A few Metal Recommendations (or, How to Stop Listening to the Same Four to Five Bands)

Metal is a wonderful genre of rock music that has the privilege of defining most of my musical taste and life for most of my long winded 25 years that I've lived. While I claim that I'm not an exclusive listener, as I can enjoy myself some pop, reggae, electronic or folk oriented sounds, I can always find comfort while banging my head to some Sarcófago or going to the gym and tearing my muscles off to the uncomfortable heaviness from acts such as Blasphemy, Sacramentum or Grief.

In that regard, I'm more than qualified (and autistic as hell) to give some recs in good faith to anybody who is willing to take and appreciate them. Maybe these picks in particular are so great, they can even lead you into different routes in your own musical journey. It's my way of getting the word out there about these bands, some more well known than others, that deserve some credit for the music that I've had the pleasure to enjoy.

Before I can dedicate a few words to the following six albums, I want to make myself clear: I don't identify myself as an "elitist", but I have a distaste for those who complain about how the heavy metal community in general is ridden with elitism. Any kind of social unit where certain traits or interests are shared are prone to this. If you personally tie said traits or interests so much to what you are as a person, of course you're going to get hurt and pissed about it; it's as easy as not letting criticism get to you or feeling that anybody is out there to personally attack you. I'm not going to treat you as a subhuman just because your favorite bands are Slipknot, Deafheaven, Korn, Sleep Token, Deftones (great band btw) or whatever mainstream act (or underground darlings) are your favs, but don't go seeking a fight with me over the slightest disagreement.

Anything on this blog entry (or entries?) are just opinions. Nothing more, nothing less. <3

UNAUSSPRECHLICHEN KULTEN
Haxan Sabaoth

I wanted to start this little entry with some spice out of my homecountry, Chile. It's no secret among metal enthusiasts that the land of drunken huasos, infernally awful neoliberalism and great wines also boasts a potent extreme metal scene that traces its roots from bands like Pentagram back in the 1980's. This recent discovery blew me away with its off-kilter yet passionate guitar wizardry that reminds me to the likes of The Chasm, making a more progressive take for death metal with some blackened influences as well. Poweful shit right here, enough to make the ground tremble.

SLAUGHTER
Strappado

A must listen for any self-proclaimed fan of thrash metal. Canada has some really good bands that dared to break the mold with a heavy presence that manages to surpass the likes of many American and German thrash bands at the time by attitude alone. Slaughter is no exception, with a sound that is only rivaled by its speed and dirty production that does them more favors than anything. This shit is crustier than my white poodle dog, and that's saying something.

In only 23 minutes, Strappado is a ravenous listen that rewards further listenings. Crackhead thrash for the wild fucks out there who want something more intense than your Big 4's or Bay Area freaks.

MASTER'S HAMMER
Ritual

Before the grand entrance of the Norwegian Black Circle, black metal was a widespread mayhem (no pun intended) around Europe, and Czechia contributed to the development of the satanic pandemonium that is this sub-genre with the killer act that is Master's Hammer. Embracing heavy/speed influenced riffs in a bizarre twist to a formula once brewed by the likes of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer, the band's songwriting balances moments of occult cheesiness and pure power, accentuated by Franta Storm's throaty vocal delivery. Influential sound for the future of this style among keyplayers in Scandinavia.

"Oh, and "Ritual" by Master's Hammer, which is actually the first norwegian black metal album, even though they are from Chechoslovakia"- Fenriz (Darkthrone).

SNOT
Snot

The nu-alt metal craze of the 90's is problematic for many metalheads due to the fact that it meant the gentrification of a genre for the sake of radio play with the least amount of risks taken as possible, trying to repeat another Korn miracle.

That being said, and being the most popular pick of this entry, I love me some Snot from time to time. These dudes kicked ass the right way, packing a really strong vocalist in Lynn Strait (RIP) and hardcore punk influences that gave their songwriting a biting edge that was unique among other bands around the time who tried to reap the same crops that other well known acts were getting around nu metal's peak years.

ADRAMELCH
Irae Melanox

Not to be confused with Finnish death metal band Adramelech, these guys are an early power/prog beast that does prog the right way. Irae Melanox is a fantastic record and really something else for the standards of 1988; epic, complex songwriting that invokes a dark and medieval aura, which is only amplified by the lo-fi production, almost like if this album was an ancient relic waiting to be rediscovered by those who survived a great war against an even older evil that still roams the deserted plains. Cheesy as hell, dramatic and well done.

GRIEF
Come to Grief

This album, along with the band's self titled EP (which I also recommend), is a living testament to what a truly miserable sludge record can aspire to be. Contrary to what bands like Eyehategod would do with its short bursts of speed and a pronounced punk edge, this is all about building and penting up a slow-burning, lethargic rage fueled by depression, drugs and alcohol that lets loose over one's life to the point that it isn't funny nor self-aware anymore. Grief is music for the doomed ones, the true nihilists; it isn't hate towards others, but to one's very own existence.

Let me know if you get something out of these picks, I may even write another blog entry about other stuff that may or may not be about metal or music in general. Send me a DM or add me if you're up for more of my yapping, hell, you can even give me some recs too. <3