The Poseur Cave

Wpnfire · 10-12-2014, 06:17 PM

That Xysma demo maybe?

The Batlord · 10-12-2014, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpnfire

That Xysma demo maybe?

Nah. Just go listen to one of Carcass' first two albums. They're's generally no need to listen to 95% of goregrind when you can just listen to them.

Isbjørn · 10-13-2014, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Nah. Just go listen to one of Carcass' first two albums. They're's generally no need to listen to 95% of goregrind when you can just listen to them.

Too late, I've already tried Xysma now. Might write something about them later.

The Batlord · 10-13-2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

Too late, I've already tried Xysma now. Might write something about them later.

I forget how you feel about death metal in general, but Carcass is pretty much required listening if you're exploring extreme metal. Honestly though, if you're still somewhat new then it might make sense to go backwards with their catalog, as they grew more accessible as time went on, though the quality always remained high. I'd steer clear of their last pre-reunion album though, Swan Song, as it's pretty dull.

But Heartwork would be a brilliant place to start. Along with At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul (another piece of required listening), it pretty much invented melodic death metal, while being one of, if not the most brutal albums of the genre. Very few melodic death metal albums actually qualify as extreme metal, but that one most certainly does.

The one before that, Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious, was a pretty straight-up death metal album, though a lot of the lead guitar shows where they would go with Heartwork, and is probably the album that I hear praised as their best the most often, although all four of their first albums get called that by various camps. Definitely one of the best death metal albums you'll ever hear, while still being fairly accessible.

I haven't listened to as much of their two earlier albums, which were their grindcore ones (Though the second, Symphonies of Sickness, shows signs of moving towards death metal.) Those are some really brutal albums. That was before they got Michael Amott on lead guitar (the guy behind Arch Enemy these days), and he was the one who really seemed to be pushing them in a more melodic direction. I'd say if you're still getting used to extreme metal then you'd be better off listening to Symphonies first, as the production on their first, Reek of Putrefaction, has absolutely abysmal production. The band weren't even going for bad production, it just sort of happened. I think the recordings somehow got ****ed up somewhere in between recording and releasing the album and there just wasn't enough time and money to do anything about it. Still, if you can dig that kind of early, primitive grindcore, like early Napalm Death, it's a pretty great album.

Isbjørn · 10-13-2014, 08:50 AM

I've not listened to a whole lot of death metal, but I know Heartwork. I'd say it's pretty good. Anyway...

Stolen directly from Overdub Guitar Central...

Artist: Xysma
Album: Swarming of the Maggots
Year: 1989
Genre: Goregrind

So this is my first grindcore album, and I don't really have anything to say about it. Extreme metal bands aren't known for high production values, and this is also a demo, so all I could hear was some drums, some buzzing guitars, and boring, incomprehensible vocals. Utter mess. I just sat there waiting for it to finish. Luckily, it only lasted for 17 minutes.

2/5

But Batty, no worries, I won't avoid grindcore or anything. I still have yet to check out Pig Destroyer.

Isbjørn · 10-13-2014, 10:36 AM

Guys, new Weezer album

Artist: Weezer
Album: Everything Will Be Alright in the End
Year: 2014
Genre: Power pop

A while ago, I heard that Weezer were releasing a new album. I didn't get all that excited, as I'd only heard their two first albums, and everyone talks about the seven following ones being utter crap. I liked the album cover, though. Look at that album cover. It's cool. Anyway, I heard their new single, "Back to the Shack", and I was not impressed. Mediocre radio rock at its mediocre...st? It lacked catchiness, so it was just a dumb tune about how they should stop writing dumb tunes. Then I heard their other single, "Cleopatra", and thought "hey, that one wasn't too bad", and I started waiting for the album just like everyone else.

And then, tuesday last week, it was released. I gave it a listen right now, and hey, I was positively surprised. The first track starts out with a pretty dull, chuggy guitar riff, but quickly becomes a catchy power pop song that I totally bobbed my head to. It's followed by... eh, "Back to the Shack", which is easily the worst song on the album. But the next song, "Eulogy For a Rock Band" is awesome, probably my favourite of the album, and totally makes up for it. The songs get a little samey after a while, as they're all just similarly constructed hook rock tunes (it's a fun style, though), but at the end is a trilogy of well-composed, up-beat tracks that all focus on the instrumentation rather than the vocals. Actually, only one of them has vocals: "II. Anonymous", and they're not even the main focus, but only there to help build the (almost overtly) happy atmosphere.

So... positive surprise, much recommended, not Pinkerton or anything, but still a good album.

3.5/5

Isbjørn · 11-01-2014, 05:10 AM

Chunks of metal: black metal

Artist: Mayhem
Album: Deathcrush (EP)
Year: 1987
Genre: 1st wave black metal

Hello, journal. Long time, no see. I thought it was about time I wrote something here, and I thought this was a decent choice for an entry. I'm also posting it right after the end of Metal Month. Heh, irony.

You all know Mayhem. Everyone's heard the "member committed suicide, scene was photographed by guitarist, guitarist was murdered by bassist, bassist burned churches and then went to jail" story. Their debut full-length, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, gained a bit of attention because of the disturbed bastards involved. The music on it is alright, but gets monotonous after a while. Attila is a ridiculous vocalist. But then there is Deathcrush, the band's second EP, which is a goddamn brutal black/thrash attack from start to finish. Alright, second track to finish. The opener, "Silvester Anfang" is a percussion-only track written by Conrad Schnitzler, who has worked with Tangerine Dream, so I guess he's a big deal? But it's effective. It gets you in the mood, man. It's like the soundtrack to marching out to war, and then the war actually starts with “Deathcrush”, which features a sick buzzsaw-riff and a dude screaming as if he's getting his manly pride chopped off. Much better than Attila. Silly Attila. The next track bears the charming title of... eh... “Chainsaw Gutsfuck”, and has equally charming lyrics about... no, go find out yourself. I'm glad the vocalist is screaming incomprehensibly. The riff is awesome, though. The next song is a Venom cover, but slightly more kvlt than the original. We get another piece of distorted riffage, “Necrolust”, and then suddenly a change in style: “(weird) Manheim” is a brooding synth track, which makes me think of Burzum's ambient music. Then it's back to evil and distortion, with “Pure fucking Armageddon”, an album closer worthy of its title.

This is a really short release, but I'm kind of glad that it's not longer. All the tracks are similar, and I feel that an increased length would take away a lot of its impact.

4.5/5

Pet_Sounds · 11-01-2014, 07:32 AM

Did you review a single metal album (except for the one in The Playlist of Life) during Metal Month II?

Isbjørn · 11-01-2014, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

Did you review a single metal album (except for the one in The Playlist of Life) during Metal Month II?

I briefly talked about a grindcore album (that Xysma demo), but otherwise, nope. Definitely one of the months in which this journal featured the least metal.

Pet_Sounds · 11-01-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

I briefly talked about a grindcore album (that Xysma demo), but otherwise, nope. Definitely one of the months in which this journal featured the least metal.

Ah, right. You realize there was more metal in my journals last month? Somehow, I can't see that happening again for a while.

10-12-2014, 06:17 PM	#251 (permalink)
Wpnfire Dragon Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas, United States Posts: 2,744	That Xysma demo maybe? __________________ Last.FM My RYM Ratings *My Glitchwave Beta Profile*

10-13-2014, 08:50 AM	#255 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	I've not listened to a whole lot of death metal, but I know Heartwork. I'd say it's pretty good. Anyway... Stolen directly from Overdub Guitar Central... Artist: Xysma Album: Swarming of the Maggots Year: 1989 Genre: Goregrind So this is my first grindcore album, and I don't really have anything to say about it. Extreme metal bands aren't known for high production values, and this is also a demo, so all I could hear was some drums, some buzzing guitars, and boring, incomprehensible vocals. Utter mess. I just sat there waiting for it to finish. Luckily, it only lasted for 17 minutes. 2/5 But Batty, no worries, I won't avoid grindcore or anything. I still have yet to check out Pig Destroyer. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

10-13-2014, 10:36 AM	#256 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Guys, new Weezer album Artist: Weezer Album: Everything Will Be Alright in the End Year: 2014 Genre: Power pop A while ago, I heard that Weezer were releasing a new album. I didn't get all that excited, as I'd only heard their two first albums, and everyone talks about the seven following ones being utter crap. I liked the album cover, though. Look at that album cover. It's cool. Anyway, I heard their new single, "Back to the Shack", and I was not impressed. Mediocre radio rock at its mediocre...st? It lacked catchiness, so it was just a dumb tune about how they should stop writing dumb tunes. Then I heard their other single, "Cleopatra", and thought "hey, that one wasn't too bad", and I started waiting for the album just like everyone else. And then, tuesday last week, it was released. I gave it a listen right now, and hey, I was positively surprised. The first track starts out with a pretty dull, chuggy guitar riff, but quickly becomes a catchy power pop song that I totally bobbed my head to. It's followed by... eh, "Back to the Shack", which is easily the worst song on the album. But the next song, "Eulogy For a Rock Band" is awesome, probably my favourite of the album, and totally makes up for it. The songs get a little samey after a while, as they're all just similarly constructed hook rock tunes (it's a fun style, though), but at the end is a trilogy of well-composed, up-beat tracks that all focus on the instrumentation rather than the vocals. Actually, only one of them has vocals: "II. Anonymous", and they're not even the main focus, but only there to help build the (almost overtly) happy atmosphere. So... positive surprise, much recommended, not Pinkerton or anything, but still a good album. 3.5/5 __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

11-01-2014, 05:10 AM	#257 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Chunks of metal: black metal Artist: Mayhem Album: Deathcrush (EP) Year: 1987 Genre: 1st wave black metal Hello, journal. Long time, no see. I thought it was about time I wrote something here, and I thought this was a decent choice for an entry. I'm also posting it right after the end of Metal Month. Heh, irony. You all know Mayhem. Everyone's heard the "member committed suicide, scene was photographed by guitarist, guitarist was murdered by bassist, bassist burned churches and then went to jail" story. Their debut full-length, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, gained a bit of attention because of the disturbed bastards involved. The music on it is alright, but gets monotonous after a while. Attila is a ridiculous vocalist. But then there is Deathcrush, the band's second EP, which is a goddamn brutal black/thrash attack from start to finish. Alright, second track to finish. The opener, "Silvester Anfang" is a percussion-only track written by Conrad Schnitzler, who has worked with Tangerine Dream, so I guess he's a big deal? But it's effective. It gets you in the mood, man. It's like the soundtrack to marching out to war, and then the war actually starts with “Deathcrush”, which features a sick buzzsaw-riff and a dude screaming as if he's getting his manly pride chopped off. Much better than Attila. Silly Attila. The next track bears the charming title of... eh... “Chainsaw Gutsfuck”, and has equally charming lyrics about... no, go find out yourself. I'm glad the vocalist is screaming incomprehensibly. The riff is awesome, though. The next song is a Venom cover, but slightly more kvlt than the original. We get another piece of distorted riffage, “Necrolust”, and then suddenly a change in style: “(weird) Manheim” is a brooding synth track, which makes me think of Burzum's ambient music. Then it's back to evil and distortion, with “Pure fucking Armageddon”, an album closer worthy of its title. This is a really short release, but I'm kind of glad that it's not longer. All the tracks are similar, and I feel that an increased length would take away a lot of its impact. 4.5/5 __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

11-01-2014, 07:32 AM	#258 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,488	Did you review a single metal album (except for the one in The Playlist of Life) during Metal Month II? __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease