Holy Flurking Schnit - So much new stuff!

Well, I've been on me jollies for a bit and come back to a mountain of things I really should get round to posting about. As much a reminder for me as anything, here is a list of what I've been pushing through my ears lately.

In Mourning - The Weight Of Oceans

I've had this colossus of melodic death metal on almost constant repeat for a fortnight, such is its epic scope, kick-ass riffs and progressive noodliness. From the opening track, aptly titled Colossus, I was hooked. Incorporating long, intricate instrumental passages, crushing death metal choruses and even a hefty dose of djent for good measure, it's as perfect a melodeath song as ever you could wish for. Straight on the best-of-year list, I think.

Krokmitën - BWV565 Redux

Following the 46 minute tech death behemoth that is Alpha-Beta, Krokmitën have put out this rather shorter 10 minute single. A tech death reworking of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D Minor incorporating everything I loved about Alpha-Beta along with those lovely, intricate classical riffs.

Sigur Rós - Valtari

Indulging my more relaxed, chilled out side, I've been giving the long awaited new album from Iceland's Sigur Rós a few spins. And relaxing it is. Although it is something of a step back, stylistically. Gone are the upbeat, lighthearted ditties of Með suð í eyrum ... and returning are the gritty soundscapes of Takk... And a welcome return it is. Easily comparable to the best the band have done before, and once again tragically uplifting in a way that only Sigur Rós seem able to perfect.

Delain - We Are The Others

The long, long, long delayed album from Dutch heavy rockers Delain has finally been released to coincide with a UK tour. Inspired by the tragic case of Sophie Lancaster, already a galvanising force in Britain, this is an album of songs for those who don't fit in. The sound seems to be leaning even further from what is traditionally considered symphonic metal and toward the more pop-oriented direction of more recent Within Temptation albums, incorporating a shed load of catchy hooks, singalongable choruses and some pretty cool cover art.

The Agonist - Prisoners

If there is one word I would use to describe Prisoners, it would have to be "loud". A relentless wall of sound fusing progressive metalcore (I dunno, I just made that up) with melodeath in a way that makes your ears bleed. Alissa White-Gluz is back on vocals, her growls giving any male singer a run for his money while alternating with ease between gutturals and cleans. It's a bit less complicated than I'd normally like, but it's not bad at all. Which is quite something given my usual tendency to run away on mention of the dreaded C word.

Andraste - The Secret Valley

This one I only listened to this evening, just prior to writing this very post. Purveyors of folk metal from Manchester, Andraste produce blackened folk metal with a somewhat jaunty feel. Definitely one to get your feet tapping, your morris dancing, and your tankard needing a refill!

Delain and Serenity @ Manchester Academy 3, 29/04/2011

Delain 29/04/2011, a set on Flickr.

Ever since hearing about Delain a couple of years ago, 23inertia has been on the lookout for them playing somewhere relatively local. They played Nottingham and Leeds last year, but never on a day we could go. But finally the waiting paid off and they finally played Manchester on, of all days, the Royal Wedding bank holiday Friday!

Symphonic power metal band Serenity were supporting. I'd never heard them before, although had heard the name, and assumed they were another female fronted band. Turns out not, and it's actually pretty good. Picked up the new album on the way out and, handily, got them all to sign it.

The warm up act were Lost In Thought, a UK prog metal band. The instrumental stuff was really good, and the lead guitarist should get another crack at songwriting. Not really our cup of tea though.

Great night, all in all. Academy 3 proved again to be a good venue, although the spiral stairs and merch stand were still a terrifying crush.

The Royal Shredding TME Style

Sorry about the awful title for this post.  Every where I look at the moment the phrase 'Royal Shredding' seems to be used for metal events happening this coming weekend ... so I used it too.  To be honest, I am very excited about the coming weekend as far as gigs are concerned.  We are having yet another gig weekend it seems.

We booked tickets to see Delain in Manchester earlier in the year.  Having missed out on seeing them in 2010 due to having so many gigs booked already in the month they were touring, I was keen to ensure we got tickets this time.  The gig happens to fall on the day of the Royal Wedding (29th April)!  This means that the rush after work we were expecting has been traded in for an extra bank holiday and a hike in the Peak District.  Lovely.

I discovered Delain through last.fm about 18 months ago and have become a massive fan.  Charlotte Wessels voice is so beautiful and striking.  That mixed with the catchy guitar riffs and the distinctive influence from Martjin Westerholt make Delain a completely awesome band.  I am looking forward to hearing some new material and finally getting to see them live.

Then on Saturday 30th we are venturing to Worksop to see the wonderful Northern Oak supporting Sanctorum and parody metal band Evil Scarecrow at The Frog and Nightgown.  When I first looked Evil Scarecrow up online I was slightly confused, then amused and finally wowed.  Take a listen to my personal favourite track: Blacken the Everything.

So there you have it.  Two very exciting gigs this weekend.  Sadly however, these are the last ones we have planned until Bloodstock.  This isn't on purpose, we are just struggling to find too much going on in our local area we fancy.  I am confident lots will come up and if not it might be a case of undertaking a 'random gig at Corp' night one weekend! :)