M is for Metal

By Gabriel

Mastodon

Heed the call of the Mastodon. These Georgia natives gave a better name to metal when it was suffering in a post-Metallica age. Not being a huge metal fan, Mastodon seems to have a wider appeal because of their range in subject matter (Leviathan is based on Moby Dick, not to mention the general lack of Satan references), harmonies, performing roles (three out of 4 band members sing), and their embrace of different sounds and genres (bluesy and even bluegrass at times). Remission, Leviathan, and Blood Mountain formed somewhat of an album trilogy and they *gasp* experimented on their latest recording, Crack the Skye. Personally, I love it and cannot envision listening to single tracks. It flows together like a rock opera, of sorts, and demands an hour of your time. Mastodon is the type of band that I believe will age well and is confident enough in its skills to push the genre of metal into a more creative light.

Misery Signals

Is it hardcore or metalcore? However you want to classify Misery Signals—hailing from the great Wisconsin—they are one of the few elite bands in the overall "core" genre, in my opinion. Like Mastodon, they aren't afraid to experiment, sing instead of growl, or write about themes beyond "rising up," "bein' down," or other confidence boosters so typical of hardcore music. Unlike standard hardcore music, it is also obvious that this band is more musically adept to move beyond the arrangement of a few power chords spread thin through an entire album. The light tones make the heavy tones sound even heavier. Misery Signals started out with vocalist Jesse Zaraska and released Of Malice and the Magnum Heart, which one could say is their best. Jesse moved onto the dead-end band, Sleeping Girl, while MS moved onto great success. Karl Schubach was selected as his replacement. While I don't think his voice has the same appeal, it's also more natural than Zaraska's studio-layered and strained voice. Mirrors and Control were two good follow-ups to Misery Signals' fantastic beginning.