So i've built up a massive backlog of awesome albums that need to be reviewed so for your viewing pleasure this is the first batch of music reviews that i'm working on...these albums are the real cream of the crop of what i've been listening to lately...there will however, be more to come later that has lots of good stuff in it as well so stay tuned...
#1. Converge - Axe To Fall
After attending a listening party for this album i can't stop listening to it! This album has been one of my most anticipated albums of the year ever since they released random practice footage and an announcement that a new album was coming. By far, one of the best songs on the album is "Dark Horse" when it starts out with just furious furious riffing you know your in for a very bumpy ride, from their the songs only get riffier, nastier, and more vicious.
There are alot of guest spots on this album, but my favorite is Steve Von Till from Neurosis, because his is by far the most disgusting thing he, or Converge have done in quite a while.
Basically, this band can do no wrong, and have done no wrong yet again with this album, it is without a doubt a 10/10 album.
#2. Baroness - The Blue Record
This album is also very very difficult to stop listening to. It's got so many awesome elements to it, it's very very doomy and heavy, but at times also incredibly catchy and reminiscent of classic rock like Thin Lizzy.
Baroness manages to take what their contemporaries in Kylesa, Torche, and Mastodon have done with their classic rock and metal influences and expanded upon it even further with this album, the guitar leads are absolutely gorgeous! This is a hard album for me to review though honestly because i like it so much that it's really hard to nail down one thing that's awesome about it accept for the fact that it's just a nice amalgamation of catchy classic rock riffs and doomy metal destruction to put a big smile on my face and especially on the faces of fans of mastodon, torche, and kylesa
This album is also without question a 10/10.
#3. Shrinebuilder - Shrinebuilder
Oh man...talk about a dream-team of doom. Everything Scott Kelly touches turns awesome so naturally when you combine him with the master of Doom metal Wino, and Al Cisneros the incredible bassist from Sleep and Om and Dale Crover of The Melvins you're going to get really awesome results.
"The dark signal returns", from the second the album starts you can tell it's going to rule, Dale Crover's drums come in quite noisily while Wino starts out on vocals and then leads to Scott Kelly who comes in and destroys the entire rockin tone Crover and Wino had going and they proceed to take the song in many different directions. Basically the sum of Shrinebuilders parts are equally as awesome as the whole. I had really high expectations that this album would be awesome, and it totally is.
To sum this album up without going too fanboy i'll say this; Wino and Kelly provide a vicious 1-2 punch of doom, rock n' roll, and beautiful noise while Crover and Cisneros provide an incredibly solid rhythm section, and every member has their moment to shine on this album where the vibe at the time sounds like one of their previous projects...which i don't think was meant to happen...it just kind of came out...which is awesome that these guys can just play what comes natural and manage to have the other 3 musicians going along with it perfectly without missing a beat. There is not one bad song on this album...in fact there isn't anything bad about this album except that it's entirely too short.
This album is also VERY deserving of a 10/10 because it rules entirely too much.
#4. The Gates Of Slumber - Hymns Of Blood And Thunder
This album is yet another amazing album that i've spent alot of time listening to lately because it is just really really good and well put together, i had not heard these guys until it was announced they signed to metal blade, then i read a glowing review of them that intrigued me to listen to this album and needless to say...it rules...alot.
It's got a very throwback sound very reminiscent to Black Sabbath and Candlemass, as in, it's incredibly doomy and the lyrics are very battle-oriented but the music has a very analog-tone and it sounds like it was recorded in the 70's which is pretty cool, the only other band nowadays that can really master the old school sound without sounding too cheesy is The Sword, which these guys are very reminiscent of.
This album has alot of awesome songs like "Beneath The Eyes of Mars" which has a very Sleep-oriented vibe which is very cool, the only downside to this album is that it's just entirely too long; it's one of those albums where certain parts just drag on forever and i find myself wondering when the album will finally end which is not a good thing...but this album is still good enough to deserve an 8.5/10 because it's got alot of really really awesome parts in it.
#5. Pelican - What We All Come To Need
Pelican have forged a very devoted fanbase (myself included) who are very fond of their instrumental doodlings, and they have taken a very big turn in sound over the years; with the release of their Southern Lord Records debut Ep "Ephemeral" you could tell they were undergoing a major overhaul in their sound...it was becoming MUCH crunchier and alot more rock oriented and on their first full length for Southern Lord you can tell the overhaul is finished because this album is a completely different sound from their previous efforts, it's alot faster and the riffs are ALOT bigger and crunchier and dirtier than before, rather than relying on atmosphere to take over like before, Pelican are letting their guitars do all the talking.
When i saw Pelican live earlier this year i remember being disappointed by their song structure because they didnt play any songs from "fire in our throats" however, i did notice that the standout songs were all the ones from the Ephemeral Ep and the rest of the songs just lacked punch after hearing these big crunchy riffy monstrosities. Plus, the drums and bass set a very very solid rhythm section which helps contribute a great deal to the awesome punch that this album seems to pack in a major way.
Needless to say, Pelican have put out yet another gem...albeit one that may take a little getting used to (hint: their are semi-vocals!) but it's definitely a really good step in the right direction for these guys because as heavy and crunchy as it is...it is still equally as catchy and happy and awesome. This album definitely merits a 9/10
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