About 20 years ago we bought this album (might've been some greatest hits thing tho? don't remember) on our way from a festival, together with a bunch of other stuff but we listened to this on repeat all the way home!
I had a love/hate relationship with Manowar from an early age until about a decade ago, but the fact is their first four records are great, and there are plenty of catchy songs on the later ones too.
They're just a band you have to take at face...err...abdomen value. They do what they set out to do, and do it well, and like WWE they take their job of entertaining you seriously, even if it's cheesy to the extreme. Once I finally lightened up and 'got that', I've enjoyed them ever since. They stayed true to themselves and that's all that matters, as cliche as they might seem.
I'll post a few new reviews tomorrow or Friday, including the Gravebreaker debut which is great, raw retro heavy metal with a bit of Running Wild, Judas Priest and others. Been enjoying that a lot.
Just been real busy this season. A week here or there will be skipped.
A lot of Babymetal's components were already present in a lot of J-pop, J-rock, idol and visual kei bands prior to them exploding, but they've just managed to do a more professional job, with great live shows, ultra catchy tunes, and the idol/metal contrast gimmick to sweeten the pot. But yeah, they have a gajillion visual bands over there.
I'm still partial to Malice Mizer, Gackt and the ridiculous Moi dix Mois, though some of those are more rock than metal.
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
#firstworldproblems - when you have a 200GB micro SD, and it's nearly 100GB too small for your metal MP3 collection, and a 128GB micro SD and it's 30GB+ too small for your metal FLAC collection.
#firstworldproblems - when you have a 200GB micro SD, and it's nearly 100GB too small for your metal MP3 collection, and a 128GB micro SD and it's 30GB+ too small for your metal FLAC collection.
I've got a 160GB ipod classic and I'm almost out of room for my music collection. I ripped my entire collection years ago, but when my wife and I got married and merged our music collections, there's a lot of stuff I haven't ripped. If I did so, I would not be able to fit them all.
One day I'll have to replace this thing, and I'm not sure what I'll use. They don't make ipods with that capacity anymore.
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
I finally replaced my Zune 120GB with something much better and I've been on the hunt for 3+ years, so I think I can help, should you decide to upgrade, @SteevL.
Edit: I ended up getting myself a LG V20 smartphone which has replaceable battery, replaceable external storage and ESS Sabre 9028 DAC (digital-to-analog converter), capable of 32-bit 394kHz PCM and DSD512 playback, plus a powerful ESS headphone amp section. However, the V20 is not the cheapest DAP (digital audio player) with removable storage and a solid DAC+Amp and if it's price tag is off-putting there are a number of lesser players that might fit the bill. The LG V20 is competitively priced compared to other non-phone/standalone DAP's with similar (or worse!) specs and it's cheaper than many DAPs with less SQ and more shitty UIs. There are actually a shit-ton of options on the market.
Edit x2: Eventually, maybe not too far in the future, we'll see 512GB micro SDs and then I won't have any problems except the struggle to fill the damn thing and the high price to obtain one.
Sir CarcassI have been shown the end of my worldRound Rock, TXRegistered Userregular
I just use my phone and Google Play. Upload my music to the cloud, stream it to my devices.
+2
Options
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
I end up without cell service for work a lot, so streaming is a no go for me, but I'm glad you've got your thing worked out, bro.
Also, what I listen to and what files I have are none of google's damn business and I won't pay for a cloud subscription with someone that does mind their own fucking business, since local, personal storage is dirt cheap.
SteevLWhat can I do for you?Registered Userregular
Found out a band local to Chicago I enjoy called Satan's Hallow is opening for a band called Castle at their Chicago show. I decided to see what they're like and it sounds like lady-fronted doom metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJQ7BN4l0Sk
I just use my phone and Google Play. Upload my music to the cloud, stream it to my devices.
Yeah, I have Google Play as well, but I'm always a bit paranoid about relying on the cloud for music for some reason. Also my phone's battery life isn't great.
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
Yeah, the battery life thing is a major consideration for me as well and I don't trust google as far as I can throw them.
When I put the V20 in airplane mode I can listen to music for literally days on the same battery charge, based on losing like 2%-3% battery over the course of 4+ hours.
Sir CarcassI have been shown the end of my worldRound Rock, TXRegistered Userregular
Their cloud service is free, and you can upload up to 50,000 songs (up to 300MB per song), and it supports FLAC. You can also download specific tracks, albums, or playlists to your device by touching an icon on them and have them available locally, and it's easy to swap stuff in and out. I still have all of my music on my computer, their cloud service just makes it super easy to take on the go.
But yeah, my battery sucks too, so it's not something I could do all day with. I mainly use it for my 2 hours of commute time a day.
Found out a band local to Chicago I enjoy called Satan's Hallow is opening for a band called Castle at their Chicago show. I decided to see what they're like and it sounds like lady-fronted doom metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJQ7BN4l0Sk
I just use my phone and Google Play. Upload my music to the cloud, stream it to my devices.
Yeah, I have Google Play as well, but I'm always a bit paranoid about relying on the cloud for music for some reason. Also my phone's battery life isn't great.
Castle are great, even more live. They are one of those underground bands who are touring a lot, but in super small venues. They came twice in Québec City in the last three years, but they played in front of ~30 persons.
Had a recommended video for a band called Trees of Eternity. Started listening and felt it was very reminiscent of Swallow the Sun, only to investigate further and find that it was a collaboration between their guitarist and a South African singer. Very melancholic gothic doom.
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
I can't help myself after all this talk of dead or dying audio players - if anyone is wishing they had a digital audio player with microSD card slot that's not their phone here's some ideas for your inexpensive, but high quality metal listening needs:
xDuoo - Their X3 hifi player caught on in a big way with dual micro SD card capacity and low price, of just over $100 (https://www.amazon.com/Player-JZ4760B-192khz-format-Lossless/dp/B01BUUCFBU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481297683&sr=8-2&keywords=xduoo). However, the X3 has some issues that can be overcome if you replace the stock firmware with Rockbox, so that's a turn-off for some.
They recently released, for about $170, the X10 and it also accepts 2 micro SD cards. Here's a link to a discussion thread for the X10, which looks like it is the best bang for buck in digital audio players at the moment, especially given the DAC/Amp it has are typically found in much, much more expensive players (like $700 and up): http://www.head-fi.org/t/823135/upcoming-dap-from-xduoo-the-x10. It can be got from several Amazon sellers and early reviews indicate it is a substantial upgrade from the X3, punching way above it's weight.
The xDuoo X3 and X10 are the cheapest players I've found that support dual micro SD, period. If price and capacity in a package that sounds good is your thing, then these are very good options. Both can play higher resolution digital audio than I own.
Fiio. They're not so well known outside the enthusiast set, but they are a great value and one of the better Chinese manufacturers in the hi-res DAP market. They have a wide range of players in terms of price, features and SQ, and you can find them on amazon. All of their players accept at least 1 micro SD card.
Their player line ranges from their humble M3 for $50 (http://www.fiio.net/en/products/47) and up.
A buddy of mine has the Fiio X1 and I liked it a lot. Plus, at $80, the price is very nice: Fiio X1 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016Q8CXHC/ref=twister_B017L0IJHM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
There is the Sony's line of Walkman DAPs, with prices starting at $50 (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=sony+walkman). I have little experience with them and they release new models every year, so I can't make a specific recommendation, but they are pretty easy to research and find one with features/price you want and most of them include micro SD support, but make sure you check.
Also, if you are also in the market for a smartphone with great headphone sound for your metals, then the LG V10 is excellent and priced well, and the LG V20 is great as well but theoretically better and definitively more expensive than the V10. Both support micro SD cards and are hi-resolution playback capable like everything else I've mentioned.
If you want to look at way more options than you can imagine exist, then check out head-fi and it's innumerable threads on audio players and this ranking thingy they have: http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/digital-audio-flac-mp3-players
Final note - I'm sure they all sound good enough and hires is mostly snake-oil, but mainly these are interesting because you can get them at good prices and support at least 1 micro SD card, which now can be as big as 256GB per card (I got a genuine 200GB card from Newegg just recently for like $50). Also, the general consensus seems to be: ABSOLUTELY don't buy a Pono Player.
Metal!! \m/
Edit: Sorry for the WOT; couldn't help myself, because I love you Heshers!!
And in non-KVLT news one of the guitarists from Tribulation just released a pretty decent, although different, track. Car driving- or staying awake at night-music? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UTwg4HtJwE
Edit: This is the same motherfucker that drew their debut cover, so guy seems to have a pretty good grip on artistic merits:
I still listen to The Horror on days when I need to put my head down and get some work done. It's an amazing album for that.
+2
Options
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
I love these guys hybrid of Death/Speed/Power Metal, or whatever you might call what they do when they make the little songses. It's some evil "Hail Satan" goodness:
Definitely a band trying to stretch itself into something different. My favorite part, though, is when they go straight up Heartwork-era Carcass once the heat arrives, and then her weird vocals over those riffs. Once the harsh male vocalist comes in it gets kind of lame though, since his tone is really bad and unconvincing, and it never completely recovers. But yeah, both their albums are interesting at least.
TerribleMisathrope23rd Degree IntiateAt The Right Hand Of The Seven HornsRegistered Userregular
edited December 2016
Great song, but it gets amazing about 1:25, because Ancient Cult!!!!!! (also ASMR like fucking mad, dogs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h96ysSxEyFI
Also, this Asphalt Graves shit is some good shit. Can't remember if I was made aware of this ITT, but if I was, then thanks ... you, person. Have a bow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsC5Smzdn8w
We traded everything else good in the world for a year of great metal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNwTUgVFoUw Khonsu, blackened death with a lot of electronic textures and sometimes neat clean vocals that I feel like I saw earlier
Posts
So that's Manowar for me
Do you like cheese? Y/N
They're just a band you have to take at face...err...abdomen value. They do what they set out to do, and do it well, and like WWE they take their job of entertaining you seriously, even if it's cheesy to the extreme. Once I finally lightened up and 'got that', I've enjoyed them ever since. They stayed true to themselves and that's all that matters, as cliche as they might seem.
or alternatively
Femme Fatale, who I could've sworn I saw before in here. Interesting vocals over pretty good symphonic metal. Real strong bassist on some of their other songs.
Ya know what, found all female group Exist†trace so I'm replacing Nocturnal Bloodlust because hot damn.
And then Mary's Blood instead of Lynch. cause again hot damn. Apparently female power metal bands are a thing in Japan.
Also stumbled across these guys, and this album is pretty cool:
Just been real busy this season. A week here or there will be skipped.
It's like you find a nugget and suddenly there's a vein in front of you. Not much different or groundbreaking but still.
Bridear, pretty straightforward and solid power/speed
Cross Vein, basically Japanese Rhapsody or Serenity. Cheesy fantasy symphonic power with a princess motif.
Steam | XBL
I'm still partial to Malice Mizer, Gackt and the ridiculous Moi dix Mois, though some of those are more rock than metal.
try this
I've got a 160GB ipod classic and I'm almost out of room for my music collection. I ripped my entire collection years ago, but when my wife and I got married and merged our music collections, there's a lot of stuff I haven't ripped. If I did so, I would not be able to fit them all.
One day I'll have to replace this thing, and I'm not sure what I'll use. They don't make ipods with that capacity anymore.
My Backloggery
Edit: I ended up getting myself a LG V20 smartphone which has replaceable battery, replaceable external storage and ESS Sabre 9028 DAC (digital-to-analog converter), capable of 32-bit 394kHz PCM and DSD512 playback, plus a powerful ESS headphone amp section. However, the V20 is not the cheapest DAP (digital audio player) with removable storage and a solid DAC+Amp and if it's price tag is off-putting there are a number of lesser players that might fit the bill. The LG V20 is competitively priced compared to other non-phone/standalone DAP's with similar (or worse!) specs and it's cheaper than many DAPs with less SQ and more shitty UIs. There are actually a shit-ton of options on the market.
Edit x2: Eventually, maybe not too far in the future, we'll see 512GB micro SDs and then I won't have any problems except the struggle to fill the damn thing and the high price to obtain one.
try this
Also, what I listen to and what files I have are none of google's damn business and I won't pay for a cloud subscription with someone that does mind their own fucking business, since local, personal storage is dirt cheap.
try this
Yeah, I have Google Play as well, but I'm always a bit paranoid about relying on the cloud for music for some reason. Also my phone's battery life isn't great.
My Backloggery
When I put the V20 in airplane mode I can listen to music for literally days on the same battery charge, based on losing like 2%-3% battery over the course of 4+ hours.
try this
But yeah, my battery sucks too, so it's not something I could do all day with. I mainly use it for my 2 hours of commute time a day.
Castle are great, even more live. They are one of those underground bands who are touring a lot, but in super small venues. They came twice in Québec City in the last three years, but they played in front of ~30 persons.
The singer died of cancer earlier this year, but their album was released in November.
King Crimson was such a musical influence for me in my teen years (even though that was the 90s).
That Trees of Eternity track is really good.
I miss that iPod though.
xDuoo - Their X3 hifi player caught on in a big way with dual micro SD card capacity and low price, of just over $100 (https://www.amazon.com/Player-JZ4760B-192khz-format-Lossless/dp/B01BUUCFBU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481297683&sr=8-2&keywords=xduoo). However, the X3 has some issues that can be overcome if you replace the stock firmware with Rockbox, so that's a turn-off for some.
They recently released, for about $170, the X10 and it also accepts 2 micro SD cards. Here's a link to a discussion thread for the X10, which looks like it is the best bang for buck in digital audio players at the moment, especially given the DAC/Amp it has are typically found in much, much more expensive players (like $700 and up): http://www.head-fi.org/t/823135/upcoming-dap-from-xduoo-the-x10. It can be got from several Amazon sellers and early reviews indicate it is a substantial upgrade from the X3, punching way above it's weight.
The xDuoo X3 and X10 are the cheapest players I've found that support dual micro SD, period. If price and capacity in a package that sounds good is your thing, then these are very good options. Both can play higher resolution digital audio than I own.
Fiio. They're not so well known outside the enthusiast set, but they are a great value and one of the better Chinese manufacturers in the hi-res DAP market. They have a wide range of players in terms of price, features and SQ, and you can find them on amazon. All of their players accept at least 1 micro SD card.
Their player line ranges from their humble M3 for $50 (http://www.fiio.net/en/products/47) and up.
A buddy of mine has the Fiio X1 and I liked it a lot. Plus, at $80, the price is very nice: Fiio X1 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016Q8CXHC/ref=twister_B017L0IJHM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
There is the Sony's line of Walkman DAPs, with prices starting at $50 (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=sony+walkman). I have little experience with them and they release new models every year, so I can't make a specific recommendation, but they are pretty easy to research and find one with features/price you want and most of them include micro SD support, but make sure you check.
Also, if you are also in the market for a smartphone with great headphone sound for your metals, then the LG V10 is excellent and priced well, and the LG V20 is great as well but theoretically better and definitively more expensive than the V10. Both support micro SD cards and are hi-resolution playback capable like everything else I've mentioned.
If you want to look at way more options than you can imagine exist, then check out head-fi and it's innumerable threads on audio players and this ranking thingy they have: http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/digital-audio-flac-mp3-players
Final note - I'm sure they all sound good enough and hires is mostly snake-oil, but mainly these are interesting because you can get them at good prices and support at least 1 micro SD card, which now can be as big as 256GB per card (I got a genuine 200GB card from Newegg just recently for like $50). Also, the general consensus seems to be: ABSOLUTELY don't buy a Pono Player.
Metal!! \m/
Edit: Sorry for the WOT; couldn't help myself, because I love you Heshers!!
try this
Edit: This is the same motherfucker that drew their debut cover, so guy seems to have a pretty good grip on artistic merits:
try this
Also, this Asphalt Graves shit is some good shit. Can't remember if I was made aware of this ITT, but if I was, then thanks ... you, person. Have a bow!
try this
They seem to be a mix of post-black/blackened death, some core, and gothic
Khonsu, blackened death with a lot of electronic textures and sometimes neat clean vocals that I feel like I saw earlier
https://teitanblood.bandcamp.com/album/accursed-skin