| previously heard |
Opeth – Ghost Reveries (HDCD)
Hmmm, not sure about this. Let's say that Opeth's approach to metal doesn't suit
my palette. The songs are beautifully played by these gothic metal veterans, and the production job on the
disc itself is superb, thanks to the extra care taken to deliver this HDCD pressing.
I can't decode HDCD, but it sounds great even on a standard CD player.
Ghost Reveries haunted several top ten lists in 2005, and comes recommended
to fans of Nightwish and Tristania. The male vocals switch between death growls and
clean, text book singing. Guitar melodies and drum rhythms tend to be locked together tight.
|
 
prog metal
2005 |
Ministry – Rantology
This remix compilation is largely redundant because, with some exceptions of course, Ministry's songs are released in perfect
form on their albums. Furthermore, most of the tracks here sound very similar to their LP
counterparts, almost making it play like a best-of CD. The standout cuts include a cleaner version
of the brilliant 'Warp City', and the meandering industrial soundscape called 'Bloodlines', composed
for a computer game of the same name. I suppose even Grandpa Jourgensen has bills to pay. |
industrial rock
2005 |
Ministry – Rio Grande Blood
2004's Houses of the Molé was a welcome return to Ministry's brand of
industrial thrash metal, circa Psalm 69. Here we get more of the same, though lacking the sheer exuberance
of the previous album. There's also a strong metalcore edge that turns me off a bit. If I
want to hear metal, I'll grab Anthrax or Gorgoroth. That said, it's all well executed,
with Al Jorgensen's usual electro embellishments and distinctive vocals scattered
generously throughout. It's a pity the Australian tour was cancelled. We can always
put on the Sphinctour live DVD again... Which reminds me, there's no sign yet
of In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up or Revolting Cocks live on DVD.
Must. Be. Patient. |
industrial rock
2006 |
Nightwish – Century Child
I like Nightwish, but I don't love them like many metal fans do, even those
into extreme metal. To me this album is not quite as good as Wishmaster (2000),
mainly because the songs are straighter, with fewer progressive rock touches.
Century Child does stand up on its own, however – the winning Nightwish formula
makes this album a joy to listen to non-critically. Lately it gets played most often
during the 'getting ready for work' morning slot. I'll pick up the earlier Oceanborn
album and their must-have first concert DVD From Wishes to Eternity, then review my Nightwish commitment.
|
operatic metal
2002 |
John Digweed – MMII
Perhaps the Digweed sound is not to my taste. Either that, or this album
of mixed club tracks is just a pile of inept, boring shit. Lucky it only
cost me $1.60 at a JB Hifi sale. Give me Nick Warren on the turntables any day. |
trance
2002 |
Gorgoroth – Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam
Norwegian black metal outfit Gorgoroth have received positive reviews for this, their
latest oblation to Lucifer. With vocalist Ghaal currently rotting in jail on kidnap and assault charges,
Gorgoroth join the ranks of local stable mates who have done – or are still doing –
time for misconduct. Before the shit hit the proverbial, they managed to unload this cacophony of unholy
speed metal upon the world, and what an enjoyable album it is. Satyricon's ace drummer
Frost returned to the studio for the third time. He doesn't do blast beats, exactly. It's
deliberately slower than that, but sounds intense all the same. Chuck in simple yet catchy
riffing by co-founder Infernus plus clean production (generally frowned upon in black metal circles)
and you have the winning formula that has sustained Gorgoroth over the years.
Best track is the opener 'Wound Upon Wound'. Exhilarating sonic junk food. |
black metal
2006 |
Gorgoroth – Antichrist
More easy listening 'church burner' music. Here's an earlier Gorgoroth album that also features the maniacally intense Frost as the
session drummer, but with Pest and Hat trading Satanic screams instead of Ghaal. This recording was remastered for its 2005 reissue by the Season
of Mist label. Forget the childish title – this black metal opus rips through
six tracks in 30 minutes. As with their latest CD, the opener on Antichrist
'En Stram Lukt av kristent Blod' is the best song (I can't read Norgese, but
I can guess that Christians probably don't come off too well). However, the rest of the
songs easily hold your darkling attention. One quirk of this pressing is the placement of gaps
between tracks that interrupt what one assumes is a continuous thread of moody
bad weather sound effects. A minor quibble. |
black metal
1996 |
Slayer – Christ Illusion
Their first album in five years sees the return of Dave Lombardo on drums
after an absence of how long...12 years? (Paul Bostaph joined Exodus.)
As such, Christ Illusion
picks up where the mighty Seasons in the Abyss left off. This is both
a good thing and a bad thing. Good because there's plenty of no-bullshit
thrash on this release. Bad because the last few Slayer titles seem to have drained
the main song writers King and Hanneman of killer riffs. Old age and constant boozing
couldn't have helped, either. So when the initial excitement wears off,
you're left with a solid album of consistently good metal songs, but with only fleeting highlights
and no new classics. Christ Illusion still gets regular air time
in the Toxic Waste Listening Lounge of Doom, so it may sink its hooks in yet. |
thrash metal
2006 |
Lamb of God – Sacrament
Sony BMG major label metal means big production, big distribution, and big 90 minute DVDs
included with the album as a gift for eager punters. I'd never heard Lamb of God
before slipping this title into the CD player. I took a risk with Sacrament
on the strength of numerous positive reviews, and it does deliver the goods.
This bearded quintet from America (the ZZ-Top of metal?) have wrought a rich and varied – though utterly orthodox – metal album
that overflows with excellent riffs, decent solos, and fine drumming. Lyrically, it's the usual
fare. Speed-wise, it's not death, so as with Nevermore, I had to shift down a few gears and adjust expectations.
There's a mixture of rock tempo and thrash, with a bias toward the former.
You really need to ponder the lyrics and absorb each track individually
to get the most out of Lamb of God.
While it may ultimately prove to be too much of a good thing, Sacrament should
keep most headbangers in power chord heaven. This band recently supported Slayer in the US.
The Making of Sacrament (DVD)
This 90 minute documentary is an excellent bonus feature that comes with the CD.
Anyone who enjoys watching both the creative process and also peering into the
personal lives of the musicians will eat this DVD up. Even running to an hour and a half,
it was still too short for my liking. Also included are two versions of the video clip
for 'Redneck', and some additional documentary footage. |
metalcore
2006 |
Rogue Traders – Here Come the Drums
Hmmm. It is squarely pop and Rogue Traders make no apologies for it. The best singles,
and they are superb pop tracks, are 'Voodoo Child' and 'Watching Me Watching You',
which features a riff stolen from 'My Shorona'. Natalie Bassingthwaite's vocals and
the sheer spunk with which she delivers them hold the album together when it gets ugly.
But with Australia lapping up this mediocrity to saturation point, it's hard to avoid RT
whenever you turn on the TV or radio.
For say $15 or less it might be worth buying. I think of it in the same terms as
owning Return of the Living Dead on DVD. It's not up to Romero or Fulci's calibre
of zombie film – it's a bit embarrassing, really – but you still need to have it, anyway. |
rock
2005 |
Coldplay – X&Y
Despite some good singles, for example 'Speed of Sound' and 'Talk', this is not the
classic album that A Rush of Blood to the Head is.
Much of it harks back to their simpering debut release, especially with Martin
hitting those girly high notes. Mega-cringe. The band was good live, and it'll be interesting
to see how they tackle the next album. Most bands only have one Rush of Blood in them. |
rock
2006 |
Ministry of Sound – 2006 Annual
Obviously, the quality of these two-disc compilations depend on what was released during the year.
It follows that 2006 was not as fine as 2005, and this annual shows it.
Luckily there's just enough good tracks to play each CD all the way through.
The 2006 Annual also anticipated several top-10 chart hits and includes
enjoyable remixes of 'Voodoo Child' (Rogue Traders) and 'Dare' (Gorillaz).
The arrangements, mixing and CD mastering is once again up to Ministry of Sound's high
standards – these releases always offer excellent demo tracks for good stereo systems.
The same can't be said for the So Fresh or Pepsi More Music
compilations. |
dance
2006 |
Lily Allen – Alright, Still...
The ABC music show JTV introduced me to Lily Allen's fantastic single
'Smile'. It only took a few weeks for commercial radio (well, Nova FM) to start
playing it, and then commercial TV stations showed ads for the album.
I was afraid there'd be too much indie regge rock inside the album to make it
palatable, but it's done tastefully (regge is one of the few forms of music
I just can't stomach for very long). Paying only $12 for it at Redeye Secondhand in Sydney
made it worth the risk, too. Get it for the bitchy lyrics. |
indie rock
2006 |
Arch Enemy – Wages of Sin
Picked it up secondhand at Missing Link records. This is the first release to feature
Angela Gassow doing death metal vocals. Michael Amott (ex-Carcass) and company keep
things nice and crunchy at thrash tempos. The new CD is reportedly excellent. |
death metal
2002 |
Strapping Young Lad – Alien
I own their rather brain-damaged City CD, but I like this new album more. Perhaps it
is more accessible to non-fans of SYL? The production is better. Sad to say that for me
it helps, since I like to analyse the sound too. |
death metal
2005 |
Disturbed – The Sickness
Got it for $10 at Sanity. My ex-girlfriend said this was their only good CD. Too much
focus on the lead vocalist and his singing for my liking, otherwise it's enjoyable indie
heavy metal. The bonus live tracks are electrifying...a live DVD might be worth
checking out. |
metal
2000 |
Exodus – Tempo of the Damned
Not sure why I bought this. Their old stuff, circa Pleasures of the Flesh,
never gets played on my stereo anymore, not that I was big a fan of these Bay Area thrashers
like Chris Doolan was. Several drugged out members of the band went cold turkey to record
this album, then promptly returned to their habits. Fuckwits! The music should keep
fans happy because it is competant, yet it also sounds very dated in its structures and riffing. |
thrash metal
2005 |
Nile – Annihilation of the Wicked
Hey, I really want to like this band. Hyped for reviving the death metal scene,
Nile's mush of blast beats, weirdo melodies, and coughed-up vocals make it tough going.
I am getting into this new release more than Black Seeds of Vengeance, if that is
any consolation. Favourite song: 'Lashed to the Slave Stick'. |
death metal
2005 |
Aborted – The Archaic Abattoir
Here we go, this is the fucking shit...fast technical death metal from Belgium.
Plenty of blast beats, tempo changes and catchy, sort of upbeat and melodic riffs.
The CD packaging art direction is superb too, very understated and Whitkin-esque.
I also like the dual vocal attack: one is screechy, while the other sounds like
he's choking on a mouthful of maggots. Yes I know, derivative of Carcass,
but it works. |
death metal
2005 |
Hate Eternal – I, Monarch
Oooh, warning: pretentious death metal ahead. One hopes that these dudes are, at heart,
not as serious as they sound. All death metal carries a thread of black humour, that is
a given. The near-constant blast beats make this album sound monotonous. However,
it has grown on me after repeated spins. |
death metal
2005 |
Nevermore – This Godless Endeavour
Heath, you are right. These lyrics are depressing and pessimistic to a fault.
I guess that fits with the whole Edgar Allan Poe reference. The music is gutsy thrash
metal and this album scored a 10/10 in Terroriser mag. My only criticism
is that the songs drag on a bit, a failing of latter day Dimmu Borgir. |
thrash metal
2005 |
NOFX – The War on Errorism
Recommended by Hank Hankerson, I thought it was worth trying for the title alone.
This is good fast punk, although my friend Steve said it wasn't punk at all. OK, so it's
not Discharge or Dead Kennedys punk. Nevertheless, NOFX play fast and raw. The production is
beefy and will give your expensive home theatre equipment a boot up the arse. |
emo punk
2004 |
System of a Down – System of a Down
Their first self-titled album from way back in 1998. 'Sugar' is now a classic song for
obvious (audible) reasons. The rest of the tracks are of varying quality. Currently
going cheap in mainstream outlets. |
metal
1998 |
System of a Down – Steal this Album!
A mixed bag of previously unreleased flotsam that generally delivers the goods. Put it this way, I have no trouble
playing it all the way through, unlike their first album. Heavy as fuck in some places, too. |
metal
2002 |
System of a Down – Toxicity
Released two weeks before 9/11, this is a near-perfect metal album which Your Humble Narrator played daily
for weeks. No fillers or duds here: every song is a classic. The general buzz says that the
new material is not as good. They are trying to progress, naturally. I get the feeling though
that they did their dash with Toxicity. |
metal
2001 |
The Offspring – Greatest Hits
This compilation is less painful than listening to one of their albums, heh heh.
All of your radio-friendly covers band favourites are here. It's okay as zero-effort
catchy background music, actually. |
rock
2005 |
Ministry of Sound – 2005 Annual
A superb commerical dance compilation that still gets played regularly here at Club Toxic.
I went back and bought some previous Ministry of Sound annuals, but none are as consistent
as this one. Maybe 2004 was a good year for pop-dance? I am eagerly awaiting the 2006 mix. |
dance
2005 |