Oh my god i totally forgot i had a blog, for slightly over a year. I assume all my fans have been looking in weekly for updates with baited breath. Anyways, to slide you guys back into the way things are in my current listening environment, heres my top 10 tracks i listened to in the last week. Boo Yah!

1. Ben Folds - You Dont Know Me feat. Regina Spektor
2. Empire of the Sun - Walking On A Dream
3. Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
4. One Day As A Lion - Wild International
5. PNAU - Embrace (feat Ladyhawke)
6. The Rapture - No Sex For Ben
7. Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
8. The Streets - The Escapist
9. Van She - Changes
10. Death Cab For Cutie - Cath...

A Heavy Metal History Part 2: The Great Divide

Ahh, the 80’s, mainly renowned for the mullet and the synthesiser, two things which can be found in the incredible divergence of heavy metal in the 1980’s. Many people look down on the 80’s, ignoring it musically to avoid seeming kitsch. Whats the matter with kitsch, everything to do with metal is kitsch and that’s why the 80’s loved it sooooo much. During the early 80’s heavy metal divided itself into several sub genres which I wish to explore in my next few posts. These subgenres still exist today and are the basis of most of today’s heavy metal sounds. Im going to begin the rest of my heavy metal anthology with the 2 most popular forms of metal established In the 80’s: Pop metal and NWOBHM.

Forms Of Metal Divergence 1: New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (aka NWOBHM)

After punk rock decimated the plans of many 70’s heavy metal bands, some true hard nuts of the 70’s scene emerged on the other side of the decade and were out for blood. This New wave of heavy metal was a reaction against the punk rock aesthetic though ironically it derived many elements from the punk movements. These bands were interested in amplification and musicianship, but borrowed some of punk’s directness and speed. What emerged was power chords, fast guitar solos and melodic, soaring vocals, with lyrical themes often drawing inspiration from mythology, fantasy fiction, and the occult. In other words all the things that makes metal AWESOME. Although ignored by critics, it dominated the hard rock scene in the early to mid 80’s.

Many important bands emerged from this scene, it was an amazing melting pot for many bands to draw upon in the coming decades. Releases like Motorhead’s the Ace Of Spades in 1980 had an incredibly dramatic influence on the later thrash metal sound of bands like Metallica and Megadeth. Venom actually became the building block for the important black metal scene later on in the decade and Def Leppard would go on to sell more records than all of these bands put together when they would later drive the glam metal scene of the mid 80’s. The bands of heavy metal stalwarts Ronnie James Dio and Ozzy Osbourne would go on to have success in this field as well, creating Dio’s Holy Diver and Osbourne’s Blizzard Of Ozz, two albums that would influence a generation of metal heads.

Iron Maiden also emerged from this fertile musical soil to become one of the greatest and most recognised British metal bands of all time. It all began with their early records featuring Paul Di'Anno’s punk infused vocals, an epically mythic aesthetic and the melodic dual guitars of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. However, due to Di’Anno’s slight (massive) cocaine problem the band sacked him for their most popular vocalist, the man, Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson’s style of singing would go on to be the most duplicated style in all of heavy metal.

In modern times, the NWOBHM style is still embraced around the world, especially in Europe. These days however, it is known widely as power metal. Power metal is a combination of what they call traditional metal (NWOBHM) with speed and thrash metal, often coupled with daunting technical skills. The extreme sense of this is found in bands like Sonata Arctica, Blind Guardian and the English insanity of DragonForce, the self confessed fastest band in the world.

Metal MP3 Awesomeness:
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
Def Leppard - Photograph
Iron Maiden - The Trooper
Dio - Holy Diver
Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
Dragon force - Through the Fire And Flames

Forms Of Metal Divergence 2: Pop Metal/Glam Metal/Hair Metal ect.

Awesome. Anyone who doesn’t like Pop metal is a pansy, not the other way around. Sure the hair is questionable, and these bands invented the power ballad but without it what would you sing when your drunk? Are you going to go with some Joy Division or Bon Jovi’s Livin On a Prayer. I think I know the answer to that question. You see, although it may not be the most progressive or original form of music it did tap into something universal. Sex. Glam metal is probably the most porno form of music besides anything by Curtis Mayfield. These guys all had a lot of sex, and then they wrote about it, and girls bought it and screwed them some more. It’s a vicious cycle.

When did it begin I hear you say. Well as is obvious Glam metal is an even mixture of the metal of the 70’s like Alice Cooper, KISS and Queen with the glam rock of the 70’s like David Bowie and T.Rex. These two components came together, mixing the make up and garishness of glam rock with the harder edge and epic sound of heavy metal. What resulted was a band called Hanoi Rocks from Finland a band known for their flair and over the top gaudiness. However, the band commonly known as the true beginning of the genre is Motley Crue. In 1981 they released their first album Too Fast For Love and along with their subsequent release Shout At The Devil, these two albums cemented a sound which would be exploited all the way throughout the 80’s.

Through 1983 and 1984 many extremely influential album were released by the true staples of the glam rock genre. Def Leppard’s Pyromania spawned their first smash hit single Photograph which helped them along to be the best selling glam metal band of the 80’s with sales past 70 million. Motley Crue kept on gaining more recognition in the US with their fellow glam metallers Twisted Sister and Ratt. However towards the end of the decade their was a definite formula being exploited called the power ballad. Bands would release an album of hard hitting rock and then sugar it up with a power ballad. Power ballads are the worst form of songs ever and are a blight on every single great pop metal release of the 80’s. For Bon Jovi it was Always, Winger had heading for a heartbreak, Scorpions had the horrific Winds Of Change and Poison last but most least had the worst song ever written, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, a number 1 hit somehow.

Then comes the fall, Grunge has often been blamed for the demise of pop metal, the public apparently rejected the excess of the mainstream for the dark themes and suicidal charisma of Kurt Cobain. But ultimately, Pop metal dug its own grave with floored generic song writing and overconfident sense of invulnerability. After Guns and Roses released Use Your Illusion 1 there was no doubt this genre was dead in the water, but we salute you Pop metal of the 80’s for you rocked hard and had lots of sex, and isn’t that what rock music is about.

Metal MP3 Awesomeness:
Bon Jovi - Blaze Of Glory
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock
Winger - Seventeen
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
Guns n Roses - Welome To The Jungle

A Heavy Metal History, The Tale Of The Metal Gods

And then there was metal. A musical force to be reckoned with. Probably the most maligned and underrated form of music excluding country. The kind of music that your parents hate, and the kind can make you neighbours ears bleed. Both majestically beautiful and brutally cathartic, metal expresses what no other form of music can. It’s can be both the devils music or gods musical present to the world. It’s the music worlds big conundrum. Art Or Trash? Music or Noise? I think you can guess how I feel about heavy metal, but how much do you really know about metal? Do you judge from afar, not truly knowing how it began and how influential it has become? If so come with me on a journey as I charter the ages of metal in awesome, time consuming and ultimately rewarding mega-posts about my favourite kind of music.

The Origins Of The Metal (1968 – 1980)

Part 1: Proto-metal Or Hard Rock (<1970)

Where did metal begin I hear you ask? Good question, and a much debated topic among those of us who truly know our metal. Probably the easiest answer is to go with the obvious, the origin of the word heavy metal.

The words “heavy metal thunder” can be heard in Steppenwolf’s quintessential song Born To Be Wild, released on their self-titled album in 1968. This is believed to be the genesis of the phrase heavy metal, despite the fact that Steppenwolf’s music was not exactly representative of the Heavy Metal sound. It is also known that the phrase “metal music” was used by William Burroughs in his novel “Nova Express” published in 1962. However, the first official use of the term heavy metal in relation to a particular style of music was not in common usage until such true progenitors of Heavy Metal such as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest came in to existence during the 70’s. All music that represents Heavy Metal’s roots prior to this ‘official’ beginning is termed to be Proto-Metal or Hard Rock, and is not considered heavy metal per se, despite its obvious influence.

If we go back far enough we can see Heavy Metal beginning with music’s transition into electronic instruments, electric guitars and amplifiers in particular. Right through the 60’s we can see an increasing number of bands including The Rolling Stones And the Yardbirds taking old blues classics and “electrifying” them, rerecording those songs with often distorted and dissonant guitar sounds. This trend reached a knew level when this blues influence met with the psychedelic rock of the 1960’s. The supergroup Cream were particularly influential in the generation of a more original more recognisable heavy metal sound. Throughout their albums you can hear Eric Clapton’s screaming guitar solos and Ginger Baker’s signature double bass drumming forming the basis for the Heavy Metal bands to come. One listen to their classic “White Room” and its really quite obvious.

The next step in the genre’s birth was an original thematic aesthetic, an aesthetic delivered by none other than American rock troubadours Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page’s highly distorted guitar solos and Robert Plant’s lyrical dramatics and wailing tone are now standout features of heavy metal throughout the ages (listen to “Immigrant Song” for the best example of this). And then something magical happened.

Classic Metal MP3’s (<1970)

Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
Cream – White Room
The Yardbirds – I Wish You Would

Part II: Heavy Metal Pioneers (1970 – 1975)

Heavy Metal was born in the hearts and minds of two incredibly important bands, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Black Sabbath’s heavy metal sound was born out of necessity. Their lead guitarist and cofounder Tommy Iommi had his hand mangled in a machinery accident at the age of fifteen, forcing him to relearn to play guitar. This involved him detuning his guitar in order to take advantage of the simpler chord structures. This deeper distorted sound was important in defining the heavy metal sound, which was perfected on their second album Paranoid, an international smash featuring their hits Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.

Deep Purple on the other hand needed a few albums before they truly defined their heavy metal sound. In 1970, Deep Purple released their fourth album “Deep Purple In Rock”, a total revamp of their poppier earlier style. They also reached a mainstream audience, scoring a place for Black Night at number 2 on the UK charts. Part of this heavy metal mainstream success were other influential heavy metal bands including Uriah Heep, Kiss And Rainbow. These bands would go on to have a great deal of success within the heavy metal genre. Bands like Kiss were famous for their on stage theatrics and aesthetic focus, something that while being popular, made metal appear hokey and gimmicky to musical critics, resulting in poor critical support. Only today with the benefit of hindsight can we see the true importance of these heavy metal pioneers.

Classic Metal MP3’s (1970 - 1975)

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water
Black Sabbath – Iron Man
Kiss – Strutter

Part III: Mainstream Dominance, The Metal Strikes Back

As I was saying in part II metal was generally regarded by the populace as an amusing but ultimately shallow form of rock music and metal sales fell sharply towards the end of the decade. Punk music had taken the world by storm, dominating the mainstream consciousness with a message that said “fuck you” to rock music’s pomposity and decadence. This was however an important stage in the development of the true metal sound we love today. As the metal bands went underground, its aesthetic spread into the mainstream music of the late 70’s. Metal’s stage antics were alive and well in Alice Cooper, its showy vocals prevalent in Queen, its duelling guitar onslaught in Thin Lizzy, its grand themes in the thundering compositions of Rainbow and all of these aspects were featured in the music of Judas Priest. These more mainstream rock bands helped to solidify the archetype of what was to become the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The sound was cleaner, faster, less blues based and very epic. The bands of today look back on this type of metal being the most influential on the current scene, the genesis of metal in the truest sense. Metal was to take the next decade by the horns and make the 80’s its bitch.

Classic Metal MP3’s (1975 - 1980)

Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town
Queen – Killer Queen
Judas Priest - Breaking The Law
Alice Cooper - Schools Out

Thus concludes the first instalment of the heavy metal history. Stay tuned in coming weeks for a deeper exploration of heavy metal in the 80's and beyond.

Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times

Well, the kings definitely don’t give a shit about their “target audience”, which in my critical eye is a good thing. I say this because there’s really nothing much on this album that resembles the Southern Rock driven tunes from their 2004 release “Aha Shake Heartbreak”. Good. No offence to that album, but there was a point where the hype couldn’t cover the sameyness of the tunes. Not so with Because Of The Times. It turns out that KOL have figured out how to use their studio at last and these tunes are a great testament to the kinds of real artistic changes a band can make and still remain true to their essence. For example, the second track entitled “Charmer” is totally from left field. It looks as if KOL have started to listen to Sonic Youth, heaving bass lines and discordant dual guitars rule the day. And its one of my favourite tracks. There are a couple of more familiar KOL tracks here such as “Fans” and “Black Thumbnail” and yet these tracks seem to have more of an edge to them than anything found on Aha Shake Heartbreak. Theres an alienating kind of distancing sound found in all of these tracks, reminiscent to the aesthetic of a Joy Division or even Echo And The Bunnymen. Theres a sort of New Wave aesthetic running all the way through this album and I love it. So I recommend this album to everyone, sure it takes a few listens to grow on you, but I always find that my favourite albums always do.

On Call [MP3]
Charmer [MP3]
Black Thumbnail [MP3]

Open Hand – You And Me

It’s really criminal that this band hasn’t been acknowledged at a mainstream level like they deserve. I happened on Open Hand almost by accident when surveying the local libraries music collection. The cover art was subtle, and I couldn’t tell what kind of music it might be until I rolled it over and noticed a big fat Roadrunner Records sticker on the back. Needless to say, assuming they were some kind of American groove metal band. How could I be so wrong? It took 2 listens of this album for it to be one of my favourite hard rock releases ever. Open Hand splice together several different genres including indie rock, groove metal, stoner rock, electronica and many others to create a truly original sound with their incredible musical ingenuity and skill. Open Hand can sound like Mastodon or Modest Mouse in the same song, its really incredible how versatile this album is. Take tracks like “Pure Concentrated Evil”, “Take No Action” and “Waiting For Katy” all totally rocking tracks who would totally be at home on the latest foo fighters or QOTSA release. Then you have tracks like “You And Me” And “Her Song”, great little indie rock songs that are totally catchy also. Then you have totally random tracks like the electronically fuelled “Newspeak” (referencing George Orwell’s 1984) and the tripped out “Elevator”. It’s just so good and totally unknown. So I recommend looking this album up, its probably one of the best surprises ive had in the music world for a couple of years.

Heres the two most kickass tracks on the album and i havent even mentioned them yet. Thats a testament to how good this really is.

Tough Girl (MP3)

Tough Guy (MP3)

Top 10 Best songs cause I say so.....

Dudes, I feel I should share with you some of the most kickass tracks I’ve heard so far this year. Oh, by the way, these are mostly indie tracks cause I have been covering a lot of metal lately and I usually try to be fairly even minded. Enjoy,

10. Albert Hammond Jr – In Transit

We know he’s the guitarist for the Strokes, but who would have known he was the obviously talented one. Sure hes rich and hes got that whole my dads controlling and named me after himself in an attempt to justify his life thing going on but this song is damn catchy.

9. Beck – I Think I’m In Love

You know they say that this album isn’t selling as well as Guero did, but I actually like this album more. This song is a perfect example of why I feel that way. It’s catchy, interesting and sort of endearing in the way the lyrics tell the story of a total deadbeat screwing up his hopes of romance. I like it.

8. The Shins – Sea Legs

Wow. This song is a large departure from their prior well loved brand of soft indie pop. And I appreciate a band who has the balls to break away from a stereotype and embrace new styles. Sea Legs is about as close as the shins have got to a dance song and its one of those tracks that takes up shop in your head. Catchy as bird flu.

7. Ryan Adams – Oh My God, Whatever, Ect.

I know this isn’t actually released yet, but Ryan Adams is a personal favourite of mine and I had to include this live version of a song from his forthcoming LP Easy Tiger. A really beautiful song even in this unfinished form

6. LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum

Unlike the vast majority of Americans, LCD Soundsystem’s driving musical force James Murphy obviously knows how to take the piss. And I respect that in a man. This is a total dance-the-night-away ditty of epic proportions, expect much gyration and white boy dancing.

5. Bright Eyes – Four Winds

Oh hooray. Bright Eyes has finally achieved his wish of becoming Ryan Adams. So country, and I have been known to love a country song. Sorry but if theres one genre where Conor Oberst’s crackly voice and melancholic lyrics would be perfectly suited too, its in country music. More of it I say.

4. Modest Mouse – Dashboard

People are saying that this is Modest Mouse’s sell-out song, but I just say its one of the best indie songs out there at the moment. And I would be right. Modest Mouse’s best song since Roll On, and I may be attacked by a million indie kids for that comment but notify me when I start caring about that.

3. Kings Of Leon - On Call

Another big change. This one came straight from left field, its really good, but really different. It's the kind of change that could either bring KOL to a bigger audience or make them lose the one they already have. Im convinced though if thats any indication. Needs a few listens but i really love this track.

2. Klaxons – Golden Skans

This song just doesn’t get old. Ive heard it about 30 times in the last week and I still hum along. I’d never heard about them until I heard this song on Triple J and from there it was just all kinds of love. I haven’t got the album yet but id be tempted to buy it on the strength of this song.

1. Maximo Park – Our Velocity

This song is the best indie song of the year so far. It’s intense, melodically interesting, well arranged and catchy as hell. I was whistling this song after two listens and that really all I have to say, its just so damn good. Thank god these boys decided to release more music.

On The Horizon (OF METAL)

I like to keep my non existent fan base up to date with the important releases of the future, because it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling deep inside. Plus ive got nothing better to do. Here are some of the important releases coming soon.

Machine Head – The Blackening

Important because Machine Head’s last album was a motherfucking asskick. That’s the proper musical terminology I believe. Expect fast paced technical groove metal, with a little bit of 90’s thrash thrown in too. I’ve a few of the leaked songs and by the sounds of it, it could actually out-do It’s predecessor.

Machine Head - Aesthetics Of Hate

Dark Tranquillity – Fiction

One of my favourites, co-originators (along with In Flames) of the Gothenburg sound, these heavy metal stalwarts keep on coming with one solid album after another. I cant seen a massive change happening with this record but I’d expect it to be another solid release. Their guitarists create some of the best metal riffing around.

Dark Tranquillity - Focus Shift

Shadows Fall – Threads Of Life

It will be very interesting to see if Shadows Fall can survive the transition to a major label that so many other bands haven’t. If you like you American metalcore, Shadows Fall dish it out better than most. They’ve done well not to get lost among the flood of metalcore bands that have spawned in the post-Killswitch frenzy. I HOPE its good.

Listen to their new stuff here

Chimaira – Resurrection

I’ve heard the first single and its pretty awesome. Should be interesting to see if these boys can recover some form after being dropped from Roadrunner Records last year. Expect some A-Grade post thrash groove metal, fitting for all your head banging needs.

Listen to their new stuff here

So keep on rocking rest assured that these titles are on the horizon and ready to rip the proverbial jugular right out of your heavy metal necks in the very near future.

Machine Head’s Comeback-o-rama

Machine Head have always been a love or hate thing for me. Anyone who knows anything about 90’s metal realises that Machine Head’s debut release “Burn My Eyes” is metal masterpiece, helping to establish America as a breeding ground for refreshing metal originality. However, what did they do? Threw it all away just to cash in on the nu metal fad. Since their first phenomenal release Machine Head have become in increasingly worse, and despite the fact that Machine Head albums were still selling well in 2002, they decided to split, disillusioned with their musical direction and integrity. Cause they were shit. Then they realised that playing music would be heaps easier than working. So they reformed and remembered how metal is supposed to go. “Through The Ashes Of Empires” was one of my personal favourite metal albums of 2003 and totally from left field because like nearly everyone else I thought they were stuck in mediocre land. However the ripped out a kickass album and are about to release one that could be even better. “The Blackening” (which I have heard due to it being leaked about 2 weeks ago) is even more interesting than TTAOE as it sees Machine Head exploring the type of hyper technical extreme metyal they should have pursued from the start. Well done Machine Head you’ve one me back. I will buy this album.

Machine Head - The Blackening

Click Here For Your Free "Aesthetics Of Hate" MP3 from "The Blackening".

Machine Head - Silver (The Crap phase)

Machine Head - Days Turn Blue To Gray (Kick Ass Comeback Phase)

Misery Signals: Be A Fan

Rarely do I find a band that I both appreciate for pure visceral release and ethereal beauty at the same time, but that is the reason why I am writing this article, to let people know what a great band Misery Signals are. They stand along with Dillinger Escape Plan, Fear Before the March of Flames (their new album I mean), Protest the Hero and The Red Chord as being the only bands in the mathcore/metalcore subgenres trying to take some artistic or adventurous leaps for the benefit of the listeners. Nearly everyone else has taken to the “more of the same” money grabbing techniques ive come to despise. Fans say they want more of the same, but they don’t. They don’t know what they want. Only black metal fans generally want more of the same. Everyone else who is sane, they want at least an exploration of the musical genre. Enter Misery Signals, first with the interesting s/t debut EP, the seminal debut effort “Of Malice And Magnum Heart” and more recently with their brilliant sophomore album “Mirrors”. Still very much a ‘metalcore’ band, MS manage to inject an interesting mix of dillinger-like jazzy unpredictability, an incredible knack for a great melodic guitar line and still manage to maintain a brutality that rivals some of metalcore’s greats. Buy their albums, buy their t-shirts, buy their bobbly-headed dashboard dolls, have their children, just make sure you don’t miss out on these guys, I have a feeling they’ll be round for a while yet.

Listen to:
Five Years
The Year Summer Ended In June

Both tracks come from "Of Malice And Magnum Heart".

Musings On The Summer Song

Hello! After an unfortunate hiatus, I have returned to continue writing about musicy stuff. Sorry about the gap – I'm in the middle of my summer holidays, which means that time passes at three thousand times the regular speed and all spare time gets instantly filled. So, in tribute to the summerness of summer holidays, I thought I'd work out what makes a great summer song.

First of all, it has to capture some sort of feeling about the heat. There is the morning sunrisey bit, when everything is calm, slightly cool, clear and simple. You'd probably want a lot of treble sounds, maybe some xylophone or something. Bright, happy sounds but not particularly energetic. Great example: Glosoli and Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros (they sound like a sunrise). If you live in Australia, or anywhere that gets really hot, then you would understand that in the afternoon of a really hot day, everyone starts getting sweaty and the air is heavy. This is the best time to be in the crowd at a music festival – and the perfect music captures the thick feeling. Songs for this time have to sound a little sweaty and half-naked (someone I knew once described them as 'primal'), and they have to have some sort of wall of sound thing going on – but not too much bass. Once you start adding massive bass lines, you end up with winter material. The subject matter can't be too dark either – we're in bright sunshine, not rain and clouds. Songs to listen to: Minerva by the Deftones and One Great Summer by Amplifier (most things by Amplifier fit the bill). Finally the evening, when it's still rather hot, but now everyone is way to tired to do anything about it. You need calm songs, with a few notes and lots of space between them, or man and his guitar and cello. Break for Me by Art of Fighting, or Sirens by My Friend the Chocolate cake, or any Damien Rice or some smooth jazz (like Cassandra Wilson)– all these are songs to fall asleep to.

Second, as mentioned a little above, a summer song cannot be depressing or angry. The surfie songs of the 60's got it right when they talked about sitting on the beach and having an awesome time. The winter blues is a documented medical condition, but sunlight makes you happy. While I'm not a big fan of traditional summer music (the heat in Melbourne is usually a little too strong to match), a good summer song has to celebrate something not despair – excepting the evening stuff, when it's all about the sound rather than the lyrics.

Thirdly, a great summer song has to make you feel good. Whether its a powerful feeling from intense sound, or incredibly peaceful, or joyous from the sheer beauty of the music, summer music has to prop you up, not bring you down. It's the holidays! Go, celebrate, sit on the beach or go for a walk, or have a great big party (funk music makes great summer party music)!