Myrkur - Mausoleum

A lot has been written about Myrkur in the last few years and I don't feel any need to tap into that. I like her music, she's not a Nazi and that's all there is to it as far as I'm concerned. The point being - I wasn't really expecting her to put out an acoustic live album, and yet here she is, and she has pulled it off with aplomb. Mausoleum is an interesting listen, and one that captures all of the inherently bizarre magic of Myrkur's sound. She's an anomaly in the metal world - but she seems to be doing well for herself. Call it hipster black metal all you like, the songs here are all damn good.

The re-arrangements of the music into acoustic versions is extremely well done - and Myrkur, backed up by the Norwegian Girls Choir does justice to the power of the music. It fits perfectly into the growing trend of black metal musicians creating acoustic music, and acoustic musicians becoming popular in the black metal set. The music is stunning though. There is a haunting power to what Myrkur has done here - compounded by the fact that the whole thing was recorded in a tomb. As I'm sure you are starting to notice - when an eclectic and brilliant musician like Myrkur does something she never goes halfway.

I love eerie acoustic music, so I am by default a little bit biased here. Myrkur has always had a special place in my hart due to her ability to craft heart wrenching melodies that just work. She represents a way forward for black metal that builds in a concrete way on Agalloch and Ulver. Her use of choral work even sees her introducing new paradigms that make sense in the context. If you can't get behind all that she has done on Mausoleum then the next wave of black metal simply won't be for you.

Find her on Facebook!
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Powerwolf - The Metal Mass Live

Powerwolf have long been one of my favorite bands n the world .I mean they are just so stupid, over the top and gloriously silly. They are a and who understand the burning power of power metal and invoke all sorts of bizarre rituals when they play live. This is a band who are wonderfully silly and totally aware of it, and that only adds to their blazing glory. Everyone needs a little bit of rock and roll dumbassery in their lives, and it only helps when it is as brilliantly put together and tastefully constructed as the music of Powerwolf.

I've long felt that Powerwolf is at their best when they are playing live. They get massive sing a longs going, periodic cries of "Hallelujah!" and just a general air of triumph, the sort that defines any good live record. You can feel the bands raw energy and the pleasure they take in playing. Their joy is absolutely infectious. You find yourself pumping your hair to the sky and screaming along, from your couch. The Metal Mass Live reminds me of everything that I love about power metal as a whole. Powerwolf are basically what would happen if you take Ghost to the logical extreme, and if you can't get behind two hours of THAT, then I feel very sorry for you.

So go out - turn this shit up all the way and enjoy a gigantic Latin chorus with massive guitars, epic synths and a sense of rock and roll hedonism that few of the bands peers could ever live up to. The Metal Mass Live captures the inherent beauty of a band who seem destined for the festival stage and who could very well take over the world. I love when writing for this blog turns into a fun Saturday of yelling power metal lyrics and that's exactly what this album did for me. You know you want tha shit in your life.

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https://www.facebook.com/powerwolfmetal/?fref=ts

Mothership - Live Over Freak Valley

Black Friday is a weird day - you feel full and shitty and then all too often you feel forced into some sort of fucked up consumerist trend. That's part of why I find this new live record from Mothership so god damn perfect for a post-Turkey day celebration. I've long felt that these Texas rockers shine most in the live setting - I've seen them a couple of times now and both times I was simply impressed at the magic of the vibe that they were able to elicit. These are rock and roll masters at their peak and Love Over Freak Valley communicates that in a beautiful fashion.

There are two things that really define any good Mothership song, and that help to guide this record forward, groove and atmosphere. Live Over Freak Valley manages to charm because of exactly that. The groove is immediately apparent, the swinging riffs and Black Sabbathian drawl of the songs gets you bouncing along and feeling the blood rushing through your veins. Meanwhile - the dialogue between songs, as well as the waves of distortion helps to create an atmosphere about the record that you only find on the truly great live albums. I am completely serious when I say that Over Freak Valley may very well be on par with an album like the MC5's Kick Out The Jams.

So dive in and let these rivers of sound soak into you. Mothership are not just the rock band we want - they are the rock band we need right now.  They encapsulate something very important about the American experience - and because this is a live album we get a much more organic sense of what the band is capable of. As they call out to a new German crowd and beg for them to come closer, and then encourage folks to hang out with them at the merch booth you realize that this is a young rock band out to take the world by storm. Perhaps Kyle Juett said it best when he closed out the record, "We will be back!"

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/mothershipusa/?fref=ts

Death-Leprosy Limited Edition 3rd Disc Live Album

Now, long time readers know that I am a massive Death fan, and so any chance to get to review something new and exciting from them is obviously an honor. So I triumphantly bring you a review of Relapse's latest, and quite honestly, greatest release, the third disc, a limited edition live CD from the great and might Death. This is the sort of record that triumphs over all of its peers, capturing a moment in time in a way that few other records can match. With sub par production and all of Schuldiners charm on display, this is the kind of record that gets at the heart of death metal.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this record (Asides from Schuldiners on stage banter, which only fuels my man-crush for him) is the sheer darkness of Chuck's growls. Remember, when this record was done, vocals like this had never been touched on before. It shows how impressive it was that Death was pulling off something like this. The power of the growls is reflected in the rest of the music with exciting and explosive parts in songs like Forgotten Past. The blasting drums seems to have more energy than the album and give the group a much more dynamic attack. On the second part of the record (As the live recordings here are from two different locations) we are treated to even more Death live goodness with alternate live takes of Leprosy, Pull the Plug and more.

So, is this 3rd disc special edition of Leprosy my favorite live album ever? Quite possible yes, I mean Iron Maiden's Rock In Rio may have changed my life, but you can not underestimate the power of Death. Schuldiner has a simply otherworldly growl here and I think it showcases the refined and immaculate nature of his work at a pivotal point in his career. So prepare to get headbanging, moshing, and even brought to tears by the poignant, triumphant, and altogether worthy experience that is this record. Watch out though, there are only 2000 copies, so pick one up as soon as you can!

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https://www.facebook.com/DeathOfficial

Baroness-Live At Maida Vale

I'll admit, before this record I wasn't much of a Baroness fan, sure I'd spun their stuff but none of it really inspired me, I just couldn't get what made the band so special to so many people. And then Relapse requested that I reviez Live At Maida Vale and I think I finally get Baroness, I see the human side, the magic and the ethereal beauty of a band who are just starting to make it big, this live EP captures all of the power of the band and distills it into four songs. A startling and engaging record Live At Maida Vale shows the sheer humanity and the glory of Baroness.

The thing is, the songs here come across in a very different manner than on the record, the choruses seem a lot more poignant to me and this gives the music a lot more emotional power. When you consider the turmoil the bands has gone through (with the bus accident and all) since the records release you realize that Live At Maida Vale really captures a moment in time, showing the true spirit of the band. This is where the record gets its best moments, when it is at its most human, truly and accurately reflecting a band who seemed destined to change metal forever. This humanity is not something we often see in the metal world and for that I have come to cherish Live at Maida Vale.

In conclusion, if you're looking for an album that you will come to love quickly a record that grasps the sort of inherent beauty of metal then this is the album for you. While it only represent four tracks its clear that a lot of heart went into the making of this record and it turns it into a very emotional release. Its a veritable snapshot of the band, just weeks before the bus crash that would seemingly change the band for good. It's almost tear inducing to think that the lineup that made these songs might never be able to play together again, yet this album stands as a testament to their chemistry and joy, and for that reason you need to pick up Live at Maida Vale when it drops next week.

Find more details on the Baroness Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/YourBaroness?fref=ts

The Fillmore Tapes

 So by lucky chance today I have found a copy of the Fillmore Tapes online. I FOUND A COPY OF THE FILLMORE TAPES ONLINE. As in THE Fillmore tapes, of one of THE most famous Led Zeppelin concerts. This record is a rare find and made my day amazing. This accurately depicts Led Zeppelin shortly after their release of their first album and shows them just as they are starting to get big. Page has spectacular guitar parts, and the other instruments shine as usual. The lyrics are classic Led Zeppelin and heavy blues. Robert Plant has a voice that can blow anybody's head off and all of that comes through on these tapes.

Page starts off with White Summer because they did not have a bass at the beginning of the concert. So White Summer is for, pretty much the first time ever played with an electric guitar. Apparently having an electric guitar in his hands got Jimmy excited and he added some hard rocking off script bits. Overall his guitar is awesome as always. He shows himself as a gifted and talented rock god who can not be stopped by anybody. The solos are explosive, and really just blow your head off. You can feel Page reveling in his joy at playing guitar through the music here. The bass shines, especially in Train Kept A Rollin and Can't Quit You Baby and has a lot of memorable fills. The drums of Bonham are awesome, in particular they shine in Pats Delight which was the precursor to Moby Dick.

The lyrics are traditional Led Zeppelin. They play the majority of their first album on this track as well as some heavier 60s blues stuff. This is classic Zeppelin lyrically and really you could not ask for much more. If you want to read more about Zeppelin lyrics go check previous blog posts. Robert Plant has an incredibly strong voice. You can feel the raw power and might in it in the bands rendition of Train Kept a Rollin. Plants voice is unbelievably powerful and when you hear this record it is frankly amazing. He can lead the music on with his voice, when you hear this album you will be amazed at the power. He also of course has his spectacular range, shrieking the high notes and moaning the low. Overall his voice and the lyrics are awesome.

All in all this is an excellent album showing an early Zeppelin who was just starting to make it big. It is really cool to hear the band live at such a crucial turning point in their careers. The guitar is powerful and riff driven. It shows incredible power. The other instruments have their own awesome parts, in particular Bonham's solo in Pat's Delight is amazing. The lyrics are traditional Led Zeppelin, high powered and awesome. Plant has an extremely powerful voice that really comes through on this album and boggles the mind. My sole complaint is that the production quality is mediocre at best. Asides from that this is a awesome album.

OVERALL 9/10

Live After Death-Iron Maiden

Up the Irons! So today I'm covering another live Maiden album. This one is Live after Death. It is loud angry and explosive but lacks the same power and production quality as Rock in Rio. Overall this is a spectacular album that blows the roof off. It is loud aggressive and shows off all the might of Iron Maiden. There is the traditional speech at the start and then it breaks into a crashing rendition of Aces High which has all the skill of the album version. While it lacks the same feel of jumping up and down with the others as there is at Rock in Rio this is still a really cool album that goes down as a great live album. The songs are a cross section of everything Maiden had done up to that point. What is interesting is how there are the classic songs we all know and love that were not classic yet at that time. It is rather ironic.

The music is pretty good and very accurate to the albums. Murray and Smith have amazing memories. I can barely even learn 1 Maiden song much less all of them. This album is just amazing, it features a great Maiden line-up at a high point during their career. Everything on this album is hard, there are no quiet or somber moments unless the song demands it. The album is very driven and it is hard to stop listening to it, it has a certain amazing majesty. They have all of their best solos on this album and you just have to grin as you listen to it. Its really just a heavy metal explosion of power and dominance.

The music is very accurate to the studio versions of the songs and that is a very good thing. The only issue with this album is the lack of production quality. Some bits sound really weird and messedd up especially in songs like “The Trooper” and “Aces High” on other tracks the production is better but overall the production leaves something to be desired. The music is so masterful though that this is pretty well overcome. The track Flight of Icarus sounds almost exactly like the album save for the screaming of the crowd. The other majorly weird bit is the backing vocals. Harris and Smith who both usually have great voices sound oddly deep.

Overall this is a really good album that features a lot of the best Maiden songs up to that point. I really like this album and it is truly a heavy live album. While lacking some of the majesty of Rock in Rio it is still really powerful and shows a lot of technical skill and memorization. Everything is powerful and while the crowd does not scream along you still can get the vibe of jumping up and down with the crowd and making the sign of the horns as Dickinson sings the Number of the Beast. I love this album and it is definitely worth a listen especially if you want to hear what maiden sounded like in the relatively early days. The only thing taking this album down is production quality but the music is so good that it still is amazing. Seriously you should go listen to it, right now, it rocks really really amazingly hard.

OVERALL 9/10

Rock In Rio-Iron Maiden

Yeah I'm doing a 3^rd. Ok so I finally realized the live album I love the most in the world that features spectacular music and a couple of the worlds best recordings. It has a spectacular intro and only gets better. OH MY GOD I love this album. It is my favorite live album of all time and features AMAZING sing-a-longs that make you just want to pick up and play guitar and sing a long as loud as you can! This album is Rock In Rio by IRON MAIDEN. This was recorded in front of 250,000 people and gives you the true concert feel. You can feel yourself standing in the huge stadium with thousands of fellow Maiden fans. You can almost smell the sweat and feel the mad joy as people rush for the mosh pit at the center of the stage. It fills me with energy and is the ultimate suppressant. I have stayed up nights playing chess and listening to this album. It is beautiful and it really captures the true essence of the worlds greatest pure metal band. Just start listening to it now from the beginning and you'll be pulled in.

Before this album I liked Iron Maiden. But to me they were still not really what I was into. Back then I pretty much only listen to Zep and such. Then one day I heard the live version of Brave New World off this album. I started singing along, loudly, at school. My metalhead friend Dave (Dan knows him too) was like “Yeah” and I was in. This album truly got me from liking heavy metal to LOVING heavy metal. Heck, my CAT loves this album. But really, I can almost see Adrian rocking out on his guitar in front of me and I can see Dickinson's face go red as he screams “I CAN'T HEAR YOU!”. If you want to get someone really into metal who already likes Led Zep and a few metal songs this album will draw them in. Actually scratch that. This could make a pop lover drop their Justin Bieber and start wearing Maiden shirts.

The recording quality of this album is remarkable. In some live albums you lose bits, but here everything is recorded perfectly and you can hear the roar of the crowd so you feel as if you are really there. The first 3 tracks of the album are all pretty amazing but it goes from a great live album to my favorite live album just through the song Brave New World which explodes with thousands of people singing along. The overall track selection is very good. They play a lot of their classics but they miss some which would have made this album like I dunno worshiped in several small dictatorships. We do get to hear long-time classics Iron Maiden, Run to the Hills, The Trooper and Hallowed Be Thy Name and many others, but I feel if there was Children of the Damned on here as well as Paschendale, and some of the other sing-a-long classics it would be worshiped in those small dictatorships.

Overall I love this album and if you listen to it you will hear why. It rocks and no one can argue how metal and amazing it is. So just shut up and go listen to it. In the words of Dan “If you don't like it you're a crack head.” That pretty much sums up this album. It gives you the feel of a Maiden concert and the adrenaline. You can feel it and it makes you want to jam and just live a heavy metal life, so go listen.

OVERALL 12/10

Better than 11/10