there. Some of the songs are great, too. The metalcore leanings I mentioned in the first review have been emphasized, but that's not necessarily such a bad thing. But there is something different, and in a bad way.

Cynic: Carbon-Based Anatomy (EP 2011)

Review

I discovered Cynic around 2006, when they were still a little-known band with a growing cult following. They had released one full-length album of sci-fi themed progressive death metal in 1993, and disappeared for over a decade. They reunited and released the massively well-received Traced in Air. I would definitely change one of the albums that I put on my list of the best albums of 2008, but TiA would definitely remain. They followed that in 2010 with a strange collection of re-worked songs from the album (Re-Traced), stripped of any resemblance to metal whatsoever. And, let's not sugar-coat it, it sucked. When I heard that new EP Carbon-Based Anatomy wasn't particularly metal either, I was leery. But the cool album art made me optimistic. I can't say I'm disappointed.

Solothus: Ritual of the Horned Skull (Demo 2011)

Review

Solothus contacted me with a review copy of their first demo, Ritual of the Horned Skull. (Note: It appears to be available free on Bandcamp now.) The Finnish band play death/doom the way it's meant to be played. Take note: This is a band to watch.

The first thing you'll hear when you play this album is a fantastic bassline with an excellent, crackling tone. I honestly don't know why bass gets the shaft so often in metal, but that's definitely not happening here. Ominous guitar lines enter, and the band shifts to a bangable death metal riff before an excellent death growl enters the fray.

Vallenfyre: A Fragile King (2011)

Review

My Dying Bride is one of my all-time favorite bands. Along with Paradise Lost and Anathema, they comprise the so-called Peaceville Three, the bands which pioneered the death/doom genre. All three of those bands have abandoned (or nearly abandoned) death metal entirely, however, going into gothic metal, doom, and even post-rock. Well, members of MDB and Paradise Lost have gotten together to form Vallenfyre, a band which returns them to their death metal roots.

A Fragile King is a fine example of doomy, old-school death metal. It's not full-on death/doom (except perhaps on "Seeds"), and rarely does it ever reference the better-known bands of these veterans (except perhaps "Cathedrals of Dread"). So there's no rehashing here.

Souldrainer: Heaven's Gate (2011)

Review

I was contacted by ViciSolum Productions with a review copy of Souldrainer's sophomore album, Heaven's Gate. Souldrainer is a melodic death metal band from the home of melo-death, Sweden.

Now, I've made disparaging remarks about the genre in the past. It's not that I don't like melo-death, it's just that nobody has done anything worthwhile or different with it for the past couple of years. But this is just different enough to warrant a second look.