[Editors note: Without introduction, as Sandeep often is, here is My Five: Metal Monday edition]. 

“Vendetta” - The Ottoman Empire - Way of the Blade  

Those of you who got a chance to read my review of Ottoman Empire’s album ‘The Way of the Blade’ had the opportunity to read me gush about this band and expound on the kickassness of this song. This crew of thrashers out of Madison, Wisconsin provides no nonsense killer heavy metal music at every occasion.

The Ottoman Empire - Vendetta - Way of the Blade

“James Blish” - Bloodhag - Hellbent for Letters

Hooray for those who encourage literacy! Hopefully y’all remember Bloodhag. These guys plays some fucking fantastic metal masterpieces dedicated to their favorite sci-fi and fantasy authors. Before cutting into this tune live Bloodhag is sure to mention that James Blish gained popularity for putting Start Trek into novel form, though this was far from his best work. Bloodhag will assure you that this song is a promotion of James Blish and not Star Trek the next time you go see them live. Despite the fact that the chorus of “Spock must die!” digs at my long time Trekkie soul, this song rocks…hard.

Bloodhag - James Blish - Hellbent for Letters

“Dream Catcher” - To No Avail - To No Avail

Since this is the first Metal Monday influenced top 5 list, I’ve got to put in some To No Avail. Seriously, have you all not bought this CD yet? QUIT WASTING YOUR TIME AND BUY IT! To No Avail is a hard working hard rocking metal outfit from the Idaho panhandle (not an hour out of my hometown of Spokane, WA). These guys are high schoolers playing some fucking brilliant metal. Give ‘em a listen, then go buy the CD.

To No Avail - Dream Catcher - To No Avail

“Hashishi” - Kultur Shock - We Came To Take Your Jobs Away

Gino loves me, this I know, and I fucking love me some Kultur Shock. This Seattle based gypsy rock outfit offers up some kick ass hard rock, Balkan style. Their mix of languages, melodies, instruments and musical styles make them incredibly unique and their live show is easily one of the most fun fucking things one could do in Seattle. This track is one of their more laid back grooves, be sure to check out Kultur Shock when they get back from their European tour, but in the meantime, pick up some of their CDs!

Kutlur Shock - Hashishi - We Came to Take Your Jobs Away  

“Nocturnal Blasphemies” - Grotesque - Gardens of Grief/The Embrace of Evil  

It’s always good to keep the classics in your listening library, and it’s even better when those classics still have remnants floating around today. For those of you unfamiliar with Grotesque, they were a ground breaking Swedish death metal band from the early nineties featuring Tomas Lindberg and Alf Svensson who later went on to form At the Gates…no need to discuss how prolific that band is in my life (oh how I yearn for an At the Gates reunion). Svensson of course left At the Gates in 1993 after ‘With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness’ while Lindberg of course stayed with the band until their untimely end in 1996. Anders Bjorler and Jonas Bjoler lead guitarist and bassist respectively of the original line up of At the Gates were in town with their post ATG band, the Haunted, tonight, April 10th.

Grotesque - Nocturnal Blashphemies - Gardens of Grief/The Embrace of Evil