FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
Volition is the album the band should have made after Kezia (2005) and Fortress (2008). The perfect blend of songwriting and technicality makes this record a true standout. This baby is a prime candidate for my end of year list.
I forgot that our brave legislators only listen to bands like the Eagles and Supertramp. Cuz with their new amendments to the country’s labour laws, Stephen Harper and company are making it so that crusty classic rockers and pre-fabricated pop tarts could be the only artists to ever come to Canada…
Hellbound Metal: “Monster Truck recently had the opportunity to perform at Download 2013 in the UK, one of the bigger UK hard rock/metal fests and they have just released a video of a song from their performance there. Please take a look at our hometown boys playing Furiosity’s lead off track “Old Train” before thousands of UK punters recently.”
Hellbound Metal: “The Night Watch have released a challenging debut, one which initially did not work for me. Though not all the tracks stand out, it’s with repeated listens that it becomes apparent to me that the album is an exciting piece of avant-garde metal/post-rock/insert label here.”
Hellbound Metal: “Alas, while part of me is still pining for the s/t, I’m digging this new direction as well.”
Well, here we are with week two’s Iron Maple column. With any luck there won’t need to be a name change this week or anyone crying ‘conflict of interest’ with my reviews! It’s been an interesting week for me here in Iron Maple land, racking up plenty of interviews as well as a whole lot of listening. There hasn’t been a lot of new stuff coming in to Iron Maple headquarters the last two weeks, but that’s perfectly fine as I’m so back logged right now, it’s a little mind blowing.
“Dark Descent has a characteristic signature that lends confidence to, and underscores, the veracity of its releases. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily imply that you’re going to enjoy every album with Dark Descent’s sigil attached, but all its releases are imprinted with a strong sense of integrity bound to the label’s trustworthy aesthetic.”
Craig Haze reviews two new Dark Descent releases by Finland’s Vorum and Canada’s Paroxsihzem for your reading pleasure.
I admit when Cryptopsy first crossed my desktop I was hesitant. The clean vocals (and keyboards) of The Unspoken King left a sour taste in my mouth. Not knowing what I was getting myself in to, this self-titled rejuvenation far exceeded any expectations I had. Growing on me with every listen, Cryptopsy is becoming one of the most enjoyable death metal releases of 2012.
Well, unlike Vancouver 2010, I can’t truly say that I’m sick of our national anthem by now–Canada’s only won one gold medal this time around. But that said, while watching some exciting Olympic action, I still prefer to have the following blasting in the background…
“I think that with these two recent records, Deconstruction and Ghost – specifically with Deconstruction in my head, I can probably write this sort of Andrew Lloyd Webber-esque sort of absurdity that, if I was in a genre which afforded me the opportunity to really go for it on the level that they’re able to do with The Lion King or The Phantom of the Opera, it would be, in my opinion, just this completely free piece of work that has no creative limits and no boundaries, and that includes everything from like the most vulgar to the most beautiful.”
Laura Wiebe in conversation with the one and only Devin Townsend.