Metal Triple Feature: Ghost's 2nd album, Palms's s/t, and Black Sabbath's comeback

Lucky 13

2013 has really proven itself to be a giant year for metal. The godfathers, Black Sabbath, have made a major comeback drawing back to their roots as doomy, Satanic musicians. Prog metal titans Dream Theater announced a new album. Ghost has put out a solid album, touting psychedelia and the occult blended with heavy metal and theatrics reminiscent of King Diamond. Isis is almost reformed with fellow experimental metaller Chino Moreno of Deftones. The angsty Californians of Deafheaven impressed the indie darlings at Pitchfork and NME with their dreamy sophomore album. Enough about metal though. To the albums!

Ghost - Infestissumam

Ghost- Infestissumam

Coming hot off the heels of their 2011 album Opus Eponymous, Ghost was thrust into metal stardom. Their traditional take to metal and its old Satanic themes appealed to the masses, and the followup was highly anticipated. Well, they did it again (sort of). With much more prominent keyboards and a new incarnation of Papa Emeritus, the band pretty much fused '60s psychedelic rock with Satanic lyrics and heavy metal vibes. Not to say that it's a horrible combination. It's listener-friendly enough to cater to the casual metalhead, but also at the same time diehard headbangers. The band is much more famous for their onstage antics and personalities remaining a secret, but it really adds to the music's vibe. I feel like I'm at a ritual when I listen to Ghost, but that ritual is pretty damn metal. This record furthers that feeling even more, and it's an easy listen to boot.

Standout Tracks - Year Zero, Monstrance Clock, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen

Palms - s/t

Palms - s/t

I'm a major proprietor of the post-metal sound. Isis was a defining band back in the mid-2000s, but unfortunately split in 2010. Recently, the rest of Isis excluding their vocalist got back together, and teamed up with Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno. Everyone expected the result to be a heavy cacophony of destructive riffs from the Isis members and crazy screaming from Chino. We were pretty wrong. What Palms has created is something the critics are calling "dream metal". The band crafts intricate, yet soft passages dwelling within post-rock more than post-metal. Chino kinda screams but really more... whines. It kind of detracts from the soundscapes the other members create. The lyrics aren't that great either, almost emo material, speaking of love lost and associated. If this was an instrumental album from the remaining Isis members, I'd be a lot happier. But this result is good too. Just not as good as it could have been.

Standout Tracks - Antarctic Handshake, Mission Sunset

Black Sabbath - 13

Black Sabbath - 13

 Ground zero. Sabbath starts over with the basics. Doomy riffs. Satanic lyrics. General metal badassery. 13 brings Sabbath to a new generation of metalheads, showing that doom metal is the best metal. Riffs, riffs riffs. I can't really describe this album in detail. It's just Black Sabbath being Black Sabbath. No more of that 80s/90s bullshit. Straight up metal, no holds barred. Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer have returned, backed by Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk (Bill Ward got too fat, according to the Ozz Man). Throwbacks to tripped-out experiments (Planet Caravan, anyone?), bluesy roots (Evil Woman), and extended metal (War Pigs) are rampant on this album. Hell yeah! Black Sabbath has returned. Even with a subpar production thanks to Rick Rubin, the ass-kicking  is in full swing.

Standout Tracks - End of the Beginning, Zeitgeist, Damaged Soul

The Verdict(s)

Ghost - Infestissumam 4/5

Palms - s/t 3.5/5

Black Sabbath - 13 4.5/5

Listen to these albums this year. They're varied in taste, but they're all still metal. The year 2013 has been a lucky year for the headbangers indeed, and we're just getting started.

-Dave