The Story In…

It took weeks to figure out what I liked about Beyond the Lightless Sky. I enjoyed the album from first listen, then played it over and over, enjoying it more each time. But what defines Hull? What makes them unique? They’re certainly talented and excellent songwriters, but there are tons of talented bands who write good songs. That isn’t enough to stand out. It hit me while listening in the car that in a genre defined by excess, Hull is, dare I say, measured and consistent. They incorporate many styles and techniques in their music, but never sound gimmicky. When screaming, they scream in the context of the song. Bluesy, acoustic guitar riffs aren’t interludes; they are integral parts of the sound.

Hull is commonly described as stoner metal or sludge metal, but these descriptions do a disservice to the band. While the grooves and long songs may appeal to those partaking in certain natural herbs and Doritos, Beyond the Lightless Sky does not fit into a small subgenre. Instead, it’s more like a heavy rock-and-roll album filled with metal riffs.

It’s not quite clear who does what in Hull. I’m pretty sure Drew is the lead vocalist. His voice ranges from hardcore to death metal, and generally fits the songs well. The engineers often mix him into the background, making an interesting effect. If you’re listening while working, the voice doesn’t disturb your train of thought, but forces you to pay attention when you want to hear him.

Beyond the Lightless Sky is a guitar-heavy album. Drew, Nick and Carmine mix it up a lot. Some songs feature doom-laden riffs with long, drawn-out chords, others include bright solos, and even acoustics. These guys do everything but shred. Like the vocals, guitars have an interesting mix on the album. They are turned up higher than usual, often louder than the drums.

Energetic drummer Jeff teams with Sean in the rhythm section. Jeff does a good job with his crash-heavy approach, but I couldn’t often distinguish any bass on the album. Most songs seemed to be driven by guitars with drum and bass as a fill-in.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Hull’s moderation makes them boring – it’s quite the opposite. Instead of having a few brilliant moments, Beyond the Lightless Sky impresses from beginning to end, drawing you in and never letting go. Metal fans need to get this album.

Track List:

1. Earth From Water
2. Just A Trace of Early Dawn
3. Curling Winds
4. Fire Vein
5. Wake The Heavens, Reveal The Sun
6. False Priest
7. A Light That Shone From Aside The Sea
8. In Death, Truth
9. Earth From Water

The 2000s should be known as the decade of boring metal. More passionless music poured out of those ten years than any other I can remember. In purging the flamboyancy of the 80s and early 90s, metal bands lost their passion and originality. That’s why I’m so excited about albums like Aphotic. In a subtle direction shift, Novembers Doom adds a dose of creativity to its latest release.

The members of Novembers Doom have been around the block a few times. These experienced musicians enjoy total control over their sound. You get the feeling they could throw out some Lynyrd Skynyrd or Neil Young in a Texas bar or play Metallica and Slayer in L.A. just as easily as they play their own flavor of doom metal. Aphotic demonstrates this musicianship in varying the styles of music they play throughout the album. From the violin and classical guitar in What Could Have Been, to the dreamy ambiance of Shadow Play, the band shows its talents extend beyond standard death and doom.

Of course, a Novembers Doom album wouldn’t be complete without the growling vocals of Paul Kuhr. In Aphotic, he mixes in actual singing and a bit of a goth sound with mixed results. Harvest Scythe showcases his talents best, while the talking parts in Of Age and Origin – Parts 1 and 2 don’t do the songs justice. Just a little more range would give Paul one of the top metal voices out there.

Guitarists Vito Marchese and Lawrence Roberts mostly play slow and heavy, but they’re anything but boring. Along with their doom riffs, they mix in short interludes with guitar solos, picking and various enhancements that add to the overall sound. This talented duo plays well, but always seems to fit into the flow of the songs.

The biggest departure from the traditional doom metal sound comes from drummer Sasha Horn. Each song has its own rhythm. While Harvest Scythe gives us a driving beat, Six Sides, delivers more textured drums. Six Sides also includes great bass lines from Mike Feldman. It’s nice to hear distinctive bass, which is a rarity on metal albums. Just like the band’s guitarists, Sasha and Mike play within each song, adding depth and feel instead of showing off.

With Aphotic, Novembers Doom ushers out the lifeless music that characterized the 2000s, and because of bands like them, the 2010s may be a golden decade for metal. I highly recommend this album to metal fans, or anyone looking for something new and different.

Track List:

1. The Dark Host
2. Harvest Scythe
3. Buried
4. What Could Have Been
5. Of Age and Origin – Part 1: A Violent Day
6. Of Age and Origin – Part 2: A Day of Joy
7. Six Sides
8. Shadow Play

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but I don’t believe it. There are many things more furious than a woman scorned. Take hurricanes and tornadoes for instance. That’s some serious fury. How about a politician who isn’t bribed? Is anyone more furious than that? Just ask Microsoft. Seriously now, we know it’s true. A woman scorned is a terrible thing to behold. Look at this delicate flower. She isn’t even scorned. Instead, she received the desire of her heart.

Ok, really seriously now. I love anger in music, and women just do anger better than men. Angry men give us Nickelback. Angry women give us awesomeness. So, without further ado, here are the top five angry woman songs.

5. These Boots Are Made For Walking. It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Oh yeah, “One of these days I’m gonna walk all over you.” I guess it does get clearer. Gotta love Nancy Sinatra. Out of my great love for you all, I’ll spare you the Jessica Simpson version.

   How about this version. Make you want to gouge your eyes and ears out?

   Don’t forget the Megadeath version. A bit cheesy, but still good.

4. There’s just something about killing an abusive man that smacks of poetic justice. Still, death is a harsh penalty, and enforcing that penalty lands the Dixie Chicks on this list with Goodbye Earl

3. Mess with Vicky Lawrence’s brother, and she’ll put you in the ground. In the ground, dirtbag! Yeah, this is revenge at its best. I recommend Reba’s version. She’s one of the best country singers in the history of yeehaw music, and just adds a bit of passion to the story Vicky couldn’t achieve. The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia remains one of my favorite songs.

2. It’s tough not to put Alanis Morissette number one. It’s also sad that this cool, funny and bitter song is her song of record. Alanis is a fantastic singer/songwriter who is much more than the “angry white chick,” this little ditty portrays her as. In fact, she is a soulful singer, with great talent. Oh well, she recorded it, and we loved it. Now she will forever be the Elizabeth Berkley of singers, talented but known for a gimmick. You Ought’a Know is her most famous song.

1. You’re So Vain is the first angry woman song. It is the angry woman song of note. It is the standard that all angry women will be judged by, now and in the future.

   Might I add that James Taylor is a jerk. He is conceited, and morally corrupt. Carly is right to be so pissed off. That’s +1 spousal points for empathy, but -2 spousal points for gloating. Dang, I’m down a point.

So, am I just a chauvinist pig? Is angry white chick music real? What are your favorite angry woman songs? Let all of us know in the comments.