Funny thing I saw this just now I'm washing my ears with 'Radio Bemba Sound System', Manu's live album. My sister watched them once in Toronto and when I asked how it was she replied that he/they are 110% nuts, not stopping for a second for a pause, always playing in a furious rhythm. On this live recording there are few times they slow down, and play/sing few songs so nicely that I regret not knowing spanish so I could sing along ["Bienvenida a Tijuana", right after the intro, is pure wub ].




off topic: Ibis that is awesum! I can't speak in Zarr's name [but she's a really great person and you can ask her anytime about permissions and stuff], but you have a green light from me.

This post has been edited by milanius: Aug 23 2007, 10:17 AM

Thanx Mil, I shall make you proud. And i'll pm Zarr.

Still listening to Van Halen. You know, they are planning a 50 venue tour, did I already say that here? That is, if the Van Halen family, Eddie, bro Alex and son Wolfgang can continue to get along with Dave that long. hahahahah! Eat 'em and Smile ... 0I812.

Well, here's some.

*Bullet Proof Skin - Institute
Halfway Till Bliss - Atlas Plug
[Momentum - TobyMac]
[The Last Firstborn - Celldweller]
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell
[This Moment - Distrubed]

* means I've rated five star
[] is just used to characterize one of the factions in my fan-fictions

YES! My very own copy of Dimension Hatross!!

It's an out of print CD by Voivod, and I've heard the album before, but I finally found a copy to call my own. It's great. Listening to the first track right now, entitled 'Experiment'. It's a good mix of Voivod's early thrash roots and their later 'cyberpunk' style (epitomized on their album Nothingface) which combines to make my favorite Voivod album to date.

Here's Saturday's List:

Insomnium - Above the Weeping World
Insomnium - In the Halls of Awaiting
Insomnium - Since the Day It All Came Down
Burst - Origo
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands
Clutch - From Beale Street to Oblivion

And now some quickie reviews:

Insomnium - Since the Day It All Came Down

This is Insomnium's second CD, and the last album of theirs I needed. Comparing it to both "Above..." and "In the Halls...", "Since..." is definitely the most accessible of the three. This is mainly due to the extensive use of acoustic/slow/clean guitar moments, since nearly every song on this album features such a moment or even fills more than 50% of the song with them. For me personally, I felt the acoustics were a little to heavily used (they found the PERFECT balance on "Above..."), since at moments it made the song start to drag (most notably seen in "Day of Reckoning", probably the least impressive song I've heard by this band).

Despite being critical of the acoustic moments, there are definitely songs where they work wonderfully. This includes the title track and most notably "Daughter of the Moon". Insomnium are at their strongest though when they utilize they melodic lead heavy, ripping melodic death metal riffs. Even the most straight-forward track on the CD "Closing Words" rocks out due to the melodic guitarwork humming above the riffing guitar.

While this is not their strongest CD, it still brings enough quality songs to be a worthy purchase. I would still recommend a new listener to check out "Above the Weeping World" first, but if you wish to get your ears used to Insomnium's sound, "Since the Day It All Came Down" would be your best bet to start.


Rapture - Futile

This is Rapture's debut CD, released on Relapse records, and most listeners of this band often say this was their best work. I still haven't determined if that is true, but this is still a very interesting CD. Rapture, on this release, play a heavily melodic brand of doom metal mixed with some death metal styling's (most notably in the gruff vocals). For the most part, the songs on this CD are fairly lengthy, as much go over the 6 minute mark. This allows the guitarwork to really shine, even though it is fairly simplistic in nature. There's a certain organic quality and flow to the songs as their either build up into a rage, or into plaintive or sombre mood. Rapture's vocals for this release are for the most part are gruff, but not in an annoying fashion. The fact that he actually enounciates his words is also a nice change from the unintelligable vocals you often hear in this genre. The second last track does feature some clean vocals though.


Rapture - Silent Stage

Silent Stage is Rapture's latest release that I know of. It was released in 2005. With this CD, there are a few noticable changes when compared to Futile. One of the most immediate is the use of vocals. Silent Stage features a lot more clean vocals which sound even stronger than the ones shown on Futile. They often been compared to the vocals in fellow gloomers, Katatonia, but Rapture shows a bit more emotion in their vocals, and even some harmonies than compared to Katatonia's cold, indifferent approach. The death metal vocals have changed aswell, getting slightly more gutteral, but still used very effectively.

Another thing is that the songs are a bit shorter (most fall in between 4 and 5 minutes), and the CD features two sombre and slightly skin crawling instrumentals. The production on this CD has also been increased as the melodic leads are a lot more punchier than shown on Futile. It has warrant me to find a bit more enjoyment in Silent Stage as it does take less effort to get into. The first track on the CD starts things off on the right foot with an infectious guitar melody. From there, things get a bit more sombre as the next two tracks are more focused on the slightly depressing clean vocals.

With more listens of both this and Futile, I have a feeling I will be jumping back and forth between which one I like more. Fortunately I find that both are worthy purchases. But if you wanna sink your teeth into something that's easier to chew on, go with Silent Stage first. From what I understand, their second release wasn't that great, so I don't think I'll ever bother giving it a listen. I'm happy enough with these two releases... for now. Hopefully a new release from this band is forthcoming.

Not sure if this counts, but about three hours ago I was attempting to Play Trippin' on a Paper Heart by Stone Temple Pilots on Medium on Guitar Hero II.

Great song, really hard on Medium though. Not NEARLY as difficult as No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age and Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne on Medium on Guitar Hero I. Whoo.

Been thinking about picking up my guitar again. I've been thinking about asking my mom to get the dude who teaches my half-brother to give me some lessons. I know basic stuff, and I used to be able to play Master of Puppets very well. I just wish I could find better tabs for songs and could actually play well.

Speaking of which, I really need to get Aenima. I've found it for 20 dollars at Borders, which broke my heart. I bet it takes twenty CENTS to make that CD. Bastards....

Aenima is almost quite easily my favourite CD by Tool. Unbelievable songs on that CD. I'd probably rank them in this order Aenima, 10 000 Days, Undertow, Lateralus, Opiate(only because I've never listened to it).

A bit of a blues-heavy random ten for today. Appropriate- I will be back to working Saturdays come next weekend.

You Can’t Catch Me- Chuck Berry
It’s Not My Cross to Bear- Allman Brothers
Goin’ Down Slow- Howlin’ Wolf
This is Hip- John Lee Hooker
Forty-Four- Howlin’ Wolf
Lola- The Kinks
Brown-Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
Rosie- Tom Waits
On the Nickel- Tom Waits
Memphis- Chuck Berry

Been listening to Bob Marley, "Legend" LP. Nice.

Mil, you listen to Bob Marley? All I can say is: ell owh ell/lawl!

From the songs I've heard on Aenima, they kick donkey, but I'd have to get the CD to see how it compares with 10,000 Days and Lateralus. I live in a small town, and the Walmart here only seems to carry 10,000 Days and Undertow, so I'll have to go up to Norman and get it (for a reasonable price that is, 20 bucks my tight pale butt).

Edit: I'll explain Mil: I just don't picture you as someone who listens to Bob Marley. XD

This post has been edited by Zarrexaij: Aug 27 2007, 12:12 AM

Yesterday I picked up another Black Keys album, Rubber Factory. Good stuff...

Lots of folks listen to Bob Marley who otherwise scarcely listen to anything else similar. There's just something about his music. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I'll listen to him now and again. "Redemption Song" is very nice.

Ahhh a lot of goodies there my dear friend! Lola! One of my favourites! mmmmmm

For myself, I´ve been listening to the soundtrack from Grey´s Anatomy while cleaning the house.....yay me!

I'm a retired amateur pothead retired Warrior Wubber:

Naughty Robert

p.s.: I used to listen only to angry, screaming music, the likes of BIOHAZARD, R.A.T.M. and S.O.I.A., when I was young. With years, one learns to calm down [at times, at least] and learns to accept things that soothe him. If you think Marley & Mil are odd couple, do a search on Mazzy Star and Portishead - now, there's something you can't picture me listening, EVAR.

This post has been edited by milanius: Aug 27 2007, 10:50 AM

I'm sure this will be surprising to everyone, but the majority of the stuff I listen to fits under alt rock/metal and grunge.

Edit: I get really bored of screaming. Yeah, I listen to Metallica, but it's not all angry angry screaming.

This post has been edited by Zarrexaij: Aug 29 2007, 12:47 AM

Were it not for the fact that it's coming up on 2am and I'd probably get in a heap of trouble for it, I'd be listening to Stabbing the Drama by Soilwork now. It's an excellent album, one of my all time favourites. Go metal!

Never heard of it. If it's like Shadows Fall (gah, forget which word has the s), yeah, don't think anyone would appreciate that very much.

I'm sure you're exciting about their new album coming out really soon then. I'm definitely looking to check that one out as well as the new Amorphis record.

Queen ... that one about "Momma, I don't want to die, sometimes wish I'd never been born at all"

Bohemian Raphsody... or however it's spelled >_>
That's one of those songs you can't help but sing along to

Roundabout .. Yes. Saw these guys in concert three times. Good ole days, yes,, yes, yes!!!