Metal Thread III: Lone Wolf and Metal

[Xray the Enforcer]

Since we can't swear in thread titles, and I am reticent to invoke any images from grindcore, I opted for a Baphomet-themed subtitle. Besides -- Lone Wolf and Cub is fucking metal. :P

(but, really, if you can come up with something brutal that isn't offensive, nor swears, then I'm open to suggestions.)

Just got back from the Gwynbleidd show. Set was short but sweet. Sound was pretty good for such a small venue. Lots of people shouting Polish at each other during sets. After Gwynbleidd's set, Mr. X and I slobbered all over Adam's drum kit. Oh my god, is it beautiful. He has one of the largest bass drums I've ever seen. (I wasn't sure if I was just misunderstanding the size, but Mr. X -- a drummer himself -- also remarked that it was quite large.) Spent time chatting with Adam and singer/guitarist Maciej and my friend who was down from the Boston area.

In any case, I am very grateful I finally got to hear these guys live. And, yeah, in case anyone was wondering, Gwynbleidd's debut is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2009. :)

Also, thanks to Keeper who responded about the new Arckanum. I'll definitely check it out, see if I can find another way to get into that band. I've read so many good things about him that I don't want to give up just yet.

[Black Wizard]

Is that a good enough name? :P

I have the same problem. Admittedly, I've not put any effort into it. Glad that you got some enjoyment of the show. But you really should have stepped in and shown the 14-year-old dorks how pit violence is *really* done. Ha.

I'm not much of a pitter myself. Being 5"7 I tend to get :owned: in pits. There was this giant who went in and harvested some teenage souls though, this opened up the path for some men to join in the pits, which were a whole lot less annoying after that. The fourteen year olds tent o fly into to you and impale you with their skinny, pointy elbows.

Come on boys, have some food.

Sabaton (who supported) were actually better than Dragonforce and I'd have liked them to have played a longer set. They really got the crowd going as well.

[Tsavong Lah]

Heh, Bondage Goat Zombie is one of the greatest album names of all time. Still not enough to get me to buy the album (but I've been tempted).

Black Wizard,

I won't make fun of you for seeing Dragonforce since Sabaton was the opening act. Sabaton is awesome, I would have paid the money to see them alone. Although I probably would have left before Dragonforce...

[Xray the Enforcer]

Importing this from the former thread so we can continue discussion of albums of 2009:

Tsavong Lah

As for best of 2009, there are a few albums that might make my list.

Kreator - Hordes of Chaos

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

Porcupine Tree - The Incident

Cage - Science of Annihilation

Eternal Tears of Sorrow - Children of the Dark Waters

Absu - Absu

Gwynbleidd - Nostalgia

No Made Sense - The Epillantic Choragi

Rebellion - Arise

Saros - Acrid Plains

Skeletonwitch - Breathing the Fire

The Stone - Umro

Sunn O))) - Monoliths and Dimensions

Tombs - Winter Hours

Wodensthrone - Loss

YOB - The Great Cessation

I feel like a lot of these I haven't listened to enough and need to give more time before I can call them the best of 2009, but I know I've enjoyed all of them from what I've listened to so far. I think I tried to consume too much music this year and didn't give enough time to each individual album, yet I still feel like I've missed so much.

[Xray the Enforcer]

I, too, feel totally unprepared to make anything close to a definitive list. The more lists I see, the more I realize that there are albums out there I've totally forgotten to include on my list.

So, currently in the running (in no particular order):

Cobalt -- Gin

Saros -- Acrid Plains

Gwynbleidd -- Nostalgia

Drudkh -- Microcosmos

Anaal Nathrakh -- In the Constellation of the Black Widow

Vreid -- Milorg

Altar of Plagues -- White Tomb

Funeral Mist -- Maranatha

Urgehal -- Ikonoklast

Absu -- Absu

L'Acephale -- Stahlhartes Gehaeuse

Naxzul -- Iconoclast

Immortal -- All Shall Fall

Others, like Peste Noire and Children, I enjoyed but I'm not sure I'd put them on my top of 2009 list. Still tbd (I've only heard these in passing and need more time) are bands like M8L8th, Teitanblood, The Stone (thanks for the rec, TL!) and Merrimack.

[Tsavong Lah]

I, too, feel totally unprepared to make anything close to a definitive list. The more lists I see, the more I realize that there are albums out there I've totally forgotten to include on my list.

So, currently in the running (in no particular order):

Cobalt -- Gin

Saros -- Acrid Plains

Gwynbleidd -- Nostalgia

Drudkh -- Microcosmos

Anaal Nathrakh -- In the Constellation of the Black Widow

Vreid -- Milorg

Altar of Plagues -- White Tomb

Funeral Mist -- Maranatha

Urgehal -- Ikonoklast

Absu -- Absu

L'Acephale -- Stahlhartes Gehaeuse

Naxzul -- Iconoclast

Immortal -- All Shall Fall

Others, like Peste Noire and Children, I enjoyed but I'm not sure I'd put them on my top of 2009 list. Still tbd (I've only heard these in passing and need more time) are bands like M8L8th, Teitanblood, The Stone (thanks for the rec, TL!) and Merrimack.

Totally forgot about Funeral Mist! Definitely on my list. Never really got into L'Acephale, but maybe it deserves another try. Just got the new Anaal Nathrakh and Altar of Plagues, so no verdict on them yet. I didn't even realize Vreid released an album this year, I only got their older stuff about a month ago. And Drudkh has been on my list to get for a little while. I'll have to check out the others too.

[Xray the Enforcer]

Of all of those, I think the one I'd recommend you check out is Cobalt. It simply refuses to play by any rules and therefore (I feel, anyway) transcends the confines of the black metal genre. The track "Arsonry" creeps up and kicks me in the head every time I hear it.

[devotee]

Speaking of fun metal news which may not have reached across the atlantic yet (or will ever), but Keep of Kalessin are going to participate in the Eurovision song contest, as one of many acts trying to represent Norway. They will be involved in the first bout on the 8th of January, performing a new song called Dragontower. They probably won´t make it through, though, facing three ex-Idol contestants (one of which who got Norway a fifth place in the international finale a couple of years ago), a model/ex-realitycontestant, a celeb-because-of-her-brother-is-a-soccerplayer and a random dude. Still, it´s fun.

Quite a cool interview with the lead singer, when asked why they are participating, he answered; "I have always been interested in cars".

[Tsavong Lah]

Speaking of fun metal news which may not have reached across the atlantic yet (or will ever), but Keep of Kalessin are going to participate in the Eurovision song contest, as one of many acts trying to represent Norway. They will be involved in the first bout on the 8th of January, performing a new song called Dragontower. They probably won´t make it through, though, facing three ex-Idol contestants (one of which who got Norway a fifth place in the international finale a couple of years ago), a model/ex-realitycontestant, a celeb-because-of-her-brother-is-a-soccerplayer and a random dude. Still, it´s fun.

Quite a cool interview with the lead singer, when asked why they are participating, he answered; "I have always been interested in cars".

That would be incredible if they could go on to the main contest. Like you said, unlikely, but awesome. I can't really see them being the next Lordi, as Lordi was just outside the mainstream enough to seem rebellious yet the music really wasn't that out there for the mainstream (in Finland, at least). I guy can dream though.

[Xray the Enforcer]

Iceman of the North pointed this out to me a couple of days ago -- it warms my heart. :)

[Yagathai]

I think that Lordi probably maxed out Eurovision voters' tolerance for a metal(ish) novelty act for the next few years, but who knows? I'll be crossing my fingers.

[Morrigan]

So I got me that heavy metal cookbook last Saturday at the release party. Other than the fact that it started 1h30 late :tantrum: it was a damn nice show. Orodruin sounded raw and greasy, which is good for that kind of doom metal; Metalian was once again much better live than on their decent, but poorly-produced demo (and they played Highway Star and Exciter covers at least twice as fast as the originals, yikes), and Bëehler kicked ass with speed metal fury and a good many Exciter songs. I didn't realize Bëehler was the drummer as well as the vocalist, but he's impressive. Hell, most guys who do both drums and vocals (Proscriptor anyone? that guy is a machine) have to take a lot of performance drugs be serious athletes. :bowdown:

[Space Bandito]

Speaking of going deaf, head phones suck when you have an ear infection. Speaking of not dead - Thrash. Discovered a new band. Hirax

Not bad. It isn't Testament or Megadeth, but it does have some character (unlike a lot of new thrash)

[Tsavong Lah]

So this past weekend I went on a bit of a music binge, but I waited to put it on my ipod until I got my new computer yesterday because I knew I would have to completely reload the thing anyway. Got about 20 albums total, so lots of stuff I haven't listened to yet, but one or two that are definitely going on my best of 2009.

First, is the new Krallice album "Dimensional Bleedthrough". Not sure if you know Krallice, X-Ray, but one guy is from Behold...The Arctopus. This is black metal you can believe in. I thought their debut last year was good but a little overrated, but by the time I was through the second song "Autochthon" I was sold. It is a little avant-garde (not nearly so much as Behold...The Arctopus though), but that is really just a bonus to me.

Second is the new Manegarm album. I don't think there is much new to say about this band, but this album is pretty good. Haven't listened to it a ton, but so far so good.

I almost mined the previous thread for stuff other people were liking and went through it, so I got a lot that has already been mentioned.

[Xray the Enforcer]

So I got me that heavy metal cookbook last Saturday at the release party. Other than the fact that it started 1h30 late :tantrum: it was a damn nice show. Orodruin sounded raw and greasy, which is good for that kind of doom metal; Metalian was once again much better live than on their decent, but poorly-produced demo (and they played Highway Star and Exciter covers at least twice as fast as the originals, yikes), and Bëehler kicked ass with speed metal fury and a good many Exciter songs. I didn't realize Bëehler was the drummer as well as the vocalist, but he's impressive. Hell, most guys who do both drums and vocals (Proscriptor anyone? that guy is a machine) have to take a lot of performance drugs be serious athletes. :bowdown:

This sounds like a really great time! I love drummer/vocalists. And I can't wait to get my copy of that cookbook. :D

TL -- OK, here's an embarrassing admission. I still don't own any Krallice despite having liked them a ton when I've listened to them online. I keep frickin' forgetting to nab copies when I'm in an amazon/emusic spree. I did know that the guy who played the Warr guitar in B!...TA is in Krallice, though.

I've been listening to the new Skeletonwitch. Damn, is that stuff fun. It's not groundbreaking, but who cares when an album will put a huge grin on your face?

[Weak With The Dawn]

Just got back from the Gwynbleidd show.

One day we will all be at a show together :P

And yeah, Adams drum set is pretty badass!

[Xray the Enforcer]

One day we will all be at a show together :P

And yeah, Adams drum set is pretty badass!

I made obscene eyes at the bass drum. Really, I should have booked a hotel room. :leer:

And, yeah, one of these days we're going to end up at some show together. :P

Quick notes:

Merrimack -- Grey Rigorism (2009)

now this is a very fine traditional black metal album. As described by someone I know "like if Marduk and Deathspell Omega had a baby."

M8L8th -- nepokolebimaja vera (2009)

Vicious Russian NSBM. Not that you'll actually know what they're talking about (unless you speak Russian), but I figured you have a right to know about their hateful politics before you go out of your way to get this. Interesting vocal approach and the music is compelling, with an air of menace and malice.

[Tsavong Lah]

I made obscene eyes at the bass drum. Really, I should have booked a hotel room. :leer:

And, yeah, one of these days we're going to end up at some show together. :P

Quick notes:

Merrimack -- Grey Rigorism (2009)

now this is a very fine traditional black metal album. As described by someone I know "like if Marduk and Deathspell Omega had a baby."

M8L8th -- nepokolebimaja vera (2009)

Vicious Russian NSBM. Not that you'll actually know what they're talking about (unless you speak Russian), but I figured you have a right to know about their hateful politics before you go out of your way to get this. Interesting vocal approach and the music is compelling, with an air of menace and malice.

That's one thing I hate about BM, you end up listening to music by a lot of assholes, and the NSBM are the worst. Even if the music isn't overtly National Socialist, whenever I find out someone is I try not to listen to them any more. I can't abide giving money to people who look up to Hitler.

[Xray the Enforcer]

That's one thing I hate about BM, you end up listening to music by a lot of assholes, and the NSBM are the worst. Even if the music isn't overtly National Socialist, whenever I find out someone is I try not to listen to them any more. I can't abide giving money to people who look up to Hitler.

I can totally respect this. I will be very honest -- I hate the politics as well, but I'm still trying to work out exactly what my stance is on this, because I also have imposed a pretty (but not perfect) strict "buy the music, don't download" policy on myself. Am I willing to give my money to NSBM artists? I haven't decided, but I'm leaning towards the "if I'm going to keep the music given to me by friends, then I should pay the artist for their work."

Regarding nationalism and black metal -- now there's a topic for discussion. Primordial, for example, are quite nationalist. Songs like Empire Falls and As Rome Burns are lamenting immigrant incursion onto Irish soil (or the dilution of Irish culture by other influences), and this message is often repeated on Nemtheanga's blog (or was, as I haven't read it for awhile). It won't stop me from buying their music, but damn does it make me conflicted about it sometimes.

[Xray the Enforcer]

I'm not much of a pitter myself. Being 5"7 I tend to get :owned: in pits. There was this giant who went in and harvested some teenage souls though, this opened up the path for some men to join in the pits, which were a whole lot less annoying after that. The fourteen year olds tent o fly into to you and impale you with their skinny, pointy elbows.

I just had to comment that the bolded phrase makes me laugh every time I read it. Glad that you had fun, even if you were in danger of losing an eye to a sharp pubescent elbow. :D

Speaking of going deaf, head phones suck when you have an ear infection. Speaking of not dead - Thrash. Discovered a new band. Hirax

Thanks for the rec! I'll check it out at work tomorrow. :)