KEY POINTS:
DISTURBED
Indestructible
Rating: * * * *
OPETH
Watershed
Rating: * * * * *
JUDAS PRIEST
Nostradamus
Rating: * * *
The only ones still buying albums it seems, apart from Coldplay fans, are metallers. Last week Disturbed's Indestructible debuted at No. 1 in New Zealand and it retained its spot this week. Sweden's Opeth also debuted at No. 26 with new album Watershed - not bad for a progressive death metal band who, on this their ninth album, have perfected the art of blending beautiful serenades with blood-curdling brutality.
More on Opeth soon but first, some meat and mashed potatoes metal from Disturbed. The Chicago band are the Coldplay of metal - derided by many yet popular as hell. This is mostly to do with their big, slightly mangled, heaving sound that is immaculately polished - making it more heavy rock than heavy metal.
Unlike Opeth, they are not adventurous, but as fourth album Indestructible shows they do what they do well. Inside the Fire is a stirring anthem, with a typically dramatic chorus courtesy of singer Dave Draiman; Deceiver and The Night are more sinister and heavy metal, with jackhammer riffs and squealing guitar solos; and Haunted is a War of the World's-style mid-album interlude.
The disappointment is that it takes Draiman five songs, until the churning quick step of Perfect Insanity, to release his trademark guttural hack - which provokes a chuckle every time you hear it.
Since forming in the early 90s in Stockholm, Opeth have made some classic metal albums with My Arms, Your Hearse (1999), Blackwater Park (2001), and 2005's Ghost Reveries among the best.
What makes Watershed stand out is how it continues to push the boundaries while still being appealing, and brings together beauty and brutality even more seamlessly than past albums have.
Besides, it's one for the boys and girls.
The romantic acoustic opener Coil, with singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Kerfeldt duetting with Stockholm singer Nathalie Lorichs, gives way to a deathly wall of noise on Heir Apparent, where Kerfeldt's sweet voice turns into a monstrous growl. Then it's on to ambitious album highlight The Lotus Eater, a song where Opeth show they are gallops ahead of most metal bands weaving operatic and roared vocals, tranquil woodwind, wonky and demented electronic harpsichord, together with vicious and manic metal - to thrilling effect.
A song like Burden, with its swooning "ocean of sorrow in you" refrain, will have you scoffing, "What a bunch of drama queens", but it's a welcome reprieve from the ferocity you've already endured and are yet to face on the looming 11-minute Hessian Peel.
At seven tracks and 54-minutes, Watershed is an elaborate and grand metal composition by a band at the top of their game.
Speaking of grand, Judas Priest - the kings of 70s and early 80s British heavy metal - have created a concept album recounting the life of 16th century prophet Nostradamus. It's surprising they haven't done a concept earlier, considering their flamboyant past and Rob Halford's freakish vocal range.
Nostradamus is saved by some scorching moments that hark back to the band's past glories, like the frenzied attack of the title track (talk about the calm before the storm), and the triumphant, gallivanting guitar solos of Pestilence and Plague. But there are rambling, rather than epic, moments and
it's an album strictly for Priest's devoted fans.
There's good news for metal lovers in general, TimeOut has had word from Nostradamus himself that Judas Priest will be touring here mostly likely in September. Let's hope the prophecy is true. Get your leathers out lads.
Scott Kara
