Musical Ramblings: Metal picks
I'm going to attack in two brief reviews two amazing discs that came out during the summertime. Let's do this!
Cryptospy
The Unspoken King
Montreal's Cryptopsy were feeling the hate way before this disc was released. First, original (and reimerging for the last album) vocalist, Lord Worm, got the boot again. Then the band added a keyboardist to the line up and for the recording of the album (who ended up leaving just before the was released). To put the final nail in the coffin, the band placed some of their tracks on their Myspace site and the hate really started pouring in.
Why you ask? Well, it's because Cryptosy has been known for years as one of the most brilliant technical metal bands out there and with this release, their songs are more structured, featuring more contemporay arrangements and have some elements of some groove/nu metal riffing styles. Let's also add that the new vocalist, Matt McGatchy, has some clean vocals and not just gutteral death stylings.
Am I one of the haters? Hell, no! I really like this disc. Some of their tunes are even more memorable and I like the diversity within the songs and on the album as a whole. The disc still features some of the most amazingly technical and mind boggling fast drumming from band lead, Flo Monier. I don't think you'll find fast double bass/blast beat action on a metal album this year.
I say, go into this with an open mind and let Cryptopsy experiment for once in their career. The haters are louder than the pleased fans (like usual) and I say ignore them. The new Cryptopsy is one of the better discs this year.
Aborted
Strychnine.213
I have to say right off the bat that this is probably Aborted's most accessible album yet. When the band first started, they were really considered nothing more than Carcass clones (not that there's anything wrong with bringing more Carcass style music to the metal world like Exhumed does) but over their last two releases and this one especially, the band has found their own niche.
The band blends death metal, grind and metalcore into one pacakge. I only mention metalcore because the band does feature more of a groove/breakdown element in some of their songs now, which has many long time fans crying foul. I think it's a great thing and makes their songs stand out even more. There aren't any metalcore style vocals to be found here, though. A great track to sample would be “Pestiferous Subterfuge.”
If you like your metal with more of a hook but still brutal, this is the CD for you. If you like more grind-style production style and songwriting, start out with the band's release, “Goremageddon.”
Cryptospy
The Unspoken King
Montreal's Cryptopsy were feeling the hate way before this disc was released. First, original (and reimerging for the last album) vocalist, Lord Worm, got the boot again. Then the band added a keyboardist to the line up and for the recording of the album (who ended up leaving just before the was released). To put the final nail in the coffin, the band placed some of their tracks on their Myspace site and the hate really started pouring in.
Why you ask? Well, it's because Cryptosy has been known for years as one of the most brilliant technical metal bands out there and with this release, their songs are more structured, featuring more contemporay arrangements and have some elements of some groove/nu metal riffing styles. Let's also add that the new vocalist, Matt McGatchy, has some clean vocals and not just gutteral death stylings.
Am I one of the haters? Hell, no! I really like this disc. Some of their tunes are even more memorable and I like the diversity within the songs and on the album as a whole. The disc still features some of the most amazingly technical and mind boggling fast drumming from band lead, Flo Monier. I don't think you'll find fast double bass/blast beat action on a metal album this year.
I say, go into this with an open mind and let Cryptopsy experiment for once in their career. The haters are louder than the pleased fans (like usual) and I say ignore them. The new Cryptopsy is one of the better discs this year.
Aborted
Strychnine.213
I have to say right off the bat that this is probably Aborted's most accessible album yet. When the band first started, they were really considered nothing more than Carcass clones (not that there's anything wrong with bringing more Carcass style music to the metal world like Exhumed does) but over their last two releases and this one especially, the band has found their own niche.
The band blends death metal, grind and metalcore into one pacakge. I only mention metalcore because the band does feature more of a groove/breakdown element in some of their songs now, which has many long time fans crying foul. I think it's a great thing and makes their songs stand out even more. There aren't any metalcore style vocals to be found here, though. A great track to sample would be “Pestiferous Subterfuge.”
If you like your metal with more of a hook but still brutal, this is the CD for you. If you like more grind-style production style and songwriting, start out with the band's release, “Goremageddon.”
