Metal Reviews

yeah i agree it was a step up but i don't know, maybe it has to grow on me.

My candid initial reactions follow, so take them with a few grains of salt.

I listened to the new Megadeth also. Anyone who liked 'TSHF' will most likely enjoy this one as well. I'd say this is a step up from that one... Trouble is, I really don't care for that one at all. So...

This one does start out pretty solid. Even the annoying "Sleepwalkkkerrrerrrrrrrrr" vocal isn't enough to keep that one from being a decent opener. "Washington Is Next!" is even better. But by the time "Gears of War" comes things have weakened; it and the subsequent tracks are a significant drop off. The moments are often there still, but the consistency isn't. The "Toute le Monde" remake is placed in these also. So it still sounds out of place (and really half-hearted), but not as much as it could have been. The album does end on a little better note, however. Actually, it finishes fairly strong. Still, there are many moments here when I feel like the music is "pop rock" being disguised as metal.

There are some recycled riffs ("Never Walk Alone" for one), and most of the solos are... well, they're solos. It's, in a way, kind of nice that Mustaine is pissed again for this record, but it really doesn't come out that well lyrically and the spoken parts are "meh" as usual, I think. I guess it all comes off as more preachy and ranting than anything remotely profound, but maybe that's partly because of my existing view(s) on the subject.

I'll give it at least a few more listens though because this is still the most interesting thing they've done in quite awhile. I would not be surprised to see a lot of people saying it's the best thing since 'CTE'. With the exception of Youthanasia, I'm not even sure I'd disagree. Admittedly, that's more a testament to how weak those other albums have been than to how good this one is, but still...

-Tyrion

Kènôse is probably the more "accessible" release, but SMRC is superior. SMRC takes quite a long time to grow on you, but I really believe it's the best Black Metal album ever released.

Definately the new Turisas. Kick ass album of the decade!!

I think that does Megadeth a disservice because to my mind the one thing that has always stood out about them is the fact that the solos on their albums are so great. It's obvious Mustaine puts a lot of time into getting the lead parts as good as possible, and that lifts them to a level that is way above nearly every other band on the planet, imo. This album is no exception, the lead parts are fantastic.

EDIT: Although some of the lyrics are beyond stupid. The UN is an organization of African pedophiles?

That is fair. I actually meant to come back to that and say a little more about the solos, but I never did. None of them really jumped out at me right away (like say even the solo on "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" did), but I didn't really mean to sound as if they weren't up to par. I have always enjoyed their solos on past albums, for the most part. I think, on the first few listens here, they struck me as being what I would expect from the band for an album like this. They didn't fall short, but they really didn't exceed my expectations or blow my mind either, but that's probably because 1) - like you said, they've set the standards for themselves at a pretty high level, and 2) - I just wasn't listening closely to them in particular. Oh well, I haven't given the drum parts proper attention yet either.

Yeah, the lyrics and the spoken parts are, to me, the toughest thing to get past on this album.

-Tyrion

times ten to the power of four. Methinks some Metal Archives consultation is in order...

So far, I'm really impressed with new Vital Remains, Morgana Lefay, Paradise Lost and Immolation. Looking forward to DsO, Kreator, Gamma Ray and Priest, if they're gonna release it this year. I'm a bit disapointed with the new Kamelot and Candlemass: very good albums for sure, but not quite as great as my expectations were from these bands.

I adore the new Moonsorrow. Very nice, and from what I understand, The Axis of Perdition is cooking up something new. Same with Amorphis and Pig Destroyer.

I'm extremely sad that Wintersun's new album is delayed until last year, but as you might have noticed in my sign, Woods of Ypres is enough to fill the empty space
If they could release it soon...

United Abominations is another weak effort from Megadeth (thats what? 5 in a row? Though to be fair, The System Has Failed was average instead of shit). Starts off with some reasonably good thrashers (Sleepwalkers, Washington's Next) but from there it degenerates into boring riffs that fade from my mind as soon as their gone, and no focused songwriting. Mustaine's vocals mainly remain melodic, which is not what they should be doing, except in limited doses. Where's the aggression? Oh, and the re-recording of A Tout Le Monde sucks. I think it might be time for Megadeth (or, well, Mustaine really, since he's the only songwriter since Ellefson left) to quit. 32/100.

As for great albums that have been released thus far, and that I think are contenders for album of the year. Kamelot's Ghost Opera is definitely growing on me, as is Manticora's The Black Circus Part II. I really love the new Aura Noir and Saxon as well. Albums I'm looking forward to include the new Priest, new Kreator (lets hopefully see a return to thrash, please), Destruction, and maybe, just maybe, the new Heathen if its ever going to get made. Haven't heard W.A.S.P.'s Dominator yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

hey hey what what? new Kamelot album out now? *jerks off*

*grabs fresh pair of pants*
what's it like? tell me they didn't slow down even more!
usually i only listen to albums a year or two after they're out but Kamelot are the kind of band that makes me open exceptions.

Not Death Black n' Thrash, but Sigh are going to have to pull something very good indeed out to knock Dream Theater of th' album of the year spot.

I just noticed..........................his right hand is a pigs foot????????????????????????????



Anyway have you heard the new Sigh Mintrude? Im salivating in anticipation of soon getting it.

So far its Pig Destroyer's new one, though I am yet to hear Akercocke's, Nile's and The Project Hate's new ones, which at least one I'm sure will beat PD off the top spot.

Pig Destroyer for me too... Odious Mortem up there, and when the new Nile will come out i am pretty sure it will take the second or even first place.
Another honorable mention is the new Man Must Die, insane melodic technical death metal.
Behemoth 3rd.

It's not available to us Britishers until Monday As I've said before, It's going to have to be incredible to top Systematic Chaos

As far as death metal Odious Mortem are the top one for me too. I haven't ever actually heard any pig destroyer :|

I think Sinners Bleed are coming out with an album this year (they posted a recording video towards the end of 2006 but haven't had any other update since ). I still haven't really listened to the new Becoming the Archetype and Immolation to figure out exactly how much I like them so they could be up there too.