Even after nearly half a dozen playthroughs, it’s still a challenge identifying a common thread in which to weave together the five tracks of Branches (Self-Released), the latest output from Through Mists’ mastermind James Aniston.Continue reading
Tag Archives: St. Anger
ALBUM REVIEW: Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica Vol 2.
Everybody loves covers! Especially covers of iconic songs by great bands. What is better than a single cover version of a classic track, but an entire album of them? What’s even better than that? Well, how about two albums of covers of a bunch of classics!
Yes, we’re talking about Apocalyptica, and we’re talking about Apocalyptica covering Metallica, which they did to great effect on their debut album twenty-five years ago! They have made a career of covering classics in Thrash Metal, introducing thrash fans to classical music on a new scale. while slowly creating their own repertoire of incredible original music, including a few hits along the way. What we often say about cover songs is that there are two approaches to take; a direct copy just redone beat for beat, or making those songs truly your own. Obviously and speaking of the classical metal masters of the Cello from Finland, we are talking reinterpretation. But they ratchet that up significantly on the sequel to their classic debut, Plays Metallica Vol 2., which is releasing via their own new imprint, Throwdown Entertainment.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Mutilation Barbecue – Amalgamations of Gore
Come on, you know what this is. A band shows up with a name like Mutilation Barbecue with an album titled Amalgamations of Gore (Maggot Stomp Records)and you know the Green Day crowd’s ears perked up. This will be the talk of the town on TikTok or wherever else annoying teenagers congregate and commiserate about missing out on Hawthorne Heights’ day in the sun. Hell, this one may even make the playlist at your local Starbucks. You just get a feeling, you know. Continue reading
Bob Rock Explains The Choice Behind Creating Metallica’s “St. Anger” Snare Drum Sound on the Latest Episode of The Metallica Report Podcast
Legendary producer and once live Metallica bassist Bob Rock reminiscences about his time as the Metallica Producer from 1990 to 2003 on the latest episode of The Metallica Report Podcast. Bob discussed how he pushed the band to be their best, that the band really didn’t know how to make records properly in his opinion prior to working with him, how he frustrated James Hetfield at times, the two best Metallica songs, why fans are wrong about the sound of the drums on St. Anger, and what Jack White and Jimmy Page told Bob about that infamous album. Listen now!Continue reading
Metallica Adds New Material to Their “20 Years Of Anger – St. Anger” Anniversary Exhibition from “The Black Box”
Metallica has added new material to their celebration of all things St. Anger (Blackened Recordings) with their online archival project “The Black Box!” With “20 Years of Anger – St. Anger Anniversary Exhibition” The album that nearly broke up the band and divided the fans still holds a place in Metallica’s history, and the new exhibition shares much of the content from that era, as well as never-before-seen stuff too. In addition to new virtual relics, the store has even more new St. Anger released merch and artifacts you can buy if this is your jam. Ghost Cult guest columnist Nik Cameron of Glacially Musical recently did a retrospective review of the album, which you can read here. Check it out now along with some anniversary merch! Continue reading
Metallica Shares Their “20 Years Of Anger – St. Anger Anniversary Exhibition” from “The Black Box”
Metallica is back with their online archival project “The Black Box” and another virtual exhibit, this time celebrating the 20th anniversary of their controversial 2003 album St. Anger (Blackened Recordings).
With “20 Years of Anger – St. Anger Anniversary Exhibition” The album that nearly broke up the band and divided the fans still holds a place in Metallica’s history, and the new exhibition shares much of the content from that era, as well as never-before-seen stuff too. Ghost Cult guest columnist Nik Cameron of Glacially Musical recently did a retrospective review of the album, which you can read here. Check it out now along with some anniversary merch! Continue reading
RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW: Metallica’s St. Anger Turns 20
As Metallica’s controversial album St. Anger turns twenty years old on June 5th, 2023, guest columnist Nik Cameron (The Glacially Musical Pouredcast) reflects on where this album lands in history. Is it a triumph, as Lars Ulrich wants it to be, or a tragedy?
ALBUM REVIEW: Metallica – 72 Seasons
And so the Metallica riff machine rolls on! forty years after their debut album Kill Em All (1983) laid the blueprint for the Thrash Metal genre, they return with record number … well that’s kind of up for debate depending on how you view their discography, and whether you count live albums, covers album and erm collaborations. But 72 Seasons (Blackened Recordings Inc) is here, their latest artistic statement four decades into a career that has seen them rise from the US West Coast underground, to become the most successful Heavy Metal band of all time. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die
I have one question for the Suicide Silence lads. Why is it that they are perfectly content to settle on terrible studio production and mix? Yes, I get that The Cleansing and No Time to Bleed were popular and well-regarded in the Deathcore circle, but in all honesty, they were never going to be considered amongst the best metal recordings ever.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Black Space Riders – We’ve Been Here Before
Black Space Riders’ new album is entitled We’ve Been Here Before (Cargo Records). It’s got what you’ve come to expect from Black Space Riders: multi-layered sounds, a deep and grounded ambiance that gets you into feelings, amazing guitar and bass work, and best of all, it’s a cosmic assault to your senses. The alchemy that went into creating We’ve Been Here Before coalesced and oozed into something that is gob-smacking.