Banging your head like it’s 1983: Satan “Life Sentence”

Best metal album of 2013, no metal band is touching this. This is freaking glorious. Makes me feel 12 again. Has that NWOBHM feel without sounding like a local band. Epic riffs and soaring vocals song after memorable song. Break out the air guitars and wave that fist with no shame.

A little history: Satan formed in 1979. They put out a forgettable 7″ in 1982 with a different vocalist. Before they realeaed their debut “Court in the Act” singer Brian Ross, of Blitzkrieg fame, joined the band. The album came out Ross left. They turned into Blind Fury then back into Satan, then into Pariah. Two members joined Skyclad with Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier. Satan reformed in 2004 for some European festivals.

Trial by Fire from Court in the Act.

Banging your head like it’s 1983: Satan “Life Sentence”

Review: Black Sabbath “13”

I’ve dreaded this. There is no good reason for this to exist. Maybe because of the mortality shock for Iommi. Other than that, this is not needed.

This is the best Ozzy has sounded since the 80’s. Is it studio trickery or real? Sounds real to me. Geezer and Iommi’s playing is top-notch. Brad Wilk’s drumming is fine, an improvement over Vinnie Appice who plods too much.

The music is fine. It’s not embarrassing but it sounds too much like an echo of earlier work. There are too many moments of “that kind of sounds like” going on here.

The middle of the album tracks 3 through 7 work best. There is a bit more life in those songs, not entirely Sabbath paint by numbers. A little expanding on well-traveled territory.

Lyrically “13” is ham-fisted in places, nothing really embarrassing, but nothing that stands out.

This doesn’t feel like an album. It’s 8 songs (11 if you get the deluxe version, adding 3 disposable songs) thrown together. It’s missing the vitality that even “Never Say Die” had. Sure you may not like “Never Say Die” but there was a feel to it. This just is.

I’ll take the first 33 seconds of “Air Dance” over this whole album.

Review: Black Sabbath “13”

Song of the Day: Manowar “March For Revenge”

Manowar. Ridiculous. Over the top. Funny. Awesome. From their second album 1984’s “Into Glory Ride”. Ross the Boss of Dictators fame on guitar. This really is fucking epic.

From the so dramatic middle through the end. I love this. There is no irony. No self awareness. Just metal.

Here is a taste of some lyrics.

Fallen brother as I hold closed your side
I fear this wound your last.
Mighty earth now doth drink your blood
And I remember days long past.
Your sacrifice so great, rest now take thy sleep
For you shall not awake, let revenge be sweet.
For when we march, your sword rides with me.

Song of the Day: Manowar “March For Revenge”

Song of the Day: Queensryche “NM 156”

Yes, I like Queensryche. Well to a point. Anyway this was really interesting to my ears in 1984. From the album “The Warning” this combination of mechanical, electronic elements and metal was great. A nice change of pace on a pretty traditional (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) metal album.

My thought was cool you could cross Gary Numan and Metal. Well that was wrong as I find most industrial metal tedious.

Song of the Day: Queensryche “NM 156”