Metallica: Beyond Magnetic

"And hate is a train

A beast awakened by your call

And hate is a train

A beast that never slows at all"

Genre(s): Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal

Label: Warner Bros.

Year: 2011

Track List

1. Hate Train

2. Just a Bullet Away

3. Hell and Back

4. Rebel of Babylon

Before the review, I just want to say thanks to my friend Kyle for recommending that I check this out.

Beyond Magnetic is the newest extended play record by the world renown American Thrash Metal band Metallica who boast having two of the most influential people in the Metal Universe today, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The band also boast some of the most recognizable and memorable songs such as Enter Sandman, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black, Master of Puppets and Sad but True just to list of a few. As far as favorite piece of work goes for me, with Metallica it has to be the 1991 release Metallica aka  The Black Album. This album holds most of my favorites songs, two of which I mentioned above.

Honestly, I haven't been too impressed with Metallica's work as of late. I thought that Death Magnetic was bad, only to be beaten by the album previous, St. Anger. Hate if you want, but remember, this is just my opinion. If you like the albums, more power to you! Just because I don't like them, doesn't mean you can't enjoy them if you so chose.

Then I heard Lulu.....If you can make St. Anger and Death Magnetic look good, your not even trying anymore. And others would agree with me. Rolling Stones gave it a 3/5, Metal Hammer Germany gave it a 4/7 and Sputnikmusic gave it a 1.5/5. Needless to say, Lulu didn't break Metallica's bank account.

But back to the record at hand. Beyond Magnetic is a album that consist of four songs that where recorded, but never released on, Death Magnetic. It was also released to coincide with the bands anniversary shows, of which they released a new song on all four nights of the show. The album has done well so far, with releasing around 36,000 copies in the first week alone and landed in the number 32 spot in the Billboard 200.

Now that we have a little back story, I suppose I should tell you how I feel about it. After all, you didn't come here just to read my rants and information you already knew, did you?

If I had to say how I feel about this album in one word, it would be "eh". I've heard a lot worse, but I've also heard much MUCH better. At first it had me interested, but as time went on I became less interested. And seeing as I rate on a scale of one to ten, well....I would have to say that this particular EP gets a 3/10, my worst score yet. I will say that it had potential, but I fear that Metallica has been on a steady decline in producing good, quality stuff over the last few years. And it disappoints me because The Black Album is what actually got me interested in these guys in the first place. And ever since then they have been putting out things that are less than interesting in my opinion.

Hopefully they'll get back on the ball and start making good records again. But maybe that's just me.....and Rolling Stones magazine....and a few other people....eh, maybe I'm not alone in this. Oh well. I give these guys a 3/10.

Before the Dawn: Deathstar Rising

"One by one in pitch black sky
No stars to reflect the sun
After all light become undone
Darkness has come to blacken fires of the night
Deathstar rising"

Genre(s): Melodic Death Metal, Gothic Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Year: 2011


Track List:
1. The First Snow
2. Winter Within
3. Deathstar
4. Remembrance
5. Unbroken
6. Judgment
7. The Wake
8. Sanctuary
9. Butterfly Effect
10. Wreith



Before The Dawn comes to us from Finland, lead by the talented Tuomas Saukkonen. With six albums, one demo, one DVD and three EP's, Before The Dawn is making it's mark in the metal world. While still not very well known (at least from what I've gathered), Before The Dawn is a preference for me. I find myself throwing these guys into my regular rotation of music almost on a consistent basis.

Their newest record, Deathstar Rising, released through Nuclear Blast Records who holds big shots such as Accept, Belphegor and Dimmu Borgir, just to name a few, is the bands best work to date. Black Dawn off of their 2006 album The Ghost is what brought BTD to my attention and has since remained my favorite track by the group. And Deathstar Rising surpasses their 2008 album Soundscape of Silence in a big way, which is still my favorite record by these guys. But Deathstar Rising is close second.

9/10 is the score for this record. It's good, but its not perfect. Their really isn't anything wrong with it, just my disliking for slow metal songs with a band like this. All in all though, it's a good listen. Check it out if you haven't already.

Black Stone Cherry: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

"Like big love, black love, white love, your love

Here we go!

Sit back, hold up, open up, just enjoy the show

Like ice cream, whip cream, nasty dream

Do you know? Can you feel what I mean?

Say Hey eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh

Oh oh oh oh 

Say Hey eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh"

Genre(s): Hard Rock, Southern Rock, Post-Grunge

 Label: Roadrunner

Year: 2011


Track List:
1. White Trash Millionaire
2. Killing Floor
3. In My Blood
4. Such a Shame
5. Won't Let Go
6. Blame It on the Boom Boom
7. Like I Roll
8. Can't You See
9. Let Me See You Shake
10. Stay
11. Change
12. All I'm Dreamin' Of

Black Stone Cherry. What can be said about them? Well, they are one of my favorite Southern Rock groups of today, and I first heard them through the video game WWE: Smackdown! VS. RAW 2007, with the song "Lonely Train from their self-titled debut record.

Anyway, I'm going to keep this short and sweet as I am getting ready to leave for Christmas break, so I'll get to the good stuff and stop rambling so I can finish getting ready.

Overall, I give it an 8/10. It was interesting, kept my attention for the whole thing, but I think they could have done a little better. But then again, that's just me being nit-picky.

As always, I am your host, M. Watts.

Motorhead: Motorizer

"Don't shoot me down, I ain't no violent man,

Don't put a .45 in my hand,

I ain't gonna do no time,

I know I've been a fool,

But please don't send me down,

I don't want to spend my life lock up,

Without no women around"

Genre: Heavy Metal

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Year: 2008

What can be said about English rock group Motorhead, other then they have been one of the most influential bands in metal history?

Well, aside from that, not much. I first heard Motorhead WAY back when I was in eighth grade and the song was Ace of Spades, which I do not remember how or when it was when I first heard it, but I do remember that I liked it. And from that point on, it has been my favorite Motorhead song to date. 

But we're not here to talk about early Motorhead, we're here to talk about the ONLY Motorhead record I own, Motörizer.

First I want to talk about how I found this record: completely by accident. Yes, that's right. I hadn't heard anything about this record, and I stumbled upon it while browsing the heavy metal section of my local FYE (much love to you guys), and sampled it; instantaneous approval. So I bought it and blasted it on my way home. After listening to the album all the way once, I found what songs I like and what I didn't like. And as I listen to it again, I find that not much as changed.

What I like about this album? Just about everything. The only thing I don't like is the cover art, because it doesn't really make a lot of sense. But other than that, I love this record; great hooks, the typical Motörhead style of lyrics, and of course, Lemmy. What's a good Motorhead album without Lemmy Kilmister? It's not.


Anyway, on to the songs! Right off the bat this album sets the stage with Runaround Man, which is my personal favorite of the record. This is one of those albums that as soon as I heard it, I wanted it and I knew I would like it. I've been a Motorhead fan for a few years, but unfortunately this is the only record that I currently own. I haven't heard much from their new album, The World is Yours, but that's mainly because I haven't had much time to go and pick it up with being in school and all. But I will try to at least take a peak at it through Youtube, and I might have to review it that way. But that's something I'll deal with when the time comes.


The entire album is what I like to call a "Road Tripping" album, and I have popped into the radio while on a few long trips. Overall I give this album an 8.5/10. The few things I don't like about it is with the slower songs. They seem almost out of place to me. But other than that, I love this album.


As always, I am your host, M. Watts.

I Chaos: The Human Repellent

Alright, I'm gonna break my mold here for a minute. I'm gonna go WAY of course and review this band I literally JUST heard of. They're called "I Chaos", and they come to us from the Netherlands. I'm not going to post the picture up because I feel it would be too graphic for this particular page. But I digress.

Let's start with a little info about these guys. The only site that I could find with even a shred of info is the band page. I'm serious. These guys started in '09. They don't even have a Wikipedia page yet! Their debut album, "The Human Repellent", has hit the shelves. And I have to say, I don't normally listen to death metal, but when I heard these guys I had a bowel movement.

My brain exploded, my eyes where as wide as dinner plates, and I got an instant headache due to the sheer awesomeness of these guys. I can't tell if they're music is satanic or not, seeing as how I cannot find any lyrics online. But for the time being, I'm reviewing them!

Like I said before, I don't normally like Death Metal, especially generic. But these guys are different for me somehow. Maybe it's because they're not over-doing it (if that's even possible in Death Metal) with horrible blast beats (which are in EVERY song). I don't know. Regardless, these guys are good. And Holland has once again given us a fantastic group of men. I more than likely won't listen to them on a regular basis, but I will certainly come back to these guys and be keeping an eye on them.

All together, I would have to give these guys an 7/10. They're good, but I've heard much better (Mortification). 

BTW, this might be how long my post are for the time being while I'm still in school. But I will try to get you guys something when I have an "off" day.

As always, I'm your host M. Watts.

Judas Priest: Painkiller

"Howling winds keep screaming round

And the rain comes pouring down

Doors are locked and bolted now

As the thing crawls into town

Straight out of hell

One of a kind

Striking his victim

Don't look behind you

Nightcrawler

Beware the beast in black

Nightcrawler

You know he's coming back

Nightcrawler"

Genre: Heavy/Speed Metal
Label: Columbia
Year: 1990

Here we go, Judas Priest! One of the pioneering bands of the "NWOBHM", the New Wave of British Heavy Metal! And one of my personal favorite albums of all time, Painkiller.

This is one album that I can listen to for HOURS and HOURS and HOURS...And I have. So much so that I've had to take a break from this album for about two months, just so that I don't listen to it SO many times that I grow to hate it. This album, from start to finish, is one of my favorites, so first lets talk about what I don't like (and what little of it that is actually relevant).

The only song that seems out of place to me would track 11: Living Bad Dreams. And only a little out of place, might I had. Yes, it still has the same overall style of the entire album and intensity, but the way that Halford sings it slowly makes it seem out of place to me.

Now let me talk about whats good.

The title track, which is the beginning track, starts off hard and fast. The entire time Halford is singing in a high tone voice, which just makes this song awesome. My favorite songs would be the first half of the album. Tracks 1-6 are my favorites of the album. But like I said before, I like the whole thing. The solos on this record are awesome in the only way Judas Priest knows how to be: "Killtacular!" 


The last half of the album is also good, but not as good as the first half in my opinion, and I've had a few people agree with me on that. For me, it's almost like the album is awesome at first, and slowly dies off so your not left in a sate of awesomeness and a need for it. It gives you a break almost in the last half. I really don't know what else to say, other than this album is absolutely an amazing work of art. The guys of Judas Priest are talented and they show it in this album, as well as in another Priest album that's also a favorite of mine, Screaming for Vengeance, which I'll review at a later date.

As for the rating of this album, I give it a 9.5/10. If it weren't for the fact that Living Bad Dreams seemed so out of place for me, this album would have gotten a perfect score. Nothing about this album to me is boring. Living Bad Dreams is the only song I have a problem with, but other then that I love this CD. I would highly recommend this album for anyone who's looking for a high octane CD with awesome solos and amazing riffs and hooks. If you haven't checked out this CD yet, you should. It's an amazing CD in my opinion, that I think anyone who listens to metal would enjoy.

Megadeth: Endgame/United Abominations

Genre: Heavy/Thrash Metal
Label: Roadrunner
Year: 2007/2009

"Destroying every town, light it up and burn it down

You may not like it now, but this is how the story ends."

"I am the King (an evil king),

Who dreams the wickedest of dreams

An ancient mystery, nobody could interpret

Of seven empires falling, the wolf is at my door

As predicted years ago, that that was, that is, that is no more

The word predicts my future and tells the truth about my past

Of how the world's leaders are waiting to usher in

The eighth world power of modern Rome: Washington is Next!"

I decided I wouldn't wait to get one of the albums to make my decision after all, so I'll review both at the same time.

Let's start with Endgame, the newest release thus far form 2009. Right off the bat we have the classic Megadeth instrumental opening of awesome shredding that leads into one of my favorite songs This Day We Fight!. As soon as I heard this combo I instantly fell in love with it. However, the next track on the record, 44 Minutes, took a while to grow on me. Not sure why though. 

After that, we hit 1,320! Another favorite of mine. From what I can guess it's about racing of some kind. I'm guessing street racing, but I could be wrong. As soon as I heard 1,320 I decided that this album was going to be awesome, I wasn't that far off. The only song I have a problem with off this album is the eighth track: The Hardest Part of Letting Go....Sealed With A Kiss. The reason is simply because it brings up too many memories that I've been trying to forget for a long time now. 

Other then that one track, I love the record. It has become a personal favorite of mine, and I for one can't wait for a new record. They did release a new single for Guitar Hero called Sudden Death, and I have to say it's good. It took a while for me to get used to it, but now I find it to be a good release.


The rest of the album makes up for The Hardest Part of Letting Go... as one of my favorite albums to date. And now we're going to the next album on this here two parter, United Abominations!



The album starts out with two of my favorite Megadeth songs of all time, Sleepwalker and Washington Is Next!. When I first heard these songs, I had a feeling the album would be great. And for the most part, it is. A few songs that I don't care much for would have to be Black Swan, Burnt Ice and the cover of Led Zeppelin's song, Out on the Tiles. I don't like either of these songs because...well honestly, they bore me. Yeah I know Zeppelin are one of the godfather bands of metal, but I've never really liked them at all, and even though Megadeth covering them makes it a little better, it still bores me. The other songs are just....dull in my opinion.

After we finish with the awesomeness that is the first to tracks, we go to another track that, at first, was boring, but now it fits right in with the album: Never Walk Alone... A Call to Arms. This song is this albums version of The Hardest Part of Letting Go... for me, as it brings up too many memories of relationships gone bad.

It's strange to me how an awesome Thrash Metal band like Deth keeps bringing up bad memories...Oh well..

After that, we go to the title track. Right off the bat I loved this album when I heard it. I've always liked the way that Dave works the spoken parts of voice intros, and United Abominations is no different. The song itself is a good kick in the pants and I love the theme of it. Now lets jump to a song that I've loved for a long time: Gears of War. At first this song seemed off to me, but now it's a personal favorite of mine. While at first, like I already mentioned, it took me a rather long time to actually sit down a listen to this song all the way through, and once I did, I instantly fell in love.

Now we're off to Blessed Are The Dead. This song to me is just weird...Not sure what it is about this song, but I get a weird vibe off it.

Not much more needs to be said about that, so we'll just talk about the last few tracks: Play for Blood, A Toute le Monde (Set Me Free), Amerikhastan and You're Dead. All of these songs I love, even though I like the original version of A Toute le Monde better. The last two songs are also good ones. Unless your a political type, go ahead. They're awesome.


As for the ratings of these two great albums, I give them a collected 18/20, which is 8/10 a piece. If it weren't for the songs that I didn't like, I would feel more inclined to give them better ratings. But for now, Megadeth's albums Endgame and United Abominations will remain as two personal favorite of mine, even though they have some songs I can't listen to, or just don't like.