Metal Reviews

I've listened to a fair bit of Polvo now and think they might be overrated by some, still thought they were an appropriate selection. Also, not a hot take to say Sonic Youth and The Pixies were the most influential American rock bands on the 1990s.

I've loved Bull in the Heather for a long time, and it was the height of SY's flirtation with popular rock: impressive how they merged those crazy tunings with something catchy. Also the video stars Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill but I'm not gonna post BK because I don't think they are good except when live. But mentioning BK gives me an excuse to post this band again instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBRjqDE-24.

Ha, fair. I am liking it a little more each time I hear them. This one reminds me oddly of this trio, who seemed to fall apart just as they were hitting on something special:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9d8pYMcNd8

Gallhammer sure seems to like Hellhammer, never a bad thing! Really like the main repeated riff at 55 seconds and the bass tone throughout is excellent.

I could continue to post my favorite singers in Corin Tucker from SK or Julie Christmas from her 6 bands, but I'll go for a left turn and post a track that I think succeeds in spite of the vocalist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-pkDd5epgk

Ha, that's generally been my view of The Smashing Pumpkins, except I really don't like the vocals! Would be so good with pretty much anyone else on there...

Speaking of grunge also-rans, don't think we've mentioned these guys yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eObop0waGII

Damn, I haven't listened to TAD in fucking years. The main riff and the fuzzy bass married to that simple-as-shit driving drum line gives me all sorts of good Orgasmatron vibes. Beer and chainsaw shenanigans do nothing but generate great rock music. Time for a relisten to Salt Lick and 8-Way Santa.

Speaking of 8-Way, Stumblin' Man is another sludge-y thumper worthy of everyone's ears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDHA3JiXUuU

Both of these tracks are excellent with the main difference being the production, I see Goat's was naturally recorded by the omnipresent Steve Albini and Thrash's was produced by Butch Vig, so we see the trial run between Nirvana's two famous albums and their differing sounds based on producers. I prefer the rawness of the Albini sound a little here, but Vig keeps TAD heavy as hell too, you see nothing like would occur with Nevermind. Love the punishing rhythm sections on both!

Hard to match such a great obscure grunge rec from both of you and I can't find an obscure one that heavy (Check out Crimeny like I mentioned before though if you want more grunge as heavy as TAD) but this is pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDHA3JiXUuU

For the heavy, you can't get much better than these boys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6ewxDPMZA

Honey Bucket gets all the love, but this ominous slab of doomy goodness stands right up next to it courtesy of that skull crushing bass riff. Cobain definitely robbed, er...derived inspiration from all the right people.

This is that TAD song again?



Will always love Melvins. Wasn't Cobain their actual roadie for a while?

Yeah, that track is typical Melivns heavy groove. This track I was trying to link earlier, whoops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX5wtEmwR5k

Honestly can't decide if Love Battery is a good or awful band name, but this isn't bad. I wish grunge was more adventurous though; however much I like punk I'm still a prog kid at heart.

Anyway. These guys were good, and I keep meaning to listen to them properly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg1fZjK4f2U

Someone said in the comments it reminded of them of the Pixies, and I agree, just with a bigger solo than the Pixies would ever play. Quite enjoyable.

We can switch to prog though! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5zijed8QSE&list=OLAK5uy_l3O8ZfnyLjl3EwLVIJEeC1A-ZA9Af94Mc&index=9

This is quite beautiful; hadn't listened to much Popul Vuh that I remember, but I like the Eastern percussion beneath it.

More prog! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=374qf7xCFkY

Fantastic! Love the piano break about 2/3 through, and the vocals fit really well in throughout. I'm sure you can go much deeper than me on prog than me, and I encourage you to do so. I'll respond with a composer who probably influenced Henry Cow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWlwCRlVh7M

My dude, you can't say I'm going to go deep on prog then drop some composer I've never heard of before on me! I clearly need to listen to much more Henry Cow and co....

Anyway, here's a great track from the most obscure prog band featuring the most inversely famous pop singer that I'm aware of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCbqhJt16k

Ligeti's music was in several Kubrick films. This particular piece was in 2001. I like all kinds of Ligeti but never know how recognizable how some of his famous pieces are because of the Kubrick connection. Mea culpa.

Oh man...I've actually heard 666 before, but it was so overwhelming that single tracks didn't stand out to me like this one! Great singing, great classic guitar solo. Have to listen to that album again soon.

I prefer the live version of Butch Vig's band because less producer tricks are available to him whereas Shirley's vocals are perfect regardless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w28E926DEAQ

It's on me, I am truly terrible at recognising film music, although I've seen 2001 multiple times (including in a cinema). Only the famous Strauss theme really comes to mind, although listening to this Ligeti piece again I think I remember it. Truly fitting, really ominous and creepy. I read Ligeti had synaesthesia? Helps understand how otherworldly and weird it is.

Did you mean to post that link? Was expecting a live Garbage track (unless Butch Vig is involved with Code Orange too?)

Yeah Ligeti is fantastic. My favorite modernish composer. Kubrick was my admittedly gateway drug, though it was that stabbing piano theme from Eyes Wide Shut. I believe the synesthesia: apparently Listz and Scriabin had it too, so I definitely have a composing type. Clearly my linking skills need work. I constantly have multiple youtube tabs open. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pFk8xTSOfE

Yeah this is pretty good. Don't remember how Scottish her voice sounded before, but admittedly not listened to Garbage in years.

Keeping it female: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwAF-9m12Ms

Love the look of that Lucifer video. Fits the charmingly throwback style with a great guitar tone: thanks for sharing!

Shared my newfound love of CO on another forum and was given other metalcore suggestions for bands that were evolving the genre in interesting ways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI7GzbNLGOY

Never heard of these guys but kinda digging this; been listening to black/death most of the afternoon and it requires quite a different mindset! But I could talk about experimental/prog metalcore quite a bit, these guys come to mind among others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ygu7RKJMo4