DJ George Burnz Top 20 metal, hardcore, and punk of 2015

Here's my top 20 albums of 2015
The Metal Pig and I have a combined 80 (even) new albums for 2015, here's my cream of the crap! Metal Pig's list to soon follow! Our motto is, quoting the Sea Hags, 
"You're only as good as your shittiest song,"
so on that note…..

#20
Iron Maiden 
Book of Souls
This is highly revered as a comeback album, I would have to say Bruce's voice is shot and off key, the album has some solid tunes, and some boring ass crappy ones too. It's better than the last few...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F7A24f6gNc

#19 Slayer 
Repentless
 Nice effort from half of the original band, Tom lost his vocals somewhere too, but the album has some great classic riffage. I need some Gary Holt Exodus riffs though, maybe next album. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjb0j9l1sz4

#18
Nuclear Assault 
Pounder
It's an E.P., it almost didnt make it, but, I dig these dudes, and this EP rocks, I can't wait for the next EP, til then check out my interview with Dan Lilker! 

#17 Aggressive Response
Self Destroyer

Albany Hardcore, 80's style abrasiveness. NYHC done old school style. Look for these dudes. They rule.

#16 Karyn Crisis Gospel of Witches 
Salem's Wounds

With Immolation's Bob and Ross, Karyn comes back in full force, with a spirit ghost that she channels. Check out my interview with her last winter. And this.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2piIXVm8Z5Y

#15 Carousel 
2113

I hear Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, Bulletboys, and it plain rules!!!!
Their last album Jeweler's Daughter is quite a gem, this one is right there too, good old rock n roll.

#14 Red Death
Permanent Exile
This album is so bad ass, it reminds me a lot of Sick of it All, and it's one of the best hardcore albums to come out in 2015.

#13 The Sword
HIgh Country

This album is a bit of a departure from their normal rockiness, yet, it still manages to pull though, and kinda grows on you after a few listens. Check out our show review in the post below!

#12 Lord Dying
Poisoned Alters

I reviewed these dudes opening for Crowbar, they rock live, and their album is smokin hot shit, think Crowbar, minus the sad shit.

#11 Skinless
Only The Ruthless Remain
Our local boys, and personal homies came back together to put this album out, and it is solid NYDM, with the original lineup back, they are pounding out some classic death metal action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQrG5Qezu4 

this dude uses Skinless for his theme song! 

#10 Turnstile
Non Stop Feeling

Damn, yo dog! This shit is da bomb! No really though, this album is packed full of moshtastic grooves, though sometimes I feel like I'm listening to 311 or Rage Against the Machine.

#9 Chiefs
Tomorrow's Over
 This scratches my Helmet itch, and I love it. Stoner rock Helmet from Cali, get some y'all!

#8 Atomic Bitchwax
Gravitron

So pumped these dudes got back together and made a record, we love all their albums. We saw these dudes at CBGB's open for Nebula and holy shit they rock. This album, after a bit of a hiatus, is on point, quite amazing jams. Their last album had a song with a fake vinyl sound, as if some dropped the needle on the record at the beginning of the tune. Now, hearing it on actual vinyl, kinda bummed me out, lesson learned, don't simulate a turntable sound on your album, then press it on vinyl, in the end, we all lose. The soul clap, hey baby, I gave it so damn much rotation this summer, it was  the feel good hit hahaha

#7 Sick Of It All
Last Act of Defiance 

These NYHC legends are back!!! This album reminds me of Scratch the Surface era toughness, yet, a few corny songs, namely the Get Bronx and the DNC tunes. DNC, DNC, oi, oi, oi. Uh, what? Losing War is one for the books, that songs is the jammy jam.

#6 Lucifer 
Lucifer I
This album is quite spellbinding, and I'm hooked. Johanna from the Oath is great, and she has a sweet doomy stoner rock band backing her. This debut is a good taste for more to come from these guys. 

#5 Faith No More 
Sol Invictus

These guys are one of my favorite bands of all time, and I am kinda biased, but, this album rules, there is only one terrible song, that Motherfucker song. The rest of the album is classic FNM, kinda Angel Dust era-ish . Go get this album, if you are a old school FNM fan, you'll be happy. 

#4 Ghost
Meliora

These guys have a schtick, I know, but their songs rule, regardless. It's classic rock, metal, psych rock whatever, I love it. It's creepy and cool, go get their albums, their isn't a bad one in the bunch. 

#3 Enforcer
From Beyond
Every one of this band's album has hit #1 on our countdowns. This one has a few boring songs, not living up to the EVERY SONG RIPS high bar standard they held for themselves since forever. It still is one of the best albums of 2015, hands down. They are coming to the US Jan.2016!!!!!

#2 Night Demon
Curse of the Damned

This debut full length from this California trio is one of the top metal albums of this year, and one of the top metal albums of all time. It harkens back to NWOBHM with a dash of Kiss, and it's exactly what we need from a metal record. They came to town opening for last year's #1 album writers, Skull Fist. Due to border issues in Canada, Skull Fist cancelled and Night Demon then stepped up, and rocked the house. When the Night Demon comes to town, you better get down there and drink from the chalice!!!! 

#1 Turbowolf
Two Hands

I can't put my finger on their sound, but whatever you wanna call it, it rules. They remind of Alice Donut, just a bit heavier, I can't stop listening to this album. Two Hands has been the soundtrack of 2015. Every song rules, the guitar sound and riffage is so heavy groove it rules, the female bassist does some dual harmony with the vocalist, he does some crazy keyboard synth jammin, and their drummer is absolutely nutz!!! Nine lives video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydpQLUoL9Tw

TURBOWOLF
RICH GIFT
VIDEO OF THE YEAR!!!!
IT  RULES TOO!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qicmU2KN3wY

The Metal Pig will count his down next!!!!!!

The Sword & Royal Thunder 12/2015 Clifton Park, NY

Since their first tour support for their first album, The Sword have made upstate NY a stop on several occasions. Their latest show was held at Upstate Concert Hall, to unfortunately, a noticeably less than full club. 
Royal Thunder is the touring opener, and both bands are on tour in support of new albums, respectively. 
 Royal Thunder is a slow chugger of a band, with the trademark jumping guitar player, hyping up what never really seems to come, or well, maybe it kinda did? It's a dual guitar attack, the other dude a bit more reserve and old school-ish.

The band's songs consisted of a lot of epic building crescendos that tear down and rebuild, and is very vocal driven, powered by a strong voiced woman, Mlny Parsons. 

At times, I'll admit, it felt like I was at a 4 Non Blondes solo show,

1 Non Blonde if you will hahaha. A few songs led into what  sounded like Faith No More influenced rocking weirdness, but for the most part, they were lacking any hooks, and the songs/band just comes off as a showcase for her vocals. They were good for what they are doing, I just needed more umph from the 2 guitars. 

The Sword 

The Sword started right off with Tres Brujas, rocking at full tilt, sounding incredibly good, and looking quite mystical, I should add, with a whole new light show in tow.

They laced the night with a bit of every album, and a few off the new one, which, still held everyone's attention. They produce stoner rock to the point where they practically epitomize the genre. 
 Vocalist John D. Cronise's voice is so distinct, his talking style singing, with that slight reverb, sounded perfect, just like he sounds on the albums.

They are out in support of their new album High Country, which is a little different than their other records, yet, just as good. There is a synth type little jam on the album, and I thought, this must be the  "tune up song," and sure enough, I was right. 

There is another song on the new record, that has a drum loop with a dancy sorta "I wrote this for my girlfriend" song or a Portishead/Phantogram sorta feel to it, and to me, it's one of the best songs on the album. I thought, that's the "show's over, turn the lights on song." 

Sure enough, after the last song, the lights turn on, everyone looks on the ground for picks, and as we head toward the mens room for a final piss, dudes were singing along to it, which also proved me right, that song rules….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcpKyx21yx4

 The whole new album rules, check it out, well, check out all their albums. 

All photos by Full Metal Racket Please ask for permission, or give credit due, don't steal!!!!!

Murphy's Law !!! 11/2015

I went and saw Jimmy's latest version of Murphy's Law, at Trickshots in Clifton Park, NY and all I got was a beer soaked Murphy's Law Shirt. It happens every time I see that band. Another thing that happens every time is, I hear the same set list, it's time to freshen that show up, with some new songs, or some different oldies like Car Song, Stay Gold, What Will The Neighbors Think, just to name a few….. Murphy's Law's latest guitarist is a dude who also played in Mephiskapheles and Bouncing Souls. He plays his guitar upside down and left handed. Shit was weird to watch. Beer and shots had by all, good times, great oldies.
 It was an old school high school reunion, with old Albany area bands Murderer's Row and Bruise Brothers opening up, definitely old guy night at the pool hall. 

ARF ARF ARF

Raven getting busy

 

Jimmy's usual silly antics kept Bob (from Stigmata and Murderer's Row) from trying to sleep, using his name "Bob" for several songs like "Crucial-Bob B-Q"…..

Jimmy and Raven honkin' away

In classic 80's (hair metal) style, some woman threw her bra at Jimmy, here's Jimmy strapping the big black bra to his head….

Murphy's Law is always a beer blast, without fail. Go get wasted with Murphy's Law sometime, you deserve it.

Skinless Philly November 2015 Kung Fu Necktie

Holy Shit, Philly's own Rumpelstiltskin Grinder opened for Skinless, on Skinless' stop in Philadelphia's metal/punk club Kung Fu Necktie, on their mini tour 2015,

and damn, those dudes tore down the house! Sweet fast thrashy, moshtastic fun. Go buy their records!!!!!!!!

Rumpelstiltskin Grinder

Skinless didn't disappoint, the crowd was slamming nuts, it was a tight little club, but, for a Sunday night, Philly packed 'em in! Metal is alive and well in Philly!!!

                                Sherwood back in action

                                                  Dave and Joe

Joe Keyser of Skinless