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The Semi-Official Heavy Metal Thread

post #1 of 1365
10/4/07 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 
Hey, if hip-hop/rap can have one...I demand equal representation!

Anyways, just a place where any metalhead chewers can discuss new bands, news, obscure stuff, etc.

I'm currently digging a new band called The Agonist (I know, stupid name). Pretty decent melodic death metal with a female singer who sings (Amy Lee) and screams (Angela Glasgow).

The new Down album is good, too. It's interesting and refreshing to hear Phil actually sing through the entire album. But it's still nowhere near as good as Nola. At least it's better than Down II...

And everyone should take a listen to Arch Enemy's new one. Fucking classic.
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post #2 of 1365
10/5/07 at 1:21am
I really can't listen to much metal I hear anymore, because it all aggravates me. The musicians may be great, but every fucking singer just screams and does cookie monster vocals. It annoys me so much that all this great talent is being mixed with horrible "singing" and pissing away their writing.

I heard a new Down song on Sirius tonight, and it really didn't do it for me. Something in the production, it sounded like Phil's voice was overdubbed to hell and back.

Recently I've been listening to the Megadeth live in Argentina CD. I honestly haven't heard a new metal CD touch anything near the quality of The System Has Failed or United Abominations since maybe Arch Enemy's Wages of Sin. And that was in 2001.

The state of metal/thrash right now is really shit.
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post #3 of 1365
10/5/07 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
United Abominations was awful, just awful. Especially after the surprisingly decent The System Has Failed.

I'll agree to a point about the cookie-monster vocals. There are literally thousands of good guitar players, drummers, and songwriters, but maybe only dozens of good singers for this kind of music.

And there's actually some really good new thrash-y metal out and about (without cookie monster vox), albeit it can be hard to sift through the shit to find it. I'd check out Sancity (they're on Roadrunner) and Epic (unsigned band from Houston - I think their myspace is www.myspace.com/epicrocks).
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post #4 of 1365
10/5/07 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 
By the way, how is that Megadeth Live In Argentina CD?

I've got the Rude Awakening set and a bunch of random live bonus tracks from the Menza/Friedman days, is there anything on this new disc that would interest me?
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post #5 of 1365
10/5/07 at 4:30pm
If you didn't enjoy United Abominations, don't bother with Argentina I suppose. I don't know how you couldn't enjoy UA, I thought it absolutely blew away System. I lot of the Argentina stuff is on Rude Awakening, and I think Rude Awakening is a bit better recording because the crowd in Argentina is SO into it they drown out the music. The DVD for Argentina is much better than the CD.

I've never heard of Epic, suprisingly. I try to keep up with local metal, and they've slipped past me. I would check out Marzi. He's a damn good local player, but has a bit of an ego. Just go to google and type in Marzi, and you'll find his Myspace
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post #6 of 1365
10/5/07 at 4:39pm
A few gooduns I've been listening to lately.

Five Finger Death Punch. They are a mix of good vocals and cookie monster vocals. They've got a couple of really good songs on the album. Track 4 and 10 if you grab it.
http://www.myspace.com/ffdp

Frozen. Another new group I'm getting into.
They still have the heavy vocals, but it's also a mix of other kinds of music.
I really like their full sound.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=33519543


Outside of that, my favorite Metal Band is Black Label Society.
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post #7 of 1365
10/5/07 at 6:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by billylove
Outside of that, my favorite Metal Band is Black Label Society.
I'm so damn glad Zakk took some time off instead of rushing another album. The last two really didn't do too much for me. I wish he would do another Book of Shadows, then come back with a killer metal album.
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post #8 of 1365
10/5/07 at 7:48pm
I'm not all that knowledgeable about current metal bands. There seems to be thousands of bands out there.

Lately I've bought a bunch of Lamb Of God and Mastodon along with a little Machine Head, Strapping Young Lad and Killswitch Engage.

It's been a pretty good variety so far. Not sure what to look at next.
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post #9 of 1365
10/5/07 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
Five Finger Death Punch is really the shit. They put on a hell of a show, too. I highly recommend them.

If you dig Lamb Of God, there's a new band out here in L.A. called Tin Horn (they're on myspace) that might interest you. Interesting note: the two brothers in the band are the sons of comedian Dave Thomas, weird.

I've also really been digging this Danish band Volbeat (www.volbeat.dk). They're a cool rockabilly-metal hybrid, with massive riffing and tight drumming. Sorta old-school Butthole Surfers with Keith Caputo-esque vocals.

The next big release I'm looking forward to is Soilwork (Oct. 30, I think). I've been a little disappointed by the song or two that's leaked, but am still holding out hope they can put together another great album (meaning better than Stabbing The Drama).
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post #10 of 1365
10/5/07 at 9:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyG

The state of metal/thrash right now is really shit.
An absolutely untrue statement.
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post #11 of 1365
10/5/07 at 10:14pm
Metal is actually doing pretty well. You gotta dig deep to find what's worthwhile. All heavy music fans should listen to Skeletonwitch. I'm digging Baroness too but they have more of a stoner vibe and though I haven't picked it up yet I am hearing good things about the new High On Fire. I'm digging Agalloch from Portland, OR and Oakhelm which features members of Seattle prog-doom band Wormwood and former members of Portland's Fall Of The Bastards. The new Neurosis kicks serious ass.

Like doom? Try Graves At Sea, Shroud Of Berevement or Middian. Prog? Slough Feg is pretty awesome as are Yeti but I don't think they're together anymore. Buy a copy of Metal Maniacs or Terrorizer magazine, read it and then go out and buy an album by a band you read about in there that appeals to you but you have never heard. In fact Terrorizer is cool because each issue comes with a sample CD of the bands covered inside.

ETA: I also highly recommend Wolf from Sweden.
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post #12 of 1365
10/5/07 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefelee

The next big release I'm looking forward to is Soilwork (Oct. 30, I think). I've been a little disappointed by the song or two that's leaked, but am still holding out hope they can put together another great album (meaning better than Stabbing The Drama).
Same here they are one of my favorite bands. If you like Soilwork, check out Disarmonia Mundi. Italian band that Speed does vocals for as well. Very cool stuff. Its more electronically tinged than Soilwork with lots of samples and keyboards.

I liked Stabbing the Drama, but I can understand why most didnt. Figure Number Five and A Predator's Portrait are still my fave Soilwork albums though.
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post #13 of 1365
10/6/07 at 1:54am
Thanks to all for the advice.

I had a bit of a look around and I'm thinking my next purchase will be Arch Enemy. The female death growl is pretty weird at first, but I think I'll like it.
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post #14 of 1365
10/6/07 at 2:52am
I implore people to visit Blabbermouth, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, and Metal Rules for endless good ideas and a non-stop supply of great new bands. Nothing stagnant in any way in this genre. Don't forget to scan the forums, reviews, and Best-of the Year lists.
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post #15 of 1365
10/6/07 at 3:31am
Thread Starter 
Those are all good sites. I check Blabbermouth at least twice a day. Honestly, I think their reviewers suck (and the reviews are updated very haphazardly), but you can't beat it for metal news.

And...shucks, I didn't start this thread to plug myself...but I do a metal podcast with a buddy of mine. http://auditorydisplayofpower.blogspot.com. Lots of new stuff, lots of unsigned bands.

Glad you're picking up Rise Of The Tyrant, Tom. It's easily Arch Enemy's best album and might be the best metal record of 2007.

And don't get me wrong, I dig Soilwork's Stabbing The Drama, but it simply doesn't hold a candle to Natural Born Chaos...

I'm seeing the Black Tyranny tour (Machine Head/Arch Enemy/Throwdown/Sanctity) when it hits LA next weekend. Anyone catch it already elsewhere? Impressions? Opinions?
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post #16 of 1365
10/6/07 at 3:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt
Slough Feg is pretty awesome...
These guys are coming to my little town next month. I'm so happy.
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post #17 of 1365
10/6/07 at 4:29am
I've been listening to this doom metal band, Witchcraft, really great stuff. Also, the latest Devildriver was really good, it's better than The Fury of Our Maker's Hand. And I'm rounding out my listening with some The Haunted and Dethklok.
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post #18 of 1365
10/6/07 at 5:23am
I've kind of fallen behind on my knowledge of metal. Can someone throw a couple of suggestions about new stuff, preferably thrash? And keep in mind that I live in Greece and there's no way I can find stuff from some of the smaller bands.
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post #19 of 1365
10/6/07 at 5:57am
Stelios, you might have better luck finding the European releases that we never hear about over here. I suggest tracking down Paragon. They are fast, heavy, catchy and make me want to raise my fists aloft in a devil's horn salute. May these Germans make you want to rock out as well.
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post #20 of 1365
10/6/07 at 1:32pm
The Agonist is pretty good. Have you heard Unearth? I would definitely recommend them.

You can't go wrong with Strapping Young Lad either.
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post #21 of 1365
10/6/07 at 4:35pm
More random thoughts -



I finally caught myself a Finntroll show the other night, it was amazing.

The new Iced Earth album is a piece of shit.

Surprisingly, the new Nightwish album is good.

Check out Municipal Waste for decent thrash.
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post #22 of 1365
10/6/07 at 5:16pm
Thanks to Chris Wood, I have experienced the glammy sludge metal that is both Wigwam and Crash Diet. Imagine a bunch of Scandinavians rebelling from the black/death metal scene and getting inspired by the likes of Motley Crue, Skid Row and GnR. If thats your recipe for hard rock, then you should check them out.

Wigwam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpRfC15gYSo

Crash Diet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9guCko-3GA
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post #23 of 1365
10/7/07 at 5:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Collins
The new Iced Earth album is a piece of shit.
To me that album feels like the musical equivalent of eating a pizza from Sbarros.

If you feel the same way about Sbarros that I do.

Which is to say I don't like it.
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post #24 of 1365
10/7/07 at 4:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnycinco
Thanks to Chris Wood, I have experienced the glammy sludge metal that is both Wigwam and Crash Diet.
And they're just the tip of the new wave of Scandinavian sleaze. But the CHUD crowd seems to be mostly interested in harder stuff. There really aren't any recent American metal bands who interest me much, but there's still a bunch of cool stuff going on overseas.

Here's the latest single from Japan's biggest metal band these days, Sex Machineguns: "Waste Management"
Musically they're similar to Megadeth, but in terms of lyrics and image usually tongue in cheek.
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post #25 of 1365
10/7/07 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madman Mundt
To me that album feels like the musical equivalent of eating a pizza from Sbarros.

If you feel the same way about Sbarros that I do.

Which is to say I don't like it.
I think I understand.

As long as you're saying that Sbarro's pizza is boring, pointless, generic, neverending and full of filler and also screetching, "been done before", over Pro-Tooled and compressed, and embarrassing with a bad singer and retarded concept. I think Sbarro tastes like that at least...
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post #26 of 1365
10/8/07 at 9:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Collins
More random thoughts -
Check out Municipal Waste for decent thrash.
I saw them a couple years ago, and while they mostly bore me, they were really fun live. You can never go wrong with a circle pit full of boogie boards and halloween masks.
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post #27 of 1365
10/8/07 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Collins
More random thoughts -

Check out Municipal Waste for decent thrash.
Municipal Waste reminds me of D.R.I.
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post #28 of 1365
10/8/07 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams
I've been listening to this doom metal band, Witchcraft, really great stuff. Also, the latest Devildriver was really good, it's better than The Fury of Our Maker's Hand. And I'm rounding out my listening with some The Haunted and Dethklok.
Is that the Swedish Witchcraft? If so they are indeed badass. If you like stuff like that try Grand Magus and older stuff like Doomsword and Manilla Road.

Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios
I've kind of fallen behind on my knowledge of metal. Can someone throw a couple of suggestions about new stuff, preferably thrash? And keep in mind that I live in Greece and there's no way I can find stuff from some of the smaller bands.
Look for Battleroar. They play a thrash influenced power metal and they're from Athens.

Beyond that, personally, I'll buy anything on Southern Lord.
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post #29 of 1365
10/8/07 at 4:49pm
My favorite "new" (as in, last year) metal records have been:

Amon Amarth - With Oden By My Side
Meshuggah - Nothing Rerelease
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Butcher's Ballroom

Please please please check out that last band at least. One of the most original metal bands around, IMHO. Go to http://www.diabloswing.com/mainer.htm and click on "balrog boogie"at the top.
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post #30 of 1365
10/8/07 at 5:09pm
Just an FYI, but I will occasionally listen to 525.com. They will play different Metal, everything from Death Metal to Light Metal/pop metal. I've picked up a few interesting bands.
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post #31 of 1365
10/8/07 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt
Is that the Swedish Witchcraft? If so they are indeed badass. If you like stuff like that try Grand Magus and older stuff like Doomsword and Manilla Road.
It is indeed that Witchcraft, I'm probably going to be picking up their new one, The Alchemist this week.
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post #32 of 1365
10/8/07 at 8:36pm
Old school.


Prong has a new album that just came out "Power of the Damager", from what I've heard so far, it's pretty good.
http://www.prongmusic.com/
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post #33 of 1365
10/8/07 at 9:17pm
astromarine- thanks for the recommendation of Diablo Swing Orchestra. While its not what I look for in a metal band (my tastes run much more towards thrash with decent singers) I do appreciate the insanity of it all. Kinda reminds me of Man Man.
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post #34 of 1365
10/10/07 at 10:35am
Here is a link to Paragon's myspace. Sure, myspace sucks ass, but you can hear several of their songs, including the glorious "Impaler"

http://www.myspace.com/paragonlegions
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post #35 of 1365
10/10/07 at 4:11pm
And if you like Paragon (or Manowar), you'll probably be into the power metal of Sweden's Dream Evil - "The Book of Heavy Metal" (2004)
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post #36 of 1365
10/11/07 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 
Soilwork's new album "Sworn To A Great Divide" is streaming on their myspace page, www.myspace.com/soilwork

I'm digging it so far, moreso than "Stabbing The Drama" on first listen. Bjorn's pulling off some impressive melodies, but the 'faster' parts of the songs are a bit uninspired. And ever since Peter Wincher left the band the solos have been lacking.

Dream Evil is awesome. I've been listening since their first record. Excellent production, wicked playing, and vocals that almost sound like the Scorpions. Plus they're one of the few European power metal bands that doesn't suffer from 'English-as-a-second-language lyrics.'

Megadeth's Warchest leaked over the weekend, and it's almost worth the purchase if just for CD 4: an entire live set from 1990. Awesome, awesome stuff. Fuck I miss Nick Menza. The set also comes with a live DVD from 1992 (I think). Anyone pick this up? How's the DVD? If the video is decent I might take the plunge on this, although I really just wished they would've released a live CD/DVD for $30; I don't need 3 CDs of album tracks and rare songs (most of which I have already).

Keep the recommendations coming. I'm really digging Frozen and Slough Feg.
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post #37 of 1365
10/11/07 at 1:38am
I'm a big metal fan here. My first concert was Pantera/Slayer at the Extreme Steel Tour in 2001.

I just bought the new Down (Phil Anselmo's other band) CD and have to say it's fucking awesome. Phil actually sings again on this instead of just screaming. This is the best Phil has sounded since the first 3 Pantera CDs. I hope they stick together for a while this time.
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post #38 of 1365
10/11/07 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
Wow, I'm old. My first show was Metallica Summer Shit 1994.
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post #39 of 1365
10/11/07 at 11:53am
Mine was also Metallica but in 1993. I traveled 600km both ways for it but it was worth it 100%.
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post #40 of 1365
10/11/07 at 12:12pm
I believe it was 1996, Dallas, TX, Pantera
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post #41 of 1365
10/11/07 at 9:13pm
I just came across the oddest thing on the radio while driving to school today. An a'capella power metal band, VanCanto it's just 5 vocalists and a drummer, and I got to say it sounds really good.

And then there is Testisment. A Croatian metal band that I'm really digging now.
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post #42 of 1365
10/11/07 at 11:07pm
Entombed
http://www.myspace.com/serpentsaints

I remember Wolverine Blues was a decent album.
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post #43 of 1365
10/11/07 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams
Testisment. A Croatian metal band that I'm really digging now.
You sir, are no Croatian Chuck Billy.
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post #44 of 1365
10/12/07 at 12:39am
Thread Starter 
For a second there, I thought that read Tetrisment.

No wasted space in their road cases.
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post #45 of 1365
10/13/07 at 2:46am
I was introduced to Early Man recently:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kag95ZkntYg

Im pretty much in love.
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post #46 of 1365
10/13/07 at 7:12am
So Arch Enemy turned out to be really good. It's pretty straight forward, but I'm really enjoying it.

In other metal news I watched this: http://imdb.com/title/tt0478209/

Thought it was pretty good and certainly worth watching.
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post #47 of 1365
10/13/07 at 2:44pm
Liked the Early Man. I've requested the disc on lala, hopefully someone will ship it.

While checking Youtube I came across this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wrw6QX4Atx0
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post #48 of 1365
10/13/07 at 4:39pm
Van Canto - intersting but slightly retarded. I *almost* got that album a few months ago, then thought better of myself.

Entombed pre-Wolverine stuff suits me better, like the Clandestine album.

And in terms of Dream Evil - They are power metal cheese personified, but not unenjoyable (though I like the album Dragonslayer much more than their other 3 records). For that style of overproduced double-bass dragon metal, the advantage goes to Nocturnal Rites, Hammerfall, Dragonforce, Cellador, [older] Edguy, and Firewind. Not to mention Falconer.

The best "power metal" band ever anyway is Blind Guardian (yes, including Helloween), so the point is moot.

Lately I have been listening to the new (not-that-great) Obituary.
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post #49 of 1365
10/13/07 at 4:52pm
EARLY MAN is pretty much an Ozzy Sabbath ripoff and it's interesting the first listen and that's it.

You want something kickass? Check out HIGH ON FIRE. Amazing band.

As for BLIND GUARDIAN, since the release of NIGHT AT THE OPERA they've slowly turned into shit. Which is sad since they're power metal legends.

And if anyone so much as brings up Trivium in this thread in a positive way, they will be told to leave the hall immediately.

HAMMERFALL is a heavy/power metal band worth checking out as well. Cheesy but very catchy stuff. As for Dream Evil, THE BOOK OF HEAVY METAL is one my favorite albums from them.
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post #50 of 1365
10/13/07 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Headless Fett
EARLY MAN is pretty much an Ozzy Sabbath ripoff and it's interesting the first listen and that's it.
I'd say it's more of a Sabbath, Ozzy, Maiden, Metallica ripoff. But I still like it.


I love High on Fire's music, but I'm not too crazy on the vocals. It may grow on me.
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