Hello good people of Hive, after quite some time since I last posted anything and also since I last voted anything considering I've delegated most of my HP, today I'm returning to make a post about new music I've acquired in the last 5 or so months. I actually wanted to wait in order to make a complete post about everything I've already paid for, but the pandemic has spoilt so much for so many people, both professionals and citizens too, that I had enough waiting. As soon as everything I'm waiting for delivery arrive, I'm going ro make a separate post. In this post I have to present vinyl records and cds and cassettes, so let's dive into those items.
Starting from Creed and the album Human Clay. It's a non heavy metal album, however it's a favourite album of mine. I had purchased the cd album at the time this album was getting exposed in the mainstream media and years later I gave some cds away including this album. I wanted to make some money, but not that I made any money really, besides exchanging them in a record shop for cd protective sleeves.
While following Creed in facebook I got to know that last year (2019) the album was going to be reissued on vinyl for the 20th anniversary since it originally got released in 1999 and I got excited about it. I'm presenting it now since this year I got it and finally removed it from my wantlist.
Moving forward, next item to present is a 7'' vinyl record which is a split ep between two greek black metal bands, Kawir and Yoth Iria. Both bands are veterans in the scene, Kawir are into the pagan side since 1993 and Yoth Iria although formed in 2019 the two main members are founding pillars of the greek black metal scene.
For this release Kawir are sharing the song Deimos and Phobos, who according to the greek mythology were Ares' two sons and accompanied their father into battle. The song is about the terrible storm the war brings.
Deimos you're dread
Phobos you're horror
taken from the greek lyrics of the song. Those names are also given to the two moons of planet Mars.
Yoth Iria's song here is going to be included in their debut full length album coming out in January 2021.
Next up Kawir's latest album Αδράστεια on cd.
The title in english is Adrasteia and the album revolves around the female figure and the title refers to the Goddess of revenge, which is also associated with many of the themes of the songs, which have to do with various macabre stories of ancient Greek mythology concerning women.
I had the chance before the first lockdown in March this year to attend a black metal festival here in Athens with Kawir headlining, I've recorded a video from the opening of their set with two tracks from this latest album, see below
Next band are Countless Skies from England and here I have their second full length album Glow on cd.
It's a very good release, I got to know them from their previous debut album by following a greek band in facebook where at that time they had posted about this band here to check that debut album which I did and also bought it. I happily followed Countless Skies from then on and the band released the first track from at the time this upcoming album and I liked it a lot, so I placed my pre order and waited patiently, I mean really patiently having to wait for this cd to come from the label in the U.S. The transit time it waited in Germany to fly over here was requiring patience in all its glory.😉
Moving on, next album is from Anathema and their album Distant Satellites on cd.
This is the album they've released before the last one (The Optimist) so far.
During this year's wild times they've announced that they've put the band on indefinite hiatus, not being able to tour and pursue other paths in life as they've put it in their announcement. As fas as I'm concerned they're leaving a gap behind them, because although In this very sentimental and heartfelt kind of music I've listened to a new band, without comparing the two bands, however Lee Douglas' vocals as well as Vincent's are going to be missed.
Moving on, next album from a favourite band of mine Insomnium and their album from 2006 Above The Weeping World on cd.
During the first lockdown this year I booked a ticket for a livestream concert from Insomnium & Omnium Gatherum, but technical problems didn't allow the livestream to happen, so they had to perform and record it and offer the videos as pre-recorded, which was fine really. Listening to some songs I didn't know then, made me look for this album to buy. Unfortunately YouTube doesn't have a whole album video, so I'll attach here two great songs from this album.
Finishing this post I'll present three album I got on cassette.
From left to right, Mgła with their latest album Age Of Excuse, I've also purchased this album on cd, I came in touch with them from their previous album, quickly have become a top shelf band for me and many other people too in the black metal sound.
The album in the middle is from Darkened and their latest and first full length album Kingdom of Decay. I got to know them from last year's debut ep (2019) which I also got on cassette. The music is death metal and I like it a lot.
The album on the right is from Tiamat called Wildhoney. This is a classic album from 1994. I wanted to acquire this album either on cassette as I have or on vinyl. Fortunately I found it here locally and got it from the seller in personal, unfortunately the cassette is unlistenable because it needs a mere replacement of the felt pressure pad that I haven't replaced yet. But I surely will.
I'm waiting for more albums to be delivered to me and I'll present them here once they're here. Kind regards for reading and listening to the music.
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It has been a frustrating year to buy music... so many releases getting delayed and pushed back, and then waiting patiently for the postal service to keep working. At one point I had 5 separate parcels in transit around Europe... they all made it in the end though. Eventually.
A nice varied selection you have there, the standout for me is the Mgla tape. I have the CD version and its flippin' fantastic (almost as good as Exercises in Futility)
Yes the delays make sense it's true and it's also understandable, the postal services are doing the best they can. Not to mention the courier services working multiple times as hard now that people are ordering online. I'm not complaining or anything, just have to comment about it. 👍
The Mgła album is pretty good, close to Exercises you're right. However the sound on the tape sounds to me a bit mediocre, one can argue that it's a tape, but it could be better I think, still good though.
WooHoo...You've not been sitting still in all these lockdowns. Glad you where able to get to some recorded music on the traditional media. Must say, I didn't got any physical media music transaction going while miss Covid is hammering us. That said, Spotify did serve me lots and lots of new music, ie I was on music discovery mode. But hey, the online concert was offered as an online video recording without the band/organisers to refund the money? I suppose its not an issue for the fan, but I would expect at least something in addition? But hey, maybe this is gonna be a new business model :)
Hi! About the livestream you're mentioning, actually we the fans were on edge while waiting and waiting for the stream to begin. I relatively quickly understood that the company in charge to carry out the stream was new in the business, they were saying so in their website (mentioning the new situation with miss Covid like you're saying 🙃) and the need to have a platform where performances can be carried out online and one can have some understanding, although I think that was not exactly their first effort. The band or both bands did more livestreams that went fine in another platform though, but then for me buying tickets for livestreams is not really something I like that much.
Buying physical media even now is good though because labels have to survive as well and they're making discount offers in every chance they have.
You can get to good deals; Something cool miss Corona brought us then :)
This morning I was readin in my FB feed, from some of my electronic profucer friends, many of the labels nowadays earn more money through spotify then to selling physical media.
If they say so, but the physical media staying in their warehouses is a loss for them in my mind, I believe that people who're going to buy physical are going to buy physical anyways. Same with people who're going to buy digital, they're going to buy digital anyways.
Agree. A small amount of people buy physical media. Some of my DJ friends do buy, or get the promos from other artists still on vinyl. Sometimes they even play vinyl :) One friend did a few vinyl only streaming sessions last 6 months, was very nice :)
I like buying physical because I see it as an archive of the music I like. I have a digital music collection but it feels to me that I don't know what I have in my digital library. I do remember every physical releaee I own, but then my collection is not really that great. However the feeling is different and also the sound differs, not really always but in cases the difference is noticeable.
I hear you! :) I never bought any vinyl, but still have a lot of casettes and CDs. But digital is quite easy to take along anywhere. Though I never thought I would go digital, I think time is putting my physical music media in my personal museum :)