I.F.H.AMMO Ver 7.0

19 soon. And do I have to repeat myself, that I'm no longer schooling? My parents are still supportive of me and my decisions. But I might have to get a new full-time job till my enlistment. Hope you guys are kind enough to introduce me to one.

So what do I think of the metal music industry today? I've bought April's metal hammer magazine. All new bands emerging. New genres. New trends. Old bands taking new directions.

Nah. The past true legends are dead. Metal might be dead.

What's the most UNmetal song I last heard to? Scissor sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing. Nice but gay song. Good for dancing while I'm brushing my teeth. Haha.

IYAN'S 5 HEADBANGER AMMOS





Immortal - One By One
Year: 2002
Origin: Norway
Genre: Black metal
Minors: Blackened thrash, blackened death, technical black, war metal

I fell in love with Immortal since I first heard to Solarfall. Bought At the Heart of Winter album too. True (comedy) kings of Norway!! This is the most popular song from Immortal at the moment I think. Will come out on "Immortal - The Greatest Hits".

A mighty war anthem if you ask me. Like, modern nuclear warfare. Not medieval war. Or whatever you call it. Mind-blowing machine gun tremolo picking with atomic charged blast beats. Damn. Abbath took the fast-as-f*ck grind sounds from Blizzard Beasts, and mixed them with the epic heavy-metalness of ATHOW. Hellishly executed. Ah, genius! He's currently my hero now. Haha.

Headbanger's meter: Almost extreme. Nevertheless, a shirt-ripping experience.

At the Gates - The Swarm
Year: 1994
Origin: Sweden
Genre: Melodic death metal
Minors: True gothenburg death metal, thrash metal, metalcore roots

At the Gates taught us 3 important lessons: 1- Play death metal before you play '[fill in the blank] death metal'. 2- Be original. 3- Change the f*ckin band name if its going to a new, cheesy direction (see The Haunted).

This is pre-Slaughter of the Soul material. Intro starts off with weeping violins. Then hear the growl of seven-string guitars. Very morbid. Suffocated, tortured, you would rather die than bear the pain. It's easy to see why hardcore and screamo kids like this kind of stuff. At the Gates (along with Soilwork) were the first 'suicidal' Swedish death bands in my opinion. Enough talking. They have their signatures signed on every songs labeled 'Gothencore'.

Headbanger's meter: Very high

As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
Year: 2007
Origin: America
Genre: Metalcore
Minors: Neo-thrash, melodic death, melodic hardcore

Slightly more serious and thrash-wise than most metalcore acts, AILD will score 5 marks higher than Trivium in a metal written exam. Haha.

Strong hints of Machine Head, riffs extracted from In Flames' Come Clarity, then made into more brutal, and still, metalcore. Awesome execution though. The drums are outstanding. High treble double kick drums. Quite solid, like armor piercing shells. Listen closely and you'll hear haunting chimes ringing in the background... that's atmosphere with dark creativity, right there. "This song is so last year," say trendwankers who now listen to deathcore or '[fill in the blank]core'.

Headbanger's meter: Very high

Novembre - Distances
Year: 2001
Origin: Italy
Genre: Gothic metal
Minors: Atmospheric doom death, melancholic melodic death

Finally I get to review Novembre. The opening track for Novembre Waltz. These guys are specialists in artistic, atmospheric, soothing gothic metal. Just, magnifico! Go ask my friend Aiiri.

Imagine yourself walking alone in the ever-beautiful streets of Paris or Venice or somewhere else in Europe. But as a destitute. Not a beggar yet, still have neat clothings on. Just hopelessly lost in wonderland. This is what you get from this song. Haha.

Moderate paced 'pleasant' death metal, with bleak classical-driven guitar licks. Acoustic instruments hissing here and there. Look out too for the accordion interlude, like from some Italian carousel carnival.

Headbanger's meter: moderate to high

H.I.M - Join me
Year: 1999
Origin: Finland
Genre: Goth rock
Minors: Love metal, pop rock, alternative metal, pop metal

Been spinning to a few HIM albums a lot recently. Though there's a Israeli-Palestinian war waging through my head, in the middle of the battleground, are smiling children holding flowers and skipping around.

If my dad listens to Bon Jovi or Scorpions or some other love rocker anthems, my own answer would be HIM. Valo is great songwriter and hate to mention it, vocalist. It's never hard to figure out their trademark formulas and sounds. Cheesy, but very effective. It's love metal!

A somewhat eerie, emotional love song. "Darling come lah die together... where you going? You're coming with me!! [maniacal laughter]". Love is crazy after all.

Favourite quote: "This life, ain't worth living!" Now that's err.. emo.

Headbanger's meter: moderate to high