The album review thread.

i will be posting a review of Primordials 'redemtion at the puritan's hand' soon,just got it and with one listen it's already another winner-so far it's not drastically different,except for a rougher mix,a bit over modulated(i hope on purpose)and simon's playing more double bass than the past few albums-blast beats as well.i like how their albums are becomeing loosely thematic.

Good review Mats. Haven't listened to them in a while, I will have to check it out.

Septicflesh - The Great Mass(April, 2011)
--Damn good album, death vocals over some brutal brass led orchestrations. Seems a little more experimental than 'Communion,' but that figures since it has been about 3 years since then. Vocals are brutal, drums are some of the best for those who appreciate the tech/death players, guitars are tasteful without being overly flashy, and the orchestrations are very epic. Lovecraft's Death is still my favorite song of theirs though.

Good review Mats. Haven't listened to them in a while, I will have to check it out.

Septicflesh - The Great Mass(April, 2011)
--Damn good album, death vocals over some brutal brass led orchestrations. Seems a little more experimental than 'Communion,' but that figures since it has been about 3 years since then. Vocals are brutal, drums are some of the best for those who appreciate the tech/death players, guitars are tasteful without being overly flashy, and the orchestrations are very epic. Lovecraft's Death is still my favorite song of theirs though.

The Great Mass is amazing, must has listened to it 20 times already.

Dunno about your german skills; might be a nostalgic thing as well (even tho most people I know that didn't know it before do like it). Congrats on finding it, tho!

My German skills are pretty bad! I know a lot of cursewords and compliments, though. GEIL TITTEN! DURCHFALL! (pound fist on knees for effect)

Can't say I'm fond of German non metal music, I'm afraid. I find some absolutely boss songs ever now and then, such as the tracks on the "Das Leben der Anderen" soundtrack. Frank Schöbel - Wie Ein Stern, Karat - Albatros and Silly - Tausend Augen.

I've been listening to Moonsorrow's "Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa" ad absurdum this summer. It took me a few listens to really wrap my head around it but it truly is an astounding piece of work.

Classical inspiration comes through in the structure of the work. I am reminded of certain Sibelius compositions, marked by slowly-unfolding passages that are distinguished by subtle yet significant changes. The interludes between songs replace the traditional silence between movements in a classical composition.

The subtlety and thematic continuity is really what draws me in to this album. The opening riff serves as the foundation for the album, with variations on it incorporated throughout each song. Yet each song is unique and distinct from the others despite the common structural elements -- nuance that is a sign of true master craftsmanship.

And frankly, the outro of the final track is one of the best in metal. The crushing, devastating riff gives way to screeching guitar feedback that all slowly decays until nothing of mankind remains. It conjures the image of the last man, collapsed in despair by the shore, gazing into the open air as his last breath is drawn from it. Beautiful stuff.

I hesitate to call it my favorite Moonsorrow album, but it is arguably the most advanced.

I still need to listen to the new Moonsorrow album, and after this review I certainly will!

I really want to listen to that Moonsorrow album, but they don't have it on Spotify yet. I guess I could always go on Youtube.

I picked up a CD that I've really been wanting to hear, which is Shadow- "Forever Chaos". It came out in 2008, so it's not anything new, but it seems not many people have heard of them, and they're on Spinefarm. They're a melodic death metal band from Japan, with a female vocalist. She sounds a bit like Angela Gossow. There's some really amazing guitar riffs in the songs.

Laibach - Neu Konservatiw

It's a live album from their experimental period, Neu Konservatiw is the name of the festival where the songs were recorded during the Occupied Europe Tour in 1985. That was a very good year for Laibach, they were recording pretty awesome stuff and Milan Fras wasn't wearing his funny hat in that times.
The album cover is a nice drawing showing a deer. It reminds me of Amalaith's avatar.
They recorded five songs from Nova akropola and one from Rekapitulacija 1980-84. They sound much more brutal than the original ones thanks to using drums and bass guitar instead of electronics. The music is raw, monotonous and very much energetic. It's also quite sinister so you can easily take notice of Laibach's philosophy which says that music should not calm down people, it should rather terrify them.
It's not a party album, it's the best when it's listened to alone, with some booze perhaps. Well, strong booze.
Amazing record, my only problem is that my favourite song Krvava gruda - plodna zemlja is not on the album.

Iced Earth - Dystopia

After years of ups and downs, in my opinion, Iced Earth is back with a passion on this one. Stu's vocals are very impressive. Though I am a huge Barlow fan, Stu is a much better replacement than Ripper. The album is pretty traditional Iced Earth Dark Saga/Something Wicked days. There is also a return to the Something Wicked story line. If you liked Iced Earth in the past, check this album out.

can't get past the politics of the main guy.Album sounds like it's about how obama ruined everything.