Youtube Tuesdays: ON THE STEREO

A new segment on my youtube channel! On the Stereo is where I rant and rave about whatever artist I'm currently stuck on, and hopefully it will turn you on to some music you may have never heard before. This week I'm talking about Madlib, a legendary hip-hop producer who is behind such albums as Madvillainy by Madvillain (an album that's in my top-ten for hip-hop without a doubt) and The Unseen by Quasimoto, an album I hope to own soon. Great stuff! Stay tuned as this blog becomes active again!

New Triptykon!

At the bottom of this page are two new Triptykon songs. They rule. In fact, you can just skip my two cents and listen to the songs right now, leave a nasty comment chastising me for my neglecting of this blog, and never visit this page again, and that would be fine with me. Why? Because all that's important is that you hear new Triptykon music, end of story.

I'll be honest here; I initially dismissed this project when it was announced. I didn't care whatsoever. Then one day I heard "Goetia". After thoroughly punishing myself for my ignorance of the awesomeness that was Triptykon, I went out and bought a physical copy of the album, Eparistera Daimones (people still do that.) and it became what was easily my favorite album of that year. In fact, it's minimalistic and simple approach (no "shreddy" technical guitar wizardry to be found) became a huge influence on me as a guitarist. It showed me that you don't need to be Joe Satriani or Steve Vai to make good hard rock or metal, and in this case, Tom G. Warrior surpassed those artists in terms of depth and emotional content. I realize that comparing the music of Triptykon to Satriani and Vai isn't that great of a comparison, but let's move along.

Did these two new songs hit me in the same way that "Goetia" did four years ago? Not at all, however, they get me very excited about the future release of the album that will follow up Eparistera Daimones (titled Melana Chasmata) which had such a huge impression on me. Listen for yourselves, and are you guys as excited as I am?

100th Post!: Behemoth - The Satanist ALBUM REVIEW

Little needs to be said at this point about Behemoth frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski’s struggles with leukemia which led to such a lengthy delay between 2009’s Evangelion and 2014’s The Satanist. All that’s necessary to say is, “Nergal, welcome back.” Everything is just as you left it; not a single pentagram left without a severed goat’s head attached, nor a cross not properly inverted. And with the return of such a notorious, controversial, and brutally heavy band, we’re offered a noticeable stylistic shift from previous releases. This time, Behemoth roll back on the death metal and add in some old, fermented black metal ingredients into their metallic recipe for heavy, savory sonic satisfaction.

New Wolves in the Throne Room Album Details

Wolves in the Throne room (and no, I don't believe they're a hipster band) are easily one of my favorites in modern metal, at least, when they WERE making metal, which has just come to a temporary end. According to the band regarding their upcoming album Celestite:

Celestite arises with a whole new, ethereal approach. There are no drums and no vocals. Rather, deep, heavy crystalline synthesizer journeying, Eno-inspired analog processing and arcane acoustic instrumentation expand upon dimensions folded within the universe of Celestial Lineage.

So, not only is it a companion piece to their last album (many songs are based on backing tracks of Celestial Lineage) but it will not be a metal album whatsoever. I'm a tad disappointed about this, because WITTR has been a go-to band whenever I wanted to listen to some black metal in the past, and I was looking forward to some more of that style from them on their new album, however, this is exciting as well because of the ambient "Brian Eno" influenced music that will come out on Celestite.I do wish that some vocals would show up on this thing, though. Some distant black metal shrieking would turn this into a nice black ambient record, meaning that not all black metal influence would be lost but, alas, this isn't to be.

So, this album might be a fresh, nicely executed idea. This album could potentially blow me away. Or, this new album could potentially be a pile of "meh". I'll hold my judgement until the album is released in the first quarter of this year.

New Content!

Hey guys! So, I have new content up on Sputnik and Youtube, so here's a rundown

• Indian-From All Purity ALBUM REVIEW: Indian's latest album has finally turned me into a fan of this band. Their last album Guiltless was decent, but a little one-note. This new album embraces more noise experimentation and is actually HEAVIER than their last album as well. I dig it. Read it HERE
• Jeff Buckley-Grace ALBUM REVIEW: Grace is one of my all time favorite albums from on of my all time favorite singers. It's a treat that every music fan should try. The review was received very well, so read it HERE
• Also, check below for a new video discussing the burden of proof. Is it on theists? Or is it on atheists? You decide

As always: Stay based, and keep it heavy!

The Pallbearers (A Poem)

The Pallbearers.

They carry me westward,

covered in velvet,

encased in mahogany.

Wander to the site of a lonely grave,

hallowed out, ready to embrace me.

A count of five.

Silence among the rustling winds.

A tear escapes the eye of one

as he begins to hum a sorrowful tune.

He sheds inhibition and begins to sing.

A high tenor, trembling slightly.

One, then two.

Three, then four.

The five dour men begin singing the tune of the Foreigner

as I’m buried six feet deep.

Given to the grave.

Into new life.

A Poem (For Jeff)

You pull the mojo pin on your grenade.

I see your soul escape its callous shell

and seep into my mind

and into my heart.

Mingling with my very own soul.

It leads me through the tangles of neurons

to a tranquil place

Soul to soul.

It whispers in a godly falsetto.

A note lasting an eternity

wandering into future eons.

It utters,

“Kiss me. Please, kiss me”

I do.

It fiercely pulls away

Tears begin slowly trickling down its silvery face

as it struggles for a thing to say

“I know that in time, I’ll only make you cry.”

All placidness was lost as it bolted away

back into its shell.

The warm lights dimmed and faded

“No,” I say “this isn’t over.”

“This will not be your last goodbye”