Coal Chamber April 16, Worcester Palladium

"Ain't no grave gonna hold my body"

A photo posted by GreenChamber (@greenchamber) on Apr 4, 2013 at 8:23am PDT

I want to take you back in time a bit - to the 90's. And I know what you're thinking: ‘ugh, why the 90’s?’ or 'hey, I could be watching cat videos right now,' but just stay with me... Every decade claims highs and lows in music. In terms of rock, we witnessed power metal giving way to grunge and then the myriad of sub genres that would follow into the turn of the century. For me, it was a time in which radio heavily influenced my taste - in part because the radio was free and because I didn't have money of my own to purchase music. I had to save a lot pennies to buy my first CD player, let along all the music I wanted to play on it. As I explored more music, I leaned toward louder and heavier. Coal Chamber played a big part in my musical education.

When I heard that Coal Chamber was getting back together for shows in Australia, I was more than a bit excited. Coal Chamber was one of the first bands to introduce me to dark, heavy music. I had their CDs and had to copy their music onto cassette tapes for my car. I don't remember the first time I heard a Coal Chamber tune, but I can still picture that recordable cassette tape, its clear plastic case, white label and two words scrawled as neatly as I could manage: "Coal Chamber." There was nothing better than driving around after school with the windows down, blasting "Loco" as loud as my pithy speakers could handle. And it didn’t matter who was driving with me - I assumed everyone needed to experience this music. After they disbanded, I faithfully followed lead singer Dez Fafara to Devildriver and that opened my world to so many other bands.

After much hype and anticipation, a US tour was announced, and I didn’t hesitate in buy my tickets for their show in Worcester with Lacuna Coil and Sevendust. Following Dez and the rest of the band on Twitter gives you a sense that these guys are friends and love playing together. Perhaps time can heal many wounds. This seemed like so much more than a band’s reunion tour. In fact, don’t even call it a reunion tour. Coal Chamber picks up with the songs they left us with all those years ago and takes it a another level

From Chela Rhea Harper's taunt opening bass riff on “Loco” to the final chorus of “Sway,” Dez and co put on an utterly transformative show. I’m going to say it... This may have been one the best shows of any band that I have ever seen. They sounded great, which at the Worcester Palladium can be a challenge. Somehow Dez's vocals overcome all obstacles and he commands a stage like few others can. He shares his love, his thoughts, and his life with his fans - asking only for their electric energy in return. Meegs Rascon's eerie guitar work and Mike Cox's thunderous drumming brought to life songs that have sat mostly idle for more than a decade. I'd go as far to say that new life has been infused - these songs sounded like they came from an album released this year - with all the affect and emotion of a band passionately playing the music they love and tearing the place apart in the process. Most of set came from tracks of their first and third albums, but I was happy to hear “Not Living” and “No Home,” off of Chamber Music. Nothing left out and nothing held back. As it should be.

Setlist (from Setlist.fm)

1.      Loco

2.      Big Truck

3.      Fiend

4.      Rowboat

5.      Something Told Me

6.      Clock

7.      Drove

8.      Not Living

9.      Dark Days

10.  I

11.  No Home

12.  Oddity

13.  Sway

Listen To This... April 23, 2013

I've been working on a series of posts for a friend of mine. In doing so, I've started a collection of short, creative responses to songs that I've randomly selected - you know, like when a song pops up on your iPod and you're suddenly transported to another place, forgetting about whatever you were doing before. So have a listen to what's been on my mind...

Mastodon

“Curl Of The Burl”

Mastodon has been doing their brand of heavy, prog metal for some time now. Given the other metal I listen to, Mastodon should be an have been easy addition to my regular music rotation. For reasons still unknown, I just couldn’t get into them. The latest album, The Hunter, came with a lot of hype and stellar reviews, but I still couldn’t commit. Seeing them live changed all of that. My friends and I actually arrived late and got inside during the opening part of Mastodon’s set. Watching the quartet weave through years of music, pummeling the audience with new tracks and fan-favorites, was inspiring. Previous albums followed complex story lines and long track times. In contrast, the Hunter is a straight-ahead, seemingly uncomplicated, and even ‘catchy’ metal album, spearheaded by  “Curl Of The Burl,” an infectious romp with tight verses, sing-along chorus, and even a retro breakdown. Under the hue of blue and green stage lights, Mastodon showcased the beauty and complexity in every note they played. On that night, they easily won a fan in me.

Opeth

“The Lotus Eater”

For Opeth, the Swedish metal band (who once stated their desire to be the most evil band ever created), “The Lotus Eater” is a song that encompasses all of the sounds, influences, and aspirations of their 20-plus year career. Death growls, blast beats, clean vocals, swirling guitars, pummeling drums, and a few surprises, await you on an almost 9-minute journey through creative prowess of singer/guitarist Mikael Akerfedt and his band of technical masterminds. I was at the show where the YouTube clip of this song was recorded. It was the first time that I saw Opeth live. It was a hot, dusty day in July and the sun was just starting its afternoon descent toward sunset. Packed in with a sea of like-minded metalheads vanquished any discomfort as Opeth charged into a short, but fully loaded 45-minute set. It’s one thing to hear a track digitally recorded, but another thing entirely to hear how bands are able to tackle every nuance in bringing their songs to life with a live audience. In “The Lotus Eater” Opeth showcases their command of sonic force, elegant phrasing, melody, and dissonance. And the blistering organ solo is one my favorite moments from their 20-year catalog. Embrace the journey and let it take you as far as possible.

Isis

“20 Minutes/40 Years”

On this track, a firm bass growl carries you through the gradual layering of sound and texture that Isis became so well-known for crafting. Soon a raspy vocal growl barks from just above the growing din and quickly melts into a melodic tone, perfectly in concert with the building distortion. The words are nearly incoherent, yet you’re compelled to strain your ears against the sound, like listening for voices through a gale-force wind. Finally, sonic resolution brings anticipated release from swallowing sounds. It lasts only for a moment before the waves of guitar swell and consume you again.

As in many of their songs, the vocal never stands forward in the mix in “20 Minutes/40 Years.” Isis uses the voice as another instrument for the sounds and effect it brings to each musical thought. Just as guitars glide from muddled distortion to ethereal picking, singer/guitarist Aaron Turner’s voice changes to fit the mood; a brief solo before stepping aside for the next passage. We tend to get absorbed by the vocalist, caught up in the showcasing of talent and control over the audience. Its presence and power are taken for granted. But here we find a completely different purpose, as the vocals are integrated into the overall sound. This approach, whether intentional or just a consequence of their style, is both unique and beautiful.

Yes, the songs are long and require dedicated listening to absorb all the nuances, but patience is rewarded. This track is off Isis' final studio album, Wavering Radiant. I highly recommend their other albums, too, including Oceanic and (my personal favorite) Panopticon.

Listen To This - Soilwork : The Living Infinite

Swedish death metal veterans, Soilwork, released a new album this week, the scope and depth of which is not often attempted. The Living Infinite, a 2-disc master-class in pure death metalosity with twenty songs spanning 90 minutes, is ambitious by any measure and equally as risky. Firmly entrenched the download era, it’s easy to just grab a few choice songs (for only a few bucks) and get on your head-banging way. Therefore, you might think settling into a lengthy adventure is just a bit too challenging these days. You might also assume that an album of such length will have plenty of filler, comprised mostly of stellar, hard-hitting songs nestled between cozy interludes and extended artistic passages. In this case, you’d be dead wrong.

What Soilwork has done here is deliver a relentless barrage of heavy death metal, tinged with progressive flourishes, taking their established sound to unimagined heights. Vocalist 'Speed' Strid is in top form - his howl is aggressive and powerful and his clean vocals cover an expansive range. Equally as impressive is the intensive, dynamic, and punishing instrumentation that surrounds some of the best vocal performances I’ve heard in years. There is no filler on this record. Period. Every track, from dramatic intros, catchy choruses, and blistering breakdowns, stands firmly on its own merit. “Tongue” is a speedy, guitar fueled binge, pushed to the limits by intense double-bass; In contrast, “Owls Predict Oracles Stand Ground,” give a nod to doom/black metal inspiration with deliberate riffs and Speed’s varied vocal approach. “Long Live The Misanthrope” is a raucous stomp with deadly verses and an aggressively melodic chorus. I could go on and on, but you need to experience this album on your own, preferably with the volume all the way up - trust me, the worlds needs to hear this record.

Video: "Rise Above The Sentiment"

Looking ahead to 2013

Well, musically, 2012 had some good stuff (an attempt to make up for the rest of the year, perhaps). Here's hoping for a better 2013 and some good music, too:

DevilDriver
DevilDriver #6 is currently underway. The follow-up to Beast promises to be as punishing as ever. It's amazing these guys have time for new material given their relentless touring. I'm not complaining, having seen them a handful of time over the last couple if years. If the past is any indication, the next record will be blistering on CD and on stage - make way for the groove machine.

Black Sabbath
The first new Black Sabbath songs in years?! This is something every metal head has been waiting for. The grandfathers of doom, death, and progressive metal are set to return with a new album in 2013. All hail the kings!

Filter
Richard Patrick, founder and driving force behind Filter, as been doing things his way since the band's early days. Filter's last album was a return to form with the catchy riffs, soaring choruses, and dark lyrics that make this an enduring band. This new record, the follow-up to The Trouble With Angels, reminds the front man of Title of a Record and that is a very good thing.

Soilwork
Soilwork has been working on new material for their next album. With a recently released track, it's clear that the trademark guitar attack and vocalist Speed's gruff howl and melodic croon are in full effect. I've got a few of Soilwork's previous records, each with outstanding tracks, so the new record has a lot to prove and there is no doubt that they are up to the task.

Behemoth
Behemoth promises to return in 2013 with the best material and stage show yet - and that is saying something given their awesome tour this year. Lead singer Adam Darski released his autobiography this year and there's rumor of an English version in the near future.

Tool
Pioneers of American progressive metal in the 90s and early 00s Tool is roumored to be working on their 5th major release, the follow-up to 10,000 Days. It will interesting to hear what they have to offer the prog metal/rock genre and their die-hard fans.

30 Days Song Challenge: Week 4

Final post of the 30 Days Song Challenge...

day 22 - a song that you listen to when you’re sad
“The Freshmen” – The Verve Pipe. When I’m feeling sad, I turn to songs that I share similar emotions with.  It’s comforting to find something that you can relate to when you’re upset. A lot of music makes you realize that everyone has ups and downs and the important thing is to find a way to rise above all of that. If I’m looking for something to cheer me up instead, I usually turn to Widespread Panic or The Doors.

day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding

“Nothing Else Matters” – Metallica. Our first dance. We also played Widespread Panic, The Turtles, Guns ‘n Roses, and Frank Sinatra.

day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral

“Big Truck” – Coal Chamber -- Coal Chamber was one of the very first metal bands that drew me into the genre. So, it’s fitting that my birth into metal should also be played at my funeral. A staple song in any Coal Chamber set, Big Truck churns over the audience. It’s a big-rig of fist-pounding metal crammed down your throat. And as Dez says, “Ain’t no grave gonna hold my body!”

day 25 - a song that makes you laugh

“Goddamn Trigger” – Serj Tankian. This quirky track from Imperfect Harmonies offers Serj’s biting commentary on society’s inconceivable gluttony. “I have 38 rifles and a bunch of handguns and ammunition / 8 grenades, in case of scuffles…/ it’s my constitutional right/ to arm bears… We are disgusting overweight obese fucks/ A shot rang, animals scatter, bovine hormone growth chewy candy.” The music is over-the-top, swaggering along like a drunken carnival. There is a greater message in all of it, which is not so funny. As usual, Serj draws us in with his musical games only to slap us with reality.


day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument

“24 Préludes, Op. 28, No. 4 in E Minor: Largo” - Frédéric Chopin. I can play this and I own a version played by Alexandre Tharaud. This gentle Chopin prelude swells to an emotional climax before fading away. It’s written in E minor, one of my favorite of the minor keys. In Classical music, I find that minor keys evoke more emotion through dissonance and dark tension; a distinct parallel with metal music.

day 27 - a song that you wish you could play

“Light My Fire” – The Doors. I used to be able to play the main organ melody from “Light My Fire,” but it’s been many years. I started playin classical piano, but soon discovered The Doors and Ray Manzarek’s infectious keyboard/organ playing. I’ve been hooked ever since. I love metal, but The Doors will probably always be my absolute favorite band. To be honest, I can’t just leave it at one song… Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade Of Pale,”  the organ solo in Opeth’s “Lotus Eater,” Widespread Panic’s “Travelin’ Man”… the list goes on.

day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty

I don’t feel guilty about anything I listen to. Sure, there are songs or bands that I’ve grown out of, but it doesn’t mean I’m ashamed or embarrassed. Just have a look through my iTunes or phone. I’ve got nothing to hide. Did I have some questionable choices back in the day? We all make mistakes… not me, other people…

day 29 - a song from your childhood

“Pretty Woman” – Roy Orbison. We’re all influenced by the music our parents listen to. You spend the first 16 years of your life riding around in a car with them, listening to whatever radio station or cassette tape they wanted to. By the time I was 10, I’d memorized the hits from Roy Orbison, Charlie Daniels, Blood Sweat & Tears, Johnny Rivers, and many more.

day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

“North” – Widespread Panic. They released this album in the summer of last year. Around this time is when we went to see them in Boston. It was a perfect summer night on the waters of Boston Harbor. The stellar set list included “North,” “Bear’s Gone Fishing,” and “Lawyers Guns and Money.”  The album, Dirty Side Down, was a return to their laid-back, bluesy style, capping off 25 years of music.

Hope you enjoyed! Up next week: In Flames' Sounds Of A Playground Fading.

30 Days Song Challenge: Week 2

I’m back for week 2 of the 30 Days Song Challenge. Again, I’m only using songs from my personal iTunes library. Enjoy!

day 08 - a song that you know all the words to

“Inside Out” – Eve6. Not only do I know all the words, but I’m happy to sing along at the top of my lungs!

day 09 - a song that you can dance to

“Tell Her Tonight” - Franz Ferdinand. Let’s be clear – I can’t dance, but this song has been known to cause me to break out into fits of dancing (often while driving and sometimes mistaken for a seizure).

day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep

“The Longest Year” – Katatonia. The dark, rhythmic metal of Katatonia is one of favorites to put on and just chill out to. Out the deck, with the headphones on, I can just let this song, and the rest  of Night Is The New Day, take me away.

day 11 - a song from your favorite band

“Black Water Park” – Opeth. The title track closes out Opeth’s groundbreaking 5^th album. This album went a long way to making Opeth known outside of Sweden. It’s the perfect culmination of prog and death metal. The song itself is a 12-minute epic which incorporates heavy riffing, deafening drums, and subtle breakdowns. As the final blast beats grind conclusion, Mikael Akerfeldt roars “…the sun sets forever, over blackwater park” and you believe that it will.

day 12 - a song from a band you hate

“When I’m Gone” - 3 Doors Down. First, let me say that ‘hate’ is strong word. I don’t really have anything that I hate, but I as much as I try, I never been able to feel anything for 3 Doors Down. Maybe it was the incessant play on the radio or just the predictable song structure (verse/chorus/v/c/solo/c….etc), but I just can't like this band.

day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure

“Sunrise” – Norah Jones.  Just a catchy little song from 2004’s Feels Like Home. I have a weakness for mellow piano and female vocals, what can I say?

day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love

“Blue - Al Di Meola” - Demir Demirkan. This is opening track to Painted On Water by Turkish musicians Demir Demirkan and Sertab Erener. Demirkan is a rock guitarist who brings out some jazz and blues sounds to accompany pop singer Sertab Erener. “Blue” is a short, but sweet instrumental that sets the stage for rest of the album. And in this case, the seemingly unlikely pairing of these two stars makes for an excellent listening experimence.

Check out this video - another amazing song:


Tune in next time for Week 3. Also coming soon - reviews of Amorphis and Wolfbane! 

Listen To This - Memorial Day 2011

It's Memorial Day Weekend. It's a time to be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy and to remember all those who have served this country past, present, and future in pursuit of those freedoms. Thank you!

Memorial Day is also the start of summer. Finally, after months of snow and rain we can look forward to sunny skies, food on the grill, and plenty of music. For me, summer also brings traveling to see friends and family. So, this week I searched for some driving music and good tunes to kick off the summer. Here’s a sample of what I’ve been playing this week. What are you listening to?

Widespread Panic - Ball and Dirty Side Down (Remixes)

Traveling home to visit family usually involves driving through the National Forest along the Delaware River (on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey border). I always put in Widespread Panic's Ball and open the windows to let in the smell of the forest. Nothing goes with summer better than some bluesy southern rock. Ball is the first Panic album that I owned and I always go back to it. From the flowing opener, “Fishing,” to the funky “Thin Air (Smells Like Mississippi),” to the 16-minute jam of “Travlein' Man,” this album is the definition of summer music.

If that's not enough to get your summer party going, go to WSP's website (http://www.widespreadpanic.com/) and download some remixes of tracks from their latest CD, Dirty Sound Down (they're fee!). And yes, I said remixes, but the funky takes on Panic's signature breezy sound is refreshing and I'll admit that the dance beats are infectious. It's a diversion from the norm and a fun way to party with Widespread Panic.

Since about 2005, Widespread Panic has been recording all of their live shows. You can find collections of songs carefully assembled into Driving Songs. Each volume takes the best tracks from a summer’s worth of shows. There’s no better way to explore the roads on a hot summer day.

Green Day - Dookie and Insomniac

Green Day makes for great driving music. It keeps you moving and singing along, especially on those long, monotonous, late-night drives. As the road winds on and the pavement stretches out indefinitely into the darkness, I find that Green Day’s hyperactive sound and sarcastic commentary keep me moving toward my destination. I’m a product of the 90’s and Green Day’s emergence into the mainstream helped shape the musical landscape of my generation. And while I’m still a big fan of American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, I always find myself reaching back to 1994.

Soilwork – Natural Born Chaos

No road trip or summer drive could be complete without some Swedish metal. Soilwork has been bringing their mix of hardcore and metal for years now. 2002’s Natural Born Chaos is one of their best efforts. Catchy chorus blended with ferocious vocals and pummeling guitars make this a go-to album for me. “As We Speak,” “No More Angels,” and “Mercury Shadow” are some of the standout tracks, heavy with guitars, keyboards, and soaring choruses. I even use “Black Star Deceiver” as a ringtone (and subsequently find it always playing in my head). Natural Born Chaos, like much of Soilwork’s material, packs the punches in all the right places

Listen To This - May 22, 2011

The weather here in the Northeast has been horrible. I haven’t seen the sun in weeks. With the fog rolling in off the ocean each night, I feel like I’m in a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie; just without the excitement… or the rum. So, this week I needed some music that could keep me going through the dark and dreary days of this endless monsoon.

Black Label Society – Order Of The Black

You may know Black Label Society from the radio single Stillborn, which featured Ozzy and is also found on Guitar Hero. In fact, you can battle against BLS leader, Zakk Wylde in the game as well. I saw Zakk Wylde on Ozzfest years back when he was playing two sets each night – one set fronting BLS and the other playing with Ozzy. His relentless attitude comes through in Black Label Society’s 2010 release, Order Of The Black. The album is chockfull of the head-banging, fist pumping, whiskey-fueled metal mayhem that we’ve come to expect from BLS. Songs like the opener, “Crazy Horse” and “Parade Of The Dead,” feature heavy drums, tight guitar, and Zakk Wylde’s signature wail. Just as with albums like Mafia, the rampage slows down every couple of tracks with a sweeping ballad, such as “Darkest Days” and “Time Waits For No One.” My favorite track is “Godspeed Hellbound,” which hooks you in and drives with ferocity reminiscent of “Stillborn” or “Suicide Messiah.” The album closes with a third ballad, lulling you into submission before the brutality starts all over again.

Opeth – Lamentations (DVD)

Thanks to Netflix, I never need to leave the house, even for music. I sat down this week to watch Opeth’s live concert DVD, Lamentation (2003). In the concert, Opeth plays two sets. The first set draws on their softer songs, taken mostly from the Damnation album. If you want to experience a badass death metal band opening itself up to elegant vocals, sweeping dynamics, and intricate passages, you must watch this show. You also get a sense of the band’s humble personality. Front man, Mikael Akerfeldt interacts with the crowd, remarking that there are a lot more people watching than he’d expected. You almost get a sense that he, and the rest of the band, are just average guys, playing music, and hoping that others enjoy it. Keep in mind that by this time, Opeth had been around for 13 years! The second set picks up with their heavier, prog-laden death metal (mostly from Deliverance). Both Akerfeldt's growls and clean vocals meld perfectly with blast beats, synth keyboards, and frantic riffing. I seriously recommend watching, especially on a rainy day. Start from the beginning and see where the journey leads

Listen To This - May 15, 2011

What are you listening to? Here’s what keep me going this week:

Serj Tankian – Imperfect Harmonies/Imperfect Remixes

Serj’s second solo album and 4-song remix showcase his brilliantly quirky musical side. While not as metal (or even as rock) as his first album, Elect The Dead , this one is full of electronic sounds, catchy choruses, and poignant lyrics. I find myself listening to “Gate 21” on repeat. The ablum version uses mostly piano to accompany Serj’s emotional lyrics. The remixed rock version steps up the tempo and Tom Morello (Audioslave, Rage Against The Machine) adds his signature punchy guitar work. Other highlights include the dance-beat laden “Borders Are…” and the ballad “Wings Of Summer.” Serj sings “Yes, It’s Genocide” entirely in Armenia, refers specifically to the Armenia genocide of 1915 for which Turkey has not yet formally recognized. This is album is a musical journey and Serj is a brilliant guide.

Scar Symmetry – Holographic Universe

Scar Symmetry is a new band to me. I just got one of their more recent albums, Holographic Universe. It’s what I expect and love from Swedish melodic death metal. There’s plenty of heaviness mixed with soaring choruses, and high-energy vocals. I’d say that Scar Symmetry has a bit of prog to their sound as well. There’s just enough Dream Theatre influence to differentiate them from other bands without going over the top. I’ve heard that Scar Symmetry is getting a new singer, so I’m interested to see how their sound evolves. For now, Holographic Universe delivers the metal you need.

News and Tours:

There are rumors about a new music from A Perfect Circle. In the fall, APC played several shows, back-to-back, in a handful of cities. Each night they played one of their three albums start to finish. This summer’s tour is more extensive and highly anticipated. When A Perfect Circle emerged in the late 90’s they were one of the original ‘Super Groups,’ comprising members from several already famous bands (Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, and Josh Freese, who plays drums for everyone). The term super group seems ridiculous since bands constantly trade members or form other groups. Whatever you call them, I hope A Perfect Circle continues on.

Acrassicauda has embarked on their first us tour. Acrassicauda is an Iraqi thrash metal band. After leaving Iraq (where metal can get you killed) they're spreading their punishing sound across the US. Aggressive, technical, and lyrically intense (not surprisingly), their 4 song EP Only The Dead See The End Of War is dark and awesome. You must check out this band!

DevilDriver is out on tour with Danzig in support of their 5^th studio album, Beast. I’ve been following lead singer Dez Farfara on Twitter and the shows have been met with awesome fan feedback. I’m looking forward to seeing them in July! Check out my review of Beast: http://greenchamberstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/evolution-of-beast.html

System Of A Down have started their reunion tour. I’m glad to see them back. I don’t know if there will be any new music coming soon, but at the very least I’d like them to come to the East Coast!

Valet Parn is a metal band from Greece. Check out their album. They’re on tour with long-time Greek death metalers, Septic Flesh (who also just released a new album, their seventh).

Katatonia's Great Distance

Soil’s Song (live) from The Great Cold Distance

In the shifting sands of popular music, many bands struggle to stay true to their original visions. It’s not enough just to hang on and keep playing the same songs year after year. I have mixed feelings about bands that fall back on an album or two in their history. Sure, it may be their best (or even one of their all-time best), but progression is what drives to us new places. I think that extending beyond what’s been tried leads to the longevity of a band and affirms the relevance of a musical genre.

This year the Swedish group Katatonia is celebrating their 20^th year of dark, intense metal music. They belong to a long line of metal kings from northern Europe that has persisted throughout the varied rock and metal trends of the past 10-20 years. Pushing the boundaries of sound, vocals, and technical prowess, bands like Opeth, In Flames, Amorphis, Soilwork, and Katatonia consistently deliver killer metal. And they say relationships never last.

Katatonia’s brand of death metal doesn’t always jump up and kick your face in. Instead, their dark, brooding sound slithers up beside you and drags you deep into the darkness. Jonas Renkse’s clean vocals float on an undulating sea of driving guitars and crushing drumbeats. Their sound bristles with passion and a palpable tension.

All the vocals are clean and that is a bit of a departure from the traditional death metal growl. But that shouldn’t be a surprise in a genre which is actually very difficult to classify. I suppose you could label Katatonia as death metal or doom metal or maybe post-alternative-melodic-death metalcore -- I’d rather not. Personally, I don’t care about defining their sound. Instead I’m drawn in by the thick guitars and Renkse’s emotional vocal delivery. I own their two most recent albums: The Great Cold Distance (which I mentioned in an earlier blog post [Winter’s Chill]) and Night Is The New Day. Both CDs deliver on Katatonia’s dark and heavy style. There are some nice surprises, like the laid-back groove of Idle Blood or thunderous stroll of Leaders. I picked out a couple other stand-out songs for the videos this week, too. The first is a live version Soil’s Song, showing how well they can achieve their studio sound out on the road. The second, the moody and dramatic July, is also from The Great Cold Distance.

July from The Great Cold Distance

Happy birthday, Katatonia! This is rock. This is life. What are you listening to?

Be My Valentine

For this week’s installment, I decided to dive deep in my iTunes library to retrieve some suggestions for your Valentine’s Day playlist. In any good movie, the soundtrack provides a constant backdrop for setting the mood and filling the otherwise empty spaces. Your perfect valentines would be utterly incomplete without an equally stunning soundtrack.

Then again, maybe Valentine’s is not your favorite day. I’ll start off with a few for you…

Coal Chamber – Unspoiled

The story goes that singer Dez Farfara’s wife left him just prior to recording Coal Chamber’s first album. He screams the lines, Do I look fine to you/ do I seem alright with such raw intensity. It’s a wholly unnatural sound, coming from a place deep inside a wounded soul.

The Verve Pipe – Barely (if at all)

Best known for the moody grunge radio song, The Freshmen, The Verve Pipe’s debut album opened with a hollow, whining guitar sustain before bursting into angst-riddled distortion. Singer Brian Vander Ark bitterly rails against the woman who pretended much but only loved me barely, if at all.

Bob Dylan – It Ain’t Me Babe

Whatever it is you’re looking for, whatever you think you need, Bob Dylan doesn’t have it for you. That’s the just the cold, cruel reality. Wherever you were hoping to the take this relationship, Dylan delivers his verdict, in no uncertain terms.

Johnny Cash – Hurt

Everyone I know/ goes away in the end. Johnny Cash’s Hurt is solemn, dark, and haunting. It’s an epic dirge for the funeral of life, love, and all that could be good. You could have it all/ my empire of dirt/ I will let you down/ I will make you hurt. Enough said.

Apocalyptica – SOS (Anything But Love) with Cristina Scabbia

Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia gives her intense, sultry style to Anything But Love. Listening to Lacuna Coil, you get a sense that she’s someone not to be messed around with. On this track, Christina’s love-wronged voice is powerful with Apocalyptica’s sweeping strings to comfort her bitter melody.

Jimi Hendrix

The blues are filled with lost and poisoned love. Hey Joe demonstrates a man, wronged by love, on the edge of sanity. Yet, through Hendrix’s blues-drench delivery, you feel sympathetic and almost understand Joe’s course of action. My favorite Hendrix song (for any occasion) is Red House. Imagine wandering home to your lover to find the house empty and the locks changed. Everything you knew is gone. Even if you deserved it, that’s still not cool. But Jimi offers hope at the songs conclusion: Even though my baby don’t love me no more/ I know her sister will.

Now for the playlist of love…

A Perfect Circle - Magdalena

Swirling with intense emotion and sexuality, Maynard James Keenan beckons the love of Magdalena. The song builds through the verses and charges headlong into each chorus, climaxing against Billy Howerdel’s blistering guitar breakdowns. I’d sell my soul/ my self esteem/ a dollar at a time/ … for one kiss/ one taste of you/ my Magdalena.

Deftones – Passenger

A lot of the Deftones’ music bristles with sexual tension and Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle) lends his voice to one of their most intense. Let your mind wander through the twisting ambient riffing and tensely strained vocals. Throw caution to the wind and love without boundaries.

The Doors

It couldn’t be Valentine’s without playing The Doors. Take your pick: Hello, I Love You; Light My Fire; Love Her Madly; We Could Be So Good Together. There are too many to choose. Just start with Waiting For the Sun and go from there. Don’t bother sweating over the perfect soundtrack to charm your significant other. Just let Jim Morrison do all of the talking.

Franz Ferdinand

For that special kind of love that fails conventional description, go no further than Franz Ferdinand. This is dirty, slinky rock that slithers its way into your heart with catchy grooves and smooth vocals. It captivates and keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps you should keep the lyrics away so she doesn’t get any ideas… or maybe that’s just what you need.

System of a Down – Ego Brain

System is known mostly for chaotic, politically driven metal, but Ego Brain is an alternative emotional gem. Serj Tankian’s vocals soar and reassures us that when all else fails, trust in your partner and find that love prevails over all.

Metallica – Nothing Else Matters

This song holds a lot of meaning for me. Starting slow and soulfully, it crescendos into a elegant ballad. Musically, it transcends the reach of mere rock and metal. Check out the video of Apocalyptica’s instrumental arrangement. This song teaches us that love belongs to each of us and we must love in spite of everything life throws in our way. Love is the only thing that really matters. Give everything of yourself through love and through life. This is rock. This is life. What are you listening to?

Happy Valentine's Day!