Welcome, gentle readers, to a special Mother’s Day edition of Staff Infections. I have to admit tying a Mother’s Day theme into a piece on a heavy metal site is a bit beyond my capability. I love my mom, and she’s awesome in all sorts of ways, but none of them blend particularly well with the heavy metal ethos. To her credit, and perhaps her regret, my mother, despite trying (and failing. Sorry, mom.) to raise me to be a good catholic, never stood in the way of my love of heavy metal. Her and my dad even bought me Slayer’s Decade of Aggression for Christmas one year. So, if your mom is still with you, thank her for not burning your Slayer cassettes.
Now, on to what the staff has been listening to this past month. There are precious few common threads in the playlists this month, with only one appearing on more than once. Although Zach Duvall gave Swans a concerted push, first and only place this month goes to Ingurgitating Oblivion’s recent release, Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light. Chris Redar cut lose with a rare burst of effusive praise in his review of the album, which you can read right here. If words aren’t enough, you can have a listen below.
Last, but not least, is our discussion topic, brought about by Mr. Duvall’s Swans binge. Swans is a very, very heavy band but, personally, I wouldn’t consider it nor do I think the group considers itself a metal band. There are other bands, Melvins comes to mind that are heavy but don’t necessarily fit squarely in the metal mold. So, in the comments, along with your playlist, share a heavy-but-not-metal band that you appreciate. To all the moms who might be reading, have a wonderful day, and to all, have a good month.
- Michael Wuensch
Contaminated – Final Man
Phrenelith – Desolate Endscape
Skelethal – Of the Depths…
Ingurgitating Oblivion – Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light
Extremity – Extremely Fucking Dead
Gas – Narkopop - Andrew Edmunds
Ingurgitating Oblivion – Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light
Neuron – Gleichschritt
Assück – Discography 1989 – 1998
King’s X – Ogre Tones
Helloween – Walls Of Jericho
Tesla – Psychotic Supper - Manny-O-War
While Heaven Wept – Vast Oceans Lachrymose
Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2
She Past Away – Belirdi Gece
40 Watt Sun – The Inside Room
Reverend Bizarre – In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend
Nekromantheon – Rise, Vulcan Spectre - Matthew Cooper
Metal Church – Classic Live
Fates Warning – Awaken the Guardian Live
Hellwell – Behind the Demon’s Eyes
Morbid Saint – Spectrum of Death
Arduini / Balich – Dawn of Ages
Weeping Sores – Weeping Sores - Dave Pirtle
Life of Agony – A Place Where There’s No More Pain
Astral Doors – Black Eyed Children
Ayreon – The Source
Crazy Lixx – Ruff Justice
God Dethroned – The World Ablaze
Skyclad – Forward Into the Past - Chris Redar
Ingurgitating Oblivion – Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
Benighted – Necrobreed
Clerks Original Soundtrack
Antigama – Meteor - Zach Duvall
Swans – White Light from the Mouth of Infinity
Swans – The Great Annihilator
Swans – To Be Kind
Devin Townsend Project – Transcendence
Walpyrgus – Walpyrgus Nights
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… - Evan Thompson
Andy McKee – Art of Motion
Antoine Dufour – Back and Forth
Pallbearer – Heartless
Galathilion – Solitude
Mind Mold – Mind Mold
The Allman Brothers Band – Eat a Peach - Jeremy Morse
Darkthrone – Soulside Journey
Hour of 13 – 333
Destroyer 666 – Wildfire
Necrot – Blood Offerings
Excommunion – Thronosis
