Musical Ramblings: Top metal
Seeing how this is a countdown/top 10 issue and I don't have my picks for top 10 music releases of the year ready yet (never until mid January), I decided to countdown six bands that you should be listening to. Some of these bands may not be around anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't get their tunes. This is in no particular order (sorry, people) and I'd list even more (like favourites Ween and Type O Negative), but I don't have the room.
Saigon Kick
This early ‘90s band featured Matt Kramer on their breakout album The Lizard but guitarist/ songwriter Jason Bieler stepped in on vocals for all the latter releases. The band blended hard rock with amazing harmonies and produced some really hypnotic tunes. Check out the albums The Lizard and The Devil in Details.
Katatonia
This Swedish metal band started off experimenting in the dark realms of death metal but have now come to be a pretty cool hard rock band. For those who don't like “cookie monster” death metal vocals, you'll be happy to know that most of the band's releases (including and after Discouraged Ones) do not have any! All clean vocals here! Listen to “Viva Emptiness” for pure Katatonia goodness.
Entombed
Yes, the band got labeled “death and roll” after their Same Difference album dropped, but that doesn't mean that the band started off strong and have also redeemed themselves in the past few years. If you want throat ripping death metal, listen to their debut, Left Hand Path, but if you want something more accessible but still amazingly heavy, pick up their groundbreaking Wolverine Blues.
Life of Agony
Here's one band that never got the success they deserved. Starting off with more of a metal meets New York Hardcore edge and then slowly getting more melodic with their other releases; this band never seemed to do no wrong. Most of their CDs can be listened to front to back. My pick for their best is their second album, Ugly.
Napalm Death
This band has been around forever and don't even have the original members (and haven't for many years). The band started off as a VERY raw grindcore band (think about a scarier version of Pig Destroyer) but then started venturing into the realms of death metal. It's hard to pinpoint the best era of the band, seeing how they've played around with most genres of metal, so I'd say pick up Diatribes for an accessible album and head to previous albums if you want frantic grindcore and more forward for groovin' death metal.
Porcupine Tree
This band is huge overseas and their CDs/rare releases go for hundreds on eBay. Mastermind Steve Wilson brings ambient (prog) rock to his hard rock fans but also beautifully arranged melodic numbers for those who prefer to “mellow out.” My first exposure to the band came with their amazing Fear of a Blank Planet disc.
Saigon Kick
This early ‘90s band featured Matt Kramer on their breakout album The Lizard but guitarist/ songwriter Jason Bieler stepped in on vocals for all the latter releases. The band blended hard rock with amazing harmonies and produced some really hypnotic tunes. Check out the albums The Lizard and The Devil in Details.
Katatonia
This Swedish metal band started off experimenting in the dark realms of death metal but have now come to be a pretty cool hard rock band. For those who don't like “cookie monster” death metal vocals, you'll be happy to know that most of the band's releases (including and after Discouraged Ones) do not have any! All clean vocals here! Listen to “Viva Emptiness” for pure Katatonia goodness.
Entombed
Yes, the band got labeled “death and roll” after their Same Difference album dropped, but that doesn't mean that the band started off strong and have also redeemed themselves in the past few years. If you want throat ripping death metal, listen to their debut, Left Hand Path, but if you want something more accessible but still amazingly heavy, pick up their groundbreaking Wolverine Blues.
Life of Agony
Here's one band that never got the success they deserved. Starting off with more of a metal meets New York Hardcore edge and then slowly getting more melodic with their other releases; this band never seemed to do no wrong. Most of their CDs can be listened to front to back. My pick for their best is their second album, Ugly.
Napalm Death
This band has been around forever and don't even have the original members (and haven't for many years). The band started off as a VERY raw grindcore band (think about a scarier version of Pig Destroyer) but then started venturing into the realms of death metal. It's hard to pinpoint the best era of the band, seeing how they've played around with most genres of metal, so I'd say pick up Diatribes for an accessible album and head to previous albums if you want frantic grindcore and more forward for groovin' death metal.
Porcupine Tree
This band is huge overseas and their CDs/rare releases go for hundreds on eBay. Mastermind Steve Wilson brings ambient (prog) rock to his hard rock fans but also beautifully arranged melodic numbers for those who prefer to “mellow out.” My first exposure to the band came with their amazing Fear of a Blank Planet disc.
