One of the other threads on here made me want to make a thread to praise the three most surprising hardcore/metal albumns of the year.
Slayers new one, God Hates Us All, is an awesome album. It harkens back to the days of Reign in Blood and Abyss. I have been wiping my ass on slayer for the last 10 years or so, but they really have surprised my with this new cd. Kerry King is still the scariest mofo out there. Yes they still have all the shitty satan/death/kill-the-world lyrics that I always hated, but the music is far better than thier efforts of the recent past.
Biohazards new one, Uncivilization. This CD brings my back to my youth. These guys still have it, and put Limp Shitstick and clones to shame. I thought these guys broke up, but this one came out of no where last week and is excellent. They are not on Roadrunner anymore, so the production quality is not the 100% best, but is still good. Get it. You will like it.
Last but not least, Earth Crisis, Slither. I know this one is a little older, it came out at the end of last year, but these guys sound WAY better now than they ever did. If you like hardcore, this CD is the bees knees. Some of the old school militant vegan-straightedgers think they sold out their sound, but dont listen to those flakes. This CD pulled me back into hardcore last year.
There you go. Now you know 2 surefire metal CD’s that you will like. Slayer is still an aquirred taste, but give the new one a chance and you may be as surprised as I was.
Living Sacrifice rules!
Most disappointing album of the past 12 months: Snapcase-Designs for Automotion in a tie with Deftones-White Pony. Both awful discs.
Designs For Automotion has been out for almost two years now. I wouldn’t characterize it as a disappointment, really–Snapcase really have never sounded all that great on disc–they stand out as a live band, though, and I think the material on Designs for Automotion is some of their best.
I was really disappointed with the Earth Crisis record you mention. On first listen, I was really impressed, but it didn’t stand up well. The band matured a lot; I really thought the music was some good thrash, very different from their earlier records, but the vocals on this record just sounded to me so much like an attempt to ape the current pop nu-metal…I don’t know. Couldn’t get into it.
By the way, you’re into Slayer–have you heard the Tori Amos record that came out this week where she covers “Raining Blood?” Should be worth checking out…
Man, I love the EC album. I think the vocals are WAY better than on Breed the Killers. That was the shittiest excuse for a “hardcore” album Ive ever heard. Thier best days were just after Firestorm. Thats the best.
Designs for Automotion has been out for 2 years? You sure about that? I will have to go check, because I could have sworn that that hit last fall. Oh well, either way, Progression is probably one of my top 5 CD’s of all time.
Im gonna have to check out that Tori Amos cover. Should be interesting. By the way, its Reigning Blood.
IIRC, the album was Reign in Blood, and the song was “Raining Blood.” And never have I been so sad that Napster is dead, since my odds of purchasing a Tori Amos album are slightly less than those of smoking crack with Whitney Houston.
And though it was last year, Iron Maiden’s Brave New World was actually one hell of a good album.
Sweet sweet Jesus, I am definetly wrong. I sound like a metal newb now. It is absolutley Raining Blood. And I am absolutley a dumbass.
Ive never been able to stomach Maiden. Im a little young, 25, so I wasnt really into them in thier heyday.
As far as old timers with kick ass new albums go, check out the new Sepultura. Sure Max is gone, but Derrick is coming around. Sepulnation is a very strong release.
Yeah, well your penance for mixing up Slayer albums is to get your hands on Maiden’s first disc. If you don’t like that one, you might as well start buying Tori Amos.
I just …went and bought … the new Tori Amos. That Raining Blood is fricking awful. Maybe if you really like Tori and have never heard or liked the Slayer version, it would be ok. It sounds like she covered a Slayer song so people would say," Hey, Tori Amos has the balls to cover a Slayer tune! WOWIE!"
I’ve been meaning to get that new Slayer album, but I haven’t been to a music store and the department stores I have been to don’t have any Slayer. Last album by them I bought was ‘Seasons in the Abyss’.
Hmm… I was correct that Designs for Automotion came out last year. Cant find an exact date though. I could swear it came out in the fall. May be wrong though.
Seasons in the Abyss was the only Slayer album I ever owned before the new one. The started to suck balls after that. This new one is pretty good though. Check out the title track if you want old style slayer. Check out Threshold if you want a pretty cool new sound.
Hey Phlip:
Just checked on cdnow.com–Designs for Automotion came out Jan. 25, 2000; I thought it came out the previous fall; I guess we were equally off, but in different directions.
Sorry to hear you were disappointed by the Tori CD–I figured it wouldn’t be so great, so I wasn’t planning on buying it, I figured I’d try to find an mp3 or borrow it from a friend or something.
Do you like Earth Crisis’s Last of the Sane? If anyone hasn’t heard it, it’s a collection of covers of metal, hardcore, and hard rock covers (I really like the Rolling Stones cover on there).
Oh, since you seem to be into Victory Records stuff, what’d you think of Boy Sets Fire’s After the Eulogy?
I got to see Iron Maiden last summer–they’re getting on in years but it was still a good show. Rob Halford opened, which was pretty sweet. The stuff from Brave New World is pretty good, but I think it’d be better if all the songs were trimmed by a minute or so; they get a little monotonous.
Last of the Sane is excellent. I am sick of hardcore bands thinking it is alright to put old tracks on new albums. The last 3 or 4 tracks on their are off of Gomarrahs (sp?). That album was only mediocre. Vision of Disorder does this on EVERY CD they release. Its irritating.
By far my favorite Victory band is Hatebreed. I have loved those cats since that CD came out more than 3 years ago. They are starting to get all ate up though. All this horseshit with these super tours like Ozzfest, Tatoo the Earth etc…, they need to get thier asses back in the studio and get a new CD out instead of trying to recruit the Mtv crowd. I am slowly moving away from them. Jamie Jasta writes the best hardcore lyrics since Ian McKaye though.
Havent heard much Boy Sets Fire so cant really say. I have heard some of the new Unearth. That is pretty decent. The new Slipknot is really shitty. Those guys suck.
>>I’ve been meaning to get that new Slayer album, but I haven’t been to a music store and the department stores I have been to don’t have any Slayer. Last album by them I bought was ‘Seasons in the Abyss’.
Badtz Maru you are going to be very disappointed with the new Slayer album if you haven’t heard what they’ve been up to in the last ten year. If you really want to hear what should have been the new Slayer, I highly recommend The Haunted - The Haunted Made Me Do It.
For those of you who liked Countdown To Extinction - I recommend the new album by Megadeth - The World Needs A Hero. It has some excellent material, including a powerful song called When which borrows a bit from Am I Evil with some scathing lyrics.
minty green - I have to agree with you about BNW. That was one of the best Maiden albums sine the late 80s. Have checked out Halford - Resurrection ? It has some cheesy songs, but it has a lot of the classic Priest sound.
By the way, all of the above mentioned groups play fuggin’ KILLER live shows. I saw Megadeth last weekend and the set list was full of PS…BWB and RIP.
>>As far as old timers with kick ass new albums go, check out the new Sepultura. Sure Max is gone, but Derrick is coming around. Sepulnation is a very strong release.
This was a good call for this thread Philip. The new Sepultura album is 50% Metal 50% Hardcore. Nothing like the old days, but good nonetheless.
Are any of you Metal fans familiar with the New Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal ? I can recommend a shitload of bands for you. If you like progressive Metal (electric/ acoustic, growl/clean vox) I highly recommend the new album by Opeth - Blackwater Park. Oh I could go on and on about the goings-on in Heavy Metal these days…
Its funny how you try to date people when you read thier posts. Especially when people talk about metal. I think as far as fast changing music goes, metal is the most volitile (sp?) of them all. There is some new style of metal coming out ever year or so. When people talk about Maiden, Priest, Megadeth, I think of someone who is between 35 and 40. Probably married with 1 kid, or one on the way. I picture someone working in construction or programming for some reason. Am I in the ballpark Lockfist? This is just good natured guessing and I am not trying to offend you. When I hear Motorhead I think AT LEAST 40 years old. I am 25, 1 kid, 1 wife, electrical engineer.
I came into metal, like most people my age, with And Justice for All. The I went backwards into Master of Puppets. I was blown away by how heavy Metallica was. Never liked the black album. Then I moved forward into Ministry, Psalm 69. That album blew my fucking mind. Next step was Pantera, VDOP. Again, blew me away. I thought Pantera was heavy, until I got Sepultura Arise. That is what launched me into “unknown metal”. Unknown to my 15 year old ass anyway. Then Nailbomb. Then I went heavy into straightedge hardcore like Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Strife etc… Even old stuff like Minor Threat.
Now I pretty much float around all metal. All of this new shit I hear on the radio is NOT metal. Just because there is distortion and screaming does NOT make it metal. The closest thing to metal on the radio today is Slipknot, who are mediocre to say the least. Thier drummer is one of the top 3 drummers in the biz though.
If you havent heard them, check out Living Sacrifice on Solid State records. Best metal band out at the moment.
>>Its funny how you try to date people when you read thier posts. Especially when people talk about metal. I think as far as fast changing music goes, metal is the most volitile (sp?) of them all. There is some new style of metal coming out ever year or so. When people talk about Maiden, Priest, Megadeth, I think of someone who is between 35 and 40. Probably married with 1 kid, or one on the way. I picture someone working in construction or programming for some reason. Am I in the ballpark Lockfist?
He he, hey no problem Philip. Lets see. I started down that road with Megadeth - So far, so good, so what ? and then got usual 80s suspects. I lost track for a while during the meltdown of the mid-90s. Finally got back on track when I realized I was looking in the wrong places. I generally still stick with 100% Metal due to the aforementioned Swedish bands. I’m glad to hear that you also realize that this mallcore shit isnt anything close to metal. I wish they’d stop advertising it as such.
Anyhow, to end the mystery… I am a CPA age 28. I work and live in the San Francisco Bay Area. If it helps any, I do own a Trans-Am and am quite fond of black t-shirts although I don’t get much chance to wear them 'cept for the weekends.
Nice to make your acquaintence. I’ll check out Living Sacrifice !
I could never get into Megadeth simply because of Dave’s vocals and pretty aweful lyrics. He is IMHO one the very best metal rythmn guitars out there though. Their music is actually pretty good, but his vocal style just ruins it for me.
I was close enough, you DO own a trans-am. Do you wear hightops laced up REAL tight and cutoff acid wash jeans?
Just kidding man, as long as it isnt an early to mid 80’s trans-am, your ok in my book
Kinda off topic, but its awesome to see Hatebreed getting recognition. I used to hang out with some of them. (guys who formed it, but left) Its cool to see a band I followed since their first ever show on a local level, and musicians you’ve seen play in bands for 10+ years actually make it to a major level for their genre.
It is absolutley Raining Blood. And I am absolutley a dumbass.
… the new Tori Amos. That Raining Blood is fricking awful. Maybe if you really like Tori and have never heard or liked the Slayer version, it would be ok. It sounds like she covered a Slayer song so people would say," Hey, Tori Amos has the balls to cover a Slayer tune! WOWIE!"