Imperative Reaction

Welcome back, kids.  Today, we're going to grow a little by fiddling with what we call "metal."  Especially at the borders of a musical style, how we classify that style depends on the set of elements that fits the description of each classification in each of our minds.  Now, I know how much you like it when I ramble on, but the gist is that we learn to like a broader range by choosing to.  So, what are the elements of metal?  Heavy bass lines?  Dynamic choruses and dark lyrics?  Breakdowns?  I'd like you to listen to today's selection (at an obscene volume), going in already thinking of it as metal.  I think you're going to like not being hemmed in; if not, sue me.  No, don't sue me.  It's Imperative Reaction - CRANK IT!

Flashback - Pentagram

Holy crap, kids, it's that time again: FLASHBACK!  So, the other night I watched an uplifting (weird in this context, I realize) documentary called Last Days Here, about Bobby Liebling, the singer of the doom/stoner band Pentagram since its inception in 1971.  Without going into too much detail (and because you should watch the film yourself), a guy accidentally uncovers the 1985 Pentagram album "Relentless" in a record store, listens to it, feels the lightning bolt, and, when he looks to see if the band still exists, discovers that it has existed off and on through the decades because of Liebling's talent, but that he is a smack addict living in his parents' basement within driving distance; this guy then goes and meets Bobby, and realizes that inside this shell is still the guy who sings on the records, the guy who still creates and wants to live, and helps him get his act together with a new band, album, and tour.  A lot more happens, but the point is, if you're into Black Sabbath or Electric Wizard or ROCKING, put on a diaper and listen to Pentagram (because you'll crap yer pants - do I have to explain that?) - here's "Sign of the Wolf" - CRANK IT!

Kittie

Ok kids, so just for fun, see if you need more than one hand's worth of fingers to count the non-cover band all-female metal groups that are worth listening to; off the top of my head, it's pretty much just L7 and Kittie - CRANK IT!

The Sword

Ok kids, I'm sorry to post this so late in the day; I was on the road home today, but I promise I didn't forget about you.  Anyway, I do a fairly brisk business in listening to stoner metal, and along with the great ones, Black Sabbath, and the heaviest band in the universe, whose name I will not disclose to the uninitiated just yet, The Sword is what's up.  It's Arrows in the Dark - CRANK IT!

UPDATE 8/29/15:  The new album High Country is The Sword's best work to date - BUY IT.