Speedwolf - Death Ripper

Ripper for sure, great band! Full Speed ahead!

Solitary Sabred – Temple of the Serpent

Varied and well-wrought thrashy US metal with an epic vibe from Cyprus. Compositionally this is on a par with the 80s classics. What I don't particularly like is the overly theatrical vocal performance that almost reaches King Diamond levels of grandiosity. I think it interferes with the escapist qualities of the instrumental side of everything because it draws all attention to itself. But, well, my 7.5 might be your 8.5.

Inquisition Triumphant Cosmic Death

Wtf is that?

Black metal of sixties ?

Unbelievable

Dio - Strange Highways - Firehead

Some good riffing on this album and Dio is Dio. I like it.

A shockingly heavy and blunt record...a perfect follow-up to "Dehumanizer". (And the equally heavy and balls-out "Angry Machines" is the final piece of the unholy triumvirate.)

Love that album!
It did take me som spins though before I really started to enjoy it.



Darkwoods My Betrothed - Inside the Circle of Stones

Good, been a while since I have listened to this band.

Dead Can Dance - "Into the Labyrinth"
Not metal, but a band cited by many metal artists as being an influence (a quote from Aaron of MDB is what prompted me to explore this band many years ago).

Witchfynde – Give them Hell
Witchfynde – Stagefright
Witchfynde – Cloak & Dagger
Witchfynde – Lords of Sin

Classic NWoBHM band that's not widely known and that didn't have much of an impact. They're interesting because they combine a satanic or horror image with relatively harmless music, early metal, melodic rock, hard rock, a certain pop appeal – very much like early Demon. Their first singer, Steve Bridges, is an acquired taste, and you wonder if he's up to the job, but then, miraculously, on a couple of songs on "Stagefright", he manages to sound like Robert Plant. The second one, Luther Beltz, is more capable or more consistent, a less extreme Eric Wagner (Trouble), maybe, or a less extreme Michael Jackson (Satan / Pariah). Whatever they're trying to do musically, I always have the impression that they're either almost good at it, almost but not quite, or that they dabble in a kind of experimentation I've not fully gotten yet. Some elements I love unconditionally, e.g. the post-punk vibe in the verses in "The Lord of Sin"; so there's hope.

Now that you mention that, it is a good companion to the powerhouse that is Dehumanizer. I still need to get Angry Machines to complete the Dio collection.

Deep Purple - Portable Door

This fuckin' smokes!! I was not expecting this to be that good. I'm excited about the upcoming album.

Stormkeep - A Journey Through Storms

The climax to this song is one of the best I've ever heard in all of black metal.

Freeways - Dark Sky Sanctuary

New album from the band that released True Bearings a few years back. Has an NWOBHM appeal.

Denver power!!!!!

First album is awesome, will for sure get the new one!


Peste Noire - Gisant dans la putréfaction

Going through the demos today, great band.

Indeed! I wasn’t expecting this much energy!

Gravewurm - Netherfiend.

I've tried time and again to get into this band, and with such a massive discography I'd hope to find at least one bona fide masterpiece. It might be Netherfiend. It's still closer to "inspired and generic", but it's worlds apart from the earlier material. If there's any die-hards of the group out there, drop me a recommendation please!

Tankard – Pavlov's Dawgs

I liked "Fooled by your Guts", the single promoting "R.I.B.", instantly. It was like a silver lining after a couple of nondescript albums. "One Foot in the Grave" was so-so to my ears (wasn't it a bit too serious? can't remember, will have to listen to it again), but the last one was like a trap door to nothingness, the sector of the universe beyond the constellation of the beer belly, where all "Zombie Attacks" cease to exist. In other words: huh? The vocals, which are devoid of aggression, remind me of the fact that nobody gets younger. But maybe I'm wrong and the next one will prove that "Pavlov's Dawgs" was just a well considered experiment.

playing both Queensryche Operation mindcrime & Empire, took me decades to go there ^^

PS: about Tankard I think A girl call got some goods but not enough for a double record, and One foot got it just better

Today's playlist so far:
Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten
Terrorizer - World Downfall
Grand Magus - s/t
Tar Pond - Protocol of Constant Sadness

The latter is new to me, Swiss doom with tinges of alternative rock, especially in the soulful vocals. This was Martin Eric Ain's final musical contribution, him playing bass for this before his passing in 2017. Good stuff! I've had the great Grand Magus debut for years but I've never listened to their later albums perhaps aside from some snippets. I have the impression that they get less Sabbath-y and more "viking" onwards, is that correct?

Embodiment Elimination - Metamorphosis Incarnate Through Genetic Devastation

Slamming brutality.

Iniquitous Deeds - Incessant Hallucinations

Technical and with groove.

Wehrhammer - Ich freue mich Dein Feind zu sein

I enjoy this band, nice when I want some German black metal.

Into The Ashes - Consumed By The Negative Dimension

Really great album.

Angra - "Light Of Transcendence" from "Omni"
A masterpiece of a song from the band's greatest album, IMO. Fabio Leone is so much better here than he was with Rhapsody.
More, please.

In Flames - Embody the Invisible

Blazing opener to my favorite IF album. Pre-ordered the vinyl re-release so had to put it on.

High on Fire - Cometh the Storm

I keep listening to this one again and again but I'm a huge High on Fire fan. If you are a fan of the band definitely check it out.

Grave Declaration - When Dying Souls Scream Praise

2 guys from Antestor. This is about as good as Omen and The Forsaken.

Pink Floyd A Saucerful of Secrets

Love that album

Loudness - Dissilusion

Relentless heavy metal from the east.

I honestly think it's better than Bonded By Blood. IT'S THAT GOOD!!!

Melechesh - As Jerusalem Burns... Al'Intisar

This is mostly Marduk worship, but it doesn't even have the mystique and depth that early Marduk had, plus the drumming uses a lot of dembow type beat and it frustrates me. I'll give the rest of their discography a chance to see if it improves but so far I'm quite disappointed with this.

Satan - Court in the Act

Is there any album that better represents the NWOBHM than this one? Simply perfect in every aspect, flashy, melodic, anthemic, fast, it has it all!

Cannibal Corpse - A Skull Full of Maggots

The best thing they've ever did. Death metal rarely sounds like this much fun.

I don't think its their best but it has a great vibe to it. Amazing record.

Fountains of Wayne - s/t
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime
Rainbow - Long Live Rock N Roll
Septicflesh - Sumerian Daemons

Some random stuff today... Rainbow is just wonderful; every track kills and Dio always really sold these songs, what a great tone, a great command of melody.

Septicflesh, I always really loved this album. Super creative, a unique dark mood and strong, slamming riffs. I never really got the older stuff, oughta try again. Everything they did after this one is just so bad.

The Nick Drake album is really sublime. This quiet, sensitive little soulful thing. I always liked it but it'd been years since I played it.



I mean everything from Sphinx on is some of the more idiosyncratic, creative black metal, and they write brilliant riffs. Definitely worth checking out.

I enjoy all stuff up to 'Sumerian Daemons'. Some really mystical stuff, even the production job on some does not help that vibe. Their newer stuff is too pompous and blunt for my liking.

Karpathian Relict - Forever Not Yet

Technical death metal barrage. However, it contains massive amount of extremely fast blast beats, via a drum machine... It definitely brings the album don't by some notches by destroying the atmosphere at many places!

I remember liking Mystic Places of Dawn, but the other ones I was never able to really parse. I'm sure I'd like them more now.

this morning:

Paradise Lost - "Obsidian"
Probably my fav of their last three...the opening track is gothic doom/death perfection. Love the solo, too.

Barren Earth - "Curse of the Red River"
Amorphis/Opeth/Swallow the Sun hybrid...which delivers on its promise.

Tesla - "Shout"
Much maligned album due to its "Def Leppardisms" (to be expected being that Phil Collen contributed to the writing and produced it). I shouldn't like this but really do.

Insomnium - "Songs of the Dusk" EP
Three amazing tracks...arguably among some of my fav Insomnium songs.

Nightwish - End of all Hope

I have not listened to this album all the way though. Good so far! Liking this track.

Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame

This is his best album since Facing the Animal.

My Dying Bride - A Map of All Our Failures

A lot of clean vocals on this one, which is nice. He has a good, idiosyncratic tone and style... some more upbeat riffs on the first song, and everything seems like it has an ambitious bent, some interesting melodic ideas and vocal parts. It's good.