April 2025 "Metalcore Revolution" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yFgscg5HWKGoIy2s0xRfG
Tracklisting:
1. Dal Av - "Petrichor" from Petrichor (2022)
2. Like Moths to Flames - "The Worst in Me" from When We Don't Exist (2011)
3. Shadow of Intent - "The Prelude to Bereavement" from Primordial (2016)
4. Killswitch Engage - "Forever Aligned" from This Consequence (2025) [submitted by Saxy S]
5. August Burns Red - "Your Little Suburbia in Ruins" from Thrill Seeker: 20th Anniversary Edition (2025) [submitted by Saxy S]
6. All That Remains - "The Piper" from Antifragile (2025) [submitted by Saxy S]
7. HEAVENSGATE - "RATKING" from RATKING (2024)
8. Carnifex - "How the Knife Gets Twisted" from Necromanteum (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
9. Demon Hunter - "Worlds Apart" from Worlds Apart (2024) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
10. Amaranthe - "Supersonic" from Maximalism (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
11. BOI WHAT - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" from Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2025)
12. In Hearts Wake - "Traveller (The Fool)" from Divination (2012)
13. Plague Thy Child - "Autumn" from Plague Thy Child (2001)
14. A Day to Remember - "I'm Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?" from Homesick (2009)
15. Architects - "Curse" from The Sky, the Earth & All Between (2025)
16. Lauren Babic - "Sanctuary" from Too Much and Never Enough (2025)
17. Annisokay - "STFU" from Aurora (2021)
18. Lamb of God - "Ruin" from As the Palaces Burn (2003)
19. Imminence - "Continuum (feat. Niklas Karlsson)" from Continuum (2024) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
20. Shokran - "Imhotep: The Falcon of Gold" from Duat (2024)
21. Void of Vision - "Purge" from Broken // Bones (2016)
22. ERRA - "Render the Void" from Impulse (2011)
23. Every Time I Die - "Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance" from Last Night in Town (2001) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
24. God Forbid - "Gone Forever" from Gone Forever (2004) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
25. If Not for Me - "Tragedy" from Everything You Wanted (2024)
26. Converge - "Color Me Blood Red" from Petitioning the Empty Sky (1996)
27. From Autumn to Ashes - "Pioneers" from Holding a Wolf by the Ears (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
28. Rolo Tomassi - "Fantasia" from Hysterics (2008)
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Dal Av - "Petrichor" from Petrichor (2022)
4.5/5. Here's a brutal intro to start it all. Check out this ultra-heavy breakdown!
Like Moths to Flames - "The Worst in Me" from When We Don't Exist (2011)
5/5. And the heaviness keeps going! I can understand who later bands like Bad Omens and Beartooth have gotten their respective sounds from.
Shadow of Intent - "The Prelude to Bereavement" from Primordial (2016)
5/5. The rising dramatic strings that begin this glorious highlight might make you think it's an actual prelude, but that all changes when the heavy instrumentation comes in. It's basically a more epic brutal hardcore take on the Finnish melodeath of Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum!
Killswitch Engage - "Forever Aligned" from This Consequence (2025)
4.5/5. Jesse Leach still has his vocal strength just like in those kick-A first two albums. The music is amazing including the harsh vocal verses. This catchy banger shall age well. I also hear a bit of a modern Soilwork vibe. And this is a few months after All That Remains and As I Lay Dying also made their respective comebacks. I enjoy the chorus despite a slight issue with Adam D.'s cleans, probably would've been better with Howard Jones there instead of Adam. The outro is so beautiful too!
August Burns Red - "Your Little Suburbia in Ruins" from Thrill Seeker: 20th Anniversary Edition (2025)
5/5. The opening has a catchy riff and fast drums, leading into an earth-shattering breakdown. That's a fast song with interesting riffs that are never cliche.
All That Remains - "The Piper" from Antifragile (2025)
5/5. This one is a more technical highlight, displaying his talents that help take the band to the next level. There's a lot more complexity than before while balancing it out with the usual hooks. Wonderful!
HEAVENSGATE - "RATKING" from RATKING (2024)
4.5/5. Heavensgate (the metalcore band, not the 80s/90s power metal one) was formed by David Wilder and Josh Ang when they were pushed out of Dealer. I have a feeling this may be an attack on Dealer vocalist Eliaz's abuse allegations, "separate art from artist with a head cut off".
Carnifex - "How the Knife Gets Twisted" from Necromanteum (2023)
5/5. One of my favorite bangers from the new Carnifex album. The epic chorus seals the deal of the band joining the symphonic blackened deathcore league, practically different from their sound in earlier more brutal albums like Until I Feel Nothing.
Demon Hunter - "Worlds Apart" from Worlds Apart (2024)
5/5. I believe it was Killing Floor 2 that got my brother and eventually me into listening to this band, with a couple of his favorite songs from the band in that game's soundtrack. And today, they're still creating awesome bangers like this one.
Amaranthe - "Supersonic" from Maximalism (2016)
4.5/5. The most impressive track of its original album with supersonic up-tempo synth-metal instrumentation blended with choir vocals that tribute to Queen much better than "That Song".
BOI WHAT - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" from Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2025)
4/5. Seems like BOI WHAT is doing covers now. I just hope he will do Motionless in White's "Cyberhex" (Plankton and Karen). This Green Day cover was made after Bring Me the Horizon's cover of "Wonderwall". I especially like how part of the second verse is turned into a brutal breakdown. We didn't ask for that cover, but I'm glad we got it.
In Hearts Wake - "Traveller (The Fool)" from Divination (2012)
3.5/5. Another solid track with good vocals, especially the cleans.
Plague Thy Child - "Autumn" from Plague Thy Child (2001)
3/5. This one combines that brutal sound with dark melodies, sounding quite beautiful, but everything else about the song and its original album is too bland or unclear.
A Day to Remember - "I'm Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?" from Homesick (2009)
3.5/5. Homesick still has some heavy metalcore bangers despite emphasizing their pop punk side more. The classic lineup from this album and For Those Who Have Heart is a solid one, despite guitarist Tom Denney leaving the band shortly after, and Joshua Woodard having recently left the band after You're Welcome due to abuse allegations and causing someone's death in a car crash. The guest vocals by Mike Hranica (The Devil Wears Prada) are quite wild.
Architects - "Curse" from The Sky, the Earth & All Between (2025)
4/5. Apparently, this banger from the new Architects album is in the soundtrack of WWE 2025. So f***ing underrated, with choruses that sound like the choruses they're meant to be. Plus a bit of Bring Me the Horizon vibes here and there.
Lauren Babic - "Sanctuary" from Too Much and Never Enough (2025)
3.5/5. From beautiful to vicious, Lauren's vocals can practically rival Emily Armstrong.
Annisokay - "STFU" from Aurora (2021)
4/5. I hear a bit of Asking Alexandria of In Hearts Wake here. F***ing brutal lyrics in this one!
Lamb of God - "Ruin" from As the Palaces Burn (2003)
4.5/5. Didn't expect a Lamb of God track here, did you? I just realized that a few of their earlier classic tracks still have some metalcore/hardcore potential. I love the awesome intro and pummeling breakdown.
Imminence - "Continuum (feat. Niklas Karlsson)" from Continuum (2024)
5/5. The perfection of Imminence's new singles continues with this highlight, sounding both brutal and beautiful. Like f***ing beyond beautiful! And more brutal thanks to Niklas Karlsson of Orbit Culture.
Shokran - "Imhotep: The Falcon of Gold" from Duat (2024)
4.5/5. Another crushing track to take the throne. Enough said!
Void of Vision - "Purge" from Broken // Bones (2016)
4.5/5. F***ing sh*t, this is brutal! Too bad that band is gone now.
ERRA - "Render the Void" from Impulse (2011)
5/5. Erra and Silent Planet are a couple of the most underrated bands in progressive metalcore. This is one of the f***ing best songs by this band, especially that two-minute outro of glory.
Every Time I Die - "Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance" from Last Night in Town (2001)
4.5/5. Ooh yeah, Howard Jones before he joined Killswitch Engage! He appears near the two-minute mark.
God Forbid - "Gone Forever" from Gone Forever (2004)
5/5. Another awesome song with great soloing!
If Not for Me - "Tragedy" from Everything You Wanted (2024)
4.5/5. Yet another heavy beautiful banger to love. What else can I say?
Converge - "Color Me Blood Red" from Petitioning the Empty Sky (1996)
5/5. The last studio song of this Converge release is one of my favorites here and delights me with tight metal melody over an incredible breakdown. Then it goes on with killer metalcore until the end.
From Autumn to Ashes - "Pioneers" from Holding a Wolf by the Ears (2007)
4.5/5. From Autumn to Ashes are one of the timeless pioneers are blending metalcore with emocore, but they ended up splitting up after this album's release. However, they've been performing live for a decade after reforming. Let's hope for a new album soon...
Rolo Tomassi - "Fantasia" from Hysterics (2008)
5/5. An underrated progressive Nintendo-ish mathcore epic! The second half ends it all similarly to one of Cult of Luna's closing tracks.
Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!