Rolling Metal Thread 2012

I'm really digging the Astra record that came out recently, The Black Chord. More spacey/proggy than heavy, but it mines that early 70s proto-metal vibe pretty well.

not heard that yet either but again a lot say its not as good as the wierding. but im damn well looking forward to hearing it

i prefer to trust my own judgement i guess. Tho if people really hate something it can influence me to avoid it.

Based on this record I need to go back and hear The Weirding. Somehow missed it.

got pallbearer cd in btw along with a couple of mournful congregation cds. Glorious doom

xp

you're in for a treat. I played a track in outloud once, im sure you were there.

I think the new Astra's a step up from The Weirding. They're always derivative, but I still thoroughly enjoy their stuff.

Listened to the first High On Fire the other day for the first time in years. It really does sound like a whole different band, but some of my favorite of their songs are on there ("10,000 Years" in particular).

In other news, I have a copy of the upcoming Gojira album and you don't.

10,000 years is my alltime fave

Interested to hear what you think of the Gojira album, Phil. It's been a very long time coming obviously.

It's really good. They haven't changed their style much - they're still Gojira - but the more young, idea-less djent bands I listen to, the more brilliant these guys sound. Plus, the first song is one of the great album-opening tracks of all time. Seriously crushing.

yeah The Black Chord is really awesome, but i'm also totally a sucker for this stuff. i like the more spacey sound than The Weirding. totally unoriginal, retro shit but i'm down.

Art of Self Defense has the best songs. Surrounded By Thieves is the most brutal. Blessed Black Wings has the best sound. After that, I don't care anymore...

These guys are very enthusiastic about the HoF
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2012/03/12/highonfirereview-2/
http://www.doommantia.com/2012/03/high-on-fire-de-vermis-mysteriis.html

And holy crap, Gojira! I didn't even know there was an official release date yet, let alone a title! What is the title? And the release date?

I like the new Astra, need to listen more. This sounds promising:
Mares Of Thrace - The Pilgrimage (Sonic Unyon) Apr 24

The Mares of Thrace album is crushing. Having Sanford Parker produce really brought out the heaviness of their live sound, plus the songs are ace.

I like Mares live and on CD. It's more abrasive than a lot of what I listen to these days, but it's really good. Pulls no punches.

Seriously though, throw us a bone! What's the new Gojira called, and when's it out?

I've only heard the Mares of Thrace EP on Bandcamp so far, though my bud Collin mastered it. Look forward to hearing it based on this: http://www.doommantia.com/2012/03/mares-of-thrace-pilgrimage.html

i'm glad to live in a world where women can make such a terrific racket like that.

Do you like generic D-beat from members of Extreme Noise Terror? Well, here you go anyway: http://www.decibelmagazine.com/featured/the-lazarus-pit-disgusts-brutality-of-war/ (watch the YouTube embed, the intro is priceless).

I have both Disgust albums in my iPod. They're both really good.

Surprised that there is a High on Fire discussion without Algerian Goalkeeper complaining about the production on Snakes for the Divine.

Also, 10,000 Years and Last off the first album rule.

And Fireface.

New High on Fire is growing on me. It's not as immediate as some of their previous work, but there are layers to it.

layers of skin? lizard skin?

I've got that Disgust album! It is 100% pure generic D-beat, but it's pretty enjoyable. There are/were better Dis- bands though.

Any suggestions? My selection process was basically "crap, blog post due tomorrow, I'll scan my CD collection, hey how about this one."

I mean, I hate to dispel the illusion…

Disclose really took it to another level, a very noisy level.
Pisschrist's name doesn't begin with Dis but they rule(d) - I think they might've broken up though.
Raw Noise (another Extreme Noise Terror related band but I think they might predate them)
Avskum

then there's lots of crust bands - e.g. Disrupt! but that's (slightly) different

Man, the High On Fire is great. Listen to Madness Of An Architect for chrissakes - it's easily one of the best songs they've done and there are a lot more slower, more epic introspective numbers... it's not just more of the same. Anyone else down with the new UFOmammut yet?

I'm dying to hear it. It's been reviewed at, you guessed it, Doomantia - http://www.doommantia.com/2012/03/ufomammut-oro-opus-primum.html

The last time I saw High On Fire a couple years ago, it was a bit monochromatic, lacking in variety and dynamics. It was just too loud overall, so everything became a neverending block of sound, and I got bored. But the album does have variety, more interesting pacing, and dynamics. So it's strange to see anyone who have considered themselves fans dismissing it.

Leaving for Alcest in Philly now. Really looking forward to it!

Alcest were good when I saw them last week - much better than I expected. Have fun!

Listening to the new HOF now. I wasn't sure Ballou was a good choice for producer - thought he might indulge their worst instincts. But so far, the band sounds terrific. Don't really love the way he treats the vocals, but there's only so much you can do with Matt Pike's voice. And yeah, the songs are definitely solid.

I've also been really pleasantly surprised by the songs on the new Cannibal Corpse - they've actually broken ground, at least within the range of what it is they do. I really don't think there's anything else like "Scourge of Iron" in their discography. They've been on a streak for sure these past few years.

I like all Ufomammut, but the new one does sound a little "lazy/more of the same."

If you're a fan of heavy psych drone, it's a gift. But as someone who's followed their trajectory since the first demo, I'd like to see them branch out more. Of course if they d

...if they did, we'd just complain about that.

I don't see how them recording one 90 minute song and splitting it over two albums isn't them breaking new ground...

Anyway, one quarter of the year is gone. Can we have some top fives?

1. High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
2. UFOmammut - ORO: Opus Primum
3. Cannibal Corpse - Torture
4. White Hills - Frying On This Rock
5. Killing Joke - MMXXII

Obviously I'm including heavy rock in this as well at the moment.

Right now my top contenders look like:

Accept - Stalingrad
Alcest - Les Voyages de L'Ame
Christian Mistress - Possession
Meshuggah - Koloss
Torche - Harmonicraft

A lot's going to change between now and December, but I see Accept hanging around the top 8, 9 months from now.

Meanwhile, KEN Mode has just won the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year. They deserved it the most out of all the nominees (Anvil, Cauldron, Devin Townsend, Fuck the Facts), but still this is pretty incredible.

I guess my top 5 so far...

Eluveitie - Helvetios
Alcest - Les Voyages de L'Ame
Lyriel - Leverage
Christian Mistress - Possession
Black Pyramid - II

Really having fun with the new 3 Inches of Blood, totally cheesy (I mean, "Metal Woman"? "Leather Lord"?) but so very fun.

Chile is weird. I haven't found any music I knew nothing about, but if you see kids in band t-shirts it's Death, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide and Morbid Angel - even in churches.

haven't heard that many, but so far:

Asphyx - Deathhammer
Master's Hammer - Vracejte konve na místo
Accept - Stalingrad
Furia -Marzannie, Królowej Polski
Heidevolk - Batavi

Um, you guys, holy shit!!! Metal Archives is gone.
http://www.metal-archives.com/banner2ha.jpg

I think I've used that site more often that even wikipedia for research. I wonder where all that came from.

Oh fuck me, I just realized the date. Nevermind me guys.

April Jon.

i had just woken up, thats my excuse

Top 5 so far:

1. El Doom & The Born Electric – El Doom & The Born Electric (Rune Grammofon)
2. Thunderkraft – Totentanz (Svarga)
3. 3 Inches Of Blood – Long Live Heavy Metal (Century Media)
4. Bushman’s Revenge – A Little Bit Of Big Bonanza (Rune Grammofon)
5. (Tie): Christian Mistress – Possession (Relapse)/The Devil’s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre (Metal Blade)

If #1 and #4 are deemed ineligible, I'd replace them with Angel Witch and Sigh.

i was just listening to that sigh album yesterday -- the cover was much more interesting to me than the music i'm afraid :/

i thought (hoped) it'd be like renaissance gregorian folk metal type thing