…and some stuff in between. Translation: We dive into a previously-reviewed band’s back catalog, have a brand new release from this past week, and a few more Shit We Missed picks from 2013. In the middle of the show, we discuss rip apart the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival lineup. Also, there are couple of points where we ask for your participation…and one of those instance is kinda line a challenge/mission. Intrigued? Well, even if you aren’t, you should listen to the episode anyway. There is some good music in here.
Reviews: Exhale – When Worlds Collide (Pulverized); Legion of the Damned – Ravenous Plague (Napalm); Lunarsea – Route Code Selector (Punishment 18); Ovid’s Withering – Scryers of the Ibis (Subliminal Groove in CAN; independent in US)
Legion of the Damned – Ravenous Plague
Exhale – When Worlds Collide
Ovid’s Withering – Scryers of the Ibis
Lunarsea – Route Code Selector
The Sideshow Podcast 
Finding something that Nick likes that Brian doesn’t like is quite a challenge. There certainly will be more that Brian likes that Nick doesn’t like. I think Nick gave Inquisition a 3 but Brian gave it a 1 or 2. I actually think if Nick were to give Inquisition a “let me try that one again” (which you guys never seem to do any more) and if he were to put aside his “Mr. Production” hat, that Nick’s rating of a 3 might possibly turn higher for Inquisition.
If there is one genre that might come to mind for differences of opinion, it could be prog. I can’t quite get a firm sense of Nick’s taste in proggier stuff, but he seems to like some of it. Nick doesn’t like Opeth, but likes Tesseract. And while Brian doesn’t dislike prog, he’s definitely not a prog guy. Between The Buried And Me, Mastodon’s newer stuff, and Opeth’s newer stuff are not to Brian’s liking. Orphaned Land is something I believe Nick liked more than Brian. I also get the sense that Nick is more of a 90s alternative-type of guy than Brian is, liking stuff such as Alice In Chains more than Brian does.
As for some upcoming albums that might polarize opinions, I might lay odds on the upcoming Iced Earth album. That could be one that Brian likes that Nick might not. Two others are Grand Magus and Within Temptation that have the potential to be liked by Brian but not Nick. But it is tough to come up with something that Nick might like that Brian wouldn’t. Another one that could go either way is the new Alcest, though if I had to guess I’m going to say that neither of you will like it.
Regarding New England Metalfest, I think the Saturday lineup is pretty good, but since Iced Earth and Sabaton are playing in NYC the night before, why should I trek up to Massachusetts to see it? As for other upcoming shows, I’m already disappointed that I won’t be able to go to that Ocean/Scale the Summit show. Those were 2 of my top albums from last year playing on the same bill and I’m going to miss out!
Great idea on the “back catalog” review. I find myself discovering bands that have a new, non-debut album that I like but it will be the first one I’ve heard by them. I’ve recently been debating if I want to check out older stuff from The Ocean and Scale The Summit. One band you need to go back and listen to (if you haven’t done so already) is Nails. Unsilent Death (their first album) sounds similar (and is of a similar length) to Abandon All Life, but Abandon All Life is just a hair better.
You have used your context clues well, sir! I AM more of a 90’s guy than Brian, and – with the exception of certain bands – I do, generally, tend to like some proggy stuff more than Brian.
We sampled some new Alcest the other day when picking upcoming albums to review. I think we’re going to stay away this time around. None of us (back when Kyle showed up) really cared for the last album too much, and the little we’ve heard of this new one wasn’t quite to our liking either.
I can’t believe you’re not going to the Scale The Summit/TheOcean show in NYC! I’m FINALLY coming down to see a show with Brian.