Metal
Noah’s Barks pages relating to the metal music genre. Combine with other tags for subgenres, e.g. “alternative+metal,” “funk+metal,” “industrial+metal.”
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Life of Agony – “River Runs Red” (1993)
The skits here are pretty horrible. River Runs Red attempts to take on the serious concept of parental neglect and an abusive home life, but the mother’s voice for example sounds so ridiculous and exaggerated that these parts actually take on a comedic tone and end up making a joke out of something serious and… (read more)
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Alice in Chains – “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here”
‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here’ gets repetitive quickly. Only a hardcore fan wouldn’t be tired by the middle of this 70-minute (!) album. (read more)
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Neurosis – “Through Silver in Blood” (1996)
Pretty good. What Neurosis lose in character with Scott Kelly’s post-hardcore vocals becoming deeper and more in line with traditional sludge metal vocalists, they gain in sound. Through Silver in Blood is their most cohesive and original album yet. True to its name, the riffing and atmosphere on this album is chrome-like and metallic. It’s… (read more)
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Killing Joke – “The Singles Collection 1979-2012” (2013)
‘The Singles Collection’ is probably the best introduction to Killing Joke but falls short of providing enough value for existing fans. (read more)
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Opeth – “Ghost Reveries” (2005)
Ghost Reveries is the same Opeth style, but finally with the new ideas and inspiration the band desperately needed after running dry with Deliverance. A great example of what I’m talking about is the Eastern-influenced psychedelia of “Atonement” (there’s a bit of it in the slower guitar solo in “Reverie / Harlequin Forest” as well). Also,… (read more)
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Killing Joke – “Hosannas From the Basements of Hell” (2006)
At release, Hosannas From the Basements of Hell is the heaviest album Killing Joke (KJ) have ever released, which is quite an accomplishment considering what came before it. Both albums vie to be my favorite by the band. Still, Hosannas From the Basements of Hell definitely sounds different from any other KJ album. Apparently, the… (read more)
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Killing Joke – “Pandemonium”
Pandemonium is the true start of Killing Joke‘s second (and my preferred) phase. Going from their post-punk roots to fully embracing what had become of the industrial rock sound they pioneered, Killing Joke finally sound ironically at peace again being able to rock out harder than they have since their debut. The fun ’80s new… (read more)
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Killing Joke – “Killing Joke” (2003)
Killing Joke 2003 is one of the most aggressive, genuinely angry albums I’ve ever heard. Very cathartic. When I’m in a shitty and pissed off mood, I find it difficult to enjoy music. But rarely, this and Big Black still work for me. For all its fury, Killing Joke is the world’s loudest pop rock album and… (read more)
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Katatonia – “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” (2001)
Katatonia gets consistently more commercial with Last Fair Deal Gone Down, adopting more of the time-tested “soft verse, loud chorus” pop songwriting. I don’t mind it if I like the songs enough, but I can’t put my finger on why I don’t like this album as much as their others. The hooks don’t really register… (read more)
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “Night Castle” (2009)
Night Castle lost a lot of points just for being two fucking hours long. Every song follows the exact same format. Every lyric is predictable, and trying to cover up the amateurish lyrics with the most melodramatic vocals and instrumentation is transparently, offputtingly pretentious. It’s almost impossible for me to tell most of these songs apart,… (read more)