Blog Archives
Mik’s Top 100 Favourite Albums of All Time #80-76
A while ago, at the same time as Matt and Reggie, I posted my Top 100 All Time Favourite (Metal) Albums over at the forum The History of Metal on FB. It took a good amount of time and effort to put it together, but it was so much fun! My taste in metal is always changing, so the list will not always look the same. In fact, it’s already a bit different than it was when I first put it together and posted it on the forum seven months ago.
I tried to limit myself to three albums per band to make the list a little more diverse and interesting. I don’t really consider the ‘test of time’-factor when selecting what albums that will go on my list, instead I measure it by how strongly the album has affected me emotionally and how much/often it has helped me through both good and bad phases in my life. That’s why you can find quite a few newer releases among my favourites too.
#80 Rishloo – Eidolon
“Who left this way open?
Unguarded paths chosen
All guilty they stand in judgment of, those who would travel and
All are guilty, to swing the pendulum, to eat the temporal“
It’s almost like a rock/prog/grunge-opera. I love their odd, melancholic and sometimes Tool-ish sound. Their unique singer is fantastic and the songs start out slow and build up so beautifully. Unsigned and self-promoted, I’m glad they seem to have reached some success among prog-fans. Unfortunately this band is no more, but at least they had time to release three albums, much to my pleasure.
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!!!
Musings of the Heavy Metal Hippie: The Evangelist by Memory Garden
I really need to tip my to Metal Blade Records. For like forever they have been delivering some of the best metal albums throughout my career as a metalhead. Lately they’ve been taking a nice interest in doom metal and have been signing some pretty interesting bands (more on those in the coming days). So, thank you Metal Blade for pandering my demographic. Today’s band under the thumb was once signed to Metal Blade when they first started out, parted ways, and now they are back under the Metal Blade umbrella as they gear up to release a new collection of songs.
Memory Garden are a really hip and interesting band as they combine elements of doom metal with straight metal and power metal. It leads to quite the engaging listen as you get the fat grooves and riffing of doom, the melodic end of power metal, and vocals that bring both Ronnie James Dio and Messiah Marcolin to mind.
“The Evangelist” is off of the bands new 4th album Doomain and it is out now, and I must get my hands on a copy. What say you? Do you dig this track as much as me? Interested in hearing more? Sound off in the comments. Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!!
Full Album Streams: In the Mouth of Madness by Orchid
If you read my review of the new Orchid album last week you’ll know that A. I really liked it a lot and B. there is a heavy early Black Sabbath influence in their music. I even went as far as to say there exists a strong possibility that the best Black Sabbath record to be released this year may not be by Black Sabbath, but Orchid. It’s really that damn good. And really, at the end of the day, even if the album does have a definite Black Sabbath vibe, every track on the record is golden and good music is good music. So, if you dig some riff driven, fat and groovy heavy metal, do not miss this chance to give a listen to the In the Mouth of Madness stream courtesy of Cvlt Nation (also a really cool site you should pursue while digging on some Orchid) , which I am sure to try to cram down your throat at least a few more times before 2013 is up. Enjoy and share your thoughts on it. Peace Love and Metal!!!!
Stream Link: http://www.cvltnation.com/cvlt-nation-exclusive-orchid-the-mouths-of-madness-full-album-stream/
Musings of the Heavy Metal Hippie: Spine of God by Monster Magnet
IMO, NJ’s pioneering stoner metal band Monster Magnet embody the sex, drugs, and rock and roll aspect of rockstardom quite perfectly. From their hard rocking tunes about, well, sex and drugs to frontman Dave Wyndorf’s who bleeds charisma and sex to their killer live shows where they often hang a banner that reads “It’s a Satanic drug thing. You wouldn’t understand.” and pole dancers on stage it’s hard to top these guys in the sex, drugs, and rock and roll dept. Luckily, they aren’t all about image and deliver where it’s important and write some of the best stoner metal songs ever written.
One of my favorite tracks from Monster Magnet is their über-trippy title track off their debut album Spine of God. I love how it gets all psychedelic and space-like yet still remains grounded enough to deliver on some catchy music. If you enjoy stoner metal and have yet to check out Spine of God, you’re doing yourself a great disservice as it is easily one of the best and most influential albums in the genre. Enjoy!! Peace Love and Metal!!!
