highbury

Awesomeness, grabbed a ticket for Opeth yesterday. They're doing a few UK dates in November. Can't wait. Likely to get some death metal vocals this time around too as they've been playing Deliverance, Demon of the Fall and Grand Conjuration again.

Hessian Peel was listening to Watershed today and it popped out

Hey, whatever happens.. she gets the house right? ...everybody wins

Good to have you back man, nice choice of Mastodon track there...I'd find it pretty hard to pick a favourite myself....at this moment in time it would probably be Colony of Birchmen, a good rocking track. Funny you bring Nevermore up as just today I started listening the their Godless Endeavor album. Only managed to get through 3 tracks but I will finish it off tonight or tomorrow. Like what I hear so far...to be continued

I came across Riverside on Lastfm too, definitely gonna grab an album of theirs. As for Akerfeldt, its crazy to think that its the same guy when you listen to Heritage and then listen to say... the opening to Demon of the Fall, just sounds completely like a different person. People will hear him growling and write him off as a screamer and I can't stand that, he is such a talented singer but not only for his clean voice, non metal fans don't realise that growling like him also takes a lot of talent too.... and I wouldn't even attempt to maintain a growl like him because I'd probably wreck my throat haha. So what tracks are standing out for you on Heritage? Back into Mastodon too in a big way, on my ipod and in the car non stop, Blood Mountain and Leviathan especially, both truly outstanding, Blood and Thunder, I Am Ahab, Colony of Birchmen and Sleeping Giant...WOW! I'm obsessed with those tracks. I think the Czar gets a lot of praise as their 'masterpiece' and rightly so, but Hearts Alive is up there with it.

Now that is one hell of a control pad Pure vintage

Its from Rockstar which was news to me I have to say...I thought they would be preoccupied with the next in the GTA series. Watch this space...

...awesomeness

Sorry to hear that man, there are some real arseholes out there, thinking they're so big. It speaks volumes that they did all this from the comfort of a moving vehicle, cowardly as well as pathetic

A friend of mine is expecting to get the new Max Payne this week...looking forward to his verdict when I next speak to him

I watched Tintin with my boss' kids...pretty enjoyable I have to say (don't hate me) The animation is breathtaking and its just full of adventure, like Indiana Jones-Lite 7/10

Like most of the albums we listen to, its a grower..after a few listens a few tracks will stand out even more. There isn't really a weak track on the album for me but it caught a bit of criticism from fans who wanted another Watershed album I guess. I personally could listen to the Folklore outro all day, stunning music which hooked me straight away. Be sure to listen to the two bonus tracks too, Pyre and Face in the Snow. These two should definitely have made the original tracklist, both great. And once you've heard Heritage, then you've officially completed what they're calling 'the trilogy' of Heritage, Grace for Drowning and Storm Corrosion, 3 pretty epic albums. At present I am listening to a few new bands I haven't heard much of before; Daylight Dies, Swallow the Sun, Agalloch, Katatonia, In Mourning, Riverside and Bloodbath (can't get enough of Akerfeldt's growl ) Was actually listening to an album by Within Temptation too, not usually what I'd go for but having such a perfect female vocal on a heavy backdrop was actually not that bad at all.

I think if you like Windowpane, which IS awesome, you will love Heritage. Its not a heavy album which kinda put me off at first. When I first heard it I didn't know what to think but after a few listens its a brilliant album. Folklore is maybe one of my favourite Opeth songs and its from that album...and if you haven't listened to Damnation yet it has more gems like Windowpane. My preferences would be Closure, To Rid the Disease and Ending Credits (I really wish that song went on for longer). They've also played Windowpane on 2 DVD releases, Lamentations and The Roundhouse Tapes. They obviously enjoy playing it live...they didn't play it when I saw them though, they opted for Closure, Credence and Throat of Winter for their acoustic numbers. Check this out from the new album..from 5:50 onwards it just gives me chills and makes me so happy to be an Opeth fan, truly beautiful ending to this song. Seeing this song live really made my year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV9F-SP-SW4

I've been watching a few films recently Catch me if you can 8/10 Shutter Island 9/10 American Psycho 8/10 Insomnia 8/10

Cool...glad you liked it. I think Gojira are different from your typical death metal band. They just seem to have a very unique style which sets them apart for all the right reasons. They are pretty brutal and seriously heavy but at the same time they are very gifted technically. I'm a bit of a sucker for technical metal (hence Megadeth). They also bring their own melodic style into songs. Their lyrics are also very environmentally conscious, which makes a nice change from the usual death and destruction haha If I was to recommend albums, I would go with their latest two; From Mars to Sirius and The Way of All Flesh. Both awesome records As for tracks...hmmm aside from Flying Whales which is probably my favourite track, if I were to pick my favourites from the above albums I would try 1. Backbone (a real headbanger) 2. Ocean Planet 3. From the Sky 4. Global Warming ( softer song by their standards with a really cool and moving outro) 5. Escape (a very good Metallica cover) 1. A Sight to Behold 2. Oroborus 3. The Art of Dying (another awesome outro) 4. Esoteric Surgery 5. Vacuity (another slow headbanger) I would give some of these a try and see what you think. ...and I'm gonna say it, Storm Corrosion (Track 2) is the one for me...tho at 8:11 there is an acoustic line that I swear I have heard in an Opeth song (maybe Heritage album) and its killing me

Well I remember they brought out a Prison Break game...didn't turn out great. Lets see if Game of Thrones is any different

Russian band called Alley..they're a bit of an Opeth clone but their stuff is still pretty cool.. and also listening to more Daylight Dies too. Had only heard one song of theirs previously, now I'm thinking where the hell have I been in not listening to these guys, love them!

The thing with Power metal is that its just a load of fun. The lyrics aren't to be taken seriously, the vibe is just to enjoy it I guess. I have ordered 2 CD's (one of them being Storm Corrosion) and a DVD because I too have gotta have something I can feel and look and read. Perhaps a tad old fashioned with the digital age and all that but I love to look and read through an album booklet...check out the art and the lyrics. I need to pre-order the new Rush album too..Headlong Flight is a great preview. I knew Storm Corrosion was always going to take 3-4 listens before it really kicked in, as is the case with most of the music I listen too. But once it does kick in...wow! The self titled track stands out for me personally but I'm sure that'll change over time.

I've been signed up since last year but have only just started to use it a bit..scrobbles what I play on my ipod which is pretty cool and have already discovered one band which I absolutely love.

Awesome! I have indeed heard of Sabaton, have seen them myself a few years ago...very impressed yet have never got around to listening to their back catalog to be honest...may well do now you've reminded me of them. I saw them when I went to see Dragonforce (I know...cheesy as hell but they're good fun...check them out but be prepared for tongue in cheek lyrics but feel good power metal). I thought Sabaton stole the show that night and they were only support. Would definitely see them again I think...will be seeing Dragonforce again later in the year...should be fun! And btw mate, that ticket sounds super cheap. That would be about £10! Sounds like you got your moneys worth Have been listening to Storm Corrosion...its growing on me I have to say. Self titled track I like a lot, bits of Opeth's Heritage sneaking through on that one for me. Will keep with it. If you're open to death metal, have you heard Gojira? They're not strictly a death metal band but they do incorporate some elements of it in their music, as well as thrash and progressive stuff. I love them and can't stop listening to them at the minute. Very very talented and seem to be getting the recognition for it. Their drummer is immense and they are super heavy! Check out Flying Whales and Vacuity if you're interested and see what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eljjOJwlDY

If I'm being honest it will be only the tennis I keep up with I suppose, it will be like Wimbledon really. I will enjoy watching the track and field but I know very little about it so can't see myself partaking in discussions. I probably won't even watch the football tbh, let alone the swimming and all the other obscure sports out there.

I can listen to all of their stuff happily but they are a shining example of a band that hit their peak early. I believe that Metallica died when Cliff Burton died. And Justice + black album were fantastic, and they are still a top live act but the material they put now out is a shadow of what they used to create.