Blood For The Master

Starting this week off with some blackened death metal from the South. Normally not the first thing when you think of New Orleans. Normally you think Jazz, Dixieland, and to more metal extent the NOLA sound. Goatwhore hails from New Orleans and plays a more updated blackened death metal style. While their early records were on the more black metal side, the band has evolved some. Featuring members of Solient Green and Acid Bath, 'Blood For The Master' is their fifth album, only being released a few months ago. This album is pretty much straight forward in your face metal. It won't melt your face, but you may feel like you got punched in the gut pretty hard.

I've been following this band for a few years now. Once you get past the shocking name of the band, there is actually some good metal here. The band continues to progress more and more with each record. It's a Monday and this seemed like a good pissed off angry record to post. Worth a spin to blow off some of that Monday aggression.

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Demolition

Time to go across the pond for the weeks final posting. Girlschool were your typical NWOBHM band with the exception that it was an all girl metal outfit. Something of a rarity back in the early metal days. 'Demolition' was their debut record and probably their most well known featuring their two most well known tracks, "Demolition Boys" and "Emergency". The band gained some success over the years. But are also known for playing with Motorhead under the moniker Headgirl in 81. The collaboration with Motorhead has continued through the years. And as Lemmy will tell ya those girls can drink ya under the table. Classic early NWOBHM for all the true headbangers.

Posting this cause even in today's metal world an all girl metal act is still somewhat of a rarity. You'd think that over time more would exist. Now granted there are plenty of females who play metal, whether fronting a band or playing guitars or what not. The problem is with most of the acts it's seen as a gimmick or something to add sex appeal to draw it some listeners. And we all know that's complete bull. The majority of the women in today's metal bands are really talented and should be seen for more than just the sex appeal factor.So go out and show support for the ladies, they put up with a lot.

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The Ichthyologist

Feeling a little proggy for today's posting. Giant Squid are one of those unique Bay Area bands that seem to be impossible to label. Progressive metal with hints of atmospheric metal and good ol fashioned hard rock. The band has gained some high praises in the metal community for their work. 'The Ichthyologist' is their second album and features a few guest musicians, such as Anneke Van Giersbergen (The Gathering),Karyn Criss (Crisis), Kris Force (Amber Asylum, Neurosis), Lorraine Rath (Amber Asylum, The Gault). The album is a concept record about a man stripped of humanity and left with nothing but the sea in front of him. He adapts inhuman ways to survive the shock of human loss and total emotional tragedy, becoming something else entirely in the process. Needless to say this album is a trip. Recommended for the open minded fan.

I posted this as one of left field bands that people in the underground always talk about. The concept of the album is really interesting to. It's not something that you're gonna see a mainstream band put out. In a way it makes you think a little. It's always refreshing to see a band push the limits of what music can be. Storytelling seems to be a lost art when it comes to music lately. And that's really sad. The listener should not only be sucked in by the music, but also become entangled in the story and lyrics. Everyone has a story to tell, but it's in the way it's told that determines if you will be remembered.

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Opus Eponymous

Mid week and time for some spooky music. And time for something fairly recent. Ghost emerged onto the metal scene within the lat year or so under a cloud of mystery. Blending a mix of what can best be described as Blue Oyster Cult meets Mercyful Fate. Satanic but with a blend of that 70s rock. This is one of those bands you either dig or ya don't. Led by a namelesss Ghoul and his band of anonymous musicians. Ghost plays a throwback to occult metal. The stuff you don't want you're parents to listen to. The band has gotten high praise from the likes of James Hetfield and Phil Anselmo, so you can make you're own judgments from there. Bottom line, 'Opus Eponymous' is one of those albums you should listen to.

I was intrigued when I first read about this band. I thought how ludicrous it is to have an anonymous band. Surely if this information age, you can find out who plays in this band. Rumors swirl on who actually does and even if this is a gimmick, this works. You've captured the attention of metal heads. It's genius on a many levels. The whole thought of staying anonymous is nothing new in today's world. Posting this just makes me wanna go off the grid for a while and become one of the anonymous souls. Sometimes it's good just to get away from what's troubling you and shroud yourself in mystery.

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Mandylion

Time for something a little more atmospheric and a bit gothy in nature. The Gathering have been around since the mid 90's, originally starting out as a death/doom metal band. They released two albums under that genre one with male fronted vox and one with male and female vox. Then the band released 'Mandylion' in 95. This album marked a change for the band, leaning more towards a more atmospheric metal nature. It also marked the debut of new female vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. Their third album proved to be the one that set the standard for female fronted metal albums. Front to back this is an amazing record. It also started a wave of incredible albums by the band. Anneke left after the 'Home' record in 06. The band soldiered on with a new female vocalist and continue to push the bounds of what music is. This is where it started though. Definitely an album to relax to.

I came across The Gathering probably around 2000, the time their 'If_Then_Else' album came out. If nothing else the album had a great title. But I didn't fall in love with the band, in fact it was quite the opposite. I found the music to be bland and if anything a cure for my insomnia. So I wasn't impressed. Years later the 'Home' album came out and I found myself digging a few tracks off of it. I decided to go back and dust off the older catalog. I figured I've grown as a listener. This time around the music hypnotized me and I fell in love with it. It's perfect music just to chill out to. Not to mention Anneke's lovely voice. Of course she's guested on numerous albums. In fact she appears on another bands album which will be posted later this week. Everything ties in. Good music for an escape and just to relax after a rough day.

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Brewtality

New week and time to move onto the G's. Starting off the week with some Skate Punk. Gang Green were a band out of Boston that had an affinity for skateboarding and a certain cheap beer in Budweiser. Starting out as mostly a punk back in the 80's, the band sort of transitioned into Heavy Metal during their time with RoadRunner Records. 'Another Case Of Brewtality' was released in 97 and marked a return to the skate punk roots of the band. This is pretty much a cheap beer drinking record. With lyrical themes ranging from being evicted to getting trashed to getting tricked into bed again. Best enjoyed with what else, a Budweiser.

I felt this was an appropriate posting since I spent my weekend at a Beer Festival. Heritage Festival in STL here was wonderful. 80 beers from 20 local breweries. Sampled my fair share of delight and did my civic duty and poured my fair share. This seemed like a good album to close out a weekend of boozing. I got into this band a few years back from an old co worker who has this wonderful collection of obscure punk and blues music. The album is just like a frat boys soundtrack. Nothing to be taken seriously. So raise a glass and rage on.

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The Mantle

Closing out this week a day early. Regular updates should resume next week. Gonna deviate from the norm for a bit and post some what of a classic modern record if you will. 'The Mantle' from Agalloch is nothing short of a masterpiece to me. I fell in love with this band right around this album came out and it's always in rotation. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, the band has released a handful of albums and a smattering of EPs since the late 90's. 'The Mantle' takes you on a trip through excellent guitar work, stellar vocals, and the sounds of nature. The music is hard to classify here and really shouldn't be.

This album for me has gotten me through a lot of dark times in my life. And I'm sure it will down the road. The past week hasn't been the easiest to get through, but I've been through worse. And while the album is somewhat somber in melody at times, it serves as a album that pulls me through whatever is troubling me. The best memories in life are made with music and in troubling times it's music that pulls us from the brink and lets us find our salvation once again.

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