To say Keith Morris is punk rock royalty is like pointing out Snoop Dogg is partial to the devil’s lettuce.
Lead singer in semi-demi-supergroup OFF! means he has been in three iconic punk and hardcore bands that crawled out of the sewers of LA: first as vocalist for Black Flag, then as rabble rouser deluxe for Circle Jerks. Known for his explosive performances as much as his long dreads, boilermaker’s cap and round Lennon glasses, there’s little of punk rock’s legacy he hasn’t left his grubby fingerprints on.
I'm drawn back to this empty screen each year to secrete my opinion on what I enjoyed this year. I've been doing it since at least 2009, back when I thought writing about music conferred some kind of numinous insight into music. I listen to a lot of bullshit and I'm cynical as hell. Sometimes, I leap out of my chair and whip my (no) hair back and forth in ecstacy. Some of those discs did that to me this year. Here's a numbered list of them.
1. Gazpacho - Molok
These guys are out of this world. Prog rock that's actually progressive and actually rock. It runs from ancient esoterics to futurist wanderings. This is such a trip. At the end there's this code that might blow the world up. For a second there, I tensed up and clenched my eyes tight...
2. Ghost - Meliora
It's pop music painted black. If metal had something close to Pet Sounds, this might be it.
3. Melechesh - Enki
Invoking ancient evil never sounded so badass.
4. Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong
Pop-punk? Fuck off, Tom. This can't be good. Actually no, fuck you. It's brilliant.
5. Hellions - Indian Summer
Saviours of Australian heavy music. Get into them before they burn out in a haze of cocaine dust.
6. Baroness - Purple
Sublime and surreal sounds from Savannah, again. John Baizley is a true artist in every sense.
7. Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase
The concept reads like a Hugo winner and sounds like a stoner's dream.
8. Trials - This Ruined World
Thrash done with brains and heart. Riffs born with destinies deeper than "must imitate Metallica" are winners.
9. Soilwork - The Ride Majestic
I never thought Soilwork would make one of these lists again. Boy, I was wrong. Hard.
10. Pyramaze - Disciples of the Sun
lol Power metal. I thought these guys were just a cheap, clean version of Mercenary. Nope. Crisp production and brain-worming hooks do justice to the genre. Finally.
The Honourable Mentions
Gold Award - Black Breath - Slaves Beyond Death Silver Award - Sigh - Graveward Bronze Award - Gloryhammer - Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
14. The Black Dahlia Murder - Abysmal 15. Deafheaven - New Bermuda 16. My Dying Bride - Feel The Misery 17. Killing Joke - Pylon 18. Cancer Bats - Searching for Zero 19. Earth Caller - Degenerate 20. Born Lion - Final Words
