So I started doing this repeated offenders thing, and I like the idea so I'm gonna continue with it. I will probably go back a few more years not sure yet. 2009 for me was a huge year. i mean there was stuff from Alice In Chains, Baroness, Between the Buried & Me, Lamb of God, and Mastodon just to name a few. So here is the stuff that I can't put down from 2009.
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
Amorphis - Skyforger
Baroness - Blue Record
Behemoth - Evangelion
Between the Buried & Me - The Great Misdirect
Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
Converge - Axe TO Fall
The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood And Thunder
Goatwhore - Carving Out the Eyes of God
Insomnium - Across the Dark
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Katatonia - Night Is the New Day
Kylesa - Static Tensions
Lamb of God - Wrath
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Obscura - Cosmogenesis
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Priestess - Prior To the Fire
Swallow the Sun - New Moon
Ok so there they are the stuff I'm still jamming like crazy. I also want to start a list of maybe the 5 or 10 that I have really forgotten about or just don't really like anymore for whatever reason. The number will depend really on the amount of good or bad releases I picked up that year. It will mostly be ones I've just really forgotten about because honestly if I don't like it anymore I sell it or trade it some how to put toward stuff I will like. So this year will have to be 10. With this year being a great year for me it also had it's down falls of the year as well so here they are the 10 releases that I've just put away from 2009.
Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony
Chevelle - Sci-Fi Crimes
CKY - Carver City
Dope - No Regrets
Evans Blue - Evans Blue
Hatebreed - Hatebreed
Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life
Marilyn Manson - The High End of Low
Static-X - Cult of Static
So there everything is. Some of the albums in the forgotten list you may say hay I liked that album or what not. Well that's fine but honestly I really was displeased with all of those releases. The Chevelle release was half way decent, as well as the Breaking Benjamin. Everything else though really was forgotten pretty much right after the first listen. I gave the Hatebreed record a few listens because I have liked a few of their albums in the past, I just really have grown tired of Hatebreed's sound, and direction. The Static-X release along with the Marilyn Manson were just really really bad. I think that the Static record has maybe 2 to 3 fair tracks at best. I have listened to Wayne Static's first solo record that came out this year, and I'd have to say I didn't like it at first listen but it's growing on me. While not being anything close to awsome it still is not at the bottom for sure. Now the Marilyn Manson record there really is only one thing good I can say about it is that it's good to see Twiggy Ramirez back with Marilyn on this release, but the result really was not good at all. If this is the new direction of Marilyn Manson I seriously will be forced to stop buying his stuff. Not that his Eat Me, Drink Me was very good either but I still gave it a chance. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
I think it was around 2007 is when I came across Mastodon. Their Blood Mountain release had come out the year before and was making a lot of ruckus around the metal community. I didn't get to check them out right of way because I was in to other bands at the time. I really got in to them much later, but wish I had gave them a chance when I first heard them back in 2007. These guys will come to give me a taste of progressive drone metal, sludge metal, whatever you want to call their fantastic breed of metal, and really open my world to the drone, sludge, doom world of music.
I really discovered Mastodon when they released their 2009 masterpiece Crack the Skye. This album really blew everything else out the window that had come out that year. I was jamming it non stop that year and couldn't get enough. I started to dive deeper in to the world of Mastodon after that, and came across Blood Mountain which I had already knew about, but didn't give it the chance it deserved. I found that I liked Blood Mountain even more than Crack the Sky which I didn't think was possible. They have filled my ears with some of the best metal I've ever heard. It's fast, it's crazy, but together, it's dark, it's conceptual, it's melodic, but very heavy. They are very good at combining so many textures of sound in to one song. You hear so many different kinds of distortions, reverb, clean tones, and tunings that you really don't need anything else to get your fill of music in general.
So I'll give a little info on the band. The band is from Atlanta, Georgia and were formed in 1999. The band consists of the four masterminds Troy Sanders on bass and vocals, Brent Hinds on guitar and vocals, Bill Kelliher on guitar and backing vocals, and Brann Dailor on drums and vocals. They have released 5 studio albums and 1 live record since their inception in 1999. They have progressed in sound scapes on each album. Experimenting with different instruments, and sounds with each record. The guitar structures are very progressive, fast, and intense. While keeping a well balanced amount of melody and melodic flow to the otherwise crazy speeds. Their solo sections are very well structured with Brent Hinds uncanny ability on the strings. His solos sometimes come out of nowhere and leave you stunned asking what the hell did I just hear, and how did he do that. The bass is very thunderous, and ever present making everything flow with a great since of rhythm that hasn't been heard before. The drumming is also something to be revered. The drumming on each of Mastodon's records I think for me is what really sells them. Brann Dailor is right now one of the best drummers in metal for sure. He was included on my top 20 drummers in metal post. Which is well deserved. His drumming is fast, aggressive, speratic, and sometimes almost tiring to listen to because he blows your mind at how fast he's playing. he leaves you physically tired after listening to them. He sometimes sounds like amped up Mitch Mitchell on speed, and then doubles it up with some speed thrash double bassing, and tops it off with the progressive undertone of the whole thing. The vocal harmonies, and melodies are also something to pick at as well. These guys all share singing duties throughout the records. The early years are mainly done by Troy Sanders with occasional times accompanied by guitarist Brent Hinds. Now they really blend both vocals together much more to give you a more interesting vocal soundscape. Some people have formed their own opinions about which years they like more. The more Troy Sanders vocal dominance, or the newer Brent Hinds shared styles. Crack the Skye really showed their ability to mesh their each distinctive voices together very well. Perfect example is the opening track Oblivion. That song alone really sells the album for me.
With their new one out this year The Hunter something tells me that Mastodon will be around for a long long time to come, and I will be right behind them jamming every tune. I personally like Blood Mountain the best, with a close second to Crack the Skye, but every record shines all it own with it's distinctive flair and concepts. Owe the concepts. Man never thought learning would be so much fun. Their Leviathan record was loosely based on Moby Dick. The front cover kind of prepair's you for the ideas around the record. They are fun, and very entertaining to listen to every time, learning something new every time. If you haven't heard anything I highly recommend checking them out especially if your in to progressive drumming, or drone, sludge metal stuff. This is the perfect band for you. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
Album releases to date are as fallows
Remission - 2002
Leviathan - 2004
Blood Mountain - 2006
Crack the Skye - 2009
The Hunter - 2011
Also: Call of the Mastodon (Compilation of early workings) - 2006
I wanted to come up with a list of stuff that I'm from time to time still listening to. I listen to a lot of music from day to day. Most being my newer 2011 albums so I can come up with my favs a not likes of the year. I'll get a classic album from time to time, but chances are with those I've already listened to the album just haven't gotten around to adding it to my collection of ever growing cds. But every once in a while I'll revisit back a couple of years maybe because I was itching for some of whatever, or the album was just that good that I can't put it down. Some from 2010 I've long forgot, and some I just can't get over. I've gotten a few more since the end of 2010, so some of these weren't gotten in 2010, but I think most were for the most part. So here it goes my first Repeated Offenders list of 2010. I guess I'll continue this into the following years as time goes on.
Alcest - Acailles de Lune
As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise
Bison B.C. - Dark Ages
Danzig - Deth Red Sabaoth
Dark Fortress - Ylem
Death Angel - Relentless Retribution
Deathspell Omega - Paracletus
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
Electric Wizard - Black Masses
Eluveitie - Everything Remains As It Never Was
Enslaved - Axioma Ithica Odini
Exodus - Exhibition B: The Human Condition
Flotsam & Jetsam - The Cold
Ghost - Opus Eponymous
High On Fire - Snakes For the Divine
Kylesa - Spiral Shadow
Sodom - In War And Peaces
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
Watain - Lawless Darkness
So there they are the list of 2010 gets that I just can't put down. I really really enjoy listening to Bison B.C, Deathspell Omega, Eluveitie, Enslaved, Ghost, High On Fire, Kylesa, Tritykon, and Watain. So enjoy if there is an album that you haven't checked out yet on this list please please check it out. You wont' be sorry. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
So if you've been looking at my blog from when I started this you'll know that I do this new blood in the dirt thing. These groups don't have to be break through bands, or fresh on the scene. They are just new to me. Some are pretty old, and some are new. None the less I discover new bands every day it seems, and these are just the next 20 that are kicking my ears right now. Now some of the ones in my older dirt, what I guess I can call dried up blood dirt I've maybe stopped listening to as much like The Acacia Strain, Heaven Shall Burn, Miss May I. And I just noticed that I put The Sword on both my first and second one. Oops my bad. So here they are the next installment of The New Blood In The Dirt 3.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft are a Swedish doom rock band. They are three albums in to their career. They posses so much classic blood in them in flows out like nothing I've ever seen from guys so young. I mean these aren't old dudes doing the stuff they used to do in the 70's or whatever. These guys are really keeping the old school rock vibe together, and I am really digging it.
The Gates of Slumber
The Gates of Slumber are another band that kick it old school really really really well. I can't say really enough times. These guys look like three guys that just love to bang their heads to the classics like Sabbath, Judas Priest, Candlemass. And even rock guys like Kiss, and Zeppelin, and Alice Cooper. I highly recommend these guys to anyone who likes classic metal like Sabbath, and Candlemass.
Ghost Brigade
This is Ghost Brigade. A Finish Progressive Death Metal band. These guys at moments remenese Katatonia some what, and then in their heavy moments they have a great amount of melody to their progression while keeping really heavy sounding also. I recommend these guys if you like stuff like early The Ocean, Katatonia, Intronaut, Daylight Dies. It's really hard to put a label on these guys, but great stuff none the less.
Skeletonwitch
I absolutely had a major trip out when I first saw this video. It is pure genius, but so random it just boggles my mind. But these guy are a really cool thrashy black metal band that really just hit it pretty hard. They have great technicality, and great energy. Really great stuff.
Warbringer
Man Warbringer sound like the great years of Thrash Metal. The 80's. If I didn't know who they were and what decade they are playing in I would've though how could I have missed these guys from the 80's. They are really bringing back Thrash, and giving that new kick it needs so everyone remembers where a lot of today's modern metal comes from. If you like guys like Kreator, Exodus, Sodom, and Overkill. You'll love these guys. I know I'm really liking it.
Sylosis
Sylosis is another group of guys that possess a lot of classic thrash elements to their craft, but also have a new age take as well. There are some moments that really scream classic thrash, speed metal days, and then there are times where their metal-core roots come out as well. Their technical playing is really great. They have a lot of promise for the future of today's metal. They are kind of fresh to the scene. They had their debut Conclusion of An Age come out in 2008, and their sophomore release Edge of the Earth come out earlier this year. Its adding up to be one of my favorite albums this year so far, so I highly recommend checking it out.
Red Fang
This video explains it all about Red Fang. They're just four guys that like to have a good time, and play some kick ass rock n roll. Their sound is pretty sludgy, but still real clean also. They are just in to their second studio release Murder The Mountains, which in my opinion is not as good as their debut only cause I really really dig their opening few tracks on that record. The whole record is great, but the start just really shows their potential. The new record pushes a lot of the different influences in the band, but keeps it distinctively Red Fang. If you like guys like Baroness, Mastodon, Sleep, Kyuss, and High on Fire you may like Red Fang.
Argent
I love this band. Argent is a English rock band from the 70's formed from the ashes of the rock band The Zombies in the 60's. They've given great rock tracks like Hold Your Head Up, and God Gave Rock N Roll to You, which would be covered by many artists from Kiss, to the Indie rock band Unrest. I love that track a lot. When I want to take a break from head banging craziness I put on some Argent, or Gentle Giant, Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, or Toad. Great band
Graveyard
Graveyard is another band that really is keeping the classics alive. They are from Gothenburg, Sweden and give us some of the greatest classics sounding rock that I've heard in a long time. You would've thought after watching this video that it came straight out of the 70's. Great band. They have a new one out this year Hisingen Blues and it is stacking up to also being one of my favorites of 2011
Steamhammer
Steamhammer are yet another classic rock band from the late 60's and 70's. I guess I've been getting in to a lot of the classic rock, and prog rock stuff from the 70's lately. It's probably because of the new Opeth record. Which is amazing by the way. These guys are from Worthing, England and have a lot of blues influence behind their rock. I really enjoy just jamming these guys when I want to listen to some good classic tunes.
So there they are. I know there are a lot of older, more classic sounding bands on this one, but that's really what I've been gravitating towards lately. I love all kinds of metal, but I'd have to say my favorites have to be thrash, classic, doom, death, and drone metal. There are so many bands in just those few genres, and bands that mix the genres really well as well. So if you haven't heard of some of these bands, check em out you might be surprised and find a new obsession in one of them. SO until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
Music is my life. Aside from raising my son who is 3 1/2 now I live and breathe music. I attended and completed an audio engineering program at MediaTech of Austin and have learned so much about music, and sound ingeneral. I have a new found respect for sound thanks to the wonderful education I got at MediaTech.
