Doom Metal pages and blogs part one

This post is for those who are searching for useful blogs, doom metal sites etc. 

Sadly, there are not many sites that support doom metal. One of them was called Stonerrock.com and it met its end some time ago. It had some great reviews and interviews and it also had a shop sites, which still works http://www.allthatisheavy.com/sale.asp I really recommend it for finding some not so popular CDs and t-shirts...

http://www.doom-metal.com/

The next site is simply called Doom-Metal.com and it is the most popular doom metal site. This site has some good features like the bandlist and it also makes some nice interviews. Its weakness are weak reviews and its forum, which has some unfriendly and impolite people. In my option, this site supports more extreme doom metal bands ( Death doom, Funeral Doom).

Well, you can clearly see there are not so many sites about the doom metal.com. But what about the blogs that write about the doom metal?

The best Blog is called Doommantia( http://www.doommantia.com/). In my option it has good interviews and reviews. Its admin Ed knows a lot about the doom metal and heavy rock scene, but also others knows a lot. I am regularly checking this blog and its forum.

*Due to limited time I have those days, I will make the second part probably tomorrow... I will write about the other recomended Blogs...

Witchfinder General- Friends of Hell

I don't think I have to mention the importance of Witchfinder General to an any Doom Metal and NWOBHM fan. Along with Pagan Altar, they were the only band in NWOBHM doom scene who released a full length album. This is their second album and their last with their singer Zeeb Parkers. Afterwards they have split in year I don’t know. They have reformed in 2006.

At the beginning looks at the cover art. The band is standing in front of the church and attacking/torturing some women (probably they are prostitutes). It is really a cool cover art. A special thing about Witchcraft General is that the band had similar motives on the first cover art Woman and a religious symbol (on the first album there was a grave). A cover art show us some of the lyrical themes WG use on their records: Sex, woman, witches, occultist/ religious themes and drugs.

The riffs are strong, heavy in doomy songs such as Love on Smack, Last Chance, Friends of Hell and Quiteus. The guitarist Phil Cope is also strong is ballad types of songs, he plays very sentimental in song I lost you. He has even improved and I think even Tony Iommi would be proud on him for displaying such a skill on guitar work. Sadly, the others guys are not Bill, Ozzy and Geezer. Zeep Parker speaks at the same register as Ozzy does, but he often sounds cheesy ( Music and I lost you). His lyrical work is good at some song but again his lyrical and vocal work ruined the song I lost you. Bassist has some moments and it is better than on the first effort, but it is still weak on some songs. Drums are very average.

So why are WFG so classic, cult band within the doom metal scene? Their music is quite unoriginal (they are usually considered as Sabbath clones). This album tried to capture the music, the style of Black Sabbath and thus they have influenced many newer bands including Hour of 13. They were one of the first bands who played true Doom metal and that are why this albums earns a classic standard. It has many mistakes and it is absolutely not perfect, but some songs are classic masterpieces. The strength of those songs were important for that time, for future and for now.

The Rumors are not true after all!

I won't explain you the story; you can check it by yourself. I am really happy that they are back.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/08/16/black-sabbath-to-reform-with-original-line-up-and-new-studio-album-97319-29245431/

Edit: things are getting complicated http://www.black-sabbath.com/news/index.html

Edit 2: Black Sabbath Reunion ( Tony Iommi)

"I'm saddened that a Birmingham journalist whom I trusted has chosen this point in time to take a conversation we had back in June and make it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion.At the time I was supporting the Home of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly, "Are you getting back together?"Thanks to the internet it's gone round the world as some sort of "official" statement on my part, absolute nonsense.  I hope he's enjoyed his moment of glory, he won't have another at my expense.to my old pals, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, sorry about this, I should have known better.All the best, Tony "

Have Original line-up of Black Sabbath really reunited?

I don't know if this us true or just a rumour, but the website Metaltalk posted an article that the Original Black Sabbath lineup ( Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, Bill) has reformed. I don't if it is true or not ( in fact in suspect it is just a rumour). I looked on Black Sabbath online fan page and they didn't confirmed or rejected it yet. Also Tony and Geezer didn't comment this rumor. And remember what Geezer said some time ago:

"I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumours, that there will be definitely NO reunion of all four original members of Black Sabbath, whether to record an album or to tour.Geezer Butler"

So we will see about it...
 a link: http://www.metaltalk.net/news/2010882.php

Trouble- Run to the Light

Anyone who is a fan of Traditional Doom Metal and/or Stoner metal, knows the name of Chicago doomsters Trouble. Everybody should also know that they made a classics like Psalm 9 and Run to the Light and The Skull, which is an unappreciated gem for me. Run to the Light is Trouble third studio album and it slightly different from the The Skull. Firstly the Line-up has changed on the rhythm section. The biggest change is probably on the lyrics: they are more miserable and darker. Also biblical themes are not present on the album although the Trouble were still blessed by the Christ at that time...

There are some changes on musical territory. This is probably the most up-tempo album so far and album is even more influenced by psychedelic rock and progressive music. Otherwise it is like old Trouble you know. There are a lot of rhythm changes: From really slow doom parts to speed metal parts. Double guitars attack reminds me of an imagined combination of Iommi and Adrian Smith.
Sadly this is the last Trouble Doom Metal era record. On the next album they changed directions to Stoner Metal and I can't enjoy the Stoner Metal era so much as I enjoy the old Trouble. There is one complain on this record, that the album is really too short, because there are only 8 songs here and the full duration is only 38 min.

Personal highlights are: On Borrowed Time, Run to the Light, The beginning

The blog will be closed for some time...

You have probably seen that that i haven't posted a post for some time. The reason is, that I am working right now and posting takes me some time.... I will try to post at least one review in this week, so be patient and have a good time.

Jan

Saint Vitus- Saint Vitus

(This review is dedicated to Armando Acosta, who died on 25.12.2010. RIP Amando)

This is classical doom metal album and arguably it is the first real Doom Metal song. Of course, Black Sabbath had their Doom Metal songs, but they hadn’t truly “created” a scene. Like all traditional Doom Metal, Saint Vitus are influenced by Black Sabbath and the most influential Hardcore Punk band Blag Flag. Saint Vitus were also signed at SST records, which was Greg Ginn’s own label. An interesting fact is that Saint Vitus influenced Black Flag on My War album.

An album could be divided on two parts: first part is consisted of two tracks: Saint Vitus and White Magic/ Black Magic. The second part has three tracks: Zombie Hunger, The Psychopath and Burial at Sea. So why was I writing about Saint Vitus influences and why have I divided a début album on two pieces? All songs on those two parts have their own influence: the influence on the first part is mainly Black Flag and songs in second part are mainly influenced by Black Sabbath.

Let’s finally start with the main part of the review. First song is self- titled track Saint Vitus. It has punkish riff -Black Flagish riff. The tempo is mid paced and lyrics are about the saint called Vitus and they have a warning purpose. Reagers ( vocalist) is singing really passionately here.

Next song: White Magic/ Black magic gave an inspiration for the name of this blogJ. It is really one of my favourites. It is again mid paced tempo, but in the end there is a doomy riff and slow tempo. The songs ends with Reagers’s shout You Optimistic Fool and it is really a memorable end of the song. Saint Vitus's lyrics were always great and usually actual. This is no excepcion ( they are probably about someone who wants to seize power and none can stop him at the end).

Next three songs are slow-paced. Slow riffs create a depressed atmosphere and solos in them are emotional and in vain of Iommi and Hendrix. All of them are not so memorable as first two, but that is typical for Doom Genre...

Highlights are certainly the Scott Reagers performance, lyrics and Dave Chandler’s solos. This album is not perfect. There are some mistakes with repetition and in my option the next album is even better...