The Metal Thread

[Gary]

"St. Anger" and "The Unspoken King"-two albums that hold the distinction of being the worst metal albums of the last decade.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

You know, I was trying to think of another to add to that list...but everything that I've heard in the last decade that's been poor has just been poor compared to the bands' prior (and later) work, but not totally unlistenable.

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

Uh, Dragonforce? Hammerfall?

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

They at least don't have breakdowns or have consistently sucked.

 

[Slayer]

A couple threads ago, Agent talked about not handing out the Cold Lake analogy lightly, and I agree, that title should only be reserved for times when a genre pioneer turns around and makes such an awful album blatantly cashing in on the mainstream of its time that the cloud of shame can never be lifted. I can say without a doubt that Soundtrack to Your Escape is melodeath’s Cold Lake.

Everything about this album, from the angsty title and equally angsty lyrics, angsty off-key clean vocals, stripped down drop-D chugga-chugga riffs, and fucking music videos featuring hoopty riders in south central LA, was a blatant attempt to pull in MTV nu-metal kids of the early 00’s. Even worse is that, unlike Celtic Frost who realized their mistake and rescinded, or even post-Load Metallica who knew that fans were still coming to concerts to see them play songs from KEA/RTL/MOP and obliged accordingly, In Flames has completely abandoned their old work in favor of their nu-metal direction and refuse to play the “classic-era” songs in concert anymore.

Fuck Anders Friden, I hope he chokes on his own dreads.

I still stand by this

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

Uh, Dragonforce? Hammerfall?

Hammerfall has started to suck? I'll be seeing them at ProgPower in a couple months.

 

[Slayer]

I know if I want a serious opinion on power metal, I listen to Agent!

Having said that, IMO power metal has been in a state of stagnation/decline for the last few years

 

[tonyjaymz03]

In my continued quest o never pass up a good deal I picked up Metal for the Masses 7th Deadly for 1.98 at Hot Topic. I popped it in on my drive home and...I do not hate it.

from amazon:
"Disc One: 1. In This Moment - The Great Divide,02. Suicide Silence - No Pity For A Coward - Live,03. Arsonists Get All The Girls - Scobra Vs. Cupcake: Battle Of The Bulge,04. Arch Enemy - Blood On Your Hands, 05. God Forbid - War Of Attrition (Unmastered), 06. Winds of Plague - The Impaler, 07. Luna Mortis - Never Give In, 08. Into Eternity - Diagnosis Terminal, 09. Despised Icon - A Fractured Hand - Live, 10. Architects - Early Grave, 11. The Agonist - The Tempest (The Siren's Song-The Banshee's Cry) [Demo], 12. Nachtmystium - Ghosts Of Grace, 13. Intronaut - Australopithecus, 14. Aborted - Pestiferous Subterfuge, 15. Embrace the End - Denim On Denim Hate Crime, 16. Warbringer - At The Crack Of Doom, 17. Stick To Your Guns - Impact, 18.Terror - Betrayer,

Disc Two: Nuclear Blast:01. All Shall Perish - Awaken The Dreamers 02. Meshuggah - Bleed 03. Kataklysm - The Chains Of Power 04. Belphegor - Bondage Goat Zombie 05. Enslaved - The Watcher 06. Sonic Syndicate -Jack Of Diamonds Mediaskare: 7. The Ghost Inside - Faith And Forgiveness 08. Blood Stands Still - Still Alive 09. The Demonstration - Deadpan 10. Burning The Masses - Arms Raised, Eyes Closed 11. Endwell - Avoidant 12. The Miles Between - Apollyon13. Betrayal - Time Is Money 14. Suffokate - We Long For Your Blood (Demo)"

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

Am I the only one left who just fucking hates deathcore? I used to not mind it, at least back when Animosity and Despised Icon were the "big" bands who played it, but I listen to shit like Suicide Silence and Winds of Plague and just feel sick to my stomach that these are just bands filled with kids who listened to The Wretched Spawn right after Perseverance. The members of the bands in this sub-genre has obvious talent, but it all goes to waste because they want to do some "nasty" breakdown. Then you see the members of the band and they're all wearing white hats with the brims unbent just slightly off to the side, doing some horrible "dancing" while cupping the mic to do a deep growl, and it becomes clear that they just really love Limp Bizkit and P.O.D. but don't want to admit it.

 

[Urban Warfare]

Saw Maiden back to back this weekend with Dream Theater opening (missed DT in Edmonton due to Rexall being a complete clusterfuck) and while Maiden's set was predominately post-2000 stuff, they still put on a great fucking show. The band was spot on (Steve Harris and Bruce in particular) Set highlights included Dance of Death, Wrathchild, Brave New World, and of course the classics like Iron Maiden, Number of the Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Running Free which was somewhat unexpected. On a mind boggling side note, both venues did not serve any beer during Maiden and in Edmonton you weren't even allowed drinks on the floor. Anyways, I managed to stay third row center throughout, here's a sample of my view:

 

[Red Baron]

Did they play a lot of stuff off of Dance of Death?

 

[Urban Warfare]

Wildest Dreams, No More Lies and Dance of Death. You can see the whole set here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Frontier_World_Tour#Setlist

 

[Red Baron]

I might pass on this event. I missed out a couple years ago when they played alot of the golden era stuff, but I don't care for their latest album, and Brave New World is meh.

 

[ZGangsta]

I saw the Vancouver show. It was goddamn amazing. I was down in the pit right at the front (I think I came away with a concussion).
I also saw the Somewhere Back in Time tour from two years ago where they played the Powerslave era show so it was great to see the newer stuff as well on this tour. The two shows were really quite perfect compliments to each other. But then I like their post 2000 stuff a lot. Yeah I wasn't crazy about Brave New World as a whole album, but they only played the good songs off it anyways.

If someone doesn't dig the last 3 albums (or is a cynical douche who hates any new music cause they're too hip for that) I could see them passing on seeing this tour.

 

[Slayer]

I didn't find BNW or MOLAD to be anything special aside from a couple good songs, but DOD was one of my favorite albums from the last decade

 

[Red Baron]

^

I agree with what Slayer posted. DOD was one of the best metal albums of the past decade and one of Maiden's best albums ever put out.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

I used to hate Dance of Death, but it's REALLY grown on me. Top 5 Maiden albums, easily.

 

[Gary]

Wanna know what Black Metal with Aaron Turner (Isis), Sanford Parker (Minsk) and Stavros Giannopolous (Atlas Moth) sounds like? Then check out "Twilight's Monument to Time End." I haven't heard the whole album, but the few songs I have heard are really fucking good.

 

[tonyjaymz03]

Dir En Grey is awesome!

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

Wanna know what Black Metal with Aaron Turner (Isis), Sanford Parker (Minsk) and Stavros Giannopolous (Atlas Moth) sounds like? Then check out "Twilight's Monument to Time End." I haven't heard the whole album, but the few songs I have heard are really fucking good.

I'm not blown away by this so much, but if Isis splitting up gives us a bunch of good-> awesome side projects, I'm fine with that. The latest Red Sparowes is my AOTY, easy.

 

[KanadianKrusty]

Maiden/DT last night in Quebec City. 80 000 people, VERY young crowd, almost everybody was into the newer stuff, and the band is doing just great, that's all I got for now... still blown away by the performance.

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

I downloaded "Touched by the Crimson King" by Demons and Wizards yesterday. D&W is the side project of Blind Guardian's Frontman, Hansi and the guitarist (IIRC). Pretty damn good album with a respectable cover of Zepplin's "Immigrant Song". Blind Guardian's new single is out now too, and it kicks ass.

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

I guess Daughters split up. that is so fucking gay.

 

[Slayer]

D&W is the side project of Blind Guardian's Frontman, Hansi and the guitarist (IIRC)

Jon Schaffer, actually

 

[Gary]

I guess Daughters split up. that is so fucking gay.

They said the new one would be their last.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

D&W is the side project of Blind Guardian's Frontman, Hansi and the guitarist (IIRC)

Jon Schaffer, actually

I've undoubtedly said this before, but Schaeffer is one of those guys who's obviously talented but seems to think that they're better than they really are. He's like a power metal Zakk Wylde in that he does what he does very well but his ego shines through 9 times out of 10 and ruins what could be a really, really solid piece of work. Horror Show is a fucking fantastic album, even just for "Jack" and "Damien," but the majority of Iced Earth's work is meh due to Schaeffer never really branching out. I've even grown accustom to Barlow's voice, too (which I used to hate).

It's so hard to find a drummer who's willing to play metal and not any sort of -core bullshit.

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

I also got the new Rhapsody, "Frozen Tears of Angels". Its another concept album but its really good and worth a listen.

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

I guess Daughters split up. that is so fucking gay.

They said the new one would be their last.

And that is so fucking gay.

 

[Slayer]

D&W is the side project of Blind Guardian's Frontman, Hansi and the guitarist (IIRC)

Jon Schaffer, actually

I've undoubtedly said this before, but Schaeffer is one of those guys who's obviously talented but seems to think that they're better than they really are. He's like a power metal Zakk Wylde in that he does what he does very well but his ego shines through 9 times out of 10 and ruins what could be a really, really solid piece of work. Horror Show is a fucking fantastic album, even just for "Jack" and "Damien," but the majority of Iced Earth's work is meh due to Schaeffer never really branching out. I've even grown accustom to Barlow's voice, too (which I used to hate).

Speaking of which, I didn't know until checking his wiki page yesterday that Schaffer released a solo project last year under the name "Sons of Liberty." I haven't checked out the music, but I went to read the lyrics and if you know Schaffer's politics they aren't much of a surprise, with talk about the evil giant government boogeyman and liberal use of words like conspiracy, tyranny, freedom and liberty

I think this was The John Birch Society's album of 2009

 

[The Metal Maniac]

When I found out about Sons of Liberty, I was really excited. For like, 15 minutes. See, I didn't know Schaffer's politics. Then I learned what they were.