Ravenheart's 2011

ravenheart · #1 12-09-2011, 05:02 AM

OK, so, I don't normally do this, but fuck it, I'm bored.

Will do a full top 20 albums in due course, but I've still got a lot of stuff to listen to.

So some of the smaller-scale, just for fun type stuff first, starting with biggest disappointments, not really in order:

Opeth - Heritage
Was totally on board with the idea of this album, I just think the execution of that idea was a failure. The album is just too dull, and to be honest, hasn't really achieved the '70s sound they wanted to achieve. It's like someone took Opeth's sound and said "what would happen if we just didn't growl, but played exactly the same way as normal with a different, less-heavy guitar tone". This is what would happen.

Cathedral's Final Ever Performance
Scheduled for December 3 at The Forum in London, and had been on the calendar for a good six months or more. After the 20th Anniversary show in 2010, where they had no support and played two full sets, including a one-time reunion of the original line-up, playing the debut album front to back for the first time ever, I was expecting something equally special for their farewell. Instead, three (count 'em) support bands playing just half an hour each, one of which was completely-mismatched '70s prog band Cressida, then a ordinary 95-minute Cathedral set with no special songs (they've got 40+ songs they've never played live that they could have debuted), none of the new songs off the forthcoming final album, no guests.

Additionally, the event shirts didn't have the date on them, the new 12" single was a ridiculous £13, and the opening band were on so quickly after the doors opened, most people didn't get into the venue in time to see them.

On top of all that they changed the designationo of the event (but not on the merchandise) to "Cathedral's Final Northern Hemisphere Performance", so they they could go and play their actual final ever shows on the Soundwave tour in Australia in January 2012.

Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
No point re-writing an explanation. Just read this.

Other disappointments from 2011: Kenny Wayne Shepherd live, London concert promoters (particularly those responsible for the L.A. Guns, Onslaught, Solstice, Nomad Son and Helstar shows), Gregg Allman live, Thrashfest's line-up.

Epidemic Reign · #2 12-09-2011, 05:07 AM

This should be interesting

I pretty much agree with you on the Opeth record, about it being too dull and whatnot. Though I did genuinely enjoy portions of it.

ravenheart · #3 12-09-2011, 05:13 AM

More small stuff:

Top HOLY FUCK, YES! moments

Finally seeing Rob Zombie live
Seeing Iced Earth with Matt Barlow at Sweden Rock
Rage acoustic at Sweden Rock
My Dying Bride's anniversary show
Katatonia playing all of Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Finally seeing Goatsnake live
Deep Purple with an orchestra
Interviewing Jon Schaffer and Stu Block
Overkill pulling rare songs out of nowhere at Sweden Rock

Best live performances *

Rob Zombie (Brixton Academy, London)
Alice Cooper (Alexandra Palace, London)
Dio Disciples (Islington Academy, London)
My Dying Bride (Islington Academy, London)
Pain of Salvation (Brixton Academy, London, supporting Opeth)
Goatsnake (The Forum, London, supporting Godflesh)
Accept (The Garage, London)
Steelheart (Sweden Rock Festival)
Judas Priest (High Voltage Festival)
Pentagram (The Garage, London)

* one show left this year, which could get added to this list

Worst live performances

Destruction (Islington Academy, supporting Overkill)
L.A. Guns (The Underworld, London)
Gregg Allman (Barbican Centre, London)

IrritatedTrout · #4 12-09-2011, 05:13 AM

Welcome 2 My Nightmare, while not a great album, is a major improvement over Along Came A Spider. I really enjoyed it.

ravenheart · #5 12-09-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrritatedTrout

Welcome 2 My Nightmare, while not a great album, is a major improvement over Along Came A Spider. I really enjoyed it.

I prefer everything on ACAS over everything on W2MN with the exception of 'When Hell Comes Home'.

IrritatedTrout · #6 12-09-2011, 05:22 AM

Don't know what to say, I think When Hell Comes Home is easily one of the three worst tracks from the whole album.

ravenheart · #7 12-09-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrritatedTrout

Don't know what to say, I think When Hell Comes Home is easily one of the three worst tracks from the whole album.

S'ok to be wrong

I'd get used to it too if I were you, being in Germany. You're not allowed to be right there

Epidemic Reign · #8 12-09-2011, 05:40 AM

I would not have taken you for a Rob Zombie fan, ravenheart.

ravenheart · #9 12-09-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epidemic Reign

I would not have taken you for a Rob Zombie fan, ravenheart.

Where've you been?

Epidemic Reign · #10 12-09-2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenheart

Where've you been?

Just out of curiosity, how would you rank his solo albums? Since I know that you tend to hear a lot of things differently than some of us