Carcass – Surgical Steel; New School Feel By An Old School Band

Carcass’s new album Surgical Steel is a death metal album every metal fan dreams of. It has speed and aggression, but also comes full blast with melody involved. We could spend the whole time arguing which prior Carcass album was the best, but let’s get to the point, this album is awesome. For a band we thought we would never get new music from, Jeff Walker and Bill Steer brought the goods!!! The album has songs that are, in my book, going to be instant classics. “The Master Butcher’s Apron” is dark and aggressive, definitely a stand out track. “The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills” has to be one of my favorite songs on the album. The opening track “1985” sort of gives the album an epic beginning to lead you through the rest of the album. You could almost certainly see yourself singing the chorus, especially “6,0,2,6,9,6,1”, which no one seems to have any idea what it means, but it works! On a scale of 1 to 5, I give this album a 6, it’s that good. Long Live Death Metal!!!!!

The Return of Gorguts concert and Colored Sands Cd Review

First off let me start by saying Luc Lemay of Gorguts is one of the most approachable, energetic, and passionate people I have met. Before the Return of Gorguts show even started, he was selling shirts and albums, but it just wasn’t that. He was shaking hands, taking pictures (something I unfortunately didn’t do because my camera on my phone sucks), and basically thanking anyone who would listen for coming out to the show. The venue was small, but it was perfect for that intimate Gorguts experience. The band was touring for their new album Colored Sands, their first new album in 12 years. Man, is the album a killer and as of right now one of my favorites for 2013. The opening track “Le Toit Du Monde” starts the album with some heavy riffs and is one of 3 new songs they played last night. The song is just straight out cool because it has the heaviness, but at points he makes it sound like he is distant and ambient. Then the technicality of the song kicks in and just leaves you breathless. The band also played “An Ocean Of Wisdom” and “Forgotten Arrows”, both adding to an unforgettable show. The album title track, which was not played, is Luc Lemay showcasing his all-around musical abilities, as well bringing on the crushing power of his technical death metal. The album even features a track that is strictly a symphony called “The Battle of Chamdo” and after hearing it, you will definitely be ready to throw on some old school armor and battle it out.  The album is worth listening to once, twice, a couple hundred times, and well at least twice a day. The album is amazing, the concert was unforgettable, and Luc Lemay is a cool guy in a great band.

Useless Ramblings of a Metal Head

                Napalm Death, “The Godfathers of Grindcore” and Death with mastermind Chuck Shuldiner, the “Father of Death Metal’ are just a few examples of bands setting the trend of future metal. Also these are two of my favorite bands. Both bands have gone through many different lineup changes, but have withstood the test of time. It’s unfortunate that there will be no new Death songs, but what they have are etched in history. I could go on for hours why Napalm Death’s lead Growler Barney Greenway should be President, but what it all comes down to is, he sings for Napalm Death!! Metal has had its ups and downs, its dry periods, in the end it always comes back with a vengeance. Look at all the old school death metal bands coming back with new albums. Carcass for example, or how about the return of Gorguts, who I might add I am excited about seeing them play classics and new material live. Metal music has some of the greatest live experiences. It’s the raw energy you see expressed through the bands and the music they play. Thinking back to all the bands I have seen over the years still amazes me. Ozzy shooting a giant water gun, Greg Puciato kicking over the microphone stands and climbing anything in site, the fire of Rammstein, it just amazes me what some bands will do and capable of.

                There are still many live metal bands I have yet to experience and some I sadly never will; for example seeing the original lineup of Slayer or Metallica. Don’t worry my loving wife; you’re not the reason for the original Slayer lineup. Jeff Hanneman was a thrash metal genius. Metallica’s late Cliff Burton bass playing skills and overall musicality were just amazing, just look at the solo off of Kill ‘Em All. I read the book on Cliff Burton “To Live Is To Die” and if you’re an early Metallica fan, I highly suggest reading it. What he brought to thrash metal will never be forgotten, at least by true fans and hopefully passed on to generations to come.

                One of my favorite things about metal is there are so many different categories of metal, each with a bunch of bands that are unique and amazing. Death metal, thrash metal, doom metal, grind core, classic metal are just a few examples. It’s definitely cool when bands combine different elements into their style. Take for example Volbeat who have a combination of rock, country, and death metal. The have songs with guest musicians from Mercyful Fate, Napalm Death, Kreator, and even King Diamond himself, which adds to each of their albums and the uniqueness of the songs. There are even bands that add traditional folk music to metal such as Finntroll and Eluveitie. How about a symphony? Bands like Fleshgod Apocalypse and Septic Flesh have both used this element in their music and quite successfully.

                What it comes down to is metal music is exciting, original, and never ending. As long as bands keep coming up with original ideas and the record labels keep printing the classics, we as metal fans should be golden! Keep those horns raised and music loud!!