Coming off last week’s high, we continue covering the release from the end of October. Hell, I think we are going to be mixing some of those in for the next two weeks. Don’t quote me on that, though. Anyway, while – spoiler alerts – we don’t have the same perfect game, it’s certainly a solid win. So, I hope you haven’t spent all of your disposable income just yet – you’re going to need some.
Reviews:
Abysmal Dawn – Obsolescence (Relapse)
Bloodshot Dawn – Demons (independent)
Dawnbringer – Night of the Hammer (Profound Lore)
Devin Townsend – Z2 (InsideOut/Century Media)
Devin Townsend – Z2
Abysmal Dawn – Obsolescence
Dawnbringer – Night of the Hammer
Bloodshot Dawn – Demons
The Sideshow Podcast 
A few somewhat random comments about Z2. First is the name of the album. I bought it on Amazon and it is just called Z2 Disc 1 and Disc2. So I’ll refer to the albums as Z2D1 and Z2D2 (which as a nice familiar ring to it).
You say that Z2D1 sounds like he took the song “Grace” and just made an entire album of that? Sign me up for that! (oh wait, I already bought and listened to the album). As I may have mentioned, I love the song “Grace” on Epicloud. I’m already counting the days until I can hear that song played live on December 6 when he plays at Webster Hall with Animals As Leaders.
As for Z2D2, I’m sort of with Nick. Even though I loved the original Ziltoid album, this follow-up doesn’t seem to do it for me. Part of the problem for me is that there is too much narrative and not enough “songs”. On the original Ziltoid, I love the song “Solar Winds”, but there is nothing close to that on Z2D2. I feel as though the narration on the original was blended in much better than on Z2. On the original, I felt like I was listening to one continuous album. On Z2D2, I feel like I’m listening to some narration, then a little bit of music, then more narration, then some music, and so on.
I can’t hear the word “poozer” without thinking of Kilowog from Green Lantern.
I’m a little surprised you both liked the Dawnbringer album. As you said, it’s rather 70s, which I didn’t think was your jam.
As Nick said regarding the year end list for 2014, this year “crept up on me” as well. I already see the list for 2014 as actually being the “second half of 2014” list, because there are very few, if any, albums released before June 24 that are going to be on my list.