Just As The Day Was Dawning

Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1

2010-07-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Black metal has always been here, just kind of lurking the background with a very dedicated (and somewhat small) fanbase. A lot of people view it as a joke thanks to album covers that seem more like some Juggalos with an interest in Photoshop and a bunch of kids in Norway burning churches down. Don’t let that discourage you from the new, young rising scene in America with great bands like Nachymystium. They strip away the make up and tomfoolery and bring great atmospherics and progressive tendencies to black metal’s usual and typical ideology of guitar-bass-drums and recording in lo-fi. They still do all this but because of their use of keyboards, electronics and other things, they refuse to be labeled as black metal. The guitars and bass can be seen as shoegazey a lot of the time, just walls and waves of distorted madness with machinegun drums and double bass. All the while incorporating keyboards and ambient sounds, making it akin to post-metal sometimes but never quite crossing the line. I want to call it Merzbow meets Emperor or Zombi meets Darkthrone but those comparisons fall short as most do and don’t encompass all the things they are trying to accomplish or maybe they overshoot, you be the judge.
For Fans Of: Wolves In the Throne Room, Darkthrone, early Mayhem, Celtic Frost

Suggested Tracks:
2. Assassins – Very by-the-book black metal to start things off. Demonic vocals, walls of guitar, fast drums. Track 1 is a good intro but not necessary.
3. Ghosts of Grace – A pretty accessible song compared to most, catchy music, vocals still pretty growly but the hooks are there.
5. Your True Enemy – Absolutely angry and brutal, everything is going full force, leaving no earspace empty, they throw in a sick guitar solo too.
6. Code Negative – A great semi-post metal jam. Whispering vocals, complex drums, although the song as a whole is more mellow. Great guitar solo once again.
8. Seasick Pt. 1: Drowned At Dusk – The beginning of a 3 parter. Mellow, spacey, vikingy, nice little jam, not too busy.
9. Seasick Pt. 2: Oceanborn – Maybe my favorite of the 3 parts because of the guitar/saxophone (YES, saxophone) intertwining. Pretty short so play with Pt. 1 and/or or 3 as well.
10. Seasick Pt. 3: Silent Sunrise – The blackness returns on this one, vocals are back (and multiple) but the music is still laidback compared to previous tracks. A good ending to a 3 part epic.

Mastodon - Leviathan

2010-07-16T09:12:00.001-07:00

Mastodon’s follow-up to their impressive debut LP, Remission, kept all the promise that their previous release showed. It changed only slightly from the first one (but is very different from releases after this) as they were pushing some new limits in the new and upcoming metal scene. They gave a few concessions for Leviathan to be more accessible to a larger audience and it definitely worked. They still have their multiple vocalists attack and Brann Dailor’s jazz-influenced, complex as fuck drumming is still in all its glory, and the album as a whole does a good job telling the story of Moby Dick with great intensity and fervor to show what a great (almost) concept album should be. They reach for heavier heights and succeed as well as more progressive (and maybe catchier/poppier) ones. You can hear the music as a whole and be thoroughly impressed but if you hunker down and focus on each element, it’s even more remarkable. Mixing elements of any and all of the heavier genres. Mixing elements of thrash, hardcore, sludge, death and doom, they are almost the perfect amalgamation of all of metal’s best qualities. They went even more progressive and accessible after this release so check out this integral turning point of their discography.

For Fans Of: Slayer, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, High On Fire

Suggested Tracks:

1. Blood and Thunder – A good song to start off with, sick riff, angry, good headbanger.

3. Seabeast – One of the calmer, more accessible songs and vocals. Great drums and guitar work.

5. Iron Tusk – This is one chunky, meaty riff. Love the double bass.

6. Megalodon – One of the more complex songs on the album, post-hardcore leads into thrash by way of southern rock lick.

8. Aqua Dementia – Opens up with jazz-metal-fusion drums and great noodling from both guitarists and turns into 80’s harcore/thrash. Touches of sludge/doom thrown in for good measure.

Zach Hill

2008-09-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Drummer from Hella and about a million other things releases his first true solo album and I would have to say that it will be in my top 5 at the end of the year. His drumming style is so fucking ridiculous and is on every track, he never tries to hide his talent while still making his own version of pop music. Like if Hella and the Flaming Lips had a band together. Plenty of guest stars from The Advantage, Deftones, Les Claypool, Marnine Stern, No Age and some others. 2CDs, the second being an epic song called Necromancer which is mostly just free jazz piano and Hill's drums. This is a new stage, kind and take on accessible music.

Zach Hill - Dark Art

http://www.myspace.com/zachhillmusic

Daleth

2008-09-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

A one man sludge band. That feels weird to say but there is nothing bad about this in the least. Daleth is just that. One man has made a perfect sludge record and all by himself. I really don't have anything to say because this has left me speechless. Download and rock out.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mtkpwegud6j (Daleth - Split w/ Blue Shift; Daleth tracks only)
http://rapidshare.com/files/78714837/daleth_-_lusitania_disc_1.rar (Daleth - "Lusitania")
http://www.myspace.com/dalethmusic
http://dalethmusic.blogspot.com

Sebastien Grainger

2008-09-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have always been one for the danceable yet undeniably heavy tunes of Death From Above so I was excited when I heard about Sebastien (drummer/lead singer) making a new solo project. What has come of it is a terribly boring attempt at being more accessible and melodic. I always knew that Saddle Creek bands are sad bastards and mellow but never did I think that they would water down such a hard rocking dude. It has moments where I think it's about the take off (like the last 30 seconds of Ways To Come Home) but not only does it end abruptly, it never gets past about 55% intensity.

Now I'm not saying that all sad bastard music is bad. I like my fair share of it (Horse Feathers for example) but even his attempt at that seems half assed. His production methods have always impressed me with a new take on the "Wall of Sound" but not only does it not work here, I don't even know if it applies. I will say that Map Of The World is a high point because of the guitar work and the groove that they work into (you can listen as I have posted it below). Otherwise, disappointment galore.

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains - Map Of the World

Chingalera - Dose

2008-07-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

I think long songs are both underrated and overrated. People consider them epics when they are really just showcases for a certain person, not a band. But because of their length people seem to pass them off as worth while songs in today's music biz. Chingalera's shortest song is around 8 minutes long but they work as a band in such a great way that it doesn't matter. These are great progressive and sludgy metal. They have touches of post rock in there but their riffs are great and even the last song has something to be said with guest vocals from members of Circle Jerks, Goatsnake and It's Casual. This is their second album but already they have a reputation among some of the best bands around. These songs actually are epic and definitely rock but can definitely chill out too. The best of both worlds.

For Fans Of: Melvins, Mono, Russian Circles, Harvey Milk, Black Sabbath

Get the album HERE.

http://www.chingalera.org/
http://www.myspace.com/chingalera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jva4IjsWTn8

Apache - Boomtown Gems

2008-07-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

There are very few bands that I like that considered "punk". Vibrators, Buzzcocks, Bad Brains, Ramones, and maybe a couple more. Proto-punk is more my style but whatever you want to classify Johnny Thunders and New York Dolls under, then put Apache right there with them. One part punk, one part glam, one part attitude and one part partying. There were times when I was first listening to this album that I thought the song could have been a cover of one of these classic bands but it's all Apache, all original. They formed from the ashes of former bands The Cuts and Genghis Khan and they were signed before even learning a song and having broken limbs. This is good rock'n'roll for your trip across the country or for your dance party.
For Fans Of: Johnny Thunders, New York Dolls, Iggy/The Stooges, getting down

Get the album HERE.

http://www.myspace.com/sfapache
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H89bVj6r3s

Black Skies

2008-06-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Another great local band in the Piedmont of NC. Black Skies play some seriously great metal and have opened for the likes of Boris, Valient Thorr, Big Business, Kylesa, RTX, etc etc. They get the spots because of how fucking awesome they are. They have a new EP out, Hexagon, and it captures their sound greatly for a self-released record. Doomy riffs, intense vocals, galloping rhythm section and brooding lyrics about the apocalypse. It all fits together so well.
For Fans Of: The Sword, High On Fire, Kylesa, Black Sabbath

Get the new EP HERE.

http://www.myspace.com/losblackskies
http://www.blackskies.us
http://www.myspace.com/sirenadiscos

Got Live If You Want It!

2008-06-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

After seeing Dead Meadow live I had to get this album. It is them in full force, good jams, serious power altogether. There's nothing more to really say about Dead Meadow other than they are one of the best "retro" sounding bands out there right now, it's for fans of the psychedelic pop/rock and stoner rock alike.
For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Zeppelin, Spiritualized, Kinski, Nebula

You can get the album HERE. (the files are .wma but most players convert them.)

www.myspace.com/deadmeadow
www.deadmeadow.com

It's the summer.

2008-05-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

Kind of. Yet I am more out of the loop on this thing than I ever have been so let's get rolling and try to get a little more consistent. I need to make some blog friends so I can have a good network and more hits/comments but that is something I need to do on my own. Anyways, first post of the summer.

The Black Diamond Heavies play some of the dirtiest blues around. Just an organ and drums, they have some of the most soulful songs I've heard in a long time. The lead singer sounds a hell of a lot like Tom Waits and some of the songs even have longtime Waits collaborator Ralph Carney contributing some horn work. The album includes a Tina Turner cover and a Nina Simone one too. Overall it's a great work, the only question that I can't answer for myself is if this album is better than their first. As of right now, I feel both are equal but I haven't had the time to listen to this one as much. This one is funkier and has some better jams but that doesn't mean it's overall better. Thanks to Alive for putting out some seriously amazing records.

www.blackdiamondheavies.com
www.myspace.com/blackdiamondheavies
www.alivenergy.com/

Get the new album, A Touch Of Someone Else's Class, HERE.

Death

2008-04-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

These songs were taken from chunklet.com who received them from Ben Blackwell, drummer for the Dirtbombs and Jack White's nephew. A little about Death and these 2 songs:

"Recorded in 1974, released in 1976. Three African-American brothers from the east side of Detroit who were Jehovah's Witnesses. They later went on to do Christian psych music as The Fourth Movement, and two of the brothers are now in a reggae band in Vermont."

A little bit ahead of their time, methinks.

For Fans Of: Bad Brains, Jimi Hendrix (slightly), proto-punk

Get the songs HERE.

They are definitely the Gods of something.

2008-04-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Sword are this generations masters of doom metal. They might as well be our Black Sabbath. Their latest album improves upon Ages of Winter quadruple fold with a bigger sound, bigger riffs, more mystifying lyrics, and more hooks. I knew from their new tracks on their split EP with Witchcraft that the guys were definitely bringing it harder than ever before but this is ridiculous. The titles of the songs pretty much explain how awesome they truly are. With titles like The Frost Giant's Daughter and Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians, how could this band not be one of the greatest metal bands of the past 30 years. The song How Heavy This Axe really is THAT heavy. Mind crushing. They are on tour with Torche and Stinking Lizaveta through May on the East Coast. The tour is making sure to demolish your ear drums within a matter of seconds. This is the soundtrack to a war of the Gods and whoever's side The Sword is on will win for sure. Thunderous.

Get the album HERE.

www.myspace.com/thesword
www.swordofdoom.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqOxYDGF_Co

Straight from Isriffrael.

2008-04-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

Monotonix are banned from most places in Tel Aviv. They have 3 members but only 2 instruments. They have sick as fuck riffs and call on bands like Black Sabbath and The Sonics as their influences. They were just signed to Drag City and put out this new EP which is awesome. They were produced by Tim Green of the Fucking Champs so you know they fucking rock to some extent. Bluesy proto metal riffs galore with a good dose of attitude, a reputation for being possibly the best live band ever and you have a definite rock'n'roll band.

Their new EP is HERE.

www.monotonix.com
www.myspace.com/monotonix
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BC-pJMA_n0

The best Karp song ever.

2008-02-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

This song deserves it's own post.

Karp's contribution to the Project: Echo compilation "How Si Si How" is their best song in my opinion. It shows the transition between the Karp sound and the Big Business sound. So fucking rocking.

Get it HERE

The Catheters - Hoowwwlllling...It Grows and Grows

2008-02-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

These guys were/are awesome. Straight outta one of the rock capitals of the world, Seattle, they really bring the dirty rock'n'roll tunes. Howling would be a great adjective for the vocals, I would say. The album title and artwork are a perfect match for the sound, this is probably their most cohesive garage punk though their album before this was definitely harder and edgier, this is more palatable. They don't really push the limits of the genre, they usually go for volume and riffs over melody or hooks but this is something for anyone who likes the sounds of yesteryear and the attitude of greats like MC5, Iggy and the Stooges or most bands out of Detroit around the same time. The obvious influences are there from grunge to proto-punk, meshed together for a good air guitar or roll down the windows and cruise record. It's a shame they broke up only 3 albums into their career but I hear some of the members formed a new band but have yet to find out what that is yet. Anyways, this is raunchy, blistering, rock'n'roll. The end.
For Fans Of: MC5, Mudhoney, Iggy & The Stooges, Young Heart Attack

Get It HERE

Boris - Smile

2008-02-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

Oh yeahhhhh buddy, nothing else needs to be said. Rock'n'roll motherfuckers.

Smileeee

Link taken from http://soundweave.blogspot.com

Apes - Ghost Games

2008-02-08T18:13:00.001-08:00

These guys have been around for a while. I saw them with Modey Lemon over 2 years ago and king of forgot about them except for the occasional play on my iPod. They are back with a new singer and better written songs than ever before. They start rocking on track one and never stop til the end. Less funny skit things than before but that just leaves more room for the music. A great combo of 60's/70's rock, noise and underground rock from the past 20 years.
For Fans Of: Death From Above, Modey Lemon, Liars, Deep Purple

Download the album here

www.myspace.com/apes
www.theapes.com

Caltrop

2008-01-01T23:23:00.000-08:00

I have to get this out there now because these boys have an LP coming soon. Doom/stoner/riffs at their best. Caltrop throws down with the best of them opening for the likes of Mastodon and Big Business. Just some local boys who know how to rock, really. Everything about this is awesome. Only 4 songs but all 4 are masterpieces.

For fans of: Black Sabbath, Sleep, Electric Wizard, Melvins.

Get the EP here

Some of the most rocking tracks of 2007

2007-12-24T17:06:00.001-08:00

Just thought this would be a neat idea. Keeping it real with the rock. Spans a few genres but they all have one thing in common. Rock'n'roll.

Big Business - Hands Up (Sludggggyyyyy goodness.)
High On Fire - Turk (Best metal album of 07 in my opinion)
Part Chimp - New Cross (More sludge except from the UK this time)
Bloodhorse - Bloodhorse (Best EP of 07)
Boris - Pink (From Rock Dream) (We all know the song, this time it's just with more people!)
The Fucking Champs - A Forgotten Chapter In the History of Ideas (Loving the old school riffs)
Witchcraft - You Bury Your Head (We need more doom in our lives)
Burning Brides - Hang Love (Grunge at its best)
Year Long Disaster - Per Qualche Dollaro (A Kinks offspring makes one hell of a rock'n'roll record.)
Radio Moscow - Mistreating Queen (More bands should be influenced by Deep Purple and Cream)
Turbonegro - Do You Do You Dig Destruction (They're back and more rocking/crazier than ever)
Goon Moon - My Machine (Zach Hill owns this track of stoner rock)
Dinosaur Jr. - This Is All I Came To Do (Mascis still has it, solos are drool worthy.
Electric Six - Rip It (They do rip it)
Turbo Fruits - 20th I Was Blue (Blues Punk at it's fastest and punkiest)
The Hives - Tick Tick Boom (Couldn't help it, they make awesome singles)
King Khan & His Shrines - Land of the Freak (Little more garage, little less James Brown)
Heavy Trash - They Were Kings (Epitome of Jon Spencer)
Black Lips - O Katrina! (Another amazing single from this year. Catchy as fuck)

Get all those songs HERE.

C-Average - Second Reckoning

2007-12-16T17:12:00.000-08:00

Some descriptions taken from allmusic.com:

Olympia, WA hard rock trio C Average was formed by singer/guitarist Jon Merithew, Melvins bassist Joe Preston and drummer Brad Balsley. Debuting in 1998 with a self-titled LP on Kill Rock Stars, the band nevertheless earned its greatest notoriety for regularly backing Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder during his infrequent solo gigs; replacing Preston with bassist Tim Brown, C Average issued their second album in 2000. Second Reckoning followed on Kill Rock Stars in early 2001.

For Fans Of: The Melvins, Black Sabbath, Big Business

Get the album here

Zs - Arms

2007-12-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

A mathy noise rock band, these guys are if Hella wanted to be a jazz band. With a sax throughout most of their songs, it's a lot jazzier than most noise bands. Extremely noodly, Mick Barr helped release their debut EP and with good reason because it sounds a lot like everything he's done. Fans of jazz, world music and noise will like this.

For Fans Of: Hella, Orthrelm, Ruins, Behold...The Arctopus
Standout Tracks: 1 (B Is For Burning), 3 (Nobody Wants To Be Had), 4 (Balk), 5 (I Can't Concentrate)

http://www.zzzsss.com/news.html
http://www.myspace.com/zstheband
http://www.planariainc.com/

Download Here

Installment 3, It's only Rock'n'Roll

2007-10-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Keeping it a bit more retro this time. Some serious garage rock in there, oughta be fucking fun. Also some Hungarian folk music, rare soul gem, and Cuban funk, enjoy that as well. Going to see Boris tonight so I will be rocking the fuck out. Already did once after seeing Magik Markers earlier this week. Links in there as usual too. Good week, good week, anyways, here you go:

Black Diamond Heavies - Fever In My Blood - Every Damn Time
Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost? - Cease to Begin
The Greenhornes - Shelter Of Your Arms - East Grand Blues
The Flaming Sideburns - Street Survivor - Save Rock'n'Roll
Mando Diao - Long Before Rock'n'Roll - Ode to Ochrasy
The Immortal Lee County Killers - Boom Boom - These Bones Will Rise To Love You Again
Burning Brides - King of the Demimonde - Leave No Ashes
Hazerai - This Night - The 911852618 EP
Mudhoney - Into Yer Shtik - My Brother The Cow
A Hawk and A Hacksaw - Vajdaszentivany - And the Hun Hangar Ensemble
The Intelligence - White Gloves - Icky Baby
Bob Dylan - Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat - Blonde on Blonde
We Are Wolves - Psychic Kids - Total Magique
Los 5-U-4 - Baila, Ven U Baila - Si Para Usted: The Funky Beats 0f Revolutionary Cuba
Jay Mitchell - Funky Fever - Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay
Bad Brains - Riot Squad - Banned In DC: Bad Brains Greatest Riffs

That Bad Brains one is a classic, watch that video, definitely.

ENJOY

The Day Has Dawned Once Again, Week 2

2007-10-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

This week I have been trying to catch up on all the punk I never listened to so that has influenced what I am putting in this one quite a bit. Some songs aren't the best song by the band, just my favorite one from this past week. I wanted some straight-foward rock songs and that's what I got and that's what I am giving you.

Guitar Wolf - After School Thunder - UFO Romantics
Devo - Mongoloid - Q: Are We Not Men?...
Refused - Deadly Rhythm - The Shape of Punk To Come
Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude - The Very Best Of
Randy - I Believe in Company - The Human Atom Bomb
Swingin' Neckbreakers - I Wanna Be Your Driver - Shake Break!
Spider Bags - Waking Up Drunk - A Celebration of Hunger
Tight Bros. From Way Back When - Hayseed Rock - Runnin' Thru My Bones
High On Fire - Waste of Tiamat - Death Is This Communion
Adam and the Ants - Family of Noise - Dirk Wears White Sox
Humble Pie - Natural Born Bugie - As Safe As Yesterday
Dead Moon - Diamonds In the Rough - Echoes of the Past
Zoo Bombs - Gimme Some Money - Let It Bomb
Heavy Trash - They Were Kings - Going Way Out
A Place To Bury Strangers - Don't Think Lover - Self Titled
The Ramones - Have You Ever Seen the Rain - Acid Eaters
The Saints - River Deep, Mountain High - Know Your Product
Supagroup - One For The Money - Rules

Enjoy!

Here It is, the beginning, the day is dawning

2007-10-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

A weekly/semi-weekly music blog showing some of my favorite music for the past week. This will have everything from hip-hop to indie, metal to folk. WHATEVER I WANT. I review somewhere between 12-18 CDs a week so I have plenty of new material to come upon. A lot of it will be newer music so it ought to be interesting. Some weeks will have a lot, some will only have a few. Some of them are actual links to some pretty cool videos so be on the lookout for that too. Lets get started:

1. We Versus The Shark - I Am A Fantastic Battle - EP Of Bees EP
2. Zen Guerrilla - Saucerships To Ragtime - Positronic Raygun
3. The Blind Shake - Calling All Horses - Rizzograph
4. Clockcleaner - Vomiting Mirrors - Babylon Rules
5. Richard Hawley - Serious - Lady's Bridge
6. The Deaf - Air Raid - This Bunny Bites
7. Electric Six - Feed My Fuckin' Habit - I Shall Exterminate Everything That Restricts Me From Being The Master
8. The Sadies - Anna Leigh - New Seasons
9. Vampire Hands - Egg White Ocean - Virgin Dust American Lips
10. KARP - J Is For Genius - Self Titled LP
11. The Rolling Stones - Loving Cup - Exile On Main Street
12. Standing Nudes - Honeybee - Standing Nudes
13. Tim Fite - Away From The Snakes - Gone Ain't Gone
14. The Blank Tapes - Part The Clouds - Daydreams
15. Bear Claw - Point A To Point... - Slow Speed: Deep Owls

Get the songs HERE