Rolling Metal 2017

Nokturnal Mortum just announced that the new album drops Monday. Should be on their bandcamp then.

https://nokturnalmortum1.bandcamp.com/

Everyone who orders it wil be hacked by Russians.

No really, great news. No idea what to expect in terms of quality, it's been ten years since their last album.

surely they loathe + detest russians

stoked anyway

They're NSBM, they hate everyone

They're not NSBM anymore, supposedly.

Yeah this was made clear by their song "Adolf Doesn't Want Me for a Blitzkrieg"

new album is mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler btw

and it's up

LOL at some NSBM losers saying they're 'no longer political' - you put out a split with Graveland last year FFS.

^^^^^^^^^^ otm. I listen to a lot of bm so I can't pretend my collection's going to be 100% ideologically pure, though: 1) A lot of it's not outwardly political and so obscure that no-one gives a fuck what they think/thought anyway, and 2) most racist/nsbm bands are fucking dogshit anyway.

I kind of resent having to do a bit of research sometimes when finding new bm to listen to, but I did this for Moonsorrow and found a thing where one of the members of that band explicitly states they are anti-Nazi/racist; compare and contrast that to Nokturnal Mortum's mealy-mouthed bollocks.

In today's climate they may very well feel safe to write anti-semitic lyrics again anyway, who fucking knows.

And while I don't like Nokturnal Mortum on a musical level, I don't care if other people listen to them and know that doing so doesn't mean you support fascism etc etc but it's the noncommittal tone that smacks of dishonesty behind NM's statement that irks me.

I'm not sure if such reductionism is very useful. Issues with misogyny, intolerance, racism, communism, fascism, nationalism, religion etc are not divorced from geographical and cultural context - this is not an issue with black metal (or even music) alone.

Haven't read the lyrics of this new record yet, but from an band operating in a Ukrainian warzone, a record without any overt nastiness (like NM have operated for the past 15-ish years) is fine with me.

I mean I'm not asking for a public apology from the remaining members of The Clash for writing Sandinista. For whatever reason, many people are too proud to renounce their past, esp when it still pays the bills thirty years later. I'm pretty sure they believed in the movement at the time and I'm not holding it against them (and certainly not their music), as long as they don't overtly support those fuckers in 2017.

I'm not sure if such reductionism is very useful. Issues with misogyny, intolerance, racism, communism, fascism, nationalism, religion etc are not divorced from geographical and cultural context - this is not an issue with black metal (or even music) alone.

Ehhh that feels like an excuse, and it's also assuming a vastly different cultural context.

The long and the short of it is, like ultros says, that non-committal tone is bad faith: if you were once NS then explicitly renounce your ways, that's that; merely saying 'I'm not political anymore' or the like is a cop-out at best, but more likely a nod-and-a-wink to fellow travellers. Are you too proud to take it back? Sucks for you, I'll hold it against you.

At the same time, I don't think it's the same as those who play with fascist imagery with that kind of haughty smugness of 'oh I know what wolf's hooks and sunwheels really mean, it's on you if you think I mean something else'. You know who I mean.

Anyway, I'm still gonna LOL at fake 'apolitical' pontificating.

A couple of albums I like are streaming in full in advance of their release:
The Wizards - Full Moon in Scorpio (Out 2017-05-16 on Fighter Records)
Saule - Saule (Out 2017-05-13 on Avantgarde Music)

Difficulty: Neither website is in English. Fortunately The Wizards' shit-kicking occult doom and Saule's shimmering post-black metal need no translations.

I'm not going to require an explicit apology/recognition of the Armenian genocide before I can enjoy a Turkish musician - esp if it doesn't play up the issue, their work stands on its own merits. I'm not asking Christians to acknowledge atrocities and intolerance, and I can enjoy their music as long as the music doesn't try to push the message too heavily. I'm sure you can think of similar cases with violence, misogyny, attitudes to gay ppl, etc. I know these are complex issues with various degrees of intensity, and people have various reasons to hold the beliefs that they do, but if they abstain from pushing their ideals in order to make their music more widely enjoyable, this is not something to hold against them. I hold it against them when they do push the issue.

Regardless of what they believe or where they come from I believe all artists have a voice - sure if that voice then sprout all kinds of odious hatred (or just general dumbassery), by all means tune out and call them out on it, but to dismiss them upfront regardless of the actual content is not really defensible in my view. Or rather, I don't think anything good ever came from this attitude.

nazi black metallers fuck off

The Voice Of Steel was impressive for its integration of Ukrainian folk elements. If the new album loses that without fully renouncing the NSBM shit, I'd have no problem skipping it. I've got plenty of other stuff to listen to.

thought tbh I can't believe this discussion is still relevant in 2017, but sadly it is

if there's no actual nazi content in their lyrics it really comes down to 'is the music good', which the last album imo was. will be listening to this one keenly (heard first four tracks earlier - didn't grab me as much but I was intrigued to hear them go in a folkier direction)

if anyone has substantial dirt to dish on them i'm all ears obv

hmm, this is growing on me quite a lot, sorry everyone

topical creams are good for that

Just downloaded a promo of the self-titled debut by a one-man project called Les Chants Du Hasard, which the press release describes as follows:

The band's eponymous debut is an experimental work featuring a mix of classical music and black metal without any guitar, bass or drums – only orchestral instruments. The result is a shocking and fascinating lecture of 1800's orchestral music as seen through the deforming lens of extreme metal; an original hybrid that marries the abrasive, aggressive vocals typical of black metal with the majestic and dramatic aura of classical music, caught in its darkest expressions. “The album is influenced by orchestral works and operas from composers like Modest Mussorgsky, Sergej Prokofiev and Richard Strauss,” Hazard explains. “I thought a lot about how to articulate it with black metal; especially the vocals, which I wanted in the vein of Ulver, Emperor and Ved Buens Ende.”

I'm intrigued.

hmm! label?

It's on I, Voidhanger. Comes out June 23.

yeah count me in too

https://leschantsduhasard.bandcamp.com/releases

There's one track available, anyway. Kinda reminds me of a way more dynamic Slagmaur (and without the incessant metronome drums obviously). Probably a pretty trippy experience as a whole album.

One day there's gonna be a black metal opera, isn't there...

it sounds like arcturus

that's not a bad thing btw

mind you, "no drums"

*timpani barrage*

hmm, not sure about this

holst's 'mars' >>>>>>>>>>>>

That's a pretty high bar tbh.

Listened to the whole album this morning. It's great - the arrangements aren't cheesy movie-score orchestral, like Dimmu Borgir or Satyricon; they're really weird and atmospheric, like avant-garde opera in parts. There are multiple voices throughout; his lead lines are almost buried at times, and at other times he's basically arguing with background singers who come off like voices in his head. The guy knows what he's doing. It kinda reminds me of a cross between Sunn O)))'s Monoliths & Dimensions and a really experimental staging of Beethoven's Fidelio I watched on DVD not long ago.

Saw Amon Amarth and Goatwhore last night. Both bands slayed. New track that Goatwhore played was on the slower side but it shows the band's sludginess nicely. And I was never a *huge* Amon Amarth fan. I liked them but it bugged me that they were tagged Viking Metal when you had bands such as Tyr who were using ancient instrumentation. Seeing the band live softened my stance as they were epic and galloping and a lot of fun.

GOATWHORE

http://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18423871_10158653140960597_7756455488721387681_n.jpg?oh=0cb2958bdb2705508f1ded0d6eb53b44&oe=59C048F2

AMON AMARTH

http://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18301010_10158653606590597_264990608522995826_n.jpg?oh=168035db5fb385e8f89ae475113f3c5c&oe=59833728

http://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18425290_10158653606805597_4648843476834453228_n.jpg?oh=181d547f9e126c0ea57fcbc9adf4b796&oe=597CF9D1

In other news ILX Rolling Metal faves Astronoid will be opening the Philly Ghost show, which is really great for the band and for me since I love them both.

Ghost, it should be noted, are having some really good openers on their headlining dates around the Maiden tour. Aside from Astronoid in my neck of the woods they have Khemmis, True Widow, Repulsion, Zombi and Royal Thunder. Even if you don't like the band, that's pretty cool.

Blind Guardian putting out a 3CD live album, Live Beyond The Spheres, in July:

CD1
01. The Ninth Wave
02. Banish From Sanctuary
03. Nightfall
04. Prophecies
05. Tanelorn
06. The Last Candle
07. And Then There Was Silence

CD2
01. The Lord Of The Rings
02. Fly
03. Bright Eyes
04. Lost In The Twilight Hall
05. Imaginations From The Other Side
06. Into The Storm
07. Twilight Of The Gods
08. A Past And Future Secret
09. And The Story Ends

CD3
01. Sacred Worlds
02. The Bard’s Song (In The Forest)
03. Valhalla
04. Wheel Of Time
05. Majesty
06. Mirror Mirror

Seeing Opeth and Gojira tonight. don't know anything about Devin Townshend, may just skip him. I really like Opeth's full prog shift.

that is one hell of a triple bill. don't skip devin ffs

yea wtf

New Runs of Beverast streaming at YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG_3KXs8mbQ1XThEa7aWLXpwpOxIWkUTc

Haven't heard it yet but some people I trust have said it's great...

Digging the sludgy, doomy death metal of Morast's debut:

http://morast-vanrecords.bandcamp.com

My review of the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest ran. They ran a sidebar about the Beer Makers & Hell Raisers as well.

I think I should be able to get free beer at every show...

fuuuuuuck that new ruins of beverast is great

New Danzig song is better than the last one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu1UVwwNbWo

That album cover is still just a massive self-inflicted wound, though.

that album cover though...

that Danzig song is actually pretty good!

Metallica Concert Musings

* Volbeat is boring. Sorry. We didn't get Avenged Sevenfold because someone in the band flew away to be with his wife when she went into premature labor. Fine with me.

* Metallica played "Motorbreath." Kind of a surprise, not something they usually drag out of the mothballs. Made me all smiley.

* The video screens were really unique, five giant panels that could be used a variety of ways. It helped those of us in the nosebleeds.

* Final tally: Five songs from the new album, five from the Black Album, three from Ride, two each from Kill Em All and Master and only "One" from Justice.

* Zero songs from Load, Re-load, St. Anger and Death Magnetic! The band definitely weeded out the stuff I don't personally like save for too much Black Album but those are the hits so...

* No Death Magnetic seemed strange since it was their last album, return to form deal, but even so it is what, seven years old now?

* No covers! All originals! Sorry Diamond Head, no royalties for you (this time).

* The new songs were really well-chosen save for "Halo On Fire" which is boring but the band had the entire video played on the screens and that video was pretty cool so that helped.

* Nice homage to Cliff Burton while Robert Trujillo pulled some teeth.

* They did a ridiculous drum solo where every band member started banging on huge fucking drums. It was ridiculous, like "we need a drum solo but Lars is Lars so hey, let's do something wacky..."

* "Creeping Death" is still so fucking great. I mean, really.

* After encoring with "Battery" they ended with "Nothing Else Matters" (snooze) and "Enter Sandman" which is okay, I guess, but I still feel zero regrets about avoiding the crowd and heading to the exit at that point.

* This caused me to miss fireworks. Bummer.

* Did I mention they played "Motorbreath?"

* I enjoyed myself. Even though I was far away from the stage I was able to stand and headbang to the classic stuff like I was young again. I will have a sore neck tomorrow and that's okay.

* That said, this was a $60 ticket. $100 for up there was just way too much. I would see them again and even pay $150 for general admission seats provided I take a half day from work and get there early enough to run to the front.

This was the view a $100 ticket gave you.

http://scontent.fphl2-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18451382_10158675788830597_8990778482183078238_o.jpg?oh=87e236fae0ff4ad0b42dd6862eee8805&oe=59B084FB

hey if you guys like doomv bloosy sludge that verges on post-hxc/post-rock you could do a lot worse than Show of Bedlam's new "Transfiguration"

interesting Russian act that sort of tries to do an explosions-in-the-sky-goes-katatonia thing

https://dir666.bandcamp.com/album/elimino