Meth Ghost Rae - Avenging Eagles (2010)

This is the official mixtape put out by DJ Mathematics preceding the release of 'Wu-Massacre' on Def Jam. You can find the official link on Maths' website HERE, but the tracklisting is all screwed up. With this upload, I've cleaned up the tags a bit.

MP3, 160kbps.

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Mef Vs. Chef (Exclusive)
3. Miranda (Exclusive)
4. House of Flying Daggers
5. The Turn
6. Paisley Darts
7. Silent
8. Cuban Chronicles (Exclusive)
9. Where Your Heat At?
10. Four Minutes to Lock Down
11. All Flowers (Exclusive)
12. RUSH (Mathematics Mix)
13. Method Man PLO Freestyle
14. RUSH 2
15. One (Mathematics Mix)
16. It's Yours (Mathematics Mix)
17. Goldmine
18. For This
19. Deadly Venoms
20. Tony Montana
21. Afterpaty
22. The General (Exclusive)
23. Murda Goons
24. The M.E.T.H.
25. Wu-Gambino's
26. 260thy
27. Wu-Tangs 1st Radio Appearance WBIA
28. St. Ides Commercial
29. Eye For a Eye
30. Right Back At You
31. Extortion
32. 10 Bricks
33. Raekwon and Ghostface Live Radio Freestyle
34. Iron God Chamber
35. It's What It Is
36. Diz iz 4 All My Smokers
37. Black Cream (My Guitar)
38. Where It Started At
39. Fast Shadow (feat. ODB)
40. Block Rock
41. About Me
42. Drummer
43. Watch Your Mouth
44. Cash Still Rules-Scary Hours
45. Box in Hand
46. 7th Chamber Part 2
47. Ghostface Freestyle Live on the Radio
48. Newcomer (feat. Eyes-Low)

Download

Such an awesome mixtape, way better than the album (*cough* EP) it was promoting. Mathematics is well sick.

Archive: Interview with StarGazer, circa 2003/04?

Used Internet Archive's Wayback Machine to look at Australian esoteric death metallers StarGazer's now dead homepage. Managed to find this interview, which isn't accessible via normal google searching. Click HERE for the link to the original source. Perhaps against better judgment, I've decided to correct some typos, so refer to that link for the interview, typos and all.

Interview from 'Tales of the Macabre' with The Serpent Inquisitor
Costa Stoios, Brunnenstr.6, 54538 Kinderbeuern-Hetzhof, Germany

Costa
Stargazer from Australia, for most people still an unknown name... Of course it's obvious that their music (a mixture of Black/Death/Thrash, but always heavy) rules, otherwise they wouldn't be interviewed here. As I am a lazy guy, I let the band do their own introduction...

The Serpent Inquisitor
I could tell much of Stargazer, yet I shall share what is only necessary. We formed in early 1995, released a rehearsal / demo in mid 1996 called 'Gloat', and before this time we had made numerous recordings of older tracks, which are subsequently featured on our 7 inch EP 'Borne', now available... just write and ask. Early 1997, we were blessed with a new lotus percussionist / vocalist Phoenix Chrysalis who's wise spirit and strength of shell has enabled us to improve somewhat and re-establish the Stargazer faction as a trinitical power, aligned and luminescent one more. This alignment is of extreme importance considering the dimensional shift occurring this Age of Aquarius. Fortunately, this year we have attracted quite a lot of overseas attention, which is very satisfying, this interview being some sort of pinnacle to that statement. Fortunate in that we are also rehearsing heavily for an upcoming studio release, whence we hope to secure a record deal.

Costa
Your style of music is very variable and does not get boring in my opinion... how do you see Stargazer's style of writing songs with your own words?

The Serpent Inquisitor
As a 3 piece band, we have constructed music we best attribute extreme and bizarre Metal in wake of old and later, yet heard material. Only quality riffs are used in that much sifting and work is done on any riff qualitative to a Stargazer hymn. Some are written under the inspiration of lyrical vedas. As we all listen to many types of music, mostly metal and thus types of metal, one can hear slices of Death/Black/Grind/Speed/Thrash and Heavy metal.

Costa
Most Australian bands play very fast and destructive metal and your band also has a touch of this brutal sound. Why do so many bands in Oz play so aggressively? Do you feel my wrath and anger more than others or is it just a chain reaction of influencing each other?

The Serpent Inquisitor
Yes a popular observation of Australian metal. A broad range of metal actually exists here, which is truly admirable, for me - preferable. A few of the songs on our 'Gloat' release are similar to the aforementioned style, yet many are surely not. In many cases it may channel from the forefathers of a countries metal. Australia had bands of such Slaughter Lord, Hobbs' Angel of Death, Martire (still awake) etc, all of that aggressive style you quote. Scandinavia had Bathory, which is surely an influence in the majority of respectively located bands. Perhaps Germanic bands are greatly influenced by the Black / Thrash of Destruction and Kreator? Maybe not. The harsh Australian climate surely be enough to irritate and aggravate any Australian band!

Costa
Yeah, that's an argument! What is your opinion on the Australian underground scene? Good unknown bands?

The Serpent Inquisitor
The Australian scene has had no boom of new bands, which is good. Australian bands put good efforts into some sort of establishment. I could quote many 'new' bands, yet it depends on what age one would accept as 'new'. Either way, some top bands are Oracle of the void, Samain, Shatter Dark, Cauldron Black Ram, Agartus, Dream Sovereign, Martire, Impact Winter, Lord of the Command, Zemial, Lord Kaos, Mournful Congregation, Nocturnal, Spear of Longinus...

Costa
Bah, except for some names there are not many bands I already heard, so there's still quite some stuff to check out. Do you think you can manage to spread your name without having a big label / management in your back? Or will Stargazer always remain an underground band?

The Serpent Inquisitor
Of course that is what the underground is about!! Sometimes I become so engrossed with underground bands I loose foresight of 'bigger' releases. If a band is true to it's supporters despite success, a band to be admired and heralded is that, a goal of many I am sure.

Costa
What about a Stargazer album? have you already been offered a deal or do you think you are not ready for that?

The Serpent Inquisitor
We have chosen the tracks for an album, yet we don't wish to record nor release it for at least one year. As I hinted before, we are perfecting 6 tracks for a MCD release 'Harbringer'. A search for signing begins now. Strong hope we have for a label with the conviction to release our metal classic (hopefully) in the works 'The Scream that Tore the Sky'. One must accept that the CD ormat is a common used medium these days, though that is no excuse for demo-rate bands to press full -length albums! If you are a demo standard band, then release demo's. I personally love demo's, if you yearn some officiality, then work towards a 7 inch piece of vinyl. The scene is flooded with second rate full-length releases, most go unnoticed, we still not allow Stargazer to become one of those statistics.

Costa
I noticed you covered a Sodom song live at a gig. How important is old school metal for Stargazer?

The Serpent Inquisitor
Old school metal is no more, no less important than newer styles and bands. I like new / old style bands like Angel Corpse, Order from Chaos, Blood Storm, and the metal genius of Arghoslent etc. I also like old metal bands like Mercyful Fate / King Diamond, Judas Priest, Candlemass, Watchtower, Iron Maiden, Accept, Rainbow, Dio.... how antique a band is no matter to dispute, good metal is all that matters. and thus we attract influence from all era's. We even covered a Grand Belial's Key song as opposed to elder compositions.

Costa
Please tell us about your gigs. Which was the coolest / worst ones? Are the Australian fans as wild as the bands sound?

The Serpent Inquisitor
The live shows were successful, very extreme and the crowd has always gone away extremely impressed and yearning for more! We have no room for lesser effort, we are currently designing stage props to enhance visual presence and in particular, attract as much sacred energy to the stage perimeter, especially golden ley energy. As I know it, Australian crowds are very supportive and are not predisposed to refraining their emotions driven by good metal! A crowd should appreciate a band accordingly, as a band does an audience through effort and a hard performance. In days of yore, before recording facilities were ever made available, a live performance was the only option for audience, so we stick that musical tradition on a priority list,as should more bands.

Costa
Go ahead with some last words...

The Serpent Inquisitor
I'll first commend you for this interview - I hope you and others gain somewhat of it. All powerful spirits write, and send no IRC's!! Let me quote Stargazer text in honour and salute to you Costa, and my human counterparts known and unknown upon this grand Earth (including those of Sirius), and to revere those, sacred races within. May you all pass safely into the folds...

Unobservant

• Holy crap, Sean Malone (Cynic, Gordian Knot) has a blog. I'm surprised it isn't inundated with fans (*cough* fanboys/girls). Heck, if I were a fan, his blog would be my homepage. Instead, I'm in objective awe, rather than subjective awe, haha.
• Masterchef Australia is iffy. It isn't beautiful, compelling reality television. The judges haven't had much experience on the screen and it shows. But... it is a relief from what viewers are probably accustomed to. That is, wild, exaggerated, predictable, eye-catching drama.
  
• Swine flu. Everything has its purpose. Humans aren't sacred.

Update

Been a while since I last posted. Too lazy to gather pictures, so here's a lazy rundown.

Flims
Les Diaboliques (1954) - Enjoyable French suspense/thriller.

Masque of the Red Death (1964) - Not so enjoyable adaptation based on Poe's short story. Vincent Price was too ridiculous for me. Wasn't particularly scary or pretty. Could have used pointless nudity.

Misuc
Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 - Pretty cool. Wish the vocals were mixed down slightly. Lots of nice melodies.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced - Prior to just recently, my conception of Hendrix's music was just of crazy guitar wankery. Not the case. Lots of great songs here.

General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners - General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners - Nice. No fart noises from Patton here, good job all around. Wacky, but never stupid.

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Exodus - Again, I had a preconceived notion about reggae music. Again, my mind has been opened to its variety and capabilities.

Trivium - Ascendancy - Mmm... besides "Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr", album isn't doing much for me. Don't like Heafy's vocals either... there's no bite to it (besides in the song mentioned above, of course).

Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk - Hmm... quite different to In the Nightside Eclipse. Nothing here has had any impact on me.

Madvillain - Madvillainy - MF DOOM bores me. He doesn't rap, he talks. Madlib's beats don't strike me as being particularly special either. Cynic in me says: "underground cred, DOOM wears a mask, hipster music".

Sunn O))) - Flight of the Behemoth - I dig the aesthetic. I don't dig the 'everything sounds the same' ethic. I could make my own drone music. If I labelled it as a Sunn O))) product and threw it out there, people would eat it up.

Massive Attack - Mezzanine - Not a big fan of trip-hop. More than listenable though.

Bolt Thrower - War Master - You don't get fans of Death on Bolt Thrower's last.fm shoutbox trying to advertise Death. You do get fans of Bolt Thrower on Death's last.fm shoutbox trying to spread the word. Sounded like what I'd think generic death metal would sound like.

Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell - Some nice stuff here, but overall, I don't favour the overall sound of the group's hip-hop.

BMFV RAGE!!!

The Welsh metalcore band, Bullet For My Valentine, hosted Australian music video show Rage last night. Had first heard their music from playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Song was Hand of Blood, pretty neat track. In my metalcore phase a few weeks back, decided to have a listen to their Hand of Blood EP and that too made for nice listening.

I believe it was Matt Tuck and Michael Thomas that hosted the show. Their playlist is as follows:

Metallica - Fade to Black (live)
Metallica - Master of Puppets (live)
Metallica - Whiplash (live)
Motörhead - Ace of Spades
Mötley Crüe - Kickstart My Heart
Faith No More - From Out of Nowhere (live)
Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
Megadeth - Holy Wars
Still Remains - Stay Captive
Gojira - To Sirius
Trivium - Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
Lamb of God - Redneck
Ozzy Osbourne - Perry Mason
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills
Mastodon - Divinations
Avenged Sevenfold - Almost Easy
Chimaira - Down Again
Five Finger Death Punch - The Bleeding
Tool - Stinkfist
Machine Head - Aesthetics of Hate
Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness
Slipknot - Duality
Bring Me the Horizon - Chelsea Smile
Corrosion of Conformity - Clean My Wounds
Meshuggah - Bleed
Karnivool - Themata
Fear Factory - Replica
Children of Bodom - In Your Face
Killswitch Engage - Rose of Sharyn
Stone Sour - 30/30 150
Testament - More Than Meets the Eye
AC/DC - Back in Black
AC/DC - Jailbreak
Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana
Judas Priest - Breaking the Law
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll
Davey Brothers - Heart Go Faster

As usual, their stint ended with their own music videos, and some Avenged Sevenfold:

Bullet for my Valentine - Waking the Demon
Bullet for my Valentine - Hand Of Blood
Bullet for my Valentine - 4 Words (To Choke Upon)
Bullet for my Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
Bullet for my Valentine - Hearts Burst Into Fire
Avenged Sevenfold - Unholy Confessions
Avenged Sevenfold - Seize the Day
Avenged Sevenfold - Afterlife

To see the additional random rock/metal songs that followed, visit here.

My thoughts (as opposed to yours):
- Rather solid rock and metal playlist (omg, I consider metalcore to be metal). Perhaps a bit boring and generic, but hey, they were all great tunes. I actually gave up after Karnivool and went to sleep (how untrve of me... kinda regret it actually).
- I should get myself more Metallica albums, only ever heard the popular tracks really. Only albums I've listened to whole are Kill 'em All and St. Anger. Excuse me one second while I vomit.
- Was cool to see Newstead singing on "Whiplash".
- I really don't like the old heavy metal hair look of long hair with short front.
- "Jesus Christ Pose" has such a cool music video... "Stinkfist" as well. You probably already knew that. I've also realised that Chris Cornell sounds a lot like Brian Johnson. Screeching vocals ftw.
- "Holy Wars". Long hair, no shirt, really tight jeans. Winning combination.
- I really enjoyed Trivium's "Pull Harder On The Strings of your Martyr". Might have to investigate further (though the first time I heard them, I didn't like their music at all).
- The BFMV lads were nice, genuine fellows. In introducing the Jimmy Eat World track, Tuck commented that as long as a song has great melodies and a sweet chorus, all was good. I think the same thing, therefore I am Matt Tuck.

Originally posted here

2 Albums 1 Entry

Antony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now


Was blown away by this record. Hegarty's voice was a new experience. Nice review by Pitchfork. Absolutely adore "You Are my Sister", featuring Boy George, whose contribution is also amazing - his voice is so deeply rich! It's crazy, I've really latched on to that song in particular, while the rest of the album just glides by. Really ought to invest myself into the rest of the album... I know it's good, I just haven't been paid in full yet.



Culture Club - Colour by Numbers
Shocking cover, haha. Boy George really looks quite frightening... a frightening sad puppy. Anyway, album seems to be a case of a few great tracks + filler. "Karma Chameleon" is cool, so too "It's a Miracle". Boy George's voice really reminds me of George Michael... there's that velvety softness about it.

Four Albums...

... that did absolutely nothing for me.

Mammal - The Majority
An Australian alternative rock/metal band, real up-and-comers. They sound like any other alternative rock/metal band. I really don't like when an Aussie accent comes through music (See 'ocker'). It doesn't sound pleasant and should only be applied in dialogue. The track featuring a didgeridoo gives me the impression of: "Hey, we've got a didgeridoo featured, how uniquely Australian of us!". That said, it was all still listenable, so points to Mammal.

Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime II
American heavy metal/progressive metal band. Heard a lot about these lads back when I was a full time Dream Theater fan. Had also heard that Operation: Mindcrime was a good listen. Found its sequel at the library, listened to it, thought it was rather terrible. Harking back to medieval music, it's full of discordant sounds. Cheesy vocals are aplenty... man, and I thought Dream Theater were pushing the limits already. This was like watching a D-grade afternoon telemovie (ha, I'm sure the concept behind the album is worthy of that day slot. I've nothing positive to take away from this album.

Underoath - Define the Great Line
Rather generic all around. Their claim to being different is in the usage of samples and drum machines. Some of the band members thank Jesus Christ in the liner notes. I've never met the man personally, but I don't think highly of him, seeing that he may be the source of inspiration behind this music.

Rise Against - Appeal to Reason
Gave it two listens. Can't remember a thing from it. Can't even remember what they sound like. Back in the day, when I didn't listen to punk music, I used to deride it as all sounding the same. After actually working on the genre, I was glad to have been proven wrong. Rise Against takes me back to those days, and suggests that I wasn't totally wrong. But of course, every genre has its generic stuff. But then again, I've no clue as to where Appeal to Reason ranks in Rise Against's discography, so I'll keep an open ear for them. Same with Queensrÿche, I've hope that Operation: Mindcrime will be a good listen.

Gay-reat Albums

A list I'm working on, from out.com:

100 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
99 Joni Mitchell - For The Roses
98 Ferron - Testimony
97 Janis Ian - Between The Lines
96 Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
95 Culture Club - Kissing To Be Clever
94 Hair Original Broadway Cast - Hair
93 Sade - Lovers Rock
92 Morrissey - Viva Hate
91 Grace Jones - Nightclubbing
90 Kate Bush - The Kick Inside
89 Fifth Column - To Sir With Hate
88 Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade
87 Madonna - Confessions On A Dance Floor
86 Madonna - Madonna
85 Nina Simone - Anthology
84 Cyndi Lauper - True Colors
83 Bette Midler - The Divine Miss M
82 Cher - Believe
81 Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah
80 Rufus Wainwright - Want One
79 T. Rex - Electric Warrior
78 Various - The Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack
77 New Order - Substance
76 Ani DiFranco - Imperfectly
75 Carole King - Tapestry
74 Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
73 Various - Fame Soundtrack
72 Donna Summer - Once Upon a Time
71 Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
70 Rent Original Broadway Cast - Rent
69 Frances Faye - Caught In The Act
68 Nirvana - Nevermind
67 Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey
66 Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
65 Le Tigre - Le Tigre
64 Patti Smith - Easter
63 Björk - Debut
62 Jeff Buckley - Grace
61 Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out
60 R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
59 Bronski Beat - The Age of Consent
58 Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
57 Prince - Dirty Mind
56 Team Dresch - Personal Best
55 David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
54 Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
53 Culture Club - Colour By Numbers
52 Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
51 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome
50 Rufus Wainwright - Poses
49 Patti Smith - Horses
48 Cris Williamson - The Changer and the Changed
47 The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
46 Madonna - Ray of Light
45 Bikini Kill - Pussy Whipped
44 Pet Shop Boys - Very
43 Prince - Purple Rain
42 ABBA - Gold
41 Melissa Etheridge - Yes I Am
40 Pet Shop Boys - Behavior
39 Laura Nyro And Labelle - Gonna Take A Miracle
38 Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis
37 Blondie - Parallel Lines
36 Madonna - Erotica
35 Yaz - Upstairs At Eric's
34 Donna Summer - Bad Girls
33 The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow
32 The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
31 Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstacy
30 Diana Ross - Diana
29 Pet Shop Boys - Actually
28 Queen - The Game
27 Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
26 Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
25 k.d. lang - Ingénue
24 Sylvester - Living Proof
23 Deee-Lite - World Clique
22 The Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
21 David Bowie - Hunky Dory
20 Queen - A Day at the Races
19 The B-52s - The B-52's
18 George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. I
17 Lou Reed - Transformer
16 Queen - A Night at the Opera
15 George Michael - Faith
14 Erasure - The Innocents
13 Ani DiFranco - Dilate
12 The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico
11 Various - Hedwig And The Angry Inch Soundtrack
10 Antony And The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
09 Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
08 Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
07 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
06 The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
05 Judy Garland - Judy at Carnegie Hall
04 Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
03 Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
02 The Smiths - The Smiths
01 David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

Bolded are the ones I've listened to... not a lot. It's an awesome list.

D'elles

This is making for very, very good listening. Céline Dion sounds absolutely great. The pop is quite varied here, and so I am very easily able to listen to this in whole, flows from start to finish. Heck, I've just finished another listening without noticing.

From wiki, "The lyrics were written by ten prominent female writers from Quebec (Jovette Alice Bernier, Janette Bertrand, Denise Bombadier. Marie Laberge, Lise Payette) and France (Nina Bouraoui, Françoise Dorin, Nathalie Nechtschein, Christine Orban, George Sand)". Cool. Looking inside the booklet, there was sketched portraits of each contributor, felt like a very confident package.

Ultra highlights:
- Opener "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" starts off well. Kinda eerie in an electronic way. Not long before it goes epic pop on you.
- "Immensité". Great hooks.
- "A cause"*. Again, great hooks, more electronic dance-ish this time around.
- So inspecting the album track by track, I soon realised that everything here is sublime. Go listen to it already.

Might investigate more Céline Dion now, based on my positive experience of this record.

*Those are the first three tracks of D'elles. I've got a theory that albums succeed or fail on the strength of the opening trio of songs. This album succeeds.

You Looked So Good

So I'm not a fan of this type of music. I find it incredibly dull. Every song sounded the same. Bowditch sounded like every other indie/folk/rock female singer out there. Unmemorable. Pointless even... well, points for being a hottie.

Another listen will be given soon, but I'm not expecting to be blown away.

The Four Seasons

Currently listening to this compilation of songs by The Four Seasons. Until now, they've always been in the 'Sounds familiar, can't connect name to artist' camp. Frankie Valli I was partially familiar with, mainly through his work on the Grease soundtrack (he sung the title track, written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees). Tangent: I always loved that track... my brother had taped the movie back in the day, and I used to watch it over and over again. I was always bemused about the criticism that a disco song open a '50s based movie.

Songs that I had heard before, but never realised who they were performed by: "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Can't Take my Eyes off You" (credited to Frankie Valli, but featured the rest of The Four Seasons anyhow), "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)", and "Walk Like a Man". The second track threw me off big time... I'd made the connection that the old school doo-wop rock and roll falsetto heavy music were definitely The Four Seasons. The disco flavour of that song just made me go "Wow!" - I couldn't believe it was a product of the same band. Now that's a song I had heard time and time and time again.

The rest of this anthology doesn't seem to my ears as strong as the tracks I were familiar with. It's still early days, I'm sure some will grow on me.