Best of 2013: 10 - 6

10. DevilDriver - Winter Kills

A huge step up from the last album "Beast", which I personally found a little underwhelming, "Winter Kills" finds the Double D back on form and once again delivering the goods in their own inimitable style. DevilDriver have enough passion for 10 bands and although they still find capturing their live energy on record (yes, I'm old) to be elusive and slightly beyond their collective grasp, this is nevertheless a lesson in how to balance ferocious vocals, big riffs and catchy songs perfectly. From the crushing "Ruthless" to the Melodic Death Metal swagger of "Desperate Times" and  "Appetite" this is a near-flawless Groove Metal exhibition piece.

9. Black Sabbath - 13

What do I need to say about this? If you haven't heard this, then I really do pity you. "13" is an almost perfect Metal albums from the originals themselves. More amazing still, is that this is the first album to feature Ozzy in 35 years (and the first to bear the Sabbath name in 18 years) and the band are well into their 60's. This is not just a good "comeback" album or nostalgia trip. No, this is a great Metal album, full stop (not period as I am British). Almost every song could stand alone as a "single" (if such a thing still really exists), especially the amazing "Loner", but part of  "13"s strength is that the running order is nearly perfect and allows the pace of the album to ebb and flow beautifully right up to until the last track, the dire and cringe-worthy "Dear Father". If they had left that song off, this would probably have been in the top 5. All in all though, this is still a timeless, classic Metal album.

8. Falkenbach - Asa

After leaving me a little underwhelmed with their last album, "Tiurída", Falkenbach are back on the form they left us with on the stunning "Heralding - The Fireblade. Truly one of the most unique musical entities out there - everything from the song structures to Vratyas' distinct and often beautiful vocals is instantly recognisable. This is music to take you away to another world, evoking images of Nordic landscapes and of long-abandoned gods. Ranging from simple acoustic passages to bleak, cold Black Metal, this is nothing short of a journey. Another masterpiece from this (almost) flawless band.

7. Deicide - In The Minds Of Evil

Always an inconsistent prospect, this album catches Deicide on one of their upswings. This is a band that can count an equal number of shoddy releases to great ones - if ever there was a metal band that needs quality control, it's Deicide. In my very humble (haha!) opinion, the band hasn't released a great album since '95's "Once Upon The Cross". This is business as usual as far as subject matter goes - don't expect and deep existential questions or a declaration of love - this is pure, unadulterated Christian-bating Death Metal. Thankfully this tried and tested (read: tedious and tired) concept is backed up by some of the best Death Metal riffs I have heard in many a year. Oh, I should also mention that it has actual, memorable songs too. Which is nice. If there is a negative - and there is - which stops this from being a classic, then it's the below-par production. That small gripe aside, this is a top-notch record and one which should propel Deicide right back to the top of the tree within the sub-genre - at least until they release the next terrible album. Enjoy it while you can.

6. Die Krupps - The Machinists Of Joy

In a year that has positively overflowed with "comeback" albums, this, the first proper album (there was an EP in 2011) from German Industrial legends, Die Krupps in 16 years, is right up there with the very best of them. Not merely a great return, but an overall great record. Musically, this spans the band's entire, long career, but never once sounds forced - managing as it does, to retain the distinctive sound of early-mid Die Krupps (being noticeably metal-free), but be energetic and forward thinking at the same time. It is filled with potential club floor-fillers - from the stomping "The Machinist Of Joy", with it's German/English language mix to the more old-school Industrial stylings of "im Schatten Der Ringe", this is a masterclass in how Synth-led music can be powerful and aggressive, yet accessible. Welcome to the rebirth!

 

Best of 2013: 15 - 11

15. Trivium - Vengeance Falls

As strange as it is that a band that feels so "new" (and is comprised of members still a way from hitting 30) can be considered as having a "vintage" period, this is old-school Trivium, but with more proficient musicianship and even better songs. This is the band's "Black Album". It is the sound of a band that has come of age, has absolute confidence in what they are doing and a distinct style of their own. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this means that they have become predictable, however. Yes, the album does has everything any fan of the band could ever want or expect - Matt Heafy's vocals still swing pendulum-like between clean singing and a distinctive roar and the riffs are still razor sharp - but the Trad Metal influences are more pronounced now than ever before, with more than the occasional  nod to the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica. This classic Metal sound blends seamlessly with Trivium's Modern Metal style and has been bolstered by the solid, powerful production work, courtesy of one David Draiman (yes, really).

14. Finntroll - Blodsvept

It's business as (un)usual for Finntroll on album number 6. Once again, categorising this band is either too simple to do them justice or too convoluted to be even worth the time. Essentially, this is Humppa (Finnish Polka) meets Black Metal, but with so many twists and turns that there is never a dull moment. If you are familiar with Finntroll, then you will already know what to expect. If you're not, well the songs are generally delivered at a frantic pace, with tempo changes coming willy-nilly (great term!) and with vocals veering between  "Troll" gang chants and Black Metal rasps. The music is a fast and frantic mix of traditional Scandinavian melodies, Black Metal, "Carnival" keyboards and the aforementioned Polka rhythms. The lyrics are all in Swedish, despite the band being Finnish, as it sounds more "Trollish", apparently. A truly unique band.

13. Bifröst - Tor in Eine Neue Welt

Back again with album number 3, Bifröst's brilliance shows no signs of waning. Simply put, Bifröst are one of the very best Folk Metal bands out there, but, frustratingly, remain relatively unknown. Style-wise, the band is reminiscent of Denmark's Svartsot, but retain a recognisable sound of their own. The lyrics are all in 'sung' in German which only helps to give the overall sound a (lazy stereotype alert!) harsher edge and musically they combine Black Metal, with Folk melodies via classic Metal. If Folk Metal is your bag, you could do a lot worse than these chaps.

12. Newsted - Heavy Metal Music

Best known for his long stint as the bass player in Metallica, Jason Newsted has finally come back to the Metal fold with this absolute beast of an album. It is chugging, mainly mid-paced, straight-forward Metal (as the title might suggest) delivered with vitality, energy and, most importantly, with passion. This is a crushing album with elements of Sabbath, Alice In Chains, Motörhead as well as a healthy dose of Modern Metal aggression. The enthusiasm and love of the genre shines through here as does Jason's voice which falls somewhere between Chuck Billy and Lemmy. There is little in the way of variety on offer here, but with a sound and songs this good, there really doesn't need to be. Although I am loathe to go down the comparison route (as it shouldn't be relevant), it is inevitable that people are going to compare this to his former employers (he was never treated as a member). Well, I am pleased to say that this is better than anything Metallica have released in more than two decades.

11. Polkadot Cadaver - Last Call In Jonestown

Danny Elfman meets Mr. Bungle might be an apt, if trite way to describe the twisted noise made by these sick little puppies. Think Mike Patton's bunch of 'merry' lunatics taking on the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack with SOAD as special guests and you are somewhere close. There is so much more to it than this lazy comparison, though with Jazz, Funk, Metal & Lounge all getting a look in. Judge for yourselves.

Review: Paraletica - Inferno EP

I'd heard snippets from this, the debut EP from The UK's Paraletica online earlier this year, but this is the first time I've had the opportunity to listen to the whole package in context and in the order it was supposed to be heard. I have to shamefully admit that I had preconceptions of how this was going to sound - Just another 'retro' band who have no chance of being taken seriously in the modern era. Well, I am extremely happy to report that this is FAR from the case.

For a band with such humble beginnings - a bunch of like-minded guys playing Thrash Metal covers for fun - to take the huge step forward to becoming a serious act with their own songs is one not to be sniffed at. And to do it successfully is even more impressive.

If you want a rough idea of what band sounds like musically, just think Anthrax and Agent Steel with hints of Overkill. I really can't give it any higher praise than that. From the Anthrax-influenced "When Worlds Collide" to the full on Trad Heavy Metal assault of the brilliant "The Crimson Tor", this is classic Speed/Thrash, but with some nice modern Metal touches which gives it  a powerful, surprisingly polished and rounded sound.

This is a band that is clearly on the same page when it comes to influences and is comprised of top-notch musicians to boot. When you add a large dash of song-writing nous to the mix, then they are onto a winning formula. Credit must be given too, for such superb production work - This EP sounds every bit as good as most 'professionally' produced releases I've heard this year, but with an added raw 'live' feel. The perfect package, one could say.

On the basis of this EP alone, this is a band that can easily stand tall and hold their own with the Eviles and Gama Bombs of the world. In a recent development, the band have parted ways with the vocalist who features on this EP. This could have been disastrous for a band at such an embryonic stage in its development. Fortunately, the band have just announced on their official site, the addition to the ranks of a new (and frankly, better) vocalist. If there is any justice in the world then you will be seeing Paraletica go on to bigger and better things in the near future.

Fans of Thrash Metal will find much here to sink their teeth into and if the recent Thrash 'revival' has left you wanting something with a little more substance, than you need look no further.

You can read more about the band, hear their music, look out for upcoming shows and even support them by buying some merch by clicking on the link below:

www.paraletica.co.uk

Weekly Round-Up (Dec 20th 2013) Part 2.

Generation Kill

Terrible name aside (taken from a book as it happens), if you are a fan of 90's metal (Pantera, Skinlab, Pist.On, Pissing Razors, etc), then this should be of interest to you. The band is the "side-project" of current Exodus frontman, Rob Dukes (who actually looks very much the part for this style of music), but avoids Thrash for the most part, instead opting for a more Groove-based style. Worth a few minutes of your time, I'd say.

Ævangelist

This is the most harrowing band I have heard since "Fleurety" unleashed "A Darker Shade Of Evil" way back in 1994 and is certainly not for the faint of heart. This is a nasty, terrifying experience. Technically, this falls under the Death Metal banner, but don't expect catchy grooves or predictable head-banging riffs from this US act. What you get instead is a wall of hair-raising, spine-tingling noise with sporadic, guttural vocals. This is not music to brighten up the dark, cold winter months, but is definitely recommended for fans of extreme music, especially if you think that Death Metal has become a bit tame as of late. Let Ævangelist take you to the depths of despair and restore your faith in the darker side of music. Click on the link below for a 4:37 taste of nastiness.

Relinquished Destiny

Mutation

It's hard to know how to describe what you are about to hear, but maybe a good start would be The Wildhearts played through a Fantomas filter. Essentially an Avant-garde musical project from Ginger Wildheart and Shane Embury (Napalm Death), the album features guest appearances from the such luminaries as Mark E. Smith (The Fall) and Merzbow, so is every bit as deranged and experimental as you might expect. That it has been released through Mike Patton's Ipecac record label is perhaps unsurprising. 

Weekly Round-Up (Dec 20th 2013) Part 1.

This is the first of what I'm hoping to make a regular (weekly) feature on this here blog. I've thought about it and I reckon that this will save me trying to find the time and energy to review one band at a time or post random videos on facebook every 5 minutes...of course, there will be exceptions that I just HAVE to post straight away, but I will try to show some restraint and self-control.

Disclaimer: The following music will not necessarily have been released this week, but it is new to me.

As there has been so much exceptional new music this week, I will be posting a second part tomorrow or Sunday.

Beastmilk

I posted a couple of videos by this Finnish band on Facebook yesterday, but if you missed them, read on. They call themselves "Apocalyptic Post-Punk", but I'm not entirely sure that this is an accurate description. In fact, I'm sure it isn't. They have a whole host of influences from The Smiths, Joy Division and Bauhaus through to Killing Joke, Talk Talk and Sisters Of Mercy, so the underlying style here is very much an 80's gloomy, gothic, dark pop. Beastmilk are not just another throwaway retro band though. They manage to bring together their influences and use them to create something fresh, modern and interesting. One of the best new bands I've heard in '13.

Avatarium

Candlemass mainman and mastermind, Leif Edling returns to the fray with his new band following the Swedish Doom Metal legends' (studio) demise. In some ways, it is pretty much what you might expect from Edling -  Majestic, Sabbath-worshipping Doom Metal, but there is a hidden depth to Avatarium. For one, the band is fronted by an exceptionally talented, unknown (to me, at least) female powerhouse of a vocalist which gives them an added dimension and a gives the band a whole new dynamic (similar, at times, to the brilliant Black Moth). Then we come to the songs structures -  They are more varied and complex than the standard Candlemass fare, featuring some interesting forays into more Opeth-esque Prog Rock territory in places and some nice instant melodies. More diverse than Candlemass, then, but fans of the band should find much to sink their teeth into.

Doyle

When I heard that the former Misfits guitarist was about to unleash a solo album, I was expecting a straight forward Horror Punk record in the vein of said previous band. What I actually got was something much more interesting: There ARE Horror Punk elements here, most noticeably in the lyrics (which are very much what you might expect), but the whole thing is wrapped up in a Groove Metal cloak. This is as much Damageplan as it Misifts. If this sounds interesting, it should do. Edgier than Danzig's recent output with better songs than the Misfits have written in years and with more balls than Wednesday 13, this is something rather special.

A Quick Update

Just to let you all (ever the optimist) know that my Best Of 2013 list is coming along nicely, despite having taken longer than expected to put together, and will be posted on this very blog in the next few days. I will also be throwing together (he says, casually) a Best Of The Underground 2013 list featuring the more extreme artists out there...which is sure to be of interest to some of you.

See, it really was a quick update. Toodle pip!

My All-Time Top 50 Albums

After around 24 hours of deliberation, I reckon I've managed to get this done. Of course, as with any list of this type, it's a constantly evolving process and there are a number of albums on this list that were released during the last few months. Would they appear on a similar list 5, 10 or even 20 years from now? Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to say for certain as obviously (as with most people) my tastes evolve, I am subject to changes in mood and I go through 'phases' of listening to certain genres. In all likelihood, such a phase is influencing me right now (has the cold and dark of winter made me partial to certain bands/albums?).

But, as it stands right at this very moment in time, this is the finished list. It's predictable in places, surprising (I think) in others, but the most important thing to remember is that these are the albums that have shaped MY life and have made me who and what I am today.

I hope you enjoy looking through my list, comparing it to yours, wondering why THAT album made it in and even, as I hope will be the case, see a couple of highly placed albums that you may not have heard. I hope I can inspire some of you to listen to albums you may not have played in a while. I hope that you will find your memory jogged to rediscover long, lost incidents from the dim and distant past - a night out at your favourite rock pub/club a live show or even just a memory of good times with those close to you in your life.

Music is very powerfully connected to memories and can trigger flashbacks, both good and bad. Each and every album on this list does that for me. Some make me smile, some may make me cry, but they all make me, ME.

50. Killswitch Engage - Alive Or Just Breathing

49. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar

48. L7 - Bricks Are Heavy

47. White Zombie - Astro Creep: 2000

46. Enthroned - Xes Haereticum

45. Down - NOLA

44. Bal Sagoth – Atlantis Ascendant

43. Bifröst - Heidenmetal

42. Solefald - An Icelandic Odyssey Part 1: Red For Fire

41. Mortiis - The Smell Of Rain

40. Fall Of The Leafe – Volvere

39. Biohazard - Urban Discipline

38. Falkenbach - Heralding The Fireblade

37. Obituary - World Demise

36. Iron Maiden - Brave New World

35. Machine Head - The Blackening

34. In Flames - Come Clarity

33. System of A Down – System Of A Down

32. Downer - Downer

31. Satyricon - Now Diabolical

30. Fear Factory - Demanufacture

29. Katatonia - Viva Emptiness

28. Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscapes

27. Judas Priest – Painkiller

26. Raging Speedhorn – Raging Speedhorn

25. Pitchshifter - www.pitchshifter.com

24. Agent Steel  - The Omega Conspiracy

23. Sepultura – Chaos AD

22. Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill

21. DevilDriver - Pray For Villains

20. Soulfly – Prophecy

19. Skid Row - Slave To The Grind

18. Nirvana - Nevermind

17. Finntroll – Nifelvind

16. Deicide – Deicide

15. Cradle Of Filth - Cruelty & The Beast

14. Skyclad - Irrational Anthems

13. Paradise Lost – One Second

12. Faith No More - Angel Dust

11. Deftones - Around The Fur

10. Kvelertak - Kvelertak

9. Woods Of Ypres - V: Grey Skies & Electric Light

8. Therapy? – Troublegum

7. Alice in Chains - Dirt

6. Thyrfing - De Ödelösa

5. Hell - Curse & Chapter

4. Anaal Nathrakh - The Codex Necro

3. Prodigy - Fat Of The Land

2. Korn - Korn

1. Sparks – Hello Young Lovers

Do I Even Dare Attempt It?

Although I have barely scratched the surface of my 'Best of 2013' list (which is still 'in progress'), the devil on my shoulder is whispering in my ear. Prodding me, provoking me.

The reality is that I spend literally weeks each year agonising over my top 20 (30 or whatever) albums...yet despite this, I am considering compiling a list of my all-time favourite albums!

Now, here is where it really gets crazy. Believe it or not, I actually think it will be a whole lot EASIER than the top 20 of 2013 has been. The reason being that, although there has been lots of great albums released that I love this year and will be next year, there won't be many that are just THAT good - you know, good enough that you remember them 5, 10 or even 15 years later. The type of album that will feature on a list you can just reel off without too much effort.

I think (think being the keyword here) that I can compile such a list without too many headaches and without really putting too much thought into it. I mean, as I am typing (and as you are reading), I'm sure that we are both already naming albums in our minds.

Many of these are likely to be albums that made a big impact on me in my formative years or those released during the golden 'discovery' years as these are the ones I listened to the most and when music was still fresh and new to me...and they are the ones that have almost burned themselves into my subconscious. There is a 'but', however.

The risk here is that of bias. Are the albums from the early 90's (when I was discovering myself and my musical tastes) really better than those released in the subsequent 2 decades? Honestly? Probably not. Therein lies the hidden thorn in this rose. If I decide to approach this idea, then I want to do it in a subjective and fair way. This will inevitably result in giving me the very headaches that I would prefer to avoid. I am not one to back down from a (personal) challenge, though - even if there is a very real chance that I am being over-confident, cocky even, and that this will be too much for me handle, mentally (Scanners, anybody?).

Now, do I do it or not? And if I do, will it be a top 20, 30 or more? Personally, I'm thinking 40 or even 50. What do YOU think? And, for the purposes of solidarity, would you be willing to share your list?

Edit: I've just realised, with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, that the problem here may not be deciding which albums make the cut, but rather compiling the list and placement positions. Hmm.

Best of 2013: 20 -16

20. Clutch - Earth Rocker

What do I really need to say about the mighty Clutch? This is Clutch doing what they do best - Southern Stoner Boogie Punk Rock? I really don't know how to explain this band to the uninitiated other than by saying that they are just full-on rock bastards! This is timeless, classic rock music with monster grooves and Neil Fallon's unique, occasionally bluesy / occasionally guttural vocal delivery. You can clearly hear that the band is made up of members who are clearly comfortable with themselves, each other and their music. Confident, stomping and filled with that special groove that Clutch has in spades, this is among the band's best releases and certainly the best since Blast Tyrant.

19.  Alter Bridge - Fortress 

A sign of the end of days or merely a changing of the guard? It speaks volumes about how this band has grown and developed that this album has made my top 20 where Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains did not. This is a hard rock album for the ages - heavier than they ever been before and bolstered by the ever-growing confidence of vocalist Myles Kennedy who has one of the very best rock voices in the world today. There isn't a weak moment to be found here. A true rock classic.

18. Månegarm - Legions Of The North

The Swedish Folk Metal legends return with their first album in 4 years and this time with a more stripped-down sound, due in part to the departure of long-time violinist Janne during the recording process. Where the album certainly lacks the distinct sound of the violin, it compensates with a more focused, punchy approach to the songs. In places it is noticeably more Viking Metal than the Death/Black Metal of the band's early material - on "Sons Of War" for example - which will help make the band more accessible to a whole "Legion" of potential new fans, but fear not, there are enough heavier moments to please long-time devotees too.

17. Sepultura - The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart

Sepultura return with their strongest release since Derrick joined the ranks back in 1997 and if there is any justice in the world, this should silence the naysayers once and for all. The tone is set from the get-go, with the thrashing "Trauma Of War". This is a band which clearly still enjoys challenging it's listeners and have done so yet again by delivering an album that is anything but instant. This is a Thrash album at heart, but one which is shrouded with a pervading sense of bleakness throughout. Thought-provoking and dynamic, this is undoubtedly one of the best albums released this year and deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Arise. Yes, it really is that good. Listen without prejudice.

16. James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance

Although he is best known as the vocalist for the Prog Metal powerhouse Dream Theater, James has also released a number of albums as a solo artist. This, his latest, is a melodic, catchy little beast, chock-full of songs which will get stuck in your head for days. Forget what you think you know about Mr LaBrie and leave your angry metal head at the door. With lyrics ranging from positive to soul-searching and to occasionally trite, this album will have you singing along and smiling like a fool. Lovely stuff!

By Jove! I think I've Got It (Ready)

Yes, as unbelievable as it may seem, another year has flown by and it's time once again for me to rub my ego and give you all a run down of the albums that I reckon are the best that 2013 had to offer. I have heard over 400 albums this year, so this wasn't an easy list to compile...but who ever said life was easy? Yet again, this has been an amazing year for new music, which makes it even more frustrating when I hear people complaining about the state of metal in 2013. This may not be a 'cool' list, but these are the albums that have received the most plays and made the biggest impact on my year.There are literally hundreds (thousands?)  of quality acts - new and old - out there and whenever I think I've heard it all, an album comes along and makes me sit up and take notice. Instead of moaning about it, people need to get out there and find some new music (use S*****y if you have to) - we have t'internet literally at our fingertips, so there really is no excuse. Anyway, before I use my soapbox to help me climb on to this really high horse, I'll get on with the list. Part 1 will be posted this very afternoon. I'm fairly sure that I'll agonise over my choices as soon as I click "Publish", but that's the nature of the beast.

Note: I am typing this on Dec 8th. If anyone is foolish enough to release a record this late in the year, then they have fallen into a "no-mans land" where they are too late to make the 2013 list and too early for the 2014 list.

Where were you?

Every generation has it's moments, it's iconic events. The ones people and society won't forget. The ones where you will always remember where you were when you heard the news. Mine has had more than it's fair share...The death of Kurt Cobain, The terrorist attack in the US in September 2001, and the murder of Darrel "Dimebag" Abbott on this day (December 8th) in 2004.

I will remember hearing the news of Dimebag's death until the day I join him there. I was on train on my way to Birmingham for a shopping trip when I received a text message from a friend saying that Dimebag had been shot. I took this as saying that an 'incident' had taken place and nothing more. It was only on arriving in Birmingham and making my way to (the now defunct) Virgin Megastore that I heard on the in-store radio news that there had been a fatal shooting at a live show in Columbus, Ohio and that it had resulted in the deaths of 4 people (5 if you include the gunman - I do not), one of them being the guitarist of the band Damageplan. I remember the whole place falling silent and I remember feeling a cold chill of shock.

I'll never forget where I was. Where were you?

R.I.P. Dime

Saturday Morning

It's Saturday morning. The sun is shining and the weather is cold, but fresh. I should probably be out there, really - There's snow to shovel, recycling to drop off, shopping to do, etc - Instead, I'm sat at my laptop, pot of coffee at hand in what is so far proving to be futile attempt at compiling my top 20 of 2013.

This, people, is an average weekend for me. Whereas most folk might get up, check Facebook (Ok, so I did that too), eat breakfast in front of the TV and then maybe pop out to do some shopping, I just spend mine listening to music and then writing about said music and/or creating compilations on iTunes and blog posts. Too much music, too little life. That's (one of) my problem(s).

As with the past couple of years, 2013 has seen far too many great releases, making it extremely difficult to cut down my list of quality albums to a mere 20...and don't even start me off on the placings of said albums in said top 20.

Oh well, back to the self-flagellation that is my morning.

Album Of The Week

This week's stand-out release has to be the appropriately titled "The Further Adventures Of..." by the mighty Jaldaboath. I have been waiting for this one ever since the debut album blew me away / made me dance and smile like an idiot back in 2010. I have to admit that I was slightly apprehensive about playing it as I was fully expecting to be disappointed. And I was. At first. After repeated listens however, this album just gets better and better. What you can expect is more of the same, unique Jaldaboath brand of "Heraldic Templar Metal", but this time they have ramped up the silliness to a whole new level.

Taking their cues once again from Monty Python and The Holy Grail and Blackadder, but now with even more ridiculous and occasionally puerile lyrics and themes ("Roland The Farter", anyone?) and this time around the band have bolstered their ‘trademark’ Medieval Metal stylings with such diverse influences as (parodies of) Iron Maiden and Metallica through to Eastenders, Black Beauty, The A-Team, Miami Vice, Airwolf and er, Wizbit.

Jaldaboath, the band, is essentially the comedy metal project of one man (The brilliant James Fogarty) and is every bit as clever as one might expect from a man with his musical pedigree (Meads Of Asphodel, Ewigkeit, Bombs Of Enduring Freedom), but it is much lighter in tone and with absolutely NO politics to be found...unless they are very well hidden. If you want an album that is hilarious, catchy and ludicrous in equal measures, you need look no further.

You can pick up your copy directly from the band here:

http://www.deathtomusic.com/JALD2/JALD2.html

An album trailer can be found here:

http://youtu.be/m7l8C_WFaEc

Here's a link to the audio track "Roland The Farter"

https://soundcloud.com/deathtomusic/jaldaboath-roland-the-farter

The rather silly video for "The Wailing Witch Of Mouslecoom"

Hell / Carcass / Amon Amarth Trädgår'n Gothenburg Tues 3rd Dec

Hell (8) unfortunately began right on time. Unfortunately as in typical Swedish fashion, the doors had opened late, so the queue was still large and I was still in it. Luckily, I only missed half of the first song and joined the rest of the faithful down the front for the remainder of the 30 minute set...and what a set it was. In true Hell style, this was as much a visual, theatrical performance as a live show and by the end of it the venue had filled nicely and the band left the stage to a commendable applause. Dave Bower must be the most under-rated vocalist / frontman in metal today. Just don't call them retro.

Next up, Carcass (8) made their presence known courtesy of some typical Jeff Walker wit as he addressed the (now near-capacity) crowd with "Good evening Gothenburg. So, I believe Melodic Death Metal was born here. Is that right?" This got a loud cheer from the crowd, most of whom I suspect failed to notice the sarcasm in his voice. The set was good, if not spectacular, and spanned their entire career with live staples "Corporeal Jigsaw Quandary", "Heartwork" and new track "Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System" being the highlights tonight. Jeff kept up the banter throughout, delivered in his own special, sneering way and the crowd were whipped into a near frenzy with hair windmilling in all directions and beer being spilled all over the floor as the English legends wrapped up their set.

Amon Amarth (9) hit the stage as the conquering heroes they are in Sweden. The sound was near-perfect and Johan seemed to be in a great mood, stomping around the stage with a huge smile across his hirsute face as he bellowed and roared through the band's trademark Viking-themed Death Metal classics. What followed was a pretty much flawless 90 plus minutes of live music from a band right at the top of it's game.

Set highlights were "Deceiver Of The Gods", "Guardians Of Asgard" and the superb "The Pursuit Of Vikings".

All in all, this was an evening of varied, but equally great, confident performances from 3 veteran bands. Definitely worth the trip and if you had the opportunity to be there and missed it, then more fool you. 

On Another Pilgrimage.

Here I am again, making what is now an all too familiar 200 mile round-trip to Gothenburg to see some live music...and yet again, I'm doing it alone, which means another night desperately hanging around looking pathetic so somebody talks to me, another lonely night in a sparse hostel room and another early morning train to work in the morning. Tragic or dedicated (both, perhaps)? And all of this will come at a cost of around £100 (including the price of a couple of beverages). I occasionally wonder to myself if it's worth it? The answer, of course, being...yes! Tonight's bands are Hell, Carcass and Amon Amarth and this is one of those rare gigs where I want to see all 3 bands. In fact, all of them have released albums this year that will be in my 'best of the year' list, 2 of them (Carcass and Hell) at nos 2 and 1 respectively, so that makes tonight extra special. Well, thanks for reading this pointless excuse for a blog post, which I will make up for with a review (providing I remember enough) to come later in the week. Have a good evening, people. I know I will.

It's THAT time of year again...

...No, not Christmas, but rather time for me to bang my head (against a wall, sadly) trying to decide which of the myriad of superb releases this year are deserving a place in my year end round-up. I thought I was at least on the way to compiling a decent little list, until Deicide and Hell dropped a couple of massive bombs - or spanners in my works as I would rather refer to them. Therefore, I'm not going to post the final list until the end of December. Let's face it - anything can happen in the next 4 weeks.

Now, do I make it a top 40, 30 or 20? What would you like to see? I'm gravitating towards a top 20, personally as this won't be too much to read / take in / listen to for you my dear reader(s). I reckon that I will also split them up for the same reason, but do I do so in groups of 5 or 10? See, even the simple things are causing me headaches and that is before I even start on the actual bands.

So far, I have a 'short-list' of around 47 albums - Hey, from over 400, that isn't bad! I will take my leave for now, but watch this space...not right this moment, obviously. Nothing will happen.

Resurrection

Yes, after 7 months or so of inactivity, I have decided that is high time that I got back into this blogging / writing lark. I realised that I still have so much to say, so much to share and too much inspiration and passion to let it go to waste. Even if only a few people read it, it's still a handful of people that are interested in what I have to say. I came to the realisation that Facebook probably isn't the right platform to share videos or to recommend new bands as only a small percentage of my 'friends' on there are even remotely interested in seeing such updates.

To be honest, I became disillusioned when even the ones I thought / knew would be interested, clearly weren't and it felt that I was sharing new music with the same 3 or 4 people. Therefore, from now on I will be using this blog as a platform / outlet for my ravings. I am constantly coming across music, from new bands and old, that excites me in the same way it did when I was a teenager. I still have those "jaw-dropping" and "smiling like an idiot" moments...and it's this that I live for. There is so much out there to listen to, so why limit yourself to the same old albums/bands/songs? You can still listen to them - nobody is taking that away from you - but there are literally thousands of bands out there striving to be heard, to get their music to an audience.

Now, I'm not claiming to be some kind of oracle. That would be arrogant - even for me. Rather, I am saying that I have the time and the interest in trawling through literally tens of new artists / albums each and every week. Some of it is great, some of it not so much, but music is my life and my passion and I just feel that there is too much out there that is not receiving the attention it deserves.

That, my friends, is where you come in. All you have to do is follow this here blog and to click on the links, read my reviews and then go off and decide for yourself if there is anything that is worth your time. Think about it - I'm doing all the foot work (mouse-clicking, frankly), so you don't have to. Don't just let Spotify, Metal Hammer or the radio tell you what is cool - give me a chance too. I won't let you down. I promise. I have a veritable batch of ideas for posts, so I will be updating every couple of days time and inspiration allowing. Everything from reviews, weekly round-ups, band of the week, album of the month, top 10's, YouTube videos. Anyway, enough of my aimless witterings. I hope to see a few of you following and commenting here in the future. Hell, I'd even appreciate a few of you sharing the love...recommend my blog to friends who might be interested, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, etc. See you in the pit. Or something.