The Bishop

Song: “The Bishop”

Artist: Battle Of Mice

Album: Jesu/Battle Of Mice Split EP ( 2008 )

…Knife, Fork, Bottle and a Cork; that’s the way you spell New York…

I would of thought the dark, heavy, agonizing sound from Battle Of Mice would of contrasted well against the electronic, post rock pieces put together by Jesu.  But in reality the two tracks submitted by BOM seem out of place when placed next to the material from Jesu.

“The Bishop”is probably not the heaviest song from BOM’s catalogue but it would have to be one of the most impressive. There are many layers to the track vocally and musically, with dynamic changes progressing from soft to loud and loud to soft.

Julie Christmas vocals are something that has grown on me over time. At times they can be almost soft spoken and are very similar to Bjork but unlike Bjork they can quickly move to an intense scream that literally bleeds emotion and rawness.

A great album to check out simply because of the two Battle Of Mice tracks.

Let Me Come Into the Storm

Song: ” One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”

Artist: Harvey Milk

Album: Courtesy And Good Will Toward Men (1997)

…Athens, United States…

This album is heavy, down tuned drone/sludge metal. With epic riffs throughout it comes together sounding sad and pain full but stand back and look at it from afar and you will see all those raw emotions combine and make a beautiful and poignant album.

“One Of Us Cannot be Wrong” is a Leonard Cohen cover, and how well this song fits into the overall structure of the album. Anger, jealousy and frustration this song is raw emotions at its best. The lyrics describe how this women makes a complete mess of a doctor, destroys a holy man’s spirit and freezes an Eskimo, yet Cohen still wanted to “come into the storm”….Wow.

 

I Am Just A Worthless Liar

Song: “Sober”

Artist: Tool

Album: Undertow (1993)

…L.A. United States…

Tool’s first full length monster that they unleashed and let scamper out of the hole in which they kept all their secrets in. Dark and menacing the music, even early on has been able to create a landscape which is both forbidding and seductive. But still manages to capture one of tools more powerful messages. That through introspection, in everything that you do, who you are and what you are becoming you can realise your true potential.

To me this track is about an artist who’s true creativity comes through their addiction (alcoholism). The works of art are incouraged by society, wanting more hense fueling the addiction. In the end the artist feels worthless, manipulated and is trapped in a downward spiral.

God Hates A Coward

Song: “God Hate A Coward”

Album: Tomahawk

Artist: Tomahawk (2001)

…California, United States…

Tomahawk was the band that Mike Patton said would carry on the legacy of where Faith No More left off. It’s beautifully dark, melodic but my only complaint is that it isn’t entirely fresh sounding. 

What this album did manage to do was cement the genius that is not only Patton but every artist that he chooses to associate himself with. 

I have a number of favorite songs on this album, “God Hates A Coward” is just one of them plus the clip is fantastic.

We’ll Burn In The Sun And We’ll Fall To The Moon

Song: “Water Is Not Enough”

Artist: Neurosis

Album: Given To The Rising

…Oakland, United States…

A return to heaviness but still incorporating the atmospheric elements from the last 2 previous releases. ‘Given To The Rising’ batters the listener one minute with tuned down guitars and guttural vocals, slowly grinding down your inner ear bones to nubs until they open up into a landscape of lush, atmospheric sounds.

“Water Is Not Enough” is just one of my personal favorites.

Its A Big Dark World Now, Its A Big Dark Hell.

Song: Nightgoat

Artist: Fantomas Melvins Big Band

Album: Live from London 2006 (2008)

…Hollywood, United States…

The Fantomas Melvins Big Band – Live in London 2006 DVD flew into my hot little hands yesterday after many painstaking weeks of waiting. So after the days dust had settled and a cold beer was wedged firmly in my hands I sat down to watch this monster growl.

With Buzz Osborne, Dave Lombardo, Trevor Dunn, Dale Crover, David Scott Stone and Mike Patton at the helm you can imagine the beast that unleashed. I mange to catch Fantomas, Fantomas Melvins, Melvins and Tomahawk a few years back and still to this day it is one of the best shows I have ever witnessed.

I’ll Dream About A Cloudy Sky

Song: “Just A Man”

Artist: Faith No More

Album: King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime (1995)

…San Francisco, United States…

A absolutle killer of a closing track. Personally I think you would be straining to find a better closing track to any album.

To me a song about being afraid to aspire to your greatest potential. The higher you aim the greater the risk of failure, understanding that consequence (s)he restricts themselves to the point of being unaware, shallow and ignorent.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Faith+No+More

Lionize

Song: “Lionize”

Artist: Benea Reach

Album: Alleviat (2008)

…Oslo, Norway…

Heavy and tight, Benea Reach have created an album full of thick, impenetrable sounds. Like a huge wave of metal that looms over you, casting your entire body and mind in shadow and threatening to crush your entire being into a thousand pieces.

With there Mushuggah trademark tempo’s and rythmic playing, Benea Reach construct the programmed sound of a mechanized hammer’s pounding away at the fabric of conventional thought.

Lionize was the first track that stood out for me, so if you want some fibre in your diet I recommend it.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Benea+Reach

Cursing Me With Every Glance

Song: “Nectar”

Artist:Opeth

Album: Morningrise (1996)

…Stockholm, Sweden…

This is an absolutely massive album. Epic and sprawling it is composed of just five, ten minute plus tracks. The songs themselves flow smoothly from melodic, acoustic, almost medieval renaissance elements into the brutal, progressive death metal style.

Simplified, Nectar is about not being able to let lost love go. Unable to forget his/her dead lover the song describes the main character seeing their lost love in their dreams and at the very end of the song even indicates that the dead lover is seen while awake.

Plain and Simple its a reflection on what it is like to lose love.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Opeth

Maybe Me And The Queen Can Give Another Side Order

Song: “Queen”

Artist: Melvins

Album: Stoner Witch (1994)

…Sludge, Stoner Rock, Metal, Grunge, Psychedelic…the list goes on…

My first Melvins post and as you will soon find out it wont be the last. The self proclaimed “Greatest band in the History of Music” and one of my favorite bands. I currently have 20 or so of there albums/compilations and still looking for more.

Queen is a great, catchy, rock out with your cock out/jam out with your clam out track on this absolutly brillant album. Fat and fleshy it oozes all that viscous elements that makes it a standout.

…All Hail The Great King Buzzo…

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Melvins