Metal Storm logo
Less Is More - Iron's 2014
Album index | Top albums | Bottom albums | Album charts | Top lists | Staff picks


Thumbs up: +17
This year, I will try to listen to less music more. That is, I won't go out of my way to hear and list every possible album I sort of dig on the first spin, and the ones I do include I aim to know thoroughly. A lot of the albums I include tentatively will probably get deleted, too. Without further preamble, interesting albums in no particular order:

Created by: IronAngel | 26.03.2014


1. Owen Pallett - In Conflict (Art Pop/Chamber Pop. Owen still can't sing, and he's still the most innovative violinist in popular music (as much as I love you, Warren Ellis). Apart from the magic he conjures from the violin, he is also incredible at writing vocal melodies and harmonies. This album takes even further the rich, electronic sound of Heartland, giving greater scope to synths and drums. In The Riverbed, he also wrote his heaviest, almost industrial song. I miss the organic feel of his albums under the Final Fantasy moniker, and I wish he'd get a really skilled vocalist, but this album is magical. 4/5.)
2. Menace Ruine - Venus Armata (Drone Metal/Neofolk. Beautiful, haunting, comforting, melancholy, and occasionally menacing. The concept of blending drone, doomy riffs and neofolk with medieval flavor and a Nicoesque singer is delicious on paper, but Menace Ruine transcend the sum of their parts to be something greater. They are consistently good, and this album is right up there with The Die Is Cast and Alight in Ashes. Possible track of the year: Red Sulphur. 4/5.)
3. Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden (Epicish Traditional Doom. In line with the high expectations set by the debut. The production is better, lending emotional punch to the guitar leads. That's important, because riffs are what the band really excel at. From the opening riff to the breathtaking The Ghost I Used to Be, this is just good doom songwriting through and through. 3,5/5.)
4. Jenny Hval & Susanna - Meshes of Voice (Art Pop/Experimental. A great blend of creepy/dreamy folk and drone. Susanna's darker and softer voice complements Jenny's sharp wail, and overall the two artists' style is similar enough to produce a coherent album. Not quite as strong as Jenny Hval's solo work, but there are some chilling highlights. 3,5/5.)
5. Tuomas Henrikin Jeesuksen Kristuksen Bändi - Käkkyrällään (Alternative/Art Rock/Punk. The band is at times lyrically ridiculous and musically awkward or plain crazy, and at first time's difficult to take them seriously. But the more I listen to them, the more they grow on me, and I can't help but feel they have captured something profound about music in their naivety. They can go from heartfelt to ironic to angry in an instant. For a great example, see the melancholic and tender Titityy followed by the massive post-rock build-up of Oksat pois. 3,5/5.)
6. Kayo Dot - Coffins On Io (Progressive/Experimental Rock. One of the biggest surprises of the year. Kayo Dot have made their softest, most accessible album to date, and it is one of their most interesting. A spacey smooth sound and vocal melodies that are somehow off, but captivating. I really liked Hubardo, but this one takes the cake at least in terms of consistency. 3,5/5.)
7. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pika Pika Fantajin (J-Pop. Infectiously catchy and extremely well-produced, the album more or less repeats the formula of her previous albums. Some filler, some smash hits, and something in-between. There aren't quite as many really good songs as on Nanda Collection, and Ring A Bell is truly grating, but overall there's little dip in quality. Key track: Yumeno Hajima Ring Ring. 3,5/5.)
8. Gates - Bloom & Breathe (Post-Rock/Emo. Gorgeous, bombastic post-rock married with big emo melodies. Possibly the most uplifting and one of the most heartfelt albums of the year. 3,5/5.)
9. Birds of Passage - This Kindly Slumber (Ambient (pop). Alicia Merz is the other half of Brother Sun, Sister Moon whose debut I enjoyed in 2012. (She has previous solo albums too, but I haven't heard them yet.) Unlike that album, This Kindly Slumber is gloomy and frail to the point of spooky. Sighing vocals echo over very sparse and minimal backgrounds. There's plenty of such Grouper-like hazy, folky stuff floating about, but rarely does it have the gravitas and simple effectiveness of this haunting album. 3,5/5.)
10. Francis Harris - Minutes of Sleep (Ambient/Microhouse. Ambient soundscapes punctuated by drum tracks and some electronic and jazzy elements. There is a cello line in the first track that reminds me very much of Silent Hill and sets the tone for the album: not the creepy industrial horror but the beautiful melancholy of the soundtracks, of radio broadcasts piercing through white noise, faded photographs on the dresser, fog rolling over empty streets. 3,5/5.)
11. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything (Post-Rock/Artsy Noise Rock. If you still had your doubts, this album demonstrates Silver Mt. Zion isn't a GY!BE spinoff. The instrumentation is the kind of cacophonic post-rock you'd expect from these guys, and the almost-punk vocals add an element of urgency and frustration that makes it distinctive. The album is a very intense listen, and the experience is crowned by the slow and beautiful What We Loved Was Not Enough amid all the noise. 3,5/5.)
12. Have A Nice Life - The Unnatural World (Lo-Fi/Post-Punk/Shoegaze/Drone. Six years after the cult classic Deathconsciousness, the duo is back with a less ambitious, more coherent album of drony, dark post-punk. The intentionally poor production works most of the time, and the best songs (like the opener) are really good, but there is some mediocre material too. 3,5/5.)
13. Nadja - Queller (Shoegaze/Drone Metal. Nadja's discography is spotty, but they keep coming back with major albums that prove they're worth following. Queller is one such album. Sleepy vocals, warm and fuzzy guitar/bass sound, this is perhaps closer to (really slow) shoegaze than drone. The aesthetic has something in common with Desire In Uneasiness, but Queller is much more melodic. 3,5/5.)
14. Mirel Wagner - When The Cellar Children See The Light Of Day (Singer-Songwriter/Folk/Blues. Like the debut, these are some seriously dark songs, conjured up solely through acoustic guitar and Mirel's earthy voice. It's mostly slow folk, but sometimes the chord progressions and the raw nakedness of it remind one of blues. As with the excellent debut, songwriting is consistently at least decent, with some really good highlights. With an album as short as this, the lack of diversity doesn't really matter - indeed, a faster song or some bigger instrumentation would have just broken the spell. Highlights: Ellipsis, Taller Than Trees. 3,5/5.)
15. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen (Folk Metal/Black Metal. A very predictable album, but a very solid one at that. Sticking to their romantic, testosterone-infused anthems, they push all the right emotional and headbanging buttons without innovation. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! 3,5/5.)
16. Grouper - Ruins (Ambient/Singer-Songwriter. Sonically, this is Liz Harris' least ambient album. Flirting with conventional songwriting is nothing new to her, but this one is 100% piano. The melodies are minimalistic, looping in on themselves, reminiscent of modern composers like Nils Frahm. It is very soothing but somewhat lacking in diversity. The closing track, Made of Air, is the only exception, being a softly droning ambient piece. What the album lacks in texture and ambition it makes up for in beauty and memorable melody. 3,5/5.)
17. Sevendeaths - Concretè Misery (Progressive Electronic/Drone. Really good, spacey and cold music reminiscent of Phaedra/Rubycon-era Tangerine Dream, complemented with some pretty straightforward drone. The first track (Petrograde) is very representative and very good. The album is a bit on the short side. 3,5/5.)
18. Earth - Primitive And Deadly (Psychedelic Rock/Post-Rock. This has been hailed as a return to farm after the Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light albums. Certainly, it's more interesting than the second installation, but there's nothing as good as Old Black on the album. The opening track is very similar in its structure, revolving around and gradually building on a central motif - but the riff isn't as inspired. The heavier sound is a nice change, and the real highlight are Rabia Shaneen Qazi's guest vocals. It just feels the riffs aren't as original and memorable as Earth can do at their sharpest. Good stuff, but they can do better. 3,5/5.)
19. Siinai - Supermarket (Progressive Electronic/Krautrock. This shares the hypnotic beats and rich soundscapes of classic krautrock but lacks the hazy, psychedelic atmosphere. The progressive electronic elements I might compare to Stratosfear-era Tangerine Dream, when they started sounding lusher and employing more melody and richer instrumentation. Really good, sleek, memorable and, most of all, diverse album. 3,5/5.)
20. Darkspace - Dark Space III I (Atmospheric/Ambient Black Metal. There is something soothing and soft about Darkspace's brand of spacey, ambient black metal. Like wrapping yourself in the black velvet blanket of the night sky. The album is a little on the long side, but I could listen to the best riffs all day. 3,5/5.)
21. Mondkopf - Hadès (Electronic/Dark Ambient. A really impressive blend of electronic melodies, some industrial beats and dark ambient. Not only does it sound great, it's also fairly memorable, which is rare in the genre. 3,5/5.)
22. Swans - To Be Kind (Experimental Rock. No doubt the most overrated album of the year, but that's not to say it isn't impressive. There is something disturbing and depraved about its relentless grooves. Despite being heavy as fuck, it's not as monotonous or difficult to listen to as The Seer. It never matches the highlights of Soundtracks for the Blind, for example, but its remarkable consistency (something which SftB can't boast of) makes it one of the better Swans albums. 3,5/5.)
23. Tori Amos - Unrepentant Geraldines (Singer-Songwriter/Adult Contemporary. Sigh. Tori, oh Tori. Undoubtedly the most talented and unique female singer-songwriter along with Kate Bush, but she just can't seem to release a solid album nowadays. The best tracks here show she's absolutely still got it: Weatherman, Oysters and Invisible Boy are nearly as good as anything she ever did. But there are 14 songs on the album, and some of them are entirely average. Nonetheless, this is her best album in a while, possibly since Scarlet's Walk. 3,5/5.)
24. CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Volume Three (Hip Hop. There are a lot of guest appearances on this album, and it feels a bit like a mixed bag. It's not as good as Oneirology or A Piece of Strange, but those are some of the best hip hop albums ever, so... The beats and samples are still wonderful, evoke a dreamy atmosphere. 3,5/5.)
25. Moonface - City Wrecker (Singer-Songwriter/Piano Rock. An EP very much continuing where Julia With Blue Jeans On left off, it is mainly just a piano and Spencer Krug's heart-wrenching, soulful vocals. Gloomy and beautiful, but the songs aren't quite as strong as the highlights of last year's LP. 3,5/5.)
26. Orcas - Yearling (Dream Pop/Ambient. This is a good dream pop album with some ambient tracks. But after the fragile magic of the debut, I expected better. The vocals are much more prominent, as are drums. Though good tracks as such, Infinite Stillness and Half Light are just too in-your-face on an Orcas album. On its own merits, though, a very nice album. Key tracks: Capillaries, Filament. 3,5/5.)
27. Prawn - Kingfisher (Emo. In the same midwest emo style as Gates, but not quite as awesome. Upbeat, energetic, pretty music with some lush, post-rock-inspired arrangements. 3,5/5.)
28. Scandinavian Music Group - Terminal 2 (Art Pop/Rock. A change of style after three albums of warm country/folk, and their best album since the phenomenal Missä olet, Laila? The new sound harkens back to their cold and slightly electronic debut, with nods to 80s synth pop and AOR. Check out Ei paniikkia and Las Vegasin raunioilla. 3,5/5.)
29. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (Folk Pop. They have become gradually poppier while their arrangements have grown more polished. While I miss the naked simplicity of their debut EP, there's something to be said for the lush soundscapes conjured here. The songwriting isn't on the level of The Lion's Roar, but their vocal harmonies are still like honey. 3,5/5.)
30. Hail Spirit Noir - Oi Magoi (Psychedelic/Progressive (Black) Metal. A more mature effort than the debut, but no less unique for it. I haven't listened to it much because I haven't been in the mood for this kind of stuff, but I can't in good conscience rate in any lower than the debut - it's just as good. 3,5/5.)
31. Einar Stray Orchestra - Politricks (Chamber Pop/Post-Rock. A disappointing sophomore album after the magnificent and fresh Chiaroscuro. Einar Stray sounds something like Sufjan Stevens meets Efterklang, with a dash of Sigur Rós and Dirty Three. Unfortunately, instead of pushing further the subtle and tasteful chamber post-rock of the debut, Politricks opts for cruder arrangements and a few very awkward moments ("the terrorist will hunt me down, the terrorist will kill your man" sung over very minimal instrumentation, doubling the cringe). With more emphasis on Einar's vocal melodies (or maybe it's the mixing), it also becomes apparent that he's not a very good singer. The compositions are still interesting and show real talent, but the presentation feels amateurish. As surprising a letdown as the debut was surprising a success. 3/5.)
32. Pilgrim - II: Void Worship (Traditional Doom. Meat and potatoes doom metal with no experimentation, psychedelia or genre-bending bullshit. Much like Reverend Bizarre, they've taken what they think is the essence of doom and distilled it of all contaminants. They're not as charismatic or memorable as some of their peers, but they are as doom as they come. 3/5.)
33. Sun Kil Moon - Benji (Contemporary Folk. Just another Mark Kozelek album, to be honest. I don't know how this album managed to get such big attention - the unpredictable tides of internet fame, perhaps - but it really isn't anything we haven't heard from Mark before. I personally found his collaborations with Desertshore and Jimmy LaValle last year more interesting than this, though Benji is better than Among The Leaves. Still nowhere near the glory of Ghosts of the Great Highway (even if, inexplicably, this has more votes on RYM than that one!?) or Red House Painters. Just a weary douchebag singing honest folk tunes about his fucked up life. I love him, but he could try harder musically. 3/5.)
34. Rome - Passage to Rhodesia (Neofolk. Pretty much what you've come to expect from Rome: lush and memorable neofolk with a martial industrial edge. Does not hold a candle to Rome's masterpieces, but Reuter's voice is a treat to listen to and the best tracks are really worthwhile (see: The Ballad of Red Flame Lily). 3/5.)
35. Lethe - When Dreams Become Nightmares (Electronic Rock/Trip-Rock. The closest comparison to this weird album would probably be the experimental era of The 3rd and The Mortal (something between Painting on Glass and In This Room) and the electronic era of The Gathering (more like Home in tone, more like Souvenirs in scope). Probably a little more abrasive and out-there than either of them, too. Lethe don't do this nearly as well as the aforementioned giants, but there's very little similar stuff out there and this is more than good enough to scratch that itch. 3/5.)
36. Tara Jane O'Neil - Where Shine New Lights (Dream Pop/Ambient Pop. There's a slowcore aesthetic to the swaying, wispy music of Tara Jane O'Neil, but it isn't really sad or gloomy. It is the musical equivalent of a languid summer afternoon on some meadow, dandelion seeds already sailing through the air. This album is the sunny counterpart to the Birds of Passage and Grouper albums, but not quite as impressive. 3/5.)
37. Black Swan Lane - A Moment of Happiness (Post-Punk/Dream Pop. The genre labels may be a little misleading, because the tone of the singer's voice and something about the mood and vocal melodies of the album remind me of the neofolk/martial industrial band Rome. Fans of later Antimatter would probably also dig this. Really unusual band, extremely polished and mature for how relatively unknown and original they are. 3/5.)
38. Chinawoman - Let's Part In Style (Art Pop/Slowcore. This is a weird one. It is skeletal, groovy and noir, with a firm electronic base but closer to post-punk than IDM. Spiritually and in terms of mood the album has something in common with Timber Timbre. 3/5.)
39. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness (Lo-Fi Singer-Songwriter/Indie Folk. Americana-influenced, gloomy lo-fi indie rock/folk. She's like a Cat Power or Waxahatchee playing what are, at their core, country songs. Occasionally boring, but the most painful tracks are quite devastating. Highlight: Unfucktheworld. 3/5.)
40. Aphex Twin - Syro (IDM. This feels like an incoherent exercise in nostalgia. If you really like Aphex Twin, you'll no doubt find the album enjoyable if not innovative. 3/5.)
41. Bohren & der Club of Gore - Piano Nights (Ambient Jazz. These guys are always good, and this is very much in line with their previous, sax-led smooth and nocturnal style. Nothing really caught my ear to make me want to play this in favor of Sunset Mission or Black Earth, though. 3/5.)
42. This Will Destroy You - Another Language (Post-Rock/Ambient. I like this better than Tunnel Blanket, their previous album. They've taken some of the ambient textures from that album and slapped on some of their good old-fashioned post-rock riffs on top. The synthesis works, stylistically, but does not make their songwriting really stand out in the genre. 3/5.)
43. Sage Francis - Copper Gone (Hip Hop. Good, witty lyricism - attempting to be a little more high-brown than the average rapper, I suppose. It gets a bit too melodramatic at times, though. It's not as lush as CunninLynguists, but the beats are similarly beautiful and atmospheric. 3/5.)
44. St. Vincent - St. Vincent (Art Pop. Jagged, angular and a little noisy. St. Vincent has taken cues from her recent collaboration with David Byrne, which shows in the beats and electronic elements. Stylistically, this is quite cool - Rattlesnake and Digital Witness [i]sound[/i] good - but much of the songwriting is just mediocre. On the other hand, Prince Johnny is by far the best composition on the album (and one of the best pop songs of the year), and its style is very vanilla. Not her strongest album. 3/5.)
45. Hundreds - Aftermath (Dream Pop/Indie Pop. A very pleasant if unmemorable listen. The singer reminds me of Dido, and the music could be hers if she was into the ambient/downtempo aesthetic. 3/5.)
46. Sharon Van Etten - Are We There (Contemporary Folk/Singer-Songwriter. Maybe it's me being apathetic about a lot of music this year, but this didn't seem as interesting as Tramp. Or maybe I overrated that one? Her voice is wonderful and there are some catchy melodies (Taking Chances) but there's no Give Out here, and the album doesn't really go anywhere. Competent and occasionally beautiful, but also boring. 3/5.)
47. Wijlen Wij - Coronachs Of The Ω (Funeral Doom. Within the parameters of the genre, this is beautiful and almost upbeat. Clean vocals, Skepticismesque organ, some light piano interludes etc. The songs are pretty mundane, but there are highlights (particularly Boreas, the opener) and the sound is nice. Solid funeral doom. 3/5.)
48. Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems (Singer-Songwriter. Solid Cohen, very little else to say about it. Some pleasant and inoffensive tunes, and a few really good ones. Samson in New Orleans, for one, shows that he can still write relevant and heartfelt music. 3/5.)
49. Snowbird - Moon (Dream Pop/Chamber Pop. The bassist of Cocteau Twins teamed up with a singer who sounds something like Elizabeth Fraser to record an album of lush, dreamy and beautifully arranged chamber pop. It could do with some weight or edge; it has none of the darkness of Cocteau Twins or brave determination of Talk Talk. A pleasant listen, though. 3/5.)
50. Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare (Black Metal. I like the suffocating sound, but the songwriting just isn't as good as on Ordo ad chao. It's also too relentlessly fast, with not enough room for atmosphere and juicy, drawn-out riffs. Enjoyable but not great. 3/5.)
51. Warpaint - Warpaint (Dream Pop/Trip Hop. A decent follow-up to the lauded 2010 debut. Their great sound is a recognizable blend of dream pop, trip hop beats and neo-psychedelia (of the Mazzy Star variety), but the songwriting isn't strong enough to carry through the whole album. 3/5.)
52. Keaton Henson - Romantic Works (Chamber Music/Impressionism. Pretty middle-of-the-road, melancholy chamber music revolving around the cello and the piano, with some ambient background textures. Pretty but forgettable. 3/5.)
53. BADBADNOTGOOD - III (Jazz Fusion. Some hip hop beats, nocturnal atmosphere and soulful melodies. The album is engaging and interesting. 3/5.)
54. Jess Williamson - Native State (Folk/Americana. Nice but pretty by-the-book country/bluegrass-tinged folk. She's got a nice voice, although it sounds like a dozen other americana singers. Check out Field, and Blood Song. 3/5.)
55. Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi - 2 (Art Pop. What a disappointment. Ironically, this both rocks harder and sounds more middle-aged than the debut. Kerkko Koskinen also sings a lot more, which he really should leave to the three women. Replacing the clear and sharp, crystal-like voice of Paula Vesala with Maija Vilkkumaa's husky and nasal whine did not improve their sound, but alas. The songwriting isn't as memorable, either. In every a step down from the really good debut. Barely a 3/5.)
56. The Wounded Kings - Consolamentum (Traditional Doom)
57. Current 93 - I Am the Last of All the Field That Fell (A Channel) (Neofolk/Avant-Folk)
58. Dirge - Hyperion (Atmospheric Sludge)
59. Thou - Heathen (Sludge/Doom)
60. Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams (Contemporary Folk)
61. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata (Hip Hop)
62. Christina Vantzou - No. 2 (Ambient/Modern Classical)
63. Teebs - E s t a r a (Ambient/Downtempo. Glitchy, pleasant, and BoC-inspired.)
64. Bvdub - I'll Only Break Your Heart (Ambient Techno/Pop)
65. Valentin Stip - Sigh (IDM/Microhouse)
66. Golden Retriever - Seer (Ambient/Progressive Electronic)
67. Krusseldorf - Fractal World (IDM/Downtempo)
68. David Andree & Josh Mason - Call, Response (Ambient)
69. Neneh Cherry - Blank Project (Art Pop/Jazzy R&B/Trip Hop)
70. Kangding Ray - Solens Arc (Minimal Techno)
71. Junius - Days Of The Fallen Sun (Post-Rock/Alt-Rock.)
72. Triptykon - Melana Chasmata (Thrash/Doom)
73. Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate (Alt-Country/Psychedelic Folk Rock)
74. Joose Keskitalo - Ylösnousemus (Singer-Songwriter/Folk)
75. Blut Aus Nord - Triunity [Split] (With P.H.O.B.O.S. Industrial Black/Doom)
76. Fennesz - Bécs (Ambient/Electroacoustic)
77. Planning For Burial - Desideratum (Drone/Shoegaze)
78. Eyehategod - Eyehategod (Sludge)
79. Sólstafir - Ótta (Progressive Rock/Atmospheric Sludge)
80. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos (Ambient/Modern Classical)
81. Yob - Clearing The Path To Ascend (Doom/Sludge)
82. Today Is The Day - Animal Mother (Sludge/Noisecore.)
83. Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire (Industrial Sludge)
84. Sinoia Caves - Beyond The Black Rainbow OST (Progressive Electronic/Horror Synth)
85. Darren Korb - Transistor OST (Downtempo/Game Music)
86. Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum (Industrial/Grindy Black Metal)
87. Sea Oleena - Shallow (Ambient Pop/Dream Pop)
88. Arcana Coelestia - Nomas (Blackened Funeral Doom)
89. Hauschka - Abandoned City (Modern Classical)
90. Her Name Is Calla - Navigator (Chamber Folk/Post-Rock)
91. The Meads Of Asphodel - The Middle Ages (Avantgarde Black Metal)
92. Emptiness - Nothing But The Whole (Experimental Death Metal)
93. Kairon; IRSE! - Ujubasajuba (Shoegaze)
94. Kiasmos - Kiasmos (Microhouse/Ambient Techno. Ólafur Arnalds is the other half of this group. Modern classical instrumentation and electronic beats. Chilly, pristine, evocative and even danceable.)


Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by IronAngel ]



Comments page 2 / 3

‹‹ Back to Lists
Comments: 62   Visited by: 95 users
07.05.2014 - 17:40
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Calling something "Epic" is about as valid and subjective as calling it "good". It is in no way official terminology, and I would never use it to actually label something.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 17:41
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Also, kudos for including Teebs, Valentin Stip, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, and a few other non-metal gems. Nice to see someone who can appreciate a wide range of music
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 17:42
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
contributor
Written by Alex F on 07.05.2014 at 17:40

Calling something "Epic" is about as valid and subjective as calling it "good". It is in no way official terminology, and I would never use it to actually label something.


Well it's the genre tag of the week right now, it's everywhere. Any atmospheric black metal tag I see is accompanied with "epic"
----
rekt
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 17:44
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by tea[m]ster on 07.05.2014 at 17:42

Well it's the genre tag of the week right now, it's everywhere. Any atmospheric black metal tag I see is accompanied with "epic"

That's quite bewildering to me. Just ignore it and hope it goes away I guess. There's really not enough differences in song structure or approach to differentiate these "epic" bands.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 17:47
Erik M.
Written by tea[m]ster on 07.05.2014 at 17:21

Right on Eric. So are we to assume this is a new form of black metal? Is 'epic' referring to length? Because all of those bands I mentioned they all have some loooong songs. Maybe the mean "massive", in scale, for overall sound.


No, "epic" is referring to the epic sound of the music: often drums add a majestic and bombastic feeling to the music, like is definitely the case with those songs I just posted. In some cases, like epic doom metal, the vocals add to the epicness as well, like in Candlemass' case. Summoning also has quite a few songs that are more epic because of the vocals. One of the best example would be this song:



Notice the majestic clean vocals that create a very uplifting and epic feeling to the music as a whole. Oh, and of course lyrics do definitely add to the epicness as well, in some cases. The chorus (clean vocals) of Farewell or example:

"Farewell, leave the shore to an ocean wide and untamed
Hold your shield high, let the wind bring your enemy your nightmare
By the bane of my blade, a mighty spell is made and
Far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain."

So basically it's drums, vocals and lyrical themes that make music epic, at least in my opinion. You can add synths/keyboards to that as well, which are mainly used to create a certain atmosphere.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 17:59
Erik M.
Written by Alex F on 07.05.2014 at 17:40

Calling something "Epic" is about as valid and subjective as calling it "good". It is in no way official terminology, and I would never use it to actually label something.


Wrong. While calling epic of course isn't totally objective, it's really objective to some extent. Would you call Candlemass epic doom or just doom metal? Calling them simply doom metal wouldn't be wrong, but it wouldn't be accurate either. Same goes for Summoning, whether you think they're boring or not. It's generally agreed and accepted that some bands play some sort of epic metal.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:05
IronAngel
I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I'm just happy my epic list gets undeserved attention as a by-product!

I could be a wise-ass and direct you to the definition of epic poetry. But personally, I'm of the opinion you know what's epic (in the musical sense) when you hear it.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:08
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 17:59

Wrong. While calling epic of course isn't totally objective, it's really objective to some extent. Would you call Candlemass epic doom or just doom metal? Calling them simply doom metal wouldn't be wrong, but it wouldn't be accurate either. Same goes for Summoning, whether you think they're boring or not.

Why though? You haven't provided and reasoning for it? In terms of song structure, composition, musical techniques, etc... Summoning is completely stereotypical of atmospheric black metal, and Candlemass are simply a standard Doom band.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:10
Erik M.
Written by Alex F on 07.05.2014 at 18:08

Why though? You haven't provided and reasoning for it? In terms of song structure, composition, musical techniques, etc... Summoning is completely stereotypical of atmospheric black metal, and Candlemass are simply a standard Doom band.


I haven't provided reasoning for it? If you scroll a bit up then you'll see my reasoning.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:11
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
contributor
Written by IronAngel on 07.05.2014 at 18:05

I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I'm just happy my epic list gets undeserved attention as a by-product!

I could be a wise-ass and direct you to the definition of epic poetry. But personally, I'm of the opinion you know what's epic (in the musical sense) when you hear it.


lmfao, we took over your thread IA !!! sorry,,,
ok you explain to me what the fuck is going on with this 'epic' genre tag...
----
rekt
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:11
Erik M.
Written by IronAngel on 07.05.2014 at 18:05

I don't know what the fuck is going on


Once again I'm the initiator of the shitstorm that's going on right now.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 18:18
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 18:10

I haven't provided reasoning for it? If you scroll a bit up then you'll see my reasoning.

This is the last I'll respond on the issue since we seem to have derailed Iron's list.
You didn't provide reasoning as to why it should be classified as epic, you provided reasoning as to why YOU PERSONALLY think it's epic. None of the information you provided was objective, and you simply said various things sounded "epic", which to me, they don't. They sound mundane and repetitive. If you want to classify something as "epic", go for it, but the fact of the matter is you simply can't argue that it's a valid GENRE TAG because there aren't any structural differences in the music. The differences between ambient black metal and standard black metal ala Emperor are clear and can be objectively defined. The differences between Summoning and other "atmospheric" black metal bands are virtually non-existent except for the actual melodies and production. NOW, no more on this, you can send me a PM if you really want to continue this conversation.

Iron, I think you may enjoy this. It's a pretty interesting mix of genres ranging from noise/ambient to folk
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 19:14
IronAngel
Oh I don't mind you having this discussion here.

Thanks for the Broads rec, I'll listen to it tonight.

We need to keep in mind that "epic doom metal" is a pretty established genre with certain stylistic features (which you can look up if you don't know), but the same doesn't seem to go for the "epic" tag in front of just any genre.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 22:46
Erik M.
Written by IronAngel on 07.05.2014 at 19:14

We need to keep in mind that "epic doom metal" is a pretty established genre with certain stylistic features (which you can look up if you don't know), but the same doesn't seem to go for the "epic" tag in front of just any genre.


Indeed. And for some reason Alex and Joe think it's not an official genre-tag, while in fact it's used pretty much everywhere. Candlemass is known for playing epic doom (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, does that ring a bell?), just like Summoning is known for playing epic black metal. Hell, there's even a T-shirt that "proves" this: Summoning - Epic Black Metal T-Shirt.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 22:59
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 22:46

Indeed. And for some reason Alex and Joe think it's not an official genre-tag, while in fact it's used pretty much everywhere. Candlemass is known for playing epic doom (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, does that ring a bell?), just like Summoning is known for playing epic black metal. Hell, there's even a T-shirt that "proves" this: Summoning - Epic Black Metal T-Shirt.

But there are no stylistic relations between Candlemass and Summoning, which highlights how fallible the term is and relatively useless as a descriptive genre tag.

Also, a t shirt doesn't prove anything or sway your argument. If it does I'm going to attest that Archgoat are "angelslaying black fucking metal" or Darkthrone "true Aryan black metal" my point being that bands put all kind of rubbish on their shirts. It doesn't make it official in any capacity.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 22:59
Erik M.
Written by Alex F on 07.05.2014 at 18:18

This is the last I'll respond on the issue since we seem to have derailed Iron's list.
You didn't provide reasoning as to why it should be classified as epic, you provided reasoning as to why YOU PERSONALLY think it's epic. None of the information you provided was objective, and you simply said various things sounded "epic", which to me, they don't. They sound mundane and repetitive. If you want to classify something as "epic", go for it, but the fact of the matter is you simply can't argue that it's a valid GENRE TAG because there aren't any structural differences in the music. The differences between ambient black metal and standard black metal ala Emperor are clear and can be objectively defined. The differences between Summoning and other "atmospheric" black metal bands are virtually non-existent except for the actual melodies and production. NOW, no more on this, you can send me a PM if you really want to continue this conversation.

Iron, I think you may enjoy this. It's a pretty interesting mix of genres ranging from noise/ambient to folk


Not saying MA is very trustworthy, but this and this would tell you something. Thousands of bands are labelled as epic doom or epic black metal it seems.

Look, both epic doom and epic black metal are generally accepted genre-tags. Fine by me if you want to disagree with that simply because you don't recognize epic music when you hear it.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:03
Erik M.
Written by Guest on 07.05.2014 at 22:59

But there are no stylistic relations between Candlemass and Summoning, which highlights how fallible the term is and relatively useless as a descriptive genre tag.

Also, a t shirt doesn't prove anything or sway your argument. If it does I'm going to attest that Archgoat are "angelslaying black fucking metal" or Darkthrone "true Aryan black metal" my point being that bands put all kind of rubbish on their shirts. It doesn't make it official in any capacity.


Often bands that play epic metal, whether it's doom, black or heavy, all have a similar kind of bombastic drumming. Lyrical themes, often fantasy and mythology, are also a thing they have in common. Generally the music is rather uplifting, although I know that's pretty subjective. I linked that T-Shirt to point it out, not to prove it hence why I wrote "prove".
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:08
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 23:03

Often bands that play epic metal, whether it's doom, black or heavy, all have a similar kind of bombastic drumming. Lyrical themes, often fantasy and mythology, are also a thing they have in common. Generally the music is rather uplifting, although I know that's pretty subjective. I linked that T-Shirt to point it out, not to prove it hence why I wrote "prove".

I don't think I've ever heard drumming define a genre by itself, aside from perhaps martial music. I'm not sure you get what "bombastic" means but I would never call Candlemass or Summonings drums that. Messiah was arguably a bombastic vocalist though, but then so are a lot of vocalists. And thousand of bands sing about fantasy and mythology and aren't regarded as "epic." Your argument mostly hangs on the idea that it's uplifting which is as you rightly pointed purely is down to the individual.

I'm glad to see we've come to an agreement here
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:17
Erik M.
Written by Guest on 07.05.2014 at 23:08

I don't think I've ever heard drumming define a genre by itself, aside from perhaps martial music. I'm not sure you get what "bombastic" means but I would never call Candlemass or Summonings drums that. Messiah was arguably a bombastic vocalist though, but then so are a lot of vocalists. And thousand of bands sing about fantasy and mythology and aren't regarded as "epic." Your argument mostly hangs on the idea that it's uplifting which is as you rightly pointed purely down to the individual.

I'm glad to see we've come to an agreement here


Nope, we haven't come to an agreement. What I mean by bombastic drums that create an epic feeling/atmosphere? Here you go:



I rest my case.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:20
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 23:17

Nope, we haven't come to an agreement. What I mean by bombastic drums that create an epic feeling/atmosphere? Here you go:

I rest my case.

You rest your case on the statement: "bombastic drums that create an epic feeling/atmosphere"

*facepalm*

Using the so-called elements you're trying to prove exist as part of the "proof" itself is definitely a new level of special from you
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:37
Erik M.
Written by Guest on 07.05.2014 at 23:20

You rest your case on the statement: "bombastic drums that create an epic feeling/atmosphere"

*facepalm*

Using the so-called elements you're trying to prove exist as part of the "proof" itself is definitely a new level of special from you


Okay, I admit I was somewhat trying to annoy you with my last post (I mean, come on, I'm not going to use circular logic, am I?).

The thing is, I never said it's a fact that it's epic black metal. I said that it's a generally accepted genre-tag and that Summoning is generally viewed as an epic black metal band. I know that doesn't necessarily make it true, but the reason an "epic" genre-tag is used is to differentiate between the styles of certain bands, like Summoning/Caladan Brood and say, Nasheim. Those bands can all be labelled as atmospheric black metal or just simply as black metal (since you think the "atmospheric" tag is nonsense as well), but that only makes the genre-tag less accurate. Fine by me if you don't care about that, but I do.

However, I do agree it's subjective to a certain extent, I never said it wasn't. You and Alex were the ones who claim it to be 100% subjective and that is just wrong, which I was trying to point out.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:46
Erik M.
But I do think the vast majority will agree with me on this, even though it's of course not 100% objective. That's the thing with art-related things: never is anything totally objective or subjective. When judging music, it mostly boils down to opinions, but never 100%. The fact that almost no-one seems to understand this annoys me sometimes.
Loading...
07.05.2014 - 23:52
Erik M.
Written by Guest on 07.05.2014 at 23:20

You rest your case on the statement: "bombastic drums that create an epic feeling/atmosphere"

*facepalm*

Using the so-called elements you're trying to prove exist as part of the "proof" itself is definitely a new level of special from you


Btw, I find it funny you do apparently accept the genre-tag DSBM or at least DBM. Just a thing that just now came to mind. Isn't something that is labelled as "depressive" just as subjective as labelling something "epic"? I'd say it is, but that still doesn't mean it's entirely subjective. However, if you agree with that, then we can finally end this discussion.
Loading...
08.05.2014 - 00:29
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 23:52

Btw, I find it funny you do apparently accept the genre-tag DSBM or at least DBM. Just a thing that just now came to mind. Isn't something that is labelled as "depressive" just as subjective as labelling something "epic"? I'd say it is, but that still doesn't mean it's entirely subjective. However, if you agree with that, then we can finally end this discussion.

Not really. I don't think anyone would say depressive characteristics are even slightly ambiguous. If someone is singing about pain, sadness and wanting to kill themselves then that's not really open to interpretation. Epic though, on the other hand, seems to me to be a lot more vague.

It's true though that DSBM is really only defined by the lyrics. Musically it could easily fall into regular black metal or ambient black metal most of the time, although on the whole I'd say it's a much more definable sound and image with probably a lot more similar sounding bands within it, as opposed to "epic" bands that play melancholic doom metal along with "epic" bands that play synthed-up black-ish metal and really share very little or anything in common.
Loading...
08.05.2014 - 00:33
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 07.05.2014 at 23:37

The thing is, I never said it's a fact that it's epic black metal. I said that it's a generally accepted genre-tag and that Summoning is generally viewed as an epic black metal band. I know that doesn't necessarily make it true, but the reason an "epic" genre-tag is used is to differentiate between the styles of certain bands, like Summoning/Caladan Brood and say, Nasheim. Those bands can all be labelled as atmospheric black metal or just simply as black metal (since you think the "atmospheric" tag is nonsense as well), but that only makes the genre-tag less accurate. Fine by me if you don't care about that, but I do.

However, I do agree it's subjective to a certain extent, I never said it wasn't. You and Alex were the ones who claim it to be 100% subjective and that is just wrong, which I was trying to point out.

Well "dark metal" is also a commonly accepted genre tag, and I think most of us here would disagree it's a nonsense genre. Just because it's used in a lot of places doesn't mean it shouldn't be open to discussion and scrutiny.

The only aspects of "epic" that isn't 100% subjective are the lyrical contents because that's really the only concrete, tangible term outside of metal that could relate to it. I think the idea that you think there's such a thing as epic drums is rather amusing As long as there's people that don't agree, within a logical and balanced perspective, of a certain feeling or emotion relating to a particular term or word, the idea of "epic" and "atmospheric" might as well be 100% subjective in this context, even if some people do agree with each other, because it becomes an inaccurate or misleading way to umbrella bands together.
Loading...
18.05.2014 - 16:36
PocketMetal
Have you listened to the new Wye Oak yet? Since you like Warpaint I thought maybe you'll enjoy them too.
Loading...
18.05.2014 - 20:12
IronAngel
Written by PocketMetal on 18.05.2014 at 16:36

Have you listened to the new Wye Oak yet? Since you like Warpaint I thought maybe you'll enjoy them too.


No I haven't. I've only ever heard their single Civilian (I think in 2011), but the full album never got on Spotify and I didn't care enough to look it up elsewhere. Thanks for the rec, I'll be sure to listen to it.

New Tori Amos is surprisingly good, by the way. It's still a bit hit-and-miss, but possibly her best album since Scarlet's Walk. I personally think she lost her magic after From the Choirgirl Hotel, but on a few songs she's still got it.
Loading...
18.05.2014 - 22:37
PocketMetal
Written by IronAngel on 18.05.2014 at 20:12


New Tori Amos is surprisingly good, by the way. It's still a bit hit-and-miss, but possibly her best album since Scarlet's Walk. I personally think she lost her magic after From the Choirgirl Hotel, but on a few songs she's still got it.


Yeah I like the new Tori Amos, there are some really good songs like "Trouble's Lament" and "Giant's Rolling Pin". I generally like female-fronted art/indie rock as a genre.
Loading...
25.05.2014 - 18:30
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
contributor
Here is one you might dig brother. Nothing available to play on the bandcamp page Just do a google search
Features vocals by Andrea Gibson.

http://hunt.bandcamp.com/album/dark-come-sooner
----
rekt
Loading...
13.08.2014 - 16:05
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Glad to see some love for Planning For Burial as well as Wreck & Reference. Two great Bay Area bands.
----
14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
Loading...

Hits total: 4128 | This month: 17