Angry Metal Guy

Dies Irae // Secret Veils of Passion
Rating: 1.0/5.0 — Cannot be unheard.
Label: Chaos Records
Websites: facebook.com/diesiraeonline | myspace.com/diesiraeonline
Release Dates: US: 01.09.2012 | EU:  Unknown

So, last year (also known as last week) we introduced this thing called the “Top Records We Wish We Could Unhear” and I’ve already gotten to my first nomination for the year of 2012. Dies Irae (no, not that one, the Mexican one) is apparently an old melodic death metal band that has remade itself in the image of “post-metal” (no, not that kind of post metal, the kind from 1999) and got themselves signed by Chaos Records, who otherwise have pretty good taste in bands. Secret Veils of Passion is, therefore, the first of the band’s new, updated versions of itself and it is a remarkable record to behold. But no, not that kind of remarkable. Think more like: I am remarking upon it.  Continue reading

Iron Thrones // The Wretched Sun
Rating: 4.0/5.0 — Sophomore slump (but still great!)
Label: Who Needs a Label?
Websites: ironthrones.com | myspace.com/ironthrones
Release Date: July 27th, 2010

Those of you who have been reading Angry Metal Guy since the beginning will remember that I lauded heavy praise on a Minneapolis, Minnesota based band called Iron Thrones last year after I downloaded their record (for free) and had myself a little Angry Metal Hernia™. The band was incredible. Like some kind of unholy cross between Opeth and Jesus… or whatever. I promptly declared the record amazing, gave it five stars and then took a cold shower. In any case, Visions of Light, the debut, still ranks as the best unsigned act I’ve ever heard and I have had very, very high hopes for the follow up record—The Wretched Sun—which will be self-released on the 27th of July after the very talented band went and won the No Label Needed contest and got sent to a pro studio. Continue reading

The 11th Hour // Burden of Grief
Rating: 5.0/5.0 – Possibly one of the finest records of the year.
Label: Napalm Records
Website: myspace.com/11thhourdoom
Release Dates: EU: 30.10.2009 | US: 11.03.2009

When I started this review zine I had a friend who told me that I shouldn’t write in the first person on here. That as a reviewer I was to try to write objectively, like my opinion is fact and not simply a jaded metal guy on the Internet spewing his opinions about records. I think this is impossible for a lot of reasons, but one of them is that we all like certain things and dislike other things. I’ve been decried by readers for liking certain records that are apparently aren’t metal enough for them. Whereas others think I’m too hard on their favorite band. But this record proves my point that one needs to write from a place of opinion. See, I have never been the world’s biggest doom metal fan. To be totally frank, I associate a lot of doom with “funeral doom” or “drone doom,” which is a genre that I find to be incredibly boring. And honestly, I like bands that bring it with intensity and speed. I like staccato riffing and tight technicality and progressive approaches. I’ll make no bones about it, I normally associate slow and boring in my brain. That’s right, I probably have hated on your favorite doom metal band of all time at one point or another. So consider that when you’re reading this review and take it for what it is.

The 11th Hour is the side project of Dutch metaller Ed Warby of Hail of Bullets, Gorefest, and Ayreon fame. An avowed doom metal fan, Warby penned this record and played every instrument on it except for the death metal growls, which are done by Rogga Johansson (Edge of Sanity, Demiurg, Paganizer, Ribspreader). Burden of Grief, the combination of their efforts, is a concept album about a man with terminal lung disease reliving his past.

This record is heavy as a ton of bricks. The production is thick as molasses and smooth like it, too. Interspersed between the plodding riffs is a melodic narration given in two voices: Warby’s voice, clean vocals in a higher register and Johansson’s voice, the death metal growls. The clean vocals have sort of an Alice in Chains feel to them that I think plays perfectly in this milieu. They are eerily beautiful, while adding a great offset to the protagonist’s anger, the death metal growls. These two vocal styles play back and forth and melt into orchestrations, piano and all the textures that paint a beautiful aural backdrop.

Burden of Grief is a 52 minute and 33 second thesis on how to do doom effectively and excellently. The riffs are heavy, plodding but fresh; there isn’t a single moment on this record that overstays its welcome and the melodies, while not poppy, have a way of sticking in the back of your brain. Every note on this album is perfectly placed, every vocal is perfectly performed and the whole thing is just plain heavy. It easily follows in the footsteps of the masters of the genre, while feeling totally fresh and new. Despite being doom, a genre not known for moving anywhere quickly, the record moves smoothly and never belabors the point. Every song feels interconnected, but they all stand alone as excellent.

Honestly, this is the real deal. Thick, heavy and catchy. I knew it from the first listen because it excited me like few records do. The melodies here are strong, the song ideas are rich and intricate and the concept is fantastic. While the concept is maybe a tad too close to Black Sun Aeon‘s opus, that’s probably more serendipity than anything else (and I strongly suggest you buy both albums as they’re both worth the cash). Honestly, it’s so good that I’m kind of at a loss for words. If I couldn’t get across how excellent it was with my attempted descriptions, then I suggest that you just go and try to take a listen to the tracks at MySpace. If they don’t convince you that The 11th Hour is worth the listen, then you’ve got bad taste in music.

I don’t know if anyone else has been noticing this, but what the hell is with the whole rock/”metal” musicians (in reality, it’s pretty much just the cock rock and alternative scene guys) getting in on reality TV thing?  According to what I just read on Blabbermouth, fucking Mike Starr from Alice in Chains (he used to play bass) is getting in on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.  I don’t want to be a downer for these guys: but seriously, can’t you do yourself the favor of not embarrassing yourself in public and maybe dealing with your addiction problems in private, where they should be handled!?

There are a couple of reasons this bugs me.  First, I really just hate reality shows.  I think they are totally lowest common denominator bullshit and they should be pissed on by anyone with a brain.  But secondly, is the crave for fame and the spotlight so big for these D-List celebraties that they have to air their personal dirty laundry on TV in order to somehow feel important and worthwhile?  I know it’s a paying gig, but I suspect that kicking a drug addiction, like any kind of serious problem, is probably quite personal and not the kind of thing that’s going to go well in a public forum.  If someone is pushing a fucking camera in your face what are the chances that you’re actually going to say what you’re really thinking?

It’s weak, and it’s stupid.  But what else?  Didn’t we already have to put up with embarrassing pictures of metal musicians after Metallica‘s trainwreck Some Kind of Ridiculous Lamitude?  And now look at those guys!  Lars Ulrich wears silk scarves on TV shows and mislabels black metal as death metal.  (Of course, this entire clip is kinda painful in general.)

There are plenty of metal musicians who aren’t stupid addicts, there are plenty who deal with their alcoholism like professionals and there are plenty of metal musicians who don’t wear silk scarves!  Mike Starr, Steven Adler, the jackasses from Poison and Mötley Crüe are not representative of the scene in any way.  I guess on this same note, I should tell Dolving from The Haunted to shut the fuck up.  But I think he’s funny.  Plus, his silly Swedish ass isn’t on TV.