THE ILM METAL POLL 2011 RESULTS (All lurkers/non metalheads welcome to join in!)

that fen album isn't bad but the vox are sort of a turnoff, like i find myself skipping ahead through some songs on albums to check for growly vox b/c most of the time those just don't work for me. more my problem than the band's or genre's, maybe.

14. Absu - Abzu (901 Points, 26 Votes, 1 #1)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YpIILwwmMKw/TsjsN6c2mxI/AAAAAAAAAhY/HL3hic7h_LA/s1600/Absu%2B-%2BAbzu.jpg
spotify
http://www.last.fm/music/absu

American black metal band with a sound informed both by thrash and death metal.

Review

by Eduardo Rivadavia

Like a hibernating curse resurrected out of the depths of antiquity, Texan extreme metal mummies Absu returned from a nine-year recording hiatus in 2009, bearing an eponymous fifth album that fully reconfirmed their status as the world's preeminent -- OK, possibly only -- true purveyors of "mythological occult metal." Never mind that, though: the point here is that Absu have always stood alone, at first for being one of the few American bands to deliver convincing post-Inner Circle black metal during the early '90s, but later because group leader Proscriptor simply refuses to leave his mausoleum without draping his songs in mystifying layers of dense, Lovecraftian arcana. Released in 2011, the curiously named Abzu is no exception, and though apparently assembled quickly relative to its predecessor and marked by a brief running time (just 36 minutes, of which 15 are covered by one epic suite), it too has the regal bearing of a major musical "event." It's also rich in both extreme metal fundamentals and enough amusing quirks to once again distinguish Absu's vision from most of the competition, including piercing squeals ("Earth Ripper"), blackened thrash breakaways ("Skrying in the Spirit Vision"), and Spanish guitars ("Circles of the Oath"), not to mention the oft-recurring Celtic music ingredients. Thematically, the latter track delves into the Kabbalah, another, "Abraxas Connexus," into Gnosticism, and the spectacularly named "Ontologically, It Became Time & Space" into...who the f**k knows (though one suspects a mixture of Greek mythology, the Sothis mythos, and dark matter physics) while conically veering between Bathory and Behemoth and beyond. To put it simply, it's irresistibly confounding. And then there's the aforementioned epic, "A Song for Ea," which unfurls all of six distinct songs within a song, immersed one and all in Sumerian religion and specifically the mythical Abzu, from whence all of the earth's fresh subterranean waters supposedly flow. Catch the drift? Bottom line is that Absu's intriguing musical visions may fade into lengthy silence now and again, but whenever they emerge with something new, fans of thought-provoking black metal would do well to listen up.

I am prob one of the black metal dudes but tbh most of the stuff I liked this year has already placed - I mean I could say that I was meh about liturgy and disappointed with that krallice album I guess.

What about Absu?

we're closing in on the top 10 yet noones chatting. Where are the metallers?

13. Blood Ceremony - Living With the Ancients (1,014 Points, 31 Votes, 1 #1)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tB06cmneeAQ/TXlOOf_X4eI/AAAAAAAAFGI/QL3__zoKNUE/s1600/BCLWTA.jpg
http://www.last.fm/music/blood+ceremony

Canadian retro-rock quartet Blood Ceremony plod the same groove worn deep by Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, and other blues-rockers in the late '60s and early '70s. Their debut CD was a pretty decent effort, except for the vocalist, who was flat and tuneless. She's gotten better on this one, and her flute playing has improved, too; she multi-tracks herself on "Coven Tree" to excellent effect, sounding almost Ian Anderson-ish as the band cranks up the ultra-analog blooze/proto-metal riffage behind her. This record's sound is impeccable; it really could have been recorded in 1971. They even get the boxy drum sound right, something modern retro-rockers never manage. The lyrics are satanic hokum, calls to the Black Mass and whatnot, much like the similar Sabbath Assembly project, which set hymns written by post-hippie cult the Process Church of the Final Judgment to acid rock riffs. Living with the Ancients will absolutely appeal to fans of early-'70s proto-metal, but Electric Wizard fans should check it out, too; the band's songs have a similar incantatory power.

Wasn't that impressed with the debut lp but this one is really great.

Friday night, dude. In the pub already.

maybe we should resume monday for the top 10

Now this is more like it. The Blood Ceremony record is fucking awesome, just nails that sound perfectly. My #2.

And listening to Corrupted via Subsonic while wearing an Uncle Acid shirt.

Oh no, I'd rather see it wrap up today. Also, if you wait til Monday it'll be running along with the big ILM poll and that will definitely suck away attention.

Blood Ceremony rock. From my blog (not that anyone but Nate seems to like my write-up):

You know how I said I like retro-80s metal? I like retro-70s metal just as much, if not more. Throw in a dash of proggy hard rock from the era (there’s flute on this thing, in more than one song) and you’re tailoring it more and more to my personal tastes. I’ve also come to really enjoy female vocalists fronting heavy bands, something I could never have imagined as a teenager when I had Lita Ford and Warlock to chose from (I’ve come around a bit on Doro, but not fully) and little else. It seems like more and more the genre is opening up to the idea of female strength and power as valid expression. Kudos to meatheads like me, acknowledging the obvious. Long aside aside, this is a record that, if you told me was lost in a vault after a 1972 recording session I would believe without a shadow of a doubt. Rich and thick sound, with some amazing vintage organ work, Blood Ceremony’s leap from their debut to this album is as big as any I have recently seen. I can’t wait to see where their Hammer films and Devil worshiping asses go from here.

Thats a great and very OTM write-up.

I knew the retro/occult rock of Uncle Acid, The Devil's Blood and Blood Ceremony would score big so I broke my own rule of no non-metal and voted. #15 for Blood Ceremony, bloody good stuff. It's almost proto-metal, like elements of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull...

yeah, I like that.
xp

thanks guys.

I enjoy seeing peoples reviews on the albums placing here

anything I've written up in one place (as opposed to say, Turisas, where my thoughts are spread over lots of blog posts) I'll share here.

Yah, it's better than my blurb from my stoner primer:

In 2008, Toronto, Canada's Blood Ceremony issued their self-titled debut album that features Jethro Tull-inspired flute and female vocalist Alia O'Brien. Named after the 1972 Spanish horror flick Ceremonia Sangrenta, the band mines hundreds of occult themed films as inspiration for their songs. Their second album improves on everything, vocal performance, songwriting and impeccible analog production worthy of the Swedes.

EZ, can you post a link to your blog? Definitely want to keep up with it!

It seems like more and more the genre is opening up to the idea of female strength and power as valid expression. Kudos to meatheads like me, acknowledging the obvious.

<3, although "valid" is kind of a scratchy word imo

to your credit, you did call yourself a meathead!

sure: http://lightbulbhead.tumblr.com/

I just posted a beavis & butthead thing (relavent! They're metal heads!) that made me smile.

12. 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room (1,049 Points, 27 Votes, 1 #1)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E-zIa8-eVlQ/TbbP63u3JYI/AAAAAAAAAzM/W7cRs9QDiKc/s1600/40wattsuninsideroom.jpg
http://www.last.fm/music/40+watt+sun

40 Watt Sun is the music project of singer/guitarist/songwriter Patrick Walker, best known for his previous band, Warning. 40 Watt sun sees Patrick Walker accompanied by drummer/percussionist Christian Leitch, previously best known as the guitarist and founder-member of London-based band The River, and bass player William Spong.

They made their live debut at a small, intimate show at the scream lounge, London, on the 20th December 2009 playing with the London-based band Wake.

The music is characterized by distorted guitars, down-tempo rhythms and strong melodies, and by Patrick Walker’s introspective lyrical themes and poignant vocals.

Their debut album, The Inside Room, was recorded over three days and nights at the library studio in London, produced entirely by the band and engineered and mixed by bassist William Spong. It features five new songs of original material. A bonus song features on the vinyl release. It was released on Cyclone Empire on March 4th 2011.

Review

by Thom Jurek

The reference points for Patrick Walker's emotionally searing, purely melodic brand of doom metal are Justin Broadrick's Jesu project, Bob Mould's bleak rock (à la Black Sheets of Rain), and Michael Stipe's singing at his most nakedly confessional -- though he sounds like no one but himself. Walker's former band, Warning, released one of doom metal's classics in 2006's Watching from a Distance, which created high expectations for any subsequent project. The Inside Room doesn't disappoint. A trio fronted by Walker and featuring engineer William Spong on bass and former Warning drummer Christian Leitch, 40 Watt Sun deliver five songs (ranging from just under seven minutes to nearly 11) that draw on all of his strengths. His protagonists are tortured people; they're literally ripped apart by love, desire, the wish for deliverance, loneliness, and regret. He's unafraid to give them a clear voice, allowing their pain and vulnerability to give them dimension. The pace here is slow to very slow and the guitar is as pronounced as anything in the doom or metal genre, without all the jive, "evil for it's own sake" or faux gothic clichés for lyrics. "I can't see my way when shame is covering my eyes" are the opening words in the album's first track, "Restless." As Leitch's drums plod, accenting each sung line, Spong's bassline adds an element of danger to the clarity in Walker's voice. His guitar lines, from one snail-like chord to the next, reveal the coiled power of chaos that lies just under the surface of his character's frailty. The riff in "Open My Eyes" is spun out one layered, distorted string at a time, with well-placed rim shots and a steady thrumming bassline. The protagonist seeks to express his gratitude to his beloved, all the while seeking to pull her from sinking under the same emotional depths she's pulled him from previously. A subtle second melody creates another series of tensions as the singer finds himself powerless to help affect this change. "Between Times" is the most representative doom tune here, with its words "Carry me over between times/In your red room on quilted blankets/Laying awake in this low light." The gorgeous lyrics (printed in the booklet) are murkier on "Carry Me Home," wrapped in a blanket of fuzz and melancholic menace. "This Alone" is seemingly pastoral in contrast to the rest, but its twinned guitars and basslines underscore the funereal pace of Leitch's drums. It rings, on and on, seemingly forever, even as Walker's voice expends itself, professing love even as it expresses terrible loss and projects total loneliness. The Inside Room is almost monstrously great even as it pushes doom metal to its margins and over them.

Blood Ceremony was my #5 I think...? That album owns!

Liturgy ended up being #11 or #12; I didn't realize that many people were not enthusiastic about it. I thought it was a lock for top 3.

I'm kind of in the 'meh' boat with it myself, though I love 'Returner' which was some sort of preview track for a blog or something. That track p much is all I need from the album, which didn't get any votes from the big poll from me, though I gave lots to 'Returner' in traxx...

so far, pretty impressed w/a lot of these particularly old silver key, grayceon, tombs, rwake, black tusk, blood ceremony, wooden staken, and maybe surprisingly within temptation and nightwish.

40 watt sun is amazing of course imo, i love warning.

I used valid because I think that fans of heavy music have often considered female contributions more than just irrelevant and silly but actually invalid, as in, "you have no right to express yourself in this most macho of ways." That was definitely my sense of the community as a teen in the States in the 80s.

I was a meathead, truly. I didn't even question those assumptions as a teen.

lots of xposts

the female side of metal during a certain period was represented to me, unfortunately, as lita ford and girls crawling around on ratt album covers. also my definition of "metal" was very much "103.5 the blaze" (which a chicagoan might get.)

Big batch of Erik stuff here today!

on 40 Watt Sun:

Slow epic doom has always been a dark, melancholy genre, though one often suffused with anger and frustration. At least I think so, judging by the unintelligible cookie monster growls and screeching black metal howls that are often par for the course. Here, former Warning vocalist/guitarist Patrick Walker eschews those norms for clear, evocative vocals that are as dark, depressing and self-reflective as any I’ve ever heard. This is one of the most personal records to ever welcome me in (most often that level of personal intensity raises a forbidding wall) and allow a glimpse into the mind of one man in excruciating pain. That the subtle hooks and strong melodies make you want to sing along only hurts all the more.

fabulous album

he reminds me in some way (whether or not you find the comparison flattering or valid is up to you) of brendan perry, not in vox exactly but in just clarity and emotional intensity.

I can see that.

40 Watt Sun is what I'd expect non-metal folks to go for over Liturgy. Dangerously, crushingly depressing though. I was trying to listen to it while I started on my year-end lists the first week of December, but our cat had just died and it was just too damn much. I was able to re-listen before this poll, and it made my #10.

xp - and I have no intention of dominating the conversation with this topic, just wanted to make one last comment -- I guess "valid" was an appropriate word choice then, makes sense. You'll have to excuse me for being a little O_O though; it's like when my mom told me that she was sent home from her first teaching job for wearing pants. The end.

totally fair reaction! The scene I grew up in was a real mess.

40 Watt Sun is what I'd expect non-metal folks to go for over Liturgy.

Or super awesome trv metal dudes like me!

I think metal has evolved enough since the 80s pop metal scene (which you could debate wasn't even really metal) that female singers are, for the most part, accepted and welcomed. Not to say that there aren't misogynistic pigs in the fan base, no denying that, but I feel like they're in the minority now. Still, as the constant Revolver Hottest Chicks in Metal issues remind us, there's still some way to go before women are accepted on their own terms.

Whiney got mad the last time I brought that issue up

11. The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre (1,056 Points, 29 Votes, 3 #1s)
http://www.nuclearblast.de/shop/artikel/bilder/the-devil-s-blood-the-thousandfold-epicentre-artbook/189455.jpg?x=1000&y=1000
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Devil%27s+Blood

The Devil’s Blood (http://thedevilsblood.com) is an occult rock band from the Netherlands formed in 2006.

“We will serve you with what can best be described as a Satanic Ritual in which crowd participation becomes pivotal. You will wear our blood, you will taste our hunger, you will devour our spiritual release. Although far above you and unattainable for you in the current stages of your evolution, We, the acolytes of His immortal will, welcome you to join us in a night of violence, substance abuse, love and hate. We would just as gladly be a place of worship, a church if you will, for true believers as we would be a left hand exit point for those still on the side of the pure and holy. We would take your offering and redirect it back into The Source of Darkness. We would be your pathway to Chaos. Rejoice, the time of no time evermore is coming.

What can you expect musically?

Without saying too much, or saying nothing at all, you can expect a frenzy of rock n roll flavoured hard rock that speak of times decades past, no modernisms, no trends, no high end sounds. Just Vintage rock music in the vein of Roky Erickson, Black Widow, Coven, Black Sabbath and a rich plethora of sixties and seventies underground psychedelic rock bands too numerous to mention. Although The Devil’s Blood are inspired and fueled by their love for these bands they are not a tribute band in any way or form. Instead we offer new, original, fresh material to strengthen our live rituals and appease our Master’s senses.

So even though The Devil’s Blood play “old time music” they do it with the same creative and artistic drive as their inspirators.”

http://www.doommantia.com/2011/10/devils-blood-thousandfold-epicentre.html

For all our readers with ADD: yes The Thousandfold Epicentre is a brilliant album, yes it gets a 10 and yes you should buy it immediately. So order the album, and then get back here to read the entire review ?. On repeat ever since I got the promo, Thousandfold Epicentre is everything you could have ever hoped for, and more. I’ll try to write some comments that effect the album as a whole. The overall sound is more clearer, and I can think we can properly speak of an so-called ‘epic’ album, in its reach, execution and feel. There is an evident growth in both the craftsmanship or execution of the music by the musicians, and the overall quality of the musical product. I got into The Devil’s Blood when listening to The Time Of No Time Evermore. I got the demo of course, and Come, Reap, but I really started enjoying them with The Time Of No Time Evermore. Why? Because they managed to equal international (and historical) like-minded acts like Jex Thoth, Blood Ceremony, Coven, Black Widow, Roky Erickson, be it musically or inspirationally. The Graveyard Shuffle, I’ll Be Your Ghost and the aforementioned releases gain in my opinion from the quality of the stellar The Time Of No Time Evermore album. And now there is The Thousandfold Epicentre. I’ll try to calm my enthusiasm, but in every way it’s a very important release, both for the band as for the nice niche of occult rock that The Devil’s Blood now commands.

It’s nice to be able to accurately hear the lyrics, Selim (guitar & mastermind of The Devil’s Blood) is a true poet of occult doom, and I think this album can be best appreciated when taken as a whole. That’s why I have the feeling we are dealing with a conceptual album here. I mean conceptual in the way that Selim magically focus his total energy in every single second of this release. He channels this nice Edgar Allen Poe sphere of beautiful hauntedness. For the duration of this album we are totally under his spell and we can delve safely in his poetics of lyrical Satanism, magick and what not.

As for the production, a lot of time must have been invested in adding little touches of extra instruments like various stringed instruments and organ or synthesizer. I was a bit hesitant when I heard the new material live in a tryout show, but hearing the total album with all its great details (and overdubs) it’s just plain magnificent. With this album, The Devil’s Blood aims high and the broad, overall approach works like a charm. If I were to describe the album as a whole, I would say: the tracks on this album really ‘belong’ to one another, and can best be appreciated as a whole, because of the story told in the songs. The construction of the tracks is done slowly, and that is why the impact of the album is so strong. Summed up, well, you get The Thousandfold Epicentre. By now we can safely state that The Devil’s Blood have transcended Jex Thoth and Blood Ceremony, and I can only shiver what their next step in musical occult domination will be. The artwork is beautiful, and I’m really looking forward to my vinyl copy of The Thousandfold Epicentre to fully appreciate the extensive artwork.

As for the songs, let’s delve somewhat deeper into them. Starting with Unending Singularity, this track serves as an intro to On The Wings Of Gloria, a seven minutes plus track that immediately shows you the growth that this band has made. On The Wings Of Gloria has this nice twang in the riff, and the vocals of Mouth introduce us to the new level of songwriting that The Devil’s Blood has achieved. Her voice seems even stronger than on previous releases, and I really love the added distorted background vocals. After four minutes, the energy is released, and we hear nice keys added to the chorus. The guitars and rhythm are in a healthy co-op, and Die The Death continues the sphere of the first track. Dig the la-la-la-la chorus! Within The Charnel House Of Love is another epic track, with nicely tempoed guitars and rhythm section. Cruel Lover is one of the favorites, with a galloping rhythm that will make you drool. After four minutes cosmic sounds are added (giving this and a couple of other tracks loose ‘space rock’ elements). She – we have arrived at track number six – is a straight occult rocker with very clear vocals. She is likely to become a live favorite, with a very memorable chorus and a plain and simple good song. The title track is a personal favorite, because of, well, everything. Just listen to the song and be happy. Oh yeah, the memorable riff I suppose, coupled to the lyrics – I’ll call youre your name – Devil! Fire Burning’s lyrics are penned by Saturnalia Temple’s brethren in occult doom, and the last three tracks – Everlasting Saturnalia, The Madness Of Serpents and Feverdance – really serve as one big monster track. Everlasting Saturnalia is fully centered on Mouth’s beautiful voice, and serves as intro to The Madness Of Serpents. More than eight minutes of occult bliss, and we end the disc (or vinyl) with Feverdance – lasting fifteen minutes plus. The track opens up with Mouth’s vocals hypnotizing you into a state where eventually you have to say farewell of wave goodbye to The Thousandfold Epicentre.

It’s a shame really that my scale goes up to 10 only, I wish I had an reviewer’s scale equivalent of Spinal Tap’s amplifier that goes up to 11… Here is a teaser: At YouTube but you can check more teasers at Van Records @ YouTube . I’m proud to be a Dutchman again :D......10/10

Words: Sandrijn van den Oever

Wow! This 40 Watt Sun is great!
xp

The Devil's Blood is going to be really high up on my end of year list for Decibel this year (which sidesteps the issue of the album coming out in November in Europe and January in the states since the cut off for the list is the end of October anyway). Right now it's the one to beat.

Yeah the only negative thing I can say about 40 watt sun is that they aren't as good as warning was, but warning was incredibly awesome so

40 Watt Sun really didn't grab me. No idea why.

Probably because doom is boring :-)

heh

But seriously, didn't really grab me either. Maybe I just haven't been in the right mindset for music that crushingly depressing?

Blood stain child has given you ADHD prob

^^^^

Well I am, and it still didn't grab me like it should have.