The 2017 Arsies: January 26, 2017

CHAMPIONSEMIFINALSQUARTERFINALSTexturesTexturesTexturesPrimitive WeaponsTestamentEvery Time I DieTestamentAnciientsEntheosEntheosAbbathAnciientsAnciientsDestrageQUARTERFINALSROUND OF 16MeshuggahMeshuggahCult of Luna/Julie ChristmasAbortedAbortedDeath AngelROUND OF 16Norma JeanNorma JeanAmon AmarthGorgutsGorgutsFates WarningSEMIFINALSQUARTERFINALSROUND OF 16IhsahnIhsahnMagrudergrindOranssi PazuzuHakenOranssi PazuzuROUND OF 16Painted WivesPainted WivesToothgrinderVektorVektorKvelertakQUARTERFINALSROUND OF 16ObscuraObscuraProtest The HeroRevocationAgoraphobic NosebleedRevocationROUND OF 16AnthraxAnthraxThe Dillinger Escape PlanGiraffe Tongue OrchestraGiraffe Tongue OrchestraDark TranquilityFebruary 13, 2017February 9, 2017February 3, 2017PhenotypePhenotypePhenotypeThe Future of DeathBrotherhood Of The SnakeLow TeensBrotherhood Of The SnakeVoice Of The VoidThe Infinite NothingThe Infinite NothingAbbathVoice Of The VoidVoice Of The VoidA Means To No EndFebruary 6, 2017January 26, 2017The Violent Sleep Of ReasonThe Violent Sleep Of ReasonMarinerRetrogoreRetrogoreThe Evil DivideJanuary 27, 2017Polar SimilarPolar SimilarJomsvikingPleiades' DustPleiades' DustTheories Of FlightFebruary 10, 2017February 7, 2017January 30, 2017ArktisArktisIIVärähtelijäAffinityVärähtelijäJanuary 31, 2017Obsessed With The EndObsessed With The EndNoctural MasqueradeTerminal ReduxTerminal ReduxNattesferdFebruary 8, 2017February 1, 2017AkróasisAkróasisPacific MythGreat Is Our SinArcGreat Is Our SinFebruary 2, 2017For All KingsFor All KingsDissociationBroken LinesBroken LinesAtoma
Save This Bracket

January 26, 2017 arse

Emotion●●●●●●
Memorability●●●●●○
Replayability●●●●●○
Innovation●●○●○○
Pace●●●●●●
Shredding●●●●●●
Vocals●●○●●○
Production●●●●●●

You know, I almost just typed “I DO WHAT I WANT!” and left it at that for today’s commentary... but listening to Retrogore anew, I’m forced to give Aborted more respect than that. Subtle or not, they’ve once again concocted a potent witches’ brew. It’s expert-level mayhem, fast-paced and merciless. Catchy? Not really. Innovative? Hardly. Effective? You betcha.
It’s a damned shame, therefore, that they had to go up against Meshuggah, whose The Violent Sleep Of Reason is not precisely as ferocious, but far more devious in its subversions. Tomas Haake and Fredrik Thordendal stand out here on drums and leads respectively, but the whole band is in top form with this slab of deathjazz that reinvents their own older forms into something fresh and stunning. Their cunning craft handily takes the day, and moves Meshuggah into the Quarterfinals!
Let’s close out the week with Norma Jean versus Gorguts. Such anger.

 
 
Creative Commons License This work by Metalligentsia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.