2011 in metal | Popblerd

Metal Monday Volume 49 (12.19.11)

by Jesse on Dec 19, 2011 • No Comments

Has it really been barely 16 years since German pyromaniacs Rammstein burst onto the industrial metal scene and changed the status quo of Music Performing 101? With the release of the best of collection, Made In Germany: 1995-2011, that would most certainly seem to be the case. If you don’t know Rammstein yet, then I really have to ask: Where have you been for the last 16 years? I mean, really? Even if you’re not a fan, “Engel” and “Du […]

Metal Monday Volume 48 (12.12.11)

by Jesse on Dec 12, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases

I cannot get over how far The Empire Shall Fall have come in such a short time. their debut, Awaken, is good. Really Good. Volume I: Solar Plexus (The first of a planned trilogy of EP’s that will eventually be collected into an album with some extras) takes all of that energy and emotion found on Awaken as well as all of the influences of Jesse Leach’s previous bands, throws it in a blender, and creates a sound that is both reminiscent yet unique. […]

Spin Cycle: Korn’s “The Path Of Totality”

by Jesse on Dec 6, 2011 • 3 Comments

Album Reviews / music / New Releases / Spin Cycle / Videos

Limp Bizkit did it right. They came back after a long hiatus, original line up in tact, and put out an album that was as offensive as ever and stuck smack dab in the middle of ’90’s nu-metal. I’ll give Korn credit for always pushing the envelope albeit with mostly mixed results and barely resembling the band they used to be. 2007’s Korn was ok. The Unplugged record was weird but credit them for trying. 2010’s III was the kicker […]

Metal Monday Volume 46 (11.28.11)

by Jesse on Nov 28, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Lists! / Metal Monday / music / Videos

It’s that time of year again where everyone starts posting their best of lists and seeing as how there are very few metal releases due in the next few weeks, I figured I’d lead the herd and post my Top 11 of ’11 (Catchy, right?). But to add to the suspense, I’ve broken it up into two parts so you’ll just haaaaave to come back next week (You’ll come back, won’t you?). Without further adieu, here’s numbers 11 through 6 […]

Metal Monday Volume 45 (11.21.11)

by Jesse on Nov 21, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / New Releases / Videos

How is it possible that any one band can manage to sound more intense than Meshuggah in this day and age? Just one listen through Masstaden, the stellar debut from Vildhjarta , and you’ll hear how true that statement is. It’s a concept record but don’t let that scare you away. Every song works separate from the concept but if you have a chance to listen from start to finish, you’ll be in for a treat. There’s three (3! Daniel Bergstrom, […]

Metal Monday Volume 42 (10.31.11)

by Jesse on Oct 31, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases

Metal Monday. Megadeth. Halloween. Come on now. Can’t get more obvious than this, can it?

Metal Monday Volume 41 (10.24.11)

by Jesse on Oct 24, 2011 • 1 Comment

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Release Dates

Boston’s metal band Junius has a new album out now! Jesse talks about ’em in our latest Metal Monday column!

Spin Cycle: Wayne Static’s “Pighammer”

by Jesse on Oct 21, 2011 • 1 Comment

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Release Dates / Videos

I know this is probably blasphemous but some aspects of Pighammer, the debut solo album from Static-X front man Wayne Static, greatly remind me of Godflesh. Now, I’m not saying that Wayne Static is by any means in the same ballpark as Justin Broadrick, but you can’t deny that the minimalist approach to his solo album, especially the static (no pun intended) guitar drones and the lo-fi production, are very much in the Godflesh vein. If you think I’m crazy, […]

Metal Monday Volume 40 (10.17.11)

by Jesse on Oct 17, 2011 • 2 Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Videos

Five Finger Death Punch’s latest, American Capitalist, is a concise slab of 21st Century thrash metal. On their third album, FFDP really deliver the goods. Zoltan Bathory’s guitars sound nastier than ever, Jeremy Spencer lays down a slick and solid drum groove while Ivan Moody sounds better than ever behind the mic. The third album is the defining moment for any band. On the first, you get an introduction. The sophomore album can go either way: an experiment or more […]

Metal Monday Volume 39 (10.10.11)

by Jesse on Oct 10, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Release Dates

In Jesseworld, no band compares with Will Haven . They’re this weird mix of hardcore and sludge with this air of evil floating above that sounds like nobody else. If you’ve never heard them then you’re missing out. When they disbanded shortly after the release of 2001’s Carpe Diem, I was heartbroken. They announced a return in 2005 which was promising until vocalist Grady Avenell dropped out of the mix resulting in their fourth album, The Hierophant, being recorded with a different […]

Metal Monday Volume 38 (10.3.11)

by Jesse on Oct 3, 2011 • No Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Release Dates

This is really the seventh full-length from Machine Head? It’s crazy to think that there was a time when it was doubtful they would survive through the nu-metal craze of the ’90’s yet here they are after their second coming with 2003’s Through the Ashes of Empires bigger than ever, stronger than all and being handpicked to open for Metallica. Since TTAOE, Machine Head rediscovered themselves, found a songwriting structure that worked and took the time to create songs and […]

Metal Monday Volume 37 (9.26.11)

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2011 • 2 Comments

Album Reviews / Metal Monday / music / New Releases / Release Dates / Videos

At this point in Mastodon’s illustrious career, I have to ask: Is it even possible for them to make a bad album? If their latest, The Hunter, is any indication then the answer is a resounding “NO!”. Stepping away from the concept album concept (pun intended) for the first time in almost 10 years, The Hunter sees the behemoth known as Mastodon at their most loose, raw, and yet still experimental. With but just two songs on here crossing the […]