Intro: And now, for something completely different! I’m no stranger to literary experimentation. I took creative risks when I published my very first Lyrical Analysis (now a recurring segment), or took a leaf out of Gertrude Stein‘s book, and other leaps of faith. After writing my first ever Albums of the Year list, I realized it’s quite fun – and easy- to write about several albums in the same article, instead of burning … read...
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Intro: Album Of The Year and other list based articles are a mixed bag, or double edged sword. Even Bandcamp is reconsidering their format of a ranked list, or even eschewing it entirely. But in a year as crazy, stupid, frustrating, and difficult as this, I’m grateful for all the awesome music that helped me get through it. This article is not a hierarchy, but a shout out, an act of gratitude for the musicians … read...
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Shadows of Lonehill will be released on Halloween of 2020, which is also a full moon night. This is a concept album, centered around the theme of an Antihero. The central protagonist exemplifies this archetype, alluding to the likes of Oedipus Rex, Kullervo, and Scarface. His name is Seth, synonymous with the third son of Adam and Eve, brother to Cain and Abel, as well as the name of the Egyptian god of chaos, disorder, … read...
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Insomnium is a melodic death metal band based in Finland. Intro: This track is from the album, Shadows of the Dying Sun, released by Century Records in 2014. Even the album title is a juxtaposition of light and dark. The greyscale color scheme of the music video, is another example of this contrast. It also hints at moral ambiguity. Why are relationships so complex? What does it mean to be ambivalent? Is there something beyond … read...
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This EP was released on October 16, 2019, just in time for Halloween. Bhas is a 5 piece death metal band from Glasgow, UK, comprised of vocalist Lee Lewis, drummer Conor Quinn, bassist Danny O’Keeffe, and guitarists Mark Williamson and Alasdair Blair. Their new album, Torture Punishment Eternity, features genre staples such as guttural vocals, dissonant guitars, and high speed drumming. The album art is black and white, but hyperrealistic. The detailed drawings of contorted … read...
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Released in 2009, Skyforger is the 9th studio album from Finnish melodic death metal outfit Amorphis. Amorphis is one of my favorite bands, and this song is one of the many reasons why I love them. This track is from the concept album Skyforger, which is about the Blacksmith of the Gods, named Ilmarinen. (Not to be confused with Leminkainen, the warrior-poet, or Kullervo, the Tragic Antihero.) That’s the trouble with centuries-old ancient epic literature. … read...
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The album cover for Am Universum, released by Amorphis in 2001. Being a band from Finland, Amorphis is known to reference the Finnish epic saga called the Kalevala. This song may allude to the heroic protagonist, Vainamoinen, who suffered greatly in his struggle to find a wife and carry on his legacy. He colluded with gods and spirits, yet the divine feminine still eluded him. Even though he was a heroic warrior-poet, he wasn’t even … read...
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This band and their self titled debut have morbid medical themes, as well as a twisted sense of humor. When I first heard this album, I was way too hungover for that fucking kazoo intro, but that made it even more hilarious and entertaining. The weird sound effects and humorous undertones continue with the following songs on the EP. Tracks like Shiddnfard and Botfly Reunion, use the trombone for its inherent comedic value. The gross-out … read...
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St. Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Posessed Statue of the Virgin and Child, Vincenzo Foppa, 1468 Intro: All art is political. Religion and music are no exception. Many metalheads claim to be anti religion one minute, and then devil-worshiping Satanists the next. Others enjoy the music while still practicing their faith, whether it’s Judaism, Islam, or Christianity. To assume that all metal music is Satanic or Atheistic, is as asinine as assuming that all jazz fans … read...
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This surreal album art resembles the morbid paintings of Heironymous Bosch. I love me some death metal, especially when it’s both symphonic and technical, as with Italian masters Fleshgod Apocalypse. This song is reminiscent of their classic masterpiece of yesteryear, The Violation. The roaring vocals in the intro are especially memorable. The imagery of the music video, similarly, illustrates the dark elegance of this band. These musicians look like the Platonian ideal of a metalhead: … read...
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