TASTE IS OPTIONAL

The idea behind this blog is to expose people to music I rate with an emphasis on rare and out of print releases. No files are hosted or uploaded by myself however if you are the copyright holder and would like a link removed then please just ask.

All readers are encouraged to support the artists and purchase hard copies and/or merchandise of bands you like. Collecting music is great fun and very satisfying and although it wont help you get laid it will give you an inflated feeling of superiority next time someone starts bragging about their Mp3 collection.

If you are easily offended and see something that shocks you then please make use of the red X in the top right corner.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Garden of Shadows - Heart of the Corona


Melodic death metal is probably one of the most derided styles in metal, yet when done properly is also one of the best. Garden of Shadows are an American band that surfaced in the late 90's and for a short period looked like they were going places after getting signed by Wicked World/Earache Records, only to fall apart soon after.

And unlike most of the At The Gates/In Flames copy cats Garden of Shadows had more in common with the likes of  Septic Flesh, (early) Paradise Lost and Depresy. Long epic songs, deep brutal vocals, atmospheric keys and melodic guitar lines are used to great effect with the songs never becoming stale or boring. There full length 'Oracle Moon' is still widely available on Ebay so try to track down both if you have the chance.

Garden of Shadows - Heart of the Corona

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Australian Death Metal demos!


Whilst the boys in Necrotomy (above) look for that elusive 4th chord enjoy the fruits of their labour!

For all you lovers of early 90's death metal if give you a big pile of Australian DM demos. Enjoy!

Neuropath - Desert of Excrutiation Demo 1996

Hecatomb - Deep Sleep Therapy Demo 1991

Necrotomy - Cranial Dismemberment Demo 1990

Misery - Astern Diabolus Demo 1993

Misery - Sorting Out The Insects Demo 1992

Christbait - Prod Demo 1991

Armoured Angel - Wings of Death Demo 1989

Armoured Angel - Communion Demo 1990

Deteriorot - Demo 92 + EP 93



If the name of the band and the title of the EP are not a dead give away, then yes these guys play dark, deep and demonic death metal. Coming from the same burial grounds as Incantation and Immolation these guys played around the New Jersey and NYC scene at the start of the 90's, releasing an EP and a couple of tapes before going quiet - only to be revived in 2000 for a demo and their full length in 2001.

They are still active having released a new album last year on Spain's cool Xtreem Music so check it out as they have stayed true to their style of dismal and obscure death metal. There should be more bands like Deteriorot around...there really should!

Deteriorot - Manifested Apparitions of Unholy Spirits EP 1993

Deteriorot - Demo 92

Myspace

Abramelin - Transgression From Acheron (1994)


As I mentioned in "Appointment With Fear" compilation posting below, Australia had a great death metal band called Acheron who released a 7'' and a couple of demo/promos in the early 90's. These guys eventually changed their name to Abramelin and released this corker of dark death metal brutality which stands as one of this countries highlights alongside the likes of dISEMBOWELMENT and Corpse Molestation.

It was released by Dark Oceans Productions in 1994 and re-released by Shock Records in a double CD set with the self-titled full length in 1996. Both are becoming increasingly hard to come by and are well overdue for a reissue.

Abramelin - Transgression From Acheron (1994)

Angelcorpse - Rehearsal 1997






It doesn't get more vicious than Angelcorpse. Channeling the spirit of early German and South American 'evil' thrash through the body of Morbid Angel styled death metal, for a few years these guys ruled in a time of sympho black metal and wussy power metal before dissolving due to the usual stupid reasons.

Although they reformed for another album a few years later, they were never able to find the same (black) magic that made them such a force in the late 90's. Their albums are easy to find in the shop and on the net but check this quality rehearsal recording from '97 for a snapshot of the band in their prime.

Angelcorpse - Rehearsal 03-1997

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

V.A. - Appointment With Fear Volume 1






Unlike today when access to any obscure demo or 7" can be done with with a simple Google search, it was very hard to hear these obscure bands that filled the lists of tape traders in the "Penbangers" section of Metal Forces magazine. This is where compilations like Appointment With Fear helped people such as myself hear classics such as Macabre End, Cenotaph (Mex), Coprophagist, Traumatic, Anguish or even bands from my own country like Acheron (pre-Abramelin). There were two more volumes of the series after this but neither had held a candle to volume one.

 Unfortunately these days compilation albums are a relic of the past which is a shame in some respects as there was nothing more exciting than hearing a single track that compelled you to try and track down these obscurities.

Enjoy people Appointment With Fear Volume 1

Monday, January 17, 2011

God Macabre - The Winterlong (1993)

Another death metal classic I didn't discover until the late 90's and has since become one of my all time favorite albums. Released at the tale end of the death metal explosion it unfortunately got lost in a sea of black metal releases but has since been rediscovered by a new generation of fans.

It was reissued by Relapse Records in 2002 with a different mix that (for once) is worth getting your hands on as it brings to the forefront a lot of details that get lost in the original pressing. However for a perfect example of early 90's Swedish DM look no further than...

God Macabre - The Winterlong

Decomposed - Hope Finally Died (1993)


I passed on this album when it first came out, what I was thinking I have no idea as it absolutely crushes similar releases from that time. I know I wasn't the only one either as it seems to have finally gained some respect over the last few years (no doubt thanks to the Internet).

Devastating doom/death of the highest order!


Decomposed - Hope Finally Died (1993)

Armoured Angel - Mysterium (1994)

No better way to start this blog than with this classic of Australian death metal. I saw these guys live when they toured for the previous Stigmartyr E.P. and they killed!  For a 3 piece they were able to put out a wall of sound that always reminded me of Bolt Thrower with those mid paced rumbling "tank-like" grooves.

They released a full length on Warhead records in 1999 and have a handful of demos, but this in my humble opinion is the best thing they ever did. There have been some vinyl re-releases of late but I would love to see these reissued on CD with the demos attached...hint hint.

Armoured Angel - Mysterium

Sunday, January 16, 2011

It has to start somewhere I guess...

First post on my blog, a spur of the moment idea that will give me something to do when I'm not doing other stuff. Hope you find something of interest here, most content will be relating to music with the occasional rant which will probably be about music also...yes I'm a rabid music collector (Heavy metal to be exact).

Born in the year 1971 I started listening to Metal in '84 when I borrowed my uncles copies of Iron Maiden's 'Piece of Mind' and 'Powerslave'. Shortly after this my young mind was blown by what then was state of the art Heavy Metal...'Defenders of the Faith' by Judas Priest, since then there has been no turning back and shortly after I discovered the likes of Accept, W.A.S.P., Queensryche, Krokus, followed quickly with heavier practitioners such as Venom, Metallica, Slayer, Kreator and Celtic Frost before moving onto hardcore punk and the Death Metal explosion of the late 80's and early 90's.


However by '94 I was burnt out on what I felt was a scene that had lost its way and for a few years my tastes expanded into other genres such as Psych, Indie and Dark Ambient. But by '98 with the return of classic metal, the internet and a style that wasn't afraid to progress I fell back in with my true love and haven't looked back since. Since then I have amassed a CD collection that is pushing the 4000 mark and growing bigger each year with the metal scene in the best shape of its life (contrary to the naysayers) I have decided to add my voice for what it's worth...