mike portnoy

Album Review: Between the Buried and Me — “Colors II”

Ian1 Comment

What is there to say about Between the Buried and Me that hasn’t already been said?  What is there to say about Colors that hasn’t already been said?  Between the Buried and Me are one of those very special bands where everyone has a different favorite album by them.  However, for the overwhelming majority, it’s Colors, which is pretty near universally beloved.  How, and why, then, would the band ever try to put out an album like Colors II, one that at first glance might seem like a quick and easy way to cash in on something that they know will be a home run.  Taking a deeper look, however, reveals this release as something much more important and much more personal.

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Donuts & CANTO: Scorpions, Megadeth, Nine Inch Nails and more!

DanLeave a comment

scorpions-band-on-tour
Scorpions

March 22, 2017

Good morning, it’s time to metal. Here’s some news you might have missed from yesterday:

  • It appears Scorpions and Megadeth will be touring together this fall. Granted, this is just a single show announcement — for an October 7 date at the LA Forum — but it does mention something called the “Crazy World Tour,” so…there’s your two and two. Maybe I’ll finally get a chance to see reverse-aging phenomenon Rudolf Schenker in person!
  • If you’re in the Los Angeles area, congratulations! Nine Inch Nails have announced their first show in three years, and it’s in your area! (At this year’s FYF Fest on July 23) If you’re not in the Los Angeles area, you get nothing and like it.
  • It’s been a while since Mike Portnoy annoyed his way out of a band, so luckily for all of us, it looks like he’s got a new one in the works! Maybe. Rumors are suggesting it’ll be with ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian and ex-Guns ‘n’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal. I give it about seven months until he’s unemployed again.
  • Judas Priest have officially entered the studio to record the follow-up to 2014’s Redeemer of Souls. Or at least, that’s what their Instagram would appear to suggest. Maybe they’ve just gotten Tom Allom and Andy Sneap to pose for pictures just to fuck with us. Who knows?
  • According to frontman Chuck Billy, Testament is aiming to have the follow-up to last year’s Brotherhood of the Snake out in 2018. I wonder if a condensed recording schedule will lead to a less conspiracy theory-y album?
  • And finally, we here at Nine Circles were pretty big fans of the last Novembers Doom album, Bled White. So naturally, we’re pretty stoked to hear a new song from them! Check out the lyric video for “Zephyr” below:

The band’s new album, Hamartia, will be out April 14 on The End Records. Anyway, that’ll do it for now — check back this time tomorrow for our next edition!

Keep it heavy,
Dan

CANTO: A curious cover of “Raining Blood”, and a mesmerizing video for Cult of Luna/Julie Christmas’ “Chevron”

CoreyLeave a comment

th

“Reason as name, reason as light. Descending to the sink of iniquity. To bond the bright flame of old mother night. Extending his reign, defining ubiquity.”

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– Corey

The Nine Circles ov…NOT Listening to Dream Theater

Dan1 Comment

dream-theater

At one point this past weekend, Spotify decided to recommend that I listen to Dream Theater. I’m not sure where this particular recommendation came from—perhaps I listen to more overly-wanky prog metal than I’m cognizant of?—but…it happened, and I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly for a couple of days.

There’s quite a long list of both pleasant and unpleasant things I’d rather do than listen to these overly-self-indulgent Berklee College of Music alums, and so absent a proper Nine Circles ov list this week, I’ve decided to try to distill that list into a more manageable portion to fill the void. So without further ado, I present The Nine Circles ov NOT Listening to Dream Theater: Continue reading →

Canto: Abbath’s new lineup, Mustaine’s favorite Megadeth guitarist and more

CoreyLeave a comment

abbath new band

Look at this—you’re getting two whole days of Quickies from me this week! Yes, Corey’s off doing Boston things and birthday things, (bEARTH-day things?) so you get me again. Let’s not waste any time—here’s what we missed in the metal world today:

What a song, what an album, what a band. Anyway, that’ll do it for tonight. Check back tomorrow for more!

Keep it heavy,

-Dan

Live. Love. Plow. Horns Up.