The Official Metal Thread

[jyoung]

I don't hear the difference between Lars and the bulk of thrash drummers.

If you can honestly make this statement after listening to Gene Hoglan tear apart his kit on "Time Does Not Heal," then I'm left to wonder if you're ears are actually ok.

Regarding songwriting, The Chasm--on "Deathcult..." and "Conjuration..."--are masters of the narrative structuring style: riffs change seamlessly and frequently, each one expanding upon the emotions expressed in its predecessor, while also reflecting an overarching theme as present per each song.

I highly suggest giving another inspection to at least "Conjuration..."; it and “Deathcult…” are two of maybe ten post-1996 speed metal albums that effortlessly match the high compositional standards that the genre set back in the 1980s with albums like:

Coroner – Punishment for Decadence
Watchtower – Control and Resistance
Sepultura – Schizophrenia, Beneath the Remains
Voivod – Dimension Hatross, Nothingface
Violence - Eternal Nightmare
Ulysses Siren - Above the Ashes

etc.

[Punky Skunk]

Listening to Time Does Not Heal at the moment. Well... now I know what Nevermore listens to! Gene Hoglan's drumming in this band and in Death seems like good, solid drumming. It definitely sounds more assured than Lars', but then that still leaves most thrash drumming and this album was released in '91 (?). 80's thrash drumming all tends to sound the same. It takes something more dazzling to get my full attention, I guess. My attention is drawn to the guitars here. Like it.

[jyoung]

What generally separates the great and mediocre speed metal drummers from each other—the latter being far more prevalent than the former—is the ability to create both a compliment and a counterpoint to the intense, typically staccato playing style of their guitarists via clever yet appropriate tempo shifts—often acting separately from the relatively steady rhythm of the guitar lines—and the addition of fills and other percussive embellishments on top of more typical “thrash beats” or “meat beats” (i.e., 16th note double bass hits with alternating 8th note hits on the snare and hi-hat/cymbal or its faster equivalent of 32nd notes on double bass and alternating 16th notes on the snare/cymbal or snare/hi-hat, both typically occurring in common time). These elusive percussive elements that so few drummers of the time were able to achieve add some much needed rhythmic diversity to a style of music that, by its very nature, almost requires its musicians to sustain the emotions of aggression and anger from start to finish on both individual songs and albums at large.

As mentioned earlier, Sepultura’s Igor Cavalera is a prime example of this type of talent on “Schizophrenia” and “Beneath the Remains.”

On “Time Does Not Heal,” Hoglan's tendency to “dumb-down” some of his rhythms and rely too heavily on drawn-out sections of barely-embellished “meat beats” do lesson the overall impact of both his and his guitarists’ performances, but by listening to the album, it should still be clear that his limbs possess a level of skill that far exceeds the talents of someone like Lars Ulrich, who can do little more than keep a steady, moderately paced beat while throwing in a simple, unimaginative, and often derivative series of fills as necessitated by the style of his band’s music.

[Punky Skunk]

Have to change my opinion of Time Does Not Heal. I can see why the less showy Darkness Descends gets recommended instead. The complaints that could be levelled at AJFA seem more appropriate here. That is, really long nothing songs. There's just nothing to remember most of these songs by. Metallica's songs might've been pieced together in the same way, but Metallica could write catchier riffs.

Switching topics, I think Immolation has become a new favorite death metal band for me after hearing all of their albums. Close to a World Below and Unholy Cult are classic. The rest are all varying degrees of good-great. I don't know of any other death metal bands this consistently good. Alex Hernandez's drumming is especially notable (speaking of percussion, hey). Damn shame he left. Even though the last album was a drop in quality still can't wait to hear their upcoming EP and album (February and April?).

[icarusfall]

Incantation - Onward to Golgotha imo.

[jyoung]

GORGUTS: Album reissues

Metal Mind Productions has set a November 27 release date for reissues of the classic GORGUTS albums "Considered Dead" and "Erosion of Sanity". Both CDs will come in a new digipack edition on golden discs, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology, and will be limited to a hand-numbered 2,000 copies. Each title includes two demo tracks as a bonus. The details are as follows:

"Considered Dead" track listing:

01. ...And Then Comes Lividity
02. Stiff and Cold
03. Disincarnated
04. Considered Dead
05. Rottenatomy
06. Bodily Corrupted
07. Waste of Mortality
08. Drifting Remains
09. Hematological Allergy
10. Innoculated Life
Bonus tracks:
11. Considered Dead (demo)
12. Rottenatomy (demo)

"Erosion of Sanity" track listing:

01. With Their Flesh, He'll Create
02. Condemned To Obscurity
03. The Erosion Of Sanity
04. Orphans Of Sickness
05. Hideous Infirmity
06. A Path Beyond Premonition
07. Odors Of Existence
08. Dormant Misery
Bonus tracks:
09. A Path Beyond Premonition (demo)
10. Disecting the Adopted (demo)

It's pleasing to see that someone's willing to atone for Roadrunner's laziness by finally giving these two albums a proper re-release.

Incantation - Onward to Golgotha imo.

"Onward to Golgotha" is an excellent album in its own right, but Incantation--despite a decade's worth of attempts--never even came close to matching the magic of their debut album, whereas Immolation was improving their sound and consistently releasing death metal of a highest standard from their 1991 debut up until 2000's "Close to a World Below."

[FirstBlood]

So Cynic is playing Maryland Death Fest '07

along with Birdflesh, Psycroptic, Rotten Sound and FLAGITIOUS IDIOSYNCRASY in the DILAPIDATION (japanese schoolgirl grind)

should be pretty sweet. maybe i'll go?

Blind Guardian this saturday (same day as Athiest in Baltimore ) Just went down and bought my ticket, and I'm totally stoked.

[Punky Skunk]

Immolation was improving their sound and consistently releasing death metal of a highest standard from their 1991 debut up until 2000's "Close to a World Below."

Unholy Cult denied.

[jyoung]

Unholy Cult denied.

It's still an enjoyable album, but "Close To a World Below" is unquestionably the band's creative peak.

"Harnessing Ruin," on the other hand, is representative of a band that seems to be aesthetically confused and creatively drained; consequently, I have little hope for the new Immolation album.

So Cynic is playing Maryland Death Fest '07

along with Birdflesh, Psycroptic, Rotten Sound and FLAGITIOUS IDIOSYNCRASY in the DILAPIDATION (japanese schoolgirl grind)

should be pretty sweet. maybe i'll go?

There's a rumored Cynic/Atheist U.S. tour on-tap at the moment, so I think I'll hold out for that instead of driving all the way to Baltimore to see maybe two or three good bands buried amongst a see of soulless imitators.

[icarusfall]

Rotten Sound are so good. Is there any news on their new record? Exit was phenomenal.