Rolling Metal Thread 2015

some albums appear to be free to prime members

wish this was in the UK

lol the goo goo dolls "hold me up" is in thrash & speed metal

Weren't they on Metal Blade once?

yeah for a while iirc. and sued them

I think it says "invocation to doom", so "provocation" is still up for grabs.

Doom without malice aforethought?

fuck that's a great shirt

http://kognitivtod.bandcamp.com/album/howls-from-the-void

I have no idea what the hell I'm listening to. The artist labels it "experimental black metal." To me it sounds like early Ween. Well, Ween when they let their goofiness slip and became cartoon prog wizards.

Of course the icing is that as I'm sitting here tranced out to the moons of Saturn my eyes focus for a moment on the little part of the bio that says the music was "conceived while reading [among others listed] Thomas Ligotti," my favorite living author and the philosopher on which much of True Detective's anti-natalist themes were based. True Detective, also of course, is the show I've only just begun watching this week. This music is not what I consider dark, however. I ... uh, I dunno. I feel an obsessive phase looming.

WEIRD.

For completion's sake, he also lists Laird Barron as a literary influence on his music, and while Barron was claimed by the writer behind True Detective to be the primary inspiration for the Rusty Cohle character's uh, impenetrably morose worldview, no one who listens to that dialogue can think it was anyone other than Ligotti -- but this is an academic argument I would need to have elsewhere.

This musical entity put out on album in January and three last year.

Sounds like rock with black metal vocals, maybe like a demetalled "Imaginary Sonicscape" era Sigh. I am looking at the dude's picture and imagining him demanding his friends call him Kognitiv Todd, though.

http://i.imgur.com/t6TzeqI.jpg

Now that I've briefly reread some of the True Detective influences saga, I'm reminded that Laird Barron was only one of several lit inspirations the writer reeled off. It was a little more complicated than I stated.

Also also the character was Rustin not Rusty. Heh.

Well this has all been rather mindfucky. Off to sleep with me.

.....never heard of ligotti before... according to wikipedia:

Ligotti collaborated with the musical group Current 93 on the albums In a Foreign Town, In a Foreign Land (1997, reissued 2002), I Have a Special Plan for This World (2000), This Degenerate Little Town (2001) and The Unholy City (2003), all released on David Tibet's Durtro label. Tibet has also published several limited editions of Ligotti's books on Durtro Press. Additionally, Ligotti played guitar on Current 93's contribution to the compilation album Foxtrot, whose proceeds went to the treatment of musician John Balance's alcoholism.[8]

........

Ligotti's an odd one. He's sort of a living Lovecraft protagonist post-insanity-inducing revelation -- only instead of mania or dementia it's nothing but definitive depression. I have a hard time recommending him because if you're of a certain mindset his work can create a rather unpleasant sediment in the bottom of your psyche which doesn't seem to go away. I've had his latest book sitting on my nightstand for months but haven't yet gathered the momentum to charge into it -- and it's like less than a hundred pages long. And again, he's my favorite writer. Can't say I have a relationship like that with any other.

The least controversial way to sum him up is as a modern Lovecraft, I guess. A lot of Nabokov, Cioran, even Borges in there, too. But below it all, Ligotti is less about the writing, as amazing and effective as it is, and more about nihilist philosophy.

And his collaborations with C93 have been interesting. Usually it's just writing or reciting his own stuff for Tibet's crazy music. He did have a series of songs that he played guitar and "sang" on (spoke, really) but they didn't do much for me. I think those were The Unholy City listed in the wiki.

I'm kind of glad metal musicians haven't tried too often to translate Ligotti into their genre of music, to be honest (unlike Lovecraft, who works well in the context). There was a two-volume graphic novelization of some of his stories and it was a disaster. I never even picked up the second one. Some things are better left intangible or at least subjective.

So, uh, yeah. Music. Continuing the I, Voidhanger love from last year's thread, here is the very weird Malhkebre. The music, if a little busy, is pretty standard second wave bm. The vocals ... aren't.

Which Ligotti books would you recommend?

Personally I think his first three collections are his best: Grimscribe, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, and Noctuary. Even they can feel a little archaic, even Victorian, though. His later stuff feels much more modern: My Work Is Not Yet Done and the later stories in Teatro Grottesco aren't as purple prosed and the former even takes the guise of a workplace massacre revenge story. Sort of. All of his stuff is "sort of."

His lone actual philosophical work is The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. I would ... avoid that one, unless you find yourself falling in love with his worldview. At that point, there's no turning back.

My only complaint about Ligotti is that edited some of his stories from the first three collections before they went to Kindle and reprint. He seems to think he's making them better but in some cases he's removing some of the more memorable moments. It's a strange tic of his, I guess.

oh and his interviews are always a blast.
http://www.amazon.com/Born-Fear-Interviews-Thomas-Ligotti/dp/1596066210

They're collected there but I'm pretty sure (and hoping) they're still widely available across the internet.

"my only complaint is that he* edited" his stories, should have said

I received a $5 Best Buy certificate so I looked at the website to find a cheap CD I could get. I did some searching and found this CD that comes out next week by a band Witchrider:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVPepMmmfw

It's now my favorite album of 2015 (it's early) and you might like it if you like the first three Queens Of The Stoneage albums.

Here's one I am looking forward to, a new A Forest of Stars album.

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/bc095d7581180521ee87967a5/images/a4c53e33-4db9-41ef-b8dd-9ed33eca3004.jpg

It comes out at the end of February.

Wow that cover.

damn that witchrider album is right up my alley

man that is one dumb snake

Yeah, Witchrider are a great Austrian band, Truckfighters released it on their Fuzzorama label in November!

https://fuzzoramarecords1.bandcamp.com/album/witchrider-unmountable-stairs

I though A Forest of Stars had split up! Their last album wasn't so great but that cover's amazing.

Also this came out late last year

http://sonance.bandcamp.com/album/blackflower

Kind of straddles the line between doom and post-metal. That particular genre was pretty much played out a decade ago but these guys are compellingly grim

The new Triosphere album is out! The year is totally underway. http://open.spotify.com/album/0PRu59gkd2Lyi8sybScuec

There's a new Monolord track streaming at Riding Easy and I think I like it even more than their debut album.

http://ridingeasyrecords.com/monolord-vaenir-first-song-artwork-leaked/

Prong is putting out a covers album March 31. The last two Prong albums have been pretty good, but I don't know how excited I am about this. Here's the track listing:

1. Doomsday (DISCHARGE)
2. Vision Thing (SISTERS OF MERCY)
3. Goofy's Concern (BUTTHOLE SURFERS)
4. Kids Of The Black Hole (ADOLESCENTS)
5. The Bars (BLACK FLAG)
6. Seeing Red (KILLING JOKE)
7. Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely (HÜSKER DÜ)
8. Give Me The Cure (FUGAZI)
9. Banned in DC (BAD BRAINS)
10. Cortez The Killer (NEIL YOUNG)

I don't know what you're talking about, cover albums by bands past their prime are always great.

The Scorpions one a few years back was fun.

I just realized tonight how much I've been underrating Napalm Death's Time Waits for No Slave. (I'm ranking their whole catalog for Stereogum.) Holy shit, what a sharp, creative (but still totally skull-cracking) record.

UFOMAMMUT Reveals Details Of Seventh Album, Ecate, Due In March Via Neurot Recordings; First Audio/Video Trailer Released

Ecate is the title worthy of deities and of UFOMAMMUT's seventh studio full-length, which has been confirmed for North American release late this March worldwide via Neurot Recordings.

On their latest album, UFOMAMMUT takes a confident step forward with their craft, orchestrating atmospheric processions that take the six songs on the album to places as-of-yet uncharted, the only guide being that of Ecate (Hecate in English), the three-sided goddess who moves between the realms of the living, the dead, and the gods. Traditionally associated with matters of the liminal, as statues of her can be found at crossroads and city walls, where she would be believed to either bless or curse travelers, she represents the link between the past, the present and the future in a way which resonates true with UFOMAMMUT, and with the name of the band, too.

Ecate will see release in Germany on March 27th, in Europe on March 30th and in the US on March 31st. The first in a series of video trailers for the album, which will be continually released over the coming weeks, has today been revealed. These short videos offer a chance to explore the story behind the recording of the album and the roots of their sound, re-affirming the band's DIY approach to everything they do. View the first installment RIGHT HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVO6Xx9EyLA

Ecate Track Listing:
1. Somnium
2. Plouton
3. Chaosecret
4. Temple
5. Revelation
6. Daemon

ENSIFERUM: Finnish Folk Metal Forbearers Unleash New Video; One Man Army Full-Length To See Release Next Month

One Man Army is the sixth studio album from Finnish folk metal forbearers, ENSIFERUM. Set to drop next month via Metal Blade Records, the predominantly analog-recorded offering was captured by award-winning producer Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene, Entwine etc.) at Astia-Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland and delivers eleven punishingly epic odes alongside a four-track bonus CD featuring the band's rendition of Barathrum's "Warmetal," Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild," Uriah Heep's "Lady In Black," and Judas Priest's "Breaking The Law," initially unveiled as the covermount CD of issue #94 of Germany's long-running Legacy Magazine.

In anticipation of the forthcoming release, today ENSIFERUM unveils the official new video for One Man Army's title track as well as an in-depth "making of" clip that brings fans deep into the heart of the filming session. Take a looksee at: http://www.metalblade.com/ensiferum.

ENSIFERUM's One Man Army will be released via Metal Blade Records on February 24th, 2015.

Samael apparently is going to do a one of those "we play our best album in order" European tour. Great news of course, but as Ceremony Of Opposites is only thirty minutes long, I'd hope there'll be some bonus tracks.

More good gothic metal of the relatively lower-gloss-than-energy variety:

Elessär: Dark Desires - http://open.spotify.com/album/1VmUkdZwx7ZFEARuPn1P7O
Bare Infinity: Race of Destiny - http://open.spotify.com/album/4nV0XYhfBIYucZ7uVkw1Ie
Onyx Eyes: Dó - http://open.spotify.com/album/7rCGW1c752CokNDAtgWwF1

New Archgoat - The Apocalyptic Triumphator up for to listen on Soundcloud. Fucking great.

Those dudes are old enough to have kids in college and shit, right? How are they still recording such great blackened death metal?

The answer is Finland, isn't it.

https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/earth-i

Darkspace gone terraforming! (Some people are suggesting it may literally be Darkspace. I dunno. Their bio says Italy. Definitely sounds like Darkspace, and it's three guys, one of whom is on "programming.")

Came out late last year.

If you like your metal weird and borderline and apt to veer off into jazz-pop or polka-disco with no warning, you might also at least want to sample the new 6:33 album Deadly Scenes. http://open.spotify.com/album/5cSxE267WHScEwgIwYF4bN

Digging this Earth & Pillars album, tho I'm in no rush to peg them as secret Darkspace. Aside from the programmed drums and general ballpark, similarities are mostly extra-musical. The sound is warmer & blurrier (& more generic?) than anything DS have ever done, also much less focused on crushing riffs.

Watch me eat these words a couple months down the road...

any rumors of a gilead media fest '15?

If there is another one it won't be until Fall of 2016. It takes too much out of him to run it each year.

is he hiring an assistant

jk

At the last one his parents worked the door. :)

And oh, man, this instrumental progressive-djent album (with ambient interludes) Spherical, from Omni Dimensional.

Love slow, grinding sounds, but don't know where to find them?

http://open.spotify.com/user/glennpmcdonald/playlist/6G59WjpkvVcYGTa8mKI92i

Has anyone here heard of Scythian, a UK death/thrash band? Sorry, did I say band, I meant fucking insatiable time-and-space-devouring langolier. I kept seeing their name on metal-archives -- anticipation of an album this year, praise for previous work -- finally checked them on YT, and uh wow. They're like Destroyer 666 if you injected them with, like, Angel Corpse or Defleshed. Ripping when fast, somber but sort of menacing when slow, songs lacking moments of boredom. Kind of reminds me how Sons of Northern Darkness took a little from this and that genre but had enough purity of personality to make all the distinctions meaningless. I am on board with these guys.

Previous album: http://youtu.be/6mVRPaFJzIw

Preview of thing coming this year: http://youtu.be/id-zju9YfLw

Dunno if they just picked every most amazing and epic moment from the new one but jesus. Sounds a little more epic and blackened than their other album, too. And that artwork.

I swear one day I'll employ references beyond late 90s/early 00s.

Rolling Metal 2016