Death - Symbolic

1995

This is their most engaging. It more dynamic than the previous couple where they were an onslaught of technical awesomeness. This one breathes more and is more dynamic. The production is really good. The albums prior to this, you gotta really be in the zone and want to hear/listen to that heavy technical death metal...I think this album is more enjoyable to listen to. I think the dynamics, the song writing, the production it's all really very good, the vocals...This might be where to start if you we're introducing somebody to Death for the first time. It's not so extreme and it IS at the same time. It's a more enjoyable listening experience.

Black Sabbath - Forbidden

2018

     Flat, low energy. Flat production. 

 It was the last album of a four album deal. Sabbath was not happy with the record company. They didn't think they put enough effort in promoting the previous albums. They also brought in the Body Count guys. Tony Martin didn't know if Ice T was gonna be on the one song or all of them! Martin also heard that Sabbath was gonna do a reunion with Ozzy. Martin wasn't invited to band meeting at the time. So, it sounds like you know, bad vibes all around at the time of recording this. Also I read recently, Iommi want to remix and re-release this album. He said the songs are good

      I read that after Sabbath finished recording they were just gonna give it to Ice T to see what he wanted to do. So, that's another thing going through Martin's mind when he was recording his vocals...as well as a talks Ozzy reunion.  

Free Kitten - Nice Ass

Minimalist New York punk rock in a post Sonic Youth/Beck world. Not for everybody, but I like this a lot. Songs about the music industry and being in a band.

Karp - Suplex

1995

Punk rock attitude, dirty, heavy noisey rock. I find the vocals to be annoying at least half of the time. There's a Melvins cover on here but they put their own lyrics on and call it a Karp song.

Marilyn Manson - Smells Like Children

Seems like you gotta wait a long time for something to happen. Fancy production. Alice Cooper comes to mind. Big mechanical clunk comes along with Trent Reznor. Sort of menacing sometimes...in a soundtrack kind of way. Half this album seems to be remixes of a previous album (This whole thing is a re-mix album, whatever that is). Interesting, I suppose I would rather listen to this than some stuff, but there's a lot of things I would put on before this. Come to think of it, this has been in with my CD's for years and I don't remember ever listening to it. This CD really lacks substance. You could easily trim it down to 3 or 4 songs, you know, about 15 minutes. Please make the clanking stop.