The AV Club's 30 Best Metal Albums of the Decade

Not only is it about time for Best of the Year lists to start popping up, we've got some Best of Decades to look forward to, as well.

Here's the first, courtesy of The Onion's AV Club. Discuss.

(alphabetical)

• Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope (2002)
• Amon Amarth, Twilight Of The Thunder God (2008)
• Anaal Nathrakh, The Codex Necro (2001)
• Baroness, Blue Record (2009)
• Blut Aus Nord, The Work Which Transforms God (2003)
• Boris, Pink (2005)
• Converge, Jane Doe (2001)
• Deftones, White Pony (2000)
• The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ire Works (2007)
• Earthless, Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky (2007
• Electric Wizard, Dopethrone (2000)
• Goatwhore, Carving Out The Eyes Of God (2009)
• Harvey Milk, Life… The Best Game In Town (2008)
• High On Fire, Blessed Black Wings (2005)
• Isis, Oceanic (2002)
• The Mars Volta, Frances The Mute (2005)
• Mastodon, Leviathan (2004)
• Melechesh, Djinn (2001)
• The Melvins, (A) Senile Animal (2006)
• Meshuggah, Catch Thirtythree (2005)
• Opeth, Watershed (2008)
• Orthrelm, OV (2005)
• Pelican, The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (2005)
• Pig Destroyer, Phantom Limb (2007)
• Queens Of The Stone Age, Songs For The Deaf (2002)
• Skeletonwitch, Breathing The Fire (2009)
• Slayer, Christ Illusion (2006)
• Sleep, Dopesmoker (2003)
• The Sword, Age Of Winters (2006)
• System Of A Down, Toxicity (2001)

Hook of the Day - The Hidden Hand "The Key, Travesty As Usual"

Been a little while since we've posted anything. On such a gloomy day here in Chicago, thought a little Doom would hit the spot...

Hook of the Day - Skeletonwitch "Repulsive Salvation"

The new Skeletonwitch record is thrashtastic. Buy it.


Watch 500.000 rock & metal videos on ROCKTUBE

Album (P)review: W.A.S.P. "Babylon"

by Myche

I just want to get this off my chest before I start reading any reviews that tell me otherwise: the new W.A.S.P. album is very good - their best for as long as I remember. Admittedly, I'm the guy who always throws W.A.S.P. around when talking about underrated metal bands - and I've been listening to them ever since seeing them as an opener for KISS on the Asylum tour (W.A.S.P. was supporting my still favorite of theirs, The Last Command).

So no big surprise that I checked this out. Well, I'm glad I did. It's the classic W.A.S.P. sound through and through. Big sound. Similar in slam-potential to "Mercy" from Dominator. One knock some people will have is that out of nine tracks, two are covers. But the original songs are so strong, I'm not complaining at all. Hats off to Blackie if he felt that he wrote seven good songs and didn't want to screw it up with more filler. You could probably make the argument that he may have painted himself in a corner for volume with The Neon God.

I doubt this will win over new fans or people that never really liked W.A.S.P. But old fans need to make sure not to miss this.

Here's the first two tracks on the album, "Crazy" and "Live To Die Another Day".

P.S. Pretty kick-ass album art as well...

Hook of the Day - The Gates of Slumber "Ice Worm"

Not much of a video, but no matter, the song rules.

Hook of the Day: Converge "Axe to Fall"

Do yourself a favor and buy Converge's "Axe to Fall" when it comes out later this month.

Hook of the Day - Alice in Chains "Check My Brain"

Yes, I know you feel guilty for liking this song so much. Just enjoy it. Layne would have wanted it that way.

Favorite Iron Maiden Songs Since 1990

MARK
1. Dream Of Mirrors
2. Paschendale
3. Fear Of The Dark
4. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
5. The Age Of Innocence
6. Chains Of Misery

WAYNE
1. The Wicker Man
2. Thin Line Between Love & Hate
3. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
4. Tailgunner
5. Brave New World
6. Be Quick Or Be Dead

MYCHE
1. The Wicker Man
2. Dream Of Mirrors
3. Fear Of The Dark
4. For The Greater Good Of God
5. Ghost Of The Navigator
6. Brave New World

Happy 60th Birthday, Phil Lynott!

I highly recommend watching every bit of this 10 minute clip. Lock your door and focus. It's worth it...

Hook of the Day - Jeff Loomis "Jato Unit"

by Myche

I regretably took Jeff Loomis' "Zero Order Phase" off of my Top 6 Albums of last year at the last minute. I'm kind of kicking myself since I play this shredfest more than any on my list. Here's an attempt to make it right. I think there is a fine line between what's good and what's crap on a heavy instrumental piece. To me, this easily falls into the former group. It's not all about speed, but it has that. But there's a groove as well that you certainly can sink your teeth into.

Hook of the Day - The Devin Townsend Project "Coast"

Okay, time to take a break from all this grindcore I've been jamming. Howsabout we chill out with a new Devin tune?

Thanks to MetalSucks for the heads up!

Hook of the Day - Entombed "Wolverine Blues"

I'm reading an excellent book called Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore by Decibel Magazine editor-in-chief Albert Mudrian. I just read an interesting bit about Swedish death metal badasses Entombed.

Apparently, the title track to their classic Wolverine Blues album was NOT a reference to the Marvel Comic character of the same name, but rather to a killer in a James Ellroy novel who had an obsession with the, you know, animal.

That didn't stop the geniuses at Columbia Records from gettin' on the horn and doing a tie-in.

Jeez.

Brutal Legend Video Game

This game looks pretty awesome. I may have to finally breakdown and get a gaming console.

I've only watched the first of these developer walkthroughs, but it was most promising. The dudes that bang their head against the wall with the thick necks are awesome. Rob Halford motivational slogans. Guitar solos galore. It appears that this was created by fans of metal.

Looks like a winner...

How about some metal at Wrigley?

by Myche

Elton John and Billy Joel at Wrigley Field this year? The promoters are playing it way too safe. For next year, I propose the (1st annual?) Campbell's Soup Mmmm Good Metal Spectacular (CSMGMS for short). The show kicks off with (Yngwie) Malmsteen shreding the National Anthem on a rooftop out in left field. Then we create an opening band wave from all the rooftops moving towards right field with Metal Church, Macabre, Machine Head and Meshuggah.

The show then moves into Wrigley and kicks off with Megadeth, then Motorhead. Manowar takes the stage next, playing every song they've ever written and ending their set with a 30-minute fireworks display in which each propulsion is shot from a secretly installed mortar under each seat in the stadium. Joey DeMaio then comes back on the stage and launches his bass in the air, piercing a hyrdogen-filled blimp flying overhead which explodes on impact.

Amongst the smoke and wreckage, Melvins close the show.

Who's with me?

More Over-The-Top News from Manowar

by Myche

I just couldn't make this stuff up:



Obviously Eric Adams had his work cut out for him singing in 16 languages, but I bet Joey DeMaio worked twice as hard translating bass for each song...

Mike Jackson

Yup. I called him Mike.


A big thumbs up to my fellow 'Hooks so Big' brethren for their kind words about Michael Jackson. There is no way to deny it. I don't know anyone who can dispute his legacy. We were all there.

Its taken me a long time to put my thoughts down. This death has shocked and depressed me more than I could have ever imagined. I cried more than a few times over this loss. It's funny how, I never met the man, yet he affected me so much.

I have never given up on him. I bought 'Dangerous' when it was released. I bought 'Invincible' when it was released. You HAD to!! it was Mike Jackson!! I have never not had his whole discography on my MP3 player, and I listen to it whenever I wanted something upbeat and fun. He about covers it. I bought the Thriller tape on the same day I bought 'Love at First Sting.' I remember walking past Magoo's and seeing all those posters of the cover of the album and that little tiger he was holding, and just thought..."That guy HAS to be cool if he hangs out with tigers...."

"P.Y.T" Written by James Ingram (another favorite)
"Smooth Criminal"
"Unbreakable"
Jamming with Meredith.
Love is a feeling.

Nothing I'm writing is going to be new. We all know this stuff. As Meredith said to me over Text..."He was ours."


He was so beyond anything that we could comprehend. He reached a level of fame that few see. I feel so bad for all the scrutiny of him. He had to do the best he could with what he had. I'm not going to entertain any negative press about him. I'm just not going to. He became weird because of him reacting to the press and everyone who wanted a piece of him. He didnt deserve that, and doesnt deserve negativity after his premature passing. His contribution to the world is more than any of us could imagine in giving. And he gave what he could to make us all happy. He gave back to the world. He thrilled us all.

and I called him Mike.

Michael at his peak...

by Myche

Excellent post Wayne - very appropriate.

I was just about to post something myself. What the hell, this is worthy of double coverage. In fact, I know that Mark is probably the biggest Michael fan of all of us, so maybe he will come up with his own as well...

I must admit, all of the extra-curricular activities surrounding MJ in the last 15 or so years have made it very hard to embrace how much I loved him at one time. It's complicated to say the least. I don't think anyone can imagine what kind of life he was thrown into or how that affects a person. Similar things happened to Elvis, and while each of them would have to take responsibility for themselves, I think the pressures are endless when you reach that level of superstardom.

But before the controversies, man, I was into Thriller big time. I also picked up Off The Wall because I wanted MORE (and that album is a JAM). I remember opening my bedroom window, placing one of my JCPenney speakers in it and cranking my stereo to 10. Then I rode my bike down the street to see how far I could still hear it (about a block). Personally, I settled into "P.Y.T." as my favorite off of Thriller. There are two parts of that song that I used to pump out a completely exaggerated pelvic thrust to like I MEANT it (if you know the song, you know what I'm talking about).

So for my video remembrance of Michael, I'm going for a pretty obvious pick. In my opinion, it is Michael at his peak. He looks great - it's kind of hard for me to remember when he looked this "normal." This performance is just downright fierce, and is probably up there with Elvis and the Beatles on Sullivan as far as music moments of TV go (I love the screams you hear when he introduces his signature move). Just a huge performance. He looks young, hungry and healthy. This is how I would like to remember the man...

Hook of the Day - Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury "State of Shock"

Everyone of a certain age has a positive, non-controversial early Michael Jackson memory, and mine was seeing Michael and his brothers on the 1984 Victory Tour at Knoxville's Neyland Stadium. It was my second concert ever (1st was Air Supply), and it blew my mind. The opening act was a juggler who got good-natured jeers when he did a routine with "Purple Rain" as his background music. (My first exposure to artistic rivalries, years upon years before Vince Neil v. Axl Rose or Tupac v. Biggie) The Jacksons also did a pretty sweet-ass King Arthur scene onstage.

MJ wrote our Hook of the Day with Queen's Freddie Mercury. Ultimately, the version that went on the Jacksons' Victory album had MJ and Mick Jagger on lead vox, but here you have that rare demo version. You can listen to the Jagger version here. (Sorry, couldn't find an embeddable clip)

RIP MJ...thanks for the tunes

Devin Townsend Preview!

So we are all digging the first installment of Devin Townsend's 4-CD project, entitled Ki. Devin has said in interviews that the next CD will be the heaviest of the lot. Sounds like that is true judging for this clip (the song is "Universe"):



I can't wait. In the meantime, I'll snack on Ki.

Sweet-ass guitar, by the way...

MP3 Randomization: 06-24-09

MYCHE:

Manowar "Kill With Power"
W.A.S.P. "The Invisible Boy"
Gov't Mule "Which Way Do We Run?"
Billy Joe Shaver "Good Christian Soldiers"
Gov't Mule "New World Blues"
Savoy Brown "Stay While The Night Is Young"

WAYNE

Converge "No Heroes"
Motorhead "I'm Your Man"
Foo Fighters "Hell"
AC/DC "Rocking All the Way"
Frank Zappa "Scrutinizer Postlude"
Jimi Hendrix "Crosstown Traffic"

MARK
Meshuggah "ObZen"
Slayer "Reborn"
Indigo girls "Shame on you"
Teenage Fanclub "Can't feel my soul"
Devin Townsend Band "Life is All Dynamics"
Devin Townsend Band "Physicist"

Hook of the Day - Napalm Death "Time Waits for No Slave"

Dammit. I shouldn't have let the searing pain of an ear infection influence me to skip that Napalm Death show last month.


NAPALM DEATH - Time Waits For No Slave

Hook of the Day - Skid Row w/ Rob Halford "Deliverin' the Goods"

Muchas gracias to the gents of MetalSucks for posting this great clip of Skid Row jamming with Rob Halford on Judas Priest's "Deliverin' the Goods." Not sure about the exact year of this performance, but seeing as Halford's wearing flannel instead of leather, I'm guessing 1992-93 ish.

Rawk.

Hook of the Day - Mastodon "Oblivion"

There are tons of reasons why Mastodon rule. One of them is that they make kick ass videos that play like short films. It's so nice to see a band put some thought into it instead of just turning on some rain machines and calling it a day after a couple of run-throughs.

Here's the 2nd video from the stellar Crack the Skye.

Mastodon "Oblivion"

MP3 Randomization: 06-03-09

One more of these before I leave for Alaska...

MYCHE:

The Band "The Rumor"
The Sword "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians"
Blue Oyster Cult "Career Of Evil"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"
Dwight Yoakam "The Heart That You Own"
Canned Heat "Anphetamine Annie"

WAYNE

Led Zeppelin "Celebration Day"
Napalm Death "Fallacy Dominion"
Middian "The Blood of Icons"
Pig Destroyer "Strangled with a Halo"
Brutal Truth "War is Good"
Kyuss "Phototropic"

MARK

I'm late. I was probably listening to Queensryche

Hook of the Day - Pink Floyd "One of these Days"

Last night, I popped in the Director's Cut DVD of Floyd's classic 1972 "concert" film, "Live At Pompeii". Per the suggestion of many, MANY Netflix reviewers, I opted for the original 1972 cut (included on the disc as a special feature), which sticks to the Pompeii footage along with some Paris soundstage footage to round it out. Many viewers complain about the director's cut's added cheeseball effects, and faux-Dark Side of the Moon studio footage. (The band were already mixing the actual album when they shot his material)

It's a hell of a performance, and you can really see the effect Floyd had on bands ranging from Tool to Neurosis all the way down to Mastodon's recent material. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

**See if you notice one of the best drumstick fumble saves of all time in this clip**

Hook of the Day - .38 Special "Caught Up in You"

I heard that .38 Special's show had to be cancelled the other night because a lighting rig fell or something. Scary shit. Also got me thinking about this video.

I've always dug this song. It was also featured in a wacky scene in one of my favorite teenage sex movies "Spring Break." Why isn't that classic romp available on DVD? Maybe they are waiting to finish up a Criterion Collection version of it...

Try to count all of the dated/ridiculous/unnecessary aspects of this video. There are 1,083 of them.

Unfortunately I can't embed the video, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQDWuitMZc

Ok, it's summer - why not post some clips from the movie, Spring Break:



Watching this singer kick-started me into puberty:

Hook of the Day - Immortal "One By One"

It's possible that I've been subliminally reading articles about these guys getting back together, but just last night I decided to put some of their stuff on my mp3 player - then this morning I read that they've finished a new album! Cross your fingers for a North American trek by the Blizzard Beasts coming through Chicago in January when it's about 30 below zero...

Hook of the Day - Gojira "Vacuity"

These guys are fantastic. They pull all of this live perfectly, too. Easily one of the best metal bands out there right now. I feel a bit sorry for the bands who are on the same bill as them, as they have triumphed on every stage that I have seen them on. Sorry, Behemoth.

Hook of the Day - Torche "Across the Shields"

About time they made a video for this!

Get "Meanderthal". Do it now.

Across The Shields

MP3 Randomization: 04-30-09

Let's see if anyone randomly comes up with any songs from bands at tonight's concert. I think that would be good luck...

MYCHE:

Willie Nelson "In The Garden"
Ian Gillan "Men Of War"
Baroness "Isak"
Nick Cave "Messiah Ward"
Mastodon "Ghost Of Karelia"
Queensryche "Unafraid"

[I swear, I didn't fix this...]

WAYNE
Tool "Mantra"
Pantera "Drag the Waters"
Municipal Waste "Pre-Game"
Watain "The Light That Burns the Sun"
Bruce Springsteen "Stolen Car"
TV on the Radio "Staring at the Sun"

MP3 Randomization: 04-23-09

MYCHE:

Torche "Speed Of The Nail"
Nick Drake "Pink Moon"
Merle Haggard "Big Time Annie's Square"
Electric Six "Germans In Mexico"
Nick Cave "Fable Of The Brown Ape"
W.A.S.P. "My Wicked Heart"

WAYNE

Cult of Luna "Beyond Fate"
Yakuza "Congestive Art-Failure"
Kylesa "Motion and Presence"
Enslaved "Reogenesis"
Foo Fighters "Stacked Actors"
Van Halen "I'm the One"

Earth Fucking Day

RECYCLE!!




If that doesnt work then go here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2n45Sutwig

the drummer is fucking hot

Kick Ass Possible Tour News of the Day

dillingerescpln thats good. Look out for some Dillinger/High on Fired dates surrounding Bonnaroo.

----Dillinger Escape Plan's Twitter

Hook of the Day - Converge's new album teaser

CONVERGE New album out soon on Epitaph/Deathwish

Hook of the Day - Bruce Springsteen with Tom Morello "The Ghost of Tom Joad"

Hook of the Day - Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, & Scott Gorham "Emerald"

Hey, this is fun! Mastodon guitar gods Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher sit down with Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham for an acoustic run-thru of Lizzy's "Emerald" , which Mastodon is known for busting out live from time to time.

According to Blabbermouth, Mastodon is hoping Gorham will join them onstage at the UK's Sonisphere this August for a balls-out, triple guitar'd take on the song.

You gotta sit through a trailer for "Observe & Report" first, but it looks awesome, so no worries.

MP3 Randomization: 3-21-2009

WAYNE:

Motley Crue "Red Hot"
Zeke "Long Train Runnin'"
TV on the Radio "Ambulance"
Opeth "Funeral Portrait"
Gojira "In the Wilderness"
Entombed "Out of Hand"

MYCHE:

Dead Boys "Not Anymore"
The Kinks "Uncle Son"
Scorpions "Where The River Flows"
Electric Wizard "Barbarian"
Drive-By Truckers "Days Of Graduation"
Strapping Young Lad "Monument"

Hook of the Day - Kyuss "Green Machine"

Hook of the Day - Queen "Another One Bites the Dust"

This one doesn't really require commentary, does it? Kinda speaks for itself.

Hook of the Day - Whitesnake "Slow An' Easy"

This came up the other day off-blog, so let's rock it here. Don't just automatically label these guys as just another "hair metal band". They were rocking pre-Tawny, and they are still rocking. Case in point:

All I Needed to Know About the New Chris Cornell Album, I Learned from Trent Reznor's Twitter

From Trent Reznor's Twitter, March 11th, Dinnertime-ish

trent_reznor--You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable? Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus.

Follow Mr. Reznor here. Follow me here, while you're at it.

Hook of the Day - Mastodon with Scott Kelly of Neurosis "Crystal Skull"

Here's Blood Mountain's "Crystal Skull" with Scott Kelly of Neurosis from the recent Scion Rock Fest in Atlanta.


Mastodon feat: Scott Kelly CRYSTAL SKULL from Yahoo! Serious on Vimeo.

MP3 Randomization: 03-11-09

MYCHE:

John Lennon "Crippled Inside"
Joy Division "Isolation"
Scorpions "My City My Town" (nice!!! mh)
David Bowie "God Know I'm Good"
The Kinks "Phenomenal Cat"
Al Green "Just For Me"

WAYNE:
Queens of the Stone Age "Long Slow Goodbye"
Melvins "Night Goat"
Motorhead "On Your Feet or On Your Knees"
Mastodon "Slickleg"
Devin Townsend "The Death of Music"
Melvins "Roman Bird Dog"

MARK
WEEN "Sketches of Winkle"
Vince Guaraldi "Peppermint Patty"
Dokken "Just Got Lucky"
Bette Midler "I love being here with you" (I'm gay, what do you want from me?)
Rival Schools "World Invitational"
Erykah Badu "Ye Yo"

Hook of the Day - Tombs "Gossamer"

Hook of the Day - Mastodon "Divinations"

What do ya want, a written invitation? It's a new Mastodon video. Come n' get it.

Mastodon - New Music - More Music Videos

Hook of the Day - Nine Inch Nails + Dillinger Escape Plan "Wish"

I know we've posted Dillinger covering this NIN classic before, but here they are doing it with Trent and Company this past weekend in Australia. Check out Ben Weinman...that motherfucker is EXCITED. Can't say as I blame him.

--Wayne



NIN Wish w/ Dillinger Escape Plan Adelaide Soundwave 2.28.09 from Sarah on Vimeo.

Hook of the Day - Young Widows "Old Skin"

Hook of the Day - Skeletonwitch "Sacrifice for the Slaughtergod"

Sacrifice for the Slaughtergod

Hook of the Day - Parliament-Funkadelic featuring Sativa "Something Stank/Hard As Steel"

Legalize it.

Hook of the Day - Jane's Addiction "Mountain Song"

Welcome back, guys.

(check out more live clips at pitchfork.tv)

Hook of the Day - Motorhead "Stay Clean"

Hook of the Day- Napalm Death "Life and Limb"

New Napalm Death is good. Very good. Go get it. Here's some.

MP3 Randomization: 2-12-2009

WAYNE

Ozzy Osbourne "Dee"
Hall n' Oates "Out of Touch"
Down "Eyes of the South"
Krallice "Wretched Wisdom"
Queens of the Stone Age "Into the Hollow"
Withered "Purification of Ignorance"

MYCHE

Napalm Death "On The Brink Of Extinction"
Thin Lizzy "Banshee"
David Gilmour "Red Sky At Night"
Fish "Favourite Stranger"
Savoy Brown "Leavin' Again"
Trouble "The Eye"

Hooks of the Day - Dillinger Escape Plan "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants" and "Wish"

On Sunday, Dillinger Escape Plan played what appears to have been scorching set in some dude's basement in New Jersey. Here's the encore..."Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants" and a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Wish"

Wish I coulda been there. Looks nuts.

Hook of the day

This album still gets me. Never really one of my favorites in the "heyday," but DAMN this song is good.

Hook of the Day - Mother's Finest "Fire"

by Myche

I was reading a book the other day on Parliament/Funkadelic. The book was an oral history - comprised only of quotes from various band members and managers, etc. Anyway, about three members of the band admitted that a band called "Mother's Finest" blew them off the stage one night. This piqued my interest. After a little research, it was evident that they were a band that never hit it really big, but had a reputation of stealing the show from headlining acts.

Here's a taste of their jam...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

To The biggest Hook we GOT!!!!!!




Hope all rocks you today!!!!

MP3 Randomization: 02-04-09

MYCHE

Willie Nelson "Lonely Little Mansion"
Testament "Eyes Of Wrath"
Tom Waits "Road To Peace"
Gov't Mule "Sco-Mule"
Gov't Mule "Catfish Blues"
Devil In A Woodpile "When I'm Drinkin'"

MARK

Myracle Brah "I'd Rather Be"
Weezer "My Name is Jonas"
Ben Folds "Cologne"
Blake Babies "A million Years"
Arlo "Little American"
Hall and Oates "One on One"

WAYNE

Taint "What the Crow Saw"
A Perfect Circle "Renholder"
Mastodon "Workhorse"
Lamb of God "Ruin"
Rush "Far Cry"
Withered "Clamor Beneath"

Iggy Pop's Ron Asheton Obit (from Rolling Stone magazine)

Hook of the Day - Rwake "Crooked Rivers"

FINALLY....

And finally, Carcass agrees to melt faces in the Chicagoland area. Can't...wait.

MP3 Randomization: 1-28-2009

WAYNE:

Tool "Crawl Away"
Sam Cooke "Cupid"
Blacklisted "Canonized"
Sleep "Jerusalem (Pt. 2)"
Napalm Death "Work to Rule"
Cult of Luna "And With Her Came the Birds"

MYCHE

Richard Thompson "Should I Betray"
Y&T "Love Don't Come Easy"
Tom Waits "Train Song"
Judas Priest "Electric Eye"
Drive-by Truckers "Plastic Flowers On The Highway"
W.A.S.P. "Shadow Man"

Amazing Cover Artwork Update

Well......John Baizley and Paul Romano have been busy. New Kylesa and Mastodon artwork.

Speaking of Maiden....

Sorry "Watchmen", THIS is the spring's baddest-ass movie!

Hook of a new Presidency

Inauguration Randomization: 1-20-2009

WAYNE

Jesu "Weightless & Horizontal"
Sepultura "Clenched Fist"
Tomahawk "God Hates a Coward"
Melvins "Creepy Smell"
Foo Fighters "Hell"
Fleet Foxes "Your Protector"

(Guess my iPod was for McCain hahahaaa...at least until the end there)

MYCHE

Cream "Dance The Night Away"
Faster Pussycat "Cathouse"
The Kinks "Johnny Thunder"
My Dying Bride "The Deepest Of All Hearts"
Nevermore "Ambivalent"
Black Sabbath "The Thrill Of It All"

MARK

Counting Crows "hangin around'"
STRAPPING YOUG LAD "Track 8"
Blake Babies "Grateful"
Prince "WORK THAT FAT" Let me guess, you like it like that, you like it like that..
Y & T "STILL FALLING!!"
Joe Jackson "Is she really going out with him?"

What a kick ass random!!!

New President!

Yay! New President! Let's fucking DO THIS!!!

MP3 Randomization: 01-14-09

MYCHE

Thin Lizzy "Don't Believe A Word"
Queensryche "An Intentional Confrontation"
Cynic "King Of Those Who Know"
Queensryche "Innuendo"
Little Feat "Snakes On Everything"
Meshuggah "Perpetual Black Second"


WAYNE
Iron Maiden "Iron Maiden" (Soundhouse Tapes version)
Pig Destroyer "Alexandria"
Neil Young & Crazy Horse "Mansion on the Hill"
Nine Inch Nails "The Line Begins to Blur"
Kyuss "Into the Void" (Black Sabbath cover)
Tool "The Grudge"

MARK

Indigo Girls "Watershed"
Devin Townsend Band "Ocean Machines"
Cinderella "Winds of Change"
Queensryche "Screaming in Digital"
Queensryche "Spreading the disease"
Geoff Tate "Off the TV"

Hook of the Day - Devin Townsend Band "Regulator"

Deny the riff, I dare you...

Hook of the Day - Gojira "All the Tears"

All The Tears

Great News of the Day - Shrinebuilder enters the studio!

Looks like Shrinebuilder is FINALLY getting off the ground. The supergroup to end all supergroups (Wino + Scott Kelly of Neurosis + Al Cisneros of Om and Sleep + Dale Crover of The Melvins) is going into the studio today with Big Business guitarist Toshi Kasai producing.

Keep yer eye on Kelly's blog for updates as they get the album recorded.

FINALLY!

Hook of the Day - Faith No More "Stripsearch"

Dillinger Escape Plan performing "Hot for Teacher"

Awesome. (Thanks to MetalSucks)

Hook of the Day - Screamin' Jay Hawkins "I Put a Spell on You"

Hooks Reader's Year-end Wrap-ups! Post Them Here!

Below you will find the year-end wrap-ups from the Hooks Gang, but we want to here from you! Post on as few or as many categories as you see that we've commented on (or create your own!). It would be criminal if we were the last word on this!

Wayne's 2008 Wrap-up

Top Albums

1. Torche "Meanderthal"
2. Nachtmystium "Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1"
3. Opeth "Watershed"
4. Made Out of Babies "The Ruiner"
5. U.S. Christmas "Eat the Low Dogs"
6. Harvey Milk "Life...The Best Game in Town"

Top Live Shows

1. Fests (DoomFest + Lollapalooza + Metal Masters + the non Disturbed/Dragonforce part of Mayhem Fest + the non-Dream Theatre parts of Progressive Nation)
2. Iron Maiden @ Allstate Arena
3. High on Fire in DeKalb, IL
4. Melvins/Big Business @ Reggie's
5. Boris/Torche/Nachtmystium @ Empty Bottle
6. My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theatre

Top Songs

1. Torche "Healer"
2. Meshuggah "Bleed"
3. Big Business "The Drift"
4. Nachtmystium "Ghosts of Grace"
5. Melvins "Billy Fish"
6. Metallica "All Nightmare Long"

Top Album Covers

1. Torche "Meanderthal"
2. Samothrace "Life's Trade"
3. Origin "Antithesis"
4. Deadbird "Twilight Ritual"
5. The Gates of Slumber "Conqueror"
6. A Storm of Light "And We Wept the Black Ocean Within"

Disappointments of 2008

1. Guns N Roses "Chinese Democracy"
2. Judas Priest's "Nostradamus"
3. Juan Montoya leaving Torche
4. Not making it out to some of the big out-of-town shows I wanted to see (Neurosis/Mastodon in Brooklyn, ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas in the UK, Wacken Open Air, Dudefest, Bonnaroo)
5. Exodus marring an otherwise great set at the Pearl Room with a bunch of macho bullshit posturing
6. the cancellation of Enslaved's 2009 spring tour

Highest Hopes for 2009

1. Mastodon's "Crack the Skye"
2. The rumored Faith No More reunion
3. The next Baroness album
4. Lamb of God's "Wrath"
5. New ISIS
6. Amazing live shows (2008 raised the bar!)

Mark's 2008 Wrap-up

Top Albums

1. Opeth “Watershed”
2. Amon Amarth “Twilight Of The Thunder God”
3. Erykah Badu “New Amerykah”
4. Meshuggah “ObZen”
5. Death Cab For Cutie “Narrow Stairs”
6. SlipKnot “All Hope Is Gone”

Honorable Mentions: Ben Folds “Way To Normal”, Torche “Meanderthal”, Weezer “Red Album”, Idina Menzel “I Stand”

Top Live Shows

1. Van Halen @ Allstate Arena
2. MAIDEN!!!! WORLD SLAVERY TOUR!!! @ Allstate Arena
3. Y&T @ Chicago City Limits
4. Swervedriver @ Metro
5. Amon Amarth @ House Of Blues
6. Jerry Seinfeld @ Chicago Theatre

Top Songs

1. Ben Folds "Cologne"
2. Weezer "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived"
3. Harvey Milk "Motown"
4. Erykah Badu "Soldier"
5. Idina Menzel "Brave"
6. Madonna and Kanye West "The Beat Goes On"

HMs: Alphabeat "Fascination", Clutch "Electric Worry"

Top Album Covers

1. Meshuggah “ObZen”
2. Erykah Badu “New Amerykah”

Disappointments of 2008

1. Kanye West "808s and Heartbreak"
2. In Flames "A Sense of Purpose"
3. SlipKnot touring with Trivium and Coheed and Cambria
4. Janet Jackson "Discipline" Except for the song "Feedback"
5. Judas Priest "Nostradamus"
6. Exodus Live at the Pearl Room

Top Pre-2008 Music Discovered in 2008

1. SCORPIONS!!! “Humanity Hour 1.” Like you wouldn’t believe.....
2. Parliament "Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome"
3. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
4. Dinosaur Jr.
5. TOOL
6. Rihanna “Please Don't Stop the Music”....

Highest Hopes for 2009

1. New Y & T!!
2. New MASTODON!!
3. New QUEENSRYCHE!!
4. New Prince!!
5. New Devin?!?! Maybe?!
6. New Built to Spill please....

Myche's 2008 Wrap-up

Top Albums

I always have to figure out just what was a 2008 release when I’m doing this. There will also undoubtedly be 2008 releases that I won’t discover until 2009 that will be worthy of this list.

1. Fish "13th Star" – A totally biased pick, and one that I would never recommend to anyone, most likely. But no doubt the 2008 release that I played the most…
2. Opeth “Watershed” – The only common choice on all of our lists, making it the Hooks Album of the Year, I would say. These guys just seem to get better and better.
3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!” – Late entry to this list since my mp3 tag listed it as a 2007 release in error. Glad I got it right.
4. Testament “The Formation Of Damnation” – Just raw and kick-ass METAL.
5. Al Green “Lay It Down” – Probably his best album in 30 years.
6. Warrel Dane “Praises To The New Machine” – I’m surprised by this one myself. I didn’t really listen to it until recently, but loved it. It doesn’t break new ground, but reminded me how much I like Dane’s vocals and Nevermore in general. Only album on list that I didn’t see the artist live during the year, by the way.

Top Live Shows

1. Fish @ Shank Hall in Milwaukee – Easy choice: this was my previous #1 artist I wanted to see that I hadn’t yet, I delayed my honeymoon for the show, it is in my Top 10 shows of all time, and I saw him the next night at the Park West which was a seated show and not nearly as amazing as the Milwaukee show. Plus, I got to meet him before the show. Yes, it was a good day…
2. David Byrne @ Civic Opera House – I’m not even a huge Talking Heads/Byrne fan, but this show blew me away. Very original and captivating.
3. Derek Trucks Band @ Vic Theatre – I had seen him a week before with the Allman Brothers and was still not saturated by his playing. Susan Tedeschi joining for about four songs was a great bonus.
4. Y&T @ Chicago City Limits – I would have never guessed that I could get blown away like I did on my 9th time seeing a band (which tied Queensryche with the band I’ve seen the most times).
5. Doom Fest @ Double Door – So slow and heavy that my heart almost came to a complete stop. Very well-done Fest: Kongh, Somathrace and Beyond Oblivion were my highlights.
6. Bang Camaro @ Double Door – I’m not sure I’ve ever had more FUN at a show in my life. My cheeks hurt from smiling for about a week…

HMs: So many great shows this year - Hideout Block Party, Allman Brothers @ Charter One, Nick Lowe @ The Green Mill, Nick Cave @ Riviera, Ray Davies @ Chicago Theatre, The Holmes Brothers @ Buddy Guy’s, Scorpions/Alice Cooper @ Fort McCoy, WI, Melvins/Big Business @ Double Door, Van Halen @ Allstate Arena, Iron Maiden @ Allstate Arena, Trouble @ Nite Caps (possibly the last time I see them with Eric Wagner singing?)

Top Songs

I’m really bad at focusing on singles as opposed to whole albums, so here’s a list of a few songs that I thought rocked:

1. Bang Camaro "Push Push (Lady Lightning"
2. Bang Camaro “Pleasure (Pleasure)"
3. Whitesnake “Lay Down Your Love"
4. Al Green “Lay It Down”
5. David Byrne & Brian Eno “My Big Nurse"
6. Zimmer’s Hole – Take your pick: “We Rule The Fucking Land”, “Anonymous Esophagus”, or “Hair Doesn’t Grow On Steel”

Top Album Covers

I’m even worse at paying attention to albums covers these days. Here’s a few I liked:

1. Cynic "Traced In Air"
2. Testament “The Formation Of Damnation"
3. Amon Amarth “Twilight Of The Thunder Gods”
4. Whitesnake "Good To Be Bad”

Disappointments of 2008

1. Eric Wagner leaving Trouble
2. Every show I saw at The Pearl Room in Mokena. I like the venue, but three disappointing shows. Coincidence?
3. Judas Priest "Nostradamus" – Such a lack of quality control on this one. I must hold all members responsible. What are the repercussions from my standpoint? If you ask me to opine on Maiden vs. Priest, my decision just became very easy…
4. Sly Stone cancelling his show at the Vic. Why was I surprised?

Highest Hopes for 2009

1. New albums that are supposed to come out: Y&T (!!!), Queensryche, Heaven & Hell, Derek Trucks Band
2. New albums that I hope come out: anything Devin Townsend-related
3. Concerts scheduled: Messhugah/Cynic
4. Concert hopefuls: Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, David Shankle Group
5. Quality Chicago music festivals, just like 2008: American Music Festival @ Fitzgerald’s, Hideout Block Party, Doom Fest

Top Pre-2008 Music Discovered in 2008

This category flows for me, so it was hard to limit it to six…

1. Whitesnake “Come An’ Get It” – I would guess that I played this album more than about anyone in the world, besides maybe David Coverdale.
2. The Holmes Brothers
3. Gov’t Mule
4. The last two Scorpions releases
5. Merle Haggard
6. Willie Nelson “Who’ll Buy My Memories: The IRS Tapes” – I’ve had this two-disc set for at least ten years without really sinking my teeth into it. I always thought it was a sell-out to get money to pay his IRS debts, but it is fantastic. I love when I this happens with a CD I bought so long ago and forgot about.
7. Ravi Shankar
8. Two songs in particular off the debut Thin Lizzy album that are usually part of Tin Lynott’s set: “Look What The Wind Blew In” and “Things Ain’t Working Out Down At the Farm”

Top DVDs

I think only #1 was a 2008 release, so I guess that’s my best of 2008. The others were just ones I finally saw in 2008 that are noteworthy.

1. Lou Reed “Berlin”
2. Love “Forever Changes Concert”
3. Neil Young “Heart Of Gold”
4. Reggae Deep Roots Documentary Vol. 1-3

Top Music-related Books Read

1. Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose, An Illustrated History – Martin Popoff
2. Willie Nelson: An Epic Life – Joe Nick Patoski
3. Funk – Rickey Vincent
4. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon – Crystal Zevon

Hook of the Day - Lamb of God "Contractor"

by Wayne

I think Myche and Mark are probably busy right now with their broken Zunes and their 2008 Wrap-ups....perfect opportunity to sneak in the new Lamb of God track as a HotD.

Awesome.

First Hook of the Year - ISIS "20 Minutes/40 Years"

Hey all,

We'll have our Best of 2008 wrap up soon...in the meantime, here's a new song that ISIS debuted on their recent European tour. It'll be on their new album, out sometime this year.

Here's "20 Minutes/40 Years"