en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal The Last.fm journal for zao_89. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/12/22/2ckrzk_it%27s_that_time_of_year_-_top_albums_of_%2708 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:25:41 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/12/22/2ckrzk_it%27s_that_time_of_year_-_top_albums_of_%2708 After the Burial - Rareform
I'm not one of those who think the album is SOOO AMAZING, but its definately a change in the metalcore scene.

Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
Great release by a Canadian rapper. Took a while to grow on me, but its definately the best rap/hip hop release of 08.

Carpathian - Isolation
Amazing album by a previously *core band. Their old stuff is good, but this is their best.

Charles Hamilton - Outside Looking
Keep an eye on this guy. He's a rapper who's obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog (oh, and apparently, his influences are Eminem, Dr. Dre and Incubus).

Cute Is What We Aim For - Rotation
Sooooooooooooooo catchyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

For the Fallen Dreams - Changes
Brutal, catchy and AMAZING.

H20 - Nothing To Prove
Again, great catchy album.

Ligeia - Bad News
A lot of people didn't like this album, but I thought it was really good. The faux-turntable guitar solo was really unexpected though.

Stormlord - Mare Nostrum
Probably their best album yet.

The Arusha Accord - Nightmares Of The Ocean EP
With Sikth gone, these guys can definately take their place in the technical-spaz metal genre.

The Acacia Strain - Continent
Okay, theres no way I could leave this album off my top album list. Bone crushingly brutal and extremely memorable.

The Faceless - Planetary Duality
My only problem with this album is the length. WRITE LONGER SONGS!

Winds of Plague - Decimate The Weak
Think Bleeding Through with even more epic keyboards, less hardcore influence and more black metal influence, and no singing. (I'll probably be flamed for that statement...)

Noteworthy albums (+ some albums I havent listened to enough to be in the top albums)
Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom
Great post-metal band
Islands - Arm's Way
Weird Canadian indie band.
John Legend - Evolver
One of my favourite singers
Passion Pit - Chunk of Change
Sounds like a mix between MGMT and The Postal Service.
T.I. - Paper Trail
You know who he is.
Wish For Wings - Afterlife
Austrailian metalcore/hardcore band.
You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours
UK pop punk.
Zozobra - Bird Of Prey
Amazing post-metal band with an industrial influence]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/12/01/2b67w0_40_about_50._113008 Mon, 1 Dec 2008 03:58:55 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/12/01/2b67w0_40_about_50._113008 1. How did you get into 31?
Protest the Hero
Blindfolds Aside music video

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
Parkway Drive
Don't Close Your Eyes I believe.

3. What's your favorite lyric by 29?
Whitechapel
YOU WILL NEVER FUCK AGAIN!

4. What is your favorite album by 49?
Carnifex
I've only really listened to The Diseased and the Poisoned.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Tiësto
None.

6. What is your favorite song by 50?
Wish For Wings
Bosslock I guess.

7. Is there a song by 4 that makes you sad?
Cute Is What We Aim For
Nope

8. What is your favorite song by 15?
For the Fallen Dreams
Definately Last Dying Breath

9. What is your favorite song by 5?
Terror
Too hard to choose...

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Thrice
I guess any of their slow melodic stuff (Atlantic, Red Sky)

11. What is your favorite album by 40?
Knights Of The Abyss
Shades

12. What is your favorite song by 10?
Stormlord
Neon Karma

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?
Between the Buried and Me
Hurrying to the Hamilton GO station mid-set (right after they played Selkies?).

14. What is your favorite song by 37?
Daughters
Don't have one

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Bane
I don't think their songs are meant to make you happy.

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?
Trivium
Never

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Deep Purple
Obviously Smoke on the Water.

18. What is your favorite album by 11?
The Promise Ring
Either Very Emergency or Nothing Feels Good

19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
Busdriver
Umm... Regan J Farquhar? AKA Busdriver?

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Nights Like These
Once

21. What is a good memory involving 45?
Divinefire
None.

22. What is your favorite song by 16?
Sleeping Among The Dead
Truth.

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
Misericordiam
Hefty Bag Disposal I think.

24. What is your favorite album by 21?
The Faceless
I think both of them are on the same level

25. What is your favorite song by 18?
The Human Abstract
Harbringer

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 38?
Winds of Plague
Anthems or Full Chamber Roulette

27. What is your favorite lyric by 3?
Emmure
Oooooooh-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahahahahahah-rrrrrrrrrargh lol.

28. What is you favourite song by 2?
Cadence Weapon
Limited Edition OJ Slammer.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Amber Pacific
Probably Gone So Young

30. What is your favorite song by 8?
Bury Your Dead
Year One

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
Nine Inch Nails
Never

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
Bleeding Through
Nope

33. What is you favorite album by 12?
Borknagar
Epic

34. What is the worst song by 46?
Escape the Fate
No idea

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
August Burns Red
Barbarian

36. What is you favorite album by 42?
Good Clean Fun
Positively Positive

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?
Family Force 5
never

38. What is your favorite album by 36?
Austrian Death Machine
He only has one album.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
Ligeia
Beyond A Doubt

40. What is you favorite album by 7?
H20
Nothing to Prove]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/08/26/24seti_musical_recommendations_for_people_who_have_a_preconcieved_notion_of_all_artists_of_a_genre_as_a_whole. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:18:44 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/08/26/24seti_musical_recommendations_for_people_who_have_a_preconcieved_notion_of_all_artists_of_a_genre_as_a_whole. Damn, thats a long title.

Rap:
Cadence Weapon - for you Indie/Techno kids.
Busdriver - just completely amazing and head scratchingly weird at times.
Gym Class Heroes - For those who say it takes no talent to make a beat.
Lyrics Born - For fans of funk/maybe classic rock
Jedi Mind Tricks - For the metalheads

REAL Emo:
Fugazi
Rites of Spring
Embrace (US)
^For punk fans^
The Promise Ring
American Football
Sunny Day Real Estate
^For fans of softer music^

Pop Punk:
Four Year Strong
and
A Day to Remember.
Thats all I have to say.

Jazz:
Christian Scott - Trumpet player with a "rock" style backing band.
George Benson/Wes Montgomery - Jazz guitar legends
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five is an essential jazz album.

Reggae:
Bob Marley - Will Smith was right in I Am Legend.
311 - Reggae/rock/rap group.
Bad Brains - Also an essential hardcore band
Skindred - Reggae metal?

Electronic:
Tiesto - For fans of epic music
Angerfist/hardstyle - for fans of heavy, sometimes brutal music.

Metal:
Gorod - Great technical/melodic/progressive death metal band.
Testament - IMO, the big four (of thrash) should be changed to the big five to include Testament.
Heaven Shall Burn/Darkest Hour - For those who say metalcore is all about breakdowns and whining.
August Burns Red - For the people who think all breakdowns are too generic.
ZAO/Converge - The pioneers of metalcore as we know it.
Terror/Hatebreed - Metal influenced hardcore bands or hardcore influenced metal bands? You decide.
Cerberus (US) - Melo-thrashcore?
The Human Abstract - Listen to Nocturne for your daily dose of shred.
Gift of Prophecy - These guys should be such a big name in deathcore, but somehow they're not.
Nights Like These - Epic sludge/progressive metalcore.
At the Throne of Judgment - Can't believe they broke up before they got to come here :(

Country:
Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst
The Allman Brothers

Other:
Islands/Final Fantasy - Weird Canadian indie
Daughters - grindcore band?
The Plasmarifle - techgrind?
John Legend/Anthony Hamilton - Great soul singers.
Five Iron Frenzy/Big D and the Kids Table - Great ska bands.
Gorilla Biscuits - Probably my favourite hardcore band.
Thrice - Genre hoppers. From punk, to post-hardcore (/ a bit of metalcore), to ambient.
Emmure - Probably my favourite band of all time.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/08/14/244zx3_guess_it%27s_time_to_do_one_of_these... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:07:59 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/08/14/244zx3_guess_it%27s_time_to_do_one_of_these... Bands I've seen live:

A Global Threat
A Love Ends Suicide
A Sentence To Silence
ABACABB x2
Abigail Williams
Action League Now x2
After the Burial
All Shall Perish
All That Remains
Approaching Zero
Arise and Ruin x4
As Blood Runs Black
Automatic x5? (Toronto hard rock band, now The French Painters)
Baptized in Blood x2
Beneath the Massacre x2
Between the Buried and Me
Bomb the Music Industry!
Born of Osiris
Bring Me the Horizon
Buried and Breathing x3
Burning The Day x3
Bury Your Dead x2
CDC
Cephalic Carnage
Chimaira
Crown and Coke x2
Cursed
Cylidian
Darkest Hour
Dear Solace
Decrepit Birth
Despised Icon x2 1/2
Die Young
Divine Heresy
DragonForce
EMELIE x2
Emmure x2
Farewell to Freeway x2
Fireworks
For the Fallen Dreams x4
Full Clip Orchestra x3
Futures Past x2 or 3
Gone Hollywood x2
H20
Heaven Shall Burn
I Hate Sally x2
Ignite
Ion Dissonance x3
Johnny Truant
Kids On TV
Ladybug Thrusts x2
Liferuiner
Modern Life Is War
Mustard Plug
Neuraxis x2
Never Seen A Day x3
Nights Like These
Powerglove
Protest the Hero x1 1/2 (drum clinic with Moe and Luke and an actual concert)
Pyramid Theorem
Ruiner
Rumsfield
Soilwork
Soldiers
Speak of the Devil x4
Strike Anywhere
Suffokate
Sworn Enemy
Terror
Terrorhorse
The Acacia Strain
The Audition
The Black Dahlia Murder
The End
The Faceless
The Fitzpatrick Incident
The Ghost Inside
The Holly Springs Disaster
The Human Abstract With AJ!
The Plasmarifle x2
The Red Chord
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Warriors
This Is Hell
Through the Eyes of the Dead
Throwdown
Today I Caught The Plague
Too Pure To Die
Trapped Under Ice x2
Turisas
Veil of Maya x3
War of Ages
Winds of Plague
Wish For Wings
Words

Bands/Artists I've seen at MTV Live:
All That Remains
Apostle of Hustle
Bloc Party
Cancer Bats
Cute Is What We Aim For
Fiction Plane
Great Lake Swimmers
Hatebreed
I Hate Sally
Jason Collett
Mad Caddies
Mika
Stirling
The End
The Kooks
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
These Electric Lives
and more that I cant remember]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/05/30/20294k_40_about_top_50._052908 Fri, 30 May 2008 03:47:58 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/05/30/20294k_40_about_top_50._052908 1. How did you get into 31?
(Four Year Strong)
After clicking on a link from some guys sig on UG to the Heroes Get Remembered video.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
(CIWWAF)
Theres A Class For This.

3. What's your favorite lyric by 29?
(3)
All of either Been To The Future or These Iron Bones.

4. What is your favorite album by 49?
(WHBIT?)
I barely listen to their only album.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
(Tiesto)
None.

6. What is your favorite song by 50?
(Incubus)
I'd have to say either Wish You Were Here or Drive.

7. Is there a song by 4 that makes you sad?
(Busdriver and Radioinactive feat. Daedelus [basically The Weather])
Not really.

8. What is your favorite song by 15?
(Sinai Beach)
On/Off Switch. Great lyrics.

9. What is your favorite song by 5?
(FTFD)
My Last Dying Breath

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
(Thrice)
I guess any of their slow melodic stuff (Atlantic, Red Sky)

11. What is your favorite album by 40?
(Misery Signals)
Of Malice...

12. What is your favorite song by 10?
(Cancer Bats)
Pneumonia Hawk I guess.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?
(Christian Scott)
None.

14. What is your favorite song by 37?
(Anthony Hamilton)
Magnolia's Room.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
(Lyrics Born)
Not really.

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?
Misericordiam
I haven't. I dont even think theyve ever come here.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
(Protest The Hero)
These Colours.

18. What is your favorite album by 11?
(Nights Like These)
The Faithless

19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
(Busdriver)
Umm... Regan J Farquhar? AKA Busdriver?

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
(Tiesto)
I was planning on seeing him, but then I saw how expensive the tix were.

21. What is a good memory involving 45?
(Bury Your Dead)
Seeing all the scene kids clearing out after BMTH leaving a huge space for a pit :)

22. What is your favorite song by 16?
(Divinefire)
Secret Weapon (AKA the most epic song ever)

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
(Kazzer)
Pedal To The Metal, definately.

24. What is your favorite album by 21?
(Despised Icon)
The Ills of Modern Man

25. What is your favorite song by 18?
(Russian Circles)
Theyre all equally good.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 38?
(BTBAM)
Mordecai or Shevanel Take 2

27. What is your favorite lyric by 3?
(Emmure)
Oooooooh-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahahahahahah-rrrrrrrrrargh lol.

28. What is you favourite song by 2?
(Cadence Weapon)
Limited Edition OJ Slammer.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
(Soldiers)
The rap one lol.

30. What is your favorite song by 8?
(Stormlord)
Neon Karma

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
(LifeRuiner)
Once.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
(Modest Mouse)
Dashboard, I guess.

33. What is you favorite album by 12?
(The Promise Ring)
Very Emergency or Nothing Feels Good.

34. What is the worst song by 46?
(Most Precious Blood)
Out of the ones I've heard, Less Than Zero.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
(Hoobastank)
Either Pieces or Crawling In The Dark.

36. What is you favorite album by 42?
(In Flames)
THE JESTER RACE!!!

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?
(Alexisonfire)
never

38. What is your favorite album by 36?
(LoG)
Ashes.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
(Carnifex)
I'm pretty sure it was Lie To My Face

40. What is you favorite album by 7?
(NIN)
With Teeth]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/03/25/8tb1m_four_year_strong_-_rise_or_die_trying Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:18:34 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/03/25/8tb1m_four_year_strong_-_rise_or_die_trying If Fall Out Boy and Bury Your Dead had a baby, this is how it would sound.

The latest band to be signed to Pete Wentz's Decaydence Records, FYS combine the pop-punk sound of Fall Out Boy and the hardcore breakdowns and 2-step riffs heard in most modern metalcore/hardcore bands (hence the BYD reference, although it should be noted FYS guitarist/frontman Dan O'Connor was once part of the very same band). If you were to listen to a FYS song for the first time, the first thing that would come to mind is, "another Fall Out Boy sounding band?", but by the end, you will have heard a band like no other.

Amidst the use of regular band instruments, there is the use of synths, though not uncommon in modern music, rare in pop-punk bands (sure, theres Motion City Soundtrack and Hellogoodbye, but nobody listens to them, right?). The vocal aspect to FYS is similar to FOB. Both singers are in the higher range, and sing about anything (but mostly girls, although I dont think FYS is trying to appeal to 13 year old teenyboppers).

If you dont like Fall Out Boy, you probably wont like this band (unless you're a fan of melodic hardcore). I prefer the music on this album over their previous efforts, because this album includes more of that harcore sound that seperates them from other pop-punk bands. I would have liked this album more if it had more screaming (the only screaming on the album was done by ex-BYD vocalist Mat Bruso, on 'Prepare To Be Digitally Manupulated'), although the gang vocal parts make up for that loss. They should have had better use of keyboard parts (instead of lead, why not try some strings, or possible a piano interlude?), and more usage, too.

8/10


For fans of: Set Your Goals, Fall Out Boy, Hellogoodbye, and possibly A Day To Remember.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/03/25/8taww_for_the_fallen_dreams_-_changes Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:17:24 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zao_89/journal/2008/03/25/8taww_for_the_fallen_dreams_-_changes One of my favourite genres lately is that melodic, breakdown laden metalcore (Misery Signals, It Prevails). FTFD fits in to that category. Drop A# chugging breakdowns with melodic guitar lines is the best way to describe this band. Some of the parts seem simple, but become more complex when you try to figure out how they're played (e.g. the opening lick from Hopeless).

Track by track breakdown:

1. Brothers In Arms - This is that one track thats a fan favourite. The beggining is just asking for a pile-on scream-along.

2. New Beginnings - Just an average song

3. Hopeless - One of my favourites. "THIS IS ALL ON YOU!". The end breakdown has what most breakdowns lack - a time signature other than 4/4. The 6/8 time signature fives you somewhat of a "swing" feeling. *Chug ch- chug ch- chug ch- cacophonic chord*

4. Last Dying Breath - I love the ending. I'm really suprised they didnt play this song live when I saw them.

5. This World Around Us - Short track that would have been better placed as album opener.

6. Never Again - That one song every band has about moving on. The lyrics seem to be about getting past someone (girlfriend?)

7. Changes - Just an instrumental. This song and Through The Looking Glass probably have the best drumwork out of the whole album.

8. Vengeance - There are people who like to compare metalcore bands to nu-metal. This song doesnt help prove them wrong. Nonetheless, this is the most aggresive and heaviest song on the album.

9. Falling Down - Same as track 2, average.

10. Through The Looking Glass - The longest track on the cd. The ending to the song includes a change of pace. String parts are slowly fused into the song while the guitars start to get softer. At the very end, all that is left is a military style snare beat with a low string melody(cello + bass?).

The production on this album is a lot better than their last release, which included earlier versions of This World Around Us, New Beginnings and Last Dying Breath. The vocals have also GREATLY improved from the previous demo. They are a lot more clearer and understandable.

9.5/10 It would have been better if they re-recorded Divine and Look Alive and took out Changes.

For fans of: It Prevails, Misery Signals, The Acacia Strain, Emmure, As I Lay Dying, Bury Your Dead.]]>