Heavy Metal

AUDIOECLECTICA RESEQUENCES: METALLICA- LOAD & RELOAD

NEW TOPIC ALERT!!!!

Audioeclectica and Sinister Reviews bring you a very exciting new topic all about, Resequncing The Album. We’ve all listened to albums that feel like songs are out of place or should be higher/lower in the track listing, even the way some songs start and end and what they go into. 

So with that in mind, Audioeclectica has joined up with Sinister Reviews to not just resequence but also combine Metallica’s albums Load and Reload. Both of us have spent a lot of time listening to these two underrated albums to bring you a definitive listening experience. This new version of the album is truly fantastic. It’s one of those that makes you realize if you’re hated on these two, you surely were missing out on great songs and music. 30 years for Load and 29 for Reload, have made them age like fine wine or scotch. The epic is even more epic now, and even the couple songs that people were not into, you’ll hear them differently now.

Without waiting anymore, enjoy the Audioeclectica Resequence of Load and Reload by Metallica. We like to call it…

(more…)

GUITAR SOLOS: METALLICA- ALL NIGHTMARE LONG

Back in 2008, Metallica released their “return to form album, Death Magnetic. This album marked a return to their “thrashier” days as well as more epic notes. Across the ten songs and seventy five minutes, there’s always been one song that from day one, has had my attention. Ever since I heard Metallica’s “All Nightmare Long, I’ve been mildly obsessed with it. Even the music video, directed by, RoboShodo, is stellar.

“All Nightmare Long” is an absolute banger of a song as well as one of my all time favorite Metallica songs. There’s heavy intensity of this song feels like it could have come out on …And Justice For All. In a fun way too there’s a little bit of a Slayer homage to the intro part. James Hetfield sounds masterful on this song both lyrically and vocally. Lars and Robert really gel on this song too, as they hit endless thrash and groove. The real treat though is Kirk Hammett. There’s not one but TWO absolutely killer guitar solos on “All Nightmare Long.” Personally, I don’t know what one is best, though I tend to gravitate toward the second one. This is one of those songs too, that needs to be played live a lot more by Metallica.

If it’s been a minute since you’ve listened to Death Magnetic, you should fix that. It’s quite the album. Plus right smack dab in the middle is this absolute masterpiece of a Metallica song! Enjoy “All Nightmare Long.”

Metallica- All Nightmare Long (Live):

Metallica- All Nightmare Long (Music Video):

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: CONVERGE- HUM OF HURT

Earlier this year, Converge released their tenth studio album, Love Is Not Enough. Right out of the gate that album hit you like a pile of bricks. Then a sudden left hook came out of nowhere and the announcement of a second album to be released a few months later. And now we have arrived at that time and Hum Of Hurt, is everything you’d hoped it would be and then some.

Never a band to rest of their laurels, Converge explore every single nuance of influence and inspiration on Hum Of Hurt. There’s a very up front and confrontational approach to a lot of these songs that comes from the depths of each member of the band. One of the best aspects of the album is the sense of groove. The abstract atmospheric elements ooze out of the rhythmic grooves and blasts. While Love Is Not Enough leaned more into metal territory, Hum Of Hurt leans more into noise rock and emotional hardcore. The combination of those and their signature sound, propels this album past the previous.

Each song has its own charm and place. The sequencing of the album is tremendously satisfying. The way the album starts with the very image inducing “Slip The Noose,” you know that this is going to be a record that will tighten your heart. “Doom In Bloom” into “It Only Gets Worse” is a stellar one two punch! Then comes a trifecta of oblivion and obliteration with “Detonator,” “I Won’t Let You Go,” and “It’s Not Up To Us.” At this point catching your breath is a smart idea as “Dream Debris” sweeps you into a new realm. Just as you think the dust has settled, you’re thrust into the final three songs “It Used To Matter,” “Hum Of Hurt,” and “Nothing Is Over.”

What is accomplished here in thirty three minutes is near legendary. This is the year of Converge. It’s started out that way and it’s continued. There’s a feeling to this record too that makes you want to hear it played live in full. I can only imagine the sonic boom of intensity from that. Hum Of Hurt is a soon to be classic not just for Converge but, the genre as a whole.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

By: Brian Lacy

Converge- Hum Of Hurt:

DEEP CUTS: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE- WE CARRY ON

During my album deep dive into Killswitch Engage, I was quickly reminded of a song of theirs that is truly one of the best in their entire repertoire. For this one we go back to the band’s 2016 album, Incarnate, and find it at track eleven, “We Carry On.”

“We Carry On” what a song! There’s a deeply impassioned vocal performance by singer/lyricist, Jesse Leach throughout the album but, when you get to this song in the course of listening, there’s just something truly remarkable. The weight of the lyrics bellow out of Jesse’s heart into direct hit of optimism and hope. Guiding this vocal is music that hits the right melancholic notes with just the right amount of heaviness to push through the wall and make it past it all.

Songs like this are magnetic and beautiful. I distinctly recall when I bought this CD back in 2016 (Happy Ten Year Anniversary!! By the way), I put it on my stereo at home, grabbed my headphones, went to my favorite spot, pressed play and read the lyrics as I listened. When I got to “We Carry On” there was an instant connection to the song. One of those gems that deep in the track listing.

As great as this song is, it’s only been played live four times. And all in 2023. You lucky 4 shows! Just going to put this out in the universe to put “We Carry On” in the setlist going forward!! It’s too damn good not to play it!

Killswitch Engage- We Carry On:

LIVE SHOW REVIEW: MELTED BODIES AT OBLIVION LA

Late last summer when I went to see Reba Meyers play a solo show, the direct support band that evening really caught my ears. It was one of those moments when you hear a band you know nothing about and it just makes sense. That band was Melted Bodies and I just got the chance to see them again and good golly were they just as awesome. 

(more…)

NEW MUSIC SPOTLIGHT: GENGHIS TRON- I AM ALL

The very awesome and genre smashing, Genghis Tron, has returned with an upcoming new album , Signal Fire, and first single, “I Am All.” The bands previous album, 2021’s, Dream Weapon, was beyond a welcome back album. In fact it’s one of those albums that the more the years go by, certain aspects of that record have come true.

This new album though, shifts from the apocalyptic dreams of the previous album, and into a very unhinged and volatile new world. Like the last one with the lyrical themes becoming reality, Signal Fire delivers an urgency that is very direct and precise. “I Am All” is not just the first single but first track on the album. This song is heavy and punishing as well as quite the soundtrack to the end times.

Signal Fire arrives June 12 via Relapse Records! I’m very impatiently awaiting this release!

Genghis Tron- I Am All:

ALBUM RANK UPDATED: TRIVIUM

For well over twenty years now and ten full length studio albums, Trivium have cemented themselves at the forefront of heavy metal. Each of their albums shows growth as a band and as songwriters. The word consistency is synonymous with Trivium as they have truly been working hard since their debut being out on the road and in the studio. The last three albums of theirs especially have put Trivium into the upper echelon of metal bands. Currently the band is working on their eleventh album with producer Josh Wilbur. In the mean time, check out this very definitive ranking of their ten albums.

(more…)

COVER SONG: METALLICA (KILLING JOKE)- THE WAIT

Ah yes the elusive cover song. My it’s been a long while since there was a cover song article on Audioeclectica. The musical landscape these days has so many cover songs that there needed to be a moratorium on talking about them. Seriously, how flooded did things get with all the covers that were coming out?! It feels like there needs to be a bit of a refresher when it comes to cover songs. The point of a cover is to make it your own and that more often than not doesn’t happen. Thankfully there are some bands out there that know how to do it right, like Metallica. Back in 1998, Metallica released their double covers album, Garage Inc. Across two CD’s, Metallica paid tribute to the bands that inspired them from Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, The Misfits, Discharge, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead and more. The cover of Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page” is one of the best covers of all time. But there has always been one cover on this album that has been a favorite of mine and that is their version of Killing Joke’s “The Wait.” Originally this cover was included on Metallica’s 1987 Garage Days EP. The Killing Joke version appears on their 1980 debut album. When you hear “The Wait” by Killing Joke, you can instantly tell that this band inspired and influenced Metallica. In fact you more than likely have heard this song used in countless films and TV shows. Let’s get cover songs back on track! Here’s a great way to start it off!!!

Metallica (Killing Joke)- The Wait:

Killing Joke- The Wait:

Metallica- The Wait (Live 1998):

NEW RELEASE: THOUGHTCRIMES- THE VIOLENT GARDEN

The very awesome Thoughtcrimes have released a brand new song and it’s the perfect way to start your week! “The Violent Garden” is a blisteringly heavy song, that will rattle your brain and cause you to want to start a mosh pit. Personally, I’m very excited about new Thoughtcrimes. Their previous album, 2022’s Altered Pasts, is still an album that is in my rotation. I highly recommend that album! Thoughtcrimes will be in Europe this February supporting Igorr. Let’s hope that a US tour is in the cards for later this year! Enjoy this new Thoughtcrimes track!

Thoughtcrimes- The Violent Garden:

AUDIOECLECTICA INTERVIEWS: JOHN BUSH

I’m very excited to bring you this interview. A few weeks back myself (Brian) along with my podcast co-host and friend Justin, had the opportunity to interview John Bush of Armored Saint/Category 7/ex Anthrax. We talk about growing up in Los Angeles at a very interesting time, Armored Saint, joining Anthrax and working with them, and of course, the John Bush plays Anthrax shows! Thank you John for taking the time! What a great show it was too! Our recap of The Whisky A Go Go show is here too! If you get the chance when it comes through, go see John Bush play his era of Anthrax songs. Seriously, it’s so damn good!!! Now, enjoy the interview below!!

Audioeclectica Interviews: John Bush:

STREAM THE INTERVIEW WITH OTHER OPTIONS BELOW:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/luckystarradio/audioeclectica-17-john-bush