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I’ll Just Leave This Here…

This is a post for those that asked to see our individual year end lists. It is far too early on a Monday morning for me to justify why each of these albums is ending up where it is on the list, so I’ll just defend myself later in the comments if necessary.

1 Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown
2 Black Crown Initiate – The Wreckage of Stars
3 Black Map – …And We Explode
4 Within The Ruins – Phenomena
5 Polar – Shadowed By Vultures
6 Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun
7 Castle – Under Siege
8 He Is Legend – Heavy Fruit
9 Exmortus – Slave To The Sword
10 Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds
11 At The Gates – At War With Reality
12 Ne Obliviscaris – Citadel
13 Fallujah – The Flesh Prevails
14 Dawnbringer – Night Of The Hammer
15 Killer Be Killed – Killer Be Killed
16 Allegaeon – Elements of the Infinite
17 Cynic – Kindly Bent To Free Us
18 Monuments – The Amanuensis
19 Unearth – Watchers of Rule
20 Serdce – Timelessness
21 Beyond Creation – Earthborn Evolution
22 Pet The Preacher – The Cave & The Sunlight
23 Revocation – Deathless
24 Gormathon – Following The Beast
25 Bury Tomorrow – Runes

Episode 170: Listapalooza Day 2 – The Big One

This is it, freaks!  Our Top 20 Albums of 2014!  We all know lists are super subjective and semi-bullshit, but they at least make for good conversation/argument and give you some idea of albums that should be worth your time.  Also, we are review show…we kinda have to do it.

This time, though, we went strictly with our guts.  We each did one draft of our lists before combining them to the final one. No nitpicking and arguing “objectivity” with ourselves.  No giving a shit if placing X higher than Y was trve or kvlt.  What you see is an honest reaction to going over all  200+ albums we reviewed and picking what we liked best.  Obviously our individual lists were longer – and surprisingly diverse considering how many times Nick and I give things the same ratings – but we are both quite pleased with the final rundown.  Maybe we’ll share those personal lists later, but for now, get listening then leave us comments telling us how wrong we are so we can tell you you’re probably right, but argue anyway.

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Episode 169: Listapalooza Day 1

As promised, this week’s show is about our supplemental lists.  A prelude, if you will, to the top albums of the year.  We trimmed the fat this year, so we only have six categories (yeah, there was more), including Best EP, Most Disappointing, and Best Art.  As in years past, the latter is done with a guest appearance from our good friend and kinda-in-house artist Mike Clancey.  Feel free to share your picks – or argue with ours – in the comments!

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(Just a reminder: For those of you doing your last minute Christmas shopping on Amazon – which we know some of you are doing – please go there through one of the album links on the side.  That simple click-through will help keep this podcast up and running.  Thanks!)

Episode 162: Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This

This past week had a lot of new releases, really bringing the previously-mentioned onslaught to a head. There were so many, in fact, that the other half of the stuff we chose to get will be covered next week.  This week, though, we have some of the crème de la crème of the week – four excellent albums that bring another first to this show. In the middle of this goodness, we have another live review for you!

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Reviews:
At The Gates – At War With Reality (Century Media)
Beyond Creation – Earthborn Evolution (Season of Mist)
Black Map – …And We Explode (Minus Head)
Unearth – Watchers of Rule (eOne)

Live Review:
Mastodon, Gojira, Kvelertak @ Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on November 1, 2014

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Episode 145: The Hangover Part 4th

This past Friday here in America was Independence Day, so many of us attended BBQs and parties this weekend, and many of those attendees probably partied a little too hard because ‘Murica (the guy writing this included). Well, come to think of it, many of you not in America may have done the same thing because it was Saturday night and you didn’t need a reason.  Either way, to help get you through the fun morning after, we have four new album reviews (three of which with music) and six First Impressions (two songs played) that we actually go through quickly! Honest!  There are also a few little news bits in there and the usual fun banter you have come to know and love.

Also, I swear it is coincidence that it is Fourth of July Weekend and the one album we disliked was by a British band.

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Reviews: Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown (Epitaph); The Hell – Groovehammer (Prosthetic); Inanimate Existence – A Never-Ending Cycle of Atonement (Unique Leader); Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun (Reprise)

First Impressions:
Overkill – “Armorist” from White Devil Armory out July 22nd thru Nuclear Blast
Darkest Hour – “Wasteland” from Darkest Hour out August 5th thru Sumerian
Pallbearer – “The Ghost I Used To Be” from Foundations of Burden out August 19th thru Profound Lore
Code Orange – “I Am King” from I Am King out September 2nd thru Deathwish
Cannibal Corpse – “Sadistic Embodiment” from A Skeletal Domain out September 16th thru Metal Blade

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