The 2011 Mordy's Metal Listening Club - New albums every Monday!

By popular demand it's back. Lots said they would take part in the metal poll results thread so who wants to start it off today and take a week in future? Volunteer now!

I think 2 albums would be better than 3 as others found it difficult to keep up, but 1 means if you don't like that album you lose interest that week.

Also please don't pick 2 albums by the same band or from the same genre for similar reasons as above.

Give me a week near the end of February, too busy till then.

one album per week is plenty imo. any more than that will only ensure that the thread dies a cold and lonely death in due time (i.e. whenever the new release schedule starts to really heat up). also, people be lazy.

but if theres only 1 and people already know they dont like it they will just not bother with it and probably wont check back.

I'll volunteer

Viceroy goes first - bring it on!

two albums, two different genres? OK give me a few minutes to think...

We play both types of music--Heavy and Metal.

Ephel Duath - Pain Necessary to Know

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSIb8Pzwrt8/SbVfORcr1BI/AAAAAAAAA0g/q4vzgGNWVX0/s400/pain.jpg
http://open.spotify.com/album/5VzYzzSxkPWXdKvCBZn3xN

Cathedral - Supernatural Birth Machine

http://img1.imagebanana.com/img/6zje80dn/CathedralSupernaturalBirthMachine.jpg
http://open.spotify.com/album/6g4H0obXjdTwCzc62UKqZ7

Interesting choices - I've been meaning to listen to both for a while. Can do 2 albums next week or after.

you can do next week then, just dont forget! So many last time wanted a shot but said put me down for 2 months time but then forgot and never came back and the club fell apart.

Listening to Ephal Duath now. First thought: Metal Squarepusher. I would've been absolutely crazy about this when I was seventeen.

Which sounds like faint praise but it's not, they are obviously a good band. I don't know that they can sustain my full interest over an album if they keep up the same mood and pace however.

Downloaded these--will try to listen on the train tomorrow.

That Ephal Duath is crazy! Just sampled it because I had no idea what to expect; first thought is Zorn-esque Naked City/Mr. Bungle jump-cut skronkprog, second thought is those "____ shreds" videos. I'll give it a full listen in the morning, and I'm sure it'll be more of the former than the latter.

I think I still have ephel duath's the painter's palette kicking around the shelves somewhere. remember thinking that it got old quick. will give this one a spin and chime in.

never heard that particular cathedral album either.

I would like to do a week sometime in the future if possible.
I will download the Cathedral and I have the Ephel Duath.

Excellent. I'll do a week, too. Haven't heard the Ephel Duath, and have heard the Cathedral but probably not more than twice! Will listen Tuesday!

I remember liking The Painter's Palette a whole lot, and being really disappointed/put off by Pain Necessary to Know. Will have to revisit. The Squarepusher comparison definitely syncs up with my memories, though.

Okay, so I have listened to the Ephel DUath disc twice now... What do I do now? Write a little review?

Just over 90% on the torrent download. Cannot use Spotify, apparently, since I am in the USA.

I couldn't get into the Ephel Duath. Maybe if I knew it was some sort of game performance piece like Zorn's Cobra I could appreciate the jumps and juxtapositions, but as is I just couldn't find a path or hook to bring me in to their music.

The Cathedral is a mixed bag. Lee sounds a bit tired and rough throughout, and even a standout like "Stained Glass Horizon" can't quite redeem stuff like "Fireball Demon" or "Suicide Asteroid". I like the first side better than the second.

xp yeah, tell us what you thought!

I'll take a week, happy with whenever you can slot me in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12209143

Are record clubs the new book clubs?
By David Sillito BBC arts correspondent

A growing number of music-lovers unhappy about the way album tracks are enjoyed in a pick-and-mix fashion have decided to take action.

The rules are strict. No talking. No texting. You must listen to every song on the album.

Classic Album Sundays treat our best-loved records like great symphonies and are being set up in London, Scotland and Wales.

Groups of music fans sit in front of a vinyl turntable, with the best speakers they can afford, dim the lights and listen to a classic album all the way through.

This monthly club in north London is run by Colleen Murphy and for her it is a strike against "'download culture", the sense that music has just become an endless compilation of random songs used as background noise.

"Everyone, stop multi-tasking, sit down, open your ears and do some heavy listening."

The set album this month was Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. We sat in silence even as David Bowie's record was turned over to side two.

The seats were soft, someone had lit some incense. Some people closed their eyes, others nodded in rhythmic appreciation. There was a sense of being collectively submerged in Bowie's music.

"You're not even allowed to use the bathroom here, it's too noisy," says Ms Murphy.

Kate Bush's The Hounds of Love was a previous choice, and a popular one amongst the regulars. Most had heard bits of the record but few could remember sitting through it all the way through.

It is a topic that has been making the papers. Pink Floyd went to court to try to protect the integrity of albums such as Dark Side of the Moon. For music critics such as Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph they were totally justified.

"These are works of art at their greatest level. You can pick up a Dickens book and read a little bit of it and get some pleasure but you will not get the same pleasure as you would picking it up and reading it from beginning to end."

He took me through his vinyl collection, the albums you have to listen to all the way through. Top of the list was Blue by Joni Mitchell, then in no particular order came Get Happy by Elvis Costello, Dark side of the Moon, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and all of Led Zeppelin. The list was a long one.

"They've created works that have a beginning, a middle and end, that have nuances, themes, that take you on a journey that's as great as any novel, any opera, any drama."

One of the greatest crimes he feels is to split up the suite of songs at the end of the Beatles' Abbey Road, because each song drifts in to the next.

The little tune Her Majesty is a simple little coda to ease the tension left by the Beatles farewell to their fans, the song The End. At the end of the song there is a gap and a final crashing chord, then to relieve the tension comes 23 seconds of this little acoustic ditty. On its own it begins half way through that final chord.

"It makes no sense," says McCormick. "To split them is simply shocking, meaningless."

But to Peter Robinson of the website Pop Justice this is the past speaking.

"Most albums, you've got a pretty good idea. The bad songs are pretty bad, you know. We're busy people. Let's just get rid of them."

Every album he owns is split, analysed and re-ordered. This, he says, is progress. The listener is in control and we do not have to sit through bad music. If he were to spend time with a "classic rock" album, he says the solution is simple.

"What I would do is open the track as an audio file, take out any drum solos, look for any guitar solo, take it out, close it and put it back into iTunes."

Albums, he says, have often become meaningless. Some songs are given away as free downloads, track listings can change with bonus tracks being added or changed. You can, he says, listen all the way through but do not feel obliged to obey the whims of a pop star.

But back at the pub in Islington in London, we were coming to the emotional climax of Rock and Roll Suicide at the end of Ziggy Stardust.

The £12,000 speakers were revealing little nuances of sound that some of us had not heard before.

The remastered vinyl seemed to capture the feel of the 70s and I had stayed awake for almost all of it. Heads nodded, a foot quietly tapped and as the final string chord faded out the lights were turned back on.

For Gina Tapsley, it was a revelation: "Listening to an album like this shows me something new, it's always an emotional experience."

DJ Shadow, The Stone Roses, Kanye West, Carole King. The blackboard was already filling with suggested classic albums for the months to come.

I could appreciate the jumps and juxtapositions, but as is I just couldn't find a path or hook to bring me in to their music.

I had a similar, if less extreme, reaction. There were passages I enjoyed, but wish each track had some kind of distinct texture or mood (or, here's a radical idea, chorus) so I could tell them apart a little bit. If someone asked me what my favourite song on it was I would have to say I had absolutely no idea.

xp Ugh that sounds horrible, would hate to have to listen in enforced silence to any record TBH, and it sounds like it's attracting a load of boring, smug rockist types listening to records which confirm their prejudices.

Totally different to Metal Club!

peter robinson is still a wanker

Couldn't make it through Ephel Duath, I apologetically report. I couldn't find any visceral connection with the music, and then the screamo vocals sealed its fate. Pretty sure I already discovered this once in my life, but it's worth revisiting things you think you hate, at least occasionally. I do sometimes find out I was, or have become, wrong.

Listening to the Cathedral album again now. Not my favorite of theirs, by a long shot. I prefer to hear a little more of their whimsy animating their songs, and on this one the braying/lumbering heavy thing seems to kind of stomp over most of the potential nuance. I liked later Black Sabbath better than earlier, too.

Also: Pop Justice would probably like to take all the trees and hills out of classical paintings, too. Sitting still and listening to an album all the way through in peace on a really good stereo is a perfectly decent idea, and I don't see any reason it should have to be smug or boring. I don't see any reason it should be forced on anybody, obviously, but it sounds like the participants were there as consenting adults. Except for the reporter, whose petulant fidgeting is audible in his typing.

hey glenn pop over and repost that on Do you like listening to albums in full or do you just hate the album concept in 2011? that i started for this

xp Glenn, nothing wrong with sitting and listening to an album- it's just going to a public place and listening to one of the records the article cites seems to me the ultimate in displaying your so-called superior music tastes- though I'm an obsessive last.fm user so should probably STFU.

btw thinking hard about my selection for this thread!

so, the ephel duath... though my love for the 2nd and 3rd mr. bungle lps runs deep, no matter how hard I've tried over the years, I never much cared for naked city. that goes doubly so for naked city with screamo vox. oh well.

I could see this working with if there were more standout moments to make up for the heavy lifting. or if the vox weren't so one-note. (love the last time of orchids lp, for example.) but there isn't enough for me on here.

and the cathedral isn't bad but it is somewhat unspectacular to my ears. would probably take any of the other albums I've heard over this. (the first couple, endtyme, and the guessing game for the record.)

would def like to do a week sometime as well, btw.

Okay, I don't love either of these records though the Cathedral is easily a better listen. "Stained Glass Horizon" is fucking epic and really heavy, "Urko's Conquest" sounds like something that coula been on "Born Again;" when the multi-tracked solo hits, it's a really cool touch. "Cyclops Revolution" has a riff and song structure that could make a party metal anthem for some forgettable strip band of the '80s if the production wasn't so muddy and Lee could sing. But the second half of the disc is forgettable.

The Ephel Duath just tries too hard. Really, I get what they're trying to do. The problem is that I don't particularly love the bands that do it well (Math Metal is a tough sell on these ears), let alone these guys.

I will probably pick up the Cathedral CD from Amazon though... It's selling used on Amazon for less than $4.

24 Jan - Siegbran
31 Jan - NYC Native
07 Feb - Glenn McDonald
14 Feb - Neil S
21 Feb - Alan N
28 Feb - Aldo

I'm sure I've heard that Cathedral before. Had a friend who was really into them around that time, saw em live a few times too - supporting Paradise Lost and possibly Carcass. . I remember appreciating their proggier stuff more than the doomy stuff - there was an ep with a 20 minute track on which was pretty fun and unhinged. My main problem with them was always Lee Dorian's voice. I'll probably give this album a go before the week's up.

Goalkeeper you should take a week!

Anyway, the point of my choices were to pick to somewhat-obscure albums I liked from bands I love. There's certainly better Cathedral albums, and Ephel Duath's other works may be more interesting and have more grooves and what not but The Pain Necessary... was the first thing I heard of theirs and the whole style blew me away. I agree that The Painter's Pallet a superior album, but this one isn't bad and if you remotely enjoy it you should check out some other ED stuff... Math Metal is hard to pull off, for sure, but I don't think they have ever failed to deliver, IMO.

That Cathedral album is supposed to be the "light listening" pick, as to me it represents Cathedral at a stage where growth was needed but they were basically rebelling against that sentiment at the time and produced an officially "dumb and juvenile" album. It was the album they released right when they were starting to earn some serious respect as masters' of trad. doom --- and they went ahead with a classically bizarre/ugly 80s metal album cover (in the mid-90s!) complete with purple mecha-dragon and some kind of death procession (for an album that was consciously attempting to scrape the bottom of the pulpy barrel for doom/psych/horror tropes). I think of it as a "fuck you" to convention and recognition that they probably felt they deserved ten years previously (and I can't disagree with that sentiment!) I think Ned's old review of it is basically totally OTM so I will repost it here:

Having ridden out the initial explosion of grindcore to the point where stoner rock became its own revived genre, due credit for longevity has to go to Dorrian and his compatriots, not least because Dorrian helped out said genre with his Rise Above label and such signings as Sleep. As for his own band, on Supernatural, Dorrian leads everyone through more semi-tributes to the Black Sabbath sound; Dorrian's own ghost-of-Ozzy vocals often get as close to outright mimicry as possible, though generally he avoids straining for the high notes when possible. Drummer Dixon and bassist Smee do their business with relatively little fuss; if nothing else, having better production standards than the original Sabbath did allows their work to always bust forth pretty well. Jennings, meanwhile, is as monstrous and crunching as always, while wise enough to let in lighter moments from time to time, as with the mid-song break on "Stained Glass Horizon." If the subject matter and delivery is a little more self-conscious than, say, that of the Melvins, Cathedral at least has the courage of its convictions, right down to the neo-prog inner sleeve art (dragon heads, historical figures, demons, and angels in a Bosch-style landscape, and so forth). Highlights: Well, if one likes Sabbath, liking the whole album (or alternately dismissing it out of hand for the real thing) will pretty much be the end result. Though a few stand out even more, such as "Cyclops Revolution," with appropriately distorted monster-doom vocals at points, and the appropriately spooked-out vibes of "Nightmare Castle." One thing's for sure: if one wants classically pulpy SF/horror/fantasy scenarios for lyrics combined with brain-melting sludge, this is the place. Thus, song titles like "Urko's Conquest," "Birth Machine 2000," and the "can it be any more appropriate" metacrunch of "Suicide Asteroid."

I am really happy a lot of you took the time to listen to these albums. They might not be the pinnacle of each band's career but I thought of these, personally, as forgotten gems and not "mid-career pablum." Others are free to disagree, of course! The best thing about listening clubs is that they spark a discussion and that, to me, is ultimately more important and why I didn't just post consensus-favorites in the metal cannon.

Can't wait for next week's picks by Siegbran!

I like the Cathedral more and more. I'm enjoying this big dumb nostalgia-metal much more than I would have done when this came out (kinda lost interest in Cathedral after The Etherial Mirror). Great guitar solos! The godawful vocals ruin Ephel Duath for me, if this was an instrumental band like Zu I'd be more inclined to dig deeper, but I can't listen to the singer more than ten minutes, sorry.

Viceroy I'll take a week at some point, but usually people forget to take their week or cant do it so I need to fill in. So i'm first reserve if that happens.

24 Jan - Siegbran
31 Jan - NYC Native
07 Feb - Glenn McDonald
14 Feb - Neil S
21 Feb - Alan N
28 Feb - Aldo

I wonder what Siegbran is going to choose

I'll do this at some point.

24 Jan - Siegbran
31 Jan - NYC Native
07 Feb - Glenn McDonald
14 Feb - Neil S
21 Feb - Alan N
28 Feb - Aldo
07 March - Doran

I'm not going to force a certain popular beat combo from Ukraine on everyone, I'll stay firmly within the perimeter of ILM taste as manifested in the poll results. Although I can't pick any US album, as every half-decent, self-released garage band has already made it into the top 100 - but i digress.

Tomorrow evening, around nine euro time.

you can post anytime you like

Any thoughts on last weeks albums?

How about it AG? What'd you think? You're always keen to do this but rarely chime in.

i dont have anything worth saying tbh. I didn't want to come across all negative but Cathedral are always let down by the vox, and this album isnt one of their best. the ephel duath didn't sink in either im afraid. Others said why far more eloquently than I ever could.

Opinions are always welcome - what you don't like about something might illuminate it for someone else, or spur a comment that allows you to better understand your reaction. I get the "others said it better" thing, but it's still good to pipe up.

started one of those listening rooms http://listeningroom.fettig.net/room/ILXMETALCLUB/

come in and upload tracks for everyone who is interested!

you can take the 28th if you want if noone else wants that week

I'll wait and see if anyone wants to sign up... thats not a particularly good Monday for me.
NYCnative I am excited for your picks!

Well, shit. Just saw I was the Chosen One... Let me get on this now!

As before, you can click on the image to download the album as MP3s. As before, I encourage anyone who likes these to purchase them.

I am going to cheat a little bit with the first one:

Whiplash - Power And Pain (1985, Roadrunner)
Whiplash - Ticket To Mayhem (1987, Roadrunner)
http://preview.gomusicnow.com/5611743/cover.jpghttp://www.metalkingdom.net/album/cover/d43/28257_whiplash_ticket_to_mayhem.jpg

Although there are two distinct albums, they were reissued on Displeased Records in 1998 together on one Compact Disc with the price of a single album.

Course Of Empire - Course Of Empire (1992, Zoo Entertainment)
http://www.moesrealm.com/img/album_covers/courseofempire.jpg

Unsung thrash heroes Whiplash are most notable for providing an 18-year old Tony Scaglione to Slayer the first time that Dave Lombardo left. They are lesser known for, on the debut album, having all of the members named Tony!

The line-up would change on "Ticket To Mayhem" and the sound would get more technical. The debut bludgeoned, the second record had some interesting ideas, all executed at a million miles an hour.

Both albums are essential for anyone who wants to see some of the more unheralded thrash bands that emerged duriong that glorious time when the Big Three were already leaving the underground behind.

As for the Course Of Empire, at the time they, along with The God Machine whose amazing "Scenes from the Second Storey" came out the next year, helped the merging of shoegaze, alternative and metal. Although the Texas band would put out several more releases, this one struck me when it came out as something really special.

I have not listened to it in some time so I will be revisiting it while some of you check it out maybe for the first time. Hope we all like it!

They are lesser known for, on the debut album, having all of the members named Tony!

hahahaha. successfully guessed that these guys are from the tri-state area using this piece of info.

Heh, nice guess!

Listened to the CoE in the car and it's not really showgazing, though it is catharctic at times.

Coarse of Empire i'd have never heard of... trippy stuff, A lot going on, and that great early 90s production.. Not really anything I could get into, but I can see the appeal for the late 80s early 90s alternative fan that hadn't bee3n exposed to grunge yet.. I guess this represents that time of electro-enhanced recordings, loops, samples-good quality gear and recording techniques, right before it got stipped away for real tones again.
Cool, but not for me...
But wanted to check this firt before the Whiplash...

Power Thrashing Death!! Oh what a great title.. LOL!!!!!!!!

how oftern does that happen? The second album doesn't sound as ggood as the the first, production wise..

Anyway, The Whiplash is good, but I can see why they didn't get the glory.. They were still hanging on to the NWOBHM a little too strongly, while other bands were really making their own thrash statements and blazing new ground.

Snake pit!! lol! so silly!

The Whiplash did make me second guess my picks for next week though... HA!

By the way, the second Whiplash disc starts at "Perpetual Warfare," an intro which is Track 10. If you find yourself getting bored with the start of the disc (though I adore "Last Man Alive," "Spit On Uour Grave" and "Nailed To The Cross" muchly), start it over there.

My fave track on the second release is "Buring Of Atlanta," which is just Godly post-Iron Maiden gallop as speed metal. A friend plays this at his metal vinyl sets in Philly and the crowd always loves it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByUD7JemXzU

listened to the Course Of Empire this evening, I liked it but it was nothing like the god machine, not in its class either, however i did like it enough to think i might get more from repeated listenings so i will do just that

Always loved this version too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL-xxB4Xymo

One group, two bands three records... Is that cheating?

You guys might be hip to these cats, but this is my favorite local band, for the past year I guess, San Francisco's Kowloon Walled City and their silly alter ego, Snailface

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/SEanB510/gambling-cover-0500.jpg

The first LP by KWC, sludgy goodness, with a hardcore angst, and tuned down to Q. Self recorded and put out on their own label(well the guitar player/singer Scott's label).. you can download this record as well as their debut EP. Great, great band!!

GAmbling on the Richter Scale- http://inthewalledcity.com/music

And really cool guys.. I've gotten to know them a bit, and these guys are pretty chill, take this band very seriously, but yet they are a bunch of goofs.. Thus the outlet of the side band, the stoner rock good times of Snailface..
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/SEanB510/Snailface4.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/SEanB510/II.jpg

The story on the Snailface records, and I'm not sure if its by their own accord or if its an actual thing, but theses records are done in a contest fashion.. Basically, they have the whole month of Feb, to write, record, mix, master and reproduce a full length, self produced record. No booked studio time, must be done as if it were a home recording. Which is a feet onto itself, but these jackasses second record is a concept record of sorts, exploring all the worlds mythological bipedal hominids-the Yeti, Amonimal Snowman, Skunk Apes and of coarse Bigfoot... these lyrics are smart and hilarious, sung by the bass player and other guitar player. Its hard to imagine its the same group of guys that are KWC.. The production and the sometimes similar low tuning is the only thing that can give it away..

Snailface I
http://media.inthewalledcity.com/snailface.zip

Snailface II
http://media.inthewalledcity.com/snailface2.zip

THese are my picks for my week, of March 14th 2011, enjoy and discuss... Thanks!!!

I know the kowlooned wall city (excellent band) but i dont know the spin offs, so thanks will check out now

Did I pick some duds? lol!

I am in the middle of an insane week at work and home but will check these out as soon as time allows...

still to play the snailface!

Sean how are Kowloon Walled City live?

They're pretty good live, solid, not amazing, but really really good. I've seen them about 5 times now, and they're pretty cool.. they get those tones live pretty well too... And their vibe is cool, very raw, bare bones, no frills. The singer/guitarist, Scott has funny shit to say sometimes in between songs, but without being a goof. cuz these guys are pretty goofy when you talk to em off stage.
THey are very non-pretentious, which is sooo refreshing. They definitly vibe their music and the crowd energy. If the crowd is chill, they are a little more rerseved, when the crowd is going off, they go off a little more.

btw... Although the idea was neer to play live, the clammering and constant pressure had Snailface do a one off show, complete with wacky costumes, narrations, and cool lights... I missed the show, and I've regreted it ever since.. My life is so much worse now cuz of it.. lol

And why didn't this thread get moved over to the metal board?

long story but the metal board is in its last throes . Most of ILX is against it so it will be deleted, just hope that doesn't mean all the threads get deleted too

its cool... I thought it a good idea, but whatevs..

21 March - Doran

Anyone wanting to do other weeks?

oh I thought I was lined up for another one sometime in the future...

21 March - Doran
28 March - Viceroy

that ok?

yes.

looks like viceroy is up whatever happened to doran? he didn't take his turn

Rescheduled
4 April - Doran

argh my pics are going to be a bit late, I have a bunch going on today... Sorry... expect them in a few hours.

I got no love for my picks... lol!

Sorry this is so late! Enjoy some classic slabs...

JUDAS PRIEST - SAD WINGS OF DESTINY

http://xenoraiser.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sad-wings-of-destiny.jpg

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/5k3WFIHmmuHrUWSj5McaAe

CARCASS - SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eER-8r2oEi4/SvRZqAOFzxI/AAAAAAAAAMU/bF9QGMQZf3U/s400/carcass+symphonies.jpg

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/0hZQj8vgT0AEU4DYKBo9Ir

Update: Sorry, I've been moving house, dealing with a heavily pregnant GF who has twisted her ankle, the recent passing of a relative and am in the middle of finding new premesis for the Quietus to move to, as well as the usual maelstrom of deadlines and bullshit.

I'm not trying to shirk my metalacular duties but it may be that I have to have my go in a few weeks. I'm spending like ten or fifteen minutes a week on ilx max at the moment.

Horns up.

no worries. If anyone wants to volunteer for future weeks now is the time

Stay strong, Doran!

Good picks, Viceroy. I've been re-listening to Heartwork recently (which is excellent), the only Carcass record I know, so looking forward to hearing this one.

As for Priest, I'm ashamed to say the only one off that record I'm familiar with is "Victim of Changes", and that was from owning this rather good Kerrang! compilation from the 90s.

Who's going tomorrow and if nobody can I? I wanna do a girly metal week.

do it

So I've been doing some thinking about female-fronted metal recently (mostly bc I discovered that I have like a dozen girly metal albums on my computer) and specifically the split between gothic female-fronted metal (like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, the new Within Temptation) and more epic symphonic female-fronted metal (primarily thinking about Therion here). I'm not sure if adding female vocals should change anything (and in some bands like Arch Enemy it barely makes a difference) but with these bands it clearly does. Anyway, my first pick for this week is:

The Gathering - If_Then_Else (2000)
http://www.cmdistro.com/images/xlarge/2434.jpg

Which is kinda the classic of the genre imho (for ppl who like: Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, the terrible Epica). The other pick is a brand new album that a few ILX metallers were digging on chatz about a month ago. It has some cantorial + klezmer influences but they're pretty well-integrated and unless you're really familiar with the genres they may be undetectable. Also, I feel I should note that it is entirely instrumental (but never boring instrumental -- it's tightly written throughout).

Pitom - Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes (2011)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412Ad-4cMiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I don't have spotify links but both should be easily available to find + hear online. Particularly interested in getting people's thoughts on the gothic "girly" metal thing, esp recommendations that might be more proto-examples (or just earlier albums doing similar things). nb that the female vocals are really important on this so that, say, Cradle of Filth which is probably an important influence to this, isn't really an example (tho maybe after they added that new vocalist they might be).

girly jeff to thread!

listening to pitom now. i can see mike patton & co digging this

the gathering album is on spotify http://open.spotify.com/album/1u9c4y0KRL6xXF6Qc577sT

The Gathering album is a great choice, it has some phenomenal moments, like "Analog Park" and "Saturnine".

Pitom was really interesting, i think if you dig math-rock you will enjoy this

Doran isn't around, anyone want a shot?

you should go!

im not even sure anyones still participating tbh. Maybe we should have a break for a few months?