ITP V.07: Best of EXTREME METAL 2006

Ok, this is loong over due, consider unforeseen circumstances, personal issues, deaths, my own dysfunctional depressive mindset and just being plain busy... My computer is crapping out on me, and I have a zillion and one things to do, so this might take a while, as this singular entry will be updated and expanded through out the week. Blah..This best of 2006 couldn't be on you charts huh? Nah, there's no confusion here as there's no hardcore, emo, nu metal, metal core, no rap ick.. No, we'll have none of that trend crap.
Opinions, opinions..
THIS is the UNDERGROUND:
BEST METAL RELEASES 2006:
1.NEGURA BUNGET- OM-Romanian atmospheric black metal with a minimalist feel. Awesome, sonic listening experience. This CD comes with a free DVD as many new releases are packaged like this. .
2.ANNAL NATHRAKH-ESCHATON-UK post black metal duo of the most nihilistic order.
3. GWYNYNBLEIDD-AMARATHINE-EP- (THE END RECORDS) post black, progressive death metal  with a melancholy
(folky) feel from NYC, awesome.
4.DOLORIAN-VOIDWADS-doom/black metal from Finland..Polarized between both genres and very good indeed..
5.KAYO DOT-DOUSING ANEMONE WITH COPPER TOUNGE-An off shoot of doom experimental metal band Maudlin Of the Well, post experimental seven piece doom/metal/rock band from Massachusetts USA.. From jazz, to grind, to avant garde, to death metal, Kayo Dot throw a curve ball in the genre of post experimental metal. In all of Kayo Dot's weirdness, maybe I'm over rating them, but I loved Maudlin of The Well.
6.MARTYR-FEEDING THE ABCESS-tight as fvck, brutal Canadian tech/deatth metal featuring Dan Mongrain formally of Gorguts.
7.SPAWN OF POSSESSION-NOCTABOLANT-excellent Euro/Swedish tech death metal.
8.PSYCROPTIC-SYMBOLS OF FAILURE-One of my fave death metal bands, great tech death.
9.GOROD-LEADING VISION-Fuck all that arguing about the Wold Cup vs.Italy,. the French have a excellent death and black metal scene. Excellent tech-death metal from France, also check out Gorod's first release "Neurotripsics" . These two CD's have some shred on it, PLUS the band sports a female behind the drum kit and she can play..
10. INDESCINENCE-NOCTABILISM-Wow, almost identical CD titles in my top 10, lol. Exellent doom band to check out from London UK.
11.NACHTMYSTYIUM-INSTINCT DECAY-If you like KVLT black metal acts such as Xasthur and Levathian you will think this release is godly with experimental, psychedelic, depressive tones..
12.OM-THE CONFERENCE OF BIRDS-Godly! -l-
13-MELECHESH-EMISSARIES- Awesome, blackened extreme metal with an Mesopotamian theme.
14-NOVEMBRE-MATERIE-Great melodic doom from Italy. I always loved that song Cold Blue Steel from Novembre's earlier release.
THE GATES OF SLUMBER-SUFFER NO GUILT-bbl with more on this.
16-STALLAGH-NIHLISTIC TERROR-Unholy metal batman, one of the most terrifying releases ever. This act, from the Netherlands recorded the vokills for this release in  various mental institutions, I'm not kidding... Terrifying.
17-NADJA-BODY CAGE-Canadian ambient/ drone doom act with a penitent for atmosphere.
18-VORKREIST-SUBLIMNATION XXIA- Another French Black metal act to look out for.
19-PROFUNDI-OMEGA RISING-BBL with more.
20-SAGH-ST-stoner doomish stuff from Scandinavia. Did you seem them on tour with Celtic Frost last fall here in the USA?
21-SOLITUDE AETURNUS-ALONE-Excellent doom band from Texas USA, check them out.
VETERAN EXTREME METAL ACTS THAT HAVE COME BACK OR STILL PUT OUT QUALITY RELEASES-
20.DEICIDE-STENCH OF REDEMPTION-Much better release with a new lineup,. catchy with guitar solos. -l-
21.ENSLAVED-RUUN-From black metal to post prog extreme metal, Enslaved's concept CD's are as stimulating as they are intriguing, and inspiring....ODIN endorses.
22-VADER- ART OF WAR (EP) /IMPRESSIONS IN BLOOD-CD-Both releases were solid although I prefer Vader's earlier releases of Sothis and De Profundis.. Although Vader are now  more thrash than death metal, still a great band and crushing live..
23-CELTIC FROST-MONOTHEIST-black metal/avant garde pioneers came back after a 17 year lay off with a CD that lays waste to Cold Lake and perhaps rivals To Mega Therion and Morbid Tales with an amazing tour to boot...
24-IMPALED NAZARENE-PRO PATRIA FINLADIA-Although I prefer the raw minimalist BM this CD is aggressive, grindy, and umm, punky..Black Metal to sacrifice a goat to or a virgin whore.
25-SUFFOCATION-ST-Better production than Suffo's 2004 comeback release, although nothing tops Effigy  in my humble opinion and remember Suffocation pioneered the NYDM slam sound, all other bands are clones.
DISAPPOINTMENTS:
DARKTHRONE-THE CULT IS ALIVE-kerplunt.They lost me here. Punk and roll?Black and roll? I'll explain more later. However Transylvanian Hunger remains a fave..

DISSECTION-REINKAOS-After being imprisoned for the homo phobic murder of an Algerian man, it must be said that this lack luster release proves that perhaps Sacramentum were just as good of a melodic black metal band then Dissection. Jon's suicide last August was no redemption. RIP Jon and also RIP to his victim.
BANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
WINTERSUN-st
SHINING-(WAR)- (Black metal from Scandinavia)..Very controversial act, very "in the moment" depressive/psycho black metal.Maybe I'm overrating this band.
MERRIMACK-OF ENTROPY AND LIFE DENIAL-French Black metal, excellent.
DEINOYCHUS-Great guys and great doom metal from Italy.
MOURNFUL CONGREGATION-excellent funeral doom.
DRUDKH-Check out Blood in our Wells...
ARSIS-Good melodic death metal from the USA. When James Malone plays, he shreds. Arpeggios, sweeps, " A Diamond For Disease" was my theme song for a few months.
NON METAL RELEASES-(2006)
KATE BUSH-ARIEL/SEA OF HONEY-Just sing to me, just play piano, I think I can handle life when Kate Bush puts out a CD once every 7 to 10 years. It's literally orgasmic, I'm beyond words, on bended knee. Marry me Kate.. :wink:.. Nice to hear from her in her domestic bliss (even if the songs are sometimes about doing laundry and hanging with her kid), the bird song had me on the floor..(late 2005 release)
SQUARE PUSHER-HELLO EVERYTHING-A fan up till Go Plastic, this drum and bass/ambient genius has my attention..
NOXACT-Norwegian slang for idiot, this three piece post rock band hailing from Norway (with a fiddle or violin) player is quite unique.
BJORK-WITH THE BRODSKY QUARTET-/FAMILY TREE DISC SET- Not released in 2006,LOL. Expect some new stuff from her in 2007. Not that I would care, other than carnal lust..Although Bjork is a talented vocalist, I don't care for the trip hop, commercial production on her CD's. However,.. I got turned on to a box set of this Icelandic singer performing with a string section (Bjork with the Brodsky Quartet or Family Tree disc set) that just blew me away, damn. Buy the box set with the string section. Yeh, that.. Don't just say "Possibly Maybe".. ..
JACKSON BROWNE-LIVES IN THE BALANCE- Acoustic Live Version-(I just threw you for a loop hey, lol.) Great anti war antthem from the 80's, perfect for protesting this horrid conflict in the middle east wich could become of course our generations Vietnam... This song is biting, lyrical, genius.
CLASSICS-
ESOTERIC-METAMORPHOGENESIS-Great British funeral doom-Not easy listening, but cathartic, depressive, death/ doom...The serotonin levels in your brain might drop a bit after listening to Esoteric... The doom trinity of Unholy, Skepticism and now add Esoteric. Of awesome influence.Also check out doom bands Thergothon and Winter.
LYKATHEA AFLAME-ELVENEFRIS-Death/doom/grind of a positive new age. A must listen  as Elvenefris is this Chec Republic bands only release... Holding out hope for a new Lykathea CD soon. The new age track with bird song is fucking awesome. "As the Sun for the Earth, Let's become, Salvation". .
DISEMBOWELMENT-reissues-TRANSCENDENCE INTO THE PERIPHERAL-Thank you Relapse. \m/ . Great Aussie Doom.
MESSHUGGAH- I- mixed reviews for this CD? Um, the polyrhythms  have me counting measures, and argh, wow. Just to get the grips on the musicianship on this. Godly.
! TOOH !-RAD A TREST- Yes, I had a hard time finding or downloading this defunct band because of the rather unique way the band name is spelled. Excellent experimental grind band from the CZECH REPUBLIC.
DEMILICH-NESPITHE- This death metal band sports an almost death and roll feel with jazzy/spasmodic interludes... Not too tech, but featuring a vocalist whose rather unique death vox (a cross between Unique Leader bands burping vocals and deep, spooky, spoken growl, hard to describe) draws my attention. Demilich's vocalist, the Barry White (without the romantic shit) of death metal? Right on with Unique Leader and Neurotic records releases, always some good death metal on those labels.

DARKTHRONE-A BLAZE IN THE NORTHERN SKY- A Darkthrone classic whom unintentionally spawned a shit load of black metal clones.... Inspired minimalism..
EMPEROR-IN THE NIGHTSIDE ECLIPSE-Simply put, one of the best black metal CD's ever released, awesome, inspiring..
First of all, thank you for celebrating 666. June 6th, 2006.. Yes, I used a magic marker and put 666 on my fore head for kicks and giggles, and counted down with some brrootal people (and beautiful women too) to 666 PM. Then a brutal wrestling match... Other friends got married, ripped up bibles, dressed in corpse paint and gauntlets. Another 10 years until this happens again.. \m/ -l-
REUNIONS-"HEY MAN NICE SHOT"-BRUTAL TRUTH, ATHEIST, CELTIC FROST..
WISH YOU WERE HERE 2006:  (REST IN PEACE): .
CORRETTA SCOTT KING, JAMES BROWN, KIRBY PUCKETT (MINNESOTA TWINS), JARED ANDERSON (EX HATE ETERNAL/ INTERNECINE), JESSE PINTANDO (EX TERRORIZER/ NAPALM DEATH), JON  (DISSECTION), SYD BARRETT (PINK FLOYD), BRYAN HIPP (DIABOLIC)..and far too many others..
IN NY/NEW PALTZ-DENNIS O KEEFE, EDWARD BRANDES, FLOYD PATTERSON (THE CHAMP), J- BONE (JASON KOZIATEK) , MY FOSTER MOM..
We would like to thank all of the aforementioned deceased for their contributions to music/metal, the community and our lives.
R.I.P Only sadness prevails....
MOVIES- METAL- A HEADBANGERS JOURNEY- DVD- 2 DISC SET-Excellent documentary on metal with hilarious interviews with Dee Snider, Slayer, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Enslaved, Emperor, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Tom Morello, Anvil, Alice Cooper, Cannibal Corpse and others. Headbangers Journey,. if not a metal 101 as the glam scene we can do without... The second DVD has a good documentary about the Norwegian black metal scene including the Church burnings of the early 90's... The interviews in Norway were well done, and gave perspective to both sides including interviews with the clergy of the burned churches, college professors, and bands/fans in the scene at the time  (church burnings, satanism) with great articulate insight.. The chick belly dancing to metal (Norway) was umm, awesome, Mayhem were not as think as as you drunk they were.... Sam Dunn did a great job on this documentary as WACKEN looks great, as certain scenes brought to mind why I fell in love with metal and it's outcast culture. This documentary breaks stereotypes about metal fans as some are very articulate... Expect Sam Dunn to release a second metal documentary "Global Metal" in the fall of '07. Horns up to Sam Dunn, keep it metal and underground..\m/..
BROKE BACK MOUNTAIN-Good movie if not for the mainstream over hype. Great cinematography (filmed in Canada not Wyoming) about a same sex relationship (two male cowboys) in a hostile environment ( in the 60's/70's) vs. dissolving marriages of convenience..Good movie..
LAST DAYS-Gus Van Sant is known for his lack of dialogue and cohesion within his characters. This is eerie, as this character (supposedly Kurt Cobain) in a heroin haze, isolates himself in a depression and takes his own life. It goes to show you, with a dozen people in a house, one could be so alone.Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, Enjoy your winter hibernation \m/ -l-