Fell asleep with a nice little buzz to old Candlemass id kinda forgotten just how absolutely devastating their riffs can be

Iron Maiden - The X Factor

Definitely got its appeals. Mostly just from the same strengths they always had. The darker mood and Blaze's vocals make it stand out even though the album as a whole isn't one of their best ones.

Death - Human

Third favorite Death. Doesn't grab me in the way that the first two do but it's a really fun listen with great vocals, musicianship, and pretty cool songwriting. The last one I really dig from them.

I think I've mentioned before how that one in particular to me is amazing, I just love the bitterness and it's got this sort of real life importance that a lot of the more fantasy driven maiden lacks

That seventh son somewhere in time and piece of mind are my 4 way tie absolutely love them all

Ultimately while I like it, I think I like the idea of it better than the actual content. Not all the issues are hugely detrimental but I just don't think the album or songs come together as well as their best stuff. It's all too much the same pace and they repeat a lot of over simple choruses. But the spirit of it is interesting.

Cradle of Filth - Godspeed on the Devils Thunder

CoF have always been a lot more miss than hit for me but after enjoying their last album I've gone back to exploring their catalogue, and this is really great. Probably my favourite thing they've done

Nothingness - Supraliminal

Just one of the better DM releases from this month (and there are several)

'The X Factor' would have greatly benefited from inclusion of the tracks they left on the cutting room floor.
Two are barnstormers with a ton of energy which the album proper mostly lacks. The other is a mid-tempo rocker with a driving energy of its own. (YT link to the tracks below.)

And, if there was ever an album that needs a remix, this is it.

The B-sides slap. Fortunately two of them can be found on Best Of The B-Sides - unfortunately that album's only available in the Eddie's Archive boxset unless I'm mistaken.

As for The X Factor, it's one of those weird albums where, to me, its biggest weakness is also its biggest strength? And that is the neutered guitar tone and generally weak production. It blunts the impact of the studio cut of Sign Of The Cross for me; fortunately by the time I got into Maiden, they'd released Rock In Rio with that absolutely thunderous live version of Sign Of The Cross that brings it up to the level it was always meant to be at. But the other songs, tales of depression, existential angst and PTSD, feel like they work extra well with the foggy, limp production - it's like looking into a depressed mind. A song like 2 AM wouldn't come off as well with Piece Of Mind's colourful guitar tone and bouncing, robust basslines.

Armory - Mercurion

The tight melodic guitarwork plays well against the fast-and-loose, slightly off-kilter vocals. And sci-fi lyrics are always gonna be my jam.

I'll have to try the b-sides soon, never heard those. And yeah the production doesn't bother me. I like the vibe overall as I said.

Brocas Helm - Cry of the Banshee

The wonky production, weird presentation - it all just works. True fuckin metal spirit. Turns out I can appreciate this even more when not suffering a debilitating sinus infection like when I bought it a year or so ago.

Sacred Oath - A Crystal Vision

A stew of Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Fates Warning - but they make it work and have their own thing going. Just killer.

Lamb Of God- Break You

Not a huge LOG fan, but this is solid. Thanks for the tip on your blog Bastardhead!

Not as good as Witchfinder or Pagan Altar but still, pretty good.

Moonblood - Frozen Tears of a Vampire

Rehearsal 3 is easily one of my all-time favorite Moonblood releases alongside the studio albums. A beautiful raw black metal demo that remains consistent throughout.

Tribunal - The Weight Of Remembrance

Looking forward to hearing more from this band. Makes me think of what Candlemass would sound like if they were a Peaceville Records band, good shit.

Lorna Shore - Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer

This is a style I'm most certainly picky with (I'm sure many others here are too), but this is an excellent track.


Not my favorite COF album, but I think it's pretty good and quite underrated. I like it better than than the three albums before it and the two after it. A brief resurgence in inspiration for Paul Allender's songwriting before things went right back down with DDVA and Manticore...

Def Leppard - High 'n' Dry

Don't know about their other stuff, but this is a catchy and cool hard rock album. Can't find a single bad track here.

Forefather - Fire of Baited Blood

I don't think that "Steadfast" can be beaten, but "Curse of the Cwelled" is REALLY a strong contender for second place, as far as I can tell right now (need to listen to the very old stuff by them as well, but production had been off-putting).

Dark Angel - Time Does Not Heal

Technical, introspective, fast, somber and brilliant....

I was planning on moving to those two next, might give them a skip for now and try the two before Existe is Futile instead

Act of Impalement - Erased

This new record is a serious step up from their previous one. Excellent bestial black/death/doom metal.

It kills. Those three albums are murder for various reasons. (I dont believe I've ever heard the debut.)

played this morning:
West, Bruce, & Laing - "Live N Kickin"
Leslie West and Jack Bruce crushing it old school, heavy blues style. As someone who gravitates towards live 70s hard rock and proto-metal, this truly hits the spot. A palatable energy on display here.

Katatonia - "Dead End Kings"
Been giving this some spins recently and it's resonating much more now, than ever before. I've been critical of the last few Katatonia albums, but this is quite good. I should give the new one another try.

Wintersun - Wintersun

It’s no more death metal than I am the prince of Saudi Arabia. A lot of people seems to hate this with a passion which is understandable.

Conjureth - The Parasitic Chambers

I am really liking this album. One of the better releases so far this year in my opinion.

Dark Tranquillity - The Mundane and the Magic

Some of their songs most certainly have a gothic quality to them, such as this one. Having Nell Sigland - an ex-Theatre of Tragedy vocalist - on this one certainly helps.


I love "Hammer of the Witches" and "Cryptoriana", so I'd suggest going for those next at least. I'd say those are their best ones since at least the "Midian" days - really great riffing from Ashok and Richard Shaw, and Dani's vocals sound better than on anything from "Thornography" up to/including "Manticore". I feel like they pushed him in a way Allender no longer was.

Cro-Mags - Don’t Thread on Me

''You crossed me once, don’t try it again, You didn’t learn, I’ll show you again, what goes around comes back around, Revenge! Revenge is sweet''.

Those lyrics plus that bastard Harley Flanagan tough guy voice is pure gold.

Yeah this one rules, probably my favorite DM album of January and there were several good ones (Re-buried, Deiquisitor, Nothingness)

Pantheon - Blood the Bible Bleeds

Death metal from Arkansas that just came out today, and it isn't very good. Riffs are so weak.

Borknagar - Borknagar (S/T)

Kind of blackened viking metal. Awesome.

Hangman's Chair - Storm Resounds

Dealing with the Virginia Employment Commission has me stressed to the max, and the crushing emotional weight of this song is definitely relatable right now

Cannibal Corpse - Stripped, Raped, and Strangled

Been on a Cannibal kick lately, as one should from time to time.

Visigoth - Warrior Queen

Dear Gods of Metal,
Please inspire this band to do another album.
Love, me

Spun...

Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods

While I don't like it more than Sons of Northern Darkness, I do prefer this to All Shall Fall I think. No Abbath but still very Immortal. I just wish they could bury the hatchet and get the band going as it should be again.

Yes we need more Visigoth. Or anything from Jake Rogers tbh

Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark

A light in the black

Metal Church - Watch the children pray

Well, the obvious example how a simple song formula can turn up grandiose and powerful

Wastelander - Mindsweeper

Applying the same black metal/crossover/crust approach made popular by Toxic Holocaust, Wastelander thrashes about in similar fashion as their fellow Yanks. Very enjoyable especially if you're into that straight-ahead, thrash punk attack.

Good call. That song is epic.
"The Dark" is almost as good as the stellar debut, held back only by the overzealous 80s production.

Spirit Possession - Second Possession

This new track rips, this album is going to be a lot of fun.

Sabaton - Primo Victoria

First album was a strong one, though only my third favorite. Good performances all around.

Makes me want to get the M1 out since its been a while.

The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution

This is really one of those albums that's so good the band can't even top it. Brilliant complex guitars. A beautiful destructive force of nature.

Probably my favorite from them overall, though everything between Deathcult for Eternity and Farseeing The Paranormal Abysm could also take that spot. The complexity of the guitars isn't surprising considering Corchado is wearing a Coroner shirt in the booklet, you can definitely hear them as an influence considering that every song has a truckload of riffs played in unconventional song structures. Always a fantastic listen.