Trivium/Metallica And Things Much Less Metal

Hello friends, or those who may have stumbled upon this in a drunken attempt to find internet porn. I have just a few things to throw your way this beautiful Friday evening... an evening that finds me confined to the KOR studio, awaiting the broadcast of the Goshen football game, brought to you live from Batavia, and full of broadcasting gold courtesy of the KOR, and the Doctors of all things Pigskin, talking of course about Mis Hermanos Matt y John Sexton. Be sure to tune them in at 7:30pm.

On the music front, and as this is my first music blog to date, I find the need to point out a couple of new releases in the past couple weeks that I think should find residence in your players.



DEATH MAGNETIC - Metallica
Imperial Early Verdict = 4.5 out of 5 aces.

Their ninth studio effort, and first with Rick Rubin, this album may not be United Abominations... but neither are you. Metallica show they might just have a reason to stick around the music scene after the abysmal St. Anger of 2003. While some less metally people may be turned off by the idea of the track "Unforgiven III," and have little interest in the band after the Napster debacle, as well as lackluster releases from the band since Garage Inc. let me assure you that Death Magnetic well give the headbanger in you, that you may or may not want to admit exists, reason to rock again. Standout tracks include "That Was Just Your Life," "All Nightmare Long," and "My Apocalypse."

SHOGUN - Trivium
Imperial Early Verdict = 4 out of 5 aces.

After alienating their core fan-base with the tamer, more standard metal sounding album "The Crusade" in 2006, the Orlando, Florida based metal machine Trivium come back with a vengeance with "Shogun." While I'm still wrapping my ears around this album, I can already tell you that the opening track "Kirisute Gomen," as well as "The Calamity," and "Down From the Sky" are must listens. If you can tolerate some guteral vocals blending with the clean... and are looking for some furious thrash mastery and intricate soloing, you certainly can't go wrong with this album.

On the Imperial Honorable Mention list is something much less metal, but certainly ear pleasing in a very cheesy, romantic, ballady kind of way. I'm talking of course about Secondhand Serenade's second offering "A Twist In My Story." With standout tracks like "Like A Knife," "Fall For You," "Stranger," and the title track, this is an excellent album to listen to when you're feeling the need to cry on your piano or acoustic guitar... at least I'm guessing it is.

Well, that's all I have for now, perhaps I'll throw some vids to support my claims of musical acclaim for the above albums, but we'll see. Until next time... Ready... GO!