Headbalisser

1 L’Enfant Sauvage – Gojira

(Drum rolls… the ‘Best Record of the Year’ goes to… the French metallers!) Although Gojira already possessed mountains of fans and a solid discography, the band is widely considered to be the breakout metal act of 2012. The band unveiled ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’ to universal acclaim, successfully balancing the band’s key components of brutality, beauty and progression with flawless production attached. For songs like ‘The Axe,’ ‘Explosia,’ the title track and much more, we say ‘merci beaucoup’ to Gojira.

2 The Anomalies of Artificial Origin – Abominable Putridity

This album is hands-down the top slam death album of the year. The record takes off with an eerie intro, paving the way for a conceptually charged mindless assault of every orifice of the human body. Crushing bass lines lend their support to the ultimately over-the-top chugging riffs, giving the album a very immense feel, as if the music itself is a weapon of mass destruction. Topped off with some more technical riffs that appear in shorter spurts, injecting a quick dose of creativity into the songs.

3 Sorrow and Extinction – Pallbearer

Upon its release in February, the Little Rock, Ark., quartet’s debut Sorrow and Extinction immediately felt like a classic. Uplifting vintage doom fleshed out with psychedelia, prog melodies, and subtle ambient keys– are as fresh as they were on that first spin. Piloted by Brett Campbell, a singing vocalist/guitarist who straddles a sweet spot between young Ozzy and Geddy Lee, Pallbearer have a rare ability to write emotionally resonant guitar parts and epic dynamic arcs that don’t lose their ability to give goosebumps.

4 The Parallax II: Future Sequence – Between the Buried and Me

‘The Parallax II: Future Sequence is metal music’s greatest conceptual accomplishment of the year. Set in outer space, BTBAM have created the most complex music you’ll ever zone out to, performed by the strongest group of pure musicians within the realm of metal. Much like the band’s 2007 album, ‘Colors,’ the record takes unexpected twists and turns while sonic plates spin without the slightest wobble.

5 Resolution – Lamb of god

Lamb of God continued their streak of creating addictive “pure American metal” with ‘Resolution.’ The band stays the course with their latest album, with powerful consistency and flawless execution. While there is no mistaking the album’s tracks as anyone but Lamb of God, the band experiments with some doom with ‘Straight for the Sun’ and spoken word parts with ‘King Me.’ Add pummeling tracks such as ‘Desolation’ and Ghost Walking,’ and you’ve got a killer album.

The date was April 26, 2012 when after years of waiting, the dream of all Filipino Avenged Sevenfold followers finally came true. And it was every bit of what we dreamt and more.

It was only early in the afternoon but I already saw a few kids in front of Smart Araneta Coliseum, probably in the Patron Standing and Upper Box B section and they wanted to get a better spot for the show. I also saw a few who are pretty much known in the local rock and metal scene such as members of Jejaview, Intolerant, Valley of Chrome and Typecast.

Local band Slapshock opened the show with a few of their hits. Even though I’m not a big fan, I and everyone else should give them credit for being one of the best live bands in the country, they were explosive and an appropriate opener for the 2012 best live band Avenged Sevenfold.

After the Slapshock set everyone started chanting A7X, it was such a great scene. The lights went off and everyone started going nuts as the eerie intro for the song NIGHTMARE started playing in the background. And then the members started showing up one by one and everyone went wilder as the song went fast and heavy.  Everyone was banging their heads off and singing along. Shadows did an amazing job, he was impressive, and his voice gave me goose bumps throughout the night. He was hitting every note perfectly. After Nightmare the band didn’t give the fans time to breathe as the organ intro of CRITICAL ACCLAIM kicked in and, after long years of waiting, I have finally witnessed the two guitarists doing the dual lead section of the song side by side. Zacky the left handed one on the left side and Synyster the right handed one on the right side. And they did this multiple times throughout the show. It was a sight to remember and it sent chills throughout my body. During the chorus you can hear Rev’s vocals in the background; it was a teary moment for A7X fans as we remembered the great fallen one.

After the song Matt then introduced their current touring drummer (soon permanent hopefully) Arin Ilejay the former drummer of Confide who was precise and amazing the whole show, The Rev would be proud. He did a short drum solo as the fans cheered for him and then the band jumped in to the song WELCOME TO THE FAMILY and ALMOST EASY. My high school hero Johnny Christ kept on head banging, smiling and pointing to a few people in the crowd, such an amazing performer.

The band then slowed things down with the song BURIED ALIVE which I thought was one of the best parts of the show because during the heavy section of this song Matt took a fan named Nicole on stage and let her sing with them. She hurried up and attack hugged Matt before singing. She did a pretty good job! Everyone cheered for her because of that, people would have booed if she sucked. She was jumping around head banging and singing her lungs off. Before she went down back to the crowd she gave each member a hug. I saw her asking for guitar picks too, who wouldn’t right? I know I would. Same thing happened on the song SO FAR AWAY where Matt took another fan that chose to play the bass. And he was good too! I saw Johnny smiling clapping at the back while the dude was playing. They dedicated this song for The Rev and so we sang along to this with all our hearts.

The band then continued to play heavier songs such as AFTERLIFE and my personal favorite from what they played during that night, BEAST AND THE HARLOT, I was going nuts during that song! They then played a crowd favorite A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN. A big LOL moment when Matt said “Let’s talk about Necrophilia.” and the crowd cheered then he told us “You guys are sick fucks by the way.” Yes Matt, we are sick fucks!

They were supposed to end the show with another crowd favorite BAT COUNTRY. (Of course they were just saying it.) After that song the lights went off again.

The crowd started chanting “WE WANT MORE!” over and over again, me and the rest of the Upper Box A people started stomping our feet on the wooden floor as we demanded for an encore. We made the earth shake! Then they came back for the ballad FICTION and then segued for the best closing song ever, UNHOLY CONFESSIONS. This is where it went on to another level, the pits weren’t just in the Patron section but in the Upper Box A and B as well! It was the best way to end the greatest night of our lives. Matt then promised to come back again and again. Until then, we’ll be waiting.

This was definitely the best concert I’ve been to. I don’t think any band can top what I felt during this show. Matt, Johnny, Zacky, Synyster and Arin did a job well done. They were perfect; they do deserve the title of best live band. A dream came true for the Filipino deathbat army. And if you love Avenged Sevenfold too and you missed this show, then I feel sorry for you. If I didn’t have the money I would have done all sorts of things just to get cash for this show. I would have sold some of my things, help the next door neighbor to clean up their house, feed their dog, cook their food, and babysit their child for a few extra bucks. Dayly Entertainment did a great one this time, I will always remember April 26, 2012 for the rest of my life.

Words : Aaron James Photos : Ed Clinton Go / Yelli Alvarez

Release Date: March 06, 2012

Buffalo metalcore band Every Time I Die brings new, darker music with their new album Ex Lives. You will not expect any bs stuff from this album; it starts off with the first single “Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space” followed by a relentless one called “Holy Book of Dilemma” that will surely induce moshing and crowd surfing on a live show. Keith Buckley is pissed in this one. The signature aggression of his screams can be found throughout the record so I think ETID fans will definitely not be disappointed.

Amazing riffs that can make one go nuts courtesy of Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams, these are especially highlighted on the song “I Suck (Blood)”. These elements are also present on the song “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow” where Keith is a bit playful with the southern vocals. He definitely stepped up his game in this record. Come to think of it, the whole ETID boys went to a new level on this one. New drummer Ryan Leger is as intense as a Gatling gun on World War. I do hope he keeps this up. I have not enjoyed an ETID record as much as this in a long time.

Amidst all this new-found intensity, there are segues where one can notice how ETID pushed the envelope this time around with the intoxicating track “Revival Mode” where again features Keith’s diverse vocal style, and the aforementioned “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow”. This record ends with a song called “Indian Giver” that starts off with a mosh friendly vibe but changes its pace to a more mellow tune that can make one high as hell.

All in all, I think Ex Lives can be the metalcore record of the year. Every Time I Die really outdid themselves this time. And yes even though a part of the metalcore scene, they cannot be compared with anyone else, they established their own sound. And after listening to this record, other bands should step up because these guys just set the bar up very high.

Words: Aaron James

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Release Date: January 31, 2012

Bleeding Through is a six-piece metalcore band from Orange County, California well known for the mixture of Hardcore and Black Metal in their definitive sound.

The band just recently released their 7th full length album entitled “The Great Fire” via Rise Records. The band took a more aggressive and brutal direction in this album. The opening track “The March” features some amazing chugging riffs and the band’s signature orchestral sound (courtesy of the keyboard player Marta Peterson) which slowly draws you in for the sonically charged “Faith in Fire” which is a fast heavy song with a mix of the ever popular breakdowns, this formula can also be heard throughout the album with songs like “Everything You Love Is Gone”, “Step Back In Line”, “Deaf Ears” and “One By One”.

There are a couple of breathers amidst all the brutality like the anthemic clean vocals on “Final Hours”, “The Devil and Self Doubt” and “Trail of Seclusion” will make you think for a second that you were listening to a different band. And there is the song “Starving Vultures” where the keyboard stands out among the rest, it makes you feel like you’re in a chase scene in an old horror movie.

The album ends with the track called “Back to Life” which is the perfect ender for a show that will surely induce a huge final mosh with its chugging riff intro, kind of reminds me of their old song “Revenge I Seek”.

All in all I gave this album a score of four out of five. Why? Granted this is no “Portrait of the Goddess” or “This Is Love, This Is Murderous” but this is definitely one of the best releases recently in the “core” movement. With all the whiny autotune crabbing core bands out there that produce below average music, “The Great Fire” is truly a diamond among the coals.

Words: Aaron James

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 Release Date:  September 13, 2011

Label: Roadrunner Records

With an album title that only hints at the unbridled chaos that has engulfed Dream Theater’s world over the last year, this first album without drummer Mike Portnoy is a pivotal moment in the band’s twenty six year history. With an expectant fan base, Dream Theater quite simply had to deliver a “classic” Dream Theater album. If they moved too far away from their blueprint, or stacked the album with “filler”, they would be immediately be castigated for letting Portnoy leave in the way he did and for rebuffing his attempt to rejoin the band a few weeks later. The central reason Portnoy cited for his departure was that he felt that the band had become stale and that they needed an extended break to recharge. Put simply, he felt that if the band were to survive, something needed to change in order for them to create truly special albums once again. The ultimate irony here is that by leaving, Portnoy has provided that spark, and indeed Dream Theater have returned with a fresh and frankly stunning album in A Dramatic Turn Of Events.

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Atavist

OTEP

Victory Records

Release date April 26, 2011

Ok folks, I got this album months ago and I still cant wrap my head around its message. It means SERIOUS business! with a spine chilling intro and an orgasmic end, Otep’s latest ablum Atavist is a must have.  I dropped the treble and turned up the bass on “Drunk on the Blood of saints” and I completely juiced up my pants! while “Skin of the Master” felt like my thoughts down a few shots of absynth, smoked some crack and had a total melt down. Otep’s words bore through my flesh and savagely mangle my soul. Her voice is that of a beautiful, seductive goddess of destruction. I don’t know about you but even though this may sound like “angry music”, I find myself at ease and in perfect solitude when I i listen to any of their albums. Just like “U R WMN NOW” from “Smash the Control Machine”, Atavist’s “We Dream Like Lions” soothes my spirit and and cradles my ego in an icy yogurt bath as bleed out on the bathroom floor. I’m dying to see the video for “Baby’s Breath”. I can only imagine the sound of the beast hammering her skull in over and over and over and over. A mortifying yet arousing sight. I’d hate to be her. The entire ablum is a mesh of anger, control, brutality and passion. Otep never fails to churn my marrow.

Words: BrainDeadMaggot

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