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CD's
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Written by Sameerah
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Thursday, 22 March 2012 |
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Saltillo Monocyte Artoffact 5.0
I have decided that if the world is going to come to an end at the end of the year Saltillo’s “Monocyte” is the album that I want to score my final days. In my mind the final days of men will be a cross between a zombie apocalypse, nuclear holocaust and a Jimmy Swaggart convention with a bunch of Bible thumpers praying for a rapture that will never come. All the while zombies will be pulling out their brains with ice cream scoops. It’s in the last days of life when I am covered in the sickening red and brown ooze of zombie bits and Bible banger pieces that Satillo’s dark, ethereal sounds will be a much needed battle soundtrack and will give me a small measure of comfort if the undead swarm to feast upon my flesh.
There are so many things that turn me on about “Monocyte” it’s insane. First off, it feeds every part of my nerdy being to the point of bursting. “Monocyte” the album is the soundtrack to a comic of the same name. A fact that sent my inner comic nerd into a tailspin. I was compelled to run to Golden Apple Comics after work to pick up every issue of “Monocyte” they had then read the series while listening to the album. That’s when the music nerd kicked in and I started queuing specific songs to play at different panels of the story to enhance the mood. And I have to say that doing so has had me in a constant stage of nerd bliss for a little over a month now. Saltillo did a wonderful job creating an album that added the right amount of drama and emotion to the story. Listening to “Remember Me?” while reading a battle scene animates the sequence. Lifting the art from the page and transporting you to the battlefield. When someone was being chased down I put on “Simple Test” so I could feel like I was on a twisted ride-a-long hell bent on destruction.
Musically it doesn’t get too much better than Saltillo. When you’re listening to “Monocyte” you can’t tell where the electronic portions or the album begin and the organic pieces end. He is that fucking good. At the beginning of the album “Praise” and “002#FM” wrap you in a blanket that is bleak and melancholy with tinges of hope playing around the edges of the songs. No matter how grim things are these are the kinds of songs that make you certain there is some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. The vox on “Giving In” feel like the sonic love Bjork and Dolores O’Riordan, giving an air of sweetness and life to a song about standing your ground when the shit is about to hit the fan. I’ve had this album on a fairly constant loop and every time I hear that song I get chills.
Honestly I can’t say enough good things about “Monocyte”, Satillo is everything that is good about music; it’s heavy, brooding, emotional and above all fun to listen to. If you’re into comics I highly suggest you pick up the first few issues of “Monocyte” and enhance your reading experience with this album you will not be sorry. If you’re not into comics, don’t worry. As an album “Monocyte” has more than enough awesome for you. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November -1 )
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Written by Sameerah
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Monday, 12 March 2012 |
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Feral Dragged to the Alter Ibex Moon 3.5
I wish I could say that I am totally unabashedly in love with “Dragged to the Altar”, but I can’t. It’s a solid album, there is no doubt that Feral knows their shit and have nothing but love for the black metal tradition, but that’s all this album has going for it.
“Dragged to the Altar” is old school blackened death for sure. It hits all of the notes that a proper black metal album needs. Every song is infused with an uptempo versions of the standard black metal melodies that we have come to love, but they don't do anything to elevate the sound, or make it their own beyond that. Which is unfortunate because without those flourishes of personal style you don’t have much more than a bare bones, middle of the road album. The only thing that really made this album stand out at all was some of the lyrics on Judas. The line “what have I done to make you hate me” fucking cuts. It’s the sound of a man who has reached his wits end and is ready to kill for the acceptance he craves. But after that the whole thing is a blur of interchangeable growls and riffs that blend into the background like beige paint.
I listened to this album dozens of times looking for anything that would change my mind and make this something more interesting than solid middle of the road. All I can up with is a hand full of samples that give a nod to the awesome of old skool horror, but even that is nothing new under the sun. What makes Metal so awesome is that it gives a band a forum to go all out balls to the wall to craft music that defines convention. The best black Metal bands are consistently changing the genre forcing we the fans to come with them on musical lands redefine what Metal and music can be. I know sometimes it may be asking too much for every band to be an Alcest or Abigail Williams that is constantly changing and redefining their sound, but I get frustrated when bands like Feral and content with doing something that is just middle of the road. Frankly they are way too awesome to settle for an album that is just good.
Feral is technically awesome and when they want to they are capable of crafting killer lyrics. Something they have proven before on (older album title) but this time they seem to be content with just doing just enough to get by and I for one feel a little disappointed. I don’t listen to Feral to hear music that is just alright, I listen to them because I want them to bring the fucking pain. Melt my ears off, give me lyrics that I can feel. I want them to tap into the darkness, the pain, the disdain for civil society that unites all Metal heads. But that isn’t what I have in “Dragged to the Altar”, what I have is an awesome band that has become content with mediocre evil and it has given me a sad for the day. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November -1 )
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Written by Sameerah
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Friday, 17 February 2012 |
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Dead Hard Naked but Dead FDA Rekotz 3.5
Sitting in the car at a stop light this morning I was blaring Dead’s latest effort “Hard Naked but Dead” windows down, the morning sun staring into my face as got ready to face another day in the office pretending to be a responsible adult. Some guy in a convertible douche mobile pulls next to me, and rolls down his car window. I give my lipstick a quick in my rear view to prepare for some good natured car flirting and early morning ego stroking. I turn towards the douche mobile to hear the guy say “That kind of music isn’t the kind of thing that a young lady should be listening to”. I went from flattered to offended in about 0.5 seconds and yelled back “Fuck you! This album is brutally charming!” The light changed and I went on about my way, but as “Hard Naked but Dead” continued to cut through the quiet Los Angeles morning I began to realize two things about this album; charmingly brutal is the best way to describe this album and I think the guys from Dead were stalking me when they recorded this album.
There is no denying that Dead is heavy as fuck. This is death and roll at it’s finest; Dead mixes catchy rock n roll hooks with big tasty riffs and blacken thrash together to an album that is heavy enough to keep the hard core fans happy, but is still appealing to people who may not like their shit this heavy all the time. It’s the lyrics that make Dead so fucking charming. They open the tracks with a call for everyone to put their mutha fuckin horns in the air! Anytime a song that isn’t part of a live album brings in a line to get you hyped, you know you’re in for a good time. Before I had the chance to look at what the name of the track was I was banging my head to Dead, my horns in the air, nails slamming against the roof of my car and all was right with the world. I love that as heavy as they are, Dead aren’t afraid to be silly with their lyrics. The way they work “roses are red and violets are blue” into “Liquor Store Goddess” is random and cute that it made my black heart grow three times its size.
Now here is where things get a bit odd, and why I think Dead was stalking me. A few months back, I was standing in line at a liquor store in Hollywood, like the “Liquor Store Goddess” I am, I was picking up so whiskey for before a show. The guy in behind me taps me and asks what time it is. I tell him and turn around. He taps me again, and as I turn he pulls out his cock and says “Miss, will you hold my penis?”. Unlike the lady they sample for the song, I didn’t run through the you liquor store screaming because I saw some random dick. I just turned back around. However, for the record I need to say that if you boys are intent on pulling your shit out in front of strange women, I demand that you have something worth looking at. There is nothing worse that seeing some average, middle of the road, science class, high school sex ed book version of the average version of the average penis when you’re getting flashing. C’mon impress me you fucks! I still won’t bang you, but having a massive wang will at least give me something fun to talk about.
After I got over the feeling of being followed, I fell in love with Dead for their driving hard rockin’, rhythms, hilarious tounge in cheek lyrics, and their ability to let loose and just be fucking fun! This drink is for you Dead and I will be your”Liquor Store Goddess” any day! |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November -1 )
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Alcest: Les Voyages de Lame |
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Written by Sameerah
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Sunday, 12 February 2012 |
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Alcest Les Voyages de Lame Prophecy Records 5.0
Alcest is founded on a single principle; to spread the mystic messages of an other worldly place that the bands founder Niege remembers from his childhood. A place that transcends the physical world around us, a place where everything and everyone is connected to something greater than themselves. A place of peace, love an ultimate understanding. A noble concept indeed. There is nothing wrong with putting out an album that encourages people to shed the mundane bullshit that is our daily lives and strive to get in touch with something deeper and more spiritual than the things we see around us. But at the same time, the notion that there is a magic land out there, just beyond our reach can be a little hard to swallow, but that is what makes the concept Alcest interesting. They have a message they want to get to the masses and use amazing music to spread the word. Even if you think the whole other world thing is a little off you can’t deny that Alcest creates music that is as heavy as it is ethereal.
“Les Voyages de Lame” expands on where the last album left off. Alcest ramps up the shoegaze influence on this album a bit more to give it an other worldly feel that is absolutely beautiful If the world that Neige described in “Le Secret” sounded nice, but it still had the air of just being a beautiful concept. Something that it was nice to think about, but nothing you could actually grasp onto. With “Les Voyages de Lame” Neige has taken that world and transformed into a living, breathing thing. A place that may truly exists that you want to be a part of. As with “Le Secret”, “Les Voyages de Lame” is sung competely in French, but don’t worry about not understanding the lyrics. Les Voyages de Lame” is an album that speaks to the heart and the imagination with its dreamy soundscapes. The softness of Neige’s voice only adds to the feeling of being transported someplace better than where you are now. He whispers are comforting, like he knows exactly what’s troubling you at that very moment and mouths the words you need to shake off the shit and move you to a better place. After listening to “Les Voyages de Lame” all I know is I want to live in Neige’s world. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 February 2012 )
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Abigail Williams :Becoming |
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Written by Sameerah
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Wednesday, 01 February 2012 |
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Abigail Williams Becoming Candlelight Records 4.5
When I hear people say something is perfect, I immediately think that they’re talking shit. I am a firm believer in imperfection. You can find fault with everything. Nothing is perfect. While I’m sure there are some flaws in Abigail Williams “Becoming” fuck if I couldn’t find them. “Becoming” is as close to perfect as one can possibly get without your head caving in from being exposed to too much awesome shit. To be honest the only bad thing I can say about this album is that is isn't fucking long enough!
It’s been a long time since I have heard such a brilliant blend of blackened death, technical brilliance and orchestral magnificence. There is a lot of stuff going on in “Becoming”; there are huge orchestral soundscapes, brooding yet introspective lyrics and plenty of sweet solos. It takes more than a few listens to wrap your head around the whole thing. But once I did I couldn’t get enough of it, hell I still can’t. From the moment “Ascension Sickness” begins to play you’re lured in by the soft dulcet tones of the intro. Haunting, yet comforting they pave the way for the slow creeping terror that climbs from the abyss on “Elestial”. A track that moves slow like honey before dropping into a barrage of drums and guitar riffs. Then floats away as quickly as it came.
Abigail Williams has built their career on transcending what first comes to mind when you think of black metal. They have grown into an entity that defies classification. Yes, their roots are firmly planted in the black metal tradition, but the sounds that they create make Abigail Williams a completely different animal. “Infinite Fields of Mind” weaves beautiful violin solos with tortured vocals and heavy drums to make something that feels like you’ve stepped into a darker, but much more vibrant world. “Becoming” is an album that you don’t just listen to, it is an experience that you have to give yourself over to. “Becoming” may be the closest thing to audio perfection that man has ever created. And anyone who says otherwise is the enemy of music! |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November -1 )
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