Riff Of The Week: First Quarter 2018
[unnecessarily loud and obnoxious buzzer sound]
Last week we asked for underrated Judas Priest riffs and fan favourite ‘The Sentinel’ just took home the trophy, defending off a strong showing from Ellipsis’ pick from ‘Metal Meltdown’. Perhaps most notable though was fact that Richter’s riff ran in 3rd place, evidently underrated to such an extent that the band themselves decided to not even bother writing it.
With the first quarter of 2018 done and dusted, this week we asked for your favourite riffs of 2018 thus far. Some mad shit has been released, and there are a couple of nice picks in here. Who do you think deserves the victory? Listen in and then cast your vote below.
Iron Goddess of Mercy
Dead Meadow – “Here with the Hawk” (Riff @ 0:00)
Maybe the shortest song in Dead Meadow’s entire oeuvre that isn’t an interlude, the riff in “Here with the Hawk” injects some groovelicious head-noddin’ (can’t really call it headbangin’) into their shroom-soaked bliss dream of a new album. If you’re not daytrippin’ by the end of it, I dunno what to tell you!
Hans
Thecodontion – ‘Erythrosuchidae (Vermillion Digigrade)’ (Riff @ 1:05)
Pretty cool EP, primal enough to fit the war metal tag, yet also straying from the path enough to keep it interesting. I was surprised by the riff at around 0:25 – that shit is downright danceable. The riff just before my pick is also cool, but I went with this kinda evil-sounding one. You should still listen to the whole song though. And then the others, too. Then go forth and make more dinosaur metal.
Positronic Brain
Slugdge – ‘Crop Killer’ (Riff @ 7:55)
Because bass riffs hardly ever get submitted, and the tone and general sliminess of this riff sound exactly like a gross-ass slug climbing up your deck in the summer, with its gross tentacles and slimy trail. Also: “Crop Killer”? Better you than me.
tigeraid
Solstice – ‘To Sol A Thane’ (Riff @ 2:45)
It’s been a pretty tight first quarter for metal; new Visigoth and new The Crown… But the standout so far for me is Solstice’s first full-length in forever, White Horse Hill. Mighty Doomy is mighty and doomy. The riff underneath the vocal passages of To Sol a Thane is solid, but I particularly love the stretch beginning at 2:45.
GRUMP DUMPUS
Vexovoid – ‘The Starforger’ (Riff @ 0:34)
TECHNICALLY THIS CAME OUT IN THE FORGOTTEN NETHER REGIONS OF DECEMBER 2017 BUT Y’ALL KNOW DAMN WELL AND GOOD THAT EVERYONE WAS TOO ENGROSSED IN THE SELF-FELLATING COLLECTIVE CIRCLE JERK KNOWN AS LIST SEASON TO BOTHER PAYING ANY MIND TO A BAND ZANY ENOUGH TO RELEASE A KILLER ALBUM 4 MONTHS AFTER DECIBEL’S TOP 40 SPONSORED ALBUMS OF THE YEAR WAS ‘LEAKED’ SO LET’S FIND OUT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN OUR KILLING TECHNOLOGY RUSTS IN PEACE
Howard Dean
Acid Bath – “The Blue” (Riff @ 0:55)
Not much of an explanation needed. This is the best riff of Q1 and second place ain’t even close.
xtuffxghostx
Andrew W.K. – “Music is Worth Living For” (Riff @ 0:00)
This song (and album) parties.
Yarnhawk
Svneatr – ‘Crimson Star’ (Riff @ 0:30)
I actually had a different riff picked out, but this one has been stuck in my head for days now, so here ya go.
Lacertilian
Stygian Obsession – ‘Deep In The Bonds Of Darkness’ (Riff @ 0:00)
Serpentine bends from the bowels of subterranean sulphur pools. Take a sniff.
Next week we’re going to honour the all-time Riff Of The Week MVP’s – Bolt Thrower. Now, we haven’t had many entries of theirs lately but because they’ve taken out the comp more than any other band, I’m still gonna add a catch to spice it up a bit. You can only choose from full-lengths of theirs which have an average score of less than 85% on Metal Archives.
Submission details below.
