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Electric bass strings (I have an acoustic bass) regular guitar strings (I only play 12 strings) and Metallica 72 seasons on vinyl. The woman doesn't know me at all.

I echo the sentiments for the Somberlain and Dawn - Slaughtersun. Brilliant albums

https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/

Commissioner Harris also said the motives as to why people voted for Mr Hutch are not clear to him, but he does not think that people could have been ignorant of him and all that he has been associated with down the years.

He said he did not think it was a problem with information or An Garda Síochána but a society problem of an attitude towards criminality.

The most concerning thing, he said, is that an individual like Mr Hutch receives so much support from the electorate.

Clearly, old RUC/PSNI habits die hard.

https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/

One thing I really love is Oliver Cromwell for the Irish hero he really was at the back of it all. All he really wanted to do was purify us all

Edit: Does anyone remember how the vote of confidence in Drew Harris went the last time it was put to the gardaí

Over 90% voted no confidence. The rank and file loathe the man.

I have read some stupid shit in my time but fucking hell that takes the biscuit

Through the Opeth twice and as expected I won't be shelling out. Had to put on the new Mitochondrion to get my head back in the mire. I'll always check out a new one from Opeth out of curiosity but they've long since transgressed from Progressive to Arty-Farty for me.

I'm quite liking it, I like arty farty though

Christ...this is impossible 🤣

Burzum - Filosofem
Deathspell Omega - Paracletus
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Mgla - Exercises in Futility
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

What do we all think we'll end up with when all this is said and done?

I think we're going to get the two headed beast again tbh, but not with the greens

I think the greens will be fine, the people who vote for them would be pleased with the stuff they got through

Sweety, cheers man. I must have a snoop around for those reissues.

Which other Irish post punk bands are worth a listen?

Stump were brilliant, batshit stuff, Mick was a real gent as well.
Gilla Band (formerly girl band) are great, fine and noisy.
Five go down to sea are also quite good

Great band, Ireland really does post punk quite well. They only have two albums, which were reissued a few years back. I'm not sure about the E.Ps though

So FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

FG are fucking dirt. I've had to deal with Harris for work a bit and he's a ridiculous example of a human. Also between Martin being in the cabinet when the crash happened and FG destroying the housing in this country those two fuckwits have caused more damage to this country then the IRA ever did

That sentence is ridiculous. Same, and more often more than a rapist. It's a 1 or 2 year sentence at most. He hurt a car. Boo hoo.

A car owned by the state. That's the reason for the hefty sentence

Mad Season is one of my favourite albums, but it is as others have said a time and place kind of record. I have paid absolutely no heed to anything Cantrell has released since degradation trip (which I love) been listening to this and the Duvall era chains stuff lately, there's some really great stuff, lots of the riffs are heavy as hell BUT there really was something otherworldly about Laynes voice and vocals. Apart from maybe John Bonham I can't think of someone who was that irreplaceable to a bands sound

Jesus, so many this year,definitely after a few years of metal being kind of in the background for me it definitely came to the fore again this year. I feel like one or two of these might be late 23 but fuck it:

Drowned - Procul His
Civerous - Maze Envy
Vircolac - Veneration
Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere
Reverorum Ib Malacht - Martyrium Matrimoni / Malakt Amalka Maryam
Flail - Within The Firths of Futility
Nahtrunar - Hrima
Apparition - Disgraced Emanations
Mitochondrion - Vitriseptome
Abhorration - Demonolatry

Honorable mentions to Mamaleek , Slowhole and Basque, none of which are strictly metal per se but all of which were excellent


Probably a load I'm forgetting, Aluk Todolo and Oranssi Pazuzu and Furze will be once I get more than one listen to each I'd say, and even though I haven't heard it yet the Mefitis is bound to be on there. Fake Dust and Degenerate Synapse demo/promo things were grind of the year for me ,both lethal.

Spectral Voice was the disappointment of the year. Underwhelming. Absolute lol at the Gatecreeper discussion,  cos they've always been insufferable awful bullshit, even when they were on a hardcore label. Fair bit of "yeah this is grand but uts not amazing" this year as well (Thou ,Inter arma, Chat Pile, Full of Hell were all solid but haven't held my interest bar a song or two)

I need to check out the Mamaleek and Aluk Todolo albums in full, the bits I heard were great

Oranssi Pazuzu at 38? Madness, AOTY for me

Stuck this new one on in the gym there and fucking hell it's great. I never really gave ulcerate a chance, they always seemed a bit too high brow for the death metal I'm usually into. Really regretting not going to the gig last month that was basically on my street. DOH! It's technical and clean sounding without being sterile and wanky. I'll have to deep dive into the back catalogue now.

Vermis is the best place to start imo