New CD's that you have gotten recently

[Jasonic]

I don't like Townsend, but I do like the few Ayreon albums I have had over the years, esp The Human Equation.

Since we are on the oddball topic, how do you feel about STAR ONE?

[Justin Gaines]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

I don't like Townsend, but I do like the few Ayreon albums I have had over the years, esp The Human Equation.

Since we are on the oddball topic, how do you feel about STAR ONE?

The same way I feel about Ayreon. It just doesn't do it for me, and I love the vocalists involved.

And any time a shrill chorus chimes in with "INTERGALACTIC SPACE CRUSADERS" I want to throw the disc out the window. Well, I would if I hadn't punted the thing on ebay years ago.

[nomisofsiman]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Words can't describe how much I dislike Meshuggah.
I guess I just don't get it.

How is the new HOF?
They are usually pretty consistent.
I just grew tired of them after Death is this Communion.
I never bothered with the last one.

Meshuggah definitely is an acquired taste I would say, though I'm very confused/shocked how they manage to chart as well as they do. Maybe it's just the metal folk that like extreme metal that like them just because they're extreme metal, but I always thought they would be an underground band.

I love the new HOF. It's probably my favorite album of the year so far, granted that doesn't say a lot considering how little new discs I've gotten. However, the last High on Fire was in my top 5. I do find them to be one of the most consistent bands out there.

[Pate]

I'm going to make a bold statement, after two listens to As Above, So Below:

It's better than the self-titled.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Pate

I'm going to make a bold statement, after two listens to As Above, So Below:

It's better than the self-titled.

Words can not describe how much issue I have with the statement above.
Now, if you honestly enjoy the songs on the new one more than the self-titled that is one thing.

I could never compare a long running's band new work to their most classic release without ignoring everything in between.

Let's be honest here. This is Angel Witch's first attempt at playing classic metal in a long time. Maybe you have never heard em, but they had a handful of (very bad) thrash metal demos.

Don't get me wrong. It is a VERY good release, and will most likely make my top 10 this year. I just don't think I could ever favor a "return to former glory" release to a classic that put a band on the map.

Once again, it might be as simple as you digging the songs more.

Though how can you possibly compare the new one to the self titled which from beginning to end is chock full of songs written and performed by an energetic, young, passionate, and groundbreaking ANGEL WITCH!

But hey, that's just me!

[Justin Gaines]

Totally different eras, bands, energy, etc. I LOVE the new album. It's probably my favorite this year, but the debut was a defining album for an entire style, and had an energy that will never be replicated.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Justin Gaines

Totally different eras, bands, energy, etc. I LOVE the new album. It's probably my favorite this year, but the debut was a defining album for an entire style, and had an energy that will never be replicated.

THIS!

BTW - I seriously did not to mean to come off as harsh as I did before.

Bottom line is there is NOTHING wrong whatsoever in preferring ANY album in a catalog over another. It's all personal opinion.

[Jasonic]

All three in one LOT straight from the band off eBay for $20!
Can't beat it:

[Justin Gaines]

I just got the Unisonic album and EP yesterday. Those should be fun.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Justin Gaines

I just got the Unisonic album and EP yesterday. Those should be fun.

The EP rules.
Where did you get the CD?
I believe only the deluxe version is available now, right?

[Justin Gaines]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

The EP rules.
Where did you get the CD?
I believe only the deluxe version is available now, right?

I ordered it (it's the 2-disc version) from Metal Season. They had a flash sale last week. I got the deluxe for $11.99, they threw in the EP for free, and shipping was only $2.00.

[nomisofsiman]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Words can not describe how much issue I have with the statement above.
Now, if you honestly enjoy the songs on the new one more than the self-titled that is one thing.

Huh? Isn't that what makes an album better than another? Jason's getting loopy me thinks.

[nomisofsiman]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

All three in one LOT straight from the band off eBay for $20!
Can't beat it:

I jumped right on this after you posted. Despite never hearing them prior to the lineup announcement, I think they're who I'm most looking forward to.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by nomisofsiman

Huh? Isn't that what makes an album better than another? Jason's getting loopy me thinks.

Well, yes and no.
I mean come on.....
The S/T Angel Witch might seriously be in the top 10 GREATEST heavy metal records of all time. As I said, preference is preference so I wont knock anyone for that. But there's just some albums that are damn near perfect, and the ST AW is one of em.

Could never even remotely compare a cash grab album to it.
And don't give me any bullshit that the new AW album is anything MORE than a cash grab. They have not been flying the flag for true metal all these years, regardless of what young retro kidz these days think.

[SteelFireRecs]

Got these bad boys in on friday:
Aggressive - Predators Arrival
Attika - Attika
Gaia Epicus - Victory
Gaia Epicus - Damnation
Gaia Epicus - Satrap
Gallows End - Nemesis Divine
Overlorde SR - Medieval Metall Too
Paragon - Larger Than Life EP
Sacred Steel - Hammer of Destruction
Jack Starr's Guardians of the Flame - Under a Savage Sky

[dcowboys311]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Well, yes and no.
I mean come on.....
The S/T Angel Witch might seriously be in the top 10 GREATEST heavy metal records of all time. As I said, preference is preference so I wont knock anyone for that. But there's just some albums that are damn near perfect, and the ST AW is one of em.

Could never even remotely compare a cash grab album to it.
And don't give me any bullshit that the new AW album is anything MORE than a cash grab. They have not been flying the flag for true metal all these years, regardless of what young retro kidz these days think.

Out of curiosity, what has AW been doing for the past years, then?
They play out live fairly consistently. Recorded material is obviously slow, but it's not like they've been 100% inactive. And they haven't trendhopped. Maybe we just have different 'flying the flag' definitions.

You might be a bit off on who is grabbing the cash, too. Any Rise Above record is going to be a cash grab these days....for the Ebay hounds. Not the bands, necessarily.

[Jasonic]

First, you are speaking of the absurd trend of labels creating limited edition vinyls.
Retro is hot and MANY labels are cashing in.

After the ST, Angel Witch never had a recording that was the style of the first.
Esp, their thrash demos. Have you heard those? They were re-released on a CD called RESURRECTION.

I am not slamming ANGEL WITCH for doing it. I love the new material.
I am just stating my opinion that in my eyes, I couldn't look at a "Return to Form" album in the same vein as a genre defining album like their ST.

That would be like comparing DEATH MAGNETIC to RIDE THE LIGHTNING.

[Diabolik]

Jason, do you get paid for mentioning the thrash demo's? Literally you mention them everytime someone talks about Angel Witch.

[dcowboys311]

Many times, limitations are there because the label can't afford more/knows that it won't sell more. Might as well use your limitations to your marketing advantage!

Obviously that doesn't really apply to Angel Witch, or any Rise Above release, really. Haven't heard the thrash.

And yeah, OF COURSE nobody can look at the new album as genre defining -- that genre has already been defined for over 30 years. There many albums, IMO, that didn't define any genres, but did it much better than the ones that did.

That being said, AW s/t still reigns supreme.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Diabolik

Jason, do you get paid for mentioning the thrash demo's? Literally you mention them everytime someone talks about Angel Witch.

Yes, because if you get my point, those were recorded when thrash was king.
(IE - They were being influenced by the bands who THEY had an influence on, and tried to ride the wave).

Do your homework fellas. They even hired Tom Hunting from EXODUS to drum on those demos.

I bring it up to show this isn't the first time they "went with the times"

Bottom line is that BOTH the ST and the new one are AMAZING!

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by dcowboys311

There many albums, IMO, that didn't define any genres, but did it much better than the ones that did.

That's a bold statement my friend!!!!!

Hey, it's music. It's entertainment. It's all subjective.

A lot has to do when a listener got into a band as well, ya know?

SLAYER for me is the perfect example.

When I first heard SLAYER in the mid 80s, I was always "whatever" about them. Then REIGN IN BLOOD came out and it was the greatest thing (at that time) I had heard from an extreme metal band.

A lot of newer fans almost despise that album because of HOW much it is praised. Though for me personally, its because of THAT album why I have even remotely ever cared about SLAYER. The rest of their catalog is hit or miss for me.

So, because of that reason, if SLAYER ever DID release something remotely as amazing (to me once again) as RIB, I doubt I would ever be able to consider it in the same sentence as RIB

Though, I could and would certainly enjoy it!!!!

[Jasonic]

For those who haven't heard anything from the demos we are speaking of:

You Tube

[SteelFireRecs]

Just got yesterday:
Ancient Creation - Moonlight Monument
Blacksmith - Strike While the Iron's Hot
Stallion - Violate the Night
Witchunter - Crystal Demons

[Justin Gaines]

Good stuff. I'm making my annual Record Store Day pilgrimage from DC to Charlotte this weekend, so I hope to come back with stacks of cheap metal discs.

[DMR]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

That album was also the beginning of Schafer's recycling period.

I thought Schafer's recycling period began with the second song he wrote.

The latest CDs I got:
Insania - Set Them Free
Abraxas - Tomorrow's World