No, We Aren't Making These Bands Up: ILM Metal Poll 2010 Results Thread

Listened to Early Graves which I didn't care for all that much, just kinda flew by me (it did well in Decibel, not here).

Also the Darkthrone disc (#73) and I really love the total Hellhammer worship of it all.

the Darkthrone sounded kinda uninspired to me on first hearing. should probably relisten sometime soonish.

i need to check that out still

think i mentioned upthread that i bought the US release of electric wizard and it is ~~~badass~~~

just ordered ghost the other day too

told you so

I like the Electric Wizard pretty well so far and I liked Witchcult Today. I'm curious what people think about the production of these albums. What do you like about it, if you do?

I think the production on it is amazing. I just don't get what people don't like about it... I've been caning it on my headphones, which are ok and on my speakers at home, which are pretty sweet, and it sounds great through either. But, obv, not that good on PC speakers or whatever.

yeah, also love the production as well. esp the seemingly dense layers of feedback. brings loop or early skullflower to mind, particularly when the solos kick in. lots to get lost in but with a thick and heavy crunch anchoring it all.

playing on nice speakers or decent headphones is advised, yeah.

listening now - the prolonged ending to "Satyr IX" is a good example of what I'm trying to describe

I'm listening on studio headphones through a quality Firewire audio interface... I can kind of see what you're saying... So typically, what I would look for in production are things like clarity, detail, spatialization, range in dynamics and frequency. (This even goes for Sabbath, Fun House, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Soundgarden, plenty of contemporary non-stoner metal. Hell, even in Vincebus Eruptum, the elements are distinctly separated and spatialized and the lead lines are foregrounded.) And at first blush, this sounds kind of like mud: all midrange, lines bleeding into each other, vocals kind of distant and washed-out; global reverb perhaps? If I turn it up to hear a lead line better, I'm blasted by the repeated distorted power chords. But it's clear that it's a deliberate aesthetic choice and not simply a cheap recording: The rhythm guitar riffs are clear, the rhythm section has presence. Besides, anyone can afford to do a decent recording these days. So it's something like a noisy guitar rock version of the Spector Wall of Sound aesthetic (which I am actually not that partial to, even for that era of pop!)? Or maybe an effort to recreate the sound of a loud band playing in a muddy basement venue, which this does remind me of? Or stylized nostalgia for 4-track days?

xposts Right. See, the sound at about 9:00 into "Satyr IX" is pretty much everything I would try to avoid on a single guitar track but I can totally see how that is a distinct aesthetic in itself.

hah, I really can hear how this album is something like a mutated wall of sound now that you mention it!

but I agree - I think the production is a deliberate aesthetic choice as well. I used "seemingly" dense to describe the guitar tracks on here because the record really is a disorienting, likely intentionally so. the way everything bleeds together adds some chaos to it, makes things more "psychedelic".

and nostalgia for the 70s is a big part of their sound as well, definitely. I'd say it's a mix of both - taking that "band in a room" vibe and spicing it up with layered guitar noise.

also, they may be stoners, but this is also hardly the first electric wizard release. I'd say it's probable that oborn (only original member at this point, right?) has picked up a studio trick or two over the years.

My interview with Jus Oborn may offer some small insights into what EW are after in the studio, and how they work, etc.

interesting. i wonder if it's a straight-up live recording or if there's some tracking after the fact?

It won't be straight up live. Dopethrone, for example, was by all accounts a lengthy and gruelling process. Also, the rest of Electric Wizard are hardly fresh faced teens straight out of 6th Form. It was also recorded by Liam Watson, so you can be pretty sure that the sound they got was the one they're going for.

just got the physical cd of DAWNBRINGER... excited to hear this one blasting on the hi-fi at home O_O

I have that Dawnbringer, working my way towards it.

played it this morning -- sounds incredible on a good stereo

I finally finished off with the last two discs I didn't get to listen to yet, Enslaved and Dawnbringer. Both are excellent discs but the Dawnbringer was phenomenal. Great riffs! Good tunes! Good times! Might be my favorite of the year if I was voting (which I am not 'cause it's too late!)

Agree re: Dawnbringer, I heard bits and pieces before the poll and threw it on my ballot someplace, then heard the full CD on a good stereo after the poll. It's phenomenal -- would've ranked top 6-8 on my ballot, at least, had I heard it in time.

Jeff Wagner lists his Top 10 Prog Metal albums of the year...

http://blog.bazillionpoints.com/2011/01/18/jeff-wagners-best-progressive-metal-of-2010/

ljbait?

have sought this thread after being disappointed in the utter lack of rock / anything besides rap-indie-electronic music in the 2010 albums poll.

you will not be disappointed.

can't really go wrong with ANY of the top 15 or so albums here imo

there's gems later down the list of course but having heard most (not quite all) of the top 15, it's all really really great

Well I can guarantee you will find plenty of rock here!

Salome vinyl is up for pre-order at Bis Auf's Messer if anyone is interested. I'm sure US distros will get it at some point,

oh and Burning World records are releasing the Nachtmystium live @ Roadburn 2xLP.

oh and ilxor buy a record player

as well as http://vitriolrecords.bigcartel.com/product/graf-orlock-doombox-10-+trilogy-cd-vit013-preorder-12-17

oh and ilxor buy a record player

cds are less expensive, easier to store/shelve, portable, easier to rip to ipod, etc. - why would i want a record player?

¯\(°_o)/¯

Normally I would be supportive of having a record player, but don't buy one to get into collecting metal unless you have tons of $$$$. On the one hand, its cool that there are so many awesome looking collectible vinyl packages out there, but, damn, that shit gets expensive quick.

but you can pick up older stuff real cheap. Ask skot!

Oh, totally! Thats the #1 use for my turntable.

and since ilxor lives in the usa he doesnt have to pay $20 shipping like us not in north america.

Shipping is the worst part actually, as to send it to the UK it can cost more than the actual record. Americans dont realise how good they got it!

Anyone here ever pick up good old metal vinyl bargains?

I have a friend who had a rulke he would never spend more than $20 including shipping on metal vinyl and in the space of only a couple of years he has many, many hundreds of LPs. I used to buy metal vinyl for $2-5. Although I stopped some time ago (and then lost everything when the basement flooded) I had several hundred elpees, mostly all used and cheap. I cannot imagine things have changed that much.. I mean, I had tons of Anvil records for $3 each!

I have a friend who had a rule he would never spend more than $20 including shipping on metal vinyl

One assumes he was American?

One assumes correctly however since we were convincing ilxor and he lives here...

Lucky him, shipping is such a killer now since prices doubled

So far my greatest discovery from this poll has been Cathedral. Thanks to those who voted for them.

Yay! My favorite metal record of last year. Glad you're enjoying it in all its craziness.

Yeah, I totally dig the 70s stoner-hippy grooviness. It's weird because I was like 3 when music like that was popular, but it just sounds right to my ears - must have been subconsciously imprinted on my brain as an infant.

me too. Maybe just being alive in the 70s was enough; I had rust-colored bell bottoms, after all.

I haven't gotten into disc 2 as much yet - it seems more 'normal' stoner/doom metal - but disc 1 has been in heavy rotation lately.

So far my greatest discovery from this poll has been Cathedral. Thanks to those who voted for them.

You mean it wasn't the Hellbeard record? gasp!! lol!! xp

love how sean is saying "xp" his first week on ilx, dude's a regular already

i'm just now hearing that quest for fire record—more satisfying than i sometimes find psych recommendations. it's pretty fucking heavy and serious, though not in a black sabbath/bardo pond heaviness sense, just a very solid and unrelenting low end and not a lot of guitar psych bendiness up top.