ORIGINATION Master of Puppets LP
LAST LISTENED TO last week
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT I have no idea any more
RATING ★★★★★
It was strange and it was grey outside, another quiet Sunday morning. The song was familiar, almost instantly so and yet it was not, this relaxed little melody that I knew so well. Smooth and quiet but something was not right. After a while, I realised that the relaxed little melody was Leper Messiah and somehow that did not seem odd, although odd it surely was because there is nothing about Leper Messiah that is relaxed. If there could be such a thing as a textbook metal song, then this is it. With its proper, choppy, stop-start riffage, its fierce vocals about nothing much in particular, the not-too widdly guitar solo and then the last-minute return to those head-noddingly great riffs that stop-start to a stop, this is tight, muscular, metal heaven.
Also worth mentioning is that Leper Messiah is from Metallica's best album, Master of Puppets. Whilst they recorded plenty other great songs before and are continuing to do so today, with its sophisticated combination of metal sounds and proper album-length, they have yet to surpass this album.
Showing posts with label heavy metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heavy metal. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, July 17, 2006
Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls
ORIGINATION Ride The Lightning
LAST LISTENED TO a few weeks ago
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT oh, please
RATING
Jeezy creezy! This is no way to start a week. Still, at least it's better than the last lot of monday morning messes. Those weren'y right.
The Story of Metallica
by Stewart Bremner aged 32 & 3/4
And lo, it came to pass that in the mists of time Large Oilrig, who liked to bang things, did steal the name Metallica off of a mate. Together with Growlin' James Hatstand, who collected facial hair, they made it into a band. They were soon joined by denim-clad Cliff Bellbottoms with his big black bass and Dave Mustard, who tortured guitars. But no one liked Dave and his silly hair and he was told to go away and Kirk Hamster, known far and wide for his widdling, joined them instead. His hair was a bit less silly than mean Mr Mustard's, but only a bit.
At first they were angry, which was no surprise considering they had had Mr Mustard (who had now formed Megadud) in their band. They made an album that was red and had blood and stuff on it. But, as the chicken passes the egg, so they got depressed and proceeded to record an album that was blue and went on a bit. They kept on being depressed for some time after that because Mr Bellbottoms got killed by their tour bus and was replaced by Jason Newkid (who is not the newkid any more, because the others never really liked him and he left).
After they had been depressed for long enough, during which time they made an album about a cemetery and then a grey one that also went on a bit, they went pop but that made the little girls cry. Soon they got angry again, this time because of nu-metal being rubbish and because of the internet. After making their most recent album (which went on a bit too), they found Bobby Truepillow, who had won the All-American Gurning Championships for four years in a row in the early ninties and could play the bass with his knees and they made him join their band. And lived happily ever after.
For Who The Bell Tolls is one of the best bits moments on Ride The Lightning (the blue album), which can be a bit too angst ridden for me and my dog. It goes like this: argh! the bells! the bells! the riffage! Riff riff riff riff. Widdly widdle widdle. Was that something about war? Who's to say? Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff. For whom the bell tolls. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Time marches on. Riffs. Squeal, squeal. Widdle thump thump. Bong bong bong.
It's very hot tonight, you know.
LAST LISTENED TO a few weeks ago
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT oh, please
RATING
Jeezy creezy! This is no way to start a week. Still, at least it's better than the last lot of monday morning messes. Those weren'y right.
The Story of Metallica
by Stewart Bremner aged 32 & 3/4
And lo, it came to pass that in the mists of time Large Oilrig, who liked to bang things, did steal the name Metallica off of a mate. Together with Growlin' James Hatstand, who collected facial hair, they made it into a band. They were soon joined by denim-clad Cliff Bellbottoms with his big black bass and Dave Mustard, who tortured guitars. But no one liked Dave and his silly hair and he was told to go away and Kirk Hamster, known far and wide for his widdling, joined them instead. His hair was a bit less silly than mean Mr Mustard's, but only a bit.
At first they were angry, which was no surprise considering they had had Mr Mustard (who had now formed Megadud) in their band. They made an album that was red and had blood and stuff on it. But, as the chicken passes the egg, so they got depressed and proceeded to record an album that was blue and went on a bit. They kept on being depressed for some time after that because Mr Bellbottoms got killed by their tour bus and was replaced by Jason Newkid (who is not the newkid any more, because the others never really liked him and he left).
After they had been depressed for long enough, during which time they made an album about a cemetery and then a grey one that also went on a bit, they went pop but that made the little girls cry. Soon they got angry again, this time because of nu-metal being rubbish and because of the internet. After making their most recent album (which went on a bit too), they found Bobby Truepillow, who had won the All-American Gurning Championships for four years in a row in the early ninties and could play the bass with his knees and they made him join their band. And lived happily ever after.
For Who The Bell Tolls is one of the best bits moments on Ride The Lightning (the blue album), which can be a bit too angst ridden for me and my dog. It goes like this: argh! the bells! the bells! the riffage! Riff riff riff riff. Widdly widdle widdle. Was that something about war? Who's to say? Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff. For whom the bell tolls. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Riff riff riff riff. Time marches on. Riffs. Squeal, squeal. Widdle thump thump. Bong bong bong.
It's very hot tonight, you know.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Metallica - Fade To Black
ORIGINATION Ride The Lightning
LAST LISTENED TO last night
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT thatcher winning her second bloody general election and the sane world dying one bit more
RATING
Metallica's first go at the quiet/loud dynamic song structure. It'd be pretty good if it wasn't for the angst-ridden lyrics. Urgh. I mean seriously, i'm not a teenager any more, why in the hell did i even listen to this bilge last night? I should've just listened to Kill 'Em All again again. No, instead i think i shall just stick to the Mary Chain once more today. Now there's a band that know how to do the quiet/loud/LOUDER dynamic damned well. Oh yes.
LAST LISTENED TO last night
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT thatcher winning her second bloody general election and the sane world dying one bit more
RATING
Metallica's first go at the quiet/loud dynamic song structure. It'd be pretty good if it wasn't for the angst-ridden lyrics. Urgh. I mean seriously, i'm not a teenager any more, why in the hell did i even listen to this bilge last night? I should've just listened to Kill 'Em All again again. No, instead i think i shall just stick to the Mary Chain once more today. Now there's a band that know how to do the quiet/loud/LOUDER dynamic damned well. Oh yes.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Iron Maiden - Revelations (Live)
ORIGINATION Live After Death
LAST LISTENED TO october
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT oddly high
RATING
Somehow this wasn't as jarring a morning song as it should have been and for the same reason that there was an oddly high chance of waking to it: i had just dreamt of it. In fact, not just that but i was actually watching Iron Maiden perform it (and from the front row) when the bastard alarm woke me this morning. Not the sort of dream i can even recall having before, but it was top fun.
I've got into Maiden during my early teens and it's no surprise that i loved is so much back then, what with all the guitar action, boys adventures and, well, Bruce's yelling. Proper metal. Funnily enough, it's a liking that has never really left me. Whether this is good or bad is purely a choice you'll have to make for yourself. I know how i feel about it.
Live After Death has always been my favourite album of theirs. It's got all the best bits of their early career (and some might say the best bit of their entire career), but with the added dynamic of a live performance or, more correctly, performances. Recorded during their 300+ night world tour of '84, they were really on form here and a lot of that has got to be down to Bruce Dickinson's masterful showmanship. He really pulls the crowd into the event.
Revelations comes midway through the first of the four sides of Live After Death and is something of an atmospheric breather after the full-on onslaught of the first three tracks. The track begins in a laid back fashion, running at a far slower tempo than the proceeding songs. Before launching into the vaguely mystical lyrics, Bruce starts encouraging the crowd to get involved. Soon, during the stuttered refrains that pepper the song, the crowd are in fine voice, shouting to fill the spaces. The track runs through several more verses that are equally full of great imagery (even if it's not exactly clear what they're about), with the crowd/refrain running in-between. Near the middle, things heat up when Adrian Smith and Dave Murray take a guitar solo each. We get a minute and a half of their combined pyrotechnics before it all drops back down to the refrain, a final verse and a whispered ending.
Live, Revelations shines far more than the studio version and this is all down to the great atmosphere in the venue and the crowd's voice. Going back to the original is always a bit of a let down after this. Without the yelling it just feels like something is missing and i always can hear the shouting in my head. Sadly, i also, i can't help but sing that final audience interjection each time as well.
(PS. If you're reading this when the songs are still on my Radio Blog, it's really worth listening to this and then the next tune, they make a wonderfully wrong combination!)
LAST LISTENED TO october
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT oddly high
RATING
Somehow this wasn't as jarring a morning song as it should have been and for the same reason that there was an oddly high chance of waking to it: i had just dreamt of it. In fact, not just that but i was actually watching Iron Maiden perform it (and from the front row) when the bastard alarm woke me this morning. Not the sort of dream i can even recall having before, but it was top fun.
I've got into Maiden during my early teens and it's no surprise that i loved is so much back then, what with all the guitar action, boys adventures and, well, Bruce's yelling. Proper metal. Funnily enough, it's a liking that has never really left me. Whether this is good or bad is purely a choice you'll have to make for yourself. I know how i feel about it.
Live After Death has always been my favourite album of theirs. It's got all the best bits of their early career (and some might say the best bit of their entire career), but with the added dynamic of a live performance or, more correctly, performances. Recorded during their 300+ night world tour of '84, they were really on form here and a lot of that has got to be down to Bruce Dickinson's masterful showmanship. He really pulls the crowd into the event.
Revelations comes midway through the first of the four sides of Live After Death and is something of an atmospheric breather after the full-on onslaught of the first three tracks. The track begins in a laid back fashion, running at a far slower tempo than the proceeding songs. Before launching into the vaguely mystical lyrics, Bruce starts encouraging the crowd to get involved. Soon, during the stuttered refrains that pepper the song, the crowd are in fine voice, shouting to fill the spaces. The track runs through several more verses that are equally full of great imagery (even if it's not exactly clear what they're about), with the crowd/refrain running in-between. Near the middle, things heat up when Adrian Smith and Dave Murray take a guitar solo each. We get a minute and a half of their combined pyrotechnics before it all drops back down to the refrain, a final verse and a whispered ending.
Live, Revelations shines far more than the studio version and this is all down to the great atmosphere in the venue and the crowd's voice. Going back to the original is always a bit of a let down after this. Without the yelling it just feels like something is missing and i always can hear the shouting in my head. Sadly, i also, i can't help but sing that final audience interjection each time as well.
(PS. If you're reading this when the songs are still on my Radio Blog, it's really worth listening to this and then the next tune, they make a wonderfully wrong combination!)
Monday, June 26, 2006
Another fine monday morning mess
Luckily this morning i'm too tired to have much concern about what follows, although i probably should. Both this lack of concern and what follows are the result of being wrenched out of an odd dream by a nasty, nasty alarm clock.
So, it starts with fragments of Anthrax's Making Me Laugh bouncing around inside my head. This is itself a quite unwelcome beginning to a monday. Not entirely because of it being a harsh piece of '80s thrash, but mostly because it is not a particularly good piece of '80s thrash. In fact i can hardly remember it, which is enough reason for the slight dislike. Naturally, if it had been good, i'd have made more of an effort to keep a copy of it. Since i have no copy of it these days, it must be bad. Yes?
Anyway, after a few minutes of that, i find to my surprise that it has been joined by the Fairy Liquid jingle (the one involving hands and dishes). This, i hardly need point out, is much less welcome then my first guest and is much more bizzare in occurance. It's really quite horrid, in fact and i quickly wish that it would stop.
Handily, the Maiden burst in not long after the soapy nonsense, with a lovely rendition of their signature song (you can find out more about that here) which wiped the floor with the early imposters. I spit on them. Ptooey.
So, it starts with fragments of Anthrax's Making Me Laugh bouncing around inside my head. This is itself a quite unwelcome beginning to a monday. Not entirely because of it being a harsh piece of '80s thrash, but mostly because it is not a particularly good piece of '80s thrash. In fact i can hardly remember it, which is enough reason for the slight dislike. Naturally, if it had been good, i'd have made more of an effort to keep a copy of it. Since i have no copy of it these days, it must be bad. Yes?
Anyway, after a few minutes of that, i find to my surprise that it has been joined by the Fairy Liquid jingle (the one involving hands and dishes). This, i hardly need point out, is much less welcome then my first guest and is much more bizzare in occurance. It's really quite horrid, in fact and i quickly wish that it would stop.
Handily, the Maiden burst in not long after the soapy nonsense, with a lovely rendition of their signature song (you can find out more about that here) which wiped the floor with the early imposters. I spit on them. Ptooey.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Helloween - Save Us
ORIGINATION I Want Out 12"
LAST LISTENED TO last night
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT as high as the singer's voice
RATING
Look, i was into metal as a kid and my liking for it has never really died. Sure, along the way there have been times when i have totally forgotten it, but eventually i'll have an urge for crashing chords, widdling guitar solos and squealing vocals. I can't help it. Clearly it's some sort of addiction. That's me excuse, anyway.
Helloween, for those of you who don't know (and i'm guessing that's almost all of you, with one exception who shall remain nameless but who is more known to like jazz daily these days) were pretty much a German version of Iron Maiden. This probably sounds like a bad idea and if i had any sense at all i'd agree. However, for reasons inexplicable, i rather enjoy Helloween. And it's not just because they had cartoon pumpkins as a kind of mascot (really, they did). I have plenty time for Maiden, so almost by default i have a bit of time for their Deutscher counterparts. Anyway, there was always a silly side to Helloween, not that Maiden were exactly super-serious or anything, but whatever they were Helloween were sillier. Do i need mention the pumpkins again? In fact, i do seem to recall that the slogan Pumpkins Fly Free was theirs.
And the music? Well, it sounds like Maiden. Maybe a bit faster and with less literature-based songs. Also the vocals were, if anything, higher pitched more often than Bruce's (that's Maiden's singer). This song in particular has some fine wailing. The only real problem i have with it is that it might just have some sort of christian undercurrent, which frankly has no place in metal. Or, indeed, metaaaaaaaal!
LAST LISTENED TO last night
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT as high as the singer's voice
RATING
Look, i was into metal as a kid and my liking for it has never really died. Sure, along the way there have been times when i have totally forgotten it, but eventually i'll have an urge for crashing chords, widdling guitar solos and squealing vocals. I can't help it. Clearly it's some sort of addiction. That's me excuse, anyway.
Helloween, for those of you who don't know (and i'm guessing that's almost all of you, with one exception who shall remain nameless but who is more known to like jazz daily these days) were pretty much a German version of Iron Maiden. This probably sounds like a bad idea and if i had any sense at all i'd agree. However, for reasons inexplicable, i rather enjoy Helloween. And it's not just because they had cartoon pumpkins as a kind of mascot (really, they did). I have plenty time for Maiden, so almost by default i have a bit of time for their Deutscher counterparts. Anyway, there was always a silly side to Helloween, not that Maiden were exactly super-serious or anything, but whatever they were Helloween were sillier. Do i need mention the pumpkins again? In fact, i do seem to recall that the slogan Pumpkins Fly Free was theirs.
And the music? Well, it sounds like Maiden. Maybe a bit faster and with less literature-based songs. Also the vocals were, if anything, higher pitched more often than Bruce's (that's Maiden's singer). This song in particular has some fine wailing. The only real problem i have with it is that it might just have some sort of christian undercurrent, which frankly has no place in metal. Or, indeed, metaaaaaaaal!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf (Live)
ORIGINATION Live At Last
LAST LISTENED TO a few days ago
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT not too great
RATING
You know, i've never really liked Sweet Leaf. For all that i have been a fan on Black Sabbath for many a long year, this track is one that i have never had much time for. I can't think of any good reason for it. Maybe the riffing wasn't heavy enough. Hmm. The live version here fares no better, either.
Some months ago there was another Sabbath track in my head, Into The Void, and it is far better.
LAST LISTENED TO a few days ago
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT not too great
RATING
You know, i've never really liked Sweet Leaf. For all that i have been a fan on Black Sabbath for many a long year, this track is one that i have never had much time for. I can't think of any good reason for it. Maybe the riffing wasn't heavy enough. Hmm. The live version here fares no better, either.
Some months ago there was another Sabbath track in my head, Into The Void, and it is far better.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Iron Maiden - Childern Of The Damned (Live)
ORIGINATION Live After Death
LAST LISTENED TO last month
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT not too high
RATING
Live After Death is with no doubt my all-time favourite live album and i don't care who knows it. This one, however, is not one of the highlights. It's got its moments, but it's not Run To The Hills. And who really wants to sing along with 'peeling the skin from his eyes' and such like. Actually, thinking about it…
LAST LISTENED TO last month
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT not too high
RATING
Live After Death is with no doubt my all-time favourite live album and i don't care who knows it. This one, however, is not one of the highlights. It's got its moments, but it's not Run To The Hills. And who really wants to sing along with 'peeling the skin from his eyes' and such like. Actually, thinking about it…
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
ORIGINATION Live At The Rainbow
LAST WATCHED tuesday
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT low
RATING
I watched part of the History Of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Days DVD mid week and this fan-favourite was on it. It was can normally be found on their first (self titled) LP, although the version on Live After Death with Brucie singing is also top.
Won't you come into my room,
I wanna show you all my wares.
I just want to see your blood,
I just want to stand and stare.
See the blood begin to flow
as it falls upon the floor.
Iron Maiden can't be fought,
Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Oh Well, wherever,
wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you,
no matter how far.
See the blood flow watching it shed up above my head.
Iron Maiden wants you for dead.
You have been warned.
LAST WATCHED tuesday
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT low
RATING
I watched part of the History Of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Days DVD mid week and this fan-favourite was on it. It was can normally be found on their first (self titled) LP, although the version on Live After Death with Brucie singing is also top.
Won't you come into my room,
I wanna show you all my wares.
I just want to see your blood,
I just want to stand and stare.
See the blood begin to flow
as it falls upon the floor.
Iron Maiden can't be fought,
Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Oh Well, wherever,
wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you,
no matter how far.
See the blood flow watching it shed up above my head.
Iron Maiden wants you for dead.
You have been warned.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Black Sabbath - Into The Void
ORIGINATION Master Of Reality CD
LAST LISTENED TO fairly recently
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT okish
RATING
For me this is the heaviest the Sabbath ever went. It's the closer from Master Of Reality in 1971 and is one of my top five Sabbath tracks. Maybe even top three. It's a hard choice.
The intro is typically Sabbath and is nothing special (for them). It's not until around the minute and a quarter mark that things get interesting, when the bass and drums pull out to give Tony Iommi space to play the heaviest riff ever recorded. That in itself would be enough to make the song. Happily, Ozzy's lyrics are pretty good too.
Here Ozzy has chosen to issue humanity a warning of its dire future in the form of an apocalyptic sci-fi vision. In this vision, man has ruined our planet and only a few are able to escape to seek freedom in the stars. It's doom and gloom that fits to a tee the heavist riff ever recorded.
The song starts with this verse:
Rocket engines burning fuel so fast
Up into the night sky they blast
Through the universe the engines whine
Could it be the end of man and time
Back on earth the flame of life burns low
Everywhere is misery and woe
Pollution kills the air, the land and sea
Man prepares to meet his destiny
From here things just get darker, with that riff just churning on throughout. It closes with a few minutes of soloing, which doesn't really excite anywhere near as much as that riff.
LAST LISTENED TO fairly recently
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT okish
RATING
For me this is the heaviest the Sabbath ever went. It's the closer from Master Of Reality in 1971 and is one of my top five Sabbath tracks. Maybe even top three. It's a hard choice.
The intro is typically Sabbath and is nothing special (for them). It's not until around the minute and a quarter mark that things get interesting, when the bass and drums pull out to give Tony Iommi space to play the heaviest riff ever recorded. That in itself would be enough to make the song. Happily, Ozzy's lyrics are pretty good too.
Here Ozzy has chosen to issue humanity a warning of its dire future in the form of an apocalyptic sci-fi vision. In this vision, man has ruined our planet and only a few are able to escape to seek freedom in the stars. It's doom and gloom that fits to a tee the heavist riff ever recorded.
The song starts with this verse:
Rocket engines burning fuel so fast
Up into the night sky they blast
Through the universe the engines whine
Could it be the end of man and time
Back on earth the flame of life burns low
Everywhere is misery and woe
Pollution kills the air, the land and sea
Man prepares to meet his destiny
From here things just get darker, with that riff just churning on throughout. It closes with a few minutes of soloing, which doesn't really excite anywhere near as much as that riff.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
ORIGINATION Master Of Puppets LP
LAST LISTENED TO some time in the past few months
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT okish
RATING
Argh! I can't put up with this so early on a sunday morning. Don't get me wrong, i do like this. It's arguably one of the best songs from their best album, but i's not at all what i want to hear in my head at a quarter to ten on a sunday morning. I mean, there's not even any milk in the fridge. This morning has gone all wrong, i should just go back to bad now.
AARGHH! I have now put it on. It really is too much for this time of day.
LAST LISTENED TO some time in the past few months
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT okish
RATING
Argh! I can't put up with this so early on a sunday morning. Don't get me wrong, i do like this. It's arguably one of the best songs from their best album, but i's not at all what i want to hear in my head at a quarter to ten on a sunday morning. I mean, there's not even any milk in the fridge. This morning has gone all wrong, i should just go back to bad now.
AARGHH! I have now put it on. It really is too much for this time of day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)