Well I’ve been looking forward to this album for a very long time now.
And I’m finally sitting here now, on my second listen and trying to digest it all.

The opening notes of “That Was Just Your Life” heighten the suspense to just about boiling point as you try to figure out if this album will be any good. Around a minute in you start to think this is not too bad… and then as the song really starts to kick in you find yourself head banging and thinking wow this is quite the crazy metal song. Lyrics are spat out in the verses oldschool style which starts to get your hopes up and the pre-chorus and the chorus very much impress.

For two reasons this song sounds good: it’s metal. but still reasonably catching, And you can tell from this song alone Jaymz has reclaimed a desirable voice. The song is an early statement of what you’ll find on the rest of this album predominantly metal, with some nice melodies and vocals thrown in.
Matt Sorum of Guns N’sRoses was not joking when he mentioned crazy tempo changes and speed, it is quite noticeable and if we look at ‘One; and ‘And Justice For All’ it can be seen these tempos changes are a part of many a good Metallica song.

The End Of The Line is going to send some moshpits crazy. At around 00.44 sec is a very cool riff to move too. The song is a mix of metal riffs with a catchy load era sounding riff used throughout the song. The lyrics are fast and spat with a genuine anger and menace.

It’s hard to describe these songs accurately as they are all mostly 7minutes+ with the longest coming in at 10 minutes, With many tempo changes, unexpected bits and just genuine unpredictability. Many songs go into 4-5 directions and achieve all satisfyingly.

The End of The Line features a fast an upbeat solo also, and in another surprising turn we have a clean break down at around 6.30, which leads into a heavy section with alternate lyrics, before going to back to the catchy riff and concluding! These songs are epic sounding I'll tell you!

Broken Beat And Scarred is a song that would not exist if the band had not gone back to Jaymz predominantly writing the lyrics. As some of the lyrics deal with a lot of things he is or has gone through “what don’t kill you make you more strong” “show your scars”. I’ll also make note that I find the drumming very enjoyable in this track. The solo is also enjoyable, vintage Metallica. Any Metallica fan could tell this is Kirk Hammet’s solo within a few seconds of listening to it.

The fourth song, The Day That Never Comes has been released for a while now. Has a great video, has great vocals, has strong lyrics, and has a great melody. This song really achieves Rick Rubin’s aim of getting Metallica to sound like Metallica, because everything from the opening notes to the solos and riffage for the last 4 minutes or so you associate with Metallica.

All Nightmare Long: We Have Bass! We also have a very fast thrash metal sounding kind of a song with an unfortunate title. This is one of my favorites at this point “Cos we Hunt you down without mercy, Hunt you down All Nightmare Long” hoping those lyrics are right… but I’m predicting those words will be stuck in a few heads after listening to this song. A catchy chorus a fast and heavy song, A reasonably long and psychedelic solo, other than the title Id find it hard to criticize this song.

Cyanide: is next probably my least favorite, it is reasonably catchy has a nice chorus, nice use of bass (we notice this because there has been a distinct lack of bass in previous releases) and um yeah the chorus is good, the pre chorus a lil disjointed still better than st anger.

The Unforgiven 3: I'm a big fan something very different, Can’t recall much piano happening in Metallica before but combined with the string section it sets the scene for the moody and unexpected song. I must admit when the vocals kick in at 1.36 it does give me a little surprise, a pleasant one.

The song’s chorus is clean and quite powerful, the verses feature distorted guitar in which the tie to its namesakes is apparent, the tie is also apparent in the solo. Id rate the solo better than that of the other two, the chorus in Unforgiven one is still better though in my opinion. In the matter of Unforgiven 2vs3 is a tough one… at this moment three wins. It’s just more accomplished.

The Judas Kiss announces itself and grabs your attention early. Before going into an unusual but cool main riff. This song is another one on the heavy side and further indicates that the ‘metal’ in Metallica is well and truly back. People may remember this song from the first trailer on Mission Metallica the “Bow down sell your soul to me, I will set you free”. Well that is this song, and it sounds a lot better in mp3 than it did in the video clip. It has a similar structure to a lot of the other songs on the album which is:

Reasonably long intro, a verse, a pre-chorus, a chorus, another verse, another chorus and a anything from a bridge to an interlude to a crazy solo … its all there I get lost in the song structures after that.

Suicide and Redemption: Instrumental, 10 minutes long, a nice groove, has changed direction 5 or 6 times so far and features a few nice melodies and cool solos, Kirk is making up for no solos in St Anger in this song, and really letting loose.

My Apocalypse: Another product of Jaymz’s writing again, shortest song, one of the coolest riffs in my opinion. The song reminds one of battery and damage inc but… um in 2008. Not many bands really make songs like this. “Into the crypt total eclipse” Is quite catchy this song gets better for me with every listen.

Conclusions
-Anything you expect won’t happen. You expect solo? You get heavy riffage, you expect riffage? You get clean breakdown. You expect clean verse and heavy chorus… you get opposite.
-Guitar solos back with force.
-Fast lyrics and heavy fast riffing.
-Anger lots of it.
-Much better than St Anger.
-The album comes in at something like 80 minutes.
Is a return to metal, standard tuning, and better songs from Metallica
-Its not very radio friendly other than the first single. The songs are just to heavy and long. Not that this even bothers me some may be wondering though if there is any possibly radio hits.
-Good singing and standard tuning
-Get out your guitar, prepare for an assault of heavy infection riffage (I know that’s not a word but it is in this journal)
-I’m enjoying and am looking foreword to it growing on me even more. Metal music often takes numerous listening to understand and enjoy





MetallicaMegadethIron MaidenBlack SabbathAvenged SevenfoldPanteraOzzy OsbourneJudas PriestVan HalenGuns N' RosesColdplayRadioheadFall Out BoyMotörheadKiss VenomDream TheaterMötley CrüeRammsteinIced EarthBlack SabbathOpethMegadethAnthraxTool Dream Theater[Enter SandmanNothing Else MattersThe Unforgiven 1The Unforgiven 2LoadDeath MagneticReloadSt AngerRide the LightningAnd Justice For AllThe Black AlbumKill Em AllGarage IncThat was just you lifeThe End of the LineBroken, Beat & ScarredThe Day That Never ComesAll Nightmare LongCyanideTHE UNFORGIVEN 3The Judas KissWarner BrothersSuicide & RedemptionMy Apocolypse

stolen from OneRodeToAsaBay, who i know is stalking me from my metal_community application, which has tons of further wanky posting by yours truly.

1. What is your favorite metal genre?
If I tag something as psych metal or psychadelic, that means I'm really digging it at the moment. most of the time it's progressive metal, because I get bored easily.

2. Do you like Lars Ulrich?
His biggest gift to the world was kicking Dave Mustaine out of Metallica. Everything else he's done has been to the detriment of music.


3. Last album you bought/downloaded?
I downloaded Amon Amarth and Enslaved's newest, and they're both causing me fits of childlike glee. The last album I bought was Agalloch - Demonstration Archive 1996-1998, which is nice, but it's no Ashes Against The Grain

4. <-- doesn't exist.

5. Last gig you attended?
IntrOnaut/Mouth of the Architect. IntrOnaut was swell

6. Last gig you missed?
Coheed and Russian Circles. Stupid tire.

7. Favorite American Band?
dredg

8. Favorite Norwegian Band?
Ulver (wow, not a lot of norwegian bands in my favorites. Swedes FTW)

9. Age you started listening to metal?
10? depends how glam your definition of metal is willing to be. I know by 12 I was listening to Vengeance Rising and Mortification.

10. First CD you bought?
oh god. Slaughter (not the good one) - Stick It to Ya. I'm pretty sure my first cassette was better, but I haven't the slightest clue what that was.

11. Favourite metal filmclip?
Metal... films?
I'm going to see Heavy Metal in Baghdad on thursday. Maybe that'll be it.

12. Favourite metal guy/girl?
Mikael Atkerfeldt is a) funny as hell b) brilliant c) a face (and nose hair) only a mother could love.

13. Do you know how to growl like Corpsegrinder?
Nope, never tried.

14. Do you own any metal tshirts?
dozens. I've retired plenty as well.

15. Are Vinyls releases better than CD ones?
Yes. Although I don't have a record player. I usually settle for DVD-audio

16. Name your 3 Favourite Death metal bands.
Opeth, old In Flames, Children of Bodom

17. Name your 3 Favourite Black metal bands.
Nachtmystium, Agalloch, Enslaved

18. Name your 3 Favourite Thrash metal bands.
I haven't really listened to recent thrash bands.
Anthrax, Megadeth, and Metallica pretty much do it for me.

19. Do you believe in Satan?
I don't believe in anything

20. Are Metallica Sell outs?
I don't believe in selling out, either.

21. Do you think Darkthrone sold out when they released a single?
Aren't you listening?

22. Name one song with SATAN in the title?
every time I see the word, or even the word Seitan, I can't help but think of that stupid Orbital/Kirk Hammett song from the Spawn Soundtrack

23. Do your parents like metal?
God yes, my dad raised me on Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.

24. Is MySpace intensely gay?
last I checked, they had primarily female-objectifying ads.

25. Best band you've seen live?
dredg. it's entirely different to hear something that dense and layered on an album, than to see it performed by 4 men, 10 feet away from me (in a bowling alley, no less)

26. Best metal band in your hometown?
We'll call my hometown "chicago" for this purpose, since I don't think Glendale Heights has produced any music, let alone metal. right now, I'd toss it up between Nacthmystium and Plague Bringer

27. Favourite deceased metaller?


28. Do keyboards belong in metal?
very carefully. Opeth, Nahemah, Burst, and Breach do it right (in a Deep Purple kind of a way, but COB seems to be the only band to embrace their inherent cheesiness if they don't sound like a Moog.

29. Does the idea of wearing medieval armour and fighting battles arouse you?
I'll try anything twice, but I wouldn't be the one asking for it.

30. Injuries you've suffered in the mosh?
I wouldn't say I've been injured. I've had to take Ibuprofen for neck pain the day after a show, though

31. Best Australian metal band?
wow, i don't think i know any. wait...
no. fuck no. Mortification is from there. I think that continent should be banned from metal.

32. What's better, buying a full length or buying an EP?
Depends on what it is.

33. Do you visit Metal-Archives frequently?
I generally prefer last.fm's band pages, but i should visit MA/EM more often.

34. Did you think it ruled when Varg (Burzum) killed Euronymous?
Are you fucking sick in the head?

35. Would you kill Dani Filth if given the chance?
Seriously. I think you need help.


36. Do you like short fast songs or long epic songs?
Epic. or just long.

37. Is Lemmy God?
We are all gods. Lemme is a greater god, but nobody gets the capital 'G'.

38. Do you support church burnings?
No. Seriously.

39. Do you really care about metal these days?
Yes, as much/more than ever

40. Who's better, Philip Anselmo or Tom Araya?
Tom Araya, hands down.

Summer vacation is over, time to review my charts again. Discussing new artists, old artists and... Nothing more, actually

Here we go:

50. Mr. Lif Down 10
Weird he went down so much, because I actueally recalled listening to them. Great lyrics like his never bore, I guess other artists made their climb. Quite a shame.
Favourite Song: Live from the Plantation

49. Buckcherry Down 26
I like Buckcherry, but they never were one of my favourites. The heave drop isn't really suprising either, because I don't seem to care about them anymore. A new album is on it's way though, and I heard one song and I like it. Maybe they'll make their climb when it's out.
Favourite Song: Next 2 You

48. Public Enemy Down 16
I guess PE were somekind of a phase. Or maybe not, seeing Buckcherry dropped more show that I indeed listened to them, but new discoveries holded them back. Still, it's some of Hip-Hop's best, and I don't think I'll ever hear anyone rap like Chuck D. Great as it ever was
Favourite Song: Night of the Living Baseheads

47. Days of the New Down 27
Yeah, sure, they're really good. A unique band, but I just forgot about them. Maybe because it's the legnth of the songs, I'm really not sure. With other bands not yet in my charts, they'll probably vanish from the top 50 unless I decided to really explore them.
Favourite Song: Now

46. Nine Inch Nails Down 15
Wow, it's the same story all over again. It seems that many new discoveries pushed many artists I don't listen to down, but not enough to get them out. NIN is just another case, like DOTN. I like this band, but I guess not enough. I also seem to have trouble with them, and sometimes I find the music brilliant, sometimes I think it's just plain boring. Odd.
Favourite Song: Closer

45. Theory of a Deadman Down 26
I'm really starting to repeat myself. TOAD are good, but again I forgot about them due new discoveries. I can still listen to them and not get bored, because it's really the kind of music that stays with me, but not right now.
Favourite Song: Crutch

44. Kylie Minogue New Entry
I was getting into Pop, and recalling enjoying a single from her "X" album, I downloaded and found brilliant pop. Infact, pretty much all of it is better than the single. Also, some of her older songs are songs I heard long before I got into music, it kinda adds. Great pop.
Favourite Song: Can't Get You Out of My Head

43. Cage Down 5
Another artist I forgot. Same story with pretty much all the artists I just described. It's still great music, and it all that matters. Plus, a new album might come out, and I can't wait to hear more stuff from DefJux.
Favourite Song: Hell's Winter

42. Hangar 18 Down 7
Despite Hangar's drop, I still listen to them. Mainly because I need some fun and catchy hip-hop for rest. There isn't much to say that I haven't said before. Quality artist that I can always listen to.
Favourite Song: Where We At?

41. Black Stone Cherry New Entry
I heard about BSC for sometime, and I felt like it would be something I would love. They really didn't disappoint me. Although it seems they release their best songs as singles, maybe it's a good thing because they can get the band the fans they deserve. They also have a new album out soon, and I hope they won't flop like most post-grunge bands.
Favourite Song: Tired Of The Rain

40. Pharoahe Monch Down 4
I could box Monch with the rest of the artists here-artists I really love, but not one of my favourites. While I see how the others dropped, I can't understand how Monch dropped. I recall listening to him alot actually, and catchiness + great MC'ing is a formula that works for me. I gotta blame it on new entries I guess.
Favourite Song: Simon Says

39. 2 Skinnee J's New Entry
From the moment I discovered them, I could tell they're brilliant, but never listened to them alot. Recently, I do. Hell, this is something really unique and underrated, and Allmusic's description of "Too creative for both Hip-Hop crowd & Rock crowd" fits them perfectly. I only got one album and 2 EP's, I can't find the others but I plan on ordering them, and then they will rise and who knows, maybe to the top.
Favourite Song: Pluto

38. Run-D.M.C. Up 7
The first riser, finally. I'm still far from satisfied with their place. I love them to bits, and recently find them really underrated in the Hip-Hop community. It's not that I listen to them because of their impact on music, I listen to them because it's just plain amazing. No wonder they had impact on music, though.
Favourite Song: King of Rock

37. Aesop Rock Down 15
I never really considered myself a fan of Aesop, I liked the music but never was a big fan, so no suprise with the drop. He could be lower, but that's thanks to alot of plays from before. Recently I somewhat re-discovered him, and planning to check out other albums. Rising is not guaranteed, though.
Favourite Song: None Shall Pass

36. Shootyz Groove
A little higher from 2SJ, ha. They're quite similier, only Shootyz Groove is straight rap-rock. Barely funky basslines or mind-blowing ideas. It's ok for me, because the band is great with what they're doing. Shame they broke up, but atleast I found me another band that's here to stay
Favourite Song: L Train

35. Ray Charles
I once tried to get into him.. Couldn't. A friend of mine uploaded me a complitation and I ended up really enjoyed. I guess the short length kind of make it easier to listen to it, but I don't care. It's a good way to expand my horizons.
Favourite Song: Blackjack

34. Panic at the Disco Down 21
No suprise at all. I haven't listening to them at all. I'm not sure if you even can say I really like them. They're quite good, but I prefere others.
Favourite Song: Nine In The Afternoon

33. Stone Sour New Entry
I like Slipknot, but don't listen to them as much as I'm supposed to. I had my eye on Corey's side project for some time, wanting to see if he can fulfill is potential as a clean singer. He did, and it's just plain good hard rock. After listening to similier, but mediocre bands, it feels fresh.
Favourite Song: [Track artist=Stone Sour]Zzyzx Rd.[/track]

32. Urban Dance Squad Down 7
Aww, they went down? Crap. Well, this quite experiemental stuff can be quite hard to get into. Still, this is how I want my "experiemental" music-creative, but still entertaining. They're kind of a creative RATM for me.
Favourite Song: (Thru) The Gates of the Big Fruit

31. Maroon 5 New Entry
Accepting that I have big love for hooks, I went to check Maroon 5 which I used to hate. Boy, this is brilliant pop-rock. The songs are just way too good. I can't even call it a guilty pleasure, because I proved myself hook-writing is an art, a very underrated art and Maroon 5 are very good at.
Favourite Song: Makes Me Wonder

30. GZA/Genius Down 2
He went down, but not much. I'm quite suprised he could stay that high. Maybe it makes my taste look cooler? Well, this is plain good Hip-Hop. I listened a bit to the new album and it's very good. Get bahsed only because it's new.
Favourite Song: Beneath The Surface

29. Anthrax Up 4
Here's another suprise. Atleast it's a good one. Anthrax is something I will listen to while playing games rather than hanging on the internet. I can't recall playing alot games durning the vacation, but they rose anyway. It's still a good thing, because "Among The Living" is an album that makes me feel maybe there's good stuff in metal.
Favourite Song: I Am the Law

28. The Academy Is... New Entry
Looking for another Fall Out Boy, I thought The Academy will fit my needs. They definitely did. This sweet punk-pop is quite for me. I'm listening mostly to the first album, but I will soon give a try to the 2nd and the new one, and this will raise them up. Good stuff we got here.
Favourite Song: Almost Here

27. Dope
If there's any band I limit the amount I listen to, it's Dope. No wait, it's Korn & Slipknot but Dope is another band. This is music that's made for me-Energetic, catchy and full of attidute. They tend to produce some really crappy stuff though, but their best songs cover it up.
Favourite Song: Now or Never

26. Lenny Kravitz [i[Down 10
Damn, Lenny was an artist I really wanted to explore, don't know what happend. Maybe new entries kept me busy. Lucky I played him alot before, or he would suffer a heavier drop.
Favourite Song: Fly Away

25. Clutch New Entry
I planned on checking Clutch along with Living Colour. It seems I checked them later. Clutch brought me the classic case of "Can't get with first-try album". Only when I got a second album I really got into them. I don't really feel like I force myself to listen to it. I mean, what could go wrong with good riffs & good vocals, plus a good dose of personality and originality? Nothing, really. Great stuff.
Favourite Song: The Incomparable Mr. Flannery

24. Powerman 5000 New Entry
NOW THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE.
Ha, I knew about this band for a long time. Always wanted to try them. Finally did, and I pretty much got what I wanted. I love this industrial-rock sound, and Powerman also got alot of charisma in the vocal delivery, and I always found charisma to be important. I really hope my love for them is here to stay.
Favourite Song: When Worlds Collide

23. Prince New Entry
I want to go back and punch myself in the face back in the day where I hated him. Truth is I mostly listen to 3121 for now, but I love his style. Combining creativity & catchiness in such a great way, He might get into the top 10, considering his long career. I love long discographies.
Favourite Song: Love

22. Aerosmith Up 5
Their rise is also suprising, but a good one. I love this band, but I quite underlisten to them. It's not exclusive for them, though. I tend to not-listen-alot to my favourite artists, but it seems recently I do. If they don't rise, it's probably because of other great artists.
Favourite Song: Back in the Saddle

21. Orphaned Land Down 6
No suprise with the downfall. I'm only suprise they haven't fell any lower. I really like listening to them while playing Oblivion. Sadly, I didn't spend alot of time playing Oblivion, and this is the result. Oh well.
Favourite Song: Ocean Land

20. The Mars Volta Down 6
Boy this is funny. Same story as OL, only I like Volta more, and it's catchier so they are higher than OL. I seem to be "re-discovering" them recently,so they might rise but I'm not all that sure, considering there are lower artists I'm more interested in.
Favourite Song: Agadez


19. Bill Withers Up 3
Not much to say. The rise is the result of listening more to the Greatest Hits complitation. I know I love this man's voice. It's really sweet. I heard he retired, though, which is sad. Atleast many of the songs are timeless, so he made his mark and can leave the game with pride.
Favourite Song: Ain't No Sunshine

18. Onyx No Change
I kinda wished a "No Change" in my review. The reward goes to Onyx I guess. Still good as it ever was. While I can see how can people can shoot the music down, especially when compared to other "real hip-hop", there's really something unique in their one-dimensional music. Maybe they deserve to enter a "Top 100 rap artists", but I haven't heard enough rap for that list. For now, great stuff.
Favourite Song: Slam

17. Swollen Memebrs Up 17
Wee, that's quite a jump. But hey, when their albums tend to contain alot of songs, plus different moods, what can I expect? While my love for them is quite influenced by the fact they got big influence on my taste, the music itself is just amazing and why they aren't known in the Hip-Hop community is beyond me.
Favourite Song: Put Me On

16. 12 Stones Down 9
I like 12S, but not enough for them to be in my top 20. Their drop was something I already seen, because I barely listen to them anymore. Maybe in the future, I will, but not now.
Favourite Song: Eric's Song

15. Orange 9MM Up 14
A great band I always forgot, finally in the top 20. It was quite a "hassle" to get all the album, and they really should've broken up, because the last one seems to be their weakest. What I got now is still very satisfying, and they enter my Hidden Treasures.
Favourite Song: Failure

14. Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy
I listened to them alot long time ago. If I thought it was a phase, I was dead wrong. I haven't heard anything that's catchier and these guys, plus the songs don't lose their spark quickly. While you can consider them a stain on my taste, I'm actually very proud of listening to them. They might not be technical, but they know how to craft a song.
Favourite Song: The Carpal Tunnel of Love

13. Living Colour Down 3
They may have gone down, but I really don't feel like I lost interest them. Especially because I listened to "Stain" for quite sometime. New entries I guess. Still one of my favourite rock acts.
Favourite Song: Song Without Sin

12. Sevendust Down 3
No suprise with the drop again. I like 7dust, but not enough for top 10. Maybe top 20, but not top 10. So in the end with lack of listening, but not many new entries that high, this is a small drop. They're still good, though, don't get me wrong.
Favourite Song: Deathstar

11. Cannibal Ox No Change
Yay, another "No Change". I thought I'de stop listening to CanOx, but I was wrong. Recently they also become kind of a poser child for Hip-Hop. I think I join people that "The Cold Vein" is one of the best rap albums of the 00's. While I'm supposed to be more into the beats, made by El-P, what mostly attracts me is the lyrics. These guys are seriously one of my favourite Hip-Hop when it comes to lyrics.
Favourite Song: Iron Galaxy

10. Nightwish Down 2
Most of the plays came from the '0 album, "Dark Passion Play", and I stopped listening to it for a while. Looking at the situation now, I think I'll give a try to their older albums, see if I'll like them like DPP. The different style, however, doesn't guarantee a rise in the charts.
Favourite Song: Amaranth

9.Del tha Funkee Homosapien Down 3
Del's presence in the top always suprised me, I'm not sure if he's one of my favourites or no. His voice is one of the most unique ones I heard, though. I think the drop is not a lack of listening, but because there's 3 new entries.

8. John Coltrane Down 3
I still listen to Coltrane from time to time to calm down, or when I feel like going for something different. I guess the length of the songs tend to bring down the playcount, plus I already mentioned the 3 new entries. It doesn't really bother me, and the opening for "Blue Train" is magic.
Favourite Song: Mr. P.C.

7. My Bloody Valentine New Entry
Here's one of the new entries that brought some artists down. Anyway, I gave them a try to see what the hell is Shoegaze. I got kicked in the face. This music is magic. Maybe because I haven't heard alot of Shoegaze (I'm exploring the genre, though) but "Loveless" has an emotional effect on me. Something that for me defines great music, NOT technical skill. I also thought I overlistened to it, but recently got into again. I guess that's the meaning of classic.
Favourite Song: Only Shallow

6. P.O.S. New Entry
Here's another one. I've been looking for something like this for a long time. The result is another hidden treasure. This is what I'de call "Emotional rap", because the emotions are felt in the flow and beats instead of lyrics which is a good change. How this doesn't more acclaim is really beyond me. "Audition" is probably a future hip-hop classic.
Favourite Song: Half-Cocked Concepts

5.Beck Up 21
Another big jump. I saw how Beck suits my taste, and listened to it more, plus got another album. It's experiemental nature can sometimes lower the playcount, it rarely sounds too pretentious. I guess it's time for me to believe the hype.
Favourite Song: Beercan

4. Cypress Hill No Change
I kinda lost interest in my beloved Cypress. When I listen to the best tracks, I can still see why I love them so much. Somehow, I just don't listen to them right now. Maybe it's a temporary thing and I will get back into them in no-time.
Favourite Song: Hand on the Pump

3. El-P No Change
Copy-paste what I said in the previous review-Still a genius, still an amazing producer and still a talented MC at the same time. I also finally listened more to "Fantastic Damage" and wasn't suprised that it's also brilliant. This is how 00's Hip-Hop should be remembered.
Favourite Song: Tasmanian Pain Coaster

2. Company Flow Down 1
They went down for a good reason. Truth is I haven't listened to them at all, mainly because I listened to them too much before. I can see myself listening to them again in some time. These guys kind of define to me what is MCing.
Favourite Song: Last Good Sleep

1.Everlast Up 1
Here he is. My favourite artist, in the top. I never had a period where I listened to him lots. I finally do and this is music I can't get sick of. I got 3 albums and they're all good enough to be listened lots. What more can I say? Oh, a new album coming out and it was probably the only reason I didn't care for the vacation to end.
Favourite Song: What It's Like

So I guess most of the changes are new entries and going-down's. Not much rise-up's. I should learn focusing on a few artists one at a time. Ha, peace.

You see what I did? New not nu? I kill me...

Anyway, the new album, All Hope Is Gone isn't bad. Its got some heavy bits. No bullshit. Good lyrics (for the better part of it). There are blast beats and guitar solos (but the solos are quite short). There are some great songs. They really are a lot more metal than Disturbed, P.O.D., Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and co ever were or will be. In fact Why are they even being compared with each other?

I know its hard, but past the gimmicks, the music has always been Slipknot's biggest asset and their downfall. To heavy for the nu-metalerz and to abnormal for the metal-heads. And the black metal fans generally don't like it without a grim tree or a Norwegian flag every now and then.

There is certainly a lot of prejudice surrounding them, earned or not.


Corey Taylor insults Korn for modeling, back in the nineties by the look of it.


We hate Fred Durst!


Single from the new cd.


Man, I had a really long review written, and was literally finishing the last of the bonus tracks from the special edition, opened the calculator to get an average rating out of 10 for the album when Firefox stopped working. And closed. And when it restarted the last session (it does that pretty cool must off the time) IT WAS ALL FUCKING GONE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR TWO FUCKING HOURS WRITING FUCK!!!!!!!!!! FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to hear your views on the Slipknot though. But only on the music part.

All:My:FaultsEvanescenceRadioheadColdplayMetallicaMegadethSlayerAnthraxExodusTestamentSodomKreatorDestructionLegion of the DamnedOpethKatatoniaMy Dying BrideMy Chemical RomanceFall Out BoyUlverArcturusIn the Woods...Blut aus NordDarkthroneDeathspell OmegaBurzumAnal CuntAnal BlastStone SourSlipknotNickelbackHigh on FireDownPanteraSuperjoint RitualDamageplanDeicideDaathNileNapalm DeathNasumAgathoclesSanctityTriviumDark TranquillityCarcassAnaal NathrakhChimairaLamb of GodDevilDriverIron MaidenJudas PriestPanic CellVenomParadise LostGWARSleepElectric WizardSunn O)))SoilworkIn FlamesKoЯnSimple PlanFeederFoo FightersBritney SpearsMadonnaPrimitive Graven ImageSamaelBloodbathBolt ThrowerCannibal CorpseCoilCrowbarOtepMarilyn Manson

In the wake of the release of the new single "The Day That Never Comes", as well as other songs leaked from Metallica's new album Death Magnetic, fans and critics are claiming a 'return to form' for the former thrash titans. And while it is true that the aforementioned single does sound relatively similar to the classics "Sanitarium" and "One", and another leaked track "My Apocalypse" sounds a lot like "Battery", I must regrettably inform people that this is in no way a return to form. Metallica is dead and they are never coming back.

As a matter of fact, Metallica died in 1991. Once a band becomes so powerful, popular and RICH that they no longer have any problems that their money won't fix, they become artistically dead.
The Black Album was where they truly sold out. When they hired Bob Rock and composed a plethora of radio-friendly pop-rock songs under his supervision, they were officially and irrevocably compromised as musicians. There was no going back after that. There was no more artistic motivation. There was no more reason for them to write music that would help them reach that level, because they were satisfied with what they had accomplished.
Load, Reload and St. Anger merely served as wake-up calls to those fans who failed to see the forest for the trees with The Black Album. Sadly, for every fan they lost who had helped build their career from nothing over the previous decade, two more fickle pop fans who lacked the kind of dedication to the underground that their original fans had came on board. And so it continued for another decade and a half, until with St. Anger they started to suffer some real consequences for their own artistic laziness, putting out an album that was not only critically panned, but had disappointing sales figures [though still ones that 99.9% of all bands could only dream about].
So they hit the proverbial panic button, and decided that the only way to avoid becoming nothing more than a punchline was to try to win back some of the fans that they'd abandoned in the early 90s, while still maintaining the pop credibility that they'd gained during that time. And so we have an album that appears to be nothing more than a pale imitation of what Metallica once was. An album containing cut-rate reprisals of classic songs from the Ride/Puppets/Justice era, but with none of the balls, soul, originality, or staying power, but also doubtlessly several of the type of insipid radio rock staples that made the previous four albums so reviled. It's one big, fat, transparent compromise from a band that built a reputation for themselves in the underground two decades ago precisely because they refused to compromise.
The same thing happened with Slayer on Christ Illusion. You can tell they were trying to recapture the sound that made them legends, but only because they were being pressured to do so by an unhappy contingent of fans who resented their flirtation with nu-metal on the prior two records, not because they actually wanted to do it.
Slayer knew it would've been commercial suicide for them to do another 'God Hates Us All' type album, so they brought back the old logo, recruited Larry Carroll [of Reign in Blood/South of Heaven/Seasons in the Abyss fame] to do the cover art, and wrote a bunch of paint-by-numbers thrash songs to appease those disgruntled fans. It was their 'best' record since Divine Intervention, sure, but it was also totally disposable, and lacked any of the staying power of those first five or six albums. Not one of the songs could've been considered a classic in any sense of the word.
Death Magnetic is Metallica's Christ Illusion. Metallica didn't recruit Pushead to do the artwork, but they did practically everything else that Slayer did for Christ Illusion. They brought back the old logo, they got Rick Rubin to produce [probably only because Flemming Rasmussen was unavailable], and they wrote a bunch of songs reminiscent of their 80s material. The difference is that while "Battery" and "Sanitarium" are timeless classics, "My Apocalypse" and "The Day That Never Comes" are second-rate knockoffs through and through.

Earlier tonight, I came across this posting elsewhere:
So I'm in the car with the lady friend today, and we do not share the same taste in music really, at all. I've gotten her to wise-up a bit and listen to/enjoy about 2 Tool songs, but overall I'm still Tool/Mars Volta/System of a Down, and she's still Usher/Whitney Houston/Christina Aguilera.

Anyways, I'm flippin through radio stations, and The Day That Never Comes starts playing. And I didn't recognize it right away, but my girlfriend sits there for a few seconds, doesn't say anything, looks at me and says, "Oh, is this new Staind?" Laughing

That anecdote further punctuates the biggest problem with post-AJFA Metallica.

In the 1980s, they were LEADERS. They were certainly not the only thrash band around, but they were the only one that wrote songs the way they did. Songs that didn't just have thrash aggression, but also delved into the realms of epic/progressive rock, and were often in excess of 8 minutes, with multiple key and tempo changes. Other bands that emerged in the late 80s, like Testament and Sabbat sought to emulate them, not vice-versa.

Once they teamed up with Bob Rock, they were no longer leaders. The songs they were wrote under his watchful eye for The Black Album were not the unique and potent mix of thrash and epic metal that Metallica had become known for. Instead, they were the kind of pop-oriented, verse-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus formulaic hokum that he'd perfected on albums like Aerosmith's 'Permanent Vacation' and Bon Jovi's 'Slippery When Wet'. Sure, there were outliers... vestigial remnants of the classic Metallica sound like "Through the Never", "The God That Failed" and "Don't Tread on Me" but it was predominantly these sing-along pop-rock anthems that sold most of those 15 million units.

And as the 90s continued, Metallica sank further and further into the morass of commercial rock, incorporating elements from whatever the flavor of the month happened to be at the time of Load and Reload's releases. Everything from Pearl Jam, to Live, to Stone Temple Pilots. In fact, the first time I heard Creed's "My Own Prison" on the radio, back when I was still young and naive enough to actually listen to commercial radio, I initially thought that I was listening to a new Metallica song. THAT is telling of just how far the band had fallen. They'd gone from the forefront of metal innovation to taking their cues from whatever cookie-cutter alterna-schlock band happened to be getting airplay at the time.

And they're still doing it. You'll note that while the song is an apparent attempt to copy the Sanitarium/One formula, the first half of "The Day that Never Comes" bears more than a passing resemblance to Nickelback or Staind.
So much for that 'return to form', huh?

RIP Metallica 1981-1990

MegadethIron MaidenExodusVoivodDeathPossessedDark AngelCoronerKreatorSodomCeltic FrostDestructionSadusAnthraxS.O.D.Fates WarningArmored SaintDeath AngelForced EntryObliveonInfernäl MäjestyMercyful FateCandlemassManilla RoadDiamondheadMotörheadAtheistHellhammerVenomJudas PriestThin LizzyHelloweenBlind Guardian

Anthrax / "Among the Living" / Among the Living (1) / 1986

Artist: Anthrax
Original Album: Among the Living
Track: Among the Living

I can resist the urge to finally pick a Joey Belladonna era Anthrax track no longer, and though I usually find myself revelling in Persistence of Time while I'm not in the process of writing a journal, and even if it is this album I'm listening to I'm sually cherry picking I Am the Law, Caught in a Mosh and Imitation of Life, just as I was pondering today what track to pick for today's Song fo the Day, the title track came to mind and I couldn't resist.

I think I must be psychologically predispositioned to prefer title tracks, because this is getting ridiculous. You know, I never realised how many title tracks are awesome before I started writing these.

Favorite death metal band: Carcass

Favorite black metal band: Dissection

Favorite thrash metal band: Stone

Favorite power metal band: Sonata Arctica

Favorite traditional metal band: Judas Priest

Favorite doom metal band: My Dying Bride

Favorite Gothic Metal band: Sentenced

Favorite "other" metal band: Trivium

Favorite song: The Small Print

Right now: Kirisute Gomen

Favorite ballad: I Remember You

Favorite instrumental: Mourn

Favorite live album: HAARP

Favorite festival: Wacken

Favorite tour: Muse South America 2008!

Favorite metal magazine: Metal Hammer

Favorite (male) screamer/growler: Petri Lindroos

Favorite (male) singer (clean): Ville Laihiala

Favorite (female) screamer/growler: Angela Gossow, who else?

Favorite (female) singer (clean): kill me, but i think is Amy Lee

Most disappointing break-up: Sentenced

Age you started listening to Metal: 7 first time... full time at 12

First metal band: Metallica

Don't lie, do you listen to nu-metal?: check my charts.

Keyboards in metal, yes or no?: FUCK YEAH!

Does corpse paint make you "grim" and "true"?: lol wut.

Is power metal girly?: very much indeed.

Metallica or Slayer: Metallica

Iced Earth or Blind Guardian: fuck you

The Haunted or At The Gates: At the Gates

S.O.D. or Anthrax: Anthrax

HammerFall or Stratovarius: Stratovarius

My Dying Bride or Paradise Lost: My Dying Bride

Iron Maiden or Judas Priest: Judas Priest

In Flames or Dark Tranquillity: In Flames

Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth: Dimmu Borgir.

Ensiferum or Wintersun: Wintersun!

Carcass or Arch Enemy: Carcass baby!

Morbid Angel or Cannibal Corpse: Cannibal Corpse

Nevermore or Sanctuary: Nevermore

Darkthrone or Immortal: Immortal

Venom or Bathory: Venom

Mayhem or Burzum: Burzum.

Celtic Frost or Hellhammer: -

Death or Obituary: Death.

Testament or Kreator: Testament

U.S. Black Metal or European Black Metal: European ftw!.

Blastbeats or Breakdowns: Blastbeats.

Power Metal or Progressive Metal: Prog please.

Fates Warning or Dream Theater: Dream Theater.

Benediction or Napalm Death: Napalm Death

Judas Iscariot or Nargaroth: none.

Cynic or Atheist: none.

Entombed or Dismember: Entombed

Helloween or Gamma Ray: >_>

Suffocation or Dying Fetus: none.

Children of Bodom or Sinergy: Children of Bodom

Sepultura or Sarcofago: Sepultura.

King Diamond or Mercyful Fate: King Diamond.

Nu Metal or Metalcore: Metalcore

Stockholm metal or Gothenburg metal: Gothenburg

Opeth or Katatonia: Katatonia

Impaled Nazarene or Beherit: Impaled Nazarene

Evergrey or Pain of Salvation: Evergrey

Devin Townsend Band or SYL: Strapping Young Lad

Marduk or Dark Funeral: Marduk

Vital Remains or Deicide: fuck you [2]

1349 or Emperor: Emperor

Opeth or Symphony X: Symphony X

Covenant or The Kovenant: none.

Goregrind or evil Death metal: EVUL DEATH METTULZ

Suicidal Black Metal or Brutal Black Metal: None.

Bay Area Thrash or German Thrash?: Bay Area.

Gorgoroth or Gaahlskagg: Fuck you [3]

Myrkskog or Zyklon?: None.

Devildriver or Coal Chamber?: DevilDriver!

Lacuna Coil or Theatre of Tragedy: Lacuna Coil... Cristina <3

Man this annoys me. Bands from the 80's and 90's like Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses that every trendy shit head listens to. Because they are 'legends'. Well, who gives a shit about their gay looks, below par music and even gayer singers...
Or the newer, cutting edge of trendy, for those 'out there' people...Nickleback, Linkin Park and Panic! At The Disco...


Axl Rose? Fuck off

Its just annoying to have people who know little or nothing about music or hard rock/metal in general to lecture me when I say 'Aerosmith are shite'.

How can someone who thinks 2 Minutes to Midnight is just a time, the Ace of Spades is a card and that Leprosy is just a disease act like they know everything about music!

Just because something is popular is not a good enough reason to like something!

When you get down to it, people for some reason all say, when asked about heavy metal, 'Isn't that all screaming?'
Some might try to be cool and say, 'Yeh, I like a little, Linkin Park, Aerosmith, Bullet For My Valentine and shit'.

Ah! Ignorant fuckwits!!!!!!

Anyway, here is a list of bands (and their fans) that I hate.

Aerosmith - My daughter plays a stupid bitch in LoTR
Linkin Park - We sold out at conception
AC/DC - I sound like a little girl on helium
Queen - (after he went queer anyway)
Moby - People are to stupid to realise how shit he is
Coldplay - See Radiohead
Nickelback - Hey, hey, I wanna be a 'FUCKING DIE!!!!!!' [smack]
Fall Out Boy - Need I expain?
Enter Shikari
Evanescence - I'm Amy, an attention whore.
My Chemical Romance - We are Manson, without the swearing, anger , intelligence or point...