Ricky Warwick - Belfast Confetti
For some this may be a little surprise but most people know me as a music fan and if it is good it is good. Here you have the Almighty singer/songwriter moving away from his old rock n roll past and into a classic Celtic/folk style of music. Ok the tunes are still here and it isn’t all tin whistles and hand clapping. It does still pull a punch with the classic feel of rock. Rickey’s voice sounds amazing on this album as if we have missed something all this time. He was asked by a friend when in New York to write a song about Belfast. The title song is a great single and if I had my way would be a huge hit. Not just that but the whole album has classic song after classic covering all feelings that you can in one album. Northern Ireland has its troubles and that has been used to write the album, Ricky says when I saw him live that while in New York he was drinking with a Belfast friend that pointed out that they couldn’t stand in the same pub in Belfast and have a pint together. This album is well produced and the backing musicians play a great part in making the music sound to rich. The sound is so real on this album if you turn it up you could think it was live in the room with you. By far my album of the year, albums like this are what make me always till the day I die a music fan.
Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Japan has so much to give the music world and here we have another gem of an album. Think of more of an opera mixed with a classic Led Zep guitar with sounds from the sea. Yeah a bit strange but a totally compelling piece of work that keeps you listening the whole time with your eyes closed. I like to play this album while reading as it can really relax you. Each listen you can hear something new or something even better than before.
Zombie - Spirit Animal
Now here we have a real surprise for me, I got this just on the name alone but I was not prepared for the contents. The album is on Relapse records and if you know anything about the music world you know that it’s a metal label, more so a grindcore metal label. My ears were ready while pressing play. I needn’t have as the music is so relaxing and pleasant. Electronic music passes from one channel to the other with slow riffs from bass and guitar passing round as well. Nice drumming on this album make the whole feel just right. With a full on electronic set up like a mix of Devo and Carpenters soundtracks from Escape from New York. Haunting piano and strings build up and then tear ya down again all with only five tracks. By the way the limited ed 12” is sold out and if you have one or see one buy it for me.
Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows
This is a full on pop rock album made by a set of musicians I never thought you would ever see together in a band. Each song is simple and sing along and so catchy you can easily think that it was the middle of a summers day outside. As the year has mostly rained and we have not had much sun this helps to fill in the gap.
Spinnerette – Spinnerette
Brody Dalle was the singer/songwriter of The Distillers, split the group up in 2003 after three albums of great punk rock. She then went on to do some guest appearances in other bands for a bit while working on this album. It is a real change in direction, more of a pop album than much else. She has moved very well from the guitar to use other instruments to make her music. Also her voice has changed into a real dark sounding melodic whisper. The songs are catch and very bleak at times but the whole album has a real must listen attitude as she has a story to tell. Production wise it is fine not sounding to over done but still retaining the classic punk sound. A fine debut for her new change in direction but I would still love the Distillers back some day but till then this is great.
Behemoth – Evangelion
I have liked this band on and off for years now. Some good albums some not so good but this is a stand out album at last from the polish death metalers. So much of Death Metal is the same it is easy to just sweep it aside and move on. But at last a great sounding technical album.
Cheap Trick – The Latest
Over 30 years and going strong and what a band. From going indi in 97 the band have been putting out album after album that is at times better than the 70s highlight (Check out 2006 Rockford). This is all out pop rock no frills and no bullshit. All the usual Cheap Trick riffs and sing along tunes are here. This album was sold on the old 8 track tapes in a limited amount as some fans still use them and why not. Always a band for the summer this helped put some sun in my year as it was very bland this year. The album sounds fresh as does the vocals, and still the band don’t come across as old school. They really could show the bands of now a thing or two on song writing and live performance. Remember no Cheap Trick no Nirvana, REM, Pixies and many more great bands.
Converge – Axe to Fall
Converge have been going a while and 2001 Jane Doe came out and put the hardcore band on the map. It was a fantastic album and one they have never even got near to. Well till now the new album is at times better but not quite in the same breath as the 2001 masterpiece. The new album is as heavy and bass driven as all the albums but it seems to contain a more mature style in the music. The riffs are awesome as are the vocals, hardcore music at times can wipe the floor with most metal bands and I think Converge could wipe the floor with Metallica and Megadeth no problems. I have this album as my evidence.
Dark Castle - Spirited Migration
I have been a fan of Isis for years and rate the Celestial album as one of my top albums. But they have not made many real great albums of late. But here we have a great stand in for them in Dark Castle. Classic heavy riffs and big bollocking drums get the music flowing and in the great sludge style that I love. Nothing wrong with the same riff over and over if it is good and done right.
Drudkh – Microcosmos
This is an album by a band that does no press or even live shows but seem to knock out a great album now and again. This is a great album from whomever they are a blend of rock and old school black metal. Some nice bass lines help to keep a slightly groovy edge to the songs. It is classic in old school metal in very few vocals and big passages or rhythmic rock. It does work well and I would like to hear the band live to see if they can still do what is on the album.
Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
You can tell what time of year it is as this band put out an album every summer. I have a real soft spot for this band as they really have came through all the nu metal crap and are still going strong. Another album of political over the top screaming and riffs that make you stop and look at the album cover in disbelief. They are still as good as ten years ago or even twenty. The songs are so well written and performed you are struggling to take it all in. Second and third listen gets a nodding foot tapping response and after that you may just form your own band and try to emulate what is on this album. It would be near impossible to play this well, or even scream like Mr Greenway. Is that a set of drums that are being played or the sound of the world crumbling around you? In 1986 this band went out and changed the face of metal and punk and took a silver award home as the prize(60,000 albums sold). Time has served them well and this is better than 2001’s Enemy of the Music Business. An album I felt was the best they have done. This is the sort of album Peel would have played none stop on his show. Always out for something new or fresh this is as fresh as extreme metal can get. Europe may have better metal bands and Scandinavia has most but this would rip through any of them.
Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall
The east bay boys do it again with a great sing along punk rock album. Never ones to do anything half arsed the album does sound very good and the music is direct and fun. Good album to get you in the mood for a night out, just to get you in the mood, and cheer you up and that is what I like about it. Still on the bands own label and still selling bucket loads of albums.
Church of Misery - Houses Of the Unholy
This band gets better and better each time I hear them but this is the fourth album from the doom metal band. I love how funky this album feels with a mix of classic Black Sabbath and new school Electric Wizard. This is more of a doom album than anything else but the heavy bass comes out in a mix of jazz and funk that really should not work or even ever be mixed but does come out sounding astonishing. This has been done before with many of the nu metal bands and years ago by a great band called Grove Family Cyco. But this real mix of doom metal drills the guitar riffs home with a bass lick to make sure it stays in. For a great experience use a subwoofer as well(My neighbours must hate me) to get the maximum out of this.
Shining - VI – Klagopsalmer
I am not sure why this album is under Black Metal as it is way more of a rock n roll album. Coming from Stockholm they have some great bands to look to in the Hellacopters and Backyard Babies. But the album does crank it up to the level of extreme music from time to time and every so often back to a fantastic Megadeth guitar solo that can cut through bricks. This is a real great album with twists and turns through all things heavy.
Grind Madness At The BBC - Various
Another year and another best off in my list. I have always stated I hate covers bands and compilations and I am right in doing so. But this album does deserve to be in my listing as it is so good. Many people may not remember a guy called John Peel he was a DJ on BBC Radio 1. Yes the rather shitty pop channel. But when this guy was on it was a free for all over the radio, any band could get a slot and always did. Here you have three cds of the most rapid grindcore you can here. We have all heard Napalm Death but this is a really down tuned heavy young version that does even all these years later make you think that you have never heard that. Peel was right to get this music in session as it well stands the test of time. Extreme Noise Terrier, Carcass, Godflesh and other are all here in a nice box set with a very good booklet. It even has a pic of John peel on the sleeve.
Cerys Matthews - Don't Look Down
Never said Goodbye from 2006 was a great return to the music industry for Cerys. She did have an album before that but it did seem to get over looked. The tv celebrity show followed and thankfully the experience has not damaged her musical talents. Still a great voice and back to a more popy album sound for here her here. I do like how this album flows keeping you interested with a great start to each song. Like the first track starting like an old crooner style. The next with a classical sounding guitar then the third her voice then a harmonica, Great stuff. She really can cross many boundaries from blues to pop. By the way this album is also available in welsh, something that I do respect as to write and sing songs in two languages is very hard to do as it may sound good in one and not in the other. She is a very talented singer and I hope many more albums flow out over the years.
Marduk – Wormwood
Marduk are one of many Black Metal bands who really just made the same album over and over again. But at last a change in direction, ok to a point. This has a big slab of doom metal with the slow slugging riffs and bellowing drums going along with the classic black metal. Not a million miles away from each to be honest. Think of the less noisy Electric wizard mixed with Emperor and that is where this album sits. Great punchy production and a clear drum sound that does not get too overloaded.
