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High Horse – XBox None
So, Microsoft has finally announced the successor to the XBox 360, the XBox One…. Well, after feeling quite disappointed with the direction my 360 has been going as of late, I can’t say I am very impressed by what has been said and revealed about this new console. Basically, what I want in a console is something that plays games. That’s it. Turn it on, pop a game in, grab my controller, and play till the cows come home. If you happen to be an owner of a 360 it’s pretty obvious that isn’t the direction Microsoft wants to go in.
Full Album Streams: Blood Drive by ASG
So, the other day I posted my review up of the upcoming album Blood Drive by ASG. You should go read it. While you’re doing that you can sit and agree (or disagree if you dare) with what I wrote about it while listening to the album under the microscope. And if you happen to be a lazy shit like myself, here’s the condensed review: It’s pretty damn good southern fried stoner rock that’s quite catchy. So, go listen, now! Peace Love and Metal!!!
Click Here to go to the Advance Stream
Musings of the Heavy Metal Hippie: White Storm of Teeth by The Devil’s Blood
In case you haven’t noticed, I f’n love this band and am a bit chaffed that I ended up getting into them after they broke up. Sucks, I know. Lucky for me I still get to indulge in the excitement of a new release from the band even though I will never be able to catch one of those awesome live shows I’ve heard so much about.
The Devil’s Blood breakup happened while they were in the middle of recording their new album and they were pretty damn close to finishing the record when the split happened. Fortunately they weren’t going to let all the new music that they recorded go to waste, so what was completed was put together and now we have the record III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars.
I’ll probably not do a full review of the album, but will say it’s pretty damn good for being an unfinished work. There are many parts that need some smoothing out and some good editing on others, but as a whole, it is really enjoyable. It’s a shame because you can certainly hear that The Devil’s Blood were pushing themselves and not trying to just cut and paste the songwriting they established on their first album.
Anywho, my favorite track off the album is “White Storm of Teeth” and it has a heavy Tool feel to it, mainly in hypnotizing bass line. There’s also strong elements of Pink Floyd as well as that undeniable Devil’s Blood sound. Give the tune a listen and sound off what you think. Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!!
Album Review: Pelagial by The Ocean
Pelagial – adj. \pə̇ˈlājēəl\ : 1. of or pertaining to the open seas or oceans. 2. living at or near the surface of the open seas.
If the album title or tracks separated into suites named Epipelagic, Mesopelagic, Bathalpelagic, etc didn’t cue you off to deducing that The Ocean are really putting their namesake at the forefront on their new album, a good listen will. On the Epipelagic level (surface level) this seems like it could end up being a corny and pretentious idea. “Oh, The Ocean are writing a concept album about the ocean. How very clever. snark snark snark”. Coming off of their less than well received Anthropocentric and many fans not too happy about the bands change to a more ‘lighter’ mood, attempting to take on such a project filled with pretense is a risky and daring move that could make or break this German quintet. Would they rise above the waves into the fresh and salty air or be cast down to Hadopelagic level (deepest part of the ocean) to be crushed by the freezing waters which exert 2 tons per square inch? Well, given that I have now listened to Pelagial about 20 times over the course of a few days, the answer on whether the record is a success or not is pretty obvious. But just how good is it?
Musings of the Heavy Metal Hippie: Attrition by Howl
Sometimes a heavy metal hippie needs a good injection of aggression in his hippie music (sometimes the reef runs out). So when a tune steeped in southern metal riffing, thundering drumming, and a dark and evil atmosphere comes along this hippie grins that hazy smile of his.
I have never heard of Howl until this weekend when I was playing follow the Youtube links and stumbled upon them. The killer riffing and the demonic vocals sold me on this band immediately as the came off feeling like a twisted crossbreed of High on Fire and Lamb of God. Damn great stuff and you should totally check them out cause King Hippie says so 
Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!
Album Review: Blood Drive by ASG
There are 3 big points I’ve noticed that really sways my enjoyment of an album, the first and most important how catchy the songs on it are. Whether it be a great vocal hook or a groove that I won’t get out of my mind a songwriters aptitude for writing something that sticks is what will have me keep returning to an album time and time again. Just give a listen to some of my favorite bands like Iron Maiden, Clutch, Black Sabbath, and Opeth. Each album they release contains elements of catchy songwriting that has been engaging me for years on end and don’t show any signs of slowing up. Some genres of rock and metal genres lend themselves better to having more opportunities for damn catchy songs, so, being a stoner hard rock band, today’s band under the microscope happen to already have a few points in their favor. Fortunately, ASG doesn’t rest on their laurels and let the natural catchiness of the genre carry them along. Their new album Blood Drive also features the other 2 bullet points for what I consider a great album; depth and performance. It’s also a fun and uplifting record filled with nice twists and turns that poke at prog rock tendencies and has a nice bit of diversity to keep things interesting. So after my initial spin of the album it was easy for me to say All Systems Go on this highly enjoyable album.
Full Album Streams: Ultraviolet by Kylesa
As I stated in a previous post, for some reason I always thought the songs released as singles by Kylesa were pretty cool, but never grabbed me and made me want to check out a full album them. Theoretically, they should be right up my alley, big fat stoner and doom riffs and a female singer that doesn’t bleat like a goat. But alas, just never made the connection. Then an email from their PR landed in our inbox with a link to their new single “Unspoken” and I checked it out. Immediately I was head over heels for the tune and its dreamy groove. So I vowed I’d check the record out when it landed. Luckily, the fine folks over at Pitchfork have secured an advance stream of their new album Ultraviolet for everyone to listen to. A few songs in and I’m digging it well enough, it’s already secured a purchase. Give it a listen while its up (the streaming ends on May 28, 2013) and let us know what you think of it. As requested by one of our readers I will do a full review of it probably sometime next week. Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!
Click here to go to the advance stream
Videos of the Week: When I Lost My Bet & The Cloak
Here’s a pair of really neat videos you should feel obligated to check out because they are both awesome.
First up is “When I Lost My Bet”, the new video from Dillinger Escape Plan. If entrails and bloody gloryholes make you squeamish, you may just want to listen to the audio. For the rest of us, this is a really will directed and unique video that really captures the bat shit craziness of DEP perfectly. Check it out!
And second up we have the first video from the upcoming Leprous album Coal for the tune “The Cloak”. This video is damn great with the focus on simplicity really let the dark atmosphere drive the visuals home. I also like that it fits perfectly with the album title and the visuals meld wonderfully with the song to create a wholly engaging experience. Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!
Musings of the Heavy Metal Hippie: Bathyalpelagic II: The Wish in Dreams by The Ocean
Please excuse the few words I have for today’s entry. My ears and mind are currently in awe of this masterpiece of an album I just got my hands on. Pelagial by The Ocean, just wow, buy it, listen to it, revel in its genius. It’s like traveling to the bottom of the sea (if the song names didn’t already give that away) as each track gets heavier and more crushing.
I also have to join the choir and say that the instrumental CD that comes included is the strongest part of the package and gives quite a unique experience. I still think the vocals CD is fucking great, but the instrumental is where it’s at. Anywho, just go check this record out. Now excuse me while I go back to trying to wrap my feeble mind around what it has just heard. Mind=Blown. Enjoy! Peace Love and Metal!!!
Musings of a Heavy Metal Hippie: Gammal Krigare by Eldkraft
I consider myself a pretty big fan of fantasy, the kind with dragons, wizards, elves, goblins, etc. And among all the cool races and creatures from the various stories there is one type of creature I’ve always found myself fascinated with. That would be the Ents, or more commonly known as them walking trees from LOTR. There is just something about them that is so bad ass. Their huge, they’re all laid back, they are wise and in tune with nature, and when needed they can straight up fuck shit up. Flat out, the Ents rule. I also really dig forest druids a lot too. All in all, anything that has to do with the forest and woodland nature.
These type of creatures and characters are used too little and I feel are unappreciated in the fantasy realm, so them getting worked into the popular nerd culture doesn’t happen as often as I would like. And while there are tons of fantasy elements in many metal bands, a band that calls to mind the images of Ents is nearly nonexistent. Vintersorg maybe?
So when my ears caught wind of a band called Eldkraft and I popped the single in and scenes of a grove of trees headbanging and jamming on instruments made of moss and stone entered my mind, I was a bit more than ecstatic to want to delve into the band more. Unfortunately I have to wait a couple weeks more before I can do that since the single I heard is off of their debut record, Shaman, which is out on May 28. So until then I’ll just listen to this track a few or dozen more times. Check it out! Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!
