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The Metal Thread |OT2| All Riffs, No Gifs

fallout said:
I'm still a bit skeptical. Ziltoid is probably my favourite Devin Townsend album, but I haven't been a big fan of his recent output (save for maybe Ghost, but that's quite a bit different). If it's like Epicloud or Deconstruction, I think I'll be disappointed.
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My exact sentiment. I love Ziltoid and everything up to Ki, but his recent albums did nothing for me. The guy puts out too much stuff in short periods - his albums are starting to feel like half-baked ideas to me.
 
fallout said:
I'm still a bit skeptical. Ziltoid is probably my favourite Devin Townsend album, but I haven't been a big fan of his recent output (save for maybe Ghost, but that's quite a bit different). If it's like Epicloud or Deconstruction, I think I'll be disappointed.
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I do not like Ziltoid. And I think that it will be the same with second album...looks like i do not like the theme.
 
Bitanator said:
I saw Divebomb's post about it, very cool will be picking it up for sure.
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Well I figured you knew about it already :P I don't keep up with the DB Facebook, but I'm on the mailing list and visit the UM forum every now and then.

Cygnus said:
Everything i've heard so far hasn't been very thrashy which is kind of disappointing since they did it so damn well, definitely excited though.
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Yeah, it's different and I'm still trying to decide if I like it yet or not. I'm not turned off by it so it may be something I grab in the future.
 
It's hard for me to rank DT's albums, as I change my mind all the time. Ocean Machine: Biomech was the first solo album of his that I listened to and I think I had it on repeat for weeks.

Accelerated Evolution always felt like a really good entry point, too. Maybe not his absolute best work, but high quality, consistent and reasonably accessible.

Juke Joint Jezebel said:
You don't need to worry about Z2 being compromised. It's actually two seperate albums. The Devin Townsend Project album "Blue Sky" being a mix of all sorts of previous styles he's dabbled in over the past few years, and "Z2" according to Devin is a straight follow-up to the first Ziltoid in both recording style, and structure.
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That's some good news. I'm still skeptical, but maybe a bit more hopeful? We'll see how it turns out soon enough.
 
Secks4Food said:
Devin Townsend is the fucking man and I'm super stoked for Z2.

What are your favorite Devy albums? These are mine:

1.) Terria
2.) Ziltoid the Omniscient
3.) Epicloud
4.) Addicted!
5) Synchestra
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I'm sooooooooo hyped.

Not sure how I'd rank the albums. Maybe

1. Terria
2. Synchestra
3. Accelerated Evolution
4. Addicted!
5. Ki
6. Epicloud
7. Ziltoid
8. Ocean Machine
<--- if Ghost II existed in full it'd be here probably
9. Epiclouder
10. Casualties of Cool
11. Deconstruction
12. Infinity
13. Ghost
14. The New Black
15. Alien
16. City
17. Physicist
18. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
19. Punky Bruster
 
Ocean Machine is probably my favorite. I like the story that he recorded the entire thing, hated the performance, then re-recorded the entire album again from scratch. That's craziness.
 
teruterubozu said:
Ocean Machine is probably my favorite. I like the story that he recorded the entire thing, hated the performance, then re-recorded the entire album again from scratch. That's craziness.
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Yeah, I think that some of my love for Ziltoid is how he just did it all himself to prove that he could do it sober.
 
Secks4Food said:
Devin Townsend is the fucking man and I'm super stoked for Z2.

What are your favorite Devy albums? These are mine:

1.) Terria
2.) Ziltoid the Omniscient
3.) Epicloud
4.) Addicted!
5) Synchestra
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I may as write up a quick list. Own all of the guys discography so it's a tricky to pick just 5, but I'll limit myself to that because I enjoy a challenge!

1. Ghost (2011)
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What an album. Easily the best piece of work the man has ever produced in his long career in my opinion. Made as both a counter AND a companion piece to "Deconstruction" an album I never really enjoyed outside of a couple of songs ("Stand", "Juular"), this album took me by complete surprise. A glorious mix of ambient ethereal instrmentals, chirpy upbeat dittys, and spaced out moodpieces, there's not one song on this album that I'd ever skip. It's overlty rich production quality, the huge range of instrumentals used from nord synths and mandolins, to banjos and traditional guitar, and the genuinely relaxing effect this album has on me all comes together to form what is easily one of my top 10 albums of all time. Which is no small feat if you where ever to look at my backlog of music. Perfection.

2. Addicted! (2009)
E7JvJ52.png


Devin's first proper foray into "pop metal" is one hell of a great album. It strikes a great balance between the upbeat, easy listening qualities of pop music, and the heavier, chuggier instrumental elements of metal. Vocal support from The Gathering's vocalist "Anneke van Giersbergen" provides a perfect counter and backdrop to Devin's lower pitched growling and booming singing on this album and it even leads to some interesting harmonies too in songs like "Ih-Ah", an unabashed soppy, sickly love song duet which I absolutely adore. From the heavier stylings of the aptly named "Supercrush!" with it's infectious, chuggy headbang-enducing riff , to songs like "Bend It Like Bender!" with it's slightly punky, europop stylings "Addicted!" is a catchy, thrilling listen from beggining to end.

3. Ki (2009)
LnKdI1S.png


Ki for me is the perfect example of a moody album. Dark and brooding, there's a wide and diverse range of music stylings on this one. "Coast" is by far my favourite song on the album, it has a brooding, and mystifying sound that syncs perfectly with the theme of extra terrestrial contact that the song aims for, Heaven Send is a slow burner that starts off subdued and quiet before eventually into booming climax of growling, choir shouts and brass instruments, there's even a country-esque song in the form of "Trainfire" and a few jazzy instrumentals too. An interesting package, and a thouroughly entertaining album every time I give it a spin!

4. Casualties Of Cool (2014)
FomG4j6.png


This essentially feels like a follow-up to Ghost, which is a plus. Quiet, and relaxing, the main difference is this album tries it's hand at country-style music. From the trancy minimalistic stylings of songs like "Mountantop" and "The Code" to the more country-laden efforts of "Daddy", "Bones" and "Forgive Me", it's an interesting take on one of the more stale genres of recent years, at least in my opinion. It's got this mesmerising spacey atmosphere about it throughout and I adore it. Ché Aimee Dorval's vocal contributions give a nice bluesy twang to the whole package, Devin made the right choice by giving her the centre stage for this one.

5. Ziltoid The Omniscient (2007)
g4chIbV.png


Goofy as hell. I love this album and the ridiculous story this album tries to tell. An extra-terrestrial overlord who's secretely a D&D nerd blowing up earth because they brewed him a shite coffee? Shouldn't have went to Starbucks Ziltoid! Plenty of classic Heavy Devy on offer here with some pretty traditional metal going on, but it's the narration between songs, the humour and the stylings of an over the top musical that elevate this above your average metal album. Plenty of hard hitters here and not exactly a short album either clocking in at almost an hour. Memorable songs like Hyperdrive, Solar Winds, and The Greys offer a nice break between more aggressive songs like Ziltoidia Attax, By Your Command, Planet Smasher, Colour Your World and N8. Totally recommend this and Addicted as gateway albums if you're trying to get into Devin's music. Easily the most consistent albums he's done, and the most accessible.
 
mmmm Devin Townsend is my favorite artist.

1. Ocean Machine: Biomech (favorite album of all time)
2. City
3. Terria


Ranks would shift and change after that I suppose. Alien and Synchestra would probably be my next favorite 2.
 
 
Clown_im_OP said:
Well, at least they left us two of the best records ever. There could go way more wrong with a Bungle reunion than with Faith No More imo. As it is now, Patton needs people to keep him in check, as happened with the last Tomahawk album - things become pretty great with a competent "band" band around him. I'm afraid Mr. Bungle would very much be a Patton solo-affair, and sadly he just can't capture that experimental genius as well as at the turn of the century anymore.
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Mr. Bungle is not even close to a Patton solo project. The writing credits are pretty evenly distributed amongst Dunn, Spruance, and Patton and only slighlt less for Bar McKinnon and Danny Heifetz. Mr. Bungle was a true collaborative effort from all the band members.

I don't know what you mean by "band" band but the players in Mr. Bungle are all fine musicians and quite talented.
 
JasonUresti said:
Mr. Bungle is not even close to a Patton solo project. The writing credits are pretty evenly distributed amongst Dunn, Spruance, and Patton and only slighlt less for Bar McKinnon and Danny Heifetz. Mr. Bungle was a true collaborative effort from all the band members.

I don't know what you mean by "band" band but the players in Mr. Bungle are all fine musicians and quite talented.
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You got me wrong. Disco Volante is maybe my favourite record ever, and I'm very aware of everything you said. I was just talking if, and I think if Mr. Bungle were to reunite, the risk of it being mostly a "crazy" Patton ego-trip just for crazyness sake could be very high :)

Edit: is see how that "band" band comment can be easily misunderstood. It's stupid anyway, I even remember stating that Dunn's appearance in Tomahawk helped to keep that last album more down to earth than Anonymous at least, and I'd assume he would play a part in a Bungle reunion. But eh, I hope we kinda understand each other.
 
con.yfm.hi.jpg


Converge's You Fail Me is ten years old today. I recall that I didn't even listen to this for quite a while after it was released, as I was kind of burnt out on Converge at the time, and quite frankly couldn't imagine that anything else could ever compare to Jane Doe. I'm glad I came to my senses eventually, though, because I fucking love this album.

You Fail Me
Black Cloud
Eagles Become Vultures
 
vatstep said:
Converge's You Fail Me is ten years old today. I recall that I didn't even listen to this for quite a while after it was released, as I was kind of burnt out on Converge at the time, and quite frankly couldn't imagine that anything else could ever compare to Jane Doe. I'm glad I came to my senses eventually, though, because I fucking love this album.
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One of the few Metalcore bands I actually listen to.
 
Clown_im_OP said:
This is the most hate-filled, evil song Converge have ever recorded. Bannon puking out black pus.
This band owns my life.
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Agreed — definitely one of my favorite Converge songs, and fucking awesome to see live.
 
Cool I'm a full Member now. Thanks for having such a great Metal community on here and for letting me share some of what I love.

Wolf Spider - Kingdom of Paranoia

6835.jpg


One of my absolute favorite Tech Thrash Albums of all time, I'm a massive Polish Thrash fan and Wolf Spider have some of the best songwriting and musicianship, true masters of the genre. My favorite song on this album has to be Foxes
 
Bootleg Fireworks said:
Brand new track from the forthcoming At the Gates album: At War with Reality
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Excellent, will listen.

EDIT: And....wow, that's underwhelming. Maybe a few more listens and I will feel it more, but I'm not putting much stock in multiple listens.

vatstep said:
The Obscura era is my favorite, but from the prior two albums, yes, this is a hell of a song.
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I can't blame you on that. Obscura is such an amazing album, one of my favorites.
 
fallout said:
It's hard for me to rank DT's albums, as I change my mind all the time. Ocean Machine: Biomech was the first solo album of his that I listened to and I think I had it on repeat for weeks.

Accelerated Evolution always felt like a really good entry point, too. Maybe not his absolute best work, but high quality, consistent and reasonably accessible.

That's some good news. I'm still skeptical, but maybe a bit more hopeful? We'll see how it turns out soon enough.
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Ziltoid 2 is amazing. And the two albums are definitely separate. It's definitely everything I've dreamed it would be and I'm having a really hard time picking between the two albums. But you should rest assured.

I'm an editor for Heavy Blog is Heavy so I have access to review promos
 
Royal_Flush said:
Someone want some female fronted doom? There you go. (Just click on one of the album covers to listen to the complete album)
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Hell yeah, Witch Mountain is awesome. "Shelter" in particular is one of my favorite doom metal songs ever. Also they have a new album coming out at the end of the month, I didn't really like the one song I heard from it but I'm hoping the rest of it will be good!
 
Too bad the singer is leaving the band. :P Not my thing to be honest, the girl's voice is amazing but the riffs bore the shit out of me. Hopefully that means her talent won't be wasted anymore... :D

*runs*
 
Holy shit that At the Gates song is boring as fuck. I guess when a billion bands have been imitating one of your albums for the last 20 years, you're going to sound stale. This is an album that probably shouldn't have happened.
 
Ravager61 said:
Holy shit that At the Gates song is boring as fuck. I guess when a billion bands have been imitating one of your albums for the last 20 years, you're going to sound stale. This is an album that probably shouldn't have happened.
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I listened to it again three times today. Yep, if the rest of the album is like this, I'm going to skip it.

Speaking of which, I'm going to listen to Slaughter right now.
 
nynt9 said:
Ziltoid 2 is amazing. And the two albums are definitely separate. It's definitely everything I've dreamed it would be and I'm having a really hard time picking between the two albums. But you should rest assured.

I'm an editor for Heavy Blog is Heavy so I have access to review promos
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Hype is real.

Ziltoid is one of the great achievements of mankind, it's ridiculous to think even Devin could pull that off again.
 
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