I've loved that album for years. Probably what got me to like as much black metal as I do. If you dig that, then you need Immortal in your life. Their later stuff is even more Maidenish than Dissection. I've just discovered how much I love them and need to shout it from the grim, frostibitten mountainside.

Artist: Rites of Spring
Album: Rites of Spring
Year: 1985

Before listening:

“Man, you're in the goddamn emo album club! Have you not heard Rites of Spring yet? Poseur!”
Well, I've heard a few songs, but a full album, nope. So since this is largely considered the first, most important and most influential emo album ever released, I thought I'd finally give it a listen, and at the same time bring new life into this section.

After listening:

This was some raw stuff, like Jawbreaker times three, and I guess that's a good thing. But even though it was good, I honestly prefer the sound of second and fourth wave emo.

3.5/5

Welp, I haven't posted very much here lately, so I decided I'd celebrate the start of summer vacation by making one fine, tasty entry about a band I'm beginning to dig. But before you read any further, take a look at the picture above. Look at that guy. Gaze deep into his eyes. Man, he's so badass he wore corpsepaint before people even wore corpsepaint, and he's so evil he radiates darkness.

The last couple of weeks, Don't Break the Oath has been my most-played album (alright, it might also be Orange Rhyming Dictionary by Jets to Brazil), simply because it's perfect. Hands down. The best part, the one that separates it from other metal albums, is King Diamond's distinct vocal performance. He sounds like castrated demon and that's hella bitchin'.

Oh, and the song “Melissa” makes me a little weepy-eyed...


So far I've only heard the two first Mercyful Fate albums, Don't Break the Oath and Melissa. But I'm going to rectify that right now, and the album I'm choosing to listen to is...


Album: In the Shadows
Year: 1993
Chronological position: Third album
Genre: Heavy metal

...which, since it was released nine years after their previous album, probably sounds a lot different from the Mercyful Fate I'm used to.

After listening:

You know what? It didn't sound all that different, really. King Diamond's vocals sounded the same, they were still playing that good ol' heavy metal, the instruments were still played skillfully, and you know, the style was about the same. But it passed over me a bit. It was lacking in that evil atmosphere and superb songwriting that makes me dig the preceding albums so much, and I actually felt a little bored while listening to it. Metal's not supposed to make you feel bored.

3/5

Artist: Finntroll
Album: Nattfödd
Year: 2004
Genre: Humppa folk metal
Chronological position: Third album

Ever heard an album so bitchin' it just makes you want to dance till you drop? Man, this is definitely one of those albums. It's a unique blend of black metal, traditional folk music and “humppa”, a Finnish type of polka music, and it's just as cool as it sounds. It's also among the very few albums I know that sound upbeat and hella brutal at the same time. The only weak moment on the album is “Merknadsvisan”, which is over a minute of unnecessary interlude and about forty seconds of song. Still...

5/5

Artist: Mayhem
Album: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Year: 1994
Genre: Black metal
Chronological position: Debut album
Expectations before listening: Either very bitchin' or very boring

And that's why I'm writing this now. I must say, I'm underwhelmed. Why is this even popular (as far as popularity in the black metal scene goes)? Oh, I know, it's because one of the members committed suicide, and the bassist, who also enjoyed burning churches, murdered the guitarist. Is that a reason for liking the music? Not at all. It's an... interesting story, but that doesn't make the music any less boring. Virtually every song is forgettable, and the riffs are repetitive as hell (if they even deserve to be referred to in plural form).

2.5/5

Agreed, never could get into Mayhem.

It's grown on me over the years, but I still only care a little bit. "Freezing Moon" is pretty fantastic though.