Recent Downloads and Purchases

I have been away from my beloved Mac for some time and will be in the foreseeable future. There is a very good reason and the remedy is, unfortunately, beyond my reach. Suffice to say that I am stuck with what I have on my iPod - which is not too shabby at all - and the age-old tradition of listening to CDs. I am a product of the 90s, what can you say?

Anyhoo, I decided to break the silence in this blog by another lazy list - you have to start somewhere. Here's a list of my recent purchases and/or downloads. And a few words about them:

Ashes Against the Grain by Agalloch: This 2006 album by Portland's finest makes all other American metal resleases - at least in the extreme end of the spectrum - look pale  by comparison. I think the only legitimate rival band to Opeth to come out of the US is Agalloch. The sublime "Not Unlike the Waves" is a testament to that. Check out the video - a shortened version - here.

Elegy by Amorphis: This is not strictly a new purchase, but a replacement. I used to own a pirated cassette tape of this a while back, but it got lost along the five hundred moves I have made over the years. This transition album by the Finnish metal stars is, in my opinion, their best. Even though not on the album, "My Kantele"'s acoustic version - which was released as EP the following year - is a great introduction to the band. And perhaps their best song. 

Everyday Demons by The Answer: The second album from Northern Ireland's brightest new band is a worthy follow-up to their amazing debut. More polished and sounding more "American", this album should see them receive more attention. And deservedly so. Here's "Keep Believin'" from their debut EP of the same name.

Scream by Chris Cornell: I have shed my thoughts on this album elsewhere. I have to say my thougts haven't changed much.

Diagonal by Diagonal: Prog-rock-is-back is now old news. The good news, though, is that it's not just some nostalgic trip like the current new breed of thrash bands coming out every day. There are bands, like Diagonal here, who push the boundaries and yet hark back to olden times. This is an outstanding album that is eerily similar to early King Crimson without being straight copies. Watch this band.

Heart on by Eagles of Death Metal: Back with a vengeance, the band is on blistering form on this album. How they manage to stay away from being mere parodies of themselves is due to their brilliant musical ability and the chops to write a decent tune or two. Double entendres galore, this is the ultimate party album. The lead-off single "WannaBe L.A." is a sample of what you could expect.

Harcdore Superstar by Hardcore Superstar: This Swedish quartet claim to be a thrash-glam band. And that is just as awesome as the name suggests. This is the album that Axl should have made instead of the shit he just put out. One blistering riff after another, the album just plainly rocks your socks off. Heed.

Crack the Skye by Mastodon: Arguably the most anticipated metal release of 2009 did not disappoint. Although Mastodon are getting "slower" by every album, musically they are growing more mature. It's not as immediately appealing as the brilliant Blood Mountain, but Crack the Skye will remain a pivotal release in this band's career. Check out the first single, "Divinations"

Believe in Nothing by Paradise Lost: I'm kickng myself for not appreciating this band earlier. On the other hand, it's great to have a band with a sizable back catalogue to discover. This is supposed to be one of their most commercial releases. It's not as heavy or dark as some of their other stuff and overall it's a disappointing album. But there are some real gems here, like "Fader". 

Amor Vincit Omnia by Pure Reason Revolution: I have to admit I was pretty scared for this band - their debut, The Dark Third, was mind-blowingly good and there was no way they could have topped it. My fears were confirmed, but I was pleasantly surprised how good this album turned out to be. They take a more electronic route - and you know how I feel about that. I'm already dreading the new Muse album. But, the results are actually very good. This album ended up having more cojones than its predecessor. Now I wonder what new direction they will take.

Crooked Timber by Therapy?: As always, no hook or melody is wasted. Therapy?'s latest is another collection of great punk-rock with a unique touch. This time they add a little Joy Division and Cure in the mix and the result is fantastic. They just keep on releasing good stuff. How? I've no clue. Here's a blast from the past.

So these are the latest stuff that I've beem mulling over. I'm sure there'll be new stuff soon.

Peace.