Archive for the 'Album of the Week' Category

Agalloch - The White EP

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Bobby Kirk
on September 16, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
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Agalloch - The White EP

OK, I’ve had this EP on my playlist for about 3 months solid. Yes it’s that good well that’s if you like dark ambient neo folk!!!!!

Do you remember the 70’s British cult film The Wickerman? I do because of Britt Ekland - sweet Jesus she was hot and nude.

Well you may ask ‘what has that got to do with anything Bobby?’ Get to the point!!!!!

The seven tracks loosely revolve around the movie. I say loosely because the themes taken from the film are the backdrop to the main plot, samples etc.

“My father brought me up … to reverence the music and the drama and the rituals of the old gods. To love nature - and to fear it. And to rely on it and to appease it when necessary.”

I love this stuff, but I am a HUGE Skyclad fan.

These are beautiful and dark folk/ambient brooding tracks. Look I could gush about the EP for ages with it’s bittersweet bliss of cold, wandering solitude… but just let me say this is flawless stuff right here. BRILLIANT!

Plus check out their albums: ‘The Mantle’, ‘Ashes Against the Grain’ and ‘Pale Folklore’

“And what of the true god, whose glory, churches and monasteries have been built on these islands for generations past? Now sir, what of him?”

“He’s dead. Can’t complain, had his chance and in modern parlance, blew it.”

Agalloch - The White EP

Metallica - Death Magnetic

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JR
on September 3, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
. 1 Comment

Metallica: Death Magnetic

I think the days of anticipating a Metallica release are long gone. They died back in the mid 90’s when Messers Hetfield, Ulrich, Newstead and Hammet posed in front of the cameras with hair neatly cropped and blankly looking down the barrel of a camera and stating… “We were never a Metal band…”

Umm, ok. Yeah.

It’s been downhill since then. Rapidly. In short, they lost the plot. Big time. And in a weird sorta way, I have wanted them to regain their glory and majesty. After all, I have followed these guys since their fledgling demo days of 1982 when every forthcoming release of theirs was a bona fide classic album. Album after album in the Eighties was such an amazing music-buying experience.

Those days are gone. Long gone.

I’m trying to like this. I’m really trying. And wanting. Wanting to feel genuinely excited about a Metallica release, but the sad truth of the matter is - I just don’t care anymore. Which is not to say that this is a bad album, far from it. It is probably the best we can expect from these guys any time soon.

There are some good moments throughout. There’s plenty of bludgeon-riffola to rock out the sternest ‘Tallica critic, even if one has to subject themselves to the blandest drumming in the Metal genre. (sorry to harp on it folks, but Ulrich’s drumming is a freaking joke. I’ve never encountered a drummer who annoys me so, maybe McBrain from Iron Maiden - two of the most overrated skinsmen in the business) - but I digress!

Having said that, there is also some dross. ‘My Apocalypse’ is dire. ‘Unforgiven III’… Come on guys, enough already. Add to that some stupid Hetfield vocal stylings and a veritable feast of oh-so-boring Kirk Hammett leads.

I just can’t hear Rick Rubin’s influence in this and I was genuinely interested when it was first mentioned he would be helming this project. He’s done some mindblowing things with Metal acts in the past (System of A Down, Slipknot et al) but some of these songs on Death Magnetic are a little bloated for my liking.

I dunno! It’s ok I guess. Just ok. Now, where’s my Opeth album?

Metallica: Death Magnetic

Bleeding Through - Declaration

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metallisteis
on August 29, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
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Bleeding Through - Declaration

“Tonight… We dine in hell!” Pretty apt. This ubiquitous quote from ‘300′ serves well as the appropriate punctuation to the brief instrumental prelude as well as being the perfect bridge into the aural assault that’s about to be unleashed.

The title track ‘Declaration’ opens the proceedings at a blistering pace and there’s no real let up, aside a few meaty breakdowns, until we reach the magnificent ‘There Was a Flood’. One of my faves on the album, it teases with the ominous and haunting opening as though it’s going to delve into ‘Perfect Circle’ type power ballad, only to fire up and then give minimal respite with a catchy melodic vocal. Fittingly, the first single ‘Death Anxiety’ has the characteristic melodic formula reminiscent of ‘The Truth’, but at the same time it’s heavy riff is a good insight into the direction of this new work. Follow the lyric sheet, and it’s clear there’s some serious anger issues coming to the fore here.

At times, my untrained ears find it hard putting bands and their music into genres and I may well be wrong, but this ‘Bleeding Through’ release seems to be veering the band more and more into the realms of Death Metal. As much as I have loved all their previous efforts, it’s possible that at times maybe I was just tolerating the thrashier parts of the songs waiting for the more melodic vocals to kick in. On ‘Declaration’ though, this emphasis on melodies has been stripped back and while still present, what remains is a brutal album with substantially more aggression and punch.

You have to hand it to Devin Townsend, what on the surface may appear to be an unusual band-producer pairing, has ultimately resulted in an album that after just one listen, will have you thinking your epididymis couldn’t possibly be wound any tighter. Contender for one of the top releases of 2008.

Bleeding Through - Declaration

Scars On Broadway - Self-Titled

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JR
on August 4, 2008
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Scars On Broadway

It’s always refreshing when a band like System Of A Down come along. It doesn’t happen all too often, but every now and then - a band springs forth which sounds like no other bringing with it a style and identity all there own. System Of A Down were such a band. Marrying their middle-eastern influence with the Metal genre and politicizing a musical genre who’s lyrics usually border on the sublime and ridiculous. The System were smart, uniquely melodic, brutally heavy and a superbly crafted band that dominated the scene over the course of the past ten years.

Having seen the band live a few years ago, I still rank that show as one to take to the grave.

So after 10 years of prolific activity and releasing some classic albums along the way, the band is on an ‘indefinite’ hiatus. (sigh!) Practically splitting into two camps, lead singer Serj Tankian released a so-so solo album last year entitled ‘Elect The Dead’ which also featured System drummer John Dolmayan on several tracks.

Dolmayan now returns as one half of Scars On Broadway with System lead guitarist Daron Malakian. Malakian drives the self-titled album with all the quirkiness and melodic sensitivities that he brought to the System table. Always a prolific song-writer, as can be seen by the Hypnotize and Mezmerize albums that System released a few years ago, Malakian is quoted as saying, “I could release ten solo records tomorrow…”

So here we are. Not quite ten solo records down the track, but the debut Scars On Broadway has hit the streets and as expected, features a slab of catchy as fuck ditties that are as infectious and supreme as some of System’s finest moments. The album zips past at breakneck speed and seems over before it even began, but along the journey there are some amazing tracks on offer.

Granted, I miss the vocal stylings of Tankian and the smooth melodies that he and Malakian would interject throughout the System Of A Down repertoire. But seeing as the band is on this extended break, this really is the next best thing until the planets align once again and the guys can’t get their shit back together. I mean, as good as this album is… it doesn’t hold a candle to the brilliance of System. I hope we’re all in agreeance on that.

Scars On Broadway

Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments - Transmiticate

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JR
on August 1, 2008
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Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments - Transmiticate

Having been good friends with one of the gals from L7 for many, many years - I kinda had an inside look at all the happenings behind the scene. Whilst it was a good position to be in, I was deeply saddened when such an amazing band called it a day. There was no official word that the gals had all but split, but for the past 7 years or so, activity in the L7 camp has been null and void. Until now.

Whilst we haven’t been graced with an L7 reunion, lead crooner Donita Sparks and drummer Dee Plakas have put together ‘Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments’ and the album ‘Transmiticate’. If you were ever a fan of L7, then this one’s for you.

Whilst not as grimey and dirty as L7, ‘Transmiticate’ borrows heavily from the band’s catchier moments. The end result is a post-punk-poppier platter that just oozes with groove, attitude, melodic, catchiness and a veritable feast of great songs! Track after track the album is brimming with greatness. I haven’t stopped listening to this one for a while and I still can’t decide which is my fave tune… there are a few!

Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments - Transmiticate

Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony

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JR
on June 30, 2008
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Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony

One of my most played albums of the past few years has been Alkaline Trio’s ‘Crimson’. I can’t even begin to put into words just how much I love that disc and it would easily ranked as one of my most listened to opus’. Having said that, I was on tender hooks waiting for the band’s new release. ‘Crimson’ hit the stores way back in 2005 and the band were well overdue for some new tunes. Sure the Trio graced us with the obligatory ‘Best Of-cum-B-sides/rarities’ colleciton in 2007’s ‘Remains’ disc, but seriously that just wasn’t enough to tide this fanboy over.

And so after what seemed like an eternity waiting for new tuneage, Alkaline Trio have been very much hard at work. The result is ‘Agony & Irony’. Enlisting the help of producer Josh Abraham who has erstwhile twiddled the knobs for Linkin Park and Velvet Revolver, to name but a few. It all sounds lush and grand as one would expect, and its tinged in the obligatory Alkaline Trio darkness (afterall, two of the guys are proud members of the Church of Satan). However, I found that this release hasn’t floored me as much as the aforementioned ‘Crimson’. Which isn’t to say that this isn’t a good album. In fact, it is a wonderful slab of catchy and smart pop-punk tunes that will hopefully garner the band a larger following. The usual morbid fascination with death, love, evil, is still permeant throughout the band’s imagery and lyrics and none more-so prevalent than in the first single ‘Help Me’ - a tribute to lead Joy Division crooner, Ian Curtis.

Unfortunately the band gets lumped with all the Emo and pseudo Punk bands that are proliferating the mainstream but there is so much more to Alkaline Trio. Much more.

This is a great album but I feel it just doesn’t quite go near to the magic of the band’s previous releases in ‘Crimson’ & ‘Good Mourning’. They’re gonna have a monster smash one day soon, but it isn’t going to be with this one.

Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony

Judas Priest - Nostradamus

Published
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JR
on June 17, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
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Judas Priest

Ok let me state from the outset, I’ve been a Judas Priest fan since the late 70’s. In fact, ‘British Steel’ was probably the first (true) Metal album I ever purchased. An absolute classic album that has stood the test of time and is still every bit amazing now, as it was then. Having said that, the band’s latest release, a double-album concept based on Michel de Nostredame (whose name is often ‘Latinized’ as Nostradamus) - is nothing but a bloated, pretentious borefest of the highest order.

I’ve really struggled to get into this opus and as much as I friggn love my Metal tinged with old-school stylings - there is just nothing to get excited about with this release. It’s so embarrassingly cheesy and reflects a band becoming a parody of itself in the highest order. This is Spinal Tap. Make no mistake about it, this is Spinal Tap come to life but at least the Tap have the ability to keep one awake. This album does not.

Seriously, if you can stomach grown men repeatedly screeching “I AM NOSTRADAMUS” ad nauseam, then you’re a better man than I!

So freaking sad. Regardless, I will be at the band’s forthcoming Australian shows. Fingers crossed we don’t get too many tracks from this pompous, bloated, overblown, grandiose and ridiculous release.

Judas Priest

AC/DC: Back In Black

Published
by
JR
on April 17, 2008
in Album of the Week, Blast From The Past and Music
. 4 Comments

Periodically we’re gonna review some classic albums of yesteryear. Let’s kick things off with this slab of hard rocking goodness… AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’…

This article featured in the previous version of Dogmatic before the great September 2006 reboot! I always liked this write-up as I researched the hell out of it, so here it is in all it’s restored glory.

Enjoy!

...

In June 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that ‘Back In Black’ has sold 21 million copies in the USA alone making it the best selling hard rock album of all time next to Led Zeppelin IV. What is astounding to take into account is that five months before the release of the album, the band’s enigmatic and gloriously boisterous lead singer Bon Scott was found dead in a parked car in London.

Never one to turn down a drink Bon Scott had every reason to be in a celebratory mood on the evening of February 18, 1980. The band were one of the biggest exports out of Australia having cracked the English and European markets and had made it big in the USA with the brilliant 1979 release ‘Highway to Hell’. The recording sessions for that albums successor were just about to begin. In early February, the Young brothers, Angus and Malcolm had met up in a rehearsal studio in London (E-Zee Hire) to begin some pre-production work on the new album. As the duo were churning out new riffs on their guitars, in walked in Bon Scott who asked the duo if he could play drums for them whilst working on the new tunes.

Continue reading ‘AC/DC: Back In Black’

Ministry - Cover Up

Published
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JR
on April 9, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
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Ministry - Cover Up

The past several years have been real good to Al Jourgensen and all that is Ministry. With a clean and healthy outlook on life, (as clean and healthy as someone like big, bad Al can be) - Ministry have been prolific in releasing amazing album after amazing album. They have a habit of doing that when there is a GW Bush in power as the band is its most vitriolic and venemous during the Bush years.

“We don’t just bitch about Bush and global oligarchies. We’re still a rock band and ‘Cover Up’ is THE Ministry party album,” said Ministry’s Al Jourgensen about Cover Up, recorded by Ministry & Co-Conspirators and set for an April Fools Day (April 1) release.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think much of this release when I first checked it out. Some of the tunes I already had (such as ‘Lay Lady Lay’ and ‘Supernaut’ - the latter featuring Al Jourgensen on vocals and not Trent Reznor as had originally been recorded so many moons ago) and the new stuff sounded a little underproduced, somewhat rushed and reeked of Big Al ‘cashing in’. On repeated listens, I’ve grown to appreciate the ‘party’ aspect and in turn, I’m digging this sucker!

Is it to be the final musical statement from Ministry? Who knows. I for one would love to hear more from Al and co in the future as I’m a fan of everything this band has done. But we’ll just wait and see…

Ministry - Cover Up
The Co-Conspirators: Tony Campos, John Bechdel, Tommy Victor, Al Jourgensen, Sin Quirin, Aaron Rossi

More on ‘Cover Up’ here.

Ministry - Cover Up

Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted

Published
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JR
on April 7, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
. 2 Comments

Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted

It’s becoming a bit of a cliche. Band breaks up. Band splits into two different bands. The two new bands are nothing short of a disappointment and the fans ponder for the inevitable reunion several years later. In this case, Max leaves Sepultura and spawns Soulfly. Whilst both Sepultura and Soulfly have released some decent music over the course of the past several years, it was never the same. No where near. And here we are many years later with the core of Sepultura, the brothers Cavalera reuniting in the aptly title Cavalera Conspiracy. Hard to believe it has been nearly 12 years since these two have made music together but from the opening shredding and relentless riffing of title track ‘Inflikted’ - you can do nothing but let out an evily satisfying grin at the massive cacophony on hand. This is just how I like my Metal… chug-chug guitars over a pounding, precision-like beat! Anything that can rekindle memories of Sepultura at their best, is really ok in my books! And now we await… the inevitable Sepultura reunion. In the meantime, check it all out. It really is a decent album.

Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted

Bleed for me

Meshuggah - Obzen

Published
by
JR
on March 25, 2008
in Album of the Week and Music
. 5 Comments

Meshuggah Obzen

I’m gonna be brutally honest here (and brutal is a word that is going to be used liberally in this review), I’ve never been a fan of Swedish 5 piece Meshuggah. I have appreciated their intricate, mechanical and overtly technical attack on music, but they were never my scene. Their ability to methodically twist, turn and practically invert musical theory is something to behold. They mesh so many different forms of musical brutality and have this monstrous tonality that at times makes them seem not of this planet. You can’t tap your foot to this band, no matter how hard you try and melodies are so deeply buried in their sheer bludgeoned rhythms that it often is an exercise in sheer concentration to try and figure out just what the fuck is going on. And so the band have recently expunged their new offering Ozben to an unsuspecting public. I had no intention of buying this album, I’m not a fan of the band - but what caught my eye was the amazing cover art. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the majestic beauty of this thing… (artwork courtesy of the freaky Joachim Luetke) - and I strictly purchased this CD on its looks alone! I know! Bizarre! Weird! Like whoa dude, are you ok? And you know what? I’m glad I bought this because this piece of shiny plastic has blown me away in its ferocity, its intricacy and its mind-bending avant-garde pretentious, brutal as fuck swagger. I’ve had it pounding out of my car stereo in such volume that drivers in cars next to me look over in my general direction and tap the side of their heads as if trying to tell me something I don’t already know! This truly is a release that fully endorses why so many are calling it the Metal Album of the Year. This is the future of Metal.

Meshuggah Obzen