In Ears - November & December 2016

Bringing you a monthly reviews including Pain Of Salvation, Esben And The Witch, The Pineapple Thief, Agnes Obel, Soundgarden, Type O Negative, Korn, Dark Tranquillity, Purson, Metallica, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, Maudlin Of The Well, Celestial Season, Fight The Fight, Spaceking, Shirley Bassey, Queen, Miles Davis, Anathema.

Wish you all nice holidays! 

Pain Of Salvation - In The Passing Light Of Day

Have you ever dreamed about having a time machine? It's possible in the music world. With receiving latest Pain Of Salvation album, I can already see in my Windows Media Player a 2017 item. Jokes aside. PoS mastermind went through some serious health problems from streptococcal infection and we are happy to see Daniel back from the dead with an amazing album.

Power of their music can be also seen from having covers, eventhough new album is not out yet. Great job In The Loop!

Esben And The Witch - Older Terrors

I was having really weird phase for the past few months, where I was really disappointed by so many of my favorite artists. I am so glad, there are still some left, who are fascinating me more and more with every album. Plus, in the case of Esben And The Witch, I share a similar vision. It is really easy to jump into the jungle of mainstream, but much more valuable are listeners who truly understand you. They might be in a smaller number, than Kings Of Leon have, but you feel more connected to them. Plus, more than ever I believe they do what they really want. Otherwise, why the hell they would make eleven or thirteen minutes songs and join atmospheric black, avantgarde metal bands under Season Of Mist label. Truly exceptional band and absolutely overflowing haunting atmosphere.

The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness

Previous album Magnolia (2014) is one of my most favorite albums for driving a car, but this piece is becoming one of my most favorite companion for tasty lounge prog moments.

Agnes Obel - Aventine

I failed while predicting Lana Del Rey's performance at Colours of Ostrava 2016, but I am quite sure we will see there this amazing lady very soon.

No "Click"

Soundgarden - Superunknown

Big respect, but never a fan, compared let say to Alice in Chains.

Type O Negative - October Rust

Rather pass it to my girlfriend, Woods Of Ypres fan...

Korn : The Serenity Of Suffering

Autopilot. However, let see live. I truly miss days of Korn III: Remember Who You Are (2010)

Dark Tranquillity - Atoma

Album for fans, with some great riffs. Nothing more. God, Character (2005) was such a great album! Putting it right away into my sony walkman. It's such a great running music

Purson - Desire's Magic Theatre

Solid, but I apparently didn't lick the "paper" enough...

Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct

I stopped caring for Metallica with ...And Justice for All (1988)

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra - Broken Lines

Might be a all-star project, but it's soooo dry.

Tamás Kátai's (Thy Catafalque) tips:

Maudlin Of The Well - Bath & Celestial Season - Solar Lovers: These are well respected albums, not only by Metal Storm users and it gives you a clearer idea of Tamás' taste, but they are not for me...

More no "clicks": Fight The Fight - Fight The Fight, Spaceking - The Piper at the Gates of Stone

Respect for the elders

Shirley Bassey - Tip coming from Cammie Gilbert of Oceans of Slumber. Great present for my grandma.

Queen - Innuendo

This piece was all over the BBC documentary on the Death Of Yugoslavia, which I watched at least dozen times these days.

Miles Davis - Miles Smiles is a proper challenge.

However there is nothing more beautiful than Anathema - 32:40

Any questions on Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain Of Salvation)?

For an interview with Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain Of Salvation on 28th June, I'm preparing some questions, but I would also like to offer you others to join. It will be included in the series (Top 10 fav albums of) in magazine Muzikus, but I'm planning to talk with Daniel about gear and mainly about Remedy Lane Re:visited. Hopefully there will some time be little bit philosophical about the lyrics...

Feel free to join and add questions on Daniel.

Cheers. Daniel ;D

In Ears - May 2016

For May 2016 we will take a closer look at Torche - Meanderthal, Ihsahn – Arktis. & Das Seelenbrechen, Deftones - Gore, Lenka Dusilová & Baromantika - Live At Café V Lese and Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane Re:visited (Re:mixed & Re:lived) Out July 1st, 2016. I am not saying, there are all tips that you should spent hours on, but they are worth attention.

Respect for the elders: Frank Zappa, Ulver, Enjoy Elvis and give yourself a challange with Anneke van Giersbergen, Árstíðir - Verloren Verleden

No “Click” Section: Starting with items from the lofely article 10 MetalAlbums For People Who Don’t Like Metal: Deafheaven, Isis, Neurosis - third try, Pallbearer. The Foreshadowing - not this time. Same goes to Novembre - Ursa. Beautiful job on Materia from 2006, but not this time. So many recommendations on Fallujah - Dreamless- but it simply didn't click, even though I respect their innovative and experimental approach. 

Torche - Meanderthal

Hope Torche will not get offended, but this album seems to me as a growing tool for punk rock fans. Do you love The Offspring since elementary school, do u wanna run from joy with Rise Against, but at the same time grow as a listener? Do yourself a favor and give these guys few tries and your horizons will broad massively. If post, doom, prog are not part of your vocabulary, this might be a door opener. 

Ihsahn – Arktis. & Das Seelenbrechen

Avant-garde master’s new album Arktis. is such a big topic everywhere, for its revolutionary accessible approach, but what surprises me, is even Ihsahn, including our interview, to a certain extend, is distancing from his previous album - Das Seelenbrechen (as he says: “Too wild, too nonstructural) However his new album made me realize, Das Seelenbrechen is for me the best album in Ihsahn's discography.

Deftones - Gore

Hardly, we will find a band from Nu-Metal era, with such a respect and influence as Deftones. When did you discover Deftones? I did with Back To School. In general, I was obsessed with the whole Nu-Metal scene, but only Deftones deserve the same level of respect today. Their latest albums are simply amazing and same goes with their brand new Gore album. I was also really honored to finally speak to Stephen Carpenter for Muzikus magazine. It was solid interview, but we had small amount of time. There was only time to talk a bit about gear, new album, the band, but there was simply no time to ask sensitive subjects. Normally, if you have one hour, you can get as close, to ask about some stuff. Therefore, I felt to leave the topic of the loss of bass player Chi Cheng. In addition, this song was so close to me about a month and a half ago.

Lenka Dusilová & Baromantika - Live At Café V Lese

I always had a feeling for a female singers with taste. Whether it is Anneke Van Giersbergen, Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, or even Sade, you could turn on shuffle and enjoy every note. Lenka Dusilová was never someone I would be concerned about, but this live album is simply breathtaking. It was extremely useful in tougher times and I tend to enjoy it since, in a sort of positive melancholic moments. Hopefully, I might see you Lenka in Café V lese soon. I live close… 

Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane Re:visited (Re:mixed & Re:lived) Out July 1st, 2016

PoS and Fight Club. Too much for one day. I read the book - movie is better. I love the album but the live version is more emotional, if that's even possible. Trust me, you will love the non-acoustic live album, when it comes out.