Metal Thread VII: The Mosh Pit Don't Start 'Til We Walk In

[WhamBamSam]

I got a chance to go see Anthrax, Testament, and Death Angel Friday night and had myself a thrashin' good time.

When finding the address to the location where the show was happening, I had stumbled onto a number of reviews decrying the place's general shadiness. I didn't expect a problem, but given that it was in Detroit, I expected it to be a little on the ghetto side. It turned out to be perfectly fine, much nicer than most of the local venues I've been to in Lansing in fact. Some unremarkable local band was playing on a secondary stage when I got there, and there were a few more such acts on that stage throughout the night.

Eventually Death Angel took the stage, opening with "I Chose the Sky," a song which I absolutely love. I'm not as much of a fan of Death Angel's body of work in general - the vocals tend to bug me - but they were great live, and even though the crowd was still warming up, the mosh pit was pretty decent, and I spent a decent amount of the set in it.

Testament were really the band that I'd gone to see, and they didn't disappoint. Everything was tight, and Chuck Billy really is an imposing and energetic frontman, air guitaring away on his cut-off mic stand throughout the show, and delivering his trademark rasp on vocals. I stayed out of the pit for the most part, though I jumped in for "Into the Pit" out of obligation, and because the pit seemed likely to extend out to where I was standing either way.

Finally, Anthrax. I liked there most recent album quite a bit, but I hadn't really been a fan of theirs going in. I am now. They put on an absolutely fantastic show and really impressed me with every aspect of their performance. The mosh pit, which I was in and out of, was absolutely intense. While I expected a violent pit, it would be an understatement to say that Anthrax were a pleasant surprise, as I've never really been on board with the Big 4 in general.

[grimbold]

that sounds awesome!

i hope they bring that tour to europe!

[WhamBamSam]

that sounds awesome!

i hope they bring that tour to europe!

Given that Anthrax and Testament both have fairly recent albums to pimp out to the masses, I imagine they'll both be out to Europe sometime in the near future, whether or not they bring this specific tour.

Also, new song from Holy Grail. I'm not quite feeling the magic of their first album on my first few listens, but I enjoyed it well enough, and I'll reserve judgment until I hear the full album.

[grimbold]

i loved the new holy grail track! its 100% them
although honestly i prefer white wizzard mk I (which is basically holy grail but with a different bassist) and their song High Speed GTO

[WhamBamSam]

i loved the new holy grail track! its 100% them
although honestly i prefer white wizzard mk I (which is basically holy grail but with a different bassist) and their song High Speed GTO

I like High Speed GTO okay, and the title track is indeed a good song, but I really thought that, both sides came out much better musically after the White Wizzard/Holy Grail split. For me, Over the Top and Crisis in Utopia were both much stronger releases.

[Feytalist]

So, yeah. New Elvenking isn't worth it. I hoped it would be good, because Red Silent Tides was a huge step up, but no such luck.


On the upside, I think I'm finally starting to like Agalloch's Faustian Echoes. First few listens were simply bland, but now I'm putting it on every night when I go to sleep.


Edit: Wait, what? Therion released a cover album full of old French songs? Oh Christofer Johnsson, shine on you crazy diamond.

[Killer Angel]

Edit: Wait, what? Therion released a cover album full of old French songs? Oh Christofer Johnsson, shine on you crazy diamond.

And Johnsson did it by himself.

The CD itself is fully financed by me. (snip).
Financing a full Therion audio production mixing at ToyTown with the fantastic Stefan Glaumann, paying for orchestra and the Band members and many, many other things isn't cheap. (snip) So if you buy the CD, you don't just buy a record with music, you buy a share of an idea, the idea and concept of art where the artist really risks everything to be able to bring out what he wants. Some of you will like the CD, some maybe not. But if you feel that I've done something worth raising a toast to over the years, there will be no better way of showing your appreciation than buying this CD. It will be sold at 15 euros and I hope the majority of those going to the shows will walk home with it after the shows.

[TSED]

Hey guys, I haven't been around for a long time because I've been busy. No, wait, I've been busy.

Anyway, I made an 8tracks that I thought you guys might like: http://8tracks.com/tsed/metallic-mind-control

Lots of sludgey doomy heaviness. A bit deathier / blackier in the middle. You'll probably find a lot of new bands on there, as the only big-name is Electric Wizard.

[ex cathedra]

I like where it's going. It reminds me that I really need to pick up more Ufomammut, since ORO: Opus Primum is really solid.

Anyways, my Hydra Head-is-going-out-of-business grab-bag arrived today. My 10 random albums included Jesu's Conqueror, Kayo Dot's Blue Lambency Downward, and Lustmord's [Other]. :3

Also, there was Coalesce, Mamiffer, Everlovely Lightningheart, Knut, Nihill, Bergraven, and Logh. Yay, new stuff.

[TSED]

It reminds me that I really need to pick up more Ufomammut, since ORO: Opus Primum is really solid.

That's funny. That's my exact reaction, too.

Anyways, my Hydra Head-is-going-out-of-business grab-bag arrived today.

HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW

[Feytalist]

Picked up Therion's new album. It's... unusual. Still seems to focus mostly on the operatic bits. It's actually pretty good, but then I seem to be one of those aberrants that actually liked Sitra Ahra so, you know, grain of salt.

[Faulty]

So someone should validate my digging of this album by appreciating this song.

[Nameless]

Okay, so this isn't Metal, but... you know...



The new Birthday Massacre album is freaking INCREDIBLE.

It's very similar to their Pins & Needles album, but slower and slightly more 80's. It has a little less emphesis on the guitars and a more Dark Wave/New Wave feel to it.
Also, Chibi's vocals, man...
Dem vocals...

[Killer Angel]

The new Birthday Massacre album is freaking INCREDIBLE.

It's very similar to their Pins & Needles album, but slower and slightly more 80's. It has a little less emphesis on the guitars and a more Dark Wave/New Wave feel to it.

It also reminds me the sound of Theatre of Tradedy's Musique.

[Feytalist]

It also reminds me the sound of Theatre of Tradedy's Musique.

Which is actually not a great compliment, heh. Liv Kristine's voice was not made for electropop. And of course it's not even a shadow of their previous albums. But at least it's not Assembly.


Also just 4 more days till the release of Time I. It's about damn time. (Edit: pun intended. )

[Nameless]

Which is actually not a great compliment, heh. Liv Kristine's voice was not made for electropop. And of course it's not even a shadow of their previous albums. But at least it's not Assembly.


Also just 4 more days till the release of Time I. It's about damn time. (Edit: pun intended. )

The Birthday Massacre are Synthrock, I'll have you know.




Synthpop/electropop is also good.

[Moff Chumley]

While we're talking about not-metal, what'd you guys think of the new Tame Impala?

[grimbold]

um hello?
NEW WINTERSUN TOMORROW :D

also
new pig destroyer is fabulous
:)

and um...
i can't believ ei haven't shared this until now MY INTERVIEW WITH PAUL FREAKING MASIVDAL OF CYNIC AND DEATH

[Feytalist]

Synthpop/electropop is also good.

Never said it wasn't. Bands should just, y'know, stick to their guns.


Also I took a gamble and picked up the new Enslaved yesterday. I'm glad I did because damn it's pretty good. They're going more and more into the proggy route, which is quite alright by me. Got some damn good clean vocals too.

[godspit]

Am I the only person here excited about Deathalbum III, because it's pretty awesome.

[WhamBamSam]

Am I the only person here excited about Deathalbum III, because it's pretty awesome.

Most un-brutal and asinine personal problems and why they've soured me on Dethklok somewhat. Ignoring it is probably the best course of action.

Spoiler

Show

This past summer I dated a girl from my Universtity Taekwondo club. There was a phase building up to the relationship, which basically consisted of larger group "movie nights" where we'd drink, perhaps smoke a little weed, and watch some movie/tv show on somebody's computer and she and I would usually end up holding hands through most of the proceeding. It was while watching episodes of Metalocalypse that I really became sure that something was going to happen. Partly this was due to the fact that the way I dress makes my affection for metal abundantly clear, and she was just as into me even in the face of such a relentless parody of the associated subculture, but mostly this was due to her being epileptic and needing to avert her gaze from the flashing lights of the show's intro, often by hiding her face in my shoulder. Eventually I sacked up and kissed her after one such night, and we started dating for real. Fast forward two months, and just as I'm really falling in love with her, she decides that she doesn't want to date anymore. One piece of fallout from this is that Dethklok kind of just depress me now.

On a happier note, my little brother's band just released their first EP. This is the best song on it in my opinion. The other three songs are also solid, though the lyrics on the last two that I linked do get a bit narmy.

[Killer Angel]

On a happier note, my little brother's band just released their first EP. This is the best song on it in my opinion.

I cannot say that I want back my time.
Good job.

[Nameless]

Insomnium's video for "One for Surrow" is out. I'm pretty happy that they made one for it, it's an incredible song.

[Feytalist]

So. Time I is out.

Now to see if it's any good.

[grimbold]

So. Time I is out.

Now to see if it's any good.

IT IS FABULOUS

[Feytalist]

IT IS FABULOUS

Heh. I'm a bit disappointed, actually, but I think that's just the high expectations talking. It's a bit short, and it hasn't quite got the same aggressiveness as Wintersun the album. Also I think Jari listened to too much Nightwish while he was producing the album.

But then again, I've been sitting with the main riff of Sons of Winter and Stars stuck in my head for the last two days, and I don't mind a bit. It is ridiculously catchy.

[Killer Angel]

Talkin' about "ridiculously catchy", given that actually I'm into folk metal and Folkstone were linked in a lesser thread, I think they deserve a citation also here.

[cleric_of_BANJO]

My take on Time I: Sons of Winter and Stars is spectacular. Time is at about the same level as Sleeping Stars was in their first album. The intro tracks are both interesting and enjoyable. Land of Snow and Sorrow is one of the worst, most repetitive, boring songs I've ever heard.

Overall about a 7/10. And that's being generous. Hopefully when the second half comes out the album as a whole will be better.

[Feytalist]

Overall about a 7/10. And that's being generous. Hopefully when the second half comes out the album as a whole will be better.

That's about my take on it as well. I must say I enjoy the intros too, and Sons of Winter and Stars is awesome. Rest is a bit bland.

Hopefully Time II is mostly done, so we don't have to wait another 12 years.

[Feytalist]

Since there doesn't seem to be anything happening here I'm forced to post again.

New My Dying Bride. It's good. Check it out.