The Debate, Week 2: Big Four of Death Metal

To build on last week's topic, which was what should the real big four of thrash metal be, I'd like to ask a question. If there were a big four for death metal... Who would be in? Now obviously, you'd have to go with innovators, and what bigger an innovator than the band Death

But this brings up our first problem of a few, so I'll explain the rules for this discussion:

1. The bands in question must be currently active.
2. You may have bands that are from countries other than America, but...
3. Since we're talking about innovators, no bands on your list that formed after 1990.

So, let's list some bands that could potentially be in. The ones i think of right off the top of my head are Death (yes I know, they don't exist anymore, but they need an honorable mention), Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, and Autopsy.

So, now the question is, which one of these bands did the most for the genre? Well, the first one that comes to mind, believe it or not, is Cannibal Corpse! But part of me hates this band, and i'll explain why. So many people that have tried to get into death metal find CC, and gets turned away immediately. Whether it be the album covers, song titles, or song lyrics, a lot of people that i know hate death metal because of these guys. Now, with that being said, they are arguably the best known death metal band, and really helped put it on the map. Their catalogue is amazing, and i think they are definitely in. Obituary is the next band i think of, because they have the best selling death metal album of the soundscan era (The End Complete that is) and again, have an amazing background. "Chopped in Half" is one of the most viewed death metal songs on Youtube, so they are in for sure. Autopsy is a great band, but i thought their first two albums were great, and that they never did much good after that. The other band in question is Carcass. The inventors of Goregrind have also done a lot for death metal by virtually inventing melodic death metal, but however, were not originally a death metal band. I think they can't be in. All that is left are two of my favorite bands, Morbid Angel and Deicide. Deicide are true hardcore satanists, make metal as such, and haven't let up since their self named debut. Morbid Angel got me into death metal. My rule is that if you don't like death metal, listen to Altars of Madness until you do. I think Illid Dividium Insanus is a shitpile, but they are very worthy. You have to include them both.

So there you have it! Brandon decrees that the big four of death metal is officially Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, and Morbid Angel. Your welcome!

-Brandon

100 Plus Views!

I just wanted to thank all of you so much for checking my blog out! It's only been about a week, and for my blog to already have 100 views is amazing! I consider that a major accomplishment, because there are not only millions of blogs, but hundreds of thousands of blogs about heavy metal too.

I am currently at the beach until Sunday, so I may not post too much this week but will later. Anyway, before i start rambling on and on... Thank you guys again so much, and I will post a lot more in the future.

-Brandon

P.S. \m/ THRASH TILL DEATH \m/

Cannibal Corpse - Torture (2012) Album Review

Artist: Cannibal Corpse

Album: Torture

Genre: death metal \m/

# Album by Artist: 12th studio album

Year: 2012

Track Listing:

1. Demented Aggression

2. Sarcophagic Frenzy

3. Scourge of Iron

4. Encased in Concrete

5. As Deep as the Knife Will Go

6. Intestinal Crank

7. Followed Home Then Killed

8. The Strangulation Chair

9. Caged... Contorted

10. Crucifier Avenged

11. Rabid

12. Torn Through

So, for my first death metal album review, I figured I'd pick the newest from one of my all time favorite bands, Cannibal Corpse. These guys are the writers of what is arguably two of the best known death metal songs ever, "Hammer Smashed Face", and "Make Them Suffer". Through the 90's, they had an incredible string of releases, like Tomb of the Mutilated, The Bleeding, and what I think is the best CC album, and possibly the best death metal album, Bloodthirst. Their 1996 album Vile was the first death metal album to chart EVER! 

With a background like that, you could imagine that a lot of pressure and expectation was on top of these guys to make a killer album. What did they respond with? One of their greatest releases in recent years. I have heard people say that this album is "Perfect" or "The greatest death metal release ever". Although I think it's great, it isn't quite perfect, but it's pretty close.

Guitar: Well, let's start the guitar with "Demented Aggression". What killer riffing thoughout the whole song! There was a reason this was released before the album, because I think this song will be the next "Make Them Suffer". The rest of the album just doesn't quit with the amazing riffing, but I think it uncoveres a problem, not necessarily with the album, but with Cannibal Corpse in general. Yeah the guitar is again amazing, but I feel like Cannibal has played it all before, ya know? It seems like the riffs are being repeated almost. But even if they are being repeated, that doesn't stop how brutal this album is.

Drums: Paul Mazurkiewicz is a pretty standard death metal drummer. He is certainly no Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel) or Gene Hoglan (formerly of Death), but his drummer really fits CC! He seems like he just plain knows what to do at any given moment in a song, and it really shows on this album. It had seemed like on Gore Obsessed and The Wretched Spawn he had started slowing down, but after Kill, he seemed to step it up. A partucularly good drum performance is on "As Deep as the Knife Will Go", as he keeps double bass or a blast beat going throughout almost the whole song. Very solid drumming from a very solid drummer.

Bass: I couldn't really hear Alex Webster much in this album, mainly because I can never seem to pick out the bass in music anyway, but I'm sure he's doing a killer job like always. He is truly one of the best death metal bassists out there and you can clearly hear his bass sound occasionally above everything else, like a slapping noise. Now, one part you could hear clearly is in "The Strangulation Chair", which has a bass solo that is very reminicent of "Hammer Smashed Face", but it's even faster and more technical. Again, a very good job.

Vocals: Now, I think the vocals are amazing, but CC's vocals, along with death metal in general, is an aquired taste, but Corpsegrinder really delivers on this one. Pretty standard CC stuff, but it's still great, and there isn't much different. However, on a couple of songs, I want to say on some parts of "Encased in Concrete", and "Crucifier Avenged" it sounds like either Fisher is doing higher death screams above everything else. It actually, now that I think about it, sounds like Glen Benton from Deicide, but don't quote me on that, because I'm not sure. Great vocal preformance.

Overall, this is an extremely amazing release from Cannibal Corpse, and it reminds me of the solidity of The Bleeding.  Easily the best death metal album of the last ten years, but it still isn't quite perfect, however, it's about as close as you can get. This one gets 4.5 horns out of 5.

Thank you,

-Brandon

Bands Less Heard of Week 1: Tantara

The Scandinavian metal scene has been a big one in recent years, with recent giants such as Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, and The Haunted emerging. Also, new thrash bands have been popping up all over the world. Bonded by Blood, Evile, Gama Bomb, and Havok are considered, to me at least, to be the new big 4. But however, a new Norwegian band named Tantara may change that.

The band was started as a talent show project in September of '09, and after getting a full line-up, Tantara released the "Human Mutation" EP in 2010. The song "Human Mutation" had a killer riff like nothing i had heard before a the time. In July 2011, they went to the studio to begin recording their first studio release. So, on March 23rd, 2012 they released Based on Evil, which i do not currently own, but will review it when i get it.

Their style reminds me of an early Slayer or Metallica. But if anyone is a fan of the thrash band Heathen, you will love these guys! There is a huge resemblance there. They are gathering more and more followers, so check them out!

-Brandon

Black Label Society - Sonic Brew (1999) Album Review

Artist: Black Label Society

Album: Sonic Brew

Genre: heavy/groove metal

# Album by Artist: 1st studio album

Year: 1999

Track Listing:

1. Bored to Tears

2. The Rose Petalled Garden

3. Hey You (Batch of Lies)

4. Born to Lose

5. Peddlers of Death

6. Mother Mary

7. Beneath the Tree

8. Low Down

9. T.A.Z

10. Lost My Better Half

11. Black Pearl

12. World of Trouble

13. Spoke in the Wheel

14. The Beginning ... At Last

15. No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne cover)

So, for my first album review, I figured I'd go with one of my current favorites. As a lot of you know, Zakk Wylde, guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, upon leaving the band for a while, formed his own band, Black Label Society. Well, he did not disappoint whatsoever! The first album is a triumphant return to how metal used to be, as it died down dramatically, and this was one of the first albums to return to the roots of metal. From the first power chords of the album, you can just tell it's going to be amazing.

Guitar: It's Zakk Wylde people! You know the guitar is going to be brutal, and it is! One of my all time favorite riffs is from "The Rose Petalled Garden". About 35 seconds into the song, it just unleashes this monster riff, throwing in a couple of Zakk's patented pinch harmonics (squealing notes for those who don't play guitar). The song overall is beautiful, but in a metal way. The next song throws in yet another, even heavier riff, and even though i feel like "Hey You (Batch of Lies)" is tacked onto "Garden", it is an astounding double song (double song meaning two songs connected together). Now, "T.A.Z" is the best acoustic guitar playing I have heard in my whole life! Like I seriously have no clue how he is making the guitar make all those noises! The rest of the album is very well written, but nothing stands out like those three songs.

Drums: Pretty standard metal drumming going on here, nothing too special or crazy. With that being said, they aren't bad whatsoever, in fact, I think the simplicity of the drums gives a nice sense of calming to Zakk's squealing guitar.

Bass: When I can make the bass out in the music, it is also pretty standard. It simply follows the same notes of the guitar, but adds a nice undertone to it all. The bass intro to "Mother Mary" sounds pretty killer, and that song seems to make the bass more predominate.

Vocals: Wow. I must say, I was actually very impressed by the power Zakk has behind his voice. You can certainly hear the giant influence Ozzy had on the way he sings, and even though he sounds a lot like Ozzy, he mixes in a little of his own little bit of southern drawl to it. It's actually a very nice combination that I didn't think would work at all. He really delivers one hell of a vocal performance on "Beneath the Tree", singing with incredible power. During the chorus of that song, the guitar and his lyrics come together in this almost magical mix, and that is why this is (in my opinion) the greatest track on the album. Also on his cover of "No More Tears" I think he made Ozzy very proud, because that is honestly the single best cover I've heard next to Machine Head's cover of "Hallowed be Thy Name".

The whole album is an absolute masterpiece, and never loses it's power throughout. The simplistic bass and drums complement an amazing vocal and guitar performance. So therefore, it's rating is five horns out of five.

Standout tracks: "Bored to Tears", "The Rose Petalled Garden"... Screw it... Their all amazing.

-Brandon

Machine Head - Beautiful Mourning Lyrics

"Fuck you all!

My redemption is knowing
This will be over
My aggression, I fear I’ve lost control

Who is this man I stare?
Mirror reflects a stranger
Fist shatters the despair
Awake the pain to anger

[Chorus:]
How do I close thine eyes of murder?
How do I close thine eyes of murder?
Staring into me?

My obsession is dying, sinking me deeper
My depression, this world has disavowed

Razor at wrist I seethe
The flesh is peeled apart now
Gone is my faded dream
Failure, I welcome in thou

[Chorus]

This lifetime with sorrow,
God let the angels die
This is our last goodbye,
In love and death we cry
Our last goodbye

[Solo: Flynn]

No, no, no, no

Spit in the face of loss
Coward, my own self-hatred
No more I bear this cross
Struggle, and rise from the dead

This lifetime with sorrow,
God let the angels die
This is our last goodbye,
In love and death we cry
Our last goodbye"

The Debate, Week 1: The Big Four

Many people talk on metal websites, and Youtube all the time about thrash metal, but when Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, or Anthrax is being played, it always sparks at least one discussion over the Big 4 of Thrash Metal.

So, my question: Do you believe that the Big 4 is right with it's current line-up? If so, please back up why, and if not, which bands would be in or out and why?

Rules of the question: I would like to keep this to American bands only (for countries like Germany have their own thrash groups i.e. the Teutonic Thrash Three), but you're welcome to list a different Big 4 for bands outside America.

My input on the topic: Ok, let's start from the beginning... We all know by now, that the first true thrash metal album was Kill 'em All by Metallica, followed very shortly by Show No Mercy by Slayer. Motorhead, Accept, Judas Priest, all had elements of thrash, and the former two i would almost consider thrash outright, but Metallica and Slayer lead the march. So, let's look at Slayer's career shall we? They have stayed thrash throughout their career, and have stayed very true to their roots. Only two albums were "bad" in my opinion, those being the back to back '96 and '98 releases of Undisputed Attitude and Diablos in Musica where they experimented a little. Otherwise, all releases were solid at the very least, and two of the thrash giants, '86's Reign in Blood and '88's South of Heaven are still gems to this day! In short, Slayer should stay in. Now, for Metallica. They had a string of 4 utterly Brutal thrash releases in '83, '84, '86, and '88, those being Kill 'em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice For All. However, after the black album, which was kind of a thrash/heavy metal mix in my opinion, they just left their roots, and went for the gold, getting 5 straight studio albums to debut at number 1. Their latest, Death Magnetic was a return to the black album, only halfway to where they once were, so Metallica is out. How the hell did Anthrax ride the coattails of everyone and manage to make it into the Big 4 anyway? Yeah, Spreading the Disease and Among the Living are amazing albums, and Worship Music is, in my opinion, the best album of the last ten years, after Machine Head's The Blackening of course, but that's really the only good things they released. Anthrax is out. That brings me to Megadeth, my personal favorite band of all time next to Slayer. After Countdown to Extinction, which was half thrash, they strayed away, but returned a few short albums later. I think these guys can stay unless we find someone better.  

Now, who is in? Well, allow me to list some candidates. Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Dark Angel, Nuclear Assault, and Laaz Rockit are a few who's catalogue is amazing. Spot number three easily belongs to Overkill in my opinion. Reasons being that they have been around longer than Metallica and Slayer, through the mid 90's went to a groove laden thrash style, but for the most part didn't change much! Now, the last spot is easily a toss up between three of the bigger bands: Dark Angel, Exodus, and Laaz Rockit. Well, Dark Angel has only released 4 studio albums, and in my opinion, only two are good, but in a huge way. So Dark Angel is out. Exodus has been around very long as well, formed in 1980 with Overkill, and though Bonded by Blood and Tempo of the Damned are crazy albums, I never thought they did much good otherwise. Now i love underdogs, but I shouldn't even have to refer to Laaz Rockit that way. They do not get the attention they deserve at all. Their discography is flawless in my opinion, and they seemed to get better and better with every album. So, I think they should take the final spot.  

So now my picks for the American Big 4 (I won't even get into international), is Slayer, Overkill, Laaz Rockit, and Megadeth in that order. I hope you enjoyed, and please post what you think in the comments!

Thank you and goodbye,

-Brandon

Introduction to Myself, and Why I Hate Black Metal

Hello there! My name is Brandon, and I'm from a little po-dunk town in North Carolina. Upon looking at me (if I don't have a metal shirt on that is), people tell me that I don't seem like the typical metalhead, but believe me, I am! People don't expect anyone down here to like metal, period, because generally, around here, you hear nothing but country, pop, rap, and bluegrass, all of which I used to be into (and still am into rap and pop sometimes... If there's nothing left to listen to). Metal has gotten me through a lot in my life and this is my little place to share it with all of you... Whoever you may be. You get to see glimpses of my life through music, plenty of album reviews, both old and new, as well as just typical rants and discussions. You'll get anything from straight up, ass-kicking heavy metal, to thrash and her heavier sister, death metal, groove metal, metalcore, nu-metal, even hard rock, glam, and grunge if I'm in the mood.

Now... For my first rant... Which sub-genre of metal is missing from that list? Grindcore? No, I like it to an extent, with Carcass and Napalm Death being my favorites of the genre, and may talk a little about it, but not much, since i do not know much about it. Deathcore? Meh, it's ok. Whitechapel is amazing, along with Suicide Silence, but i never really got into it much. Did you guess black metal? You're right. Unless I change my mind about black metal being the worst form of heavy metal, period (except for Dimmu Borgir), then you will not see any album reviews for black metal, or much positive to say about it at all. Why you ask? I offer my case:

Exhibit A: vocals. Now you may be behind your keyboard going Wow Brandon, really? You don't like black metal vocals, but you like death metal and 'screamo' just fine? Yes, exactly. For 1, when you listen to vocals of what uneducated metallers describe as "screamo" it usually refers to any exteme vocals. Usually, these are from metalcore, black, death, and on occasion thrash metal and groove metal. On all of those types, the vocals almost always fit the music behind it. Intense music = intense vocals. However with black metal, wait, I take that back, the black metal that I have heard (because it may be an aquired taste like death metal), i.e. Mayhem, Burzum, and Immortal, do not, in my honest opinion, have vocals that go with the intense music behind it. So therefore, i don't like it because it never seems to fit music, not because of any screaming.

Exhibit B: The image. Seriously, what the hell are these guys doing? -------------------------->
I mean, I completely understand how the image of heavy metal is, and a lot of bands have a distinctive look. Rob Halford has his leather and the glam bands have their make-up and big hair. Even Slayer, my pick for the heaviest band of all time, used to wear make-up! But those bands either were riding the wave of somthing that was popular at the time (glam bands and Slayer), or invented something "cool" (Halford and his leather outfit). However, this is most certainly not a cool thing to do. I have to say, this is a stupid looking form of Kiss. But just because it's not a "popular" thing to dress up like is not why I don't like the image, it's because to me, it just looks plain stupid.

For my final word on the topic, I have to say, metal is metal, and we all need to stick together. Yes, I hate black metal with a passion, but I simply offered my opinion on the subject is all. If someone out there likes black metal, then that's great! More power to you, and I would certainly love to hear someone make a case for black metal. I see a lot of metal in general (especially on Youtube) get slandered for being "posers" or "not real metal", but the point is that all of us are a family, and need to stand up for each other. So, for people out there who find this and like black metal, make your case, I'd love to hear it!

Thank you, hello again, and goodbye,

-Brandon