Continuity

So I am back from my trip, good times were to be had. However, I've decided to focus my energies into something that is longer than the blog format will allow. I'm writing a retrospective of the decade in rock music. Also, school is starting once again, and I'm currently obsessed with playing the World War II campaign in Civilization II. Operation Sea Lion was a success! Anyways I'll probably post it on here when its done, but the more I do, the more I find that needs coverage. Anyways, I'll probably be updating about as often as I usually do, which is to say, not very.

Here's a few capsule reviews for ya...

Jesu - Jesu (2006)
Justin Broadrick's opus. The man has spent the better part of three decades redefining metal, as a member of Napalm Death, Godflesh and other shorter-lived projects, but this is my favourite record of his. All votes for Scum will be counted though. This record is absolutely colossal. Each titanic track marches at a snail's pace, like fog rolling inexorably across the horizon. Broadrick uses dense waves of distortion and syrupy atmospherics to craft music that is titanically heavy yet soothes the listener like a warm blanket. It's easy to get lost in the haze, but it's not really difficult listening. A bliss-out metal record.

Candlemass - Nightfall (1987)
I've always been a huge fan of Candlemass's debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, but had never really spent much time with the later records featuring Messiah Marcolin on vocals until recently. While Nightfall does not top Epicus in terms of doomy ambience or quality material, fans of Marcolin's more operatic vocals may prefer this release, which combines the darkness and gloom of prime Sabbath with the grandeur of classic heavy metal. Bassist and main songwriter Leif Edling possesses an astounding supply of awesome riffs, and the advanced guitar heroics of Lars Johansson conjure majestic cathedral spires.

sHEAVY - Celestial Hi-Fi (2000)
These Canadians do a cool heavy rock thing better than most of their stoner-rock contemporaries. Singer Steve Hennessy is an absolute dead ringer for Ozzy, so the Sabbath comparison get's tossed around a lot, but this record is spacier than the masters themselves ever got. sHEAVY can write a song, so the best tracks allow the band to rise above mimicry, but we're never too far off from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath territory. If that's not a problem for you, then this is a fine hard rock album. When the band stretches out, as on album-closer "Tales From The Afterburner" their ensemble playing really shines. Most of the songs here are in the 5 to 6 minute range, so there is plenty of space for the songs to roam without ever losing the listener's attention. Other standout tracks are "What's Up Mr. Zero?" and a re-recorded version of "At The Mountains Of Madness" which was previously released on their 1996 album Blue Sky Mind.

Sabbatical

I'm fed up with working for the man, so I'm going to go explore the British Columbian wilderness for about 3 weeks. See you guys when I get back. I'll definitely have lots to discuss when I get back, because I'm pretty much going to be tuned in to some heavy frequencies the whole time. In the meantime, enjoy a completely unrelated video of wintertime driving to accompany Sun Araw's excellent "Heavy Deeds." Hell, I didn't even watch it, just dig the groove, maaaaaaan. Turn it up and let it wash over you while you do something else. Droney Psych -- it's the new sound.