Tag Archives: metal

(book review) Paul Stenning: IRON MAIDEN 30 Years Of The Beast-the complete unauthorised biography

I love Iron Maiden. That was the first band I heard from metal and so called harder scene when I was a 14 year old kid. I got my hands on No Prayer For The Dying tape and discovered the whole new world and listened to it until it got so worn out that it hardly played. Then I discovered that this band has more albums that came out before this one and even better albums than No Prayer…Nothing was the same anymore for me. Later on, my friend made me a tape, side A was Slayer, side B was Kreator and that is how I got into more harder side of metal and nothing was the same anymore, later discovering punk rock through Bad Religion, Gorilla Biscuits but that is another story.

This is great book, telling Maiden story from the early start and ending after Dance Of Death was released so couple of years are missing because this book is a bit older. It is an interesting story, through line up changes, victories and setbacks caused by departure of Bruce Dickinson from the band and triumphant return, ups and downs and never giving up thus becoming one of the most famous metal bands in the world. Through story there are also interesting interviews with contemporaries, former band members, caterers, roadies, cover artists, so it is really worth reading. But, I feel like a little bit is missing, don´t really know what, but this book did not hit me in the eye like some do. So, it is an interesting read, good one, but only 4/5.

(review) Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy

Rob Zombie is back with his new album. You can love or hate his works, since White Zombie days to his solo albums, but the man has imagination and ideas. I love his movie work, I watched all his movies many times and every time I watch them again, I always see something new. Such great atmosphere, gore and poetry. This new album contains 17 songs of carnage in the vein of Rob Zombie. That means industrial metal with touch of psychedelia, horror punk even garage rock and hard rock. Heavy use of electronics and samples is fine by me, I love electronics and samples when they are used cleverly and fit perfectly to the song structure. There are couple of short songs that serve more of intros or instrumental intermezzos between acts of this psychodrama. Listening to this album is like watching Firefly family rampaging, stomping around and loving it. My highlights recommended songs: Shadow of the Cemetery Man, The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man.

8/10

(review) Various – VIII – Immortal Euphoria

Besides being great PR agency for bringing underground metal to hearts of legions of brothers and sisters out there, Metalmessage also releases music and their compilations are something to watch out for. I remember when I was a kid starting in the scene, there were tape trading days which created a network that is still active today in many ways. One of the means to discover new bands were compilation tapes and I loved listening to them and discovered new bands, sent a letter, got to know new friends, help bring bands to my area and I am active in the scene now, thirty years after that. This is already eighth part of Metalmessage compilation and this time they deliver fifteen bands from the underground and one common thread is that they are all high quality music and each of them represented here is fantastic, depending on your personal taste. Since my personal taste is somewhere in more blacker specter of scene, my favorites on this compilation are Antrisch, awesome black metal, Lovecraft inspired doom Cult Of Salem, Varus from Germany, being energetic black folk metal, but you will have to listen and find your own favorites, I am sure you will. Go check it out!

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