New Band: KONG!

Wow, this band is a punch in the face. I've been listening to a lot of classic and alternative rock lately and switching to something this heavy and crushing was a bit of a surprise. KONG! is a group hailing from North Carolina which seems to want to bring the balls back to underground metal.

As far as I can tell, Mind Eraser is KONG!'s debut EP - I say as far as I can tell because there are at least another half-a-dozen bands out there with that name - and it's an amazing start. While the other reviews I saw qualify the band within the hardcore bracket of music, I'm leaning to more of a New Wave of American Heavy Metal feel. There is some shouting, but it's more guttural then true screams that would go with hardcore. The music itself is more metal then punk, which would move it to metalcore I believe (I think I'm getting this right, I am not a fan of anything -core titled usually), but I still don't see it. The songs are too varied, too filled with ups and downs. Mind Eraser, while filled with energetic music, is not overwhelming with the sound or frantic as much hardcore acts I have heard. They are much more groove-oriented then punk.

Weekly Dose of Prog: Gojira - The Way of All Flesh

In my ever-constant search for new and exciting music, as well as being open minded and pushing my own boundaries, I took a chance and decided to listen to Gojira. The band is from France and has been making waves for a number of years. Their latest album, The Way of All Flesh, was seemingly loved by all, every time someone reviews it - even now - it's overwhelmingly positive. They combine progressive elements with death screams, thrash and new wave of american heavy metal (which to me is a mix of thrash and death screams, but I won't get into that right now), which is what got my interest. We'll see if I join in with the masses with love for this group and album.

In the past the only thing I ever heard about Gojira was either just snippets from their songs or reviews on other metal sites. Most of the reviews equated them into the death metal bracket of music, which i absolutely abhor, so I had really no interest to actually listen to the band. This changed very recently because within a week's span two websites had pulled up a song and/or video from the act, to which I gave a quick listen, and discovered that I actually enjoyed the music I was hearing. From that point on it was the simple matter of discovering that I already had their critically-acclaimed 2008 album, and then to actually take the time to hear it - not the easiest task let me assure you.

Video: 3 Inches of Blood - The Goatriders Horde

My favorite song off of 3 Inches of Blood's last good album, Fire Up The Blades. I just like the thought of the ultimate evil, the armies of hell, riding goat... I don't know but that makes me laugh a little bit. I know this is an older video, and that the band has released some for their latest release, Here Waits Thy Doom, but as I led too above, I think their newest album is crap. No original members and only one singer - the growly one - really doesn't do it for me. But, this is why I choose this song, this album, because I view it as the last album by 3 Inches of Blood, anything else is a poor tribute.

5 Quick Album Reviews

I've recently joined the family over at Ripple Music. They've been nice enough to send me some music for review (as well as connect me with the JPT Scare Band, who sent me a shirt and their entire discography, way to go there guys!), and a new outlet to gain some readers. If you haven't had a chance to check them out, I strongly suggest you do so, they review pretty much anything, from old to new, and any range of rock/metal. It's a lot more varied then The Guide is, so if you have eclectic tastes like me, there is bound to be something interesting there for you to enjoy.

Thinning The Herd - Oceans Rise
As a group that describes themselves as a "soulful brew of grunge-fueled, blues-driven, stoner-infused rock," their self-description hits the nail on the head pretty solidly. The songs off of Thinning The Herd initially strike me as a mix of early-era Clutch and the alternative/post-grunge of Alice In Chains. Even though Oceans Rise drift away from that original analysis, it is this thought that continuously pops up throughout the album. Overall the album is tuned-down, making it all sound very dark and oppressive, probably more so then the lyrics would normally have come across as, but I have to think that this is the purpose. Songs that do pop-up ahead of the group, do so because of their more melodic tendencies. An underlying theme to the music (at least to me) is a semi-garage and/or noise rock fuzz and overexposure of the instruments and vocals. Songs like the title track, "Defiler," "Binge," and "My Wake," all have more in the whole 'musical' department, a little more groove, a little more tune. If you find yourself forlorn at the end of the 90s grunge/alt-metal era then definitely check out Thinning The Herd, you will not be disappointed.

New Album: The Ocean - Anthropocentric

Also seen on Heavy Planet: 

After my write-up of the superb Heliocentric, I was expecting something sonically akin to it with The Ocean's next release, with mixed success. Anthropocentric, the second full-length release by the band, follows it's predecessor... sort of. While Heliocentric was a venture into the unknown, merging sounds and thoughts together in creative ways, Anthropocentric is more angry sounding, focusing more on the NWOAHM influences then anything else. While they do try to mix in songs into the mix, most notably "The Grand Inquisitor III: A Tiny Grain of Faith" which is beautifully haunting, they are just few and far between. While the album is still good - a really good collection of head-banging material - it isn't what I wanted following the wet-dream that is Heliocentric.

Video: Mastadon "Cut you up with a Linoleum Knife"

 Not really sure if "Cut you up with a Linoleum Knife" is the proper title for this, but it makes sense.
This is part of the intro to the movie 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters', as a metal spoof of the normal movie jingle "Let's go out to the lobby". The only reason I put it up is because it is awesome, and it is Mastodon playing it (as I just found out).
Now you all know I'm not a huge fan of Mastodon, in fact the only other mention of them I have on this blog is another video, but this piece is short, funny, and the music isn't bad.

Enjoy

Video: Mastadon "Divinations"

I've never really listened to Mastodon, figuring them for another growly NWOAHM band. But I stumbled upon their new video and it was pretty damn good. If the rest of their music is like this then I have found a new artist to enjoy. I'm working on getting all the albums to give them a serious listen. But until then, here is the first single from their latest album Crack The Skye, "Divinations"

Music Video Code by Metal Video

New Band: Meshuggah - Not For Me

So I have several friends that listen to the harsher of the metal genres, new wave of American heavy metal (NWOAHM), death metal, black metal and extreme/experimental, and they are always trying to get me to go to some show or listen to some band. And, as my tastes have changed over the past year, with a shift to the more aggressive, more brutal genres (thank viking/folk metal for that), I decided to give some of them a try,
Now, I have no problem with most NWOAHM bands, sometimes the screaming becomes a little much, but I can handle that, I can enjoy it. I like Zimmer's Hole, Mudvayne, Mushroomhead (even if you don't think they qualify), and others.
Same with black metal, sometimes it gets to screechy, and the overt anti-religion values get to me on occasion (I'm not religious, but everyone has their line). But once again, I can take it. Some I don't mind are Mercyful Fate and King Diamond (alot less then NWOAHM), cuz when I want to learn about a new genre, I start with the best.
One genre I haven't been able to get into has been death metal. I really don't like the guttural, un-understandable lyrics. But once again I'm trying to give some a shot. I had a friend point out Amon Amarth to me, and after hearing a few of their songs, I really didn't mind it too much. I have every intention of picking up an album and giving it a solid listen. More on that when I get around to it.
But anyway, back on what this article is really about - Meshuggah. I believe these guys fall somewhere on the avant-garde experimental death something-or-another progressive metal list. I don't know, I couldn't handle it. The album I listened to was their newer one (I'm not sure if the new one is out yet), obZen. I like the drumming throughout, but it was over shadowed by the wailing guitars, which never seemed to have a point, and the screeched lyrics. I listened to the entire album, to try to get a solid feel, and I don't think I caught one word until the second to last song, where they have a slower section. I started out thinking that it wasn't too bad, that maybe I could listen to it, but by the third song I was done. I still finished the album, but I was barely listening, only checking into my iTunes to see how many songs were left on the disc.
So while I'm not saying that it's a bad band/album (I don't have the experience with this genre to make a decent opinion), I am saying that I will never listen to it again, and I'm not sure what to do with the other two albums I have...

So let me know your taste on Meshuggah, or any bands that I might enjoy that are "avant-garde experimental death something-or-another progressive metal." I'd like to find one I can stand.