Blasphemy - Blood Upon The Altar demo [1989]

The surprising thing about this demo, the precursor to the legendary album Fallen Angel of Doom, is that its production is actually clearer than that of the full-length. Certainly, when just getting into Blasphemy, it helped me personally to overcome the murkiness of the full-length, especially with my then-predisposition to more overtly melodic forms of black metal. That's not to say it isn't completely ferocious - it is - but it's a little more accessible than the album. But it's more than just alternative recordings of the songs found on FAoD - not only do four of its full tracks not appear on the album, but the structure of the recording offers an entirely different perspective. Really, this is, if not equally seminal, almost as seminal as Fallen Angel of Doom. It's worth a listen if you have any interest in black metal (and for what it's worth, it's also easier to get on CD due to the 2007 Osmose reissue with Gods of War).

v1 VBR

Mediafire

Re-re-upload: Blasphemy - Fallen Angel Of Doom [1990]

Another debut, Fallen Angel Of Doom should be played to all poseurs at maximum volume. Ahem. Now banned from playing in the USA, Canada's Blasphemy were surely one of the best early black/thrash bands, not to mention the pioneers of the whole bestial black metal scene. Although much aped since, especially by their countrymen, Fallen Angel Of Doom remains untouched in its pure uncompromising aggression and quality. Not to be passed up upon.

Re-upload notes: I've added a little bit to the description to reflect the general higher quality of the bios of recent uploads, but I'm not sure I'm going to do this for every album as it would simply take too long. Also, it's a different rip with a better bitrate.

320 kbps

Mediafire

Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud [2012]

...And then there's this. I won't be surprised if this gets pulled within moments of me posting it, but what the hell, it's worth sharing. If you're a metal fan that's been living in a box for the past four or so years, you could be forgiven for not hearing of the most recent work by the mastermind behind Strapping Young Lad: Devin Townsend. The Project albums were a big four-album concept touching on - as Townsend's albums always seem to - themes relating to self-discovery and internal evaluation. The album series told a story of sorts: You had the tense and uncertain Ki, contemplating if heavy music is really worth the emotional trauma. Then there was Addicted, an big album of dumb fun that tried to make heavy music poppy and danceable at the same time. After this came Deconstruction, an album that can best be described as throwing a big box full of ideas and guest musicians into a ceiling fan and recording what happens. Finally there was Ghost, wrapping up the project in a willowy, "everything is wonderful" kind of way, a great way of wrapping up a great album series.

And then he goes and releases another one. Oh well, it was a nice idea while it lasted.

The release of another album under the Project moniker just out of the blue like this kind of suggests that the name of "Devin Townsend Project" is just the "Devin Townsend Band" of the moment (well, the lineup is the same, I guess): Simply another title for yet more of Townsend's solo work.

But enough about semantics, what's the bloody album like? Well, if we're going to liken it to any of the Project albums, I'd have to say it's like Addicted to the power of The Final Countdown. The LP comes with metaphorical hooks up the ass, especially in lead "single" Lucky Animals (described by Townsend live as "the most annoying song in the world", and frankly it's easy to see why). Most of the tracks here have simple verses, big choruses and - once again similar to Addicted - slightly disappointing mid-sections. Songs like Grace and the first 'proper' track True North could either do with being a bit shorter or a little more varied. But oh well, repetition is the very essence of pop music, and while this is very unlikely to be a chart-topper (I think it reached #65 or something here in the UK), a lot of the songs could quite cheerfully be played on Radio 1 and be greeted with chorus singalongs and tapping feet of the day's rush hour commuters.

I haven't really said enough about the album for this to be a full on review (you'll have to wait until my 2012 roundup for that - yes, I am still doing one), I will at least say it's bouncy and memorable enough to be good for a spin or two.

13 tracks, 49:52, 97.04 MiB

Zippyshare (Mp3, 224kbps)
Edit 28/10/12: Well, that didn't take long.

Re-upload: Strapping Young Lad - City [1997]

The insane genius Devin Townsend has created in his lifetime some of the world's craziest, and best music, but this is his best - that's certainly saying a lot. A piece of industrial metal that is avant-garde despite largely holding popular structure, it should not be missed in any metal fan's collection.

Re-upload notes: This contains a few demo versions of tracks as bonuses. I've got to admit I'm not much of a fan of Townsend's post-SYL work but most of the SYL stuff is great.

160 kbps

Mediafire
Zippyshare

Devin Townsend - Infinity [1998]

It goes without saying that Devin Townsend is strange. Strange enough that in the same year he released "City" with his band Strapping Young Lad, an extreme, noisy, industrial loud-a-thon, and "Biomech" under the pseudonym Ocean Machine, a calmer, radio-friendly progressive rock album. It was shortly after this he had a nervous breakdown and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Shortly after he'd come to terms with this he put out "Infinity" in 1998, an album which marries the aggression of "City" and the 'happiness' of "Biomech". The first three tracks are a barrage of awesome: the intense instrumental "Truth", the poppy "Christeen" and the insanely catchy "Bad Devil". Even if after that the album meanders a bit (specifically, "War" drags on), it still has a great overall sound and is well worth a listen. This version also comes with three bonus tracks: Live, acoustic versions of two songs from "Biomech" and a 1996 demo, simply called "Man". Good stuff.


13 tracks, 59:11, 63.87 MB
Mediafire (M4a, ~198 kbps VBR)

Cryptopsy - None So Vile [1996]

Another one of the best technical death metal albums ever. Although The Unspoken King might have (quite rightly) garnered quite a few detractors, there is no denying the quality of this. It has extra nostalgic value for me as one of the albums which got me into death metal - the balance of technicalility with songwriting and a subtle sense of melody at times borders on the divine.

320 kbps

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Avril Lavigne - Let Go [2002]

If you didn't know it already, this should pretty much tell you - I am a massive, raging false (if you thought the answer was homo, I hate to disappoint you, but you're wrong). Thing is, this is pop done well - Lavigne spawned dozens of female copycats in her wake, but she takes influence herself from soul and pop-punk, and adds her trademark Canadian voice to it.

160 kbps

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2009 Re-Visted: Vengeful- The Omnipresent Curse[2009]

Man. 2009 was a great year for me.
Bowerbirds released Upper Air.

Iron and Wine dropped the brilliant compilation album Around the Well.

Neko Case gave us the criminally under-rated Middle Cyclone.

Megafaun released the best album of the year in Gather, Form, Fly.

Bon Iver continued his evolution by handing us the Blood Bank EP.

Indie gods The Antlers released Hospice, of which my opinion is very well known(its the greatest thing ever.)

There is more( a lot more), but I listed off those fucking amazing albums to prove a point: in the year two-thousand and nine, I was flat out uninterested in Metal of any kind. I was fully absorbed in the glory and majesty of true American music: Folk and Country. I still love those styles of music with a burning passion. But early in 2010, I came back to my first, and true, love: Extreme Metal.

Sadly, 2009 was a lost year for me in terms of Extreme Metal. And it is only this year that I have begun to dig back in time and check out all those albums I miss. So for the next few days, my posts will focus on those brilliant 2009 releases I completely missed as I played my banjo and wrote folk songs with my dad(who was a folk musician who never took off.)

One of the first releases I checked out was Vengeful's The Omipresent Curse. A quick tl;dr version: Vengeful are a mix of Odious Mortem and Ulcerate. If that interests you, you can go ahead and stop reading. But as an internet blowhard, I feel obliged to give you a more complete write-up.

The first thing that stands out about this record is the sense of darkness: this is a heavy, heavy record, and is very, very dark. The band is capable of playing fast, but often focus on mid-paced and slower paced technical flourishes ala Ulcerate. But the albums guitar tone, general production and vocal attack sound a lot like Odious Mortem's Cryptic Implosion. Those are two pretty badass bands to be compared to, and for the most part the band lives up to it. This is a solid record, and one I am glad I was able to re-visit.

320 kbps

Mediafire

Sacrifice - Soldiers Of Misfortune [1991]

Sacrifice are a Canadian thrash band who are often overlooked, possibly due to their refusal to ever truly be more brutal or more melodic. This is nonetheless an excellent album - indeed, it strikes that careful balance cleverly.

192 kbps

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Wold - Working Together For Our Privacy [2010]

Wold are often underappreciated, and this is a good album - though I haven't listened to it in a while, I recall it being a mix of black metal, noise and ritual ambient. Their black metal element has slowly dimished over the years, and this is therefore not advised for fans of recent Immortal.

Similar artists: Gnaw Their Tongues, TenHornedBeast, Burning Witch

~240 kbps VBR

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Rush - Grace Under Pressure [1984]

What many consider to be the finest work of Rush's "synth" period, "Grace Under Pressure" is an album with a very dystopian feel. And not just in the lyrics of the songs (penned by Neil Peart as always). The synths used have a very wide, echoey sound to them, as if they're being played in the middle of a vast, faceless city.

Although many people shun Rush's 80s albums from pushing Alex Lifeson's guitars out of the spotlight, "Grace Under Pressure" is still a great album with a great sound. Be sure to check out "Distant Early Warning" and "Kid Gloves".

Mp3, 320 kbps

Link taken down. Comment to see a reupload!

Rush - Moving Pictures [1981]

I love Rush. Can you tell? I've got another of my favourites on the way after this one.

"Moving Pictures" is perhaps Rush's best known album (on par with 2112), and with good reason. It was a perfect blend of the hard rock from their '70s albums and the synth of their '80s albums. The track "Tom Sawyer" is a bona-fide classic, brilliantly setting the tone of the album. Although the last two tracks ("Witch Hunt" and "Vital Signs") are somewhat forgettable, this album remains one of the all-time greats, and a must for any Rush fan.

Mp3, 320 kbps

Link was taken down. Comment on this if you would like to see a reupload.

Rush - Hemispheres [1978]

"Hemispheres" marked the beginning of a transitional period for Rush. Containing their last 'epic' song (the 18-minute "Cygnus X-1 Book II"), it showed the beginning of a move away from their previous hard rock styles towards a more commercial sound. This period ultimately ended up with the hugely successful "Moving Pictures" (which in turn would pave the way for the overall sound of Rush's '80s albums), but "Hemispheres" is a gem in itself.

A mere 36 minutes in length, the album packs its initial punch with the opening chords of the first track, which tells the tale of a space explorer falling into a black hole. The middle two tracks are catchy (with "The Trees" being one of my favourite Rush tracks), and the album closes with the 9-minute instrumental "La Villa Strangiato" (appropriately sub-titled "An exercise in self-indulgence"). Overall a great album which showcases some of the band's best work. And you can even buy the album artwork as a t-shirt. What's not to like?

~320 kbps (VBR)

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Rush - Vapor Trails [2002]

After the tragic events of drummer Neil Peart's life in the late '90s, many thought the hugely successful rock band Rush were no more. But when they released "Vapor Trails" in 2002, it was clear that Rush were back. And heavier than ever.

Although somewhat marred by lacklustre mixing (apparently a remixed edition is in the works), this album contains 13 extremely solid tracks which brilliantly showcase Geddy, Alex and Neil's individual talents, as well as their power as a group. Particular favourites of mine are the title track and "The Stars Look Down".

However if it's more classic Rush you're after, be sure to check out 2112.

128 kbps

Link taken down. Comment to see a reupload!

Gorguts - Obscura [1998]

This is Gorguts' best album, provided you like having your mind fucked by some crazy time signatures and odd yet catchy melodies. Although some may come to this album via the Necrophagist-worship band of the same name, the two are incomparable - the album reigns supreme.

~230 kbps VBR

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Gorguts - Considered Dead [1991]

Although Gorguts went crazy-insane on 'Obscura' (coming in a minute), this is a solid piece of death metal - it doesn't really do anything new, but it's well composed, and is one of the best albums released by a band to have not yet hit their prime.

~230 kbps VBR

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Rush - 2112 [1976]

I'm afraid this won't be much of a bio, as I don't know much about prog at all. All I know is that this is quite accessible by prog's standards, and it's actually quite catchy in places. The main event is obviously the 20 minute title track, but the other songs aren't too shabby either.

320 kbps

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Fatality - Beers From The Grave [2009]

This piece of thrash from Canada is a little-known part of the thrash resurgence. I've got to admit, it's nothing special, but it kept me entertained for its 35 minutes running time, and although I can't remember much of it now, it's an album that I would quite like to listen to more.

320 kbps

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Voivod - Killing Technology [1987]

A masterpiece of technical thrash this is. Voivod really excelled themselves on this release, creating one of the true all-time thrash masterpieces (thrashterpiece?). RIP Piggy.

192 kbps

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Exciter - Violence And Force [1984]

Although coming a year later, Exciter's debut bears heavy resemblance to two seminal thrash classics, both of which also bridged the gap between speed and thrash metal: Slayer's 'Show No Mercy' and Metallica's 'Kill 'Em All'. This is a great example of early thrash.

192 kbps

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