gareth's blog

Michael Amott has to be ranked as one of the worlds greatest guitarists and songwriters, and almost certainly a leading influence in Death Metal. My favourite tracks on this album have to be "Beast of Man" and "Stigmata" and the re-issue album now also includes "Diva Satanica", worth shelling out for!

Not sure where to start with this one, the one track in my playlist is "Scar Trek - Parasite God"... I heard it on the TV somewhere and was intrigued by the goblin get up, and then the track started popping up on Last.fm.

Not really wanting to pigeon hole any one, but this really isn't what I expected from an Ex- Emperor bassist. I think its quite industrial in places, but I have heard it compared to David Bowie of all people. I guess music doesn't need to be labelled, but I quite like pigeon holes, I like to know that everything has a place, even if it only has one thing in it.

One of only three albums that have 4 songs in my spotify playlist, those four songs from this album are "An Ancient Sign of Coming storm", "Fate of Norms", "Once Sealed in Blood" and of course "The Pursuit of Vikings", not sure why others didn't make it in to the playlist as "Valkyries Ride" and "Arson" are amazing songs as well, which is taking nothing away from the other songs on the album, I just don't want this to end up the track listing affair I did last week on

Have to give a hat tip to Calum from Achren for introducing me to Finntroll. I found them so good, the memory of them survived a Hogmanay by Loch Lomond, much Ale was consumed, but a couple of days later I still remembered listening to them that night and went out looking for their albums. True praise indeed seeing as I didn't remember being at Loch Lomond until 2 days later.

Another album bought for one track of the back of Last.fms radio feature. Probably would never have listened to Satyricon had it not come on in the mix of other songs, but the track "Now, Diabolical" really grew on me, probably due to its industrial feel.

This is just a fantastic album that is probably my most listened to album in the car for some reason. It just seems that when I go anywhere and get to put on an album in the car, this is the one I reach for.

Another album bought primarily for one tune. I really have to start wondering if I am propping up the music industry by buying albums on the strength of one track, instead of buying the single download and letting the industry die on its arse through it out dated thinking and closed minded business proposals.

But I like having something to hold on to when parting with money and downloads are too easily destroyed when moving computer or the hard drive dies etc.

I can't say that I am one of the biggest Manowar fans, but this album is very listenable, I really only got it for one song "Hail and Kill" and even then that only grew on me because of some many listens in the Solid Rock, Glasgow. The clincher was after a night when a friend named Rab was running around with a plastic sword, when this song came on.

I promptly re-worded the song so that the chorus is now always forever etched in my memory as "Rabs, Sword, is not steel!"

A must for any Metal fan and probably needs no explanation as to why its in my most listened to music playlist.

Stand out track for me is the title track Holy Diver

The following posts are going to be reviews of albums in my spotify playlist. If you haven't got spotify yet, I would go there now and sign up (http://www.spotify.com), There is a free service and a premium service. You can get all the music on your computer with the free service, but the paid for services can include streaming to your mobile. Check out the comparison here.