A world too close to my own

DISCLAIMER: Before reading this blog entry, I would like to say a few things to the reader. Although still legal in several states, including California, Salvia Divinorum extract is an herb that must be treated responsibly and respectfully. Salvia Divinorum, at high potency, can act as an extreme hallucinogen, rivaling the effects of magic mushrooms and LSD. It is highly recommended that the user have a sitter with them (I certainly learned this the hard way) with any form of extract, especially 20x and higher.



Finally, I got home from work. A hard day of work, for that matter. Frustration had finally settled and my mood had changed to relaxed. I certainly felt thankful for my co-workers who kept me sane throughout the day. This whole week had been absolutely relentless, what with the sudden weather changes and all. I headed into my room and took all my stuff out of my pocket and placed it next to my TV: wallet, ipod, cell phone, and a piece of crumpled receipt from Julie's Kitchen. Jeez, I couldn't believe I paid that much for a meal. Absolutely ridiculous. I changed into my sweats and turned on the TV to see what was on. Nothing I was in the mood for...I turned on my laptop and loaded it up to check the internet...nothing I was interested in....I still couldn't shake the fact that this week has been so painfully harsh for me and my coworkers. My lips, snappy and my temper short, I needed to just have a moment to myself. I looked around my room, wondering what to do that would quench my boredom. A few moments passed as the TV was set on a show entitled "Locked Up Abroad" and my eyes caught an empty BB pellet container. Well, not necessarily empty, actually...I snagged the container and sat on my bed, unscrewing the top off. I reached in to pull out a small little ziplock bag that was labeled "Organic Salvia Divinorum 20x" and placed it in front of me.

I had previously ordered the Salvia from an incredible online vendor called Arena Ethnobotanicals and had used it twice before with some pretty intense experiences. I was certainly determined to smoke this tonight and nothing was going to stop me. I got out of bed and with some much needed force, opened my badly structured door to the closet and pulled out my glass pipe Beatrix. I immediately loaded about half a gram of Salvia Divinorum into the bowl on top of a three pronged glass screen while I listened to the lady on "Locked Up Abroad" talk about her tragic experience of being locked up in Tokyo. She continued to talk about having to take baths on her knees with several other girls with only three cups of water available for each person, showing an overly dramatized reenactment of her experience unfold as she began to rebel against the woman officer in charge of watching them. I made sure the Salvia was well placed into the bowl and immediately took the first hit, using my green lighter and watching the smoke swirl into the pipe and the little dragon inside puff out a small amount of fire. I kept the smoke in for about ten seconds, but was interrupted by a violent cough. It wasn't the harshest I've ever tried, but it did the job.

The room began to feel like a slow wave, as if the whole place was floating in the ocean. My depth perception quickly changed. Things felt far away from me, the voice of the lady on the TV was muffled. I sat there for a few seconds and finally came to a conclusion. I didn't take that hit hard enough. I picked up my pipe and took another hit, but this time, forced myself to keep the smoke in as long as I could. I turned the pipe around and sucked the rest of the smoke out and held it in for 20-30 seconds. I felt the change in seconds. The room was shaking, but slow at the same time. My vision was more vibrant and the colors around me were almost blinding. I finally let the smoke out and waited for a second, staring at the TV, as the lady from "Locked Up Abroad" was speaking. Suddenly, the TV began to "malfunction" in a really strange way. The picture of the lady began to simultaneously switch into another image. A very dark image of a young girl around 10-12 years old in her nightgown, sitting down on the floor of a dark hallway, illuminated by moonlight, making the lighter shadows a blueish tint. She was leaning on the wall with her arms wrapped around her knees simply staring at me.

I could not comprehend what I was watching. Where did this little girl come from? Who was she? I continued to stare at her as she stared at me when I realized that the voice of the woman speaking on "Locked Up Abroad" began to change drastically. Her voice became louder and almost trance-like. It was no longer the voice of the woman, but of the young girl who appeared before me. The voice was at an excruciating volume as she spoke. Her voice was frightening. Otherworldly. Incredible. As I contemplated, she began to speak to me, something that took me by surprise, as I jumped back into the corner of my bed, leaning on the wall.

She asked me with that ungodly voice, "What's wrong? Why do you look scared?"

Her voice carrying a hint of sarcasm, she continued to speak to me, saying ridiculous things I tried to block out.

Before I knew it, I began to speak back. I yelled at the TV, "No! This isn't real! You're not real!"

I yelled, and couldn't stop myself as she denied me. Before I knew it, the TV began to emit black and white psychedelic waves into my room and everything I looked at turned into the little girl. My vision began to duplicate the images I was staring at whether it was the TV or the door to the living room. I began to panic and buried my head into my pillow. I couldn't believe what was happening to me and assured myself that all of this was not real. However, the little girl would not have it as she continued her attempts at getting my attention. I knew she was in the room already. I could feel her watching me as I lost control of myself. Everything in my room was converging and suffocating me. I jumped out of the bed as she stared at me, continuing her morbid talk. I began marching around my small room, kicking my knees as high as I could. I knew I was doing it, but I couldn't stop. My mind had become independent from my body and I just watched as I made a fool of myself. I was sweating...I didn't know what to do but continue to march around the room. Perhaps my body thought that if I did it enough, the effects would wear off. A few more minutes passed and I sat down on the edge of my bed.

I had gone crazy, I thought. The girl laughed, that otherworldly voice becoming even more unbearable. She laughed for what seemed like forever, then finally, a sense of calm set in. The TV stopped malfunctioning and I had control of my body again. The little girl was gone and the TV was showing a commercial. I didn't feel groggy or sick...nothing. What just happened to me, I thought. I looked at the clock and noticed that only 10 minutes had passed since the effects set in. I was hallucinating. I knew I was hallucinating, but it felt so real. I had to reconcile with the illusions I had seen and what was reality. With the experience, I had drawn a very thin line between two worlds. I couldn't stop thinking about what I saw. I still can't stop thinking about it. It felt too real. Why did I easily lose control over my mind? Who was this young girl who manifested from the TV and into my room? I was terrified. Scared. Intrigued. Most people would consider this a really bad trip, but I am one who takes an experience and urges myself to delve in further. I want to know more. Was she apart of my subconscious? Will I ever see her again?

I always considered myself a strong-willed person and strong-minded as well. But experiences such as this really show how fragile the human mind is. I am not one to seek out any sort of enlightenment from any type of drug because, simply, I'm not that type of person who depends on a substance to guide me or make my decisions. However, an experience such as this has surely got me thinking, and like I said, I haven't stopped thinking about it since it happened two nights ago.

Please supports: www.arenaethnobotanicals.com

Only the highest quality of salvia and other herbs.

Give up something trivial and stick it up your ass.

As I contemplate my thoughts on different music albums (mainly Ihsahn - After and Borknagar - Universal), another subject comes to mind...something that plays an imperative part in most of our lives, whether we are followers, observers, or downright oblivious to the matter. As ridiculous as it sounds to even an atheist, religion is advertised everywhere, on billboards, pamphlets dropped into your mailbox, printed on the back of a dollar bill, and on lame bumper stickers placed next to “My child is an Honor Student,” and even they cannot deny that they have nothing to do with it. Religion acts like that oddly pale little boy with crooked glasses constantly following you on the playground with his creepy, beady eyes fixated on every movement you make. Yet, religion is also the big bully on the block who willingly takes your lunch money away and screams “O’Doyle rules!” for no reason whatsoever. Well, except he’s actually not screaming something so childish. Rather, he screams something more foolish like, “Give me 20 Hail Mary prayers and your sins will be forgiven.” Sacrament of Penance aside, there is one thing I’ve been pondering as of late, since Ash Wednesday passed, and that is the tradition of Lent.

In Christianity, Lent is a tradition described as the forty day period between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday where people participate in a fasting episode, some cultures being more intense than others regarding the foods that are available to eat. Lent represents the period Jesus Christ had in the desert where he endured temptations from Satan. In other words, Jesus spent time in a desert before his public ministry, saw some things he totally wanted to get his hands on, said hello to Satan, and left because his dad would’ve gotten mad...or he would’ve gotten mad…or his dad because they’re apparently the same dude…of course, this is what is in the Bible (New Testament) and we should all know that the Bible is ALWAYS RIGHT. Sarcasms aside, I question how this story dictates our participation in such an outrageous tradition. Since Jesus Christ voluntarily spent time in the desert where he endured temptations, and probably did not eat very much at all, we must give up something as trivial as meat to show that we know how he feels! Absolute bullshit. The idea of giving something up because the church tells you to is NOT what Jesus Christ himself is telling you to do. Please, Jesus may have been one who mostly protested against the rich, but I doubt he would be the type of person who would force someone not to eat meat because it’s a divine service to the lord.

Speaking of trivial matters, modern day Lent can be described as a ridiculous joke to human society. When Lent comes around, random people come by to ask me what I’m giving up. As one who questions these traditions, I always ask them what they are giving up, usually resulting in a reply I certainly chuckle at. Candy, soda, rice, meat, gum, coffee, etc etc. These are the answers I’ve been given repeatedly, showing off that they are doing god a service in one way or another. These people actually believe that smearing a cross with unknown ashes on their head, not eating meat on Ash Wednesday, and giving petty necessities up dictates our morality and how god sees us. In other words, if these things are not done accordingly, we are not a good enough people to be considered decent. Sounds about right? Certainly better than holding on to our simple pleasures in life.

But if you take away the idea of fasting, or in modern day, giving up something (chuckles), the purpose of Lent is the preparation of believers in Christianity or Catholicism, in the course of prayers, penance (the repentance of sin), almsgiving (giving to another as an act of virtue), and asceticism (“spiritual” self-denial with the sole purpose of acquiring virtue). Here lies the problem with the tradition of Lent, as seen in present day. If there truly is a god, he probably is extremely jealous, and morbidly humorous. The church has enough power that their followers would participate in these absurd traditions so willingly, and they actually believe that praying and repenting for their sins by being marked with the cross on their foreheads and fasting would have god embrace them. No, you fools. The church is not god, let alone a representative of god. Hell, there are a lot of churches, priests, ministers, and reverends who have twisted the “word of god” for their own needs (I’m looking at you, Jeremiah Cummings and Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda). And almsgiving, oh almsgiving…this and asceticism are probably where the idea of giving up something comes from. Yet, almsgiving is a so-called “virtuous” act where one voluntarily gives to the poor like a charity. How in the bloody hell does giving up something so material without actually giving to others deem one a good person? That is what’s so ridiculous about modern day lent practices.

“What are you going to give up?”

“ Oh, candy?”

“You going to give it to the poor?”

“No?”

“Then what’s the point?”

Ah, so you are doing your duty as a Christian by putting money in the basket. That is common decency indeed. Bet you don’t know where that money goes to…certainly doesn’t go to all of the starving children in Africa. They’re fine over there, it’s only poverty and aids. The pope says they shouldn’t use condoms. Let’s listen to him because he surely is a Catholic celebrity! But let us not get into the pope…at least not yet…lastly comes the idea of asceticism, the idea of self-denial, of discipline in denying simple pleasures in life. Yes, we must exercise restraint in order to become better people. More virtuous so that god will let us pass through the golden gates of Heaven. Of course, if you don’t you’ll be thrown into hell. Look, I have no problems with restraining yourself from doing something, or anything, but please…this is human society. Human nature gives us the rights to deny anything we want. Don’t make it as if this is a Holy act. Again, absolute bullshit. God is probably laughing at how stupid we are. He needs something to entertain himself, right?

Does anyone see an on-going pattern here? I can go on forever, even passed Lent and into the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter Sunday, or what I like to call…BUNNIES! Don’t know how that got stuck, or how Christians and Catholics know that Jesus’ death and resurrection happened on these specific dates. They claim the evidence is in the bible, but that’s another laughing matter, because certainly, that does not scientifically count as evidence. Anyways, the pattern here is that religion comes off as absolute bullshit many times. And it comes around over and over and over again because it is so damned stingy that it even sticks itself into political matters. The idea of separation between church and state seems to have been forgotten, Christianity, in all sorts of forms, is running rampant in our country and forcing followers to do illogical practices to assure them a spot in Heaven, and Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda is the second coming of Jesus Christ. But hey, the majority of the world’s population would scream at me that I am wrong. So what does that tell you?

P.S. So what exactly do I say when someone asks me what I'm giving up? I merely say...well, I've given up giving stuff up. Usually results in some hilarious facial expressions.

P.S.S. Thank you, Bill Maher for being one of the sane people in this world.

Sigh - Scenes From Hell (2010) Review

Tracklist:
1. Prelude to the Oracle
2. L’art de Mourir
3. The Soul Grave
4. The Red Funeral
5. The Summer Funeral
6. Musica in Tempora Belli
7. Vanitas
8. Scenes from Hell

For years, Japanese metal band, Sigh, has awed us with a surprisingly diverse discography, touching elements from the curiously bizarre to triumphantly grandiose, while still managing to balance it with their black thrash attack. The avant-garde ensemble has moved from black metal to psychedelic to midnight waltzes with such smooth transitions that fans have been accustomed to the sudden, yet consistent changes of each respective release. However, 2007’s "Hangman’s Hymn," an album with classical inspiration, has unquestionably encouraged Sigh to delve deeper into these bombastic elements, incorporating brass and string instruments that sweep through their music like a demonic symphony.

Since “Hail Horror Hail” Sigh has managed to keep one characteristic in place: Theatrical. “Scenes From Hell” is clearly no exception, as the plethora of instruments from the trumpets, saxophones, and tubas, to the piano, clarinets and strings really carry this album while still giving room for Mirai and Mikannibal’s diabolical vocals and the soaring guitar solos of Shinichi Ichikawa, which don’t, at all, feel out of place. That is what Sigh does extremely well: They manage to blend two opposing genres that are skillfully conducted and absolutely engaging, telling a haunting story from one track to the other, showcasing their full potential in songwriting. At the very least, Sigh are tremendously talented musicians who work their hardest to make each song they record speak to the listeners while maintaining the flow of the overall album.

That isn’t to say there aren’t any flaws, however. “Scenes From Hell” is certainly a treat for longtime Sigh fans as well as newcomers who are looking for more creative music in the metal spectrum. Nonetheless, with such extravagant elements in play, one must question the production of the album. There was a past blog with Mirai where he stated the difficult task of finding the right sound for the new album, and working very hard to get the mix perfectly. The decision to keep a raw sound to “Scenes From Hell” doesn’t necessarily work as well as Mirai envisioned, as it retracts from the overall experience. While “Scenes From Hell” is miles ahead of its predecessor, the production of “Hangman’s Hymn” worked particularly well due to its crisp sound, making the orchestral elements sound demanding and powerful. Mirai and co seemed to believe that taking their new album and placing it in the vein of “Hail Horror Hail’s” production was the right choice, which may possibly be a turn-off to some listeners. The raw production worked in “Hail Horror Hail” simply because the album, although in the process of Sigh’s excessive experimentation, was still in tune with their black metal roots. This cannot be said about “Scenes From Hell” unfortunately, and Sigh hasn’t necessarily been a black metal band since “Infidel Art.”

An unfortunate decision that retracts from the experience will not take down this album very easily, however. While it will certainly be a major issue for a handful of listeners, getting used to the production might prove to be the easiest aspect when listening to the album. “Scenes From Hell,” in terms of the direction, can be described as the climaxing of an epic post-rock release, albeit a very harsh and monstrous one. After the first two tracks, which are filled with thrashy riffs and commanding orchestration, “Scenes From Hell” starts to build up with “The Soul Grave,” a sinister epic that is only the beginning of what is the peak of the album. “The Red Funeral” and “The Summer Funeral” are the climax of “Scenes From Hell” exhibiting excellent pacing and ominous instrumentation, an ode to Wagner’s depressing, yet powerful Funeral March. “The Summer Funeral” is the perfect funeral dirge that compliments the atmosphere of the whole album, creating what can only be depicted as the most grotesque funeral one will ever attend. To partner with the slow, menacing pace of “The Summer Funeral” is the crushingly heavy “Musica in Tempora Belli,” blending perfectly the beautiful string ensemble with the frantic black thrash metal Sigh is known for.

While one will still beg to question the decision to lower the quality of production in “Scenes From Hell,” there is no denying that Sigh has created one of their best albums to date. The album finishes strong, although the expectations of a final epic track is non-existent, the title track does enough to close the curtains. It may not be a “Requiem – Nostalgia” or “Seed of Eternity,” but fans will certainly feel satisfied, especially after the bombardment of powerful tracks in the middle of the album. “Scenes From Hell” is a chaotic epic that will overwhelm their listeners into submission, as it can easily be the soundtrack to the end of the world.

9/10

Sigh's Websites:
http://www.sighjapan.com/
Myspace

Top 20 Albums of 2009

Welcome, everyone, to my newly formed blog. As a writer, and a fellow music enthusiast, I decided to take my chances in creating a page dedicated to music, whether it's metal, post-rock, hip hop, electronica, etc etc... No profits made, strictly personal opinions, and something for anyone who loves music. Anyways, as my first blog post, it seems logical that I give you my best of 2009 list, which I just finished last week. I hope you enjoy this little write up and perhaps you'll find something to your liking:

So another year has passed means another year for music has descended upon us, waiting to be played on our music players and into our eager ears. Unfortunately, there was just so much mediocre and just plain garbage material vomited out of 2009 that the quality pieces had a good chance of being lost amidst the pile of trash. However, I’m going to make a sharp 180 on you as the reader and tell you that it was a pretty solid year for music, metal or not. Actually, it was a surprisingly good year. Personally, 2009 was the year that brought back my love for the black metal scene, as it has been a very bland, unexciting adventure for the genre, with the exception of a handful of albums (Lurker of Chalice – 2005, Negura Bunget – OM 2006, Wolves in the Throne Room – Two Hunters 2007 among them). As you read through the list, you’ll notice a good amount of black metal releases, all of which I believe to be solid to stellar albums. But don’t think it was just the black metal scene that shined in 2009. There were tons of albums I had to consider from several different genres, electronica, post-rock, hip hop and indie to name a few. Hope you enjoy this list. Took me awhile to make it…


20. Mos Def – The Ecstatic

Everyone should know Mos Def to be one of the main figures that represents the true hip hop scene, spanning incredible albums and collaborations year after year. “Black on Both Sides” still remains one of the absolute best hip hop albums of all time and one of the reasons why I love hip hop so much. As many of you know, Mos Def finally released his latest album “The Ecstatic” after three years and let me tell you…it does NOT disappoint. This album is literally all over the place but manages to tie in together like some sort of organized chaos. Mos Def’s flows are as smooth as ever, and his beats, although at time can be frantic, still seem to come naturally. I thoroughly enjoyed this release, and I hope that anyone who hasn’t listened to it will take my word.


19. Shining - VI Klagopsalmer

When Shining – “VI - Klagopsalmer” came out, I was trying to keep my expectations a little low, considering I found the previous effort “V – Halmstad” to be an incredible achievement from a band labeled “Suicidal Black Metal” where although the music was engaging in a depressing sense, a lot of it sounded way too similar from one another. That is the problem with a lot of black metal in general however, and “V – Halmstad” showed that a band such as Shining can experiment with their music while creating something memorable. So like I said, I did not have my hopes too high with the next release. Fortunately, the second I began playing the first track “Vilseledda Barnasjälars Hemvist,” I got hooked and I think that is thanks to me not hyping it up for myself. While the album is not as memorable as V, Shining has taken what they had previously created and decided to adventure further into the style, which I think was the right move. I’ve read a handful of reviews about this album from fans and critics alike and the opinions seem mixed. I found a lot of reviewers taking away points by comparing it to V and I just thought it was unfair. “VI – Klagopsalmer” is still highly entertaining and, at times, very engaging, spawning some soft, acoustic filled passages with haunting keyboards, while still being able to transition into those raw black metal sections and filthy vocals. Pretty damn good, if you ask me.


18. Funebrarum – The Sleep of Morbid Dreams

Oh man, there is nothing better than listening to a devastatingly raw death metal album when you are just not in the mood. I remember coming home from a hard day of work and deciding to play this album, as a friend of mine excitedly told me that Funebrarum finally came out with a new release. I popped in “The Sleep of Morbid Dreams” I ended up falling to sleep to it…and when I woke up, I felt refreshed and the album just repeated itself all over again. So I decided to give it my full, undivided attention and I’m glad I did. What an absolutely br00tal album! You don’t get many death metal albums like this, as most bands in the genre have tried the more modern and technical approaches. Funebrarum challenges to bring back that old-school, extremely raw death metal sound, and shit, does it sound fuckin’ good. This is like…sex to my ears! Well…bloody grotesque sex, I guess…


17. Khanate – Clean Hands Go Foul

Some of you may know that Khanate actually disbanded quite a few years back and left this album unreleased…well, until 2009 of course. It’s kind of weird putting this in a 2009 list when I know it was supposed to be released a long time ago, but I had to no matter what. Khanate still remains to be one of the filthiest, most depressingly suicidal, fucked up bands to ever be formed. Khanate continued with Clean Hands Go Foul, giving their fans more reason to feel like their lives are about to end any moment. From the long, droning sounds of despair, to the haunting echoes of Alan Dubin’s nasty vocals, Clean Hands Go Foul is actually more of the same from their previous releases, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Their poetic lyrics, from suicidal to grotesque, almost as if a serial killer had written it…this aspect will probably scare more than half their listeners and turn off newcomers, but to those such as me, who have found something they like, every Khanate album has been a gripping, albeit shocking experience.


16. The Chasm - Farseeing the Paranormal Abyss

Well, talk about sudden revivals! Like Funebrarum, The Chasm seemed to have been in a long hiatus, in which their last album “The Spell of Retribution” was released 5 long years ago. But here they are, pumping out an incredible album, adding more fuel to the raw death metal style while adding a bit of a doomy touch. While The Chasm’s doom influence has taken a backseat to what now is mainly a raw death metal album, “Farseeing the Paranormal Abyss” is an intimidating effort and a death metal fans wet dream. Using subtle ambient noises that leave a haunting feel in the background, The Chasm has become quite reminiscent to classic Morbid Angel, mainly tracks from the great “Altars of Madness” while still managing to separate themselves from other death metal bands. The Chasm has always been one of the more interesting, and entertaining death metal bands out there and it’s great to see them back on the map. A worthy album to the name CHASM.


15. Gnaw Their Tongues - All the Dread Magnificence of Perversity

Remember when I said that Khanate is one of the filthiest bands to ever be formed? Well, be prepared to get even filthier, as Gnaw Their Tongues is the epitome of what filth is. Seriously, this one man project’s music is like a giant room full of chaotic filth, somehow organized into disgustingly filthy compositions. FILTH! Alright, I overreacted there, but this is truly what Gnaw Their Tongues “All the Dread Magnificence of Perversity” sounds like. The experimental black metal/noise act does not hold back with what I can describe as the most disturbing horror soundtrack I’ve ever listened to. Oh, and disgustingly filthy, if I haven’t said that yet…every song is filled with chaotic noise and distant horror like strings, accompanied with screams of terror and despair. The churning of bells makes the experience even scarier and the black metal screams add more to this terrifying experience. I’d say if the video game Silent Hill can become as disturbing as it already is, than this would be the perfect soundtrack. Otherwise, Silent Hill is child’s play compared to this. Plus, the cover is absolutely frightening.


14. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Alright, so enough of all that disgustingly grotesque, and extremely raw material. Some of you are probably getting exhausted because of it. Or if you’ve listened to Khanate or Gnaw Their Tongues, you’ve probably already committed suicide. All jokes aside, it’s time to jump into the opposite side of the music spectrum and introduce to you Animal Collective, an incredibly talented electronic/indie rock band. Combining some very organic electronic music with well written indie rock music, “Merriweather Post pavilion” is another album that has won me over into the indie genre. I still believe that most of the genre is pure garbage, but when a band like this comes out, you just can’t turn away. Listening to “Merriweather Post Pavilion” gave me the same feeling as when I first listened to Belle & Sebastian. There are points when the electronic elements are subtle and points where it just overtakes everything in the tracks, while still leaving room for the vocals and other instruments. While the combination of electronica and indie isn’t relatively new, Animal Collective manages to release an album that sounds fresh and beautiful to the ears.


13. Eagle Twin – The Unkindness of Crows

I saw Eagle Twin live last year when a friend and I drove to the Brookdale Lodge in Santa Cruz, eager to experience Sunn O))) for the very first time. Eagle Twin played first, a two man band, a drummer and a guitarist, who absolutely wrecked the stage. The second they ended their set, I ran to the merchandise section and immediately bought their album “The Unkindness of Crows,” a very meaty musical experience full of devastating sludge riffs accompanied with drone elements. This sludge album is absolutely devastating. If a band such as Sunn O))) made love with Neurosis, Eagle Twin would be their disgustingly beautiful love-child. The tracks can be excessive long at times, but the epically devastating sound of this album easily keeps you engaged. While the drone elements may turn some listeners off, as I know very well that drone, or sludge for that matter, is not for everyone, I urge you to check this album out. The song “10,000 Birds of Black Hot Fire” is absolutely incredible.


12. Sunn O))) – Monolith & Dimensions

Speaking of the great drone band Sunn O))), I knew their latest album would unmistakably make it into this list. “Monolith & Dimensions” is easily Sunn O)))’s best album to date, as Stephen O’Malley and co has constructed something special, while experimenting with some new elements. We’re talking haunting choirs in the background of this drone-filled nightmare, the distant sounds of violins, English horns, and percussions, and that haunting atmosphere that Sunn O))) is so good at doing. This is a dreadfully delightful album, and by far the greatest drone album I’ve ever listened to. I still remember that fateful night I mentioned where my friend and I saw Sunn O))). That live show was the most intense experience I’ve ever witness. The whole place was shaking like an earthquake and I literally threw up on the way home. The sound of drone was repeating in my ears into my mind for about a week…GOOD TIMES!


11. Nile - Those Whom the Gods Detest

There is one thing I must say about “Those Whom the Gods Detest”, Nile’s latest death metal opus. It fuckin’ SLAYS! I just noticed now that death metal actually has a pretty large role on this list, and Nile is the perfect band to top them off. Continuing with their Egyptian-esque style of death metal, Nile has once again proven that they are one of the best of the best in what they do, composing some truly monstrous riffs, while being able to transition into those interesting Egyptian passages. There’s really not much else to say about how great this album is. Everything about it obliterates anything their previous album ever attempted, and I think it is on par with their earlier epics such as Amongst the Catacombs and Annihilation of the Wicked. By the way, the title track to this album is destroying me at this very moment. Don’t be surprised if I have a black eye, a lost tooth, and praying to Anubis.


10. Secret Chiefs 3: Traditionalists: Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini

Secret Chiefs 3 is a relatively unknown band at this point, and some of you may know that I’ve been trying to sort of “promote” them since their album “Xaphan.” So here’s my next attempt in getting you music lovers to give them a try. “Traditionalists: Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini” is a very interesting album, far more different than “Xaphan” and “Book of Horizons.” Instead of those eclectic passages filled with unique instrumentation, you have what I would call a perfect soundtrack to a B-Horror film. Full of beautiful keyboard passage followed by suspenseful tracks, enough to have someone jump out of their seat if this was partnered to the perfect 70’s horror flick, I urge you to check this out. And check out their previous albums as well. They are worth every minute of your time.


9. Gorgoroth - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt

To many black metal fans, Gorgoroth’s latest would certainly be a main subject of discussion, as the court case regarding Gaahl and Infernus had finally ended, giving Infernus the rights to the name Gorgoroth. So with the separation of the two, Infernus invited former Gorgoroth vocalist Pest back into the fold, and thus began a new, yet old era for the band. And might I add, “Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt” is incredible. No offense to Gaahl, who I believe to be a great black metal vocalist and gave Gorgoroth some really good years, but Pest certainly fits the bill of what Gorgoroth truly sounds like. Exit the overproduced, highly layered black metal pieces that Gaahl helped in creating, and re-enter the raw pure black metal that the band was once known for. While it’s not as good as “Under the Sign of Hell” in my opinion, you can definitely place the album as one of their very best. However, while their music fits their older style more, you won’t have those hyper-fast guitar riffs and battering drums anymore. In their latest effort, a more mid-paced black metal is played and even though I would have loved to hear another album in the vein of “Under the Sign of Hell,” this is totally fine with me. Long time Gorgoroth fans should be pleased.


8. Converge – Axe to Fall

There isn’t more I can say about Converge, except that they are one of the most memorable bands to enter the music scene, with their frantic hardcore approach to what is ultimately incredible metal music. You don’t agree with me that they’re a part of the metal genre? Pfft, Like I fuckin’ care. Go write to metal-archives, who don’t even have them listed in there. Pure bullshit, I tell you. Anyways, as you all know, I love their album “Jane Doe”, and while I do like their other efforts as well, they don’t even come close. Enter “Axe to Fall,” Converge’s latest offering. I must say, while I still think “Jane Doe” is their greatest album, “Axe to Fall” does a great job in keeping up. I can say that it is definitely on par with Jane Doe without hesitating or slurring my words. The frantic guitars are back and work well with the soaring guitar solos. I was incredibly impressed from start to finish and I am absolutely positive that you will be as well.


7. Isis – Wavering Radiant

Isis are a tough band to categorize. Some say they’re a sort of atmospheric sludge? Sludge metal? Post-metal? Hell, sometimes it’s hard to consider them as a metal band. But there’s one thing most of us can agree on…that they do what they do REALLY well. Their latest album “Wavering Radiant” is an excellent release continuing their trend in combining post-rock elements to their metal counterpart, playing in a somewhat organic scope. For a lot of people, this band, like many other “post-metal” bands, can be quite exhausting, as they challenge the listener to dive deeper into the music and enter a sort of isolated space. The duration of their tracks aren’t necessarily forgiving either, spanning from 8-`10 minute epics that push for full focus and concentration on each and every track. But don’t let that discourage any of you, as this is pure nirvana in musical form: A beautifully well done masterpiece and definitely worthy of any spot on a top 10 list.


6. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II

I just found out a few days ago that Raekwon finally released “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II” and all I ask…why didn’t ANYONE tell me??? Well, the past is the past, and I managed to find out myself and finally listen to it. I have been playing this album in particular nonstop the past two days and it is literally kicking my ass! Raekwon has always been one of the best Wu Tang members and his solo releases prove that. Part II has that stylish blend of intricate flows and techniques combined with some of that kick-ass martial arts sampling. Raekwon never ceases to impress. Songs like “House of Flying Daggers,” “Black Mozart,” and “Mean Streets” are few of the great songs on this album. Let’s also not forget about the collaborations on this album with fellow Wu Tang members such as Inspectah Deck, Rza, Method Man, and Ghost Face. This album is raw.


5. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport

I just recently got into this ingenious electronica band and I am sooo glad that I stumbled across them one day, surfing the internet out of sheer boredom. I was on some music forum that posted a link to this bands review on the infamous pitchfork website, and while those snobby journalists tend to put quality material down more than they should, I found their review of “Tarot Sport” intriguing so I immediately gave it a shot. Talk about the perfect build-up and climax to a song. And this is not just one song, but every single song on this album. Fuck Buttons has created an incredibly ambitious masterpiece with soaring electronic crescendos full of beautifully created soundscapes. I haven’t necessarily delved into the electronica genre, but if there are bands that can fuel tons of emotion from me like Fuck Buttons has done with this release, than I’m certainly game. First off, the intro track to this, “Surf Solar” is as perfect an intro as Glosoli was to Sigur Ros’ “Takk…” And speaking of the post-rock genre, I’m sure Fuck Buttons can handle the best of them in terms of greatest build-ups. Absolutely amazing.


4. Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalinen Puhuu

Hmm, how should I describe this clever piece of black metal? Some have said Enslaved meets Pink Floyd. And you know what? I think I’ll have to agree with that. Oranssi Pazuzu and their debut album “Muukalinen Puhuu” has won my heart over, introducing a strange, creative style of psychedelic black metal that I have never heard before. This is great for a long time black metal fan like me because a genre such as black metal doesn’t necessarily have as much creativity as one would hope. And while Oranssi Pazuzu has certainly been inspired by fellow black metallers Enslaved, their music is absolutely refreshing, as they use their spacey, atmospheric nature to lead their raw guitar and drum-work, while still striking a balance between the two. I’m loving the organic tones they incorporate with the keyboards and I surely think It’s a great touch to what I already think is some really good black metal. Everyone should go check this band out if you haven’t, and I’m sure many haven’t since they’re relatively unknown. Some awesomely haunting stuff.


3. Mono – Hymn to the Immortal Wind

Well, here they are: The post-rock kings of climax. Owners of some of the greatest build-ups to music PERIOD. Mono’s music has always been about pure emotion, and grabbing the listener from reality and placing them into a world of imagination. That is what Mono does truly well. There are no lyrics to these exceedingly long tracks, yet each track tells a sad, yet beautiful story. “Hymn to the Immortal Wind” is no exception to this trend, throwing the listener into what I can only believe to be an eternal winter wonderland…a wonderland filled with violent snowstorms and the determination to survive. Well, that’s only what comes into my mind and you may quite possibly see something else. The difference of this album in comparison to their earlier works like “You Are There” is the change in instrumentation. Sure, the guitars and drums are still there, but Mono has become dependent on more bombastic elements, using a chamber orchestra with a string ensemble to compliment the emotional barrage of their music. While older tracks have depended on quiet intros building up into powerful climaxes, Hymn to the Immortal Wind has much more sure handed melodies and are somewhat more predictable this time around. This is not at all a bad thing, and their efforts have not been in vain, as they have succeeded in creating some of the most beautifully engaging music of 2009.


2. Mastodon – Crack the Skye

As time passes after this album’s release, it seems that the metal world becomes more and more divided with Mastodon. Half of the fans have embraced Mastodon’s latest, “Crack the Skye” complimenting their thirst for experimentation and their risks in delving deeper into the world of progressive rock music. Others have almost shunned it, saying that Mastodon has lost their edge, or that they have become complacent. Obviously, I’ve embraced Mastodon’s new approach wholeheartedly and find myself listening to this album a lot more lately. I just do not see any of the negative feedback in what I, otherwise think is a stellar reinvention of themselves. Yes, perhaps it’s not as heavy as Leviathan was but a band that chooses to experiment with different elements isn’t a doomed band. I hear a lot of snobby remarks about how they’re trying too hard to fit in more prog elements etc etc, and then I hear the dumbass remarks from metalheads saying that their music sucks because it’s not heavy, and of course, I’m sure them becoming a little more famous has something to do with it. Anyways, there is a lot to like with “Crack the Skye” and I mean A LOT, hence why it has peaked at number two. Songs such as “Divinations” show that although Mastodon aren’t the Leviathan they once were, they can still rock out. My favorite tracks, however, are the epic “Czar,” an 11 minute monster that has some of the best melodies on it. The title track is a monster as well, featuring a more than welcome guest, Scott Kelly from Neurosis, and it’s pretty fuckin’ heavy for the ones who said Mastodon lost it. So yes, this album, in my opinion, is an essential listen, and besides the division of fans, an album that will probably be talked about in the years to come.



And finally…











The number one spot goes to...











*drum roll*












1. The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of Sheltered Elite

This was quite a surprise indeed. I mean, the second album by The Ruins of Beverast “Rain Upon the Impure” was pretty great, although suffered from some of the worst production, but who would have known the they would come back with an album such as “Foulest Semen of Sheltered Elite”? Improved quality, production, and some incredibly epic tracks. This is some of the greatest black metal I’ve ever listened to my whole life. If I can recall correctly, the last black metal album to take the number one spot on my list was Negura Bunget’s “OM” in 2006 and that just felt like a long time ago (I graduated from high school that year!). But seriously, The Ruins of Beverast are able to combine their haunting black metal with a lot of doom influence, creating some pretty terrifying moments. The powerful chanting are another disturbingly great touch, as it slowly mesmerizes you from start to finish. There isn’t enough I can say about this album, except that it is an incredible release and well worth the number one spot on my list. If you’re in the mood for some ritualistic despair, I recommend this a thousand times over. Well done.



Well there you have it everyone. I’m pretty exhausted at this point so, once again, like every list, I apologize for any grammar errors that I did not catch. Anyways, here are the honorable mentions. Great albums that should also be considered for a top spot:

Honorable Mentions:
Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans
Ulverate - Everything is Fire
Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable
Klabautamann - Merkur
Church of Misery - House of the Unholy
The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
Obscura - Cosmogenesis
Yob - The Great Cessation
Katharsis - Fourth Reich
Drudkh – Microcosmos



Biggest disappointments:
Wolves in the Throne Room – The Black Cascade
Immortal – All Shall Fall


Albums I've recently listened to, thought it was great, but haven't had enough time to review:
The Field - Yesterday and Today