The times so tough I snapped at my friends, and the times so blissful I laughed in tears. Times so tiring I felt like sleeping the whole day, and times so victorious I felt I could change the world.
Music, metal, is a message and an expression so moving.
Blasphemy to pop. Blasphemy to mtv. Blasphemy to emo. Blasphemy to chicks wearing "little miss" tshirts (but some are hot. haha). Blasphemy to irresponsible noise pollutants. Blasphemy to Dani Filth's horrible vocals. DIE! DIE! DIE! Siao arh?
IYAN'S 5 HEADBANGER AMMOS
In Flames - Moonshield
Year: 1996
Origin: Sweden
Genre: Melodic death metal
I believe the concept of Jester Race is based on the growing modern human race, and its usage, discoveries, or abuse on planet Earth. The year is 1996; the Gothenburg musicians still have their elegant folk elements, traces of black metal, not having any pop hooks (,yet).
Triumphant-yet-melancholic moods throughout. Semi-lo-fi soundlike, but Moonshield (and Jester Race) is a significant masterpiece. Not forgetting the majestic acoustic guitars intro, equipped with pleasant harmonies. Running at a steady tempo pace, on ¾ time signature. And guess what? No “gothenburg” or “metalcorish” riffs. For melodic death fans who prefer a mellow, and more of melodic than death.
Headbanger's meter: Moderate to high
Papa Roach - Infest
Year: 2000
Origin: USA
Genre: Nu-metal, rapcore
Pledge my lifetime “horns-up” to nu-metal! Without Limp Bizkit, P.O.D and other nu-metal bands you may call as “rap crap”, I wouldn't have wondered deeper into the world of metal, back then. If these bands didn't receive airplay at Perfect 10 FM years ago, maybe I would be some pussy with girlie fringes into pop-punk like My Chemical Romance today. Who knows.
It's never hard to notice the recipe of the genre. Like most nu songs, their groovy bass has that “wet” sound, guitars are heavy riff-oriented, at times adding the “wah” effect for that funk element. Angst rapping with a strong message, they meant it, man. Quote: “What is wrong with the world today, the government, the media or your family.”
Headbanger's meter: High
Moonsorrow - Kylän Päässä
Year: 2001
Origin: Finland
Genre: Epic heathen metal, folk metal
Kylän Päässä (A Village Away). One of the best in the field of viking metal (which they're straying away from) and the epic folk metal genre, Moonsorrow knows how to keep the giant ball rolling, as their songs lengthen up to over 7 minutes. And often over 10. Never mind them singing in finnish, their song themes will automatically struck your head.
Wield your swords and put war helmets on! At a battalion march tempo, frequent fierce pagan war cries and lots of folkish sounds in between. Henri Sorvali's ferocious wailing on 6:00 mins! Bouncy polka tunes too (check out 03:19 mins. Did vikings charged into the battlefield or the brewery bar for some pre-war vodka party? Hahaha!). Heeeaaarrgh!!! By warriors, for warriors.
Headbanger's meter: Very high to extreme
Cromok - I Don't Belong Here
Year: 1993
Origin: Malaysia
Genre: Thrash metal
Acoustic-instrumental Another You is the most popular song from Malaysian otai metallers Cromok. Here, another no-vocal song, but a heavier version, assisted with quite simplistic harsh-thrash rhythm guitars and drumbeats. You'll get a feel of 80s Malay pop by keyboards at the intro. With under the label EMI, I believe the sound quality here is better than average. And what else is it to say about the memorable near-6min epic solos? Kate Cromok, brader.
More straightforward than The Golden Stream Of Lapland from Sentenced I say, another fine melodic metal instrumental. I Don't Belong Here sounds like a perfect ending theme song, to a story about a low-life Malaysian mat rocker turned successful musician.
Headbanger's meter: Moderate to high
Death - Bite the Pain
Year: 1998
Origin: USA
Genre: Death/progressive metal
Downright no-nonsense progressive metal (on Sound of Perseverance) band Death, led by the late father-of-death-metal Chuck Schuldiner. Songs perspective of the human mind about justice, struggle-fight, the brink of an anger and breakdown. With awesome high-throating harsh vocals. A reminder, all 3 instruments do solos in SOP. Wait. 4, including vocals. Listen to Painkiller!
Though I label this song rather a downhill, has an interestingly, mind-blowing intro guitar lick. Drummer (man, did he have 4 arms and 3 legs?!) seemed very hungry to hit all the available percussions. Blood-pumping verses, high on melodies and Chuck's insane shredding here and there. For metalheads desperate for variety killer riffs, instead of repetition.
Headbanger's meter: Very high
Mp3s out soon...
