Megadeth: Countdown To Extinction

"Hello Me, Meet the Real me", if you haven't heard this at some point in your life, i'm glad you're here and you HAVE to read this. So I figured it was time to do a Megadeth album review, (and I promise to try and stay un-baised but it will be extremely difficult) so I figured why not review an albums that's celebrating it's 20th Anniversary this year? That's right, 1992 marked the release of Megadeth's most successful and critically acclaimed albums ever recorded, spawning multiple Metal classics. The band is also playing the album in it's entirety on their 20th anniversary tour, which I was lucky enough to see, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. So let's dig in!

The album starts of with Nick Menza ripping away at the drums and one of the most satisfying riffs on the album, so much awesome in so little time in the first 20 seconds of "Skin O' My Teeth". The song is a staple in the Mega-setlist for a reason, catchy chorus and a vicious solo. Then we get "Symphony of Destruction", arguably one of Megadeth's greatest songs, and known by virtually every person on the planet who isn't a 14 year old girl. Haunting Symphonic intro. Check. Badass yet simple riff. Check. Gritty Mustaine vocals. Check. Most easily recognized metal chorus in the history of history? Check. This song will have you "Just like the Pied Piper" Pipering all the way home. Up next is one of my favorites of the Mega-Catalog, and vastly underrated "Architecture of Aggression". The intro of bullets shooting rivals that of Metallica's one, but this song gets right to the heavy with yet another terrifying riff and Mustaine's vocals spreading a deadly mist into your ears, producing a great song. I should also add, even if you don't agree with what Mustaine sings about in these songs, or don't really like the music, the lyrics on this album are damn near genius if not perfect. Reading some of these I think "how the hell" or "this is genius" and sync them up with a badass riff and you have a Megadeth song. "Foreclosure of a Dream", lyrics written by Bassist David Ellefson due to his parents being effected by the government's stupidity under George Bush Sr., this song is a trademark Mega-tune. "Sweating Bullets" is also on the level of Symphony of Destruction, one of the most Iconic songs in Metal and brilliant lyrics along with Mustaine's fierce (and to some ugly) voice ringing in your ears as he goes insane into the mic. The title track "Countdown to Extinction" is a vastly underrated Metal achievement, winning the Humane Society's Genesis Award, and is a grizzly tale to listen to. Skip to track 10, and you hit Captive Honour. This will take a few listens to sink into and really start to love, but when you start really hearing it "When you kill a man, you're a murderer, kill many, and you're a conqueror, kill them all.... you're a god!" You realize how much of a masterpiece it is and will be in your playlists for many days to come. The album comes to a close with "Ashes In Your Mouth", arguably the heaviest track on the album and ends with an intense drum solo from Menza, a great ending to a superb album. 

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

Megadeth's treck into the world of Mainstream music was extremely successful with "Countdown To Extinction", and to this day stands as one of the best Metal albums ever put on a record. If "Symphony of Destruction" doesn't pull you in and make you love it then "Sweating Bullets" sure is, and somehow if you're brain doesn't connect with these masterpieces then i'm sure you'll find comfort in the other 9 tracks, as they are excellent addition to the Megadeth catalog. 

9.8/10

SoundGarden: King Animal

16 years. 16 Years! and we finally have a new Soundgarden album. Now i've always considered myself a fan of this band, although I don't know their entire discography/every song, but Rusty Cage, Spoonman, and Fell On Black Days have always kept Soundgarden strong in my heart, so I was pretty interested to hear what this album sounded like. Well, it sounds like Soundgarden!

   The opening track "Been Away Too Long" is a really fun and upbeat opener, a catchy riff and Chris's vocals suck you in as he sings about how he hasn't been to Seattle in forever (or at least it feels it to him) and when he went back he fell out of place, and he never really wanted to go back, but in a fun way. "Non State Actor" is a heavier outing from the band on this album, and Chris has some "screams" if you'd say that make the hairs stand up on my arms, similar to Pearl Jam's "Blood". The next two songs don't really stand out to me but they are alright. This is a problem I have with Soundgarden, some of the songs just seem to be there and sound like how they're supposed to sound, but don't have anything that really grasps me. "Bones of Birds" is a pretty chilling tune, pretty low key but has a really smooth chorus that makes you feel like you're in a birds nest neck deep in bird bones, which I think is what i'm supposed to feel? I really enjoy the next tune "Taree" as well, Chris's voice is in good shape and the parts where he's singing with little noise around him sounds really really good. If you're a fan of the bass then you should love the last couple tracks, starting with "Worse Dreams" it's pretty overpowering but it's a good thing considering the first half is mostly Chris singing and guitars riffing along with the genius Matt Cameron doing what Matt Cameron does. The music ends with "Rowing", which is also my favorite track off the album. At first listen I thought my disc was exchanged for an African American Folk Music CD, but instead it was Soundgarden giving us a "I don't know what's ahead of me but I gotta keep on going" Western feeling song with Chris's excellent voice guiding us down this river. I think it's the perfect closing to this record.

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

If you're a Soundgarden fan, you're probably really gonna dig this album, if you're not, it might take a while to sink in for you. There are a few tracks such as "Been Away Too Long", "Bones of Birds", "Non State Actor" and "Taree" that will get stuck in you're head but the other songs don't carry as much kick as those four. Overall I really enjoy this album and everytime I hear it I keep liking it more and more. 

8.0/10

Kamelot: Ghost Opera

Kamelot has been one of my favorite bands as of late. They're now missing the great Roy Khan (featured in this album, lead singer) but he has been replaced with Tommy Karevik (who I will talk about when he debuts on Kamelot's upcoming album "SilverThorn".

Ok now to the album, it's considered one of Kamelot's best, and for good reason. It's packed fool of great songs with awesome vocals, melody, and atmosphere, 3 of the things this band perfects. It's started off with a short Opera-y intro, and then we get hit with "Rule The World", one of the outstanding tracks of the album. The Chorus will be hooked in your head for weeks to come, if not. SUE ME. Then we're hit with yet another amazing track, "Ghost Opera". If this song doesn't make you feel like you're in a Metal Theater than there is something wrong with you, don't worry, you'll be alright, because you have Thomas Youngblood directing the rhythm and Roy Khan's voice guiding you through the Ghost Opera. "Welcome all, to curtain fall" will echo through your speakers and hopefully send shivers up your spine. On we go to Track #4, it's about how we treat our planet like shit and leave our (rightly titled) "Human Stain". Is it possible for 3 nearly perfect tracks to be placed back to back? Of course. Again Khan steals the show and the background singers make the chorus feel beautiful, just like this planet, while we hear "tick tock" "tick tock" and some cool vocal mixes, this song does a great job at insulting the human race and glorifying our beautiful earth. The next highlight on this album is "Love you to death", a beautiful romantic tragedy that may bring a tear to your eye, "like a black rose, blooming white".  The rest of the album is good but nothing that really caught me like the songs listed in this review, and continue the Opera metal sound which never dissapoints

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

Out of 11 (10) tracks on the album I find 4-5 being absolutely wonderful, and you will (hopefully) get hooked on them right away, and they will be in every playlist. Roy Khan is wonderful, as is the rest of the band, and songs such as "Rule The World", "Ghost Opera", and "The Human Stain" are musts. If you're like me and haven't heard much of Kamelot, please do check them out, and I should hopefully be reviewing more of them very soon.

8.7/10

Motorhead: Icon

We are Motorhead, and we play Rock n F*ckin Roll! This "icon" album is a cheap way to get yourself 12 of the best in your face rock n roll, all in the form of the worlds most badass band, Motorhead. I think it's pretty straight forward what this album is and what is on the album so I won't go in too deep.

The album starts off with 3 fast tracks "Iron Fist", "We Are The Roadcrew" and of course "Ace of Spades." The fourth track "Louie Louie" is my favorite cover version of this song, and it is followed with the classic "Bomber", "Rock n Roll" and "Damage Case." my only complaint about the last track "overkill" was that it wasn't the remastered version, and that's only because I prefer the bass to be louder and shaking my bones.

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

This album is everything you'd expect it to be. Pure rock n roll from the masters "Motorhead". I wish it had a few other songs on it in exchange for what's there but that's me being picky .

8.8/10

Mastodon: Blood Mountain

Alrighty i'm in a huge Mastodon mood so lets crack into their discography. It's sometimes hard to choose a favorite album from a band like Mastodon because their albums are all incredible, and it's even harder to choose a least favorite. But i'm going to have to say this IS indeed my least favorite, which doesn't mean it's a bad album at all. I have reasons i'll explain later to why I feel like I feel about it.

So this is Mastodon's 'concept' album that deals with the 'Earth' Element, and does a damn good job. I find it to be one of their most complex albums when it comes to the drums. I mean my god Brann Dailor goes absolutely nuts on the drumset, the first 10 seconds of "Crystal Skull" will have you attempting a damn Rain Dance because you'll feel like you're 300 miles into Indian Territory. The first track off this album pounds into your ears like a wild animal, rightly named "The Wolf Is Loose." "Sleeping Giant", the third track which follows after "Crystal Skull" is a heavy, powerful, very lyrically oriented song, which is followed by one of the albums finest songs, "Capillarian Crest". Everything about this song is awesome. Drums, Guitar, Bass is all spot on, and very complex and in your face. There is a lot of chicken picking guitar playing throughout, not really any heavy riffs, just fast, precise playing and it sounds really great. The next highlight in my opinion is "BladeCatcher", a freaky instrument featuring guitars imitating sounds of beasts/noises in the forests, and the first time I had it cranked through my speakers I almost shit myself because I thought it was real. The last track that really does much for my is "Colony of Birchmen", a heavy song with a very forestlike message coming through the vocals. I wish I could say more about the last 5 tracks, it's not like their bad at all, they're actually a really good listen, it just seems to mesh at times. Overall this album nails it's element on the head, sometimes you really get the feeling you're trapped on a mountain or being chased through the woods and discover some weird sh*t.

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

Alright sonically this album is a masterpiece. The instrumental work and vocals are awesome, and give a great vibe to the album's "Earth" concept, it's just that not all the tracks really did enough for me to be recognized a great bunch, but it is still an awesome album to listen to and enjoy. Now if you'd excuse me i'm going to live in the deep forests and high mountains of Mastodonland

8.5/10

Volbeat: Beyond Hell/Above Heaven

This band is hot right now, and I mean HOT. No homo or anything but they are tearing up the radio plays as well as their live shows. I have seen them twice now and both times they absolutely killed it. This is their latest album, "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", which carries on the story of Mr. Cadillac from the album "Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood." "A Warriors Call" from this album was #1 on the radio for I don't know how many weeks and now "Still Counting" from their previous album is #1 on the radio. These guys are doing it right.

Ok music wise, if you like Metal, Rock and Roll, Johnny Cash, and Elvis, than these guys are perfect for you. The lead singer Michael Poulson has a very unique voice and uses it well to suite the songs they play. Take "The Mirror and the Ripper" for instance. Try singing the first minute of the song and you will make yourself look foolish, I know I do. But in all seriousness there are 13 songs on this cd, and I consider 10-11 of them to be top notch songs as of right now, and the other to being ok rock songs but still listenable. "Fallen" is a great slower tune whereas "Evelyn" brings in Napalm Death singer "Barney", and it is a killer ass track. Same goes for the song "7 Shots", which features Kreator's Mille Petrozza, and is also a very awesome heavier song yet still keeping the Johnny Cash spirit alive. OH, and guess who's playing with them on lead guitar for their summer touring and has been with them for a year or so? HANK SHERMAN of Mercyful Fate, seriously, if these guys come to town, check em out. Well how does this album shape up to their previous? Well they have kept the same rhythm throughout, if that makes any sense, just pure rock and roll metal and obvious influence from Elvis and Cash, trust me, it's a good thing, and hopefully you'll become as hooked as I am.

Highlights and Scoring

Overall this is a great album, plenty of good tracks and Volbeat keeps doing what they do great, and the addition of the songs "Evelyn" and "7 Shots" should please hardcore metalheads, and other tracks such as "Fallen", "Warriors Call", and "The Mirror and the Ripper" will keep regular rock and rollas happy. Oh yes and check out "16 Dollars" for a great fast tune, and hell they even made a thank you track to the fans titled "Thanks." I've going to put some links here to songs, I may keep doing this on every review and I may not, just one or two highlight tracks.

Warriors Call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu4emT6btH4

Evelyn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzE1LwajQ8

9.3/10

The Sword: Warp Riders

So I received this album as a gift last month, and I had never really heard anything by this band until this album, so I can't really compare this to previous releases, although I have read that this is their first concept album, which is a science fiction narrative, and you can really hear it in the music.

Alright now to the music. While this is surely a 'Metal' album, it has some very heavy classic rock influences and also a hard rock direction. The album is started by 3 very strong tracks, "Acheron/Unearthing the Orb", "Tres Brujas"(personal favorite) and "Arrows in the Dark." If you don't like vocals that are growly and deep sounding, then this is the album for you! All the vocals are clean and sound pretty sharp, this goes for the guitar work on the album as well. Sure there are heavy riffs sometimes and fast rhythms, but the solos are very clean and precise, all while holding to the album's 'science fiction' direction. The next highlight of this album comes on track 5 with "Lawless Lands", to me this song really solidifies the albums science fiction concept and also a very good classical rock track. Oh yeah and I would think Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin fans would be a huge fan of this album, because of the influences it holds from those bands. That being said, the rest of the tracks of the album are pretty good, no major standouts but no filler tracks either. Listening to this album in whole will make you feel like you are truly on a different planet, a strange new world, and I applaud The Sword for going in this direction.

Highlights and Scoring

Overall this is a very good Metal/Rock concept album, with the standout tracks being "Tres Brujas", "The Chronomancer 1 + 2", "Lawless Lands" and "Night City". As previously said Classic Metal fans "Sabbath" and Classic Rock fans "Led Zeppelin" should be pleased with this album, and people who appreciate sharp solos and clean vocals should also very much like it.

8.2/10

Rob Zombie: "HellBilly Deluxe 2"

Alright so it's my first post and I decided to take on Rob Zombie's 2010 follow up album to his hit filled "HellBilly Deluxe", rightly named, "HellBilly Deluxe 2." Now Rob has some high expectations to live up to after releasing songs such as "Dragula", "Living Dead Girl", "Superbeast" and the others, and he does a somewhat good job of doing so.

From song to song you can expect the Zombie like intro, whether it be a quote or noises to give you a shiver, followed by a catchy beat and the voice we expect coming through the speakers. Now let it be known that I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Zombie live on the Megadeth/Zombie Tour last May, so I had heard some of the songs live before the studio version, and I believe it gives me a bias towards some because of the awesome energy I feel when hearing them again. These include the song "Mars Needs Women", which I believe is one of the coolest tracks Zombie has released, incredibly catchy, as well as "Sick Bubblegum." The lyrics are so wacky and weird, but it works. John 5 (guitarist) did some great work on this album and his rhythms and solos are pretty awesome. Then comes my gripe with the album. Aside from the song "The Man Who Laughs", a 9 minute song featuring a 5-6 minute drum solo, the rest of the song listing is fairly forgettable, but still are nice to listen to when they come on. So expect maybe 5 of the tracks to catch your attention.

Highlights and Scoring

Zombie doesn't quite live up to "HellyBilly Deluxe" expectations but tracks such as "Mars Needs Women" and "Sick Bubblegum" make this album special, and have become my priority Zombie songs to listen to. Gripe: Not enough songs with life to them after the first few playthroughs.

7.5/10