4 Metal

November 2011 Best Heavy Metal CDs

2011-12-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

1. Krisiun - 'The Great Execution' (Century Media)

2. Leviathan - 'True Traitor, True Whore' (Profound Lore)

3. Megadeth - 'Th1rt3en' (Roadrunner)

4. Blut Aus Nord - '777: The Desanctification' (Debemur Morti)

5. Riot - 'Immortal Soul' (SPV)

Rammstein Single, "Mein Land," Available Nov. 11

2011-10-27T03:00:00.001-07:00

Oct. 26 -- Rammstein release "Mein Land," the first single from the Rammstein retrospective Made In Germany 1995-2011, on Nov. 11 through Universal Germany's marketing and distribution deal in the US with Vagrant Records.

The "Mein Land" single will be available as a four-track release via iTunes with an unreleased song, "Vergiss Uns Nicht," as well as remixes from BossHoss and Mogwai accompanied by the Jonas Akerlund directed video for "Mein Land" and a digital booklet. The Amazon version will be "Mein Land" and the two remixes.

The video for "Mein Land" will premiere on Rammstein.com on Nov. 11.

A release date for Made in Germany 1995-2011 will be announced shortly.

Rammstein's most recent release, Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, debuted at #13 on the Billboard Top 200 in October 2009.

www.rammstein.com

Queensryche – 10 Great Songs (2011)

2011-10-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

Part of Capitol's 10 Great Songs series, the Queensrÿche installment serves as an introduction to the iconic prog band. Featuring songs like ”Empire" and ”Silent Lucidity," 10 Great Songs touches on some of their hits while only barely scratching the surface of their 30-year career. While this makes for a less intimidating first look at Queensrÿche, a better place to start would be the band's Greatest Hits collection.

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: September 13, 2011

2011-09-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2011
Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare (Universal)
Anterior - Echoes Of The Fallen (Metal Blade)
Anthrax - Worship Music> (Megaforce)
Anubis Gate - Anubis Gate (Nightmare)
Arabrot - Solar Anus (Fysisk Format)
Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance (Metal Blade)
The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne (Ferret)
Doro - 25 Years In Rock DVD/CD (Nuclear Blast)
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events (Roadrunner)
Edguy - Age Of The Joker (Nuclear Blast)
Einjerher - Norron (Indie)
Elks - Destined For The Sun (TeePee)
Evil United - Evil United (MVD)
Only Flesh - From The Gutter To The Grave (Rotten)
Pathology - Awaken To The Suffering (Victory)
Sabaton - World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea (Nuclear Blast)
Untimely Demise - City Of Steel (Sonic Unyon)
Vader - Welcome To The Morbid Reich (Nuclear Blast)
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord)
Wolves Like Us - Late Love (Prosthetic)

August 2011 Best Heavy Metal CDs

2011-09-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

1. Revocation - 'Chaos Of Forms' (Relapse)
Revocation could have crumbled from the pressure of trying to outperform the stellar Existence Is Futile, but they pull through with an album on par with their sophomore release. The album has insane technical guitars and a large amount of infectiousness, all glued together by well-rounded instrumental work.The band has brought a second guitarist into the group for the first time. A brilliant move on their part, it allows for more solo trade-offs and tighter rhythms. Each song is like a splash of aftershave on Kevin McCallister’s face. The solos on “No Funeral” may leave a listener with that permanent expression. Another member also helps with the backing vocals, which are given leeway to battle with David Davidson’s tormented screams.

2. Today Is The Day - 'Pain Is A Warning' (Black Market Activities)
While Today is the Day always retain their signature sound, a core identity that is immediately recognizable, the band incorporate the greatest strengths of the current line-up. And, on Pain Is A Warning, the album benefits from a thick, luxurious sound and a strong rock engine.The record kicks off with a siege of boiling pitch aggression in the first two tracks, ‘”Expectations Exceed Reality” and Death Curse.” After doing its best to physically assault the listener, Pain Is A Warning trades in the blasting rage for a different type of fury. “Remember to Forget” is a much more subdued effort that has a circular construction and repetitive, gently delivered lyrics combining for a supremely disturbing track. This is a slow burn, quieter anger that twists, writhes and plots.

3. YOB - 'Atma' (Profound Lore)
Doom metal is effective at pummeling listeners, repeating riffs and lulling devotees into a state that borders on narcolepsy. The best doom couples hypnotic phrasing with music that doesn’t offer complacency, but demands that listeners think and feel. YOB again achieves it with Atma, an album named after a term that means “higher self” in numerous Eastern religions.Atma is a tricky album, one that steers you into a false sense of complacency. Like a Zen Buddhist teacher it misdirects, plays the trickster, demands focus. This is YOB’s sixth album and it’s evident that they still have much to offer. Each song features a riff that functions like a Russian nesting doll. On a first listen it sounds like there’s nothing else when there’s a multitude of riches.

4. Leprous - 'Bilateral' (Inside Out)
There are influences on Bilateral ranging from The Mars Volta to Porcupine Tree on songs like “Acquired Taste.” The band does make sure to leave enough room for an out-of-control track featuring a guest spot by a black metal legend. Former Emperor vocalist Ihsahn gives a rousing performance on “Thorn,” which is supported by screeching trumpets. The song would have fitted in with Ihsahn’s latest solo album After.

5. Flourishing - 'The Sum Of All Fossils' (The Path Less Traveled)
It’s difficult to place Flourishing’s first full-length in terms of genre; it fits no category neatly. There are definitely significant death metal and grind influences, but to leave it at that would be reductive and inaccurate. The sound is metallic and mechanical, but without the cold echoes of industrial; instead, the sound clatters and pings like metal heated red-hot.There’s also a strong avant-garde hardcore sensibility and breathless blasts of noise. The result is something that Skynet might have composed to inspire its mechanical troops during the eradication of the human race. However, that’s not accurate either, as this isn’t robotically produced and lifeless like so much industrial, but rather a product of instruments being pushing to their limits. There are human minds behind this madness.

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: August 30, 2011

2011-08-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

August 30, 2011
Bobaflex - Hell In My Heart (Megaforce)
Century - Red Giant (Prosthetic)
Eat The Gun - Runner (Metalville)
Entrenched - Preemptive Strike (Horror Pain Gore)
Hackneyed - Carnival Cadavre (Lifeforce)
Kittie - I've Failed You (eOne)
Nocturnal Fear - Excessive Cruelty (Moribund)
Pentagram - When The Screams Come DVD (Metal Blade)
Pro-Pain - 20 Years Of Hardcore CD/DVD (AFM)
Shadowside - Inner Monster Out (SHP)
Stray From The Path - Rising Sun (Sumerian)

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: August 23, 2011

2011-08-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

August 23, 2011
All Else Fails - The Oracle, What Was Is and Could Have Been (Suicidal Brides)
Atriarch - Forever The End (Seventh Rule)
Black Tide - Post Mortem (DGC)
Discharge - Desensitise/War Is Hell Re-Release (Candlelight)
Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us (Season Of Mist)
ICS Vortex - Storm Seeker (Century Media)
Jorn - Live In Black (Frontiers)
Leprous - Bilateral (InsideOut)
Minushuman - Bloodthrone (Season Of Mist)

Ghost Brigade – Until Fear No Longer Defines Us (2011)

2011-08-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Tracklist:
01 – In The Woods
02 – Clawmaster
03 – Chamber
04 – Traces Of Liberty
05 – Divine Act Of Lunacy
06 – Grain
07 – Breakwater
08 – Cult Of Decay
09 – Torn
10 – Soulcarvers

Queensryche – 10 Great Songs (2011)

2011-08-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Dead and Divine – Antimacy (2011)

2011-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dead and Divine is a five-piece Metalcore band out of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Their initial success spawned from their 2005 EP What Really Happened At Lover's Lane on Verona Records (a label created by the band themselves, and Silverstein's Shane Told).

The band had officially released the name for their next upcoming album titled Antimacy on January 25 on their Myspace. The album is released on August 2.

'Slumlord' Stream

Putridity – Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria

2011-08-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Draining Necro Anal Disgorgement

Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1988

2011-08-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

1. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime

2. Metallica - And Justice For All

3. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

4. Slayer - South Of Heaven

5. Megadeth - So Far, So Good, So What

6. Voivod - Dimension Hatross

7. Bathory - Blood Fire Death

8. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II

9. King Diamond - Them

10. Danzig - Danzig

July 2011 Best Heavy Metal CDs

2011-08-03T07:07:00.001-07:00

The number of CD releases slows down a little bit in the summer, but not as much as it used to. There were still plenty of quality releases in July, and the two artists that top the list might be unfamiliar to most metal fans. The debut from 40 Watt Sun burns with a much higher wattage, topping the July list. Black metalers Avichi also make a strong case for the top spot. Here are July's top 5 metal CDs.
1. 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room (Metal Blade)

2. Avichi - The Devil's Fractal (Profound Lore)

3. Jasta - Jasta (eOne)

4. Sepultura - Kairos (Nuclear Blast)

5. Disma - Towards The Megalith (Profound Lore)

list by Chad Bowar.

Greeley Estates – The Death of Greeley Estates (2011)

2011-08-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

The Death of Greeley Estates is the fifth full-length album by Greeley Estates. It was expected to be released on August 2, but was pushed forward due to obligations to August 9, 2011 through Tragic Hero Records and is produced by Cory Spotts. The first single for the album was released on June 1, 2011, titled "The Last Dance". On June 2nd, 2011 Greeley Estates announced on their Twitter that they will be opening with a new song entitled "Straitjacket" on their next show. Which is going to be released July 7 on the band's Facebook page, and it's also the 1st track on the record. On June 4th Greeley announced via their Facebook page that they would be releasing the song "Friendly Neighborhood Visit" through Altpress on June 7th. A new song called "Bodies" was mentioned when Greeley Estates talked about going over new songs for their next show. A tracklist for the album has been released online however it is slightly incorrect. The listing below is official and correct. The previews for all the songs have been released online.

Saxon – Call to Arms (2011)

2011-07-29T05:23:00.000-07:00

Call To Arms is the 19th studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon. Call to Arms was released the 3rd of June in Europe; 6th of June in UK, Finland, and Denmark; 8th of June in Greece, Poland; 10th of June in France. Previously, it was due to be released on 23 May 2011 (but was later delayed.) The album is scheduled for release on 27 September in North America on EMI. Current Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey made a guest appearance on the album.

Two of the tracks on the album were written by the band for the movie Hybrid Theory.

The album artwork is derived from Lord Kitchener Wants You, a World War I-era British Army recruitment poster.

SAXON - Afterburner (NEW from CALL TO ARMS 2011)

Essential Death Metal Albums

2011-07-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

Death metal as a distinct genre dates back to about 1985 or so, and the sheer number of albums that have been released since is staggering. Aficionados of the genre will argue endlessly about which albums deserve to be placed on a list of the absolute best of the best that the genre has to offer. In an effort to avoid such arguments, the purpose of this list is to inform listeners new to the genre; that is, given the enormous number of albums released in the name of death metal, how does a fan new to the genre find where to begin?

Possessed - Seven Churches (1985)

Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness (1989)

Deicide - Deicide (1990)

Entombed - Left Hand Path (1990)

Cannibal Corpse - Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992)

Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten (1991)

Death - Human (1991)

Immolation - Close To A World Below (2000)

Incantation - Onward To Golgotha (1992)

Nile - Annihilation Of The Wicked (2005)

Abandon All Hope – Prowler (2011)

2011-07-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

After keeping fans waiting for a few years since their last album, Abandon All Hope have today released their new record titled Prowler.

Heads, You Win

‘Prowler’ is the long awaited debut album from Adelaide metal core juggernauts ABANDON ALL HOPE. Follow up to 2007's ‘Where Life And Death Meet’, ‘Prowler’ boasts heavier and more melodic tendencies while showcasing all the elements that cemented Abandon All Hope as one of the leaders of heavy music in Australia

Check the band interview at lunamagazine.

Fans Page : http://www.myspace.com/abandonallhope
Similar Artist : Hand Of Mercy, Picture The End, Anime Fire

Tracklist:
01 – Prowler
02 – Heads, You Win
03 – Self Pity City
04 – Mind Surrender
05 – Sleep at the Mercy of Nightmares
06 – What I’ve Lost
07 – The Book of Crossroads
08 – Floods
09 – Bury Yourself Upside Down
10 – The Urgency of Time

Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1985

2011-07-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

1985 is probably the year where I should start calling it the best CDs instead of best albums as the compact disc exploded in popularity in 1985. It saw the first appearances Anthrax and Megadeth in the year end list, bands that would become mainstays. Celtic Frost also made the list for the second year in a row. Iron Maiden's Live After Death is an outstanding album, but only studio releases were considered for this list. Here are one writer's subjective opinion of the best metal albums of 1985.

1. Exodus - Bonded By Blood

2. Slayer - Hell Awaits

3. Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion

4. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good

5. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease

6. Helloween - Walls Of Jericho

7. Possessed - Seven Churches

8. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within

9. S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die

10. Dokken - Under Lock and Key

Suicide Silence – The Black Crown (2011)

2011-07-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

SUICIDE SILENCE - You Only Live Once (New Track!)

Here comes the new Suicide Silence song to rock you! I personally love it because it is quite good for the first release from their album.

The Black Crown is the third full-length album by metal band Suicide Silence, which was released July 12, 2011 through Century Media Records. With anticipation for their third full-length after the release of No Time to Bleed, Suicide Silence prepared recording for The Black Crown on a course of several months starting from the beginning of 2010 with writing ideas and plans before their arrival to the studio for recording in 2011.

Tracklist:
01 – Slaves To Substance
02 – O.C.D
03 – Human Violence
04 – You Only Live Once
05 – Fuck Everything
06 – March To The Black Crown
07 – Witness The Addiction
08 – Cross-Eyed Catastrophe
09 – Smashed
10 – The Only Thing That Sets Us Apart
11 – Cancerous Skies

Bonus Tracks:
12 – SuperBeast (Rob Zombie Cover)
13 – Revival of Life

Vicious Rumors – Razorback Killers (2011)

2011-07-04T03:28:00.000-07:00

Vicious Rumors - Murderball

Hands – Give Me Rest (2011)

2011-07-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

Hands - Give Me Rest (Album Preview) 2011

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: June 7, 2011

2011-06-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here are the new heavy metal CD releases for this week.

June 7, 2011
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock DVD (Warner)
Amorphis - The Beginning Of Times (Nuclear Blast)
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here (The End)
Ancient VVisdom - A Godlike Inferno (Shinebox)
Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions (Century Media)
Avantasia - The Flying Opera Live DVD/CD (Nuclear Blast)
Barn Burners - Bangers II: Scum Of The Earth (Metal Blade)
Behemoth - Abyssus Abyssum Invocat (Metal Blade)
Black September - The Forbidden Gates Beyond Re-Release (Prosthetic)
Brent Hinds Presents - Fiends Without A Face and West End Motel (Rocket Science)
Cerebral Bore - Maniacal Miscreation (Earache)
Chrome Division - 3rd Round Knockout (Nuclear Blast)
Crashdiet - Generation Wild (Frontiers)
Dr. Midnight and The Mercy Cult - I Declare Treason (Season Of Mist)
Elevate: I Am - The Ghost Eclipse Sessions (ALF)
Engineer - Crooked Voices (Black Market Activities)
Falconer - Armod (Metal Blade)
Gigan - Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes (Willowtip)
Hammerfall - Infected (Nuclear Blast)
Iron Maiden - From Fear To Eternity: The Best Of 1990-2010 (Universal)
Job For A Cowboy - Gloom EP (Metal Blade)
Karma To Burn - V (Napalm)
Khann - Erode (Black Market Activities)
Looking For An Answer - Eterno Treblinka (Relapse)
Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus (Season Of Mist)
Origin - Entity (Nuclear Blast)
Pharoah - Ten Years EP (Cruz del Sur)
Sister - Hated (Metal Blade)
The Soulless - Isolated (Earache)
Tombs - Path Of Totality (Relapse)
Tyr - The Law Of Thyrm (Napalm)
Various Artists - Afterparty Massacre Soundtrack (Ibex Moon)
Whitesnake - Live At Donington 1990 (Frontiers)

Behemoth – Abyssus Abyssum Invocat (2011)

2011-06-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Polish death metal act Behemoth has revealed the details for its forthcoming 2-CD set, titled "Abyssus Abyssum Invocat." The new release features two previous Behemoth EPs, which both are currently out-of-print, and includes all new expanded artwork as well as bonus tracks on each disc. The two EPs featured are "Conjuration" and "Slaves Shall Serve." "Abyssus Abyssum Invocat" is set for release on May 17, 2011 in North America through Metal Blade Records. A European release will arrive in stores on April 18, 2011 through Peaceville Records.

Behemoth "Slaves Shall Serve" by Metal Blade Records

Heavy Metal Week In Review: May 15, 2011

2011-05-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

New CD Releases This Week:

1. Anvil - Juggernaut Of Justice (The End)

2. The Gates Of Slumber - Wretch (Rise Above)
3. Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst the Ashes (Metal Blade)
4. New Keepers Of The Water Towers - The Calydonian Hunt (Meteor City)
5. Novembers Doom - Aphotic (The End)
6. Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae (Metal Blade)

Skindred – Union Black (2011)

2011-05-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

Union Black is the fourth album from Welsh ragga metal band Skindred. It was released on April 25, 2011 in the United Kingdom & May 3, 2011 in the United States. The album is notable for featuring more usage of dubstep, hip hop and drum and bass elements than previous works.

Skindred - Game Over
A wonderful song from the new album 'Union Black'.

April 2011 Best Heavy Metal Albums

2011-05-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

April was a very consistent, but not great month. No new releases garnered 4.5 stars or higher, but a bunch received 4 stars, making it a difficult task to determine this month's top 5. I have a feeling some of these will age pretty well, and by the end of the year may even grow on us enough to crack the best of 2011 list. After a lot of debate, arm-wrestling and coin-flipping, Primordial gets the top spot for April, barely edging out the return of Pentagram. Here are April's top 5 metal releases.

1. Primordial - 'Redemption At The Puritan's Hand' (Metal Blade)

2. Pentagram - 'Last Rites' (Metal Blade)

3. Blut Aus Nord - '777: Sect(s)' (Code 666)

4. Cruachan - 'Blood On The Black Robe' (Candlelight)

5. Vintersorg - 'Jordpuls' (Napalm)

list by heavymetal.about.com

Caliban – Coverfield EP (2011)

2011-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

Artist: Caliban

Album: Coverfield EP

Released: 2011

Style: Metalcore

Tracklist:
01 – My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend (Type O Negative Cover)
02 – Sonne (Rammstein Cover)
03 – Blinded by Fear (At the Gates Cover)
04 – Helter Skelter (The Beatles Cover)

DOWNLOAD LINKS:
FILESONIC: DOWNLOAD
FILESERVE: DOWNLOAD

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: April 26, 2011

2011-04-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the new heavy metal CD releases for this week.

Above Symmetry - Ripples (Inside Out)
Aerial Ruin - Valleys Of The Earth (Vendlus)
Agorophobic Nosebleed/Despise You - And On And On Split (Relapse)
Betrayal - Abandonment (Mediaskare)
Bermuda - Isolationist(s) (Mediaskare)
Bloodbath - Bloodbath Over Bloodstock DVD (Peaceville)
Bodyfarm - Bodyfarm (Abyss)
Destrophy - Cry Havoc (Victory)

Diabolical - Ars Vitae (Abyss)
Endwell - Punishment (Mediaskare)
Feral - Dragged Through The Altar (Ibex Moon)
Graviton - Massless (Translation Loss)
Hero In Error - The Highs Of New Lows (Mediaskare)
Hyperborean - The Spirit Of Warfare (Abyss)
Negura Bunget - Poarta de Dincolo EP (Code 666)

NightShade - Lost In Motion (Bullet Tooth)
Otep - Atavist (Victory)
Primordial - 'Redemption At The Puritan's Hand (Metal Blade)
Turbocharged - AntiXtian (Chaos)
Vomitory - Opus Mortis VIII (Metal Blade)
Winterus - In Carbon Mysticism (Lifeforce)
Wolf - Legions Of Bastards (Century Media)

Essential Thrash Metal Albums

2011-04-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

1. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
"Metallica - Master Of Puppets"Pricegrabber
Metallica's third album is their best. It doesn't have the radio singles and MTV videos as some of their later releases, but is a musical tour de force. From the trademark thrash of "Battery" to the instrumental stylings of "Orion," it's a sound of a band on top of their game. The songs are diverse and the musicianship is simply incredible.

2. Slayer - Reign In Blood
"Slayer - Reign In Blood"Pricegrabber
This is one of the top 3 thrash metal albums and one of the top 10 metal albums ever. Many publications have named it the best metal album ever. This is speed metal at its finest, with compact songs jam packed with riffs and head banging intensity. The lyrics are also filled with dark and disturbing images. Slayer released several fantastic albums, and this is their masterpiece.

3. Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
"Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?"Pricegrabber
Megadeth really hit their stride on this, their second album. It's a speed metal classic with great songs like "Wake Up Dead," "Devil's Island" and "Peace Sells." The band's songwriting improved quite a bit from their debut album and 20 years later it still holds up extremely well.

4. Anthrax - Among The Living
"Anthrax - Among The Living"Pricegrabber
Anthrax is a group I've come to appreciate more and more as the years go by, and Among The Living was their best album. The songs had a message and were catchy yet still very intense and aggressive. "Caught In A Mosh" is the highlight of this album, along with other great songs such as "Indians," "I Am The Law" and the title track. Anthrax have always been a band with a sense of humor that is also willing to address serious subjects, which is a great combination.

5. Exodus - Bonded By Blood
"Exodus - Bonded By Blood"Pricegrabber
Exodus' debut album was their commercial and critical pinnacle. Even though they've had a long and successful career, they never matched the success of thrash counterparts like Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. This album, though, is spectacular. It's a thrash classic with music played at breakneck speed with a barrage of killer riffs and solos. And even though it's a whirlwind of intensity, the songs are still very catchy and memorable.

6. Kreator - Pleasure To Kill
"Kreator - Pleasure To Kill"Pricegrabber
The German thrash band's second album is one of their best. Everything about it was a huge improvement over their debut. It was more brutal and aggressive and had some unbelievable riffs. 1986 was the year of thrash, and this is an album that sometimes gets overlooked because of everything else that was released that year. But this album showed Kreator was a thrash and speed metal force to be reckoned with.

7. Testament - The Legacy
"Testament - The Legacy"Pricegrabber
Testament is a Bay Area thrash band whose debut album came a few years after groups like Metallica and Megadeth were already dominating the scene. They were well known to thrash fans, but never made that leap to popular success like some of their contemporaries. The Legacy followed the thrash metal blueprint, but Testament infused it with their own style and personality that made it unique.

8. Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
"Sepultura - Beneath The Remains"Pricegrabber
With their third album, the Brazilian band Sepultura made a quantum leap into the forefront of extreme metal. Beneath The Remains is when the band's songwriting really blossomed and their blistering thrash metal was both extremely intense and also really catchy. The album had brutal riffs, creative solos, skull pounding drums and paint peeling vocals from Max Cavalera. What's even more amazing is that most of the band members were only in their teens when this album was released.

9. S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die
"S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die"Pricegrabber
S.O.D., otherwise known as Stormtroopers Of Death, was a crossover thrash side project of Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante along with former bassist Dan Lilker (then in Nuclear Assault) and vocalist Billy Milano. The album was recorded in just three days and caused controversy because their tongue in cheek lyrics were considered by some to be racist and sexist. Their music was a powerful mix of thrash and hardcore punk that was intense and raw.

10. Annihilator - Alice In Hell
"Annihilator - Alice In Hell"Pricegrabber
The Canadian thrash band Annihilator blasted upon the scene with a monstrous debut album. Jeff Waters and company tore through the album with raw power and energy along with excellent technical skill. Waters and Anthony Greenham really shined with their outstanding guitar work. Randy Rampage's raw and emotional vocals were a good fit as well. Annihilator has had dozens of lineup changes over the years, and their debut remains one of their best efforts.

New Metal Music Releases 2011

2011-04-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Band Name: In Flames
Album Name: Sounds of a Playground Fading
Release Date: 2011-06-21

Band Name: GWAR
Album Name: Bloody Pit of Horror
Release Date: 2011-11-09

Band Name: In Flames
Album Name: Sounds of a Playground Fading
Release Date: 2011-06-21

Band Name: Autopsy
Album Name: Macabre Eternal
Release Date: 2011-05-31

Band Name: Infestus
Album Name: Ex|Ist
Release Date: 2011-05-16

Band Name: Deadlock
Album Name: Bizarro World
Release Date: 2011-03-16

Band Name: Children Of Bodom
Album Name: Relentless Reckless Forever
Release Date: 2011-03-08

Band Name: Burzum
Album Name: The Fallen
Release Date: 2011-03-07

Band Name: Deicide
Album Name: To Hell With God
Release Date: 2011-02-15

Band Name: Immortal
Album Name: The Seventh Date Of Blashyrkh (live)
Release Date: 2010-09-14

Setherial – Treason (2011)

2011-04-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Tracklist:
01 – Treason [A Death That Breeds Through Aeons]
02 – Warfare [God Is Dead]

Disfiguring The Goddess – Disfiguring The Goddess (2011)

2011-04-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

disfiguring the goddess - uprising

Find more songs at Disfiguring The Goddess myspace

There's something about deathcore that has always rubbed me the wrong way. I LOVE brutal death metal/slam death metal and I LOVE hardcore/metalcore (mainly 90s and earlier). There's just something about when these two get mixed together that it makes me want to kill puppies. Typically the genre mixes modern metalcore and focuses too much on the bad aspects of both death and core. It almost always french fries when it should pizza leaving you having a bad time.

Why am I enjoying the new Disfiguring the Goddess album so much? It's made by internet deathcore sensation Big Chocolate (also the ex vocalist for Abominable Putridity, Burn the Masses, Misericordiam, and countless others). The guy definitely has his root in the deathcore genre, but he also seems to now know very well how to write good slamming brutal death metal.

Admittedly, I didn't care too much for their prior records. This album just seems so much more focused and certainly more powerful. Sure, Circle of Nine still has plenty of breakdowns, but the album is rather enjoyable. It's ridiculously heavy and the guy seriously has some of the best death metal vocals I've ever heard. From start to finish the album pummels you over the head and doesn't letup. The production is very clean and very heavy. The band definitely focused more on the brutal death metal sound this time around instead of just deathcore. If all deathcore were to sound like this the genre might not have such a bad reputation. As a skeptic myself, I say give it at least one listen. It's up for free streaming listening on their Facebook page (linked). review found on stereokiller.

March 2011 Best Heavy Metal Albums CDs

2011-03-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

1. Kvelertak - 'Kvelertak' (The End)

The End Records

Kvelertak is groovy black n' roll. Lean guitar riffs, catchy melodies and ample aggression make for an appealing combination. The songs are fun, but with a punk vibe that adds a swagger and attitude. The vocals are harsh, providing a sharper edge to the music. Tracks like “Blodtørst” even have brief acoustic moments.

In addition to Erlend Hjelvik's throat searing vocals, there are guest appearances from Ryan McKenney (Trap Them), Ivar Nikolaisen (Silver) and Hoest (Taake). “Sultans Of Satan” includes some melodic vocals in addition to the harsh yells. It also incorporates some bluesy Sabbath style riffs. There's no shortage of riffs on Kvelertak, as the band utilizes a three guitar attack.

2. Omnium Gatherum - 'New World Shadows' (Lifeforce)

Lifeforce Records

The album begins with the majestic and epic “Everfields,” a nine minute opus. It moves along at a moderate pace, then both the speed and aggression increase before a mid-song acoustic interlude. Jukka Pelkonen's death metal vocals are edgy and a little lower pitched than the usual, making them sound more distinctive. It's a diverse and progressive song with a lot of tempo and texture changes and a strong opener.

Omnium Gatherum have really hit their stride on New World Shadows. They've stepped up their songwriting and musicianship, and have delivered their best album to date. Melodic death metal fans will definitely want to check this one out.

3. Within Temptation - 'The Unforgiving' (Roadrunner)

"Within Temptation - The Unforgiving"Roadrunner Records

The Unforgiving is a concept album, based on a comic book created in collaboration with the band by Steven O'Connell. Musically, Within Temptation still plays bombastic and melodic symphonic metal, but add in some retro '80s vibes and other genres on some of the songs. The opener “Shot In The Dark” has a lot of atmosphere along with big hooks and powerful vocals from Sharon den Adel.

“In The Middle Of The Night” is a standout, an arena-ready anthem that's more intense than the usual WT song, but has great riffs and a memorable chorus. One of the strengths of The Unforgiving is the balance between orchestration and riffs. The symphonic elements don't bury the guitars, they both comfortably co-exist.

4. Amon Amarth - 'Surtur Rising' (Metal Blade)
Metal Blade Records

Their brand of melodic Viking metal won't ever cross over to the mainstream, but their appeal in the metal world has continued to grow, and their latest CD Surtur Rising will only continue their momentum. Surtur Rising gets off to an aggressive start with “War Of The Gods.” Catchy riffs, a searing solo and Johan Hegg's trademark low-pitched but understandable rasp make it a strong and memorable opener. “Tock's Taunt” runs the gamut from a brief mellow section to very melodic to double bass intensity.

There's no title track per se, but the band considers “Destroyer Of The Universe” to be that track. It's one of the more intense songs on the album. It's companion piece, at least lyrically, is “The Last Stand Of Frej,” which tells the same story from a different perspective.

5. Mercenary - 'Metamorphosis' (Prosthetic)
Prosthetic Records

Many doubted that Denmark’s Mercenary would be able to overcome the loss of leather-lunged screamer/singer Mikkel Sandager after the man’s departure following 2008’s album cycle for Architect of Lies. In light of all this, it’s impressive that Metamorphosis was created at all, never mind the fact that it also happens to be completely killer.

Taking the proverbial bull by the horns, bassist Rene Pederson has stepped up to the plate as the band’s new singer, handling both clean and harsh vocals with stunning confidence. Pederson leads the charge here, side by side with guitarist Jakob Molberg, whose significantly impressive chops are once again dropping jaws and raising fists with their near-flawless mastery of melody and technical prowess.

Artillery – My Blood (2011)

2011-03-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

My Blood is the sixth studio album by the Danish technical thrash metal band Artillery. It was released in 2011 on Metal Mind Productions.

Track listing

1. "Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)"
2. "Monster"
3. "Dark Days"
4. "Death Is An Illusion"
5. "Aint Giving In"
6. "Prelude to Madness"
7. "Thrasher"
8. "Warrior Blood"
9. "Concealed In The Dark"
10. "End Of Eternity"
11. "The Great"

Video "Warrior Blood"

Artillery’s brand new album My Blood has just been released in Europe and Japan.

My Blood is the follow-up to their highly acclaimed album When Death Comes from 2009 and contains 11 blistering tracks that fill the void between past glory and future splendor. New material was recorded between November 2010 and January 2011 at Medley Studios in Denmark with Søren Andersen as the producer. The band promote the new album with a video clip to the track “Warrior Blood” available on Metal Mind Productions’ channel on YouTube.

What can we expect from the musical side of the new album? Guitarist Michael Stützer says: “The sound is a bit more heavy than it was on When Death Comes. The music is a mixture of our previous albums When Death Comes and By Inheritance, with a slight touch of Terror Squad and Fear Of Tomorrow with some oriental pieces.”

So far their new record is getting rave reviews from European media. Here is the one from Greece: “Artillery definitely have sold their soul to the devil! Like another Faust the band and its members seem to have a second youth. How else can I explain the fact that the band opens this album with the amazing and over 7 and a half minutes long song entitled “Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)” which truly is an example of how thrash metal music must be played. And this song is only an appetizer, because what comes after it, can only be described as ‘all hell breaks loose’.” You can read the entire review here.

The album is available as a jewel case CD and as a digipak CD including 2 bonus tracks. Japanese edition of the album includes an exclusive bonus track which is not available elsewhere. The US release date is set for 5th April (via MVD). Artillery Myspace

New Heavy Metal CD Releases: March 22, 2011

2011-03-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Agnostic Front - My Life, My Way (Nuclear Blast)
Assassin - Breaking The Silence (SPV)
Bloodshot - Murder The World (Scarlet)
Born Of Osiris - The Discovery (Sumerian)
Dodsferd - Spitting With Hatred The Insignificance of Life (Moribund)
Dotma - Sleep Paralyses (Scarlet)
Engrained - Deep Rooted (SPV)
Evil Survives - Metal Vengeance Re-Release (Heavy Artillery)
The Haunted - Unseen (Century Media)
Immortal Dominion - Primortal (427)
My Inner Burning - Eleven Scars (SPV)
Odd Dimension - Symmetrical (Scarlet)
Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (Vagrant)
Straight Line Stitch - The Fight Of Our Lives (E1)
Tesseract - One (Century Media)
Woods of Ypres - Against The Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat Re-Release (Earache)
Woods of Ypres - Pursuit of the Sun & Allure of the Earth Re-Release (Earache)
Woods of Ypres - Woods III: Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues Re-Release (Earache)
Woods Of Ypres - Woods IV: The Green Album Re-Release (Earache)

Straight Line Stitch – The Fight of Our Lives

2011-03-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Reviews:
Straight Line Stitch exhibits the heaviness of a full fledged metal band with tracks like “No Tomorrow”, whilst simultaneously showcasing the sensibilities of modern rock. Lead singer Alexis Brown has proven she’s much more than a pretty face – her screams demand attention and her singing is awe-inspiring. Not to mention she’s backed by a band that have exhibited serious growth since their debut album a mere three years ago. The Fight Of Our Lives is an album that is an improvement in almost every aspect, including an improvement to your playlist. 8.9/10 -thenewreview.net

You can catch Straight Line Stitch out on the road pretty much everywhere, I am not joking these guys tour relentlessly, but most definitely check them out on the Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock ~ Hell Hath No Fury Tour with In This Moment, System Divide and Sister Sin.4/5 -metalholic.co

I’ve yet to see Straight Line Stitch live, and I’ve read good and bad things about them. That’s the danger of reviews though, and I’ll end up seeing them for myself to draw my own conclusions but I have a feeling I won’t be disappointed. This album is one that begs to be heard live. 4/5 -theywillrockyou.com

Straight Line Stitch - "Conversion" OFFICIAL VIDEO

Tracklist:
01 – Tear Down The Sky
02 – Conversion
03 – Laughing In The Rearview
04 – Cold Front
05 – No Tomorrow
06 – Bar Room Brawl
07 – One Reason
08 – Never Surrender
09 – Living Dead
10 – Sould Of Silence
11 – Ashes In The Wind

Straight Line Stitch Myspace page

Graveyard – Hisingen Blues (2011)

2011-03-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

“Hisingen Blues” was produced, recorded and mixed in a raw, authentic yet strong and clear way by Don Alsterberg in Don Pierre Studios / Gothenburg, where the band together with Don has managed to create a totally analogue recorded and mixed production that skillfully combines a 70’s vibe with a more powerful modern sound..

Hisingen Blues, out on March 25 (Europe) and April 19, 2011 (North America)

Hisingen Blues

Fore more songs Graveyard Myspace

Born Of Osiris – The Discovery (2011)

2011-03-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Born of osiris isn't trying to be heavy there going progressive ambient. Definitely sounds like there most technical shit tho and most experimental. I'm all for that. There going in the right direction too much metal nowadays is the same. Just listen to this shit when ur high.

Born Of Osiris - The Discovery FULL Album Preview 2011

February 2011 Best Heavy Metal CDs

2011-03-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

Useful list for you to buy the best Heavy Metal music out there!

1. Evergrey - 'Glorious Collision' (SPV)

SPV Records

Evergrey's sound is intact, but Glorious Collision finds the Swedes with a newfound spark and some of the best songwriting they've done in years. The songs are relatively straightforward, but hold up extremely well. I've had the album for a couple of months, and after multiple listens can attest to the catchiness of many of the tracks. The keyboards are also more prominent than on the past few albums, not surprising since Zander had a much bigger part of the songwriting than usual.
While much of Glorious Collision is compact and focused, “You” shows the band's more expansive side. It's the longest song, at over 6 minues, and allows time for instrumental breaks and solos in addition to plenty of melody and bombast. The 13 tracks are very consistent in terms of quality, but a few stand out even more. “Frozen” is intense and powerful, but also dynamic with a sing-along chorus.

2. Crowbar - 'Sever The Wicked Hand' (eOne)

eOne Music

It's been a while since we've heard new music from Crowbar. Frontman Kirk Windstein is a pretty busy guy, who is also a member of Down and Kingdom Of Sorrow. The rest of Crowbar's 2011 lineup includes bassist Patrick Bruders (ex-Goatwhore), drummer Tommy Buckley (Soilent Green) and the newest addition, guitarist Matt Brunson (Shedding Old Skin). Crowbar's new CD Sever The Wicked Hand comes six years (to the day) after the sludge-meisters' last full-length.
“Isolation (Desperation)” is a really strong opener, a groovy and melodic track. The title track is more intense and heavier with riffs that are fast and thrashy at the beginning, then get thicker and more oppressive as the tempo slows. “Liquid Sky And Cold Black Earth” thunders along at a glacial tempo, an edgy ballad that has Windstein almost crooning.

3. DevilDriver - 'Beast' (Roadrunner)

Roadrunner Records
DevilDriver's last album, while nowhere near mainstream, was more accessible than the one before. They've reversed that trend on their latest effort Beast. It lives up to the title, a relentessly aggressive and angry CD that still manages to churn out plenty of the band's trademark groove.
Beast erupts out of the gates with “Dead To Rights,” which alternates between galloping thrash riffs and slower grooves along with an extended guitar solo. It's intense and punishing, but also infused with melody. And while nothing on this album can be considered mellow, the listener gets a 20 second reprieve at the beginning of “Hardened” before the rapid-fire drums kick the song into gear.

4. Abysmal Dawn - 'Leveling The Plane Of Existence' (Relapse)

Relapse Records

Abysmal Dawn plays with a lot of technical skill and they certainly bring the brutality, but so does nearly every other death metal outfit. What sets a band like AD apart is their songwriting. Inserting moments of melody, changing up speeds and intensities and writing clever riffs and hooks makes their music much more memorable and holds up better under multiple listens.
“My Own Savior” is a highlight of Leveling The Plane Of Existence, with a meaty groove and more excellent solo work. It's one of Charles Elliott's best vocal performances as well. On the entire album he has stepped up his game, utilizing a wider palette of styles, from guttural growls to frenzied screams. Another excellent track is “Pixilated Ignorance,” a rapid-fire blast of extremiity featuring a solo from Krisiun's Moyses Kolesne.

5. Allen/Lande - 'The Showdown' (Frontiers)

Frontiers Records
The Showdown is in the vein of previous Allen/Lande albums. The songs straddle the line between hard rock, power metal and melodic metal. There are hooks galore, even on the more aggressive tracks. One of the best songs on the CD is “Turn All Into Gold.” It has a memorable chorus, but also crunchy guitars and excellent solos.
It doesn't matter what the tempo of the songs are, Allen and Lande always deliver top-notch vocal performances. They can turn up the power on intense songs, and use more texture and emotion on the ballads like “Copernicus.”

source: Heavymetal about

Children Of Bodom – Relentless Reckless Forever (2011)

2011-03-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

Relentless, Reckless Forever is the seventh album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, released on March 8, 2011 through Spinefarm Records / Universal Music.

Children Of Bodom's new, highly acclaimed Relentless Reckless Forever album has sold 100,000+ copies worldwide right upon its release, and the band's seventh studio outing has also already been certified gold (10,000+ copies) in the band's home country Finland.

To watch Was it Worth It? and many Children Of Bodom songs go to their official Youtube page.

Tracklist:
01 – Not My Funeral
02 – Shovel Knockout
03 – Roundtrip to Hell and Back
04 – Pussyfoot Miss Suicide
05 – Relentless Reckless Forever
06 – Ugly
07 – Cry of the Nihilist
08 – Was It Worth It
09 – Northpole Throwdown
10 – Party All The Time (Japanese Bonus Track)

Koma – La Maldicion Divina

2011-03-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

Koma - La Almohada Cervical Music Video

Tracklist:
01 – Intro (La Maldicion Divina)
02 – Sin Oxigeno
03 – La Almohada Cervical

04 – Blancos De Los Nervios
05 – Los Idiotas
06 – ?Quien Sobra
07 – No Te Lo Tomes A Mal
08 – Intro (Ametsa)
09 – Bagare
10 – El Exorcista
11 – Patron A Seguir
12 – Me Vacio
13 – Ostia Frontal
14 – Intro (El Ente)
15 – Fantasmal

Mastodon – Live At The Aragon (2011)

2011-03-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

You can watch more live performances ("Ghost Of Karelia", "Divinations") from the album Mastodon band website.

Tracklist:

01 – Oblivion [Live]
02 – Divinations [Live]
03 – Quintessence [Live]
04 – The Czar I. Usurper II. Escape III. Martyr IV. Spiral [Live]
05 – Ghost Of Karelia [Live]
06 – Crack The Skye [Live]
07 – The Last Baron [Live]
08 – Circle Of Cysquatch [Live]
09 – Aqua Dementia [Live]
10 – Where Strides The Behemoth [Live]
11 – Mother Puncher [Live]
12 – The Bit [Live]

TWINSPIRITS - Slave To This World (Official video clip)

2011-03-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

"Slave To This World", the new video from Twinspirits — the Italian progressive metal band featuring Daniele Liverani (Khymera, Empty Tremor, Genius) can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's third album, "Legacy", which will be released in on February 18 via Lion Music.

"Slave To This World" is taken from the album "Legacy" released by Lion Music.

New Metal Music Releases - : February 22, 2011

2011-02-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

I like to keep up to date this blog as much as possible providing the best metal music around. This is your must-have list to buy some new heavy metal albums.
The list is very reliable from here.

February 22, 2011

Astrosoniq - Quadrant (Exile On Mainstream)
Ava Inferi - Onyx (Season Of Mist)
Betzefer - Freedom To The Slave Makers (AFM)
The Browning - Time Will Tell (Earache)
Cauldron - Burning Fortune (Earache)
Crystal Viper - Legends (AFM)
Darkest Hour - The Human Romance (E1)
The Defaced - Anomaly (Scarlet)
DevilDriver - Beast (Roadrunner)
Drugs Of Faith - Corroded (Selfmadegod)
Earth - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light (Southern Lord)
Ektomorf - Redemption (AFM)
Elvenking - Red Silent Tides (AFM)
Evergrey - The Glorious Collision (SPV)
Folge Dem Wind - Inhale The Sacred Poison (Code666)
I See Stars - The End Of The World Party (Sumerian)
Necronoclast - Ashes (Moribund)
The Project Hate MCMXCIX - "Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis (Season Of Mist)
The Swan King - Eyes Like Knives (Seventh Rule)
Tankard - Vol(l)ume 14 (AFM)
Timo Tolkki - Saana Warrior of Light Pt. 1 (Scarlet)
Twisted Sister - Come Out And Play Re-Release (Eagle Rock)
Twisted Sister - Love Is For Suckers Re-Release (Eagle Rock)

My favorite albums from the list:
Evergrey - The Glorious Collision (SPV)
Based in Sweden, Evergrey are specialists in dark progressive metal.

I See Stars - The End Of The World Party (Sumerian)
I See Stars are a hardcore band from Michigan who made their album debut in 2009 with a hybrid style drawing from both screamo and electronica.

Best Album of The Atomic Bitchwax - Atomic Bitchwax (1999)

2011-02-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

This self-titled debut is very impressive, offering adventurous extended jams ("The Formula") as well as frenetic blasts of energy ("Hey Alright"). Guitarist Ed Mundell might be a team player at his day job with Monster Magnet but he takes over here, displaying great versatility and chops - especially on a manic rendition of his idol Tommy Bolin's "Crazed Fandango".

Highly recommended if you are truly a big fan of nice rock music, and it is therefore a good reason to have this album in your metal music archive.

4metal favourite song picks:
Stork Theme
Crazed Fandango
Hope You Die

link to stream songs
MYspace
Crazed Fandango Youtube (Don't miss this out)

Irate - New york Métal

2011-02-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

In 1995, five young aspiring musicians gathered together in the Bronx, NY. They were drawn to each other for two reasons: a love of heavy music and the disillusionment created by urban adolescence. Nick (guitar), UV (drums), Nando (guitar), Phil (vocals) and Jayson (bass) became known the band as Irate and established themselves as one of New York City's most brutal metal bands.

Irate's first two releases, the EP "Burden of a Crumbling Society" and the full length "11:34" (recorded with current bassist Curtis Reis), quickly solidified them as a powerful metal act. The first chance for the band to prove their ability in a live setting came at Castle Heights in Queens, NY. The shows at this venue established a loyal fan base and garnered the attention of other
promoters and bands on the scene. As a result, Irate has also played the stages of CBGB's, LimeLight, Lamour's, The Downtown, Albany's Valentines and many more. The band has had the pleasure of supporting national acts such as Deicide, Overkill, Napalm Death, Death Angel, Hatebreed, Candiria and Nuclear Assault.

Listen more at Myspace page

In late 2001, Irate embarked on their first overseas tour, headlining shows in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in Japan. A year later the band found themselves on the road again, this time on a five country tour of Europe with stops in Belgium, Holland, England, France and Germany. Spring of 2004 saw the band as part of a package tour of Puerto Rico supporting Sworn Enemy with Billy Club Sandwich and EGH.

For the summer of 2004 the band has hit the studio to record their sophomore full length album. Those that have heard the new material have described it as intensely heartfelt and reminiscent of the myriad of influences on the band. The album will hopefully be released before the close of 2005.

Mercenary – Metamorphosis (2011)

2011-02-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Metamorphosis is the sixth studio album by the Danish melodic death metal band Mercenary. This is the first album, except for their debut, First Breath, not to include the Sandager brothers, Mikkel on clean vocals and Morten on keyboards and Mike Park on drums since 11 Dreams. This is also the first album to feature Morten Løwe on drums. It will be released on February 25, 2011, under the label Napalm Records. The US version will be released on March 29 under the label Prosthetic Records, and will include one bonus track. The song "The Follower" was released on the band's YouTube channel on December 23rd, 2010, and the song "In a River of Madness" was released for streaming on the band's Facebook page on February 8th, 2011.

Listen "The Follower" from the album

Tracklist:
01. Through The Eyes Of The Devil
02. The Follower
03. In A River Of Madness
04. Memoria
05. Velvet Lies
06. In Bloodred Shades
07. Shades Of Grey
08. On The Edge Of Sanity
09. The Black Brigade

Converge - Jane Doe

2011-02-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Reviews:
On June 11, 2010, Sputnikmusic deemed Jane Doe the best album of the decade, earning the #1 spot on its top 100 albums of the decade list.

Jane Doe was highly successful and has been considered as being Converge's best album. Terrorizer Magazine awarded the record Album of the Year status in 2001.

mp3: Distance and Meaning
mp3: Hell to Pay

Bullet - Highway

2011-02-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

The new Bullet album is titled “Highway Pirates” and will be released 4th February 2011.Click the picture to pre-order the album.

Tracklist:
Highway Pirates
Back on the Road
Stay Wild
Blood Run Hot
Fire and Dynamite
Down and Out
Knuckleduster
Heavy Metal Dynamite
Citylights
Into the Night

Highway Pirates:

Interview:
On July 31 2009, Bullets drummer Gustav Hjortsjo was hanging around backstage at the Savsjo Festival. Suddenly he noticed a familiar face in the crowd: Saxons legendary singer Peter Biff Byford. Gustav was determined not to let this chance go missed. He approached Mr. Byford and explained that the singer
just had to make a guest appearance on Bullets next album. - Maybe, Byford replied. What’s the name of the album? Gustav had no idea. Bullet was still touring to support their Bite the Bullet album, and hadn’t really thought a whole lot about the next album. - But which song do you want me to appear on then, Biff continued. In a state of panic Gustav mumbled the first reasonably rock’n’roll orientated title he could come up with: - Highway Pirates. A month later they met again, at the Skogsrojet Festival in Reijmyre. About 40 seconds into the brilliant hard hitting title track you can now hear Biff Byfords contribution: a wolf whistle. Bullet is up for a new experience upon the release of their third album. It is the first time they have to live up to peoples highly set expectations. It is, though, a natural consequence of the success that came with the bands previous album, Bite the Bullet. The album went up to position 3 in the Swedish charts, and made Bullet one of the most frequently booked bands the following year. The success culminated when they did an acclaimed appearance as support act for AC/DC on the sold out Ullevi Stadium show in Gothenburg. The enormous success seems to have inspired rather than put pressure on the heavy metal heroes from Smaland though - Highway Pirates is definitely their strongest album to date. Highway Pirates is mixed by Tobias Lindell, who has worked with Swedish rock bands like Europe, Mustasch and Hardcore Superstar. Together with Bullet he has succeeded in creating a sound that is retro and modern at the same time. Hampus Klangs and Erik Ahlstroms guitar sound is incredibly pure. Bullet is, and always will be, a band which is to be experienced live but Highway Pirates is an album that completely captures the intense feeling of their live performances. Bite the Bullet gave the group their breakthrough and put them on the rocknroll map. Biff Byfords screamish wolf whistle on Highway Pirates marks the start of a new chapter in Bullets success story.

Slipknot - {sic}nesses (2010)

2011-02-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

sic)nesses is the fourth video album released by American heavy metal band Slipknot. The double-disc release features a recording of their headlining performance at the 2009 Download Festival along with a 45-minute behind the scenes documentary created by percussionist Shawn Crahan, and the four music videos from All Hope Is Gone. It is the band's first release since the death of bassist Paul Gray and is dedicated in his memory. On September 22, 2010, (sic)nesses premiered in selected theaters across the United States. Entrance to the screenings were free and it included free giveaways. Reception was generally positive, with Artistdirect rewarding the album a perfect five out of five stars, and Blabbermouth.net giving the album eight and a half out of ten stars.

Reviews:
The album's reception was generally positive. The album's description on Roadrunnerrecords.com stated: "The performance was absolutely electric, in typical Slipknot fashion, especially since it came hot on the heels of one of the strongest years in Slipknot’s illustrious career." Rick Florino from Artistdirect gave the album five out of five stars. Florino introduced the DVD by writing: "it's an eerie, engaging and utterly entrancing collection of violently vibrant vignettes showing the greatest metal band of the 21st century at the top of their game—and the genre." Scott Alisoglu from Blabbermouth.net gave the album eight and a half out of ten stars. He called it the "ultimate tribute" to bassist Paul Gray. He also noted that things like display of controlled echos, the 80,000 person audience, their energetic performances of songs from their first album, and the "unforgettable anthems" like "Before I Forget" and "Psychosocial" came together to "remind naysayers and fans alike that Slipknot has a dearth of rivals when it comes to live performance." The DVD was released on September 28, 2010 sold 9,300 copies in the United States in its first week. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Music Videos chart.

I think "Wait And Bleed" is a masterpiece and very uplifting song of Slipknot, you should definitely have in your metal music archive.

Slipknot - Wait And Bleed :

Kyuss - Demon Cleaner #2 (single) (1994)

2011-02-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Sky Valley is the third studio album by American stoner rock/metal band Kyuss, originally released on June 28, 1994. In concert, the band Tool has covered "Demon Cleaner" twice, with bassist Reeder often joining them onstage during the performances.

mp3: Kyuss - Demon cleaner

Dalriada – Igeret

2011-02-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Dalriada is a folk metal band from Hungary that was formed in 2003. They were formerly known as Echo of Dalriada until 2007. Their fourth studio album Szelek in 2008 was a chart success in their country, peaking at the second position on the official Mahasz music charts.

The new album looks like very pleasant in the cover, however I expect something very dark and dirty when you talk about metal music !

Product Description For Dalriada - Igeret
The roots of the hungarian folk metal band Dalriada reach back to the year of 1998, when forming member and band leader Andras Ficzek starteda heavy metal band in the West-Hungarian town of Sopron. In the following years he gathered several young and talented musicians to follow hisvision of heavy metal combined with death, thrash and most important folk elements combined. After the first years of experimenting, DALRIADAwas formed in Sopron in February 2003 with the intention of combining metal and Hungarian folklore, thus fostering the incredibly rich heritage ofHungarian folk art. Due to the broad range of influences some elements of death and gothic metal found their way into the bands unique style.The word Dalriada is the historical name of the first kingdom of the Scots, but based on some linguistic studies it may have an ancient Hungarianorigin with the meaning of battle-song. In the first years the band called itself Echo Of Dalriada in order emphasize the Hungarian meaning, butat the beginning of 2007 the name was simplified to Dalriada. All the lyrics are in Hungarian and sometimes use the works of the famousHungarian poet Janos Arany. Here again authenticity and their Hungarian heritage is most important to the band. Lyrics and music form an artisticunity.

Listen to the track Hajdutanc:

New Heavy Metal Album Releases: February 1, 2011

2011-02-01T04:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the new heavy metal CD releases for this week.

February 1, 2011

Abysmal Dawn - Leveling The Plane Of Existence (Relapse)

Full Blown Chaos - Full Blown Chaos (Metal Blade)

Lazarus A.D. - Black Rivers Flow (Metal Blade)

Most Precious Blood - Do Not Resuscitate (Bullet Tooth)

Noisear - Subvert The Dominant Paradigm (Relapse)

Six Feet Under - Wake The Night: Live In Germany DVD (Metal Blade)

Spellbound Dazzle - Unreal Fairy Tales (Limited Access)

Thomas Giles (BTBAM's Tommy Rogers) - Pulse (Metal Blade)

Gillan - Future Shock

2011-02-01T03:29:00.000-08:00

Future Shock is the fourth album by the British rock band Gillan. Released by Virgin in 1981, it reached number 2 in the UK album chart; this would remain the band's highest placing.
Gillan was a hard rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.

The title is taken from Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock.

The original vinyl LP had a gatefold sleeve, with centre pages.

Download:
Gillan - Future Shock mp3

Fan Review: Great Album 4 out of 5
Warning: I am a fan of this man (and the band which, incidentally, in those days also was called "Gillan"), so do not expect me to be objective. Maybe not a "masterpiece" (by Gillan standards only) but still the album rocked like nothing did at the time (which is 1981) and it still rocks! Also, Gillan's lyrics is the wittiest and funniest of all Purple and Purple-derived line-ups. OK, the "classic"
Gillan line-up is here: Ian Gillan (of course), John McCoy on bass, Bernie Tormé on guitar, Colin Towns keyboarding and Mick Underwood drumming. My favourites from this album are "No Laughing In Heaven" (listen to the lyrics, I said), "For Your Dreams" and good old "New Orleans" (on the vinyl, "New Orleans" was the end of side A so you had a chance for a well deserved break).

Motörhead - The World Is Yours

2011-02-01T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Wörld is Yours is the twentieth studio album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead, first released on 25 january 2011 by Future PLC's Classic Rock magazine. The standard CD release of The Wörld is Yours was released on 17 January 2011, through Motörhead's own label, Motörhead Music, distributed by EMI Label Services. Motörhead's new album is very uplifting rock record as well as all the other Motörhead albums.

Track list:
01. Born To Lose 4:01
02. I Know How To Die 3:19
03. Get Back In Line 3:35
04. Devils In My Hand 4:21
05. Rock N Roll Music 4:25
06. Waiting For The Snake 3:41
07. Brotherhood Of Man 5:15
08. Outlaw 3:30
09. I Know What You Need 2:58
10. Bye Bye Bye Bye 4:04

The album has received generally good reviews, with most reviewers citing the album as very similar to most of Motörhead's previous albums due to the band essentially following the same style of music.

Rob Sleigh of Stereoboard.com gave the album a score of 8 out of 10

Dangerdog writer Craig Hartranft gave the album a 3.5 out of 5

Ozzy Osbourne also included The Wörld is Yours in his list of favourite albums of 2010.

Listen and Lyrics: Motorhead - Get Back In Line

Times Of Grace - The Hymn Of A Broken Man (2011)

2011-01-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

The Hymn of a Broken Man is the debut album by American metalcore duo Times of Grace, released on January 18, 2011 through Roadrunner Records.

The track listing for the album is as follows; the song titles reflect the sentiment of catharsis that is the common thread running through "The Hymn of a Broken Man".

01. Strength In Numbers
02. Fight For Life
03. Willing
04. Where The Spirit Leads Me
05. Until The End Of Days
06. Live In Love
07. In The Arms Of Mercy
08. Hymn Of A Broken Man
09. The Forgotten One
10. Hope Remains
11. The End Of Eternity
12. Worlds Apart
13. Fall From Grace

Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy - Navaz (2011) NEW ALBUM

2011-01-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

Silent Stream of Godless Elegy is a Moravian folk metal band from the Czech Republic that was formed in 1995. They won an award in 2000 from the Czech Academy of Popular Music for their album Themes in the "Hard & Heavy" category.

It is the Slavic feelings of ancient longing and melancholy that fuel the fires of passion on the band’s sixth album “Návaz”. “Návaz” is a traditional amulet made from hair, blackberry leaves, ash and other odd ingredients. Tradition permeates the music of the Moravians by their use of violin, cello, and dulcimer; it also shows in the vocals and choral parts.You can stream the song "Slava" from the album below.

Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy - Slava

Overdrive - Angelmaker NEW ALBUM

2011-01-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Swedish traditional metallers OVERDRIVE will release their new album, "Angelmaker", on January 21 via Lion Music. The CD was recorded by the band and Johan Blomkvist (BLINDED COLONY, KAPTAIN SUN) and mixed by Pelle Saether (GRAND DESIGN, DIABOLICAL, WOLF) at Studio Underground. The band has also, for the first time, included a cover song. It's a classic heavy metal arrangement on the Russ Ballard-penned track "I Know There's Something Going On", originally recorded by Frida, of ABBA fame, back in 1982.

The "Angelmaker" cover, which can be found below, was once again created by acclaimed cover artist Monowasp (TNT, HOUSE OF LORDS, PLACE VENDOME) and depicts an "angelmaker" doing her deed (which was to make angels of [mostly] illegitimate babies).

listen the first track:
Signs All Over (Stark/Karlsson)

"Angelmaker" track listing:

01. Signs All Over (Stark/Karlsson)
02. In Gut We Trust (Stark)
03. Angelmaker (Stark)
04. I Know There's Something Going On (Russ Ballard, arr: Stark)
05. Under The Influence (Ericsson/Karlsson)
06. On With The Action (Jacobsson)
07. See The Light (Stark)
08. To Grow (Karlsson)
09. Mother Earth (Jacobsson)
10. It’s A Thriller (Stark/Karlsson)
11. Cold Blood Chaser (Stark)
12. The Wavebreaker (Karlsson)

Monster Magnet - Mastermind (2010) and 'Gods and Punks' download

2011-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

Mastermind is the eighth studio album by the American stoner rock band Monster Magnet. A video for the first single, Gods and Punks, was released on October 1st, 2010. The album was released on October 25th 2010. The album debuted at No. 165 on the Billboard 200 selling around 3,000 copies becoming the band's first album since 2001's 'God Says No' to chart on the Billboard 200.

You can listen and download the song from 4Metal, 'God Says No' for a limited period of time.

Download: ~~Monster Magnet - Gods and Punks~~

More records that 4Metal recommends from the year 2010:
All That Remains - ...For We Are Many
Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
Stone Sour - Audio Secrecy
Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier

God Says No Lyrics
Fireing my friend
But I come back again and again
I just can't pretend
One more step and I'll start to bend

You try and live
And God says no

We go on our way
Just waiting for that lucky day
I tried every way
Just so that God can blow me away

I need some love
To start the show
But ask just once
And God says no

A lot of dust slides through my head
Scary thoughts like wishing we were dead
You won't get caught if you don't get queer
And you'll be ready for a new frontier

It's good to be bad
It's the best time you'll ever have
What the hell is this ultra sad
Pray for your cool and work on that ass

You learn too much
You'll never know
Just start to laugh
And God says no

A point of life flies through my head
A scary thought like I was someone else
And don't get lost now and show no fear
And you'll be ready for a new frontier

A lot of dust slides through my head
And scary thoughts like wishing we were dead
You won't get caught if you don't get queer
And you'll be ready for a new frontier
For a new frontier

Revolting Cocks - Linger Ficken' Good (1993)

2011-01-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

Linger Ficken' Good… and Other Barnyard Oddities is the third studio album by The Revolting Cocks. The title is a satirical word play on the advertising slogan employed by KFC in the 1970s, "Finger Lickin' Good." It is giving a quite good message this record!

I'd like to share one of the most understanding songs which is "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". It was written by Stewart and Carmine Appice, and produced by Tom Dowd. It was 1978 hit song for Rod Stewart.

Revolting Cocks - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

Lazarus A.D. – Black Rivers Flow (2011)

2011-01-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

LAZARUS A.D.’s highly anticipated the new album, Black Rivers Flow, was recorded in July and August 2010 at Belle City Sound with Chris Djuricic and was mixed and mastered by James Murphy at Safehouse Production.

You can download and listen the latest single “The Ultimate Sacrifice” from album below for a limited time:

~~Lazarus A.D. - “The Ultimate Sacrifice”~~

Tracklist :
01. American Dreams
02. The Ultimate Sacrifice
03. The Strong Prevail
04. Black Rivers Flow
05. Casting Forward
06. Light A City (Up In Smoke)
07. Through Your Eyes
08. Beneath the Waves of Hatred
09. Eternal Vengeance

Buy the album Black Rivers Flow.

Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra (2010)

2011-01-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

Abrahadabra is the ninth studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. The first single from the album, "Gateways", was released on August 20 in Europe and August 24 in North America. On September 14 a video for "Gateways" was released featuring Djerv front-woman, Agnete Kjølsrud.

On September 17 the song "Born Treacherous" was released on Dimmu Borgir's official myspace for streaming. On September 24 the band announced they would stream Abrahadabra in its entirety, until 7 p.m. EST that evening. This would mark the first official release of all the tracks on the album.

I share the song for streaming below:
~~Dimmu Borgir - Born Treacherous~~

White Zombie - God Of Thunder E.P. and one Song Download

2011-01-05T02:54:00.000-08:00

God of Thunder is an EP by great rock band White Zombie. All lyrics written by Rob Zombie except "God of Thunder" by Paul Stanley, all music composed by White Zombie except "God of Thunder" by Paul Stanley.

The song I shared "God of Thunder" is a cover of the Kiss song originally from their 1976 album Destroyer. If you love your good rock music records, I think it's definitely a must have in your archive.

Stream free:
White Zombie - God Of Thunder

Cradle Of Filth - Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (2010)

2011-01-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa is the ninth studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.

Review by a fan:
There are musical formulas that never become exhausted. Bands that choose such formulas as basis for their works enjoy long-lasting, successful careers. No fan requires any change in their musical direction, everyone is universally happy if such a band releases another album that fits into the band's template. Among classic bands that fit this description are AC/DC, Motörhead, Slayer, to name just a few that immediately spring to mind.

Stream:
~~Cradle of Filth - "Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)"~~

Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic               3.5/5 stars
Metal Hammer     5/7 stars
Rock Sound         9/10 stars
Kerrang!    3/5 stars
Sonic Seducer      9/10 stars
Rock Hard           8/10 stars
Legacy                 13/15 stars
Loud Online          9/10 stars
Thrash Hits           4/6 stars

White Zombie - Gods On Voodoo Moon E.P. (1985)

2010-10-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

Info:
The EP was first released only on vinyl. The songs "Black Friday" & "Dead Or Alive" were recorded during the same sessions but were excluded from the vinyl pressings due to lack of space. A cassette version was released in 1989 on Caroline Records featuring the two unreleased tracks. Because the lack of funds at the time only 300 copies of vinyl were pressed at Macola Records Hollywood, California, 100 of which were sold while the others are in the possession of the band members. Ena Kostabi claims to still have several copies, and even had the 7" re-pressed back in the day to send to record execs.

Tracklist:
1. "Gentleman Junkie" 2:13
2. "King of Souls [W.Z.]" 2:19
3. "Tales From the Scarecrow Man" 3:17
4. "Cat's Eye Resurrection" 1:40
5. "Black Friday" (Cassette only) 3:09
6. "Dead or Alive" (Cassette only) 1:49

Badly Drawn Boy announces US Tour Dates and NEW VIDEO

2010-10-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

BADLY DRAWN BOY, aka Damon Gough, has announced details of a North American tour in October, his first in three years. The dates coincide with a new BADLY DRAWN BOY album slated for release on October 12th on The End Records. The two-week run will kick off in Boston on December 1st and wrap up with a two-night stand at Los Angeles’ Troubadour. Tickets for select dates go on sale starting October 6th; additional on sale dates are listed below.

Dates are as follows:
Date City Venue Onsale
12/01 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club 10/09
12/03 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge 10/06
12/04 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge 10/06
12/05 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere 10/06
12/07 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church 10/08
12/08 Toronto, ONT The Great Hall 10/08
12/10 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall 10/09
12/12 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge 10/09
12/13 Seattle, WA Triple Door 10/09
12/14 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall 10/03
12/15 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour 10/07
12/16 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour 10/07

The video for the single “Too Many Miracles” can be seen here:

Badly Drawn Boy - Too Many Miracles

Looking forward to...
Bonfire Lyrics Craig Morgan
Arrow Lyrics Tegan and Sara
Home Lyrics Rose Cousins
Blessed Redeemer Lyrics Casting Crowns
Winter's Carol Lyrics Tori Amos
O Come All Ye Faithful Lyrics Halford
Against All Odds Lyrics Linda Eder
Valley Of The Dolls Lyrics Linda Eder
Oh Holy Night Lyrics Jerry Douglas
One Day At A Time Lyrics Carlene Davis

Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists (2005)

2010-05-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, that hits the spot! Much like a hot cup of Kona Coffee, this album gets right on top of ya, gets the job done. Not full of flavor, but just the thing when there are zombies to kill. Ok, so I haven't actually found any zombies hell-bent on gnawing out my carotid artery to kill, but when I do... this will be the soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, I know good metal and this ain't it, but... I like it all the same. Much like Zombie's "La Sexorcisto," it's won me over, despite the metal-purist in me. I don't care what you call it either... it gets right on top of my owie. If you want something more authentic and original listen to Big Black, Helmet, or Finch.... and shut your pie-hole.

Godsmack - Good Times, Bad Times : Ten Years Of Godsmack

2010-05-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Godsmack will release their widely anticipated Greatest Hits album, Good Times Bad Times....Ten Years of Godsmack on December 4. The 16-track collection is loaded with career defining milestones and seminal Godsmack classics. Among the groundbreaking songs included are the band's clarion call "Whatever," their breakthrough #1 rock mainstream smash "Awake," "I Stand Alone" (2002's most played rock radio song of the year), "Speak," (the #1 rock cut from their 2006 album Godsmack IV), and a rare, bristling Godsmack cover of Led Zeppelin's classic 1969 debut single "Good Times, Bad Times."

Good Times, Bad Times ...Ten Years of Godsmack

High on Fire - Death Is This Communion

2010-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

With the release of their new album, High on Fire appears poised to become the next, but not necessarily new standard of mainstream heavy metal; a sort of post-Pantera return to the pre-Opeth age. Whatever its faults, they are preferable to the many sagging, shabby and vigor-less stand-ins on store shelves today. Though as many voices scoffed at as did praise 2005’s Blessed Black Wings, that album and its successor represent a needed turn back toward a more accessible kind of metal that is unapologetic—and plainly—still has some balls. In this case, nine of them.

It seems like an unlikely position for guitarist/songwriter Matt Pike, the former wizard behind the simmering, clam-baked jams of stoner rock behemoth Sleep, but over the last several years High on Fire has gradually cultivated, and here fully developed a faster and more aggressive style similar to later-period Slayer (“Fury Whip”) and pre-Derrick Green Sepultura (“Waste of Tiamat,” “Turk”) with the essential influences of Motorhead (“Rumors of War”) and St. Vitus still pumping below the music’s layers of bloodied thew and gristle.

Whereas the former groups eventually fell back on rote antipathy or attempts at pale authenticity by molding native culture around modern trends, High on Fire carefully blend fantasy in with realty, finding the needed balance to maintain their portrait of barbaric, Howardian landscapes (once more vividly articulated by artist Arik Roper) and allusions to Lovecraft’s Cthulu mythos in ways relevant to the present—where truly nothing is too strange—without the preachiness that’s soured the best of more recognized acts from Metallica onward.

Where the album lacks subtlety it more than compensates with its tightly reigned in performances. And although Pike’s sense of melody and grizzled howls (here brought much further into the mix by producer John Endino) are the heart of Death is This Communion, it’s the titanic sound of drummer Des Kensel that give the monster its hundred legs to stand on. Varied by touches of mid-eastern music on the instrumental “Khanrad’s wall;” the almost literally acted out tribal concussions of Kensel’s “Headhunter” drum solo; the epic crush of “DII,” and a pair of non-sequitur space-rock jams inserted later on, the album is fairly strategic in the amount of ground it covers, at times majestically so. But it never strays from its center of power and force while spiraling inward toward that common terminus, with grace accomplished.

Dream Theater - Dark Side Of The Moon

2010-05-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

year 06 I have enjoyed rock music since I was a 14-year old boy in a small city in Indonesia. At that time there were many cassette offerings with various kind of music. Especially for rock music there were varieties of groups from Deep Purple to King Crimson. I knew Pink Floyd "Dark Side of The Moon" sometime in 1975 and really amazed with the kind of music the band plays. Because I was more familiar with straight rock, I could enjoy "Money" and "Time" easily without any barriers at all. In fact, I used "Time" as my wake up call using a timer. When this album was available in CD format, I purchased it right away and I think it was some time in the end of 80s. I did not have the CD player because I could not afford it. With this CD I also purchased Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood" even though I already had the LP.

Another one or two years later I could afford to buy a CD player and I did enjoy Dark Side of The Moon very much. The album actually has no complex arrangement at all but it does have an awesome soundscape and effects. I admire this album from this standpoint as well as the tight composition. I was kind like having an imagination that this album would be very tough to be emulated the same as the studio album because it has varied effects and wonderful soundscapes. In fact, in my collection of laser disc that features Pink Floyd live, performing some songs of Dark Side of The Moon, I could not sense the nuance and "soul" of the album on live performance (even by Pink Floyd themselves!).
Watch Dream Theater - Time Live Performance

4metal.blogspot.com

2010-04-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

4metal is back!

Stryper - Murder By Pride

2009-12-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

Murder by Pride is a forthcoming album by Stryper. The first single for the album, "Peace of Mind", debuted at #27 on Christianrock.net on October 24, 2008 and peaked at #1 on February 22, 2009. The track is a cover version, originally performed by Boston. Michael Sweet is currently a touring member of the legendary Seventies band.

Starting May 5, the band announced to release a song per week on iTunes up until July 21. As each new song is released, the previous one will no longer be available until the full album is released. Robert Sweet did not play on the album as the drum parts were provided by Kenny Aranoff. Stylistically, Michael Sweet has commented, that "after years of speaking to fans and hearing comments like 'more guitars,' 'more solos' and 'more screams,' I decided to keep those suggestions in mind as I wrote each song. It was important to me to try to get back to that early sound of STRYPER yet at the same time, to remain relevant today. It's certainly not an easy thing to do, but as I listen to Murder By Pride, I think that was accomplished.

Pearl Jam - Ten (Legacy Edition) (2009)

2009-03-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ten is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. Following the disbanding of bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard's previous group Mother Love Bone, the two recruited vocalist Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready, and drummer Dave Krusen to form Pearl Jam in 1990. Most of the songs began as instrumental jams, to which Vedder added lyrics about topics such as depression, homelessness, and abuse. Ten was not an immediate success, but by late 1992 it had reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album produced three hit singles: "Alive", "Even Flow", and "Jeremy". While Pearl Jam was accused of jumping on the grunge bandwagon at the time, Ten was instrumental in popularizing alternative rock in the mainstream.The album has been certified twelve times platinum by the RIAA in the United States and remains Pearl Jam's most successful album.

Stone Gods - Silver Spoons and Broken Bones (2008)

2008-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Some Reviews about Silver Spoons and Broken Bones

From Amazon Review
2008 album from three-fourths of the UK rockers The Darkness. When the rollercoaster ride that was The Darkness came to an abrupt and messy end, Justin Hawkins' illegal substance-fueled lifestyle took him out of the picture and the remaining members of the band, including his brother Dan, formed Stone Gods.

Manchester evening news
They get off to a promising start thanks to the the metal riffage of Burn the Witch, an old fashioned rock tune with some tasty guitar followed by the punky-edged Don’t Drink The Water in the style of Brit-rockers The Wildhearts and third track Defend or Die, a slower and moodier style with a military drumming break (Iron Maiden style). full review

Slayer, Seasons in the Abyss

2008-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well, well. This is “the” Slayer disc. All of Slayer’s previous albums had been about one thing: speed (With the possible exception of South of Heaven). So this album was a bit of a shocker. You still get the trademark Slayer hyper-riffing. Same all out attack on the drums. Some unholy/I’m coming to kill you lyrics.

However on certain songs Slayer tone the speed down. The songs are still powerful, just not “in-your-face.” Some of the songs are more of a mid-tempo thrash (Expendable Youth). The title track even has *gasp* melody. As always with any Slayer record you will get the trademark Slayer solo, as well. The last great disc Slayer put out.

Aletheian - Dying Vine (2008)

2008-05-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania’s Aletheian (formerly Crutch) come in view with full atmospheric, prograssive
death metal record. The best side of Dying Vine is surpising moments. First two track"Paragon" and "Broken Legacy" shows that the name of band will grove on internet, trully they can make name on the web. Along with this year's the greatest metal act Meshuggah, this is awesome metal music.

The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil

2007-11-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

For me this is by far the best symphonic prog album of the year, period. After Paradox Hotel I lost my trust in The Flower Kings (that doesn´t mean that PH is a bad album, but I think it was a little bit unisnpired and repetitive), but this happens to be again a great great album, full of big moments. I do like all the tracks but specially the opener One More Time and the last track Life in Motion, but I cannot forget the longest track, the epic The Sum Of No Reason with all its changes of ood and rithim and its wonderful final guitar solo. A lot of moments remind me of the YES and GENESIS of the seventies but TFK have their own way of looking back to that glorious decade for prog. I strongly recommend everyone to take a listen to it. 4.5 stars which I round up to 5 stars.

2007-11-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a kickin Christmas Album. Read this review which explains it very well:

To commemorate Twisted Sister's 30th anniversary, they have released a collection of classic Christmas songs done in typical Twisted Sister style!

As soon as I saw this cd in my local cd store I just knew I would have to have it and let me tell you it does not disappoint at all. If you've heard Twisted Sister, than you know what to expect. Now combine that with Christmas music. Sounds like a hell of a good time awaits!

The holidays are all about fun and celebration; and with guitars blazing, it's great to hear a band that knows that better than anyone.

Twisted Sister melds classic Christmas tunes with their favorite heavy metal songs to create a disc like no other. For instance, singer Dee Snider realized that the chorus to the band's biggest hit "We're Not Gonna Take It" is almost note-for-note the same as the melody to "O Come All Ye Faithful." So the band played the backing music for the Twisted song, while Snider sung

Darkthrone - Transylvanian Hunger

2007-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Glorious
Top Black Metal band, top Black Metal album, 2nd favorite in the genre only to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. However number 1 when it comes to Black Metal bands.
Submitted by Thamuz (Canada)

a true black metal fan will enjoy this
this album sounds like burzum this is probably there most well worked album and my favorite ...actuall its tied with there first 2 realeases the 2nd track rocks and so doeas transylvanian hunger darkthrones first 3 releases are some of the best metal albuims evr they are the best black metal act sept maybe burzum might be btr but hey buy there first three albums!!!.. and let the freezing (or funeral) moon control you
Submitted by dead is the best bdm singer evR! (seattle,WA,usa)

Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes

2007-11-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Recorded at a gig played with the iconic Paradise Lost in London’s very own Camden Roundhouse on November 9th 2006, two-disc set “The Roundhouse Tapes” proves, if proof were needed, that the Swedish black metal legends can be just as captivating live as they ever could in the studio. Opeth are one of those bands besides which other well-established bands look like immature, amateurish teenagers playing their very first gig. They were formed in 1990 and over the intervening years have established a reputation as a formidable talent on the scene, unafraid to experiment with new musical forms and concept albums in a bid to explore their boundaries ever further. Now in full bloom, the Opeth sound is melodic, complex and sophisticated, combining elements of disparate genres from the progressive to the death in such a way that they have managed to elude ultimate categorisation for a long time. And really, it’s amazing how well this translates to the live arena. Older tracks like “Face of Melinda” from the 1999 album “Still Life” a song so beloved of Mikael Akerfeldt that he named his daughter in honour of it - and the title track from 2001’s “Blackwater Park” have a mellow, seasoned sound to them. Opeth are, too, very much at ease in front of the live audience, and the often self-deprecating banter makes interesting inter-song listening. Recorded on the tour for 2005’s “Ghost Reveries”, this is an unforgettable snapshot of one of the scene’s most fascinating mavericks at the peak of their skills.

Gotthard - Lipservice

2007-09-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

4 Metal Recommends
These guys are a superb rock band. This album is filled with great songs from start to finish with absolutely no filler at all. The production is very big and the guitars sound cool. Great riffing from the guitarist. The highlight of the album is the amazing vocal lines and the brilliant delivery of them. The singer has nailed the power and the passion of the vocals and created some outstanding hooks. It really is a great album to listen to all the way through and really gets you rocking and fist pumping! Great driving music and highly recommended to fans of melodic rock like TNT (My religion) and Glenn Hughes

Vixen - Vixen

2007-09-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Formulated from the very glamorous elements that made hair metal in the '80s so decadently enjoyable, Vixen was the female equivalent of Warrant: rocking just hard enough so it was OK for macho hair metal dudes to enjoy and just soft enough so that they would be the darlings of the Dial MTV circuit. The formula paid off in spades, and the Richard Marx-penned lead single "Edge of a Broken Heart" blazed up the charts and usurped the throne from many of the macho hair metal dudes in all of their hair spray and make-up ridden glory.

Bloodsimple - Red Harvest

2007-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Red Harvest is the newest album by New York metalcore band bloodsimple. It was released on October 30, 2007. Will Hunt of the band Dark New Day played drums on this album. Frontman Tim Williams explained that the title of the album is based on the 1929 book of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. Some tracks are available to listen to on the band's myspace.

Queensryche - Take Cover

2007-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Take Cover is a Queensrÿche cover album, released on November 13, 2007. Its release was announced by the band on August 28. "We'll never top the originals; they're classics for a reason," singer Geoff Tate says. "We were more focused on finding different approaches that took the songs in unexpected directions."
He explains that the album gave the band a chance to have some fun. "During sound checks, guitarists Mike Stone and Michael Wilton like to play 'name that riff,' and sometimes the whole band joins in. That's really the way this album came together. We got together and started playing songs to each other, and then we picked our favorites."
Queensryche has only released a few covers, one of them being a powerful interpretation of "Scarborough Fair" in the early 1990s. Some of the 11 selections naturally fit the band's progressive rock influences, particularly Pink Floyd and "Innuendo" by Queen, one of Tate's favorite bands. Others will definitely raise eyebrows. The group is giving Broadway a spin by performing "Heaven on Their Minds" from "Jesus Christ Superstar," as well as the O'Jays' R&B classic "For the Love of Money," the operatic "Odissea" by Italian duo Carlo Marrale and Cheope and an acoustic version of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth."
Tate says he enjoyed the demanding arrangement of "Odissea." "I really like this song because there is a lot for a singer to sink his teeth into," he reports. "Plus I got a chance to sing in Italian, which was interesting, considering I don't speak a word of it."
He considered singing "Red Rain" and The Police's "Synchronicity II" opportunities to explore music he'd previously overlooked. "I'd heard these songs on the radio before, but I didn't really appreciate them before the guys suggested we record them," he admits. "It was a rewarding experience doing this album because it gave us all a chance to pay tribute to some of the bands that have meant so much to us over the years, and we all discovered new songs to love."

Tarja Turunen - My Winter Storm

2007-05-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of Nightwish's new album (charted at 25) comes former frontwoman Tarja Turunens debut album under her "Tarja" personna.Press coverage in Kerrang, Rocksound, Powerplay, Classic Rock with a dealer namecheck ad and with CD and poster giveaway for the Spinestores. Will be performing in London in December at the Electric Ballroom with more dates next year. Video is playlisted on Scuzz, MVN and Kerrang TV

Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood

2007-05-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Motley Crue's biggest seller, Dr. Feelgood is the best example of Beyond Music's CRUCIAL CRUE series reissue of the band's catalog. A meaty and in-your-face digitally remastered sound, with added extras of four demos and a hitherto-unreleased track, improve this title greatly. Superlative liner notes are also included.

Riding a string of platinum releases, Motley Crue here employed producer Bob Rock to help achieve the blockbuster sound that accompanied their glam metal image; the title track kicks in with a ferocity not heard since SHOUT AT THE DEVIL. Drummer Tommy Lee's shuffle propels "Kickstart My Heart," while singer Vince Neil wails to good effect on the radio-friendly "Without You." Crowd favorite "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" sensitively explores lesbianism, while the politically incorrect "She Goes Down" features guest vocals by Cheap Trick's Robin Zander. Although album closer "Time for Change" proposes a better future through social action, don't look for a deep message on Dr. Feelgood. This is perfect pop metal.

Darkthrone - Transylvanian Hunger

2007-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Transilvanian Hunger to represent Black Metal
This is a briliant Black Metal album. I would chose Transilvanian Hunger to represent the genre, however I think Skald Av Satans Sol is the best song by Darkthrone.
Submitted by Max (Paekakariki, New Zealand) Glorious
Top Black Metal band, top Black Metal album, 2nd favorite in the genre only to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. However number 1 when it comes to Black Metal bands.
Submitted by Thamuz (Canada)
a true black metal fan will enjoy this
this album sounds like burzum this is probably there most well worked album and my favorite ...actuall its tied with there first 2 realeases the 2nd track rocks and so doeas transylvanian hunger darkthrones first 3 releases are some of the best metal albuims evr they are the best black metal act sept maybe burzum might be btr but hey buy there first three albums!!!.. and let the freezing (or funeral) moon control you
Submitted by dead is the best bdm singer evR! (seattle,WA,usa)

Weezer - The Blue Album

2007-05-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

All songs written or co-written by members of Weezer.

There's a demented pop fanaticism to Weezer you gotta love. Weezer's debut, produced by former Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, combines Pixies roller-coaster guitar rides with a helping of Beatle-esque moptop harmonies. Ocasek's production and Weezer's strong material will bring a glimmer of recognition to the eyes of anyone who remembers the Cars' melodic pop hooks.

Weezer's songs are groovy garage sales you wish happened every weekend. Songs like "The World Turned And Left Me Here" and "Surf Wax America" betray the heart of a kid who would rather skateboard to work every day than face up to the responsibility of buying a car.

Rivers Cuomo's wit and songwriting chops are evident in "In The Garage," where he sums up his generation's fascination with kitsch pop culture. Cuomo readily makes fun of Kiss posters and his own "stupid words" and "stupid songs," but later, in "Say It Ain't So," his self-mocking seems more like self-protection. After a decade of divorced parents, Cuomo comes to terms with a childhood he didn't want to give up. "Dear Daddy I write you in spite of years of silence," he admits, begging him to "Say It Ain't So."

WEEZER breathes life into the bloated corpse of guitar rock. If they'd only stay little till their pop records wore out, maybe more bands would be as enjoyable as Weezer.

Led Zeppelin - Mothership

2007-05-01T10:19:00.001-07:00

Led Zeppelin redefined rock in the Seventies and for all time. They were as influential in that decade as the Beatles were in the prior one. Their impact extends to classic and alternative rockers alike. Then and now, Led Zeppelin looms larger than life on the rock landscape as a band for the ages with an almost mystical power to evoke primal passions.

- from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's web page on the band's 1995 induction: It's rare that a group can truly rock today s world, but the arrival of Mothership, the first-ever comprehensive 2CD Led Zeppelin compilation with the soon to follow re-release
of The Song Remains The Same on CD & DVD and a concert event reuniting Jimmy Page,
Robert Plant and John Paul Jones qualifies. Produced by Page and mixed by Kevin Shirley,
Mothership's 24 monolithic tracks were selected and sequenced by the band, who also
oversaw the painstaking remastering. Spanning their epic career, the unprecedented
collection pulls immortal songs from all eight of the band s classic studio albums,
one of the 20th century s most enduring bodies of musical work. Arguably the most influential
and innovative rock band ever, Led Zeppelin has sold over 200 million records worldwide.
They continue to inspire successive generations with their passionate, groundbreaking,
genre-transcendent, mystic, heavy and blues-infused rock n roll. Forty years since they formed,
the song indeed remains the same.

Fuel - Angels & Devils

2007-05-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Nearly four years after 2003's Natural Selection, Fuel finally returned with its follow-up, Angels & Devils. In the interim, the Pennsylvania-based rock band endured the departure of vocalist Brett Scallions and drummer Kevin Miller, along with a failed attempt to recruit popular American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry. This '07 outing finds Fuel revitalized, thanks largely to the presence of new singer Toryn Green, who tones down the neo-grunge drama in favor of a slightly subtler approach (see the mid-tempo anthem "Wasted Time"). While not a radical departure for the neo-grunge act, ANGELS does mark a significant new chapter for Fuel, and proves that it can soldier on, despite major setbacks.

Amoral - Reptile Ride

2007-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Usually the press materials accompanying a review copy of a CD are filled with hype and wishful comparisons to successful bands. But in the case of the Finnish band Amoral, the description of their music is actually pretty accurate. They call it "progressive, technical and melodic death thrashing metal."
Reptile Ride is heavy and dense, packed with riffs and very catchy melodies. Amoral takes that melodic death style and infuses a lot of progressive elements, including long instrumental breaks and tempo shifts. Guitarists Ben Varon and Silver Ots do a nice job creating powerful riffs and interesting solos. Their abilities are especially showcased on the instrumental "Apolcalyptic Sci-Fi Fun."
Delving into the progressive always brings the risk of self-indulgence and wankery, but Amoral avoid that pitfall and their forays into that area are interesting and for the most part, enjoyable.

Rob Zombie - Zombie Live

2007-05-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

The long-awaited first live album from Rob Zombie has arrived. A brain-bashing, soul-shaking sonic earthquake, Zombie Live (Geffen Records/UMe), released October 23, 2007, in both clean and explicit versions, spans songs from the hard rocker's entire career. Rob Zombie has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and continues to be one of Geffen Record's top selling artists. Recorded in 2006 during the tour supporting the Educated Horses album, which hit #5 on the Pop chart, Zombie Live finds Zombie leading a supercharged band featuring guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D, drummer Tommy Clufetos and was produced by long-time co-writer and producer Scott Humphrey.

Upcoming songs
Carrie Underwood - Ever Ever After Lyrics
Lenny Kravitz - Bring It On Lyrics
Leona Lewis - Homeless Lyrics
Jay-Z - Sweet Lyrics
Bow Wow - Slam Lyrics
Simple Plan - When I'm Gone Lyrics

Avenged Sevenfold - Avenged Sevenfold

2007-02-01T10:11:00.001-08:00

Coming off a Best New Artist Award at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, the members of Avenged Sevenfold returned to the studio, ambitious to create an exciting follow-up to City of Evil -- perhaps overly so, as their self-titled release focuses entirely too hard on pushing the songs into non-metal territory. Their signature, blistering Yngwie Malmsteen guitar arpeggios and lightning fast double-kick drums are still evident, but the overall heavy metal thunder is diluted by their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach. Left alone in the studio to record the album on their own, AS show their unbridled enthusiasm to be as inventive as possible as they run through a staggering amount of production enhancements: four songs have string arrangements; violinists, pianists, and vocalists make guest appearances here and there; "A Little Piece of Heaven" is a strange Mr. Bungle type number with sax, clarinet, trombone, and trumpet, and "Unbound (The Wild Ride)" throws in the most un-metal addition of all -- a children's choir. Some of these enhancements help take the songs to the next level but most detract, and give the sensation of inappropriately mashed-up styles, like listening to a Dream Theater album on a boom box while a nearby clock radio plays Charlie FM. Vocalist M. Shadows, who required surgery on his vocal cords after Waking the Fallen shows that his training with Ron Anderson (vocal coach for Layne Staley, Axl Rose, and Chris Cornell) has been for the greater good. Rather than screaming or doing the metal growl, he sings in a few gritty voices, showing an obvious Mike Patton influence, and actually sounds pitch-perfect. His skills, and the entire band's technical ferocity, is flawless as ever, but just gets lost in a cluttered vision. Perhaps the worst culprit of their excessive studio trickery is when a Cher-esque "Believe" pitch corrector/vocoder is introduced to the chorus of "Lost," essentially stomping out a fiery '80s speed-metal jam into lukewarm embers of passé electro. While their willingness to experiment is admirable, despite the fact that they've gone overboard with their overdubs, the overabundance of studio polish leaves one to wonder if it's not because the songs just aren't as strong this time around.

Metallica - Live In Athens 2007

2007-02-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

After the inevitable waiting about for the guys to arrive we were taken backstage and lined up ready to meet the band we have been following for many years. One by one they emerged. Rob was first, he seemed in good form, very happy to pose for a few snaps and see how we all were. Next up was Kirk, again he seemed his usual calm self making general chit chat and posing for photo's. To be honest, it took up until now for me to relax a little and prepare some questions for James & Lars. Big Jim strolled round next, he was quite shocked as I was English! I think he was expecting a 100% Greek M&G! We debated about the possibility of playing Breadfan or even changing the opening song, I got a generic "We'll put it in the suggestion box" reply but he genuinely came across as a nice bloke. Was I star struck... just a tad. After about 5 hours (slightly exaggerated) or so, Lars made it out, he too was shocked to be speaking to an Englishman in Athens! We spoke for some time about the set and the possibility of No Leaf Clover making a return. He was well up for it!!! Shame it didn't get an airing til Sunday at Wembley, maybe I planted the Clover seed!?! Lars was amazing though. He genuinely seemed to enjoy speaking to the fans and didn't seem just to go through the motions of "sign, picture & move on". Considering it was well under an hour before show time, he seemed happy to take his time and make sure all the M&G winners got to have a chat.

The Cult - Ceremony

2007-01-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

year 1991 review:After the impressive, if inconsistent, Sonic Temple I was eagerly anticipating Ceremony, as The Cult were proving one of the last great hopes for the survival of rock music as it was then known. But, if Sonic Temple contained songs which were more hit than miss, then Ceremony completely reversed that trend. During the process of writing Ceremony The Cult had disintegrated into just Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy with Charley Drayton and Mickey Curry being drafted into the band for the recordings. But, such was the disillusionment of lead singer Astbury and the drug abuse problems which were ripping the band apart, he immediately announced that the next Cult album would diverge in a completely different musical direction.

I'm sure there's some form of message running through the album but it's certainly difficult to understand. It has something to do with fear that environmental damage is bleeding the planet dry and that the only way to redress the balance is to return to the American Indian ceremonials of worshipping the land. This is strange enough but mixed in are songs about sex ("Bangkok Rain"), alcohol abuse ("Heart Of Soul") and allusions, I think, to drugs ("White"). Maybe Astbury sees all these as evidence of damnation. Whatever, Ceremony is good but also too clever for its own good. review source

Slipknot - Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses

2007-01-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

Recording information: The Mansion At Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California; Akadamie Mathematique, Los Angeles, California; Sound City, Los Angeles, California. Far removed from their rap-metal roots, these masked men of extreme metal show no signs of relenting with VOL. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). For this brutal chapter of the Slipknot story, the jagged sound of fierce heaviness and moody melodicism is executed deftly, as Slipknot ducks crossover cliches and nu-metal formula. Esteemed studio guru Rick Rubin captures the group's raw intensity with sonic reverence, a feat not easily achieved with bands of this style. VOL. 3 delivers all the elements that Slipknot fans have come to expect and demand. From solid, catchy choruses ("Duality") to fearsome blasts of noise and percussive gymnastics ("Three Nil," "Welcome"), and borderline balladry ("Vermilion Pt. 2"), unsettling emotions and images are vividly depicted for the listener by this notorious Iowan ensemble.