Album Review: Type-O Negative's October Rust

Happy Halloween fellow Otaku & Metal Heads!

Today is the day where the spirit world and our own intertwine. Where spirits of the past come to mingle with the living, where creatures of darkness prey upon the innocent, and where many of us scutch up to the TV or computer for some of our favorite horror movies/anime. Sadly, most of us don’t think of music on this holiday, which is a shame since there are plenty of bands that fit in perfectly with this time of year. Rob Zombie & Black Sabbath are just two examples of singers/bands that have a macabre feel to their songs. Today, however, I’m covering a release from a band well versed in the Gothic Metal genre. An album that could have only come from the 90s. An album steeped in gothic imagery, paganism, and sensuality. Such an album could only come from one band’s mind, and that mind....is Type-O Negative.

Ah yes, Type-O Negative. It was a great tragedy when Pete Steele passed away back in April of 2010: The band was getting ready to write new material in May of that year, when heart failure took the life of one of metal’s most powerful front-men. Despite that, the band left a legacy of powerful & classic Gothic Metal albums. Albums that are still talked about today by fans, and celebrated by individuals who have discovered them more recently. Today’s review is of their 1996 hit, October Rust. An album that certainly lives up to it’s name. Without further delay, let’s begin the review!

Background
Coming off of their success of Bloody Kisses, the band toured Europe & the United States to promote their (At the time) new album. During the touring, the band started work on what would later become October Rust, and in doing so introduced some radical changes in the process. First, the album took a departure from the punk vibes that previous album had within them, and decided to go in a more ballad direction. Secondly, the band decided to add a little bit of humor to the album: The opening track Bad Ground is just 38 seconds of low-level buzzing (Which was made to trick the listener into thinking that the speakers weren’t plugged in properly), and the 2nd & 15th tracks were that of the band members themselves.

On the more technical side of October Rust, Type-O Negative employed two interesting techniques. For some of the songs on the album, the band implement very abrupt endings and segues, which created a kind of whiplash for the listener. Perhaps more curious was the drumming on this album: this marked the first time that drummer John Kelly was credited with his role. However, the actual drumming used on this album was done with a drum machine. Listeners didn’t know about this for a long time, until an interview in 2007 with dreadcentral.com, where he stated that the drumming wasn’t necessarily his. Ironically, it would be their final album, Dead Again, where he would be actually playing the drums (The last he did was with Bloody Kisses, and that was back in 1993).    

Basic Description
A Gothic Metal masterpiece!

If Type-O Negative’s first three (Two, if you don’t count Origin of the Feces) album built up the band, then October Rust kicked things into high gear. Although a little more melodic & ballad based that their first releases, the quality on this album is stunning! The instrumentation is fantastic, with nary a hiccup to be heard. The vocals are great, especially when you consider who’s primarily singing. Pete Steele is a man who always managed to sound depressed, erotic, and dryly humorous when he’s singing, and he certainly doesn’t disappoint on this album. Last but not least, the atmosphere on October Rust has to be one of the most varied & flavorful I’ve ever felt! Equal parts dark, sensual, sorrowful, and funny, listening to October Rust is an experience that anyone who enjoys Heavy Metal should go through at least once!

Best Song
This.....was a difficult task. It’s not because there isn’t any one song to pick, because there actually is. It’s just that this album is jam-packed with really high-quality music! From the dirge-like Love You To Death, to the tragic Die With Me, and finally to the ethereal Haunted, October Rust has some of the best songs that Gothic Metal can provide. Even the worst song of the album, which I’ll get into in a moment, is a well-crafted piece of music! Eventually, however, I did manage to locate what I consider to best the best song of the album, and I think I might be turning some heads with this choice.

My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend, at least for me, is the best song off of October Rust. Not only was it the first song I’ve ever heard from the band, but it was also the first music video I ever saw from them. Both the song & video mix in some 60s psychedelic funk rock, and the end result is perhaps the most positive-sounding tune on the album. The story in the song is simple: it’s about a dude, who loves a girl, and another girl that loves the first girl, who also happens to love to dude as well. It’s about a Manajatwa people!

My Girlfriend's Girlfriend

Indeed, My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend is the best song on the album, but in reality just about everything else on here is also great. If you aren’t a fan of more peppy music, then chances are there’s probably another song on October Rust that will surely be to your liking.

Worst Song
Red Water (Christmas Mourning) takes the spot for worst song of October Rust, but not for the reasons you would think. Red Water has the same great instrumentation, wonderful vocals, and dripping with just as much atmosphere as every other song on here. There’s even Christmas bells & chimes used in this song, which simply add to the already somber nature of this song. The problem with it is theme: with a name like October Rust, you’d expect the nature of the album to be tied to Autumn & Halloween. For the most part this is true, but the inclusion of Red Water is a rather big anomaly, especially when compared to everything else. Not a bad song, but it shouldn’t have been put on October Rust.

Red Water (Christmas Mourning)

Overall Impression & Rating
October Rust has to be in your collection! The instrumentation is superb, the vocals are top-notch & instantly recognizable, and the atmosphere that was created is just remarkable. Coupled with fantastic songs & an good production overall, this is perhaps the first Type-O Negative album you should buy & listen to. Just be sure to have some warm clothing on, because things might be nippy in the meantime.

October Rust gets a 9 out of 10

With this review up, the Halloween season has now ended. The final two months of the year are upon us, and then, 2014 will be no more. Before then, however, I’ve got some good stuff planned in the meantime. See you soon!

Anime Review: Vampire Hunter D

As Halloween creeps closer & closer, the land is changing. Colored leaves are falling to the ground, the air is as cold as a ghost’s touch, and the beasts & spirits of the past prowl around the Earth. As we get closer to this ancient holiday, our thoughts often turn to the genre of horror. Forgoing the light, we hunker down in front of the TV or movie screen, and put in our DVD/Blu-Ray devices movies & anime that send chills down the spine of viewers. Today’s review showcases a classic feature, but does it have the same scare factor that it once had? Let’s not waste any more time, and check out Vampire Hunter D. Let the review begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the Anime Internet Database:

“10,000 years in the future, the world has become a very different place; monsters roam the land freely, and people, although equipped with high-tech weapons and cybernetic horses, live a humble life reminiscent of millennia past.

A small hamlet is plagued by monster attacks, living under the shadow of rule by Count Magnus Lee, a powerful vampire lord who has ruled the land for thousands of years. When a young girl is bitten by the Count and chosen as his current plaything, she seeks out the help of a quiet wandering stranger, D. It so happens that D is a renowned vampire hunter, and he takes it upon himself to cut through the Count's many minions, and put an end to the his rule.”

There’s two sides to this story. On the one hand, it establishes an interesting setting. A post apocalyptic world, filled with the monsters of old, and humanity living in the shadows of fear is something refreshing. The omnipresent darkness that permeates everything (Even when it’s daylight) can be felt in every scene, whether you want too or not. Sadly, Vampire Hunter D doesn’t delve deep into it’s own story. It all seems like it only scratches the surface of things most of the time, and often things are dropped for certain characters. Still, there is meat on the bones, but don’t go into this movie expect Prime Rib. 

Animation
Vampire Hunter D’s animation......isn’t exactly the best. In 1985 it certainly was an impressive sight, to be sure, but compared to today’s animation quality, it’s a joke. The animation looks very old, very dated, and actually looks a little silly. In defense of it, however, there are certain visuals throughout the movie that are at least imaginative. When D encounters the siren-serpents, their appearances are striking. They look pale like ghosts, and their green hair flows down their naked bodies like a waterfall. When they turn into their snake forms, they have the appearance of deadly vipers, with fangs that could break bones with just a single bite! Yes the animation isn’t good looking, but there are sights to behold.

Voice Acting
The voice acting.......is definitely better than the animation. It’s not exactly great, since this was a dub from Streamline Pictures (Streamline was notorious for voice acting that is considered to be hokey at best), but it’s managed to age far better. I shouldn’t actually insult the voice acting, as it was actually well done for 1993. The cast of voice actors was small for it’s time, as it measured in at 11 (Michael McConnohie voiced 2 characters: D’s Left Hand, and D himself), but this small pool didn’t create a mess of voices. They effort that all of the actors put in (At the time) was basic, but at the same time you could tell that there was a personality behind the voices. The acting is old, but it’s serviceable.

Characters
For an interesting setting, the characters aren’t all that exciting. If anything, everyone is kinda boring. Despite being powerful, the main villain (Along with his henchmen) is just a standard “Badguy Of The Day” kind of villain. Doris Lang, the girl that becomes the count’s plaything, isn’t quite as strong as one would expect. Everybody else gets all jumbled into one whole plain mess, where you can't quite tell anything different from each other. The only interesting character is D himself: dark & mysterious, things are revealed overtime & always at the right moment. When you get towards the end of the movie, it is revealed that D is more than he appears. To spoil it here would actually be something of a crime, and ruin a good part of the movie.

Availability & Pricing
Yet again, I’ve reviewed a title that’s out of print & expensive. Unlike the previous review, the cost is at least somewhat bearable (Emphasis on the word somewhat), and the DVD can be found, if you’re looking in the right place. Best Buy is a no-go for sure, and FYE will have a 50/50 chance of finding a used copy. Amazon is the best bet in this case: although few copies along both new & used, they are available for purchase. New copies (There are 6 as I’m typing this) start at 68 dollars, and the used ones (There are 14 as I’m typing this) begin at the more reasonable 26 dollars. If you’re looking to get this title, I suggest you stick with Amazon!

Overall Impression & Rating
The sad tragedy of Vampire Hunter D is staying power. Compared to other horror anime (Both old & new), the scare factor seems rather hokey by today’s standard. Coupled with a confusing story & mostly weak characters, and you have a movie that almost seems a small blip on the radar. However, Vampire Hunter D is a colorful movie with an interesting premise. Some of the atmosphere is still effective under the right circumstances, and the voice acting isn’t too bad despite a hiccup or two. If you’re a fan of dark horror anime, then it wouldn’t hurt to seek this title out. Otherwise, watch it only if you’re curious.

Vampire Hunter D gets a 6 out of 10

Ooh, I’m starting to feel a bit of the Halloween spirit kicking! I’m carrying on this trick or treat attitude next week, when October will start to rust on us all. See you soon!



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For anyone interesting in the movie, click the link below

Vampire Hunter D (Full Movie)

Anime Review: Ah My Goddess the OVA

Hey fellow anime fans & metal heads!

Sometimes, even the most hardcore of anime fans need something lighthearted to ease the mind. It’s only a matter of time when you’ll be wanting something different from the serious shows in your collection. Something a little more sunny & sweet. Something that’s a little more heartwarming, and something you’ll feel good about watching when you’re done. Today I’m checking out a nice little title full of charm, humor, and a dash of love. Today’s show is Ah My Goddess: the OVA. Let’s get enchanted!

Story/Setup
Keiichi Morisato, a student of the Nekomi Institute of Technology, and member of the school’s auto club, is calling a takeout restaurant for some grub. In the process, he accidentally calls the so-called "Goddess Helpline", and the godess Belldandy appears before him. She says that he called her because he’s been granted a single wish, and because he thinks that what’s going on is a joke from his fellow club members, Keiichi says his wish is for Belldandy to stay with him forever. Sure enough, the wish is granted, and the two are now together. What ensues afterwards is a tale of love, hilarity, and tragedy for the pair. Not only that, Belldandy’s sisters Urd & Skuld show up, trying to fix things & causing trouble in the process. Coupled with appearances from the Auto Club and Keiichi’s sister, and there’s bound to be all kinds of hijinks.

What I’ve said above is pretty much what you get when you watch. While I know that this was based off the manga to a degree, I’ve never read it, so I can’t say anything about the story. I can say that it is simple, and easy to get into. There’s nothing really complicated about what’s going on, apart from some things toward the end, and even then it’s not massively complicated. Simply put: this is a story that doesn’t require too much brain power.

Animation
For an early 90s anime, this OVA is one of the better looking one’s out there. Sure, it looks dated, but it has that strange “Looks-Good” kind of dated. There was a lot of care put into how the show looks & moves. The backgrounds are simplistic but nice, and the characters are very striking. There’s nary a hiccup with the animation, and when one does occur, it’s rather small & can only be seen by an animation expert. Visually, there are some dazzling sequences in concerns with the goddesses. Their displays of magic are quite impressive, but their more modern incarnations can do more (Hint, Hint). 

Voice Acting
The voice acting in this OVA isn’t exactly the best on the planet, especially since this was first released in the U.S. back in 1995. You can definitely tell that it comes from the 90s, as the sound of the voices feels very dated. That said, it’s not the most horrendous 90s voice acting. The voice actors are adequate enough that when you listen to the characters speak English, it’s not the most ear-piercing thing you’ll hear. It might, however, cause you to have second thoughts as to what you’re listening to, and maybe switch over to the subtitles.

Characters
Sadly, one of the more major problems with the OVA involves the characters. It’s not that they don’t have personalities, because they don’t. It’s not that we don’t learn anything about them, because we do. The problem is that we really don’t get much with these characters in terms of background. This is one of those circumstances where a little isn’t good, as the newer incarnation of Ah My Goddess goes into many of the backgrounds much more than this OVA. Their personalities are roughly the same as those in the newer series, albeit more simplified.

Availability & Pricing
This is hands down the most expensive title I’ve reviewed so far. Hand Maid May from a couple weeks was certainly expensive, but even that doesn’t quite eviscerate your wallet the way that this show does. Not even FYE has new copies available for purchase: your only chance to find a copy is over on Amazon. Despite that, there’s the cost: A new copy will cost you a mind-blowing 200 dollars! This is for just 5 episodes, mind you. A used copy of the OVA starts at 65 dollars for costs (Excluding shipping). 65 is still expensive, but it’s not $200. That’s for sure!

Overall Impression & Rating
Ah My Goddess: the OVA gives us a bite-sized glimpse into the world that the characters live in. Sure, it’s not the most in-depth mini-series, but in this circumstance hordes of depth might have hurt things. Truthfully, this OVA is great because of it’s simplicity. The fact that it gives us something to chew on, and not have any strings attached, makes the overall experience more fulfilling.

Ah My Goddess: the OVA gets a 7.5 out of 10

Well, that was a look at Ah My Goddess: The OVA. Hopefully, you got touched by the divine when you were reading this. See you soon!





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I’ve realized that my intro for this review, and some of my other choices for words, were incredibly hokey. Don’t worry, I got something to counteract the sap factor!

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Things might be slowing down already here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog. I got Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel & it’s season pass as a gift from my Dad on pre-order. The game will take up some of my review time, so expect the reviews & stuff to be spread out farther. Apologies in advance for any delays.

My Top 10 Singers & Bands

Hey fellow Otaku & metal heads!

I wanted to take a break from my reviews, and give you all a little glimpse into my mind. What my favorite things in life are, so to speak. Since I want to get a little closer to you all in terms of friendship, I wanted to show you who my top 10 singers & bands are. There’s plenty of metal to be found here, but there’s other genres as well. With that said, here are my top 10 singers & bands. Enjoy!

10) AC/DC (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

Growing up, I was never really big fan of AC/DC. It’s not that I didn’t like any of their songs (Big Gun, Big Balls, Money Talks, and depending on the day either Thunderstruck or Who Made Who), but it was because of my parents playing them a lot of the time. If we were in the car, and suddenly AC/DC came on the radio, they would turn up the volume. Because of this, I never really got into the band, and I always thought they were incredibly annoying. When 2008 came around, and the band put out their Black Ice album, something in my head clicked for me. I’m not exactly sure what clicked in my head, but I know something did. Despite this, I’m still not the biggest fan of the band, but I don’t hate them anywhere near as much as I once did. So consider this my “Don’t Like, But Respect” spot on the list.

9) Faith No More (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

It’s such a shame that this band never got farther than they did. It’s not that they weren’t popular, cause they definitely managed to get noticed (Because of the song Epic, along with the album that the song came off of, The Real Thing). I guess that they were just a little odd for music lovers of the 90s, which is ironic given how strange some singers & bands were during that time. But that’s what made Faith No More such a good band.......their weirdness!

These guys never followed what was popular. Mixing Alternative & Funk Metal, along with some Experimental Rock, and bits & pieces of Nu Metal, Faith No More created songs that had their own groove & feel, many of which still sound great today. Even with their last album back in 1997 (Ironically called Album of the Year), they were still following the beat of their own funky drum. With their somewhat recent reunion, there’s been hope that the band will create new material, and in 2015, we’ll finally get our wish! Long live Faith No More!

8) Weird Al Yankovic (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

I may listen to plenty of metal & bleak music during my darkest times, but if that doesn’t work, then I always have my accordion-playing friend Weird Al as backup. A man who has remained consistently funny throughout his career, Weird Al Yankovic has always stayed on top of pop culture. His ability to make fun of just about anything is nothing short of incredible. Downloading music, he’s made fun of that. The Amish, he’s made fun of them. Losing on Jeopardy, he’s slammed that. Hell, he even used music from the iconic Michael Jackson as a base for a song where he sings about fat people! Anybody that can do that, and get people to laugh for as long as he has, deserves respect!

7) Paradise Lost (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

I’m under the belief that out of all the sub-genres of Metal, Gothic Metal is the hardest to perform. I say that, because bands that specialize in this sub-genre have to walk a very thin tightrope. If the band falls to the left side of the rope, then it’ll look like they’re trying too hard, and listeners will think they’re sellouts. If they happen to fall over the right side of the rope, listeners will think they’re not trying hard enough, and that they’re posers. If there was one band that’s ever gotten Gothic Metal right, it would be Paradise Lost. Although there was a small period from 1997 to 2001 where they were more Electronic than Gothic, the band has remained one of the founders of the Gothic Metal genre. Their albums are some of the most iconic around (Draconian Times is still a powerhouse to this day), and their live shows can be a force to be reckoned with. If you want to feel the rain come down, then Paradise Lost is your band. 

6) Type-O Negative (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

If Paradise Lost represents the more serious side of Gothic Metal, then this band represents the dark & dry humor side of the genre.

Due to the tragic death of frontman Peter Steele back in April of 2010, and the subsequent breakup of the band in November of 2010, the band known as Type-O Negative sadly no longer exists. However, the band left a trail of some of the most brutal albums around, not to mention a swathe of gloom & doom that you still might see hovering in the sky. From the punk-flavored Slow Deep and Hard, to the darkened funeral dirge of World Coming Down, and to the renewed bleakness that is Dead Again, this band was appreciated by it’s fans the world over. If you find that Paradise Lost was too serious, then Type-O Negative is a good alternative.

5) Ozzy Osbourne (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

Much like AC/DC, I was never a big fan of Ozzy Osbourne. Unlike AC/DC, there was never any songs of Ozzy I liked, and I got into Mr. Osbourne about 7-something years before I got in with the Aussies.

I was 14 years old, when I heard Ozzy’s song “It’s Gets Me Through You”. Now I had a little exposure to Heavy Metal, but what I listened to mostly at that time was 80s Pop (Long story). It was all so sickeningly cheesy & manufactured, hearing Ozzy in a new mindset was a breath of fresh air. A year later on my 15th birthday, I got The Ozzman Cometh compilation album, and that’s when I finally got it. I got it to the point where Ozzy Osbourne took the number 5 spot on this list. Ozzy’s voice is one of the most iconic of voices within the Heavy Metal community. His ability to go from soft & mournful, to loud & titanic, is nothing short of impressive. Since the 70s, Ozzy has crafted some great music, whether it was/it’s his time in Black Sabbath, or during his equally incredible solo career. Even those who aren’t fans of metal, have at least heard of Ozzy Osbourne. It is this legacy, and not to mention his charm, that has garnered Ozzy the number 5 spot on my list.

4) Devin Townsend (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

It’s really kind of hard to classify what Devin Townsend does, considering that he’s bounced all over the radar. Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal (What Devin is especially known for), and Ambient are just a couple of the styles that Mr. Townsend has performed. Hell, he put out a Country/Ambient Rock album earlier this year under the title Casualties of Cool. His chaotic musical style really makes it hard to pin Devin down into a specific area, and yet that’s why I like him.

Much like Faith No More, Devin Townsend listens to the beat of his own drum. However, while FNM listens to the beat, Devin Townsend listens to the beat if the dial was turned past 11. The man’s imagination is nothing short of mind-shattering: one album he’s throwing his voice into the blackest pit, and the next he creates ambient songs that make you feel like you’ve obtained your Zen enlightenment. Devin has even created albums that reflect his bipolar mind, as evident in the album Infinity (Along with the Infinity EP). Sometimes, the notes of music can be found in the most chaotic & brilliant of minds. Devin Townsend is proof of this.

3) Rammstein (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

Okay kids, it’s story time again!

I was 15 years old, and back when I was 15 walkman tape players were still kinda popular (Although CD players & Mp3 players were definitely taking over). I was listening to my walkman’s radio while I was letting my at-the-time dog Charlie take care of business, when I song came over the headphones. I was nothing I had ever heard of before! I knew that it was clearly metal, but it was a kind of metal that I’d never heard of before. There was definitely drums & guitars that metal was known for, but there were these electronic noises & beats sewn into the instruments that I hadn’t listen to before, not to mention German being used in the vocals. After a couple weeks, I learned who sung the song, and the name of said song (Ich Will, if you were curious). When it was closer to the end of 2002, I picked up their album Mutter, and the rest is history.

Some would say that Rammstein is overrated, and to a certain degree I agree. They’re popular. Very Popular. I would be hard-pressed to find a place, much less a person, that’s listened to Rammstein. At the same time, I still think they’re a blast to listen to. Their earlier work laid their foundation, while their later/current material is refined but still heavy. Although Rammstein isn’t the first group you should listen to when you’re going into Industrial, they’re definitely a group to listen to a little down the line.

2) Eisbrecher (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

Now this one was tough. I’m say that, because I’m pitting a band that’s pretty popular & pretty well known, up against a band that’s known almost the world over. In fact, I think it’s pretty hard to find a person or place that hasn’t heard of Rammstein. Making this more difficult is that these two bands are both very, very similar. They both are known for Industrial Metal/Neue Deutsche Härte/Tanz Metall, they both have great instrumentation, and they both have great vocals (Although I give Eisbrecher a little more credit in this regard). Ultimately, I decided that Eisbrecher would get the number 2 spot, and Rammstein would get number 3, so hear are the reasons why.

For starters, Eisbrecher is a newer band. While some of the members have been in the music business before hand, Eisbrecher as a band has only been around since 2003, while Rammstein has been around since 1993. Secondly, there’s more energy in Eisbrecher. Their live concerts are very intense, the band is highly energetic, and the fans really get into the music. While Rammstein is pretty much the same, they don’t seem to have as much oomph as they once did. Finally, Eisbrecher is number 2 on my list because of their attitude. They’re very cheerful, happy, and have a more positive attitude on life & the music industry (Ironic, given how brutal some of their songs are). With Rammstein, not so much. They look very worn out, very angry & bitter, and they seem like they really don’t want to do music anymore, but are still playing because they don’t want to be forgotten. Sorry Rammstein, for while you are still kickass, someone just edged past you.

Before we get to my number 1 singer/band, I wanted to give you some of my Honorable Mentions in this category. Bands that, while very enjoyable, just didn’t make the cut. Maybe it’s because of the sound quality, controversy, or whatever other reason comes to mind. With that said, here they are:

HM1) Judas Priest (Sample “Link”)
- Like AC/DC & Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest is yet another band that my parents played a lot when I was younger, and thus was a group that I didn’t like for a long time. Judas Priest does happen to share one thing with Ozzy Osbourne, and the common factor is that there weren’t any songs of Priest that I liked. Fast forward to 2012, and I am gladly enjoying their music. So much so, that Defenders of the Faith and Turbo are two of my favorite albums from the band, although most of their 80s material isn’t too bad either. Yes, I’m now a fan of Judas Priest, but because I discovered them far more recently, I didn’t feel it was right to put them on the list.

HM2) Moonspell (Sample “Link”)
- A fantastic band from a country that many people wouldn’t expect metal to come from (Portugal), Moonspell is a fantastic Gothic Metal group. I would have put this band up on the list, but then I would have had 3 Gothic Metal bands up (Ironic, given who my number 3, 2, and 1 are). I wanted to show of a wider variety of metal/non-metal music, so I reluctantly left Moonspell off, which is a tragic shame. The band has created some beautiful songs, filled with dark & brooding imagery. While Moonspell isn’t up on the main list, it’s quality puts it right up there with the likes of Paradise Lost & Type-O Negative, and is a force to be reckoned with in it’s own right!

HM3) Metallica (Sample “Link”) & Megadeth (Sample “Link”)
- Although these two bands have fallen off of the bandwagon for a while now, and landed deep into the pit of “Music Sellout”(Much more so in Metallica’s case), there was a time when Metallica & Megadeth were titans of Thrash Metal. In the case of Metallica, they created some of the most iconic Thrash Metal albums. Even today, releases like Kill Em All & Ride The Lightning, all the way up to the infamous Black Album, are still talked about today. Megadeth is essentially in the same boat: despite Dave Mustaine essentially becoming the thing he hated the most (A right-wing, religious nutjob), the band has continued to produce some great music throughout their entire career. Countdown To Extinction celebrated it’s 20th anniversary back in 2012, and is still widely considered to be one of their best CDs they’ve ever released. Sure these two bands are somewhat pathetic, but if you look through the smoke, then you’ll find a couple gems.

1) Ministry (Sample Tracks: “Link” & “Link”)

August 27, 2006. I was 19 at the time. I woke up to my parent’s 23rd anniversary, not to mention that it was the day before my Fall 2006 semester at Hudson Valley Community College (A good college. Great college. If you live in the Albany/Troy area, and you’re looking for a place to go, you won’t find anything better). So because of this, I was in a exceptionally good mood. I got dressed, and went downstairs to meet my folks. However, the sight I saw was not at all what I expected. I saw my Father packing a suitcase really fast, and when I asked what was going on, my Mother came over with tears coming down her face, hugged me, and told me what happened.

It turned out that my uncle Randy was on a flight back from Kentucky (From what I remember, he was down there to help a friend). The plane took off, then shortly there after, it crashed, killing everybody that was on the flight died (Except for the Co-Pilot, ironically enough). Further adding to this tragedy, my Dad & I went up to Watertown NY for a reunion on his side of the family, and my Uncle was there. This propelled me into a state a depression that not only caused me to fail most of my classes in the Fall (Ironically, the only class I didn’t fail was my General Sociology course, and I got a B), but it was such a dismal state that it took years to recover from.

You’re now probably wondering what this has to do with Ministry. Well, about a month or two prior to my Uncle’s death, I was flipping through the TV channels, and came across MTV (When they were still kinda-sorta playing music videos). When I got to the channel, the video for LiesLiesLies had just started (I must have missed maybe one or two seconds). I watched it, enjoyed it, but didn’t think much of it. I heard the song again in my head a couple days later, and still didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until a couple days after my Uncle had did when fate rolled me onto a strange path.
                       
My Uncle’s death was a little bit past the midpoint for George W. Bush’s second term, and if you remember your political history, shit was going downhill for the guy at the time. So in a “effort” to fix his career, Bush had gone down to the crash site, in an attempt to clean things up & offer his condolances. It failed in spectacular fashion (As just about anything he did), and reinforced my hate of Republicans/Conservatives, as well as politics in general. So, when I was at the mall with my girlfriend at the time, I immediately made a beeline for the FYE store, found the album that LiesLiesLies came from, bought said album, listened to it, and for the first time during that period, there was peace.

I am under the firm belief that if I didn’t pick up Rio Grande Blood, chances are my depression would have gotten too serious, and I would have put a gun to my head & pulled the trigger. As brutal, bleak, and pessimistic the album, somehow it saved my life, and I am eternally grateful. Al Jourgenson, if you ever manage to find this, I just have two words to say to you. Thank You.

So this was one of my trips into my mind. I hoped you enjoyed it. I’ll be putting up lists like these further down the road, showing off more things about myself. See you soon!

Album Review: Metallica's Kill Em All

Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome back to the Heavy Metal Otaku blog! Everyone, let’s talk about Metallica...

Ah yes, Metallica. I think it’s a safe bet to say that the band is a shadow...of a shadow...of a shadow of it’s former self. Having long since entered mainstream music & not looking back on their decision, they’re considered sellouts & traitors by hardcore Metal Heads. I truly feel bad for younger people getting into Metallica today, and I feel even worse when they actually like modern Metallica more than older. However, if you can honestly believe it, there was a time when Metallica was considered to be a great Heavy Metal band. One of the Big 4 of Thrash Metal, to be exact. Today’s review is the album that put this band on the map. That album’s name.....is Kill Em All. Let’s begin the review!

Background
Originally lined up with guitarist/vocals James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, bassist Ron McGovney, and finally lead guitarist Dave Mustaine (Of Megadeth fame), Metallica released Kill Em All on July 25, 1983. The lead-up to Kill Em All is quite the story: Because of the tensions he had with Mustaine, McGovney decided to leave the band. To take the place of Mcgovney, they brought in Cliff Burton. In April 1983, Mustaine was kicked out of the band, due to drug and alcohol problems, overly aggressive behavior, and clashes with bandmates. Mustaine’s replacement was Kirk Hammett, who had played with Exodus beforehand, and was once a student of Joe Satriani. After beginning his guitar work, which Kirk had based off of Mustaine’s original material, production began.

The name of Kill Em All also has a interesting history: the original title of the album was to be called Metal Up Your Ass. The cover was to feature a toilet bowl with a hand clutching a dagger emerging from it, but the band’s label at the time (Megaforce) asked them to change it. Metallica agreed, and Kill Em All was used instead. Burton was originally credited with the album title, which was a reference to timid record distributors at the time, basically saying "Why don't we just kill 'em all?". The irony of this was that the band released a "Metal Up Your Ass" T-shirt with the proposed artwork during their touring.

Again, Metallica  released Kill Em All on July 25, 1983. Since its original release, it has been certified 3× platinum by the RIAA, having sold over three million copies in the United States.

Basic Description
Kill Em All kicks all kind of ass!

If you were to listen to something off of Death Magnetic, or Lulu (Sorry, vomited in my mouth a little when I typed that name), and then you’d listen to something off of Kill Em All, you’d suffer whiplash so bad, your neck would probably snap in half. This album has a raw intensity & relentless fury that Metallica severely lacks in this modern age of music, not to mention a strange kind of freshness to everything on the album. Sure, you can definitely tell that it comes from the early 80s, but the instrumentation, vocals, and overall production value come across a very well done. There’s really nothing wrong with anything on Kill Em All, apart from a strange sound that crops up in Seek & Destroy, but even then it’s just during surprisingly specific parts.

Best Songs
Kill Em All has two classic songs that show off the reasons why Metallica was king back in the 80s. For starters, we have The Four Horsemen. Now, I’m a sucker for anything with the Horsemen (Well, most things), so it’s already won me over with it’s name, but that’s not the only thing I like about the song. The instrumentation is fantastic: the drums come crashing down like a horde of hooves, and the guitar work comes at you in a well-paced frenzy. The two sides collide, and the spawn they create is gorgeous. The vocals are great as well: despite not wanting to be the vocalist at first, James Hetfield does a surprisingly good job singing. He brings an intensity that’s almost never seen in the band today, but at the same time he’s surprisingly clear as well. Because of this, you never really get lost when you try to listen to the singing.

The Four Horsemen

The other song on here that kicks the most ass is the fight-inducing Seek & Destroy. There’s more of a rough quality to the song, both in terms of vocals & instrumentation. In fact, the roughness almost comes across like it was a forgotten track that the band never used. This roughness actually helps the song, as it adds more to the song’s attitude. This is the kind of song you listen to when your trying to pick a fight with someone. This is the kind of song that you hear in your head as you’re punching someone right in the face, and this is the kind of song that gives off a serious “Fuck You” vibe as it plays. If Seek & Destroy was a person, then I wouldn’t want to cross it’s path.

Seek & Destroy

Worst Songs
Kill Em All’s only real weakness (At least for me) is how much I like the rest of the music. If anything, there are no bad songs on this album, as everything on here is good. Damn good, in fact! It’s just that everything else I don’t like as much as the two previously mentioned songs. With that said, I’d listen to pretty much anything on this album, and you should too!

Overall Impression & Rating
Kill Em All is both a classic & a reminder. It’s a classic because it has some of the best Heavy Metal that the 80s can provide. The brutality of it all is an experience that should be experienced at least once, whether you’re a Metal Head or not. Sadly, Kill Em All is a reminder of days gone by. When Metallica had a musical backbone, and didn’t care about paycheck or popularity. As we go further down their discography, this will become more & more apparent.

Old-School fans will probably give Kill Em All a 9 out of 10, maybe a full-blown 10 even. For me, I’m giving the album an 8 to 8.5 out of 10.

Well, that was it for Kill Em All, a classic album from a band that once was. Join me next time, for something a little more personal. See you soon!


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