Dear Stereogum,
I know in the past I've caused you pain, and I'm sorry. And I'll always be sorry 'till the day I die. And I hate this pen I'm holding because I should be holding you. I hate this paper under my hand because it isn't you. I even hate this letter because it's not the whole truth. Because the whole truth is so much more than a letter can even say. If you want to hate me, go ahead. If you want to burn this letter, do it. You could burn the whole world down. You could tell me to go to hell; I'd go, if you wanted me to. And I'd send you a letter from there.
Sincerely,
Jared Leto
I went into a chain record store in one of the biggest malls in Canada and was pleasantly surprised to find the Pyrrhon CD displayed on their new release wall, naturally I scooped it up - I guess Willowtip has better distribution than I thought! (I actually went in looking for the new Paradise Lost, which they DIDN'T have).
I may end up lowest rated next week for this, but...I can't be the only one who's not absolutely in love with the War On Drugs album, can I? Anyone? I'm trying to hear what everyone else is hearing, especially after reading Michael's jaw-dropping Premature Evaluation (and I read every word), but it's not threatening to crack my current rotation of EMA, Brand New and the new Quicksand song. Maybe it's because Granduciel's 80s influences are very different from what I was listening to in the the 80s? In any case, to each their own, I'm glad you all love it so much!
Me...four? I won't be the least bit surprised if this ends up as my AOTY, in fact I'm pretty much expecting it. Best band in the world right now, if you ask me. (What's that? Nobody asked me? Oh well...)
I wouldn't say that cover art is any worse than, say, the cover of Hot Cakes. (OK, maybe slightly, but I say that with great affection).
The new crop of boring-ass "classic-rock-inspired" bands like White Reaper could learn a lot from these guys. Sure they're easy to make fun of, but they're also SO MUCH FUN to listen to.
Speaking as a non-American who doesn't actually have to live under the Moron-In-Chief, one of the most depressing things about the Trump administration is the effect it's had on Michael Nelson's Metallica fandom.
(I say that in jest, obviously, but there's a kernel of truth to it. Not a dig at Kreator by any means either BTW, Gods of Violence is #1 on my year-so-far list)
I just have to register my disagreement with the "so far off the mark/betrayal" categorization of Wolverine Blues - Left Hand Path and Clandestine are two of my favourite metal albums of all time (especially Clandestine), but I consider Wolverine Blues to be on equal footing with those two. Even though it's a pretty severe departure style-wise, it's still an absolute classic in my estimation, the songwriting and the sheer intensity on that album are just off the charts.
You definitely should, it's the best record store in the city IMO, and not just for metal. (I actually went in to sell some CDs that I never listen to anymore, so if you see a bunch of Nevermore albums in the metal new arrivals section, those are - or used to be - mine!)
Went into Sonic Boom in Toronto earlier this week and was very pleasantly surprised to see this on the shelf (I don't know whether they had permission from Profound Lore to start selling it early, but I wasn't about to ask). I can't say anything that Michael hasn't already said a million times better, but yeah, this one is not to be missed.
I'll definitely miss your contributions to the Black Market, Michael (partly because your taste in metal seems to closely match mine, mostly because you're a fucking great writer) - having said that, I completely understand your reasons for stepping away. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who'll continue to look forward to reading your stuff, whatever the subject.
"It is my hope that the fiery spirit of dissent and individualism enshrined in the best metal will serve to lift people’s hearts as they grapple with the calamities ahead."
My sentiments exactly (and sorry I had to sort of butcher this line when I quoted it on Twitter!). The past ten days or so have ranged from depressing to downright terrifying for me, and I'm not even American, but while metal definitely has its share of "mealy-mouthed weenies" (to borrow Michael's term), it's also helped me get through some seriously tough times, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so. Bless you, Mille Petrozza!
I haven't even begun to process that incredible opening write-up, but as always, thanks to the Black Market crew for another great year. Even though metal is a relatively small part of Stereogum's coverage, you guys do a better job than most (if not all) of the "metal-only" sites out there. Can't tell you how much I look forward to Black Market Day every month - congrats, and keep it up!
(And also, here's my list...)
1. Cobalt
2. Kvelertak
3. Astronoid
4. Vektor
5. Asphyx - Incoming Death
6. Martyrdod
7. Sumerlands
8. Amon Amarth - Jomsviking
9. Metallica
10. Gojira
"I'm not sure I'd call Suicidal Tendencies a metal band" - I'd agree based on their overall discography, although Lights Camera Revolution is definitely a metal album IMO, and a great one (not to mention that the bass player on that album went on to join a little-known metal band whose name escapes me).
I was going to post this in the 50 Best Albums thread but I didn't want to get lost in the vast sea of comments over there, so I'm just putting it here: given how much great heavy music came out this year, I'm a little surprised to see only two metal albums make the 50 Best list. Guess I shouldn't be, given the overall makeup of the SG staff (I'm assuming that most of the Black Market crew don't get to vote on the overall list), but anyway...I really like both of the albums that did make it, just wish there had been a few more. And of course I'm anxiously awaiting the 50 Best Metal Albums list!
(Also, I was SO sure that Doug was going to turn this month's write-up over to Michael for his Metallica review. I would have put good money on it. Denied again!)
Can't thank you enough for including Brutally Deceased, that track KILLS (if you want to guarantee that I'll listen to an album, invoking mid-period Dismember is a sure way to do it).
"And what if — purely hypothetically — there are even better songs on Hardwired, and those songs are also locked-in, razor-sharp burners?"
I'm choosing to read that "purely hypothetically" as "absolutely, 100% definitely." I can't wait to hear the rest of the album - and if anything, that blurb isn't long enough, I hope you weren't kidding when you said on Twitter that the album review will be even longer!
I like both of these new songs better than anything on Death Magnetic, which, OK, I get the whole "damning with faint praise" thing, but I for one am optimistic about the new album.
As for Lars' drumming (and facial expressions) - the guy's 52 years old and is directly (or at least co-directly) responsible for at least four of the best metal albums ever made. I'm inclined to cut him some slack.
This August was the worst month of my life, but I for one am glad to have "Hardwired" in my life right now. When someone you love dies unexpectedly, I guess you tend to gravitate to things that are (or at least sound) familiar, and remind you of the person you've lost, and that song does it for me. Hate on it all you want, but it puts a smile on my face, which I definitely need right now.
I'm a bit late to the thrash recommendations discussion, but here's a few other "classic-era" albums that I'd highly recommend checking out:
Dark Angel - Leave Scars and Time Does Not Heal
Overkill - Years of Decay and Horrorscope
Sacred Reich - The American Way
Forbidden - Twisted Into Form
Devastation - Idolatry
Sacrifice - Forward To Termination and Soldiers of Misfortune
