Staff Blog: Music for the Masses

Music for the Masses

On 09/21/2015 at 12:33 AM by Blake Turner

Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss

It's been a while since I've heard a title so accurately sum up an album. Abyss. This album is dark. It's heavy. It's deep. It was written by James Cameron.

Okay, that last part is a lie.

The best way to describe this album would be to imagine Florence and the Machine joined an apocalypse cult full of Trent Reznors and Ozzy Ozbournes who were exchanging various substances between them and being generally depressed about life.

It's... not metal, but it feels like metal. At times, I'd say it is metal. It's singer songwriter-ish indie-ish rock-ish darkwave-ish electronica with some doom and black metal thrown in for good measure. It's creepy and awesome, check it out.

Ghost - Meliora

Are you up for some hardcore Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath tributing? Look no further.

Tribulation - Children of the Night

It's Ghost, but with death metal. Yeah, I kind of went through a 70's phase for a while.

Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever

Yo, Explosions in the Sky, get shorter album titles! This is one of my favourite albums of all time, and a great palat cleanser after all that darkness. It's simply fucking beautiful. Enjoy!

Ranger1

09/21/2015 at 12:24 PM

Thanks for sharing these, Blake. I liked all four of them, and really enjoyed the first and last enough to possibly go lookin for more of their music.

Blake Turner Staff Writer

09/21/2015 at 11:10 PM

Gotta be honest Tami, wasn't expecting you to like the metal stuff. Glad you enjoyed it though.

09/22/2015 at 05:45 PM

I constantly surprise people with what I like in terms of music. My nieces and nephews like talking about music with me because they know I'll give whatever they're into an objective listen, and if it's not my thing, that's exactly what I'll tell them. They're used to adults telling them their music sucks, and to have one who is willing to at least listen to it (And frequently like it), gives them hope for us old geezers.

KnightDriver

09/22/2015 at 02:08 AM

I just picked up that Explosions album. Friend of mine says Mogwai is better of that style, but whatever. I liked their first album, so I'll listen to this one too.

09/22/2015 at 04:07 AM

Doesn't matter if Mogwai is better, Explosions is still fucking phenomenal. You like any other post rock?

09/22/2015 at 04:25 PM

I had to look up post-rock. The term I heard before was "slowcore" from a friend of mine. I'm not familiar with the groups of this style, until now. I'm intriged.

mothman

09/22/2015 at 08:35 PM

You need some God Speed You Black Emperor and Sigur Rós too.

09/22/2015 at 11:58 PM

Also Slint, Jesu, and God is an Astronaut. And Swans. And... I should do a post rock/post metal blog.

09/24/2015 at 04:26 PM

Yes please.

09/24/2015 at 04:28 PM

I second that because I'm too fuckin' lazy to do it myself.

Alex-C25

10/03/2015 at 11:22 PM

09/22/2015 at 08:31 PM

I don't think Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky is an either or choice. The correct answer is both. :P

09/24/2015 at 04:25 PM

Right.

09/22/2015 at 08:26 PM

Great stuff once again Blake. Chelsea Wolfe was creepy and kind of made me think of The Golden Palominos Dead Inside album (but only for the creep factor) That album is frikkin' dark.

09/23/2015 at 12:00 AM

Yeah. That album is also heavy with atmosphere and quite dissonant in places. Both make me uncomfortable - in a good way - so I can understand the comparisons even if they are completely different in almost every other way.

10/04/2015 at 03:52 PM

I already heard of Chelsea Wolfe since someone showed one of their songs on a forum I frequent. I really liked the atmosphere it the song conveys.

Ghost has been making the rounds lately not only in the Metal world, but also seems to be on the Music world in general and they definitely have the hype. Really great song overall.

That Tribulation song was pretty damn good. I actually decided not to hear the song of Explosions in the Sky because of the 240p quality of the video. Sorry, but my headset is very exigent :P

Overall, another fine entry of your usual music blogs.

10/04/2015 at 09:25 PM

Weird. Mine says 720p.

PixlBit