Uvall - October Turns...Ruined

Uvall – October Turns...Ruined

My fellow metal colleague and host of this blog, Judge Shredd, once explained to me that black metal can vaguely be classified as "frozen crypt" black metal or "dark forest/swamp/nature/mountains" black metal. I immediately knew what he was talking about, but neither of us could firmly articulate what classifies a particular recording as one or the other. The aesthetics and art style of the band usually gives some clue, but even in the absence of such images listeners can usually agree on "forest" or "crypt". Mayhem, for instance, is resolutely in the "crypt" group; it would seem out of place otherwise. Likewise, Wolves in the Throne room doesn't conjure images of the spirits of ancient kings haunting catacombs. Another common thread worth noting is that black metal bands which focus on contemplative atmospherics, ambience, and painting an aural picture are nearly always of the "forest" group (one exception I can think of off the top of my head is Elysian Blaze). October Turns...Ruined another exception to the trend; creating an enveloping, morose brand of black/doom metal from a diverse range of influences while mainting a great deal of originality and avoiding many of the cartoonish cliches that plague the ambient black metal and doom metal genres.

Describing a very obscure release like this usually warrants comparisons to other groups or albums, but that's difficult in the case of October Turns...Ruined. At any given moment, the listener will be hearing 1991 nordic style riffs, but in the same track there will be funeral doom paced chaotic dissonance, evil sounding acoustic guitars, or tranquil ambient sections. Despite bouncing around stylstically, the music never has a jagged feeling and all of the transitions feel fluid and unforced. "Melancholy", for instance, integrates many different moods and paces, but nothing feels out of place or contrived. I'm usually weary of ambient elements being used in black metal, as it often gives musicians an excuse to repeat the same thing over and over again. Anyone remember Velvet Cacoon's 1-2 note ambient tracks that went on for 25 minutes? Uvall stays away from this, the most "ambient" track, "End", is 15 minutes in duration, yet stays constantly varied and interesting while still being very laid back and immersive.

The vocals are done solely in the black metal style. The vocals are tasteful and not particularly abrasive or odd. They actually have minimal presence overall and don't detract or add anything major. The guitar and drum work is predominantly slow and doomy with a few mid-tempo section, and maintaining a very "evil" atmosphere and feel throughout. One thing to note is that the production quality is extremely high for a release this obscure and in this genre. Everything is completely clear and crisp. I was surprised to discover after that this was a 1 man project after I had several listens to the album.

Overall a very solid release which takes some of the best aspects of black metal and doom metal and brings them together while adding creative and original flare.

93/100.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xz6rpmfyxjxrp7c

80s

Yippee kai yay, motherfucker

Cletic Frost - Cold Lake(1988)

Shut the fuck up and hear me out: People love to shit on this album, and to some extent I understand. I mean look at these fucking guys:

I know that people wanted Cold Lake to be another Morbid Tales or at least Into the Pandemonium. And it definately is Frost's worst but a 4% on Metal-Archives? Not to me.  This makes me think that most of the detractors havent really listened to the album. Mabe they just heard "Cherry Orchards" or saw the band photos and wrote off the album as a sellout. Maybe they named their parent's basement Gravehill. Whatever their motives it is a classic case of people expecting a  band to keep making the same album over and over again. Even Tom G. Warrior has disavowed the album, but what? Did they put hairspray on him while he was asleep? Is that not him in an acid washed canadian tuxedo, fingerless gloves and calculator watch? Did he not sing "Seep from lace. Roses for an unborn face"?

But G-Zeus if this album isn't that bad. It sucks, but it's not terrible. Forget all the hairspray, lip gloss and canadian tuxedos: Its still a Celtic Frost album. Even though they try so hard to be Whitesnake or Motley Crue, they still can't not be Frost. Even with the fancy production, slick soloz and songs about Marylin Monroe, its still has Tomas Gabriel Warrior singing and playing guitar. He yells "hey" at random points in songs and the band as a whole just aren't good enough musicians to play hair metal convincingly. They come across more as Celtic Frost aping classic NWOBHM riffage with an effeminate troll singing. That's OK in my book.

Some songs are fucking awful: "Tease Me," "Petty Obsession" and "Little Velvet" stand out and the rap intro sets new standards of terribleness, but "Cherry Orchards" "Seduce Me Tonight" and "Downtown Hanoi" are great songs if anybody but Frost did them.

This is not a good album, especially compared to everything else Frost had done before or since, but if you're like me and don't mind some ozone layer depleting hair metal now and then, give it a spin. I just can't bring myself to hate this album: a solid 45% in my book.

We are drowning in purple wine/Standing as one, as one we line.

Mars - Reign of Suns (2008)

Let me tell you that this is probably the best sludge/doom you have never heard. With a blackened vocal style and incredibly well written riffage, New Orleans' Mars give you four songs that will only be best appreciated at the highest of volumes. I cannot recount how many drunk people in Flagstaff have appreciated hearing these riffs emanating at max volume from my car while simultaneously having no idea what the fuck is playing. Dug up from the depths of the interhole by my friend Judge Shredd last year, I have played this album at least once every week and it never gets old. Reign of Suns clocks in at 54 and half minutes. While much of it is atonal guitar feedback in between the songs it is well worth your patience to hear the song develop its riffs even though all of the four songs are longer than 10 minutes. Prepare your bong. Bust out the best beer you have. This is the best sludge I've heard since Eyehategod started doing heroin and NOLA should be proud of this fine band. Highly, highly, HIGHly recommended.

See? This fish just listened to Reign of Suns and I felt the same way. Get your hands on this now if you don't.

Awwww Shit

Milking the Tiger Presents: Hardcore Video Hall of Fame

First of all, this goes to show how ridiculous any hardcore band that's not Integrity is. Unfortunately it makes me feel bad about making fun of these guys (most of them anyways) and realize they are just being honest about what they like. Plus most of them are from former Soviet bloc countries. It brings to mind the deep philosophical question "Which is worse: juggalo or hipster?" It's hipster cuz at least juggalos are honest about themselves whereas hipster is completely devoid of honesty as a subculture.

I'm sure all these guys watch Immortal vid's and get a laugh out of them. And you could do a list like this for black metal alone. The real point is, as Tom Araya said: "There's only one kind of music in this world and that is Fast, Hard"

No real order but generally more ridiculous as it goes down, but A-No.-1 is most definitely the Crimescene vid. Whatever, enjoy

Cunthunt 777: "Ventil"
Low placing on this list because I think the band is a joke band (There's a difference: some bands are joke bands, other bands are jokes): sweatpants, doing a chrismas song and being named Cunthunt 777.
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone christianity

Billy the Kid: "Ed Gein"
Man, song called "Ed Gein" off the album Jonestown, I almost thought they were holy terror. Alas, straight thugcore. With the hip-hop intro, flat brimz, bike riding, the guitarists hipsterfag 'stashe (mabe they like Warbringer-dipshits) and huge ass earings, this represents everything I hate about hardcore. Double xFuckyousx forbeing SxE. Way to be sheep, brahs .
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone straightedge or hipstaches

8control: "Our Time"
Im not too familiar with queercore, but this video is a great example of that running in place thing that the kids do these days. It also made me realize that "pit moves" are gymnastics and tai-chi's retarded offspring.
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone pit moves

Deez Nuts: "Hustle Everyday"
Im pretty sure that hooking up your frat bros up with weed and date raping the first chick who passes out at your Thursday night party ain't hustlin. But they quote the Wu-Tang, so they must know what they're talking bout.
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone bros

Villainz United: "Скажи Мне Это В Лицо"
Seems like everybody in Russia has brass knuckles.
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone street violence

Ultra Pultra: "Bydlo Hardcore"
Props cuz the vocalist kinda reminds me of Tom G. Warrior, and has a general primitive Frosty vibe. On this list cuz of the walk through Belarus with the "gun", synchronized moshing, fake fighting, the eurotrash techno ending plus too many gems to list, just watch the vid. Favorite band in terms of music on the list.
Remember: only death is real.
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone open carry where it is illegal, please check your local laws

Odessa (UK): "All I Have"
Where to begin? The thug/deathcore hyprid breaks new ground of terribleness. The singer's shorts and down jacket+the guitarists' skinny jeans=hipster. Plus, who the FUCK uses a Telecaster for HxC?
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone hipster

Facecast: "Wifebeater"
"This is my house
These are my rules
Get off your ass and make me some food!"
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone domestic violence

1. Crimescene: "Outcasts"
"Hardcore and Drive-bys. Yeah c'mon!"
All day everyday SON!!!
Legal Disclaimer: Milking the Tiger does not condone drivebys



Anyone wanna join my thugcore band? It's gonna be called Neighborhood Watch.

Thergothon - Fhtagn-Nagh Yog-Sothoth(1991)

Finland's Thegothon is probably the first funeral doom band. Formed in 1990 they beat Skepticism and Funeral by a year, Esoteric by two and Mournful Congregation by three. Evoken, the US's biggest funeral doom band took their name from the third song on their Fhtagn-Nagh Yog-Sothoth demo. Thergothon is kind of a big deal.

Thergothon took the death crawl of Winter and slowed it down to a funeral march and cut out the mid paced parts. They added some slow melodic parts, clean vocals mixed in with the death vox and droning keyboards in between the dirges that make up most of the music. As slow as it is it takes great riffs and songwriting skill to keep the listeners attention and not get bored. This demo never gets stale or boring.

 Its rare to have a band that you can say their demo sounds beter than their album. Thergothon is the only one i can think of. Fhtagn-Nagh Yog-Sothoth has much more low end and clearer production than their only full length Stream from the Heavens, which is very overblown to point of flanging. Overall the music is about the same quality, but the production tips the scale towards Fhtagn-Nagh Yog-Sothoth.

"THE POWERS OF THE SEA SEA, THE EARTH, THE WINDS AND THE FIRE, CAN YOU HEAR MY CHANT?"

Funerus - Reduced to Sludge (2011)

Ever since Immolation released a fucking incredible EP this year I discoverd more old school death metal bands. If your a fan of Incantation you will certainly find this Incantation side project in your tastes. This makes sense because Incantation's founder/guitarist John McEntee writes and plays for Funerus along with his wife who does bass and vocals for the band. Vocals are shared by Jill and John and make a very good death metal vocal combination. Reduced to Sludge despite its name, has no sludge influences. This is pure death metal in the Incantation vein. Sure to satisfy your taste for pure death metal. As you might expect from Incantation's McEntee there is good songwriting throughout the album. Nothing genre breaking or experimental. Just expect tight instruments, good production and talented songwriting. Drink a beer and crank this shit up.

Reduced To Tr00 Death Metal