Lest we forget: Music from the XX Century (Part II)

A continuation of great classics. Enjoy

Dre

6.Bathory - Dies Irae


When speaking of Pioneers of Metal, it is almost offensive not to include Swedish legend Bathory, who should be put on a pedestal for its tremendous contributions to both the Black and the Viking Metal scene. As many of you know, the band came to a sudden halt in 2004 after the death of vocalist, guitarist and founder Quorthon. The album  In Memory of Quorthon was released in 2006, as a tribute which included personal quotes, writings in italics and memories from to the man who made it all possible.



Nostalgia aside and back to the list. I chose Bathory's 1988 album Blood Fire Death, as it defines the band's transition into what I would define as a more epic phase in their songwriting.  I just found out that the lyrics to The Golden Walls of Heaven and Dies Irae are acrostics for "Satan" (which is repeated 8 times) and "Christ The bastard son of Heaven", respectively.  It amuses me when musicians go beyond our everyday reality to find sources of inspiration for their lyrics, and this is definitely the case of Dies Irae. Originally a 13th Century Hymm, D.I. talks about the day of judgement and the last trumpet that summons the souls before the throne of God, where the chosen ones will be saved and the rest will be condemned for eternity. This Latin Hymm used to be part of the Roman Catholic liturgy until the reformed introduced by Pope Paul Vi before the Second Vatican Council got rid of it.  There you go, your  food-for-thought of the day.


Unfortunately I couldn't find the Guitar tabs for this song. 


  

7.  Deicide - Lunatic of God's Creation

Tampa's Death Metal Icon Deicide holds the title of Best Selling Death Metal Album thanks to their 1990 self-titled album Deicide (Roadrunner Records). This album is a true classic of D.M. and a key in the evolution of of the genre, given its then-unmatched brutality and the vocal style of Mr. Glen Benton, whose deep, guttural growl was further enhanced in the studio to make the vocals as harsh as humanly possible. The lyrical aspect of the album is consistent with the array of brutality predominant throughout it. The tracks are well known for their blasphemous lyrical content and inspiration behind songs like Carnage in the Temple of the Damned and Lunatic of God's Creation fits into my idea of VERY INTERESTING!


Carnage in the Temple of the Damned was inspired in the mass suicide orchestrated by the Peoples Temple leader, Jim Jones (with whom I share Birthdays... Not very proud about it btw), in November 1979 in Jonestown, Guyana. Moreover, Lunatic of God's Creation was  inspired on another wacky character, Charles Manson. Aside from its origin, this song is a great way to start the album . I find that guitar-wise this song is one of the strongest ones of the album (followed by  Sacrificial Suicide), and hence why I chose it. 
Guitar Tabs for Lunatic of God's Creation 

8.  Belphegor - Diabolical Possession


Well, oh well... I am about to get into a touchy subject (bear with me): Belphegor. This is one of those bands that slowly managed to get into my heart so I must warn you that anything said/done against them will automatically get you into my S#$@ List ^.^ Believe me, my loyalty to the band has nothing to do with the charmless personality of Mr. Helmuth or the almost sweet nature of Serpent (I met them both during an interview almost two years ago). It has to do with the fact that the band doesn't take crap from anyone, particularly fans. Opinions are meaningless to them and they stay loyal to whatever is it that they think their music should sound like and whatever is it that they want to stand for.

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I live and breathe Bondage Goat Zombie, particularly Sexdictator Lucifer (and yes, it is my ringtone). I must admit that before that album I hadn't paid much attention to the band, now I regret all the wasted hours where I could have enjoyed my beloved Belphegor instead of doing less important things. Anyway, the past is history and yet it still should be kept in mind, hence why I decided to include REALLY OLD Belphegor.  I came across their 1995 The Last Supper, which was the bands official debut (without counting the previous demos recorded since '91) and found a deep attraction for one song in particular, Diabolical Possession. The introductory riff is atrociously addictive. After listening to this song my commitment to the band grows stronger as I can still hear the same aggressiveness in their later releases. That is unique. The only thing that is slightly different is the vocal element. I think Helmuth has significantly improved his technique; not that it was ever bad. Every single band out there has at least tried to re-invent their sound and many of them loose their it-factor; not Belphegor.
Extra Awesome Guitar Tab for Diabolical Possession


    

9.  Exodus - A Lesson In Violence


Before I go on any further I must apologize to the whole world for never really opening my horizons to this band in the past. I don't know what was going through my head all that time. Maybe I wanted to be radical or maybe I was simply being irrational (most likely that was it). Either way, no excuses. I like Exodus, as a matter of fact I am starting to LOVE Exodus. I learned from the best Thrash Metal teacher in the whole wide world -JAEB- that their music is really an experience that goes beyond Metal. It is for you to enjoy and let your body flow to the rhythm of Gary Holt's guitar riffs, then you headbang until you feel that your neck is going to pop out of place and then you mosh (well, I don't mosh but if I did, it would definitely be to their music).

Back to the music. I first came across this band in 2006, then in 2008 I received at the station a copy of  Let There Be Blood, which was a remastered version of Bonded by Blood. Like I have repeatedly said, I was never a fan of Thrash metal until very recently, but one thing is for sure: A Lesson in Violence sure scored a home-run with me. I was never too good for that song! It was a long love-hate relationship ever since (fortunately the hate is slowly fading). Now, if I was to choose between the 1984 version and its re-release in 2008, I am inclined to say that I much prefer the latter version, even though I have a great respect for Mr. Paul Baloff's vocals. I think Rob Duke's voice sounds much more aggressive when performing this song, but that's a matter of opinion. I will post both videos for you to take a stand.

Extra cool Guitar Tabs for A Lesson In Violence

       

10.  Masacre - Orgasmos Oscuros (Paraiso)

From my very own Colombia, a Pioneer of Latin American Metal: Masacre, From their 1995 album Sacro, a song that has kept me up a few times, Orgasmos Oscuros (Paraiso).  What an intro! Fresh like morning bread. Masacre is one of those bands whose sound is so unique, it is hard to leave behind.  I have noticed that a lot of the newer Colombian Death Metal bands try to evoke the same aggressiveness that characterizes Masacre, but unfortunately they still do not have what it takes to outdo them.
Masacre has been dormant for a few years, and many of their original members have move onto other projects (the most important being La Pestilencia). From the bottom of my heart I truly wish that one day, sometime soon, they come back with a BOOM! For now, I will comfort myself with all their previous records.
Unfortunately I was unable to find the guitar tabs for this song. 






11. Opeth - Demon of the Fall


Last but definitely not least, one of the greatest (if not the GREATEST) Icon of Progressive Metal: Opeth.  Definitely part of my Top 3 favorite bands of all times. What they do they do well; the transition form melodic lullaby into guttural growling by Mr. Michael Akerfeld is one of their signature features. No one else has the ability to take you into two separate journeys within a song. Melodically speaking, Opeth is simply an inspiration. I will never stop praising their work.  I have followed their work for a while and they are one of the few bands that has managed to reinvent their sound  and succeeded after every single attempt. Every single album they have released is a musical journey and yet they still manage to give its audience something new every time. 

When it came to picking a song released last century, it was a tough call (yes, once again). But then I remember the first time I saw them in concert  (2008) and almost re-lived their last song,  Demon of The Fall; a definite crowd-pleaser.  Their 1998 album My Arms, Your Hearse has quite a few interesting interpretations. One of them can be seen as the album progresses the songs can be interpreted as the transition between seasons, the final song ending with winter, leading back into the first song with the beginnings of spring. It is also important to note that this was the band's first album with both Mr. Martin Lopez and Mr. Martin Mendez. Demon of the Fall is a great example of the band's evolution into a cleaner-more-rapacious sound with fewer acoustic parts.
Very Cool Guitar Tabs for Demon of the Fall

-Stay Metal-MM Dre dnklschwrz MMXI