Staff Infections – January 2021

Jesus H. Christ, friends, welcome to 2021. I was hoping, after taking month off for list season, that things might calm down, but it seems quite the opposite has happened. The pandemic is raging as fiercely as ever, and with what seems like a half-assed vaccine rollout, there’s not much hope for improvement in the near future. Furthermore, the slimy orange crook we have in charge over here attempted a coup. Thankfully his “army” was primarily comprised of fuck-ups an loons like Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer. But while our sorry excuse for a democracy was preserved, the stunt still proved deadly for five people. Finally, although it seems he passed in late 2020, the news broke early this year about the passing of yet another beloved musician, Children of Bodom’s Alexi Laiho. I am not knowledgeable enough about Alexi’s work to give him a proper tribute, but I know the man was born to play guitar, and he embraced the mantle of guitar hero at a time when shredding was at its popular nadir. Despite his tragic, too-early demise, Alexi had a long and successful career, playing and singing his ass off while bringing Children of Bodom’s unique, high-energy brand of metal to thousands of fans all over the world. Let’s take a moment to watch Alexi do his thing:

Now, let’s see what we’ve been listening to. As is often the case, there’s no overwhelming favorite this month. Only three albums made multiple playlist appearances, resulting in a diverse three-way tie for first place, including some trad / power metal, technical death metal and goth rock. Greyhawk’s album from last year, Keepers of the Flame, remains popular with some folks around these parts, and if you like your metal pure and triumphant, you should check it out. Ryan Tysinger has a review for you right here. Dangerous Thing’s debut EP is a gnarly slab of tech death. No review is yet available, but you can check the album out on Bandcamp. Finally, rounding out our trio of winners is the 1990 album Elizium from goth legends Fields of the Nephilim. What I know about goth music wouldn’t fill a thimble, but for what it’s worth, I listened to Fields of the Nephilim once and didn’t hate it.

That’ll do for this month, folks. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays as much as you were able. Have a listen to our staff-curated Spotify playlist, and be sure to to post your own playlist in the comments. While you’re at it, if you’re a fan, share one of your favorite Alexi Laiho songs, be it from Bodom or one of his other bands. Stay safe, and see you next month. [JEREMY MORSE]

• • Ryan Tysinger
    Venus Star – Calling All Lokas
    Syrinx – Crystal Cliffs
    Evil – Possessed By Evil
    Wolf Spider – Wilczy Pajak
    Significant Point – Into the Storm
    Century – Demo MMXX
  • Captain
    Dead Neanderthals – Cosmic Slime
    Wire – Chairs Missing
    Fields of the Nephilim – Elizium
    Sinister – Cross the Styx
    Konquest – The Night Goes On
    Dangerous Thing – Dangerous Thing
  • Andrew Edmunds
    Saga – Worlds Apart
    Fields Of The Nephilim – Elizium
    King’s X – Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
    Death – Scream Bloody Gore
    Fates Warning – Long Day Good Night
    Danzig – Danzig
  • Lone Watie
    Octavision – Coexist
    Dangerous Thing – Dangerous Thing
    Ecclesia – De Ecclesia Universalis
    Tiger Moth Tales – The Whispering of the World
    Discipline. – To Shatter All Accord
    Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden
  • Danhammer Obstkrieg
    Wampyric Rites – The Eternal Melancholy of the Wampyre
    Nick Cave – Idiot Prayer (Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace)
    Harvestman – Lashing the Rye
    Madvillain – Madvillainy
    MF Doom – Mm…Food
    Holly Herndon – Proto
  • Zach Duvall
    Knut – Leftovers
    Bee Gees – Main Course
    Siouxsie & the Banshees – Join Hands
    Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE 2
    Greyhawk – Keepers of the Flame
    Orphaned Land – Mabool
  • Dave Pirtle
    Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Lost Christmas Eve
    Killwhitneydead – Stocking Stuffher
    Majestica – A Christmas Carol
    Legendire – Sunchasers
    Greyhawk – Keepers of the Flame
    Lovebites – Electric Pentagram
  • Jeremy Morse
    Glorious Depravity – Ageless Violence
    Invincible Force – Decomposed Sacramentum
    Undergang – Aldrig I Livet
    Montrose – Montrose
    Hypocrisy – Abducted
    Xibalba – Anos en Infierno
  • Megan Astrael
    Tribulation – Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
    Fields of the Nephilim – Elizium
    Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss
    Wytch Hazel – III: Pentecost
    Eternal Champion – Ravening Iron
    John Coltrane – My Favorite Things

Posted by Jeremy Morse

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