Music
If you're not interested in my interests outside ffxi, then you can skip this entry really, as I want to ramble about music a bit. I've come across some interesting records recently, and wanted to share them.
Cynic
I skipped LS event a few weeks ago to see Opeth, who - in my eyes - were up-staged by their support act, Cynic. They released one album of jazz-infused death metal before calling it a day in the early 90s, and recently got back together to release Traced In Air, one of the best albums I've heard in a long, long time. It's not really a "heavy" album, barely death metal at all; it's more prog, with the death and jazz providing contrasts. Integral Birth would be the highlight for me, though the whole album is fantastic. The guitar work is just something else and oddly for extreme metal, the whole album is ultimately uplifting.
Deathspell Omega
Deathspell Omega are one of those bands. The ones that aren't just a band, but - without overselling them - more like ideas and thoughts in music form. I'll not go into all that though, save to say that this is black metal of the highest order, beyond any childish church-burnings and murders. The music itself is also suitably mature, with barely any "light" escaping from it. Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum simply has an aura that most black metal could never aspire to, that feels like something pressing down on you; there's obviously inspiration being drawn from things like Noise recordings and avant-garde music, a real grasp of dynamics, and metal influences beyond the typical ones of black metal. It doesn't quite match Ordo Ad Chao by Mayhem in terms of pure wrongness (though in fairness, it's hard to imagine a record that could while still sounding like music), but instead, this album has some beautiful moments (for black metal at least, such as the guitar lead around the 10 minute mark of The Repellent Scars Of Abandon And Abandon). My favourite part has to be the ending to A Chore For The Lost, though - a guitar lead that wouldn't sound out of place on a "normal" metal album rises out of the mix, and it's one of those moments, where extreme metal becomes not just a battery, but something emotionally engaging. It's a very challenging listen, but well worth the time and effort.
Swallow The Sun
The final band I'll talk about is Swallow the Sun. I saw them on Thursday opening for Apocalyptica, which was a bit of a surprise as for some reason I thought they'd split up. They didn't get an especially long set - maybe 30 minutes? - but good god, if it wasn't one of the best sets I'd seen in a long, long time. Proper death/doom, a bit like My Dying Bride, but with more heavy bits and keyboards instead of a violin. I don't listen to especially much doom metal anymore (yes, I named my character after the genre, as when I like doom, I really like it), but when it gets me, it really gets me... and this band got me. There's nothing new here, nothing especially original, but it's done so amazingly well that it's worthy of praise. Their discography is a bit confusing due to record label bollocks, but A Plague of Butterflies is well worth a listen. The 30 minute opening track (originally written as a ballet score. No, really) may test some people's patience, but it works for me; but what's really special are the other four tracks, re-recordings of an old demo, all of which sound absolutely amazing. Out Of This Gloomy Light (yes, awful title) is simply perfect, both live and on record. Go listen.
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On a related note, I found out last night Gaahl from Gorgoroth is gay, making him the first homosexual musician in black metal that I'm aware of. Given how black metal is, at root, about freedom of choice and casting off oppression, I'm surprised more people haven't come out too. Of course, black metal has long been tainted with Nazism and fascism in some circles (which I view as an inherent contradicition, but hey! Since when was extreme politics ever sensible?), so it's not too shocking really. Either way, I have absolute respect for him, especially to come out knowing full well that some (many?) in black metal will criticise him for it (perhaps violently? This *is* a genre with a history of murder and such). Though, he'll probably get criticised more for touring with Cradle of Filth, haha.
Cynic
I skipped LS event a few weeks ago to see Opeth, who - in my eyes - were up-staged by their support act, Cynic. They released one album of jazz-infused death metal before calling it a day in the early 90s, and recently got back together to release Traced In Air, one of the best albums I've heard in a long, long time. It's not really a "heavy" album, barely death metal at all; it's more prog, with the death and jazz providing contrasts. Integral Birth would be the highlight for me, though the whole album is fantastic. The guitar work is just something else and oddly for extreme metal, the whole album is ultimately uplifting.
Deathspell Omega
Deathspell Omega are one of those bands. The ones that aren't just a band, but - without overselling them - more like ideas and thoughts in music form. I'll not go into all that though, save to say that this is black metal of the highest order, beyond any childish church-burnings and murders. The music itself is also suitably mature, with barely any "light" escaping from it. Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum simply has an aura that most black metal could never aspire to, that feels like something pressing down on you; there's obviously inspiration being drawn from things like Noise recordings and avant-garde music, a real grasp of dynamics, and metal influences beyond the typical ones of black metal. It doesn't quite match Ordo Ad Chao by Mayhem in terms of pure wrongness (though in fairness, it's hard to imagine a record that could while still sounding like music), but instead, this album has some beautiful moments (for black metal at least, such as the guitar lead around the 10 minute mark of The Repellent Scars Of Abandon And Abandon). My favourite part has to be the ending to A Chore For The Lost, though - a guitar lead that wouldn't sound out of place on a "normal" metal album rises out of the mix, and it's one of those moments, where extreme metal becomes not just a battery, but something emotionally engaging. It's a very challenging listen, but well worth the time and effort.
Swallow The Sun
The final band I'll talk about is Swallow the Sun. I saw them on Thursday opening for Apocalyptica, which was a bit of a surprise as for some reason I thought they'd split up. They didn't get an especially long set - maybe 30 minutes? - but good god, if it wasn't one of the best sets I'd seen in a long, long time. Proper death/doom, a bit like My Dying Bride, but with more heavy bits and keyboards instead of a violin. I don't listen to especially much doom metal anymore (yes, I named my character after the genre, as when I like doom, I really like it), but when it gets me, it really gets me... and this band got me. There's nothing new here, nothing especially original, but it's done so amazingly well that it's worthy of praise. Their discography is a bit confusing due to record label bollocks, but A Plague of Butterflies is well worth a listen. The 30 minute opening track (originally written as a ballet score. No, really) may test some people's patience, but it works for me; but what's really special are the other four tracks, re-recordings of an old demo, all of which sound absolutely amazing. Out Of This Gloomy Light (yes, awful title) is simply perfect, both live and on record. Go listen.
-------
On a related note, I found out last night Gaahl from Gorgoroth is gay, making him the first homosexual musician in black metal that I'm aware of. Given how black metal is, at root, about freedom of choice and casting off oppression, I'm surprised more people haven't come out too. Of course, black metal has long been tainted with Nazism and fascism in some circles (which I view as an inherent contradicition, but hey! Since when was extreme politics ever sensible?), so it's not too shocking really. Either way, I have absolute respect for him, especially to come out knowing full well that some (many?) in black metal will criticise him for it (perhaps violently? This *is* a genre with a history of murder and such). Though, he'll probably get criticised more for touring with Cradle of Filth, haha.