In your defense (and mine, as I still love the album too), it's groove metal done right (which is what the title of my review will be if I ever get around to it).

Who was saying that?

It's a heavy metal album. Got some modern elements here and there but it isn't Pantera or something like that. "Machine Men" comes close I guess - not much else.

It's in my AMOLAD review. I don't know, listening to the breakdown of Book Of Thel I was getting images of these nu-metal bass players doing that wiggerish snake curl dance they usually do those moments. It is a killer breakdown, but I could also feel my hair beginning to turn orange and my pants starting to baggify themselves. Thankfully Roy Z and Adrian's solos put a stop to it fairly quickly.

The whole tone and atmosphere I get from it are so much different from what I associate with groove metal. The guitar sound is similar, but the writing and way those songs are done just doesn't sound like groove metal to me. Too much melody and atmosphere... maybe my definition is too narrow, I dunno.

Like I said, it's groove metal done correctly.

I strongly disagree with such labeling though I can see where you're coming from on it. Either way I'll just be glad that you're coming from a positive angle. I was about ready to choke a bitch.

Well, since you brought it up yourself: this is exactly what I was talking about.

What does Maiden's subsequent decision to play the entire album live have to do with the quality of the album itself? The obvious answer is nothing, which you even admitted in your own review. So why not just leave the "official" score - you know, the one that's shown above the review and goes into calculating the average score out of all reviews posted for that album - at 33? You could still have mentioned your annoyance about them playing the entire album live in the review itself, if it was that important to you. But it shouldn't influence your decision on how to grade it.

Anyway, I don't have any beef with you personally and I didn't mean to single you out in any way. This is a problem that has existed since this site came into being, so you are hardly the first "offender" and you won't be the last. I just think that we should at least attempt - and attempt is all we can really do, as writing reviews is a naturally subjective thing - to be somewhat objective when deciding on a final score. I know it can be fun to just rip into a release, to ridicule it and make fun of the band that put it out there. I'm guilty of this too and I certainly enjoy reading a damning review if it's well written and not lacking in witty humor. But if nothing else, at least the final verdict should be taken seriously and chosen carefully, or so I think.

As far as Dickinson's Chemical Wedding is concerned, it ranks as my favorite Dickinson solo album and I seriously doubt it can be labeled groove metal, if for no other reason than the fact I absolutely cannot stand groove metal. However, there is one song on that record that I have never really gotten into and maybe that's because this particular song has some groove metal elements in it. I'm talking about "Killing Floor" with its chunky riffing and dull repetitive chorus. I find that track mediocre at best. The rest of that album, however, is almost immaculate.

So there was a Judas Iscariot review for the album The Cold Earth Slept Below briefly on here today before getting deleted(?). It said something about being the next Satanic Warmaster in relation to the drums. Yes, Satanic Warmaster. A band that didn't even exist in 1996.

Why do you think it was retroactively rejected?

Glad to see Holy Grail receiving some long-overdue recognition! (i.e.JudasX & Gasmask_C's recent contributions).

Cheers!


Thank you, thank you. I've just finished revising that review, funnily enough; I'm working on a full discography review of Angel Witch, too. Shouldn't be as arduous as Saxon's, I hope!

Looking forward to reading your Angel Witch review, Chair!

OooH! An Angel Witch rundown! Should be interesting considering the band's roller-coasting album (apparently, it's latest is quite refined and commendable...). As for myself, yes, tomorrow is the day I shall duly embark on AW's mammoth, two-hour long 20th Anniversary Edition LP.
I've my work cut out for me, that's for sure! It' s going to be a real challenge i.e. keeping it around the 1000 word mark or so.
Except for a few tepid tracks, the album's imbued with a certain endearing vintage flair which epitomizes the NWOBHM. "Angel Witch" proper, "Baphomet", "Hades Paradise" and "White Witch are definite highlights while I certainly dig the bonus cuts i.e "Dr.Phibes", "Suffer", "Loser"...you know the drill! In any case, I'm devoting my entire Wednesday to it tomorrow in order to post it before 9pm my time (midnight for the MA HQ!)...Chairs!

Urf! (mission accomplished!)...

You nailed it! Kudos for that Ivory Tiger drum comparison, its totally spot-on and really thinking outside the box. Really dug the whole paragraph dedicated to solo analysis, as well, that was a really comprehensive and precise synopsis. Glad you brought up the Baphomet solo in particular, that one's so ahead of its time.


Love it!

Great review for an incredible album, nice work man.

Thanks! (insert dream trolling emoji here!)

I'm very pleased that Tanuki has done the whole Saxon discography. I read a few and they were great reads, too. I shall check out more!

I'm inspired by Tanuki's Saxon rundown to embark on a Vardis anthology! Man, their debut full-length, 100 MPH (a live album, but a darn good one!), kicks major butt! Highly worth digging on viewtube...

https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Saxon/Thunderbolt/679877/kluseba/238242

Anyone ready to place bet that Thunderbolt will prove to be a way stronger record than Firepower? Not to mention latest streak of very solid Saxon albums at worst, whereas last worthwhile JP album was Painkiller, released in, erm... 1990.



Fucking hell.

Thanks Acrobat, glad to hear it! I really enjoyed your Saxon reviews too, To the Power and the Gumby and The Gumby has Landed are both laugh out loud funny.


That review gave me chest pains. Calling Saxon's modern stuff "by the numbers" is bad enough, but to say Saxon never had their own style is just contrarian claptrap.

Kluseba is a passive aggressive, garbage tier reviewer who rarely knows what he's talking about. Pay no mind to him.

kluseba's opinion seems to always be that the more original and unique a thing is, the better it is. And while I myself enjoy groundbreaking music and truly original sounds, it seems to me a very one-dimensional way to see art if the only way you can enjoy something is if it's breaking some new ground. If it's good, it's good.

Personally I can't trust your opinion if you think Sacrifice is a weak album. That shit rules hard. I am gonna buy the new Saxon next time I go on a trip where I can hear all of it in one go.

Nitro's O.F.R. with a perfect scored review, I've seen it all now.

I’m more surprised GuiltySpawn is still lurking.

>2018
>Still taking Kluseba seriously enough to have a big discussion every time he says something stupid

I had no idea who this klacebo whatever guy was until I took a peek in the "reviewers to avoid" thread, and I'm shocked you guys didn't ban him and delete all his reviews the second he said "great reviews or great art should be done to get reaction."

And then didn't he favourably compare himself to trump or something?

Indeed, and judging from how super far-left the headmasters are here I'm double shocked he was still breathing after that one.

Aw, c'mon guys, klacebo, ahem, kluseba, as a token iron man feather ruffler, is integral to the Archives' all-encompassing appeal! (or something like that...);

if anything, we have to concede he unabashedly provides great discussion fodder for the masses!

I didn't really want to take part of the whole tar & feather lambasting but at this point I can't help myself!

So...(ho-hum), thought I'd simply comment on BassLord's Scalpel review...a fine, insightful and erudite read which includes a nice sidebar relating to the groovy, eye-catching cover art...Scalpel, what a great band name! (Why didn't I ever think of it?!)

Am I the only one that thought that that Facelift review was tough to get through? It was mostly "fans of ____ would like it, but fans of ____ wouldn't" *jabs at certain genres/bands*, and then just a few opinions regarding a few songs without much description at all.

I would love to be able to give an opinion on every song, except, you know, rules.

Well it wasn't so much that it's only a few songs, just that there isn't much description of the ones you picked or the album as a whole in general, just sorta which ones you like and who else would like them.

This actually reminded me of how long it's been since I listened to Facelift. Gonna have to revisit that now.

AIC'S Facelift is a freaking great album! I especially dig Sea of Sorrow; in fact, it's likely my fav album of theirs!

You know what's awful? When the site's text box grammar checker doesn't understand how versatile the word "their" is. It keeps suggesting I use they're except I'm not suggesting an action "they are" taking.

Haha! The spellchecker is indeed retarded! I always simply 'add to dictionary" everything underlined in red - sort of of an obsessive quirk...the worst is on my Word program - it'll purposefully shaft my sentences to the point where I have to keep insisting "no, that's how I want it, dammit!" - the fact I tend to sometimes invent words/alliterations doesn't help at all...

Oh well, I guess I've taught my MS Word quite a lot over the years. Hopefully they will use all my useful tips when they're making the new one...

Yep I have one that's over a month now.

Note to self: make sure to flag down some Crab Shack! (i.e. Bayern's twisted and amusing review)...

Little shoutout to TrooperEd; after reading like 3 in a row, I can't say I always agree/like them, but they're always entertaining to read because of how much personality is there. Really dug the "Slaughter Of The Soul" review.