Guest Post- Bidi Van Drongelen Top 20 Heavy Albums of 2015


bidi bookings

As we dash towards the holidays and the end of the year Ghost Cult is feeling good about this season of giving. So we are giving our fans a chance to get to know our partners, peers, and friends from bands in the world of music. They will chime in with some guest blogs, end of year lists, and whatever else is on their minds as we pull the plug on 2015. Today we have Bidi van Drongelen, Dutch booker and manager who has worked with the likes of The Devil’s Blood, Saint Vitus, Ghost, In Solitude and many more. Every year a multitude of his bands get booked at the excellent Roadburn festival, and we have asked him what he feels were the best releases of 2015.

 

1. KloneHere Comes The Sun

klone album cover

Great songwriting, amazing vocals, and a crystal clear though heavy production blending prog and post metal.

 

2. Ghost – Meliora

Ghost has it all to become one of the leading melodic heavy rock bands in the world

 

3. BliksemGruesome Masterpiece

Bliksem-Gruesome-Masterpiece

If you like Metallica’s Master of Puppets of Death Angel’s ACT III….with the a raw female voice like Doro.

 

4. Royal ThunderCrooked Doors

royalthunder

Great atmospheric rock album with the amazing voice of Mlny Parsonsz

 

5. TribulationChildren of the Night

tribulation

Melodies of occult rock like The Devil’s Blood drenched with a satanic black voice which reminds of Satyricon.

 

6. Chelsea WolfeAbyss

Chelsea wolfe abyss album cover

Refreshing approach of doom & drone. ART with capital A!

7. Paradise LostThe Plague Within

8. Steak Number EightKosmokoma

9. MelecheshEnki

10. EnslavedIn Times

11. ClutchPsychic Warfare

12. Thy CatafalqueSgurr

13. AmorphisUnder The Red Cloud

14. RAMSvbversvm

15. BRING ME THE HORIZONThat’s The Spirit

16. MgłaExcercises In Futility

17. BaronessPurple

18. LeprousThe Congregation

19. Graveyard Innocence & Decadence

20. Hangman’s ChairThis Is Not Supposed To Be Positive

 

Bidi Bookings online

 


Guest Post: Joseph Spiller Of Caricature- End Of Year List


Caricature video still

As we dash towards the holidays and the end of the year Ghost Cult is feeling good about this season of giving. So we are giving our fans a chance to get to know our partners, peers, and friends from bands in the world of music. They will chime in with some guest blogs, end of year lists, and whatever else is on their minds as we pull the plug on 2015. Today we have Joseph Spiller of progressive metal band Caricature. Caricature put out the acclaimed Shadows: Maxi Single this summer have a full-length in the works for 2016. Here is Joseph’s “Most Topesty Cool Favorite Releases of 2015”.


1. Tigran HamsayanMockroot

Tigran Hamasayan - Mockroot album cover 2015

How often can an album tote a definite influence of Meshuggah, Dave Brubeck, Keith Jarret, and Porcupine Tree? Add on top that this is still a pure jazz record? Pfffft. This is the sound of someone furthering and redefining a genre.

 

2. Fetty WapFetty Wap

Yeah, before anyone says it sucks because it’s not metal, listen to this record. Fetty is all hits, all the time. Zoogang knows how to make pop hooks as if it’s in their DNA.


3. Steven Wilson Hand.Cannot.Erase

Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography

Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography


Backing band of the century along with the golden god of Prog. Though it gets overly self-indulgent from time to time, Hand.Cannot.Erase is absolutely stunning.

4. Psycroptic Psycroptic

Psycroptic_ST_Cover-300dpi_RGB

Do you even riff, Bro? Joe Haley most definitely does.

 

5. GhostMeliora

Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography

Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography


I never got the hype on this band. I actually disliked almost everything prior to Meliora, but goddamn, did Papa bring that A-game with this heavily Dave Grohl “inspired” record.

 

6. Abigail Williams The Accuser

Abigail Williams The Accuser
Who doesn’t love a good comeback? Possibly the best thing Ken Sorceron has ever done. Crushing and beautiful with rich song structures. BUY THIS RECORD NOW!

 

7. Lamb of GodVII: Sturm Und Drang

Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography

Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography


After all that went on with Randy, the band came back and tell that tale along with snapshot a troubled time in the world perfectly. The riffs and drumming on this record are some of their best to date, and Josh Wilbur killed it on the production side.

8. Baroness Purple Record

Baroness_PURPLE_ABXN001_Cover_1600_RGB-LOW

Another “Comeback Record” of sorts. Stronger, more refined, defined. The mesh of only the finest points of Yellow & Green mixed lush instrumentation and what sounds like an intense infatuation with The Cure. This one has it all.

9. Ellie GouldingDelirium

Ellie Goulding - Delirium album cover - Copy
Though not an immensely technical singer, Goulding has a golden voice. The slight raspiness and harmonically rich tambre makes me envious. This album is LONG for the pop genre, but its all top quality with fantastic hooks meshed with smooth beats and tranquil melodies.


10. Solution .45Nightmares In The Waking State

Solution 45 - Nightmares In The Waking State album cover - Copy
If you don’t know who this band is, we probably cannot be friends. GROOVES

EXTREMELY HONORABLE MENTION:
I’ll be MeSoundtrack

glen-campbell-poster

The delayed release of the soundtrack to the documentary about the legendary guitar player, singer, songwriter, and former member of The Wrecking Crew, Glen Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for the past few years. This has two live songs from his final tour that will blow your mind considering his state, along with songs from his daughter that will make you cry while your heart flutters. The title track, penned by Mr. Campbell himself as a final letter to his wife and family will give you goosebumps (unless you don’t have a heart.

 

Caricature on Facebook

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Caricature on Twitter


Audio: Baroness- Purple – Full Album Stream, European Tour Booked


baronoess purple webslider

Baroness new album Purple (Abraxan Hymns) releases tomorrow, Dec 18th. To celebrate the band is streaming the entire album at the website links below using the fan-driven promotion #FindPurple:

Morningstar’ via: Kerrang
‘Shock Me’ via: YourBaroness.com
‘Try To Disappear’ via: Stereogum
‘Kerosene’ via: Nerdist
‘Fugue’ via: Juxtapoz
‘Chlorine & Wine’ via: Brave Words
‘The Iron Bell’ via: Noisey
‘Desperation Burns’ via: Metal Injection
‘If I Have To Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain)’ via: Drowned In Sound
‘Crossroads of Infinity’ via: Rolling Stone Australia

Baroness_PURPLE_ABXN001_Cover_1600_RGB-LOW

Marald van Haasteren, a Dutch-based visual artist, created the accompanying videos for the song premieres, as well as the internal drawings for Purple. Baroness kicked off an intimate club tour of the US last night in richmond, VA, which is mostly sold out already. The band has booked an extensive tour of Europe next spring. Tickets for all European shows are on sale now via: yourbaroness.com/tour.

Baroness tour dates:
Dec 16: Strange Matter – Richmond, VA SOLD OUT
Dec 18: Metro Gallery- Baltimore, MD SOLD OUT
Dec 19: Main Street Music – Manayunk, PA In-Store Appearance
Dec 19: Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA SOLD OUT
Dec 20: Rough Trade- Brooklyn, NY In-Store Appearance
Dec 20: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY SOLD OUT

Feb 24: Engine Room – Southampton, UK
Feb 25: 02 Institute – Birmingham, UK
Feb 26: Stylus – Lees University Leeds, UK
Feb 28: The Garage – Glasgow, UK
Feb 29: 02 Ritz – Manchester, UK
:
Mar 01: KOKO – London, UK
Mar 03: Le Trabendo- Paris, FR
Mar 04: Bilbao Kafe Antzokia – Bilbao, ES
Mar 05: Teatro Barcelo- Madrid, ES (Sound Isidro Fest Special)
Mar 06: Paradise Garage- Lisbon, PT
Mar 08: Razmatazz 2 – Barcelona, ES
Mar 09: Le Transbordeur Club- Lyon, FR
Mar 10: Magazzini Generali- Milan, IT
Mar 11: Mascott – Zurich, CH
Mar 12: Flex- Vienna, AT
Mar 15: Conne Island – Leipzig, DE
Mar 16: Backstage Werk – Munich, DE
Mar 17: Futurum – Prague, CZ
Mar 18: Proxima – Warsaw, PL
Mar 20: SO36 – Berlin, DE
Mar 21: Stollwerck – Cologne, DE
Mar 22: AB Theatre – Brussels, BE
Mar 23: Tivoli de Helling – Utrecht, NL
Mar 26: Gruenspan – Hamburg, DE
Mar 27: KB- Malmo, SE
Mar 29: Debaser Medis – Stockholm,
SE

Mar 30: Rockefeller – Oslo, NO
Mar 31: Vega Small- Copenhagen, DK
Apr 01: Faust – Hannover, DE
Apr 02: Alter Schlachthof – Wiesbaden, DE
Apr 23: Vive Latino Festival – Mexico City, MX

 

Baroness, photo credit Jimmy Hubbard

Baroness, photo credit Jimmy Hubbard

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Baroness – Purple


Baroness_PURPLE_ABXN001_Cover_1600_RGB-LOW

It we have learned anything from the current events in the world right now, we know that life is precious. In our own little worlds we drone away at work, at our passions, and our daily escapes. It can all go away in an instant. We all feel the pain of loss, but we can all rise again. The pendulum can sway either way for us. And when we feel those little pins of excitement, ones that quicken our pulses, that make the hairs on the back of your next stiffen, even the ones that hurt your heart; we need to cling to them, fiercely as we can. Baroness is a great example of bleeding triumph from pain, and their new album Purple (Abraxan Hymns) is as much a testament to being alive as any piece of music I have heard in a long time.

Back in 2011, I hadn’t thought it was possible for the band to top the sprawling double album Yellow And Green (Relapse). It represented both sides of what the band could be: Sabbath-ian heaviness with a late-era Led Zeppelin variety. It felt huge and it didn’t change what they were or or how fans felt about them either. Then came the well documented bus accident that almost took their lives, and everything changed. And just like in other tragedies, we focus on the chaos of the moment, our emotions ebbing towards the familiar. Yes, the accident was horrible and the relief in the entire music community was thick enough to taste. However, equally arduous was the band finding their way back to mental and physical health, and at last the victory of touring again. I don’t know if any of this played into the craft that went into making Purple, but then how could it not? A life changing event surely can reshape your art, as it must have for John Baizley in particular. Even though Purple is a Baroness album to its very bones, if feels like a new sounding band at times. This is music born of suffering, but one conveying strength of will through tears.

From the first notes of ‘Morningstar’, you get a sense that this album is going to be different, and you would be right. Inspiring heavy rock with giant sweeping choruses have been common for this band, but now they are doing it on a much grander scope. Part of it must be the comfort level Baizley has with guitarist Pete Adams; the musical ninja assassin to John’s zen master. They play off each other perfectly vocally and guitar-wise. ‘Shock Me’ starts with pastoral keys from bassist Nick Jost, but gives way to bombastic jamminess. Just a tremendous cut in scope and energy. Sebastian Thomson’s perfect drumming propels the track. Baizley finally has the players to match him and to help him realize his great vision.

Baroness, photo credit Jimmy Hubbard

Baroness, photo credit Jimmy Hubbard

‘Try To Disappear’ and ‘Kerosene’ are both straight out amazing, each could vie for the best song here. Heavy without trying to be super heavy, ‘Kerosene’ features Robert Fripp influenced guitar work and glorious twin-harmony lead vocals throughout. Jost’s bass playing is melodious and tight here and all over the album. The last minute or so of the song is transcendent.

‘Fugue’ is a transition piece, one that is a ties back to early albums like First, Second or Red. ‘Chlorine & Wine’ follows and was the first single, and it has a bit of a space rock thing going on. That intro alone will make you well up with tears that reminded me of Pelican or Rosetta’s best moments, although I’m sure it wasn’t intentional. If you obsess over great guitar work like I do, this track has the kitchen sink of effects on it. They are all done in a tasteful way, not at all schlocky.

I am not sure any band can blend the musicianship of Pink Floyd with the soul inferno of Thin Lizzy the way ‘The Iron Bell’ came out, but damn it if they didn’t achieve just that. ‘Desperation Burns’ is the heaviest track on the album, coming on with a chopping riff and great lyrical depth. If you were a fan from the very beginning of this band, this song will give you all the feels. This is also one of the many songs where the new rhythm section of Jost and Thomson just crushes it. Right out of the Blue playbook, it’s great to see artists pulling back to what made them great, but then demonstrating growth.

‘If I Have To Wake Up (Would You Stop The Rain)’ reminds me a bit of the chill moments from Yellow. The interplay of keys, bass and guitars over a shuffle beat from Thomson with mostly a solo vocal from Baizley will get you where you live. The chiming notes in the chorus will send you over the moon. The final track is a little transmission of sorts, that sounds like what I hope to hear before the aliens attack and vaporize the Earth once and for all. Ok, that one is just for me, make of that what you will. Producer Dave Fridmann’s masterful work is all over Purple and should not be understated in its importance.

Like most albums in their career, there is no filler on this album. More so, there are no flaws either. Every part written for a purpose, every strum and riff, every beat, every plucked bass string right in its perfect place, all meant to give birth to a masterpiece. Prog without being classically progressive, old-school in spirit, but with a modern touch: the heart of Baroness lives in a dichotomy of what makes them great and they redefine their genre with each new album.

10.0/10

KEITH CHACHKES

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Music Video: Purple – Beach Buddy


Purple Hill Witch-7629

Texas party punks Purple is streaming their music video for “Beach Buddy,” off of their debut album (409) out now via Play It Again Sam/America. The band will be supporting July Talk on an upcoming tour.

Jun 07: The Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
Jun 09: Cheer Up Charlie’s – Austin, TX (Co-Headline)
Jun 10: Three Links – Dallas, TX
Jun 11: The Opolis – Norman, OK
Jun 12: Reverb – Omaha, NE
Jun 14: The Frequency – Madison, WI
Jun 16: Off Broadway – St. Louis, MO
Jun 17: Hi-Fi – Indianapolis, IN
Jun 18: Founders Brewing Co. – Grand Rapids, MI
Jun 19: Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL
Aug 30: Float Fest – San Marcos, TX

Purple on Facebook
Purple on Twitter


Purple Confirm Upcoming June US Dates With July Talk


purple

Texas rock outfit Purple (Hanna Brewer (drums / vocals), Taylor Busby (guitar) and Joe Cannariato (bass)) will be supporting July Talk on an upcoming June US tour. They will be supporting their debut album (409), out now via Play It Again Sam/America.

Jun 07: The Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
Jun 10: Three Links – Dallas, TX
Jun 11: The Opolis – Norman, OK
Jun 12: Reverb – Omaha, NE
Jun 13: Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
Jun 14: The Frequency – Madison, WI
Jun 16: Off Broadway – St. Louis, MO
Jun 17: Hi-Fi – Indianapolis, IN
Jun 18: Founders Brewing Co. – Grand Rapids, MI
Jun 19: Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL

Purple on Facebook
Purple on Twitter