Random thoughts

Top 10 Metal Albums of 2007

2007-11-19T08:37:00.001-08:00

Before you start reading this please note that these are the inputs of my friend Mayank a.k.a Black Illusion (rsj forums)... more of my feedback will follow in the new threads

Here you go

Just about a month for the year to end and not many albums to release(except for Arghoslent and Prostitute Disfigurement,which frankly,are the only ones which might alter my list),so come out with your picks of the year.Here's my list:

1> Nile - Ithyphallic

This album is everything that a death metal album should be. I was a fool to not see it in the beginning but the album grew up so much on me that i had to listen to it once everyday to maintain my level of insanity!Or maybe,its just my obsession with the band!But this album is a pinnacle in the genre.

Fav. song - Ithyphallic

2> Deathevokation - The Chalice Of Ages

An excerpt from gsmash's review of the album : "The Chalice of Ages is almost reason enough for me to end my gripes with the death metal scene of today. The very fact that there is a band like DeatheVokation in the current scenario almost makes me forget the fact that death metal is filled with faceless, talentless, market driven trendwhores. Without a shadow of doubt, this is THE death metal album of 2007. "Music that doesn't follow trends is meant for the ages". \m/ "

If it wasn't for Nile,it would have been THE album for me too!

Fav. song - Embers of a Dying World

3> Vital Remains - Icons of Evil

I never thought Benton and Suzuki would surpass what they did on Dechristianize,but boy!Was i surprised!Over an hour of chaos which totally has you entagled within!Erik Rutan has done a splendid job on this one...its pure evil!

Fav. Song - Scorned

4> Kronos – The Hellenic Terror

If you haven't heard this one or if you haven't liked it,then you're just plain fucking gay!French death metal at its best.Again,i was surprised how they outdid themselves from Colossal Titan Strife!

Fav. Song - Petrifying Beauty, part.1 Divine Vengeance

5> Monstrosity-Spiritual Apocalypse

It took 2 days of continues playing before i could decide which song do i like the most!Every song reeks of talent from their members!No longer would this be known as Corpsegrinder's side project.

Fav. Song - Remnants Of Divination

6> Immolation - Shadows in the Light

This album was everything that the shitty Harnessing Ruin wasn't and that says a lot!

Fav. Song - Whispering Death

7> Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien

This is one band thats always been full of surprises,playing everything from doom,death,sludge,grind!Halls Of Amenti was their only previous effort that i liked,despite it being pure doom.Lack Of Originality has never been a problem for these guys and thats what i love about them and about every song on the album.

Fav. Song - G.lobal O.verhaul D.evice

8> Behemoth – The Apostasy

I worshipped Demigod in the first listen but this one even slayed Demigod!Nergal is at his fuckin best and whatever i say about Inferno would just fall short of words!

Fav. Song - Kriegsphilosophie

9> Odious Mortem - Cryptic Implosion

One of the best tech. death metal releases.

Fav. Song - The Endless Regression of Mind

10> Blood Red Throne - Come Death

There is no dull moment in this album by the Norwegian death metal monsters,which quite surprisingly sounds more like the Floridan death metal style!

Fav. Song - Rebirth in Blood

\m/

Let The Killings Begin!

Sepultura in India - DERRICK Green's feeds - Delhi

2007-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

It's show day and there is some time before sound check to see another landmark in New Delhi history. We decide to go to a place call the Red Fort which is close to the hotel and we can go from there straight to sound check.
It's Sunday and traffic is not too bad we make are way to the Red Fort where there is a huge line of men and a separate line with women. There is always heavy security at historical monuments due to fear of terrorist attacks. The metal detector is made of wood and it looks like it might have been made in a 6th grade science competition. I'm not sure it really works but they pat everyone down and place all bags through a x-ray machine.
The fort is enormous and is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon built of red sandstone. It was completed in 1648 and the Mughal king at the time transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi, Agra is the city here the Taj Mahal is located and we plan on going the next day.
We walk around taking pictures and bargaining in the market area which is located inside the fort. We don't have a guide this time but there are signs that are explaining a little bit the history of the place.
Time passes quickly and we have to get on our way to the sound check, shows start early in India due to a noise curfew.
The area we are are performing is outside and is surrounded many different places. There is a kids museum with a large missile propped up on top of the building and a banquet hall for weddings and parties.
I'm not too worried about our sound check Stanley our sound engineer assures us that he will make it work. The waiting around is the worst part I want to play I want to see the crowd and feel there energy, there is something very special about playing a place for the first time. It's a show that you and the fans will never forget and I have no idea what to expect.
The dressing room has two air conditioners pumping freezing cold air and outside the room there are millions of mosquito's ready to feed. I stretch and listening to the opening band keep the power of the cow bell alive.
It's show time and I have a wonderful energy flowing through me we came a long way to play and I don't want to let anyone down. The crowd are absolutely fantastic there energy is insane and the barricades begin to break down.
There are various mosh pits breaking out and extra people are called to reinforce the barricades. People are singing along to old and new songs and from looking into the eyes of the crowd you can see that the show is fully appreciated, it's an unbelievable feeling for all of us.
Once we are off the stage we are put into a car heading back to the hotel and I feel doped up with a super natural high plus a feeling of absolute exhaustion. I can't help but thinking over and over in my head we did it we finally played India our first show and two more to go, it's surreal and I'm in love with this place

Sepultura in India - my feeds - Bangalore

2007-11-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

I actually had no plans to going to Sepultura gig since had already seen them but thanks to Charlie
I decided to go n get blessed again.I met the Bangalore grind maniacs by 5, hung around for a while, bought tees and then went for the gig.

Since the last 2 yrs I'd been there has not been any development in Bangalore. the roads are as narrow as a sipping straw. Went in a auto with charlie... fucking traffic in Bangalore... reached the venue just in time.Brahma was about to finish the set. Didn't wanted to see them even.

To be honest I was not wasn't sad to see the turnout. Met a lot of people outside the venue
courtesy charlie.They seem of a good community of people who know their music and has respect
for it. It was booze, beer n weed outside the venue & seems even the cops were OK with it. Most of
the crowd outside preferred to skip Brahma for obvious reasons (they suck big time). Was waiting
for Ganesh (Guitars - Gorified) which was another victim of Bangalore traffic.

Sepultura took stage some 15 mins after Brahma n stared of with the Dante's theme. I was still outside waiting for Ganesh. Missed the intro n Desperate Cry but enjoyed it outside..was headbanging with friends. Finally the time had come to witness the GODS again.Upon reaching inside it was good to see the turnout. I'm sure people who attended MAIDEN are no stranger to the venue . High ground stage with two big display screens. Good setup in terms of lighting and sound and frankly speaking the sound was way better than in the Delhi leg. The tickets for 880 bucks seemed like sold out ... there was a fraction of people in the 550 one's.. out of some 20 odd people we were 8 of 'em. The front of the stage was totally packed and the only space left was near the entrance. Sep sounded a lot louder in comparison to delhi because of the acoustics. They had the same set list which they played in Delhi. After a couple of songs the organisers allowed everyone to get in front....culd't have been much better.

I still cannot understand why ppl consider Green as a bad front man. True he is no comparison to Max in the way he used to interact with crowd but surely is doing justice to his talent both as a front man and a singer. I'm sure my fellow frnds would have changed their opinion a bit had they seen him live. The guy is a fucking loud.

Crowd went brezerk on Sepulnation... and then came the Andrea's teasers. Happy to know that there was not a mob of filthy posers in fact there was a female in front who knew almost all the songs they played. Andreas teasers were treated with utmost respect and confusion....hard of many of 'em to comprehend. teaser had "Dead embryonic cells" which was easily understood by crowd. Green " It's getting better Bangaluru" stared with songs which was mostly completed with Andres vocal skills.

My fav from the setlist had be "Escape to the Void" Andreas was too good with his dual work and the metal chick previously mentioned screamed her fucking guts out in "Biotech is Godzilla" It had started drizzling by 9.15

Green comments " We love this country, people are treated with utmost respect. We have good
memories which we are carrying back home and share with everyone and every country we play.
Seems we'll have to come down again. We love you ! " and the only word more audible than anything were "Sepultura - Sepultura - Sepultura". Green was speechless for a moment.

The chants followed by "Bangalore we played in Delhi and Shillong but this is the fucking best... this
is your Territory" In my opinion Sep played their heart out in this song...crowd crazy as fuck...and
there was these 2 choots from Bhrama took on stage..grabbed mikes and together were not even
half of Green vocals. just made a big joke of themselves. nevertheless a happy ending overall. The
band I'm sure must have mixed response but seems enough to bring 'em back... It finally seemed that my Bangalore trip is successful. I just looked amazed as the band went off stage. it is going to be
while since we witness the legends "Paulo n Andreas" again. I just hope they would come back but
seems a long story as of now. I cannot express what I witnessed.."Remember what goes around
comes around " will be waiting

\,,/ HAIL SEPULTURA \,,/

For the "CONTRA" lovers

2007-11-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Just check out the video by "Vertex guy" on youtube. Contra theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5JlGQ5orL8

Sepultura in India - my feeds

2007-11-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

28th October 2007 : will be marked as a glorious day in the Indian Metal Scene....The Brazilian GODS SEPULTURA had arrived.

I couldn't find better words to put.. Just recalled Atul's statement n putted a few of my word too

1. When we bought Arise some 10 yrs back, did we ever imagine that Sepultura will be playing in India

2. Did we ever imagine Sepultura will be playing without Max n Igor?

3. Did we ever imagined in our weirdest dream that they'll be playing in a fuck all place "New Delhi"

4. Could we ever believe we will be able to watch 'em

5. Sepultura is worth watching at a mere 660 bucks ..... Have some respect for the band ???

6. Only thing I believed that "Metakix" opening for Sepultura is an INSULT to the GODS

7. I saw the carnage done by the much hated vocalist "Derek Green " n the new Drummer "john"

HAIL SEPULTURA

Just to start off with the review

Gig entry was to start at 4.30 pm. The fellow buggers had already decided to be at the venue by 2.30 - 3.00... I left the place early so as to reach on time, well so did my friends Syam and Abhishek...Thanks to the fucking "marathon run" Delhi was on a halt. It took me 1 hr to cross 500 mts. was already pissed off at the policemen n the heat was killing me too... I was alright till the time I heard that Sepultura finished with the sound check on "Inner self " n "Dead Embryonic cells". I was so desperate to just listen to the band sound from outside the theater itself. To my utter coincidence I encountered with my fellow buggures from NOIDA....now we were 3 totally pissed off guys abusing each other.

Ran to the venue n stood next to the entry gate .... Time 3.00 pm. Was really sorry to see the turnout...the crowd it seems never knew Sepultura's music... It was one of the biggest gatherings of fucking filthy posers.... stupid guys in System of a Down, Linkin Park tees. I had to ensure that I'm among the first guys who reach inside... was dying to get into the first row.

Met Syam, Atul, Bizz, Sonu, Sunil, Abhay, few other metal heads ...chatted a lot also with the stupid security guards. I kept standing on the near the entrance till I cud drop... it was all Old sep's songs running in my mind. 6.20 Pm the time had come ...was the second guy after syam to get in ... I had never ran as fast in my life n stood in the first row. To my sheer bad luck n utter disgust had to see Metakix. This band sucks big time n it was the worst performance out of the 2 that I've seen.. I'll suggest the band to call it off... There was a crew member of Sep which came to record the finest moments from the opening band... even he could stand it.. hardly 15 secs and he had put the camera down....came after 10

mins n again the same reaction... I cannot even imagine what that camera man must have felt... the Titans are greeted with such a sorry band which was more or less an INSULT to Sepultura... Zomb kept on playing even hearing the MAADAR CHOD, Behan CHOD, FUCK off, U are a bastard, SHUT THE FUCK UP, U suck ....

This goes out to all the people who claim that they have fucking respect for the band ....well up ur ass... u pathetic fools have the respect only for Max or Igor and not the band as whole ... you fucking cunts like to hear covers of sepulture done by some famous bands n are ready to blow your fucking lungs out but cannot show respect to the band by turning up......have some fucking respect ......I'm not denying the fact the most of the music was Max only but Paulo n Andres’ are equally responsible for the brutality. Just imagine "Beneath the remains" the entire album without his guitar works... have fucking forgotten "Under Siege" ... Under a pale grey sky.... come on guys......I fucking hated the fact that Max left but it was more or less a blessing in Disguise ... A band like Soulfly was born depicting his immense talent. Finally the moment had arrived .... first to be on stage was John followed by Paulo and then the guitar master Andreas.....Dereck greeen came running as if he was to play the concert of his life ..........well this certainly became the concert of my life.. I GREW UPON THIS BAND. and that’s altogether a different story that I've not bought a single album after the departure of max from the band... RESPECT

I don’t really remember the first song played but could guess it was from Dante’s 21.. I had never imagined that Sep will be playing such a set..

The old songs took me to the golden era of Sepultura.. Like yuvraj correctly said...the band would have never played the "teasers" in US or any other country but they fucking did in India. .. just to check the knowledge of so called fans of Sepultura. "Bestial Devastation" , "Necromancer" riffs were played until Andreas decided to play "Inner Self"... with the first riff of the song I stranded amazed wondering what I’m witnessing... as mentioned it did took me to the golden era... I still remember collecting the recorded tape from "Clyde’s" n listing to it time and time again... and here I was watching being played in front of me by the GODS themselves.... it’s a pity Andes’ had stop the song because of the pathetic crowd response but that was just the beginning of what was about to come.. the set list comprised of songs like "Spit, Desperate Cry, Escape to the void, Refuse/ resist, Troops of doom, Roots, Chaos AD, Kaiowas, Biotech is Godzilla, orgasmatron, Beneath the fucking remains, Territory, Convicted in life Dead embryonic cells.

I’ll just take back to the old times…more on this will follow soon.