It’s usually one of my NCS comrades who decides to confuse the shit out of new readers by posting music that includes clean singing. I figured it was my turn.
IN SOLITUDE
There are two things in this post, both of which I’m digging. The first is the just-released title track to Sister, the third album by Sweden’s In Solitude. It’s scheduled for release by Metal Blade in North America on October 1 (and a few days earlier in Europe) and is already available for order here.
The song has a central riff that’s a classic heavy metal mind-controller, the kind that burrows in and makes a comfy home in your cranium. The occult-ish melody is infectious as hell, “Hornper” Åhman’s soaring vocals are mighty appealing, there’s a sweet wah-wah solo, and the galloping rhythm is unstoppable. Despite my usual preference in vocal stylings, this song has got me hooked. Here it is (and don’t forget that this band is touring NorthAm with Watain and Tribulation):
END OF GREEN
Unlike In Solitude, End of Green was a completely new name to me before this morning. Undoubtedly this is because these days I listen to very little music that isn’t metal, and these Germans are definitely more in the alternative/goth-rock vein than metal. Or at least that’s my conclusion after watching their brand new music video for “De(ad)generation”, which appears on the band’s most recent album, The Painstream (released by Napalm records).
So why am I touting this video? Two reasons. First, the video is deliciously creepy, a point-of-view journey through a normal day by a man who’s mind is plainly not quite normal. Second, the song is just so damned catchy that I can’t let go of it. And when I can’t let go of things, they have a way of showing up on this site.
It’s got a kind of new-wave/post-punk bounce to it, a gothic overlay in the vocal department, and some weight in the riffs — and a chorus that won’t leave me alone.
Get it on . . . get it on . . . get it on . . . the same old song . . .
4 Responses to “CLEAN SINGING: NEW THINGS FROM IN SOLITUDE AND END OF GREEN”
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the music isn’t really my thing, but the End Of Green video is damn entertaining
I’m not sure I would have finished the song except for the fact that the video snared me pretty fast, and by the end the song had me too.
Very cool. Parts of it are very similar to the Exocism of Emily Rose.
End of Green is definitely more alternative rock than any form of metal, though I understand that the quite depressed tone and gothic sound makes a little more appealing to metalheads than the average rock band. I’ve actually known this band for quite a while, and they’ve released quite a few decent albums with some standout songs thus far. Mostly more rock oriented stuff, but still a blast to listen to actually. The following songs I’d recommend for anyone who’s interested:
From “Infinity” (1996):
– Nice Day to Die// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSYYJOQVoiU
From “Believe.. My Friend” (1998):
– Downfall// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGQ5OI8grG8
From “Songs for a Dying World” (2002):
– I Hate// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFLSYonI210
– Myra// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddx8rCXZKiY
From “Last Night on Earth” (2003):
– Dying in Moments// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTuHrkHqUX0
– Emptiness / Lost Control// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBzjR8yR47I
From “Dead End Dreaming” (2005):
– Drink Myself to Sleep// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-rExbCXHc
– All About Nothing// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcJh7WUBCaA
From “The Sick’s Sense” (2008):
– Killhoney// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpnhzYBxado
– Bury me Down (the End)// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jZOE2zXiHA
From “High Hopes in Low Places” (2010):
– Carpathian Gravedancer// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTSu805uTTM
– Saviour// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgmkHF5AB5I
– Bury me Down// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfXMsTSugb0
Disclaimer: be prepared and listen to this stuff only if there are no nooses, sharp objects and guns around, because this music is as depressive and dark as catchy rock music can get; at times it’s almost doomier than actual doom metal (though the band does get into high hear at times). The songs I listed are by no means all instant-classics or maybe not even End of Green’s strongest tracks, but I think they give a fair overview of what the band has produced over the years.
Oh and sorry for the long post that has absolutely nothing to do with metal, but in my defense I didn’t start it 😉