Ministry – Dark Side Of The Spoon

Review# 286

Dark Side Of The Spoon is an album lacking a lot of the zest and zeal typical of a Ministry record. Its not all bad, but it is borderline boring at times. From what I understand this was recorded at a low point for front man Al Jourgensen and that really comes across. All the album needs is a bit of fire in it and that would really change up the whole thing. But tracks like Bad Blood, Supermanic Soul and Whip And Chain are all pretty good, the first half is really. The sound on the album really isn't as good as on most other Ministry albums either. The name is either a parody of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, or a reference to the burnt and blackened side of a spoon used to dissolve heroin (the band suffered form heroin abuse at the time).

Bad Blood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDgCKyWavzQ
Whip And Chain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mS16olUqs
Supermanic Soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTOJnPBco0

Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon

Review# 285

Pink Floyd don't really gloat my boat. I did find this album an interesting listen though and I can see why they so highly respected. It is interesting to listen to the musical shapes and forms they create and the album does have a healthy dose of epic-ness to it which serves it well. Money is a great track though, the typewriter is a seriously under used instrument. But then not many other tracks would benefit from the use of one. The other track that really stood out was The Great Gig In The Sky, I was quite impressed with the vocal work on this. So still not converted, but at least I didn't review it harshly like I did Live. But then Live are anus.

Money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI
The Great Gig In The Sky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxgGAnLvMwQ&feature=fvst

Incubus – Morning View

Review# 284

When the album opened with Nice To Know You I thought the album may be ok, just ok mind you. But then the album dissolved into some kind of boringness.

Nice To Know You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_7mEPMIAc&ob=av2n

Live – Throwing Copper

Review: 283

Complete anus. Boring, irritating, whiney and a splash of pretentiousness to add to that anus flavour. Anus with hairy bollocks even. Anus, hairy bollocked pus filled pimple that has expanded out of a llama's vagina. That is what this album is.

I suggest Meshuggah instead.

Bleed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elNeQjTTnVo&ob=av2n

Sleep – Sleeps Holy Mountain

Review# 282

I personally find the Stoner rock/metal scene pretty hit and miss. But I actually quite enjoyed listening to this record. There is a sort of energy and occasional frantic-ness in the riffs that I enjoy. The energy part is the key point though as I sometimes find that Stoner can be a bit too laid back and fuzzy. I do admit that I would probably prefer the album without vocals, especially where the effect sounds like he is singing under water.

Dragonaught: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9IAvv32wE

Silverchair – Neon Ballroom

Review# 281

I never got into Silverchair, I just couldn't see the appeal in them. Listening to Neon Ballroom now I realise that my opinions have not changed. Although this album came out in 1999, about the time my tastes in music were going through a big change. I can see Silverchair have done well for themselves and that's great, this is just a bit boring to me. I feel the sound has dated too.

Yes this is more an opinion review, but fuck it.

Anthem For The Year 2000: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShiShrR_nh8&ob=av2e

Karnivool – Sound Awake

Review# 280

I am not 100% on what my opinion on this album is. It is interesting, I like some of the sounds/riffs/phrases conceptually but I am just not sold on the album altogether. It may just be partly my natural reluctance to embrace anything Prog influenced, in which case I would need to listen to it a few more times then leave it for a few months then play it again to see if that is the case. I do however like the drum sound and the bass on this record and the guitars remind me a little of Cult Of Luna at times.

Set Fire To The Hive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BXkvLX5gTI&ob=av3e

Disturbed – The Sickness

Review# 279

So trying to figure out the lyrics while listening to this album (I'm not huge into Disturbed and have never listened to an album) and I just couldn't figure out half of what was going on. And it turns out half the time David Draiman is singing with a weird vocal inflection and the rest he is saying “Ramidi ma ma ba di ma!/Ramidi ma ma din do!/Ramidi ma ma ba di ma!/Ramidi ma ma ba di mo!” which is... interesting. I will say that some of the tracks on this album do fall into the “awesome when drunk” category, that maybe due to the slightly ridiculous nature of the album. But on the whole this just isn't my cuppa. The combination of odd vocals and the samey Nu-Metal sound just don't flat my boat.

Down With The Sickness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkhfL0pnMPQ&ob=av2n

Puddle Of Mudd – Come Clean

Review# 278

I was bracing myself expecting a much more unpleasant listen that what it turned out to be. Don't get me wrong, the album is still terrible but, and this maybe because I once owned thus album, it was terrible in more of a hilarious way than painful to the ears like Stained or Crazy Town. I feel its now in the catagory of "those albums that are embarrasing to admit you once owned, but will still sing along to if you are drunk", and on the plus side its not Crazy Town.

She Hates Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYE4CVhVkhw&ob=av2e

Velvet Revolver – Contraband

Review# 277

This album is seriously bland. It is really just a boring stream if drivel that in no way matches the pedigree of those involved. Slither would be the only mildly interesting track.

Slither: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKz2U4fvA4U&ob=av2e

Nile – Ithyphallic

Review# 276

I know very little about Nile, I know that they are a Death metal band from the states and the songs are mostly based around ancient Egypt. I really enjoyed listening to this album, it it a solid slab of metal and has enough diversity to not be samey. Plus the riffs are actually pretty catchy. Unlike the title of the lead single below.

Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is in the Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ46jx1sf-0
Ithyphallic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKA-ArPZuAU&feature=related

Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets

This album isn’t quite what it used to be personally. I guess some of that is part of the fact that Pink Floyd were a far more compelling live band than studio at this point, and were more compelling live here than they would become even with the stronger material. There is a fair amount of filler uncommon on Pink Floyd releases. The band was in a turbulent point, Dave Gilmour was brought in to substitute for Syd Barrett when he was in any of his ‘less manageable’ moments which were becoming more and more common. The band is trying to emulate some of the uniquely Syd Barrett elements (examples here and here) with songs like See-Saw and it fails spectacularly.

Where the album really works are in the tracks which were worked into long-form (usually superior) live works that became the basis for the ‘classic’ Pink Floyd sound. Probably the best example of this is Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. The album is the definitive transitional album. Where it gets overlooked is not many people hear where it transitions to without either being there or listening to bootlegs. That said I thought the album was great when I first heard it, it’s only when you hear better versions that this comes across as some studio demos of great live tracks.

Pink Floyd - The Division Bell

Expect nothing but Pink Floyd for ages.

The Division Bell is appropriately titled given it’s the last album the band ever recorded. Not only that, but it seems to be about the split of the band as a cohesive unit beginning with Roger Waters taking creative control beginning from The Dark Side of the Moon sessions escalating into dictatorship by the time of The Final Cut.

This was always one I was kind of cold on, even as a kid and kids like everything. There’s some good moments but it never really ‘takes off’. At least A Momentary Lapse of Reason does that much. The best track is Lost For Words. The song has a surprising amount of words in it given the title.

Probably my least favourite Floyd album but I like it more now than I used to. Now for some of the good stuff.

Stained – Break The Cycle

Review# 274

I have never EVER listened to this album in full. Since the singles are bad enough. I didn't think it could get worse. I mean, I was prepared for this to be bad but SERIOUSLY! Horrible, annoying, marginally weepy, irritating, depressive voice over bland music.
I feel sorry for my ears right now.... I need to go listen to Meshuggah or something.

Here is a video for your pleasure;

Bleed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elNeQjTTnVo&ob=av2n

Godflesh – Slavestate

Review# 273

Slavestate is a great piece of Industrial music. It is mixed in with a few remixes etc too, but done in a way that they do not feel out of place within the rest of the music. Like Pure, it is dark and rigid and has a feel like you are in a factory. Just really an over all great album.

Perfect Skin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nSrKaMS8EQ
Slavestate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra9bprHxcqE

Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica

Review# 272

It may surprise some to find out that this is in fact a concept album. It is based of the true events of an ancient tribal chief. This tribe had a strong affinity for all of the creatures in their land and the Trout was the most revered of all creatures and the chieftain had a magical trout mask that he used in all of his magical ceremonies. But one day a thief store the mask and replaced it with a replica, when the chief went to use the mask for his magical ceremony the replica mask came alive and ate the chieftain then the trout took control of the tribe and took the prettiest girl to wife and ruled the land with an iron fist until the day a neighbouring tribe crept in and murdered the trout when he had passed out after too much mead and taking his pleasure with his wench. This freed the tribes and all of the land from his evil rule.
I really just enjoy how accurate and true to events this album is. There is some great story telling in this album.

Neon Meate Dream Of A Octafish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gME17FsrG4A

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Sing-Along Songs For The Damned & Delirious

Review# 271

Well hmmm this is interesting. I hated yet kinda enjoyed this album... If you take away the terrible singing and operatic style female vocals and just had the music this album would be pretty decent. I often love weird and quirky music but in this case the vocals do nothing and less for the album.

Lucy Fears the Morning Star: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_1yz0cETM

Static X - Wisconsin Death Trip

Review# 270

I can't say I really know a lot about Static X, I have heard a few tracks here and there over the years and have had mixed thoughts about them. This album isn't really bad but it isn't really all that interesting. Its a little slice of the late nineties, it really does not feel as though it has aged well.

Love Dump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czuf0JaYf90

Rammstein – Rosenrot

Review# 269

Rosenrot is my least favourite Rammstein album. It has some great tracks like Benzin and Mann Gegen Mann and it had some alright tracks. But on the whole it suffers too much from being full of the songs that didn't make it onto Reise Reise. Whenever I haven't listened to this in a while I tend to find it far more enjoyable but it certainly does not have the easy replay-ability of Mutter or Sehnsucht for example.

Benzin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3q9-PnnlM0
Mann Gegen Mann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkAhTM1ImAc

Candlemass - Dactylis Glomerata

Review# 268

It is only recently that I have gotten my hands on some Candlemass albums, though I have wanted to properly check them out for a while now. This is the first album the band recorded after their split in 1994 and is the only album to feature Michael Amott of Arch Enemy and Carcass fame. I highly enjoy this album, it is a great Doom album with a fantastic vibe. I really need to give it a good few more spins to get the most out of it, even in the few spins I have given it I am finding extra little things I hadn't noticed prior.

Dustflow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lsu2GmaqAg
Wiz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J5CAAAga7A

Merzbow - Music for Bondage Performance Vol. 1

Review# 267

I have heard the name Merzbow pop up from time to time in association with bands like Sunn O))) but other than that I know pretty much nothing about them. And it turns out its not a "them" but a him, Masami Akita to be exact, and from a brief scroll through Wikipedia I have discovered that since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings, has an interest in Japanese bondage and more recently animal rights etc. Looks like he would be an interesting read.
His music is definitely Experimental and Dark Ambient. I had know idea what I was going to be listening to when I put this on but, while it will probably need many listens to get my head around it, it has been rather enjoyable. I am not sure what bondage inspired music should sound like but I will trust that Masami Akita knows best and has portrayed it well. It is kind of hard to explain the sound so i recommend you have a listen and see for yourself.

Ropers In Tears: Made for Bondage & Pipe in Western Style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AblACDDkdYQ

Seishi Seppuku Kei: Made for Female Prisoner in Bondage & Seppuku Japanese Style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHfjSPwDzaQ

Prong – Cleansing

Review# 266

This album is great, Cleansing is a sort of Industrial Groove metal sounding album with attitude and punch. It is probably Prong's most successful album to date and also the first album where Paul Raven joins the line up on bass. Tommy Victor's guitar work is great and his vocals are also very good with a great over all mix. It also appears that the track Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck has been covered by a myriad of bands including Six Feet Under.

Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl-5TrGakWY
Broken Peace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbTJIHqNmc8&ob=av2e
Who's Fist Is This Anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLya_k_lQL0&ob=av2e

Michael Jackson – History

Review: 265

Before I put this on I though to myself "I am going to hate this" and do you know what, i kind of do. Yeah, actually surprised even at my lack of any kind of nostalgia. History is an angry album, well the lyrics imply this and I guess do a degree the vocals do too. Just not very well. And any passion is completely negated by the inane pop synth and repetitive drum machine and riffs. Its all just so boring. Seriously, if people ever try to tell me that the music I listen to is repetitive then I will play this album for them. Nothing interesting and no actual energy or passion, its been ruined in the mix somewhere if it ever existed at all.

Scream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4A1K4lXDo&ob=av2e

Fields Of The Nephilim – Revelations

Review# 264

Revelations is quite a good a compilation album. Not only does it have a few different edits of various tracks that had only been available on the 12" singles up to that point, but there are also tracks that were released as singles but are not on the studio albums. There are all the best FOTN tracks here too. Although this is one of the better compilation albums I own it is probably because, due to the non classic tracking, is better designed for fans than for someone just getting into the band which makes it far more interesting.

Psychonaut Lib: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSTlxHXfPMI
Blue Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt2ucZs-Dyk
In Every Dream Home A Heartache: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXgxf_Vfie8

Bullet For My Valentine – The Poison

Review# 263

Ahhh to be young again and this album being one of the angriest and best albums to vent too and it "related so perfectly" to me. Sometimes its interesting to look back and see what music is still with you now from when you were younger and what isn't. Sometimes its easy to see why some albums were left behind and The Poison is one of those, its been a long time since I have needed an album so obviously based around painful relationships and break ups and that is what a lot of this is. The poison is still infinitely better than follow up Scream Aim Fire but that's not hard. The other thing that really makes the album hard to listen to now is that it is so lyrically based, if there was more focus on the guitar riff etc it could have changed a lot about it. recommended album if you are dealing with sucky relationships etc. Hmmm actually i dont want to be young again, i would rather listen to Ihsahn.

4 Words (To Choke Upon): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-MY4sedWy0

Between The Buried And Me – Alaska

Review# 262

Alaska is an interesting listen. It is an experimental album from an experimental band. Take Death Metal then add hectic guitar lines, time and tempo changes, vocal and musical style changes.... Sometimes with everything going in different directions all at once and then you will get Between The Buried And Me's sound... Kind of. Its an album that needs to be heard to even start comprehending it. But it all seems to work and is really quite enjoyable.

Alaska: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBoSl_lg6E0&ob=av2n
Selkies: The Endless Obsession: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM0y65VZK84

Testament – Practise What You Preach

Review# 261

A far more political album than other early Testament albums, yet it does not loose any of that Testament vibe. It had a good thrash sound and good production too.

Practice What You Preach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD4E22TUb1Y
Blessed In Contempt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEGj3aZlmZY

Dio – Magica

Review# 260

I much prefer Magica to Holy Diver although I'm not sure exactly why this is. The main points I can think of is that it is a darker album and maybe a harder rock edge. Whatever the reason though, the album is really good. Dio's voice sounds great and the sound overall is huge. There is an element of fun and seriousness mixed together that works like sweet and sour (pork).

Feed My Head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLzWDw24KNk
Fever Dreams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChTTmcraTZQ

Killing Joke – Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

Review# 259

Brighter Than A thousand Suns is a rather laid back album. It's a little poppy and darkwave-ish in sound but with a good production showing off the clean lines of guitar and bass as well as Jaz Colmans voice. Its probably far from my favourite Killing Joke album but that does not mean it's bad, but in a band with a rather extensive back catalogue there is always going to be something you are not big on even if you love a bunch of their other stuff.

Twilight Of The Mortal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BEAozzAvqQ
Adorations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV-cYH8udSk&ob=av2e

Finntroll – Nattfödd

Review# 258

Another great Finntroll album. Full of character and a great sence of comaradarie to boot. It is one if those albums that you really should listen to start to finish and not on shuffle as it has a great flow through all of the tracks. The sound somehow reminds me of earthy folk music in the middle of a carnival which is very interesting but enjoyable.

Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague

Review# 257

Cannibal Corpse are a good old traditional Death Metal band. The album is good but it is not a standout in the scene. Its maybe more of a foundation for the scene, it needs to be there. I don't really know a lot about Cannibal Corpse so I won't go into particulars, but the album is easy enough to listen to as backround music.

A Cauldron Of Hate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukvDeBwyM8c

Iced Earth – Night Of The Storm Rider

Review# 256

The second Iced Earth album is pretty good. It is a decent slab of Thrash with some Power Metal elements popping up too. From what I have read the singer on this album, John Greely, only sung on this album before being fired. I don't think he has done a bad job on the vocals but then again I am not sure what he was fired for.

Angels Holocaust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-GcSC86Tug
Stormrider: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7iGMlFXKBw

Holy Moses – Queen Of Siam

Review# 255

Queen Of Siam is the first studio album from Holy Moses. It is a decent and enjoyable album with no extra embellishments (eg; the military-esk vocal chants heard in New Machine Of Lichtenstein) just straight up dirty Thrash. Sabina Classen's vocals sound like Venom's Cronos, though this isn't necessarily a bad thing. All in all it's a solid album and a good start to their career.

Necropolice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNhBSEXNUsc
Don't Mess Around With The Bitch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oliOPSTC6sc

Type O Negative – Bloody Kisses

Review# 254

Bloody Kisses is a bloody good album.... Totally did not mean to write bloody twice - that just happened and then I wrote all this crap.
Amazing album that is just one of those key albums to have in any good music collection. It is dark and gloomy and is a fantastic album for rainy days.

Black No1 (Little Miss Scare-All): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwYJYl5GUQ&ob=av2e
Bloody Kisses (A Death In The Family): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onnn8U4_nwE&feature=related
Too Late: Frozen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtt_m9cg00&feature=related

Divine Heresy – Bleed The Fifth

Review# 253

Divine Heresy is Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) side project. The album it's self is pretty decent. It makes a good once in a while album if that makes sense. Opening track Bleed The Fifth is a banging song and so is the next track Failed Creation, but then it sort of tones down a little. Good music on the whole though and Dino's guitar work sounds great as always.

Bleed The Fifth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDfqG3f4zjM
Failed Creation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpgsrNeAFvk

While She Sleeps - The North Stands For Nothing

Review# 252

I know little about While She Sleeps except they are from England, appear to be young and I got this album free with one of my Metal Hammer magazines a while back. But this album of Hardcore-iness is pretty decent. I'm not huge into that scene but the album was enjoyable and it will be interesting to see where these guys end up.

The North Stands For Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b8hsTxCOeE
Crows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLboWkrSrVI

Devildriver – Last Kind Words

Review# 251

Devildriver come along in leaps and bounds. Last Kind Words is a solid album and a far cry from the first self titled album. This album is a good collection of good honest Heavy Metal.

Clouds Over California: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ySpk3ErFd0&ob=av2e
These Fighting Words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0ByzzsJQwg

Inspired By The Witcher – Various

Review# 250

So the story of The Witcher has inspired video games, a tv series and musicians. This album comes with some copies of the Witcher game and is a collection of songs inspired by the story (as the title suggests). To be honest it's mostly terrible. I have only heard of one of the bands/artists (Vader) and the music ranges from Folk, Reggae, Ambient Trance, some kind of Scat Pop thing and of course some Death Metal contributed by Vader. the Vader track, Sword Of The Witcher, is pretty kick arse. But that’s about it.

Sword Of The Witcher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6ifAAhPVOQ

Mastodon – Blood Mountain

Review# 249

Blood Mountain strikes just the right balance between Heavy Metal and Prog. There is still still a healthy dollop of passion and power that I often find missing from true Prog. I thrashed this album so much when I first got it that I am surprised that the CD still works. Mastodon have made an album that is sprawling and epic with an overall flowing feeling of journeying through a world that they have created.

Crystal Skull: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11eis4XVfVE
Colony Of Birchmen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQo9bwQ2rQc&ob=av2e
Hunters Of The Sky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6F1AFbsapc

Black Sabbath – Volume IV

Review# 248

If this album did not have the tedious track Changes and the unnecessary and pointless FX then it would be an even more awesomer than it is already. To be fair just having Supernaught on the album cancels out irritation from those two tracks.

Supernaught: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlW9s_QGyJc
Snowblind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHFxo0_pJs

Boris with Michio Kurihara – Rainbow

Review# 247

Boris team up with Japanese guitarist Michio Kurihara for Rainbow. Similarly to previous Boris works there is a lot of Sludge and Stoner Rock elements on Rainbow. It is quite a good collaboration, adding a few Psychedelic flourishes to the overall sound. And some of the guitar work is just brilliant, Sweet No1 is a perfect example of this. Great album with a really good sound. I have the US Dragcity Records version which finishes with No Sleep Till I Become Hollow as opposed to the Japanese release which finishes with ...And, I Want.

Sweet N°1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJn30wLGzuM
Rafflesia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO5fUXhtHTQ

The Defiled – Grave Times

Review# 246

The Defiled have done well with their first full length album. A hit with Metal Hammer magazine giving it a lot of publicity and also giving away copies free with the magazine. It is an album that grows with every listen but some of it just reminds me too much of Nu-Metal so I have so far found a but of resistance to it. But some parts of the album are great. Maybe time will tell.

In The Land Of Fools: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xtSRtQICw
Black Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx-StmC10rc

Alice Cooper – Welcome To My Nightmare

Review# 245

Welcome To My Nightmare is a highly enjoyable album. It is a concept album based on a kid named Steven and his travels through his nightmares. I would like to watch the stage show/concert sometime as the music works well at conjuring up images and knowing what Alice can do I imagine it would be great. The songs I have seen live always go down well anyway.

Cold Ethyl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmhwV-Cxceo
Welcome To My Nightmare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKpEoRlcHfA
Black Widow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFc-g-BbVG8

Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts I-IV

Review# 244

Ghosts is an interesting album. It's two disks of Industrial ambient darkwave and is described by Trent Reznor as "music for daydreams" which pretty much sums it up! There are no vocals and not a huge amount of guitar etc with most of the music made digitally. But definitely an interesting listen.

18 Ghosts II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM-SXW3T5D4
28 Ghosts IV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASFFsXL2Iqg

Katatonia – Viva Emptiness

Review: 243

I love the last two Katatonia albums but Viva Emptiness (the release before The Great Cold Distance) does very little for me. While it still has the Doomy sound and melancholy that I love in the last two releases I just find it a little flat. I also have a problem with this horrible harsh inflection that is used on all of the swearing through out the album. Anyone who knows me knows that I have absolutely no problem with ANY swear word at all, the problem is that the song can be sung along nicely then all of a sudden there is just this horrible and un-necessary tone. It does not further the song making swear words stick out like sore thumbs, in fact it's distracting and detracting. And it's done practically EVERY time!
The album gets a little better toward the end, but on the whole it's a far cry from The Great Cold Distance or Night Is The New Day.

Ghost Of The Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y6MTcUNYrs