Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (2011)

 

Let me just start off by saying one thing,

If you're turned off this band because you don't like the vocals you're posing. Straight up.

You're Hot Topic fodder and should go back to listening to whatever the fuck Dimmu Borgir is churning out these days. Sorry man, I don't make the rules. Maybe it's time to quit listening to those fur-wearing fuckwads and get with the program.

Where was I? Oh yea, the Omnious Doctrines...

Easily my favorite USBM band (by way of Colombia), Inquisition truly is a thing of unholy beauty. Every single record that they have ever crafted is majestic and evil. Pummeling riffs come together with beautiful melodies to create some of the most entrancing hymns for the Dark Lord that you'll ever hear in your pitiful life.

Dagon's voice is probably one of the most polarizing in the world of extreme metal. Undeniably influenced by Immortal, he has since developed his very own style that almost resembles the crooning of a raven. Frankly, to me it's baffling how he is able to sing, absolutely shred, and remember the multitude of verses that is every single one of their songs all at the same time. But somehow he not only pulls it off, but kills it in a live setting as well; as anyone who has ever had the pleasure of attending one of their ceremonies can attest to.

Every single Inquisition record is worth checking out. I might be posting more later, (their newest absolute beast of an album deserves its very own post) but in the meantime I leave you with what just might be my favorite battle-axe in their ungodly arsenal. For the initiated, this is a real slab of anti-cosmic, left-handed path gnosis in all its Thursatruan glory.

Astral Path To Supreme Majesties

Nick 13 - Self Titled (2011)

Granted, I'm a slightly new Tiger Army/Nick 13 fan (I know, late-pass city), I felt like expressing how incredibly talented of a singer/songwriter he is via his solo album, rather than posting about Tiger Army. I've been a huge fan of the whole California punk/hardcore/metal collective since my early teens. AFI, Bleeding Through, Eighteen Visions, Adamantium, Mean Season, Avenged Sevenfold (yes, I like them, legitimately), and more recently, Tiger Army & Nick 13. Tiger Army is awesome, especially in a sense that they blend traditional upbeat anthemic punk with a rockabilly twang. When I found out Nick 13 also had a solo album that was more country & Americana oriented, I had to check it out. Goddamn, this record is so good. His voice sounds even more like a mix between Chris Isaak, Elvis and Morrissey on this than it does on the TA stuff, where it slightly bends more in the direction of a more melodic Davey Havok. The style of music throughout and the lyrical content are like a contemporary/modern Johnny Cash, instrumentally, with similar undertones, while also slightly reminding me of the late, great Roy Orbison. Plain and simple, the fact that I truly and honestly enjoy a predominantly country-esque album is an understatement. 

This is just great music, flat out.

Someday, I'll wander no more.