What are you listening to right now?

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:41 pm

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:19 pm I was wondering if you heard the re-recording:

Yeah, it’s what got me down the rabbit hole this week.

I don't understand how this was written (and recorded) in 1986 by a bunch of teenagers. It's bonkers. This was so far off my radar at that point (I was a kid), but to hear it now is amazing.

The self-titled and “California” are two of the most mind-blowing albums ever. “Disco Volante” didn’t really click for me as a whole, although I’m in awe of a few songs on there. These are madness.

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:00 pm

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:19 pm I was wondering if you heard the re-recording:

I don't understand how this was written (and recorded) in 1986 by a bunch of teenagers. It's bonkers. This was so far off my radar at that point (I was a kid), but to hear it now is amazing.

But I'm sure this version is WAY better than what they were doing in 1986. Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo were doing their own things then.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:44 am

AC/DC has a new album out, Power Up. Outside of the near-mandatory appreciation for their classics, I wouldn't consider myself a fan. Their guitars are fantastic, but their songs are repetitive. Brian Johnson's voice is unique and captivating, but the band's lyrics are often grating and historically sleazy. But, while most of their albums I've tried to give an honest listen to blur together, there's no denying their hits. This is their first album since Malcom Young's 2017 death, and a suspected break-up of the band in 2018. It sounds like pretty much every other AC/DC record I've ever heard, but once in a blue moon that's preceisely what I'm in the mood for.

No song sticks with me out of the gate like 2014's Rock or Bust. Witch's Spell isn't bad though. This one is probably a single for a reason though (and IMO a lot more interesting than the first one, Shot In The Dark):

Realize

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:04 pm

Hadn't seen the AC/DC news. Interesting.

I forgot just how damn good this QotSA stuff holds up - still fantastic!

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Sun Nov 15, 2020 1:57 am

Sudy wrote:AC/DC has a new album out, Power Up. Outside of the near-mandatory appreciation for their classics, I wouldn't consider myself a fan. Their guitars are fantastic, but their songs are repetitive. Brian Johnson's voice is unique and captivating, but the band's lyrics are often grating and historically sleazy. But, while most of their albums I've tried to give an honest listen to blur together, there's no denying their hits. This is their first album since Malcom Young's 2017 death, and a suspected break-up of the band in 2018. It sounds like pretty much every other AC/DC record I've ever heard, but once in a blue moon that's preceisely what I'm in the mood for.

No song sticks with me out of the gate like 2014's Rock or Bust. Witch's Spell isn't bad though. This one is probably a single for a reason though (and IMO a lot more interesting than the first one, Shot In The Dark):

Realize

I listened to the new album today and I agree with your impression 100%.

Decent songs but nothing caught me where I had to go through and listen to it again.

This is your typical AC/DC album where most songs sound identical. Mediocre at best.

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Sun Nov 15, 2020 2:06 am

Skinypupy wrote:I’ve been on a Bungle kick this week. This is one of the most insane and complex songs ever. I’ve probably listened to it a hundred times, and I still hear something new every time.

I've had a love/hate relationship with Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle, and Faith No More since the 80's.

There is quite a bit of stuff I like and still keep on my daily playlist. However, there is also a bunch of their stuff that I personally think is garbage.

Listened to the new album a few times now and my love/hate relationship continues. There's some good songs in there, but a couple that are horrendous (At least to me).

I've often thought Mike Patton would be hella fun to drink with.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:41 pm

I love Bal-Sagoth so frigging much. I think they're my favourite discovery of the past couple years. Yes, I know I'm a couple decades late. Ordinarily I think the spoken-word narration elements would annoy me, but here I think they're what makes the band's sound unique and so interesting.

Star-Maps of the Ancient Cosmographers

stimpy · Post by **stimpy** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:23 pm

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:53 am

Can't decide if I like the original or the acoustic version better:

Falconer - Royal Galley

Acoustic:

Falconer is one of the few metal bands I can play for my mother and she doesn't tell me she thinks they have angry souls. I doubt she'd appreciate Mithotyn though. (My mom texts me Josh Groban and Pentatonix videos etc., which I usually ignore.)

JCC · Post by **JCC** » Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:06 pm

I prefer the original but the acoustic version is awesome.

I really need to check out some of their newer stuff. I just never got as engaged with the 2nd and 3rd albums. Their debut was just fantastic.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:07 am

It's a Type O kinda day.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 3:36 pm

gradually and occasionally going through the entire TMBG discography, chronologically. they kinda lost me after the massive disappointment that was _John Henry_ and never really recovered - it's like they became a different band after becoming a 'full' band - so i'm giving it all a second chance. anyways, i had never heard the online-only album from 1999 (_Long Tall Weekend_) and i just got around to it now. it wasn't too bad.

JCC · Post by **JCC** » Fri Nov 20, 2020 1:52 pm

Checked out the new Dark Tranquillity album this morning on Spotify. Good suff! Given that one of the Amott brothers is playing guitar now, I was wondering if their sound would be a bit different, but it really still sounds like DT. Maybe 1 or 2 solos towards the back half of the album were a little more energetic than normal but, by and large this sounds like Dark Tranquillity!

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:17 pm

Super group Killer be Killed new album is out and it's a great heavy metal album.

Good stuff.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:55 pm

There aren't too many groups or songs that can capture the auditory greasy feel I get when listening to the Afghan Whigs, but this is probably the closest I've heard in a long time. Not sure how I missed this album.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:02 pm

I can't stand QotSA, but it did circle me back to Kyuss...which is always good.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:56 pm

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:43 pm

The new Contrarian album (“Only Time Will Tell”) is really good. The old-school Death and Atheist influences are on full display, and they bring some interesting vocal choir(ish) elements into the mix as well. Obviously a ton of talent here.

Only thing I’m not crazy about are some of the lower vocals. He’s got a good, powerful mid-range growl, but his low gutturals sound really weak. A minor nitpick, but one that bugs me a bit.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:03 am

I've never really listened to Arch Enemy. I heard We Will Rise it must have been ages ago before I was generally into heavier metal, but that was it. I enjoy melodeath, so I decided to give the rest of that album (Anthems of Rebellion, 2003) a try but didn't really dig it. But then, I went back and listened to Black Earth (1996), and holy crap! What an infections auditory assault. As some reviews state, this is when melodeath still had some death in it. As someone who likes his death light and melodeath heavy, I really dig this. It seems more in line with my limited knowledge of death 'n' roll. Of course, this was when they had their original vocalist, Johan Liiva (a dude). His hoarse yells are fantastic.

Eureka

21 years and two vocalists later, you have Will to Power, which I haven't listened to fully yet, but I love Reason to Believe. I understand this to be an uncharacteristic track with Alissa White-Gluz mostly using clean vocals (very well) in a power ballad, but it's some Paradise Lost or Ministry-level transformative wizardry--both great songs, but hard to believe it's the same band.

JCC · Post by **JCC** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:13 am

Reason to Believe is my least favorite track from that album! haha.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 3:48 am

Lol... after reading this was the band's first ever track with clean vocals, it probably came as a shock to many. The vocalist sounds like she could pull it off all the time though. (I didn't realize until now that it's also Alissa White-Gluz on this version of Soilwork's Stålfågel, a song with a similar timbre.) What I really love about it is the contrast between the clean verses and growled chorus. The introduction and verse actually sounds very late-90s alternative/heavy metal power ballad to me... Megadeth's Cryptic Writings comes to mind. Ballads like these are really hit and miss... but when they connect with me, I love them. It's a really poppy sound, but good pop is good.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:59 am

A lot of symphonic melodeath is generic and just not hard enough for me. Mors Principium Est's Embers of a Dying World is a delightful exception. It's familiar, but the production and execution are top-notch.

Reclaim the Sun

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 10:59 am

Sudy wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 3:48 am Lol... after reading this was the band's first ever track with clean vocals, it probably came as a shock to many. The vocalist sounds like she could pull it off all the time though.

White-Gluz has done clean vocals quite a bit. I saw her do a few songs with Kamelot that were quite good.

I’ve never liked Arch Enemy’s music much, but they do put on a decent live show.

JCC · Post by **JCC** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:06 am

Sudy wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 3:48 am Lol... after reading this was the band's first ever track with clean vocals, it probably came as a shock to many.

I don't mind them doing songs with clean vocals at all. She is a great clean vocalist (see Kamelot), but I just think the song sucks. I also didn't really like the style of vocals she chose to use although I guess it was appropriate for the song. When she belts out vocals in the chorus of whatever Kamelot song I heard her in she's awesome. I hope if she does clean vocals again it's in a more uptempo song.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:09 pm

I tried to get into Kamelot when I saw they'd be touring here, but the tracks I sampled didn't speak to me. It's weird how you can love some stuff in a particular style or subgenre, but just won't dig certain acts. Listening to them again now, they're not so bad. Stuff this upbeat doesn't usually appeal to me though, if it's sincere (excepting some pure European power metal; e.g. it's hard to not to love Lost Horizon's Pure).

New Tribulation. It's pretty awesome:

Leviathans

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:12 pm

Sudy wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:09 pm
New Tribulations. It's pretty awesome:

Leviathans

Holy shit, how did I miss this?!?

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 10:35 pm

I've also really been enjoying Xandria, a symphonic German band that shares Orden Ogan's new bassist, Steven Wussow. (I looked him up after he liked a silly comment I made on FB.) The operatic vocals are fantastic. German and Finnish acts always seem to rub me the right way.

Nightfall

Interestingly, when listening to their song Call of the Wind (2013) I noticed part of the chorus (e.g. 0:50) was extremely familiar:

This is part of the The Wild Horde theme by Ennio Morricone, from a lesser known spaghetti western My Name Is Nobody (1973)!

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:39 pm

The fans of my computer... did I misunderstand the question?

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:13 am

I really doubt that your computer is famous enough that it has fans.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:20 am

Sudy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:13 am I really doubt that your computer is famous enough that it has fans.

My computer is a Falcon Northwest which has over twenty-one thousand fans on Twitter.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:46 pm

Neptunian Maximalism's album "Eons" popped up on a couple year-end "best of" lists I read this morning.

I...honestly don't even know how to describe this (new age jazz metal drone trance fusion?) but I couldn't turn it off. It's completely nutso but also wildly entertaining. Bungle fans will likely love it.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:28 pm

It's like I'm mainlining the early 90s right into my veins. The sound, the look and all the feels.

Hrdina · Post by **Hrdina** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 1:01 am

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:20 am
Sudy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:13 am I really doubt that your computer is famous enough that it has fans.
My computer is a Falcon Northwest which has over twenty-one thousand fans on Twitter.

...and almost that many inside the case.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 12:56 pm

Azarath's new album "Saint Desecration" is making a strong late push for 2020 Top 10 status. This is a side project led by Inferno (Behemoth drummer)that I didn't even know existed. Similar to Behemoth, but more of a standard death metal template. Really good hooks, fantastic production, and a "big" sound that I love.

Verikalpa's "Tuoppitanssi" album is an absolute blast. It's the basic humppa-humppa folk metal template, but done to perfection. Full album can be streamed on their Bandcamp page here.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:11 am

Digging the new Mechina track this morning. While I doubt they'll ever get back to the heights of the Acheron album, this one sounds pretty promising.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:33 pm

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:50 pm

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Sun Dec 06, 2020 7:01 pm

Everything's cool and everything's smoove.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:45 pm

Another fine cover by the Russian girl.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 3:32 am

listening through TMBG's discography, i heard _No!_ for the first time since it came out, and i forgot that it's actually really good. even keeping in mind that it's a kid's album and thus the weirdness/morbidity has been toned down/removed, they sound reinvigorated and possessed of purpose. it still stands out as the band's most concentrated and best effort album since _Apollo 18_, imho.