November 2024 "Industrial Metal Invasion" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45Xj4PCyW3LavsE8NMtncN

Tracklisting:

1. Neurotech - "Blue Screen Planet (Part I Axiom)" from Blue Screen Planet (2011)

2. Mechina - "The Grand Hunt" from Cenotaph (2023)

3. Lord of the Lost - "Leave Your Hate in the Comments" from Blood & Glitter (2022)

4. Psyclon Nine - "We the Fallen" from We the Fallen (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Eisbrecher - "Zwischen Uns" from Schock (2015)

6. Device - "Vilify" from Device (2013)

7. Red Queen - "Asyphyx" from Star Blood (2016)

8. OOMPH! - "Land Ahead (feat. Sharon den Adel)" from Truth or Dare (2010)

9. Motionless in White - "Reincarnate: Reincarnated" from Reincarnate: 10 Year Anniversary (2024)

10. Blue Stahli - "Lakes of Flame" from Lakes of Flame (2018)

11. Circle of Dust - "Humanarchy" from Machines of Our Disgrace (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked)" from End of an Empire (2015)

13. PAIN - "Dancing With the Dead" from Dancing With the Dead (2005) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Ruoska - "Alasin" from Amortem (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Dead World - "The Machine" from The Machine (1993)

16. Killing Joke - "Judas Goat" from Hosannas From the Basements of Hell (2006)

17. Fear Factory - "Pisschrist" from Demanufacture (1995) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Lindemann - "Praise Abort" from Skills in Pills (2015)

19. Ministry - "Brick Windows" from Filth Pig (1996)

20. Godflesh - "Don't Bring Me Flowers" from Pure (1992) [submitted by Daniel]

21. Code Orange - "The Above" from The Above (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Fange - "Les Vergers De La Désolation" from Pantocrator (2021)

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Neurotech - "Blue Screen Planet (Part I Axiom)" from Blue Screen Planet (2011)

3.5/5. Let's start this playlist with a bombastic journey of symphonic cyber metal... Well, too bombastic. Some parts are overdone, which very much exemplifies the paraphrased adage, "Too many ingredients spoil the broth." While this epic is still solid, Neurotech's 10-minute explorations are better explored in the later symphonies.

Mechina - "The Grand Hunt" from Cenotaph (2023)

4/5. Now this is a slightly better piece of epic cyber metal, this one by Mechina. If this banger was ever performed live, expect a slamming battle in the crowd. The glorious vocals and kick-A rhythms hit the spot, despite those bombastic symphonics again.

Lord of the Lost - "Leave Your Hate in the Comments" from Blood & Glitter (2022)

4.5/5. This one is a big "f*** you" to those who can plague the internet with negativity from the privacy of their home. I'm amazed by how brilliant this is, having the "take no sh*t" attitude the rest of the album would have.

Psyclon Nine - "We the Fallen" from We the Fallen (2009)

5/5. One of the best songs by Psyclon Nine, in both the music and vocals! And this was when they were really transitioning out of their aggrotech roots into industrial metal.

Eisbrecher - "Zwischen Uns" from Schock (2015)

4.5/5. The lyrics are quite well-done despite being in German. It's sad that I'm not from Germany, otherwise I would understand these songs a lot more.

Device - "Vilify" from Device (2013)

4/5. Following this is the best choice for the Device's first single. It's a great highlight of Draiman's strong vocals.

Red Queen - "Asyphyx" from Star Blood (2016)

4/5. In This Moment goes Psyclon Nine... Interesting mix!

OOMPH! - "Land Ahead (feat. Sharon den Adel)" from Truth or Dare (2010)

4.5/5. Beautiful vocals by Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation! This is an English version of an earlier OOMPH! song "Land in Sicht".

Motionless in White - "Reincarnate: Reincarnated" from Reincarnate: 10 Year Anniversary (2024)

5/5. As with the original version, this highlight has some deep synths and metalcore riffing that begin when Chris shouts "GET UP!" What really makes this song accessible within the extremeness is the melodic Breaking Benjamin-like chorus, all piecing together a simply great structure.

Blue Stahli - "Lakes of Flame" from Lakes of Flame (2018)

4.5/5. This killer single was supposed to be in the Obsidian album but didn't make it in. How much can Blue Stahli and Celldweller surprise their listeners with their respective singles?! A lot, that's what! Though this one sounds more suitable for Celldweller's Satellites. Think about this like a more metallic The Prodigy. WE NEED F***ING MORE!!! It's actually a better change of style than what Within Temptation have done that year. And it definitely has some DOOM vibes in the aggressive instrumentation.

Circle of Dust - "Humanarchy" from Machines of Our Disgrace (2016)

5/5. Though not as aggressive as this chaotic track. It's like Nailbomb 2.0!

Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked)" from End of an Empire (2015)

4.5/5. Imagine an emo-ish boss battle soundtrack, this song could be that!

PAIN - "Dancing With the Dead" from Dancing With the Dead (2005)

5/5. Two of the most melodic bands I enjoy nowadays are PAIN and Powerwolf. For PAIN, some of us can relate to the lyrics of struggling madness in this h*ll of an addictive track, especially if you're on the edge of life.

Ruoska - "Alasin" from Amortem (2006)

4.5/5. This band rules, and I wish they could release their next album to break this 16-year gap. I don't need Rammstein when I have this Finnish band!

Dead World - "The Machine" from The Machine (1993)

4/5. This track has Voivod-like riffing while staying slow and doom-ish as usual.

Killing Joke - "Judas Goat" from Hosannas From the Basements of Hell (2006)

4.5/5. This one leads you to the darkest depth of Hell with more technical drumming, guitar rhythms, and singing almost like a mantra.

Fear Factory - "Pisschrist" from Demanufacture (1995)

5/5. Despite the name, this highlight is a total industrial mind-smasher. It starts dark and heavy before rising into epic drama. Alongside industrial samples and drumming, it then leads to more of the furious growls and apocalyptic cleans by Burton C. Bell, the latter especially the ending of atmospheric majesty. "Where is your savior now?"

Lindemann - "Praise Abort" from Skills in Pills (2015)

4.5/5. Even a song like this can take on a controversial topic without causing a storm of conservative protesters.

Ministry - "Brick Windows" from Filth Pig (1996)

4/5. This one brings back some earlier experimentation. Fantastic lyrics in this one!

Godflesh - "Don't Bring Me Flowers" from Pure (1992)

4.5/5. This one helps the band stand by their principles for this highlight.

Code Orange - "The Above" from The Above (2023)

5/5. The title finale of the new Code Orange album summarizes all that the band has stated. The exciting ominous crescendo of transcending vocals, chords, and leads shows their loud diversity. The changes in the beat and the dynamics are all in decent calculation and mark a climatic conclusion to this powerful journey.

Fange - "Les Vergers De La Désolation" from Pantocrator (2021)

4.5/5. We still have one more track, and it's the second 10+ minute epic of both its original album and this playlist. It sounds more post-rock-ish, while maintaining a lot of the industrial effects. Lots of moods, melody, and textures... They can add in a slight bit of accessibility while staying in the underground.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks Daniel for accepting this and your help with your submission, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!