\m/ Metal \m/

[Mantis]

Pneuma and Descending are the best two tracks on the new album I reckon. The guitar work at the end of Descending is just excellent.

[Snowy]

In terms of musicianship I can't fault them, but that's not enough to hook me sadly.

[Drarok]

I have really tried to like Tool, I just don't get their hook. They are pleasant enough to listen to, but I find all their stuff very samey and it just doesn't draw me in.

I don't even get as far as pleasant. I can appreciate the skill it's taken to hone their craft, but even that's a stretch.

[Stormbringer]

Hmm. My Tool phase seems to be over. Having had my brain literally crawling with Tool earworms all weekend, I tried listening to them again today and the taste seems to have gone.

Oh well. Onto the next thing!

[Drarok]

Well, once you've heard one track, you've heard them all.

[Snowy]

I have bought tickets to see The Hu play in February. Not my usual thing, but I think this lot are all kinds of cool...

[Animalmother]

Was watching Troll Hunter on Netflix last night and this played over the end credits. Screamy Norwegian punk metal crossed with classic rock

Good film btw...

[Snowy]

Kverletak are fucking awesome, saw them support Mastodon earlier this year and liked them a lot since I heard their debut.

In fact, have their set from that night

[Mantis]

The new Opeth is pretty excellent. Wasn't expecting it to be quite as bombastic as this. Death metal growls not really needed when they're producing stuff like this. It's like they've finally fully absorbed all the 70s prog influences and are making crushingly heavy modern takes on them.

I'm still jamming on the new Tool album a lot too. Absolutely fantastic piece of work to lose yourself in.

[Snowy]

Well I am trying but really not digging the new Opeth at all.

Far too much noodling and whiffling and a lack of real bite for me.

Anyone feeling the same way, try this lot out for some Blackwater Park/Ghost Reveries vibe:

[Stormbringer]

One of my favourite atmospheric black metal "bands" (it is one guy) at the moment is Vials of Wrath, who lives in Tennessee, not that far from my wife's parents' home. When not making music, he seems to spend a lot of time hiking through the forest-shrouded Appalachian mountains, which is something I also like to do when I'm there.

[Stormbringer]

I really like this classic track from Celtic Frost:

[Snowy]

This one might interest quite a few of you. Currently listening to Wilderun's latest album Veil of Imagination, following on from their phenomenal Sleep at the Edge of the Earth 4 years ago and I think it is fair to say they they have upped the ante with this.

The first I read of them was a review of SATEOTE when they were pitched as "Opeth meets Turisas" which is fair but undersells the band. For this latest album they have gone nuts, with some really clever work making a phenomenal symphonic metal album where the orchestral sections are totally integrated with the songs (rather than the usual 'metal band playing over orchestral elements).

Hope you enjoy it - although if you are like me this one will take a little familiarity before you really start to enjoy it.

[Mantis]

This is pretty great.

[Snowy]

Yeah I am really enjoying it, just keeps improving listen on listen.