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Hi Manilla Maniacs!

I have just launched a new MANILLA ROAD fan community message board! You're all welcome to join The Weavers of the Web! =) (http://manillaroad.iphpbb3.com)

Up the Hammers & Down the Nails \m/



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(delete the stars)

Manilla RoadInvasionMetalCrystal LogicOpen the GatesThe DelugeMystificationRoadkillOut of the AbyssLive RoadkillThe Courts of ChaosThe Circus MaximusLive By The Sword (The Very Best Of)Dreams of EschatonAtlantis RisingSpiral CastleMark Of The BeastGates of FireVoyagerAfter Midnight LiveThe Dream Goes OnCat and MouseFar Side of the SunStreet JammerCenturian War GamesThe EmpireEnter the WarriorDefenderQueen of the Black CoastMetalOut of Control with Rock 'n' RollCage of MirrorsMark Of The BeastCourt Of AvalonAvatarDream SequenceTime TrapBlack LotusTeacherAftershockVenusian SeaTriumviratePrologueNecropolisFlaming Metal SystemsFlaming Metal SystemCrystal LogicFeeling Free AgainThe Riddle MasterThe RamThe Veils of Negative ExistenceDreams Of Eschaton / EpilogueDreams Of EschatonmetalstromMetalstormOpen the GatesAstronomicaWeavers of the WebThe Ninth WaveHeavy Metal to the WorldThe Fires of MarsRoad of KingsHour of the DragonWitches BrewWitches' BrewDementiaShadow In The BlackShadows in the BlackDivine VictimHammer of the WitchesMorbid TabernacleIsle of the DeadTaken by StormThe DelugeFriction in MassRest in PiecesHaunted PalaceSpirits of the DeadValley of UnrestMystificationMasque of the Red DeathUp From the CryptChildren of the NightDragon StarDeath by the HammerThe AsylumWhitechapelRites of BloodOut of the AbyssReturn of the Old OnesBlack CauldronMidnight Meat TrainWar in HeavenSlaughterhouseHeliconRoad to ChaosDig Me No GraveD.O.A.Into the Courts of ChaosFrom BeyondA Touch of Madness(Vlad) The ImpalerThe ProphecyThe Books of SkelosThrone of BloodLux AeternaSpiderMurder by DegreesNo Sign From AboveIn Gein We TrustFlesh and FuryNo TouchHack It OffForbidden ZoneShe's FadingMegalodonLemuriaAtlantis RisingSea WitchResurrectionDecimationFlight of the RavensMarch Of The GodsSiege Of AtlandWar of the GodsGateway To The SphereSpiral CastleShadowSeven TrumpetsThrone Of LiesMerchants Of DeathBorn Upon The SoulSands Of TimeRiddle Of SteelBehind The VeilWhen Giants FallThe Fall Of IliamImperious RiseRomeStand Of The SpartansBetrayalEpitaph To The KingTomb of the Serpent King / Butchers of the SeaTomb of the Serpent King/Butchers of the SeaFrost and FireTree of LifeBlood EagleVoyagerEye Of The StormReturn of the Serpent KingConquestTotentanz (The Dance of Death)ChromaphobiaLife's So HardPentacle Of TruthDream Of PeaceHerman HillMark SheltonMark Shelton's Shark ProjectObsidian Dreamsepic metalus power metalwichitaThe Circus MaximusCirith UngolBrocas HelmOmenThe Lord Weird Slough FegIronswordLiege LordBattleroarMedieval SteelCloven HoofDoomswordHeavy LoadHelstarAngel WitchJag PanzerWarlordAttackerDark QuartererIsen TorrWitchfyndeLegendSavage GraceTwisted Tower DireSatanTokyo BladeSortilègeVirgin SteeleMetaluciferHammers of MisfortuneVicious RumorsHoly MartyrStormwitchExciterCrimson GloryThorHeir ApparentSlough FegRiotGrim ReaperNasty SavageMetal InquisitorMetal ChurchPentagramAbattoirBlitzkriegMercyful FateSacred SteelAdramelchFifth AngelTygers of Pan TangDeath SSOverlordeCrystal ViperArmored SaintTitan ForceRunning WildRavenAtlantean KodexPharaohHolocaustGotham CitySlauter XstroyesAnvilSanctuaryWolfOzLizzy BordenChastainCrescent ShieldDemonGriffinPiledriverGrand MagusAvengerAtomkraftTankADXGravestonePictureLeatherwolfJaguarOstrogothKing DiamondSteel AssassinRealmWhile Heaven WeptCauldronPraying MantisFates WarningBitches SinAxehammerSwordAcceptMorgana LefayGrave DiggerBlack KnightSamsonWotanMaliceDiamond HeadDesolation AngelsSaxonPretty MaidsDomineMeliah RageExxplorerStormwarriorIn SolitudeScannerSavatageTad MoroseHeavens GateTysondogWarriorBal-SagothPersuaderLords Of The Crimson AllianceArmourWarlockAssediumSinnerDantescoSeven WitchesWitchkillerRosae CrucisLonewolfThe RodsStygian ShoreLoudnessDarkthroneBathoryDeathVenomMetal ChurchTempus FugitSacred GuardianKeep It True XIIIHeadbangers Open Air 2010Metropole Ruhr Festival 2010

King of the Dead is probably the best album of the 80s and better than 100% of its kind. I can see why people might get hung up on the vocals, they certainly are more of a mad screech than actual singing, but that is a large part of the charm. As can be heard on Frost & Fire, Tim Baker can do those 70s hard rock vocals as well, but chooses not to. I watched an old live performance of King of the Dead on YouTube and it was just completely ahead of its time and out of this world. The way the band introduces the song without Baker and then he is wheeled to the stage in a coffin and begins his screeches even before coming out. It is evident that the crowd isn't getting it at all, which is too bad really.

Tim Baker's songwriting is what sets them ahead aplenty. On Frost & Fire you can hear Greg Lindstrom's meddling, but with him gone on King of the Dead, there's nothing holding Fogle back with his flair for catchiness and occult atmosphere. It is wonderous how the band manages to catch that said atmosphere of occult and permeable evil better than harsher and harder bands like Slayer or Venom could at the time. The maybe do it even better than Black Sabbath in their early days. The Sabbathian influence is evident on the powerful 70s bass sound and style as well as the drumming.

On a side note, I haven't heard the last two albums so can't comment on that, but it's a shame that with Fogle dead, it's doubtful that band might re-unite to do something new.

List your Top 25 on Last.FM


okay, well i don't have 25 since i just made this thing. i'll probz do this again sometime later.


1. Dream Theater
2. Nightwish
3. Cradle of Filth
4. Coheed and Cambria
5. Avenged Sevenfold
6. Queen
7. Foo Fighters
8. Slayer
9. HIM
10. Atreyu
11. Slipknot
12. Metallica
13. Dokken
14. The Rasmus
15. Opeth
16. Owl City
17. Porcupine Tree
18. Cannibal Corpse
19. Venom
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Now answer the questions according to the numbers:

What was the first song you ever heard by 6?
we will rock you

What is your favorite album by 2?
Once

What is your favorite lyric that 1 has sung?
probably
"i can't stop this flame from burning, forevermore into the night blistering"
it's not their best by far, i just like this one lol

How many times have you seen 11 live?
None

What is your favorite song by 7?
Everlong and Wheels are tied

What is a good memory you have involving 20?
i don't have a 20

Is there a song by 3 that makes you sad?
nope.

What is your favorite lyric that 14 has sung?
pretty much every lyric in the song f-f-f-falling

What is your favorite song by 19?
welcome to hell...seeing as it's the only one i know.

How did you get in to 22?
don't have a 22

What was the first song you heard by 21?
don't have a 21

What is your favorite song by 4?
The Willing Well II: Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

How many times have you seen 10 live?
0 but i might be goin in february

What is a good memory you have involving 13?
uhm. listening to them on the way back home and my mom saying "oooh do you have any more dokken?"

Is there a song by 23 that makes you sad?
don't have a 23

What is your favorite album of 15?
Damnation

What is your favourite lyric that 9 has sung?
"gods kneel before our crime"

What is your favorite song by 8?
The Antichrist

What is your favorite song by 16?
the only song i've heard by them is fireflies

How many times have you seen 5 live?
0 =[

PDSUMWANIE DEKADY:
(kolejność przypadkowa)

1.Behemoth “The Apostasy” (2007)
2. Behemoth ”Demigod” (2004)
3. Machine Head ”Through the Ashes of Empires” (2003)
4. Machine Head”The Blackening” (2007)
5. Satyricon ”Volcano” (2002)
6. Satyricon ”Now, Diabolical” (2006)
7. Nevermore ” This Godless Endeavor (2005)
8. Krisiun ”Works of Carnage” (2003)
9. Black Label Society "Mafia" (2005)
10. Krisiun ”Southern Storm” (2008)
11.Testament ”The Gathering” (1999)!
12. Slayer ”God Hates Us All” (2001)
13. Sayer ”Christ Illusion” (2006)
14. Samael”Reign of Light” (2004)
15.Motorhead ”Inferno” (2004)
16. Motorhead ”Kiss of Death” (2006)
17. Slipknot “Iowa” (2001)
18. Korn ”Take a Look in the Mirror” (2003)
19. Lamb of God “Ashes of the Wake” (2004)
20.Lamb of God ”Sacrament” (2006)
21. Lamb of God “Wrath (2009)
22. Dissection ”Reinkaos” (2006)
23. Marilyn Manson “Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)” (2000)
24. Marilyn Manson “The Golden Age of Grotesque” (2003)
25. Marilyn Manson ”Eat Me, Drink Me” (2007)
26. Cradle of Filth “Midian” (2000)
27. Audioslave ”Audioslave” (2002)
28. Candlemass “Candlemass”(2005)
29. Venom “Metal Black” (2006)
30. Fear Factory ”Archetype” (2004)

Esquadrão Urgência:
-Cradle of Filth
-Slayer
-Megadeth
-Limp Bizkit
-Rammstein
-Manowar

Primeiro Esquadrão:

-Testament
-Heaven and Hell/Dio
-Shadowside
-Venom
-Linkin Park
-U.D.O.
-Def Lepard
-Anthrax
-Trivium
-Bullet For My Valentine
-Tiamat
-Within Temptation
-Slipknot
-Cavalera Conspiracy

Segundo Esquadrão:

-Lacuna Coil
-Tribuzy
-Krisiun
-Hibria
-Viper
-Atreyu
-Tierra Santa
-W.A.S.P.
-Motley Crue

----
Pequena lista das bandas que preciso ver antes de morrer!
Quantas será que consigo cumprir até o fim de 2010?

Alguma aposta?
*Mesmo ja imaginando o vácuo da resposta.*Cradle of FilthTierra SantaW.A.S.P.AtreyuMötley CrueViperTribuzyLacuna CoilKrisiunCavalera ConspiracySlipknotWithin TemptationTiamatBullet For My ValentineTriviumAnthraxDef lepardU.D.O.Heaven and HellDioTestamentCradle of FilthSlayerMegadethLinkin ParkLimp BizkitRammsteinManowarVenom

As I mentioned in my previous journal entry, I have a morbid fascination with my own listening statistics. So let's take a look at some more stats from 2009!




And just for fun, let's close out with my top 50 artists of 2009.

vivalaranter's top albums (overall) 1. Scum Bitch - 72 Faggot Killing Rehearsal Tracks (253) 2. Fornicator - Fornicator (217) 3. Scum Bitch - Split with Succulent Torso (167) 4. Scum Bitch - Death to Faggots (162) 5. Whore - Unfinished Business (150) 6. Frightmare - Bringing Back the Bloodshed (140) 7. Whore - Doing It for the Kids (136) 8. Last Days of Humanity - Hymns of Indigestible Suppuration (130) 9. Scum Bitch - Breast Apocalypse (126) 10. Frightmare - Midnight Murder Mania (119) 11. Mentors - Up The Dose (112) 12. Agathocles - Razor Sharp Daggers (112) 13. Blood Freak - Sleaze Merchants (100) 14. Napalm Death - From Enslavement to Obliteration (99) 15. ROT - Cruel Face of Life (96) 16. Blood Freak - Live Fast, Die Young ... And Leave a Flesh - Eating Corpse! (93) 17. Benediction - Subconscious Terror (91) 18. Profanatica - The Enemy Of Virtue (89) 19. Last Days of Humanity - The Sound of Rancid Juices Sloshing Around Your Coffin (86) 20. Dropdead - First LP (86) 21. Carcass - Reek of Putrefaction (85) 22. Impetigo - Ultimo Mondo Cannibale (84) 23. Havohej - Dethrone the Son of God (78) 24. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath (76) 25. Ulcerrhoea - Line and Row (75) 26. Arghoslent - Arsenal Of Glory (75) 27. Asphyx - The Rack (2006 Re-Issue with Bonus Tracks) (73) 28. Venom - Welcome to Hell [Expanded] (72) 29. Nunslaughter - Hex (72) 30. I.N.F.A.N.T.R.Y. - Sambo First Blood (71) 31. Impetigo - Ultimo Mondo Cannibale/Faceless (69) 32. Carnage - Dark Recollections (68) 33. Grand Belial's Key - Kosherat (68) 34. Arghoslent - Hornets of the Pogrom (67) 35. Mercyful Fate - Melissa (67) 36. Mercyful Fate - In The Beginning (66) 37. Master's Hammer - Ritual (66) 38. Anal Cunt - It Just Gets Worse (64) 39. Grand Belial's Key - Mocking The Philanthropist (63) 40. Genital Meat Grinder - Hard Gore (63) 41. Regurgitate - Effortless Regurgitation Of Bright Red Blood - The Torture Sessions (62) 42. Autopsy - Mental Funeral (60) 43. Warsore - Re-Opened Wound Discography (59) 44. Dropdead - 2nd LP - Vinyl (59) 45. Master's Hammer - The Jilemnice Occultist and Ritual Disc 1 (59) 46. Impetigo - Horror of the Zombies (58) 47. Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless (58) 48. Napalm Death - Scum (58) 49. Blood Freak - Multiplex Massacre (57) 50. Entombed - Left Hand Path (57)

2009 was a good year, certainly heavy in quantity, but what about quality? I'll note now that the order of items below are opinion and will most likely change. Disappointingly, it appears I listened to exactly 49 albums this year - one short of having a top 50. It should also be noted that some of the albums here I do not rate highly, such as albums #48 and #47, and they appear here to give a complete view of last year in music (for me).



49. Lamb of God - Wrath
48. Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague
47. Daath - The Concealers
46. Obscura - Cosmogenesis
45. Blindead - Impulse
44. Vomitory - Carnage Euphoria
43. Absu - Absu
42. Samael - Above
41. Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us
40. Asphyx - Death... The Brutal Way
39. Slayer - World Painted Blood
38. God Dethroned - Passiondale
37. Altar of Plagues - White Tomb
36. Kylesa - Static Tensions
35. The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
34. Ahab - The Divinity of Oceans
33. 1349 - Revelations of the Black Flame
32. My Dying Bride - For The Lies I Sire
31. Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
30. Shining - IV: Klagopsalmer
29. Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
28. Ulcerate - Everything is Fire
27. Nadja - Numbness
26. Ephel Duath - Through My Dog's Eyes
25. Lifelover - Dekadens
24. November's Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
23. Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue with the Stars
22. A Storm of Light - Forgive Us Our Trespasses
21. Sunn O))) - Monoliths and dimensions
20. Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know
19. Nadja - When I See The Sun Always Shines On TV
18. Gnaw Their Tongues - all the dread magnificence of perversity
17. Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul
16. Shrinebuilder - Shrinebuilder
15. Swallow the Sun - New Moon
14. Pelican - What We All Come To Need
13. Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
12. Fen - The Malediction Fields
11. OM - God Is Good

10. Cobalt - Gin
For any album, this is outstandingly composed. It's a very varied album, but one with strong black metal roots, which show mainly in the drums and vocals. It's hard to place a name of Cobalt's sound - a popular description on their shoutbox is 'Black metal Tool. Challenging music - and very worth picking up.

9. I Shalt Become - The Pendle Witch Trials
Criminally under-rated. To sum it up - it's very, very good depressive/atmospheric black metal from the UK. The album has no pretensions, just ample amounts of great black metal. Well worth finding, it has all the hallmarks of becoming a real gem.

8. Isis - Wavering Radiant
One of the earliest releases of 2009, and it set the right tone. It's a really great album, gives an excellent atmosphere and the vocals are very well done. My only comment is that the songs become slightly boring as the album wears on. Still, one of their best.

7. Baroness - Blue Record
The follow up to Red Album, this album serves as a showcase for Baroness's talent. The songs ooze with life, and the album carries a vein of vitality throughout that gives it a unique flow. The music is heavy, but not overly so - it forms a perfect back drop for John Baizley's grating vocals. There are some genuine moments of brilliance... Jake Leg!

6. The Axis of Perdition - Urfe
Where to start. It's a huge album - two discs (The Grief of The Unclean and The Great Unwashed). The content is mainly ambient soundscape, with spoken word from Leslie Simpson throughout. Very briefly, the album chronicles a man, lost in what seems to be a hellish, urban nightmare. This man runs, aware of demons at the edge of his reality. He relives memories of a hospital, or at least some sort of twisted experiment. What is the meaning? It is unclear - perhaps the demonic city was a dream, a side effect of the man's medical experiments. Maybe the city is a metaphor for the decay of our urban society. Who is Pylon? What is this 'axis'? Take from it what you will, maybe it's just a good story. This will disturb you. Ambitious certainly, but utterly excellent, hauntingly so. When you're out, we're in.

5. Jesu - Opiate Sun
More of an EP than an album, but as before, much of Justin's best music is hidden away on four-track releases. This effort has received flack for it's melodic, shoegaze like approach. Maybe people can't get over the Heartache EP just yet. Fuck them. This is genius. Can't wait for another full length.

4. Anaal Nathrakh -
Anaal Nathrakh have been a band of change recently - of their music, and their fans' opinions. ITCOTBW is an amalgamation of the sheer brutality of The Codex Necro era with the more structured songs and choruses of more recent albums. This album may fuck with your ears, but rest assured - you'll hum along too.


3. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
Unbelievable effort - the songs are devastatingly simple, but hit you with the force of a tonne weight. Actually, this would get on the list simply for The Bleeding Baroness, but it's full of really iconic doom songs. If you're new to Candlemass or doom - look no further.


2. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
An album that has appeared, and has won many lists and polls this year, and it will come second here. I wasn't a fan of Mastodon before this year, and the sheer craft and ambition of this album swayed me. Great riffs, great vocals, and great songs.



1. Katatonia - Night Is The New Day
Perhaps I'm biased; this year was the year that Katatonia really grew on me, and that they released a new album this year only added to it. It is with an air of predictability for myself that I give Night Is The New Day the top spot, but it is an incredible album. Full of melodies, highs and lows, gloom and renewal. It's a less polished, but much more emotional Katatonia album. To quote a magazine feature on this album - 'Lets hope they never cheer up'.

So, overall a good year. Some great new bands, and some old masters returning in style. I still have a few albums to obtain, such as Moss 'Tomb of The Blind Drugged' etc. Lets see...

Best EP: Jesu - Opiate Sun
Biggest disappointment: Shining - IV: Klagopsalmer
Worst album: Lamb of God - Wraith
Over-hyped: Absu - Absu

Now, I'll leave you with the best song of 2009.


A belated happy new year to all.


DarkthroneDeathspell OmegaMetallicaMegadethTriviumCarcassIron MaidenOpethSanctitySatyriconStonesourStone SourTestamentVenomAnthraxDevilDriverXasthurMossMardukDarkspaceAgallochElectric WizardBlack SabbathDark TranquillityPanic CellDownGodfleshLeviathanDeicideMorbid AngelCarpathian ForestEarthFear FactorySlipknotCoilPainDivine HeresyHead Control SystemMeshuggahThornsCynic