Metallica- Load- About Half Filler.

     After having released the black album, an album that was decent but showing signs of a Metallica that is transforming from melodic and emotive thrash into bonafide radio rock/metal. This album would see them experiment in blues rock, and don't get me wrong when it's good it's really good but when it's bad its really bad. Songs like Bleeding Me have a definite appeal that speaks to a broken spirit, but songs like Cure just drag on and you find yourself just waiting for it to end.

     The first half of this album is no slouch, it starts with paced hard rockers Ain't My Bitch and 2 x 4, which are both good tracks in their own right. Although they aren't the best Metallica has ever done they're actually pretty decent tracks. The riffing is slowed to a more hard rock pace, at times almost bordering on grungy with songs like The House That Jack built.
The appeal of this album is really how Metallica shows their more emotional side on tracks such as Until It Sleeps which has sort of a surfer rock sound to it at times. It speaks to the pain which can haunt a person, and though some could say it shows weakness I find it to be a mature take on a haunting pain that gnaws at the soul.

     Hero of the day continues the emotional exploration and is actually one of my favorite Metallica songs. It has real feeling to it which showcases this albums strongly. The track that follows, Bleeding Me is another example of this however taking a more bluesy approach and this is a track that succeeds well, however sometimes I feel it lasts just a little too long. However with every track that succeeds in this experiment there is a track that just doesn't cut it. Songs like Cure and Poor Twisted me just seem a little bit forced and filler in nature. The song Outlaw Torn while lasting a little too long is another successful track on here.

In conclusion this album is about half successful and half filler. It shows Metallica's sound kind of declining into something that is just there. Not terrible but not measuring up to the band's past releases. I actually really like some of the songs on here, but as a complete album this experiment falls quite short of the mark set by past albums.

55/100

The Metallica Saga- Master of Puppets

     The band Metallica had 2 releases previous to this both of them huge albums within the genre of thrash metal. While Kill 'Em All was a pure out thrasher, Ride The Lightning showcased in injected with a little more melody and in a more focused way. Now it is time to review the third album and one that many hail as the greatest metal album of all time. Master of Puppets
    
     From the very onset of this album you know you're in for a ride. The breakneck speed of Battery thrashes you do death for a full 5 minutes straight. Then comes the furious Master of Puppets. This song is really a huge highlight of the album. It shows how Metallica was meshing melody with thrash in a very well executed way. From the famous main riff of the song to the excellent soloing in the middle section this song is one mammoth beast of a song.
      
     In order to avoid a track by track review let me just say that this album is huge. It keeps Metallica's trademark thrash sound injects more melody and tempo changes to craft one of the best albums of all time. This album is an album that is nearly. Its songs cover themes of social injustice, Insanity, and even some Lovecraftian mythology. The riffs on this album are still very creative, and quite thrashy. The soloing is top notch on this album as well. The whole album flows exactly the way an album should with the perfect mix of melody and chaos. This is an excellently crafted album.

     The one track that still has to be mentioned is Orion. This isnstrumental showcases really what Metallica is capable of as far as instrumental talent and songwriting skills. The moods of this song change from upbeat to somber and melodic. The solos and bass track in this song is momentous.
To conclude this album is one monster of an album and if you haven't heard it then fucking hell what are you waiting for?

99/100

Upcoming Changes

    I have decided to change up the blog a little bit. It will not longer be solely about my interest in reviewing albums and random lists about music. I have decided to turn into a more open blog to encompass all of my interests and to do some much needed venting, maybe even some ranting. It will sometimes be subject matter of a philosophical nature, sometimes spiritual, sometimes of an insane stark raving mad nature.


WELCOME TO THE NEW MULTIVERSE

Darkthrone- The Underground Resistance and Comments on Recent Events

        Another year, another Darkthrone album, and yes as usual it fucking rules. You kvlt kids may not enjoy the hardcore punk and straight up trashiness of it but I think this sound is a more mature Darkthrone, a band that has decided not to be stuck in one particular style.
   
  On a different note 2012 was a very hectic year for me and really I JUST now got caught up with all the albums I missed. So to reflect that I made the post really hectic. This year I am hoping to do a better job on keeping this blog updated.  So how about a review to kick off my 2013 album listenings shall we?

         As I already gave away this album rules. I will do this in real time to tell you what I think about this album.  So far I am 4 tracks in and I don't really have any complaints. The riffs are perfect: they have a mixture of punk, straight up metal with that blackened tremolo edge, and believe me Darkthrone know how to blend them just right. Nothing sounds artificial like bands that blend styles just for the hell of it. I really like the in your face feel that this album can give you.
              As the album goes on there is very little of the monotony that sometimes ruins these riffy type albums, but I am waiting to see how they do on that 13 minute long epic. This track Come Warfare so far could've come off of a complete death doom album. Oh and the vocals they are just gruff enough without being cheesy. I like it. Oh yes I do!
        Well then how about a juicy tremolo riff to break up that monotony, just when I thought I was gonna have some complaints they threw in some variation: Good fucking job! And here goes another doomy ass riff for ya! that squealy guitar rules. Well maybe this song IS a smidge too long for my tastes but that is the only bad thing I can really say so far
         And now the last track lasts and holy fuck a falsetto note, I DID NOT see that coming. This album is full of little random surprises for me I guess.
Its a fast punky type riff, and in some ways his vocals remind me of King Diamond. I love when ol Noct comes out with one of those trebley lead riffs, sometimes I wish they lasted longer. LEAVE! NO! CROSS! LEAVE NO CROSS UNTURNED!  So apparently this album packs quite a punch

lets say about a 9/10 for the rating...Gawt dayum this was a good album!

Best Metal Albums of 2012

     

          As I am a little late to the party I will make this quick. These are my favorite metal albums of last year from all that I have heard

20. Converge- All We Love We Leave Behind
19.  The Faceless- Autotheism
18.High on Fire- De Vermis Mysteriis
17. Spawn of Possession- Incurso
16. Cradle of Filth- The Manticore
15. Belakor- Of Breath and Bone
14 Pallbearer- Sorrow and Extinction
13. Panopticon- Kentucky
12. Swallow the Sun- The Emerald Forest and the Blackbird
11. Blut aus Nord- 777 Cosmosophy
10. Overkill- The Electric Age
9. Woods of Ypres- Grey Skies and Electric Lights
8.. Baroness- Yellow and Green
7.. Accept- Stalingrad
6. Alcest- Les Voyages de L'ame
5. Rush- Clockwork Angels
4 Enslaved- RIITIIR
3. Kreator- Phantom Antichrist
2. Ne Obliviscaris Portal of I
1. Wintersun- Time Vol I



          And so instead of going into grave detail in each one as I would normally do. I will point out some of my high points on these albums.
          My all time favorite has been Wintersun. Everyone joked that it was about time they released this beast of an album. The only complaint I have is that it isn't long enough. Its a bombastic epic sounding album that in my opinion tops their self titled one in every way. It has so many layers of music and the lyrics are amazing. Ne Obliviscaris was my biggest surprise because I never thought it could live up to the hype that was surrounding it, but it far exceeded my expectations. Kreator and Overkill both came out with what some would term Thrashterpieces.
        Another one that surprised me was Rush's Clockwork Angels. I expected it to be mediocre for some reason but it was an amazing sounding album. It was Rush showing that they can still outdo the bands they influenced. Baroness was a little bit on the experimental side but it worked amazingly well in my eyes.
       Perhaps the strangest release of last year was Panopticon's Kentucky. Bluegrass black metal, it works well but Wtf.

Well this year I will try to be more thorough.