God, I haven't done one of these in a while. However, since I've had an influx of great music recently, I thought I'd share some highlights. That and I wanted a break from playing and reviewing Dark Souls 2. So enjoy!
Bathyalpelagic - The Ocean
Don't be scared off by the name. Or the metal intro. Or 12 minute time on this. This is actually three songs pushed into one, as they really are one song just separated for run time. The song starts of in quite a metal fashion, with growls and stuff, but that doesn't even last a minute. It then randomly kicks ballady arena rock.'
Honestly, this is the best album of last year in my opinion. It's a progressive beast of a progressive metal album that owes equal inspiration from Muse, Mastodon, Neurosis, Tool, and Opeth. It's fucking incredible.
Dead For a Day - Witherscape
Dan Fucking Swano. This guy has been a part of damn near every one of my favourite albums. He is a metal god, and this is his latest project. Part folk, part metal, part old school rock, and part 90's grunge (well, the Alice in Chains variety anyway), all with some sweet synth work and a lighter sound than usual. This album is an absolute must for any prog fan.
This is their idea of a single.
Lord of the Game - Death Grips
Like your hip hop to be a bit on the weird side? This is for you. It's loud. It's unapologetic. It's oddly catchy. Most of all, it's original. If you think hip hop all sounds the same, check this shit out.
The Vampyre of Time and Memory... - Queens of the Stone Age
Usually, I devote these blogs to giving lesser known bands the spotlight, but jesus fucking christ! THIS IS A FUCKING SONG! In fact, the latest QOTSA album is nothing short of a modern rock classic. Fuck the Foo Fighters, this is modern rock at it's best.
Delicate Cycle - The Uncluded
Well, this was unexpected. I loved Kimya Dawson's guest appearances on Aesop Rocks last album, but I didn't expact them to join forces. Indie folk pop mixed with alternative hip hop? Sign me up. It works surprisingly well, and is surprisingly varied.
'bout fekkin' time Blake. I shall be listening to these except for the QotSA because I know all the songs on that album and I completely agree that it's brilliant! Josh and Dave together again, how could it not be. :)
Oh yeah. The album is phenomenal! Let me know what you think of the other songs too if you get a chance to listen.
Ok, so I finally got back to this and listened to everything. I even liked the tracks with Orc vocals. :)
I really like your choices. You show great diversity and er, open mindedness if that's even a word.
Of course the QotSA track is a personal favourite but then that album has been on heavy rotation for a while in my car.
I've always been someone who loves music that makes me listen rather that shit that plays in the background. You've convinced me to listen to songs with Orc vocals. 'nuff said. :)
Oh and Dave is on the QotSA album so cool it with dissing Foo Fighters even though I'm not really a fan, Grohl is one of the best drummers in the known Universe. :)
I can't, I'm in public. Also, David hasn't gotten back to me about the Skype interview yet. I know I got back to him late because it was Easter break for me and I kinda took a hiatus from life. I'd message you that, but I'm too lazy to go to your profile when I can jut put this text here.
When was the interview? It took me a good week or two for them to get back to me.
It hasn't happened yet, he just hasn't e-mailed back, but if they took a week or two getting back with you, that's probably what'll happen here.
The QOTSA album was my favorite of last year. Good pick.
And there's nothing wrong with the Foo Fighters.
I'm pretty sure you had posted Dead for a Day and Delicate Cycle before, but still, glad to see another music blog. The Ocean was very well done. Death Grips is catchy as ever and there's no question for QUOTSA. Foo Fighters is an awesome band though.
Yeah, I know I'm months and months late responding to this, but I do read all the blogs in my message list, and I do listen to all the music you post. I liked the last three. I don't like the growly, death metal voices, all I can think of while listening is "Do you have any idea what you're doing to your larynx?!"
That's totally understandable. It took me a looooong time to grow to like that singing. I think of it now as putting distortion on your voice like it would for guitar. Having a brother that plays that type of music though, you learn they often aren't screaming though. They actually growl pretty softly and amp it up in production, or add distortion to their voices in live concerts. You are right, four of my favourite bands who used this technique have stopped entirely because they can't do it anymore.
But yeah, I'm thinking my next blog won't have any metal at all haha.
