Upon revisitation, Atlantean Kodex still kind of sucks. On the other hand, Candlemass' Nightfall kicks ass. The Sacred Balance™ broods unperturbed.

The moment in "At the Gallows End" where the end of the chorus climbs unexpectedly into the solo section at 4:05 is hair-raising, definitely one of my favorite bit of metalia in recent memory.

So I've been listening to this band called 'Ophidian I' from Iceland...and they reminded me a bit of the mighty Quo Vadis. Sucks that QV was put on hold. Are there any rumors or talks of them restarting the band? Any fans of the band?

Bought both of these albums recently, what didn't you like about Atlantean Kodex? I think they kick some serious arse. Maybe not as strong as Candlemass, Solstice or DoomSword in the epic doom scenes, but very strong overall I'd say. The vocalist might be a little hit or miss in some areas, but that glorious guitar tone man.

Nightfall, for me, is the absolute pinnacle of that epic doom style. I wouldn't change a single thing.

Yeah, for me they're one of those bands that I'd like to like, since I dig pretty much everything about them except the actual songwriting. They're a band that would be right up my alley if they weren't so mediocre, but it's like the songs never GO anywhere, they just meander around and then end.

So I got my girlfriend a boxset with all the Harry Potter movies. She is kind of a fan. And even though I enjoy them, watching them in a row is no good for your health I assure you

Bart had health problems (and I think surgery on both of his knees) and was in and out of hospitals for some time apparently and then he lost a bunch of equipment after a lightning strike sent a power surge through the studio or something like that and fried everything. Basically, the dude's kinda had the worst luck ever over the last 2 years or so. Dunno about new material though. As of August 20th, 2012, they've gotten most of the shit in the studio back up and working and they said their would be more news to come, however that hasn't happened yet.

First, I'm definitely going to the MDF thursday show, I'll no doubt be wearing a vest with a motorhead back patch and will cause massive shit-storm should I not get a hold of any BT merch

Second. it's exactly 666 miles from wear I live, which is some freaky foreshadowing.

http://blood-lust3.deviantart.com/

This is my girlfriend's deviantart. Thought some metalheads would like it.

Had a pretty good night out at Ignivomous, Portal and Marduk. Ignivomous' set was really, really short, and with their mediocre sound it wasn't until the second last song that I was able to really get into it and actually start recognising those excellent riffs. Chris Volcano ended the night at my usual Melbourne drinking pub, so it was pretty cool to end the night with a chat with him and his entertainingly not very metal girlfriend/wife whatever as she went through my shirt haul calling the designs "nice" like an old lady looking at christmas themed sweaters, and Chris explaining to her that Disma are an American death metal band in simple terms.

Marduk's sound was pretty average considering they're a large internetational band headlining at a venue with generally good sound. Mortuus is a fan of that Oi! Oi! Oi bullshit, which kinda fagged it up a bit, but they looked cool and the music was solid.

Portal though. I've said it before, but jesus fucking christ, they are an amazing live act. This time I got to be leaning on the stage with the band playing with a good sound which rumbled though my ribcage, one of the best sets I've ever seen. They're amazing.

Then add all that to a good night out with a friend who I haven't seen in a year or two and it was a pretty great night

/FFA Diary entry.

We have this thread too, ya know! viewtopic.php?f=18&t=62580

I'd like to see Ignivomous live

Ah that's where you moved it, I looked through the Metal Discussion board for it.

I think I'm gonna keep working on my screenplay. It probably won't amount to much too soon, but I can at least always keep it on the side. That and reworking songs. Tonight is a work night it seems.

How's every one else?

The guitar tone's fine, I mean there are plenty of good ingredients to their style, but the vocals aren't strong enough to complete the mood most of the time and some of the songwriting is kind of bland...plus they occasionally pull annoying stop-start shenanigans that don't do anything but fuck up the aesthetic flow. In a lot of ways they remind me of some sort of Christian metal outfit, while paradoxically championing the opposite ideology Still probably enjoy them more than Doomsword or Solstice, though.



Yeah, their stuff could do with some tightening up. Either that or... actually, you know what? Tasteful keyboards could probably do wonders for them. Or some arching backing guitars, or...something. Something to heighten a sense of fullness or grandness in their aesthetic. As it stands, The Golden Bough aspires to this epic vibe but ends up feeling a bit thin somehow. But yes, the main thing is they just need better songwriting and stronger vocals.


That'd be Scald for me Will of the Gods is Great Power is a truly awesome, beautiful album, and I daresay it won't be surpassed in the epic heavy/doom field anytime soon.

Duane Eddie's Lonely Guitar is far more depressing than anything any DSBM band has ever released. Some lessons could be learned from that dude.

I love Scald; I'm not too fond of that style of doom, generally, but they just imbue it with such an incredible atmosphere.



Yeah, Portal absolutely blew my mind; I was in the front row for that, right against one of the speakers; they were so gloriously loud and intense, it seemed like I could feel the sound move through my bones and veins. Utterly fantastic. I was sad to see Ignivomous play such a short set (and leave out the "Circle..." cover), but - while the sound was far better at their recent Central Club gig - they were still pretty impressive. Didn't get around to greeting Scorntyrant - sorry, dude, you looked like you were being hounded by a few people at various points - but caught up with Matthew briefly. It was a great night for me, too; finally, a gig that lots of my metalhead friends attended (I was there with about a dozen people) and that drew many people with whom I hadn't caught up in a while. (Sorry for continuing the deviation from the thread here, Tony; I'll shift my response to the reviews thread once the gig is mentioned there)

Marduk and Portal are playing in Sydney tonight, but I can't watch them because I have to leave shortly for an engagement party. Glad to hear you two had fun.

I spent the last week in Melbourne, though, and that was awesome.

Ah, that sucks; actually, the friend who'd most been looking forward to seeing them last night had to go to a wedding instead... Bad timing all 'round, it seems.

Good to hear you had fun here - despite the heat.

Just wanted to say that Into Everlasting Fire is a ridiculously fun song to play on guitar. That's all.

Fuck yeah! 'Nightfall' is a killer album. Candlemass was probably the big discovery of 2012 for me. Not really a discovery, but that's when I really got into them.

To put my two cents into the last two pages: TFS rules, best parody of anything ever. Nightfall is one of the best albums ever created (at the Gallows End and Samarithan are musical perfection.) Atlantean Kodex are OKAY. I didn't like them for the longest times but re-listened to them about two months ago and found them good enough. Nowhere near the best band in the style, but they have some cool passages (especially that one that's basically the chorus melody from Deep Purple's Child in Time). Necro out!

I'm one of the few metal people I know that kinda prefers Epicus to Nightfall. Both albums are absolute perfection, but I'm drawn just a bit more to the stuff on Epicus, particularly Crystal Ball and Solitude. Two of the most perfect songs ever.

Bro, I prefer Epicus too. Nightfall has some crazy heights, but Epicus is just spine tingling from beginning to end. Fucking Black Stone Wielder man. Johan Lanquist is a legend.

Epicus is a sentimental favourite for me - one of my first doom albums, and still capable of blowing me away. I still remember the day I first heard it: the dude at my favourite record store (spent hours in their listening booths every day after school) handed it to me and told me to check it out when he saw that I was buying Cathedral's 'Garden of Unearthly Delights'.

Scald's okay, the singer's great but the music's a bit too static. They're mostly just happy to plod along in a mildly entertaining fashion for about 8 minutes and then they'll call it a song. I guess my complaints are similar to those failsy has about the Atlantean Kodex. I don't think AK are particularly exciting in the studio, yet, but if you get the chance go see them live.

Yeah, definitely seems that way! I did have a great time in Melbourne. Would like to come back.

I've just found this recent interview with HellBlazer about MA. Interesting.

It did take me a few go-rounds with the album to fully open my ears to it, but since then it's become one of the few albums where virtually every song gives me chills. Agyl's vocals are amazing (heightened by those eerie backing layers), the riffwork is absolutely rugged, each instrumental voice is surprisingly active despite the relatively simple template of the songwriting, the compositions flow amazingly well, and the lead guitars bring so much beauty to the overall experience, either sculpting ornate shapes around the bodies of verses or piercing to the heart with disarmingly poignant solos. All bathed in a heroic, mythic atmosphere. The overall songwriting is rather ponderous, yes, but I'd say it's actually pretty tightly composed for heavy, epic metal. Nothing ever overstays its welcome, and the heights reached on the album are simply breathtaking.

Yeah, Scald's record quickly became one of my all-time favourite albums. I've listened to it countless times by now and it never even begins to get old for me. Always an epic experience.

I have returned, FFA thread, for my revenge!

A while ago I claimed that within the cover of Reign In Blood is one of those optical illusions depicting a portrait of Hitler's mug. Despite the fact that this claim wasn't far fetched at all considering the lyrical content of the album (even the damn goat headed figure on the throne is heiling for crying out loud), my claim was dismissed as:



So I, the conspiracy theorist, have returned to you with evidence. Really I could have done this on paint a while ago but only today was I bothered:



Now with that in mind, look at the original at a pretty low resolution:



What do you say now, unbelievers?

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Norrin_Radd_1436/

Chiptune death metal.



Really strange stuff ...

Still doesn't look anything like Hitler. Also, I'm pretty sure that he didn't wear a flattop.

Here's another (partial) face for you:





Chiptune is good for some things, unfortunately not for a full death metal album. I will say though that the riffs do kick a lot of ass. I'd really like to hear the album with real instruments.

Come now. The features in your face aren't defined at all, and I see what you're trying to tell me by that but by the gods all I see every time I look at this album cover is Hitler's goddamn ugly mug.

And it isn't necessarily a flattop. You obviously know what his hair looked like--the part that I highlighted is the right side of his hair as he combed it.

Someone needs to back me up on this, badly. Nibiru is real and 9/11 was an inside job!

EDIT: the arm of the figure at the bottom is his lower lip. It's like those optical illusions, try not to focus on the trees but on the forest itself. I will contact the band/artwork artist if I have to, I'm not crazy.

Uh, that you're crazy, maybe?

Poisonfume, I think that you have stared at RIB's cover a few too many times.

Noooooo how do they not see it, how do they not understand?!

This is actually quite cathartic an experience. It's a strange feeling to be so convinced you hear the voices when everyone tells you they're not there.

Well, at least you're better than the conspiracy theorists I know. Bloody hell, paranoia can seriously fuck up someone's mind.....

At the very least I demand acknowledgment of even slight similarity, be it coincidental or not. Then I'll let it go (though by all means, long-time-lurkers-but-never-actually-posters, if you see the light and hear the voice too come and support my ass).

Nope.

I'm this way too. I just like the songs better on Epicus, and the production as well. I'm also a special snowflake that prefers Johann as a vocalist. Not to bash Messiah of course; he's still amazing.