The Jester Race

There was a time, long ago in a galaxy far far away, when I was a naive and simple youth. I sincerely believed that In Flames could and would never do wrong. I was right for a while... then ... they ... shit the bed. Oh well, at least we have their second full length, and first with lead vocalist Anders Friden, The Jester Race. This album was groundbreaking in 1996 as it took the still young Swede melodic death metal sound and really perfected it. It would also commence what would become a unifying theme on In Flames' following efforts: humankind is comprised of a bunch of assholes.

There are scores of hip American bands nowadays who are painfully attempting to rehash (aka rip off) the early In Flames as well as At The Gates sound... they are weak. Almost as weak as the latter day In Flames albums. Don't believe me? Then, download this example of supreme awesomeness, listen to it, and then head on over to Hot Topic and buy some of their new shite.

On a side note, check out "Lord Hypnos" as Anders displays his affinity for English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, by reading from "Ode: Intimations of Immortality." That's some classy shit right there.

...enjoy...

Soft & Stronger

Die Apokalyptischen Reiter unleashed their debut album Soft and Stronger in 1997. These guys, and this album in particular, were so fucking awesome that they named the album after the Kleenex tissue slogan and it doesn't even matter. In fact, it actually makes this album even awesomerer. And I don't particularly care if I just made that word up, this album is so sick that it imbues such literary authority upon all who listen.

In their early days, these whacked out Germans were creating albums of explosive and unpredictable heavy metal glory. I unfortunately have to stress the word were. A few albums ago they began to water down their once awe inspiring high energy insanity in favor of more pop-friendly melodies and general limp-wristedness. Their latest album imbues me with the literary authority to insult them in such a manner.

But let us not become distracted from the absolutely ripping heavy metal glory that is Soft and Stronger. Death, thrash, folk and pure heavy... almost all the metal fiefdoms are represented on this bizarre and infectious album. This is the kind of album that will inspire you to fire up the old crack pipe and go for a fun filled drive through a Little League field during the fourth inning. It is DY-NO-MITE.

...enjoy...

PS: this is the re-released edition with some bonus tracks.YAY!

The Eyeless Horde

So, it is Easter weekend and I'm looking for an appropriate post. I was going to go all serious and put up some seriously heavy Christian themed music. But alas, I've decided to go in another direction...

For the resurrection weekend, we have on display Finland's Hooded Menace and their demo/ep from 2007, The Eyeless Horde. Via crushingly heavy doom with death metal vocals these Fins pay homage to the work of Spanish director and cult-horror hero Armando de Ossorio. For those of you who have deprived yourselves of the treat, Ossorio created a series of four films collectively referred to as the "Blind Dead" in the early '70s in which undead Templar Knights rise from the grave and go about wreaking havoc. Oh yeah, did I mention that they are blind?... But they can hear your ass so don't get all confident. This two song demo/ep is as heavy as it is slow. It plods along with the steadfast determination of a Blind zombie Templar Knight who is going to get you and just may rip off your clothes in the process. Think you can out run a slow as all shit blind zombie? Maybe you can... but they can also ride horses.

shhh...be vewy vewy quiet...

Insane Sickness

Proving that you don't have to be the best to make it onto Digging The Ditch....

I remember seeing these guys my freshmen year at UMASS. Back then (1996) it seemed like every fucking East Coast band was trying to be all DMS Hardcore. It was pretty pathetic. Anyway, these Connecticut guys were somewhat guilty of this trend. But still, there was something charming about their hard core influenced death metal. Was it the enormous guitar player whose strap was extended all the way and still barely made it around his rotund torso? Or maybe it was the lead singer coming on stage in full clown outfit that charmed me... I recall him almost passing out with one of those giant Spencer's Killer Clown From Outer Space masks on. Or perhaps it was the Junior High evil notebook sketch inspired album artwork... Anyway, if you like your old school-ish death metal with plenty of hardcore break downs this is the album for you. Plus, these guys never even had a label released album... so look at you... instantly a member of the underground. Nice.

P.S. These guys were apparently fanatically Pro-Life. Check track # 2. Bet you didn't see that one coming...

TT

World OV Worms

Born as a side project for Samoth and Trym of Emperor, Zyklon was the death metal influence of the band (present in Emperor's later albums) as its' own entity. Take away Emperor's trademark black metal, as well as helmsman Ihsan's avant-garde dispostion, and this is what you get. Base, primal, razor sharp post apocalyptic industrial tinged death metal. All this with lyrics by the murderous Bard G. "Faust"Eithun and you have a very intense and authentically brutal album. Zyklon recently called it quits and since I never felt the follow ups to their debut were as impressive... you get their first album. Enjoy.

Welcome to the World OV Worms