December 2024 "Industrial Metal Invasion" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45Xj4PCyW3LavsE8NMtncN
Tracklisting:
1. Blue Stahli - "Obsidian" from Obsidian (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
2. Celldweller - "The Last Firstborn" from Celldweller (2003) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
3. Psyclon Nine - "Crown of the Worm" from Icon of the Adversary (2017)
4. Dawn of Ashes - "Poisoning the Steps of Babel" from Anathema (2013)
5. Red Queen - "Naked" from Star Blood (2016)
6. Marilyn Manson - "In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" from Holy Wood (2000)
7. OOMPH! - "Es ist nichts, wie es scheint" from Richter und Henker (2023)
8. Rammstein - "Angst" from Zeit (2022)
9. Static-X - "Cold" from Machine (2001)
10. Meathook Seed - "Cling to an Image" from Embedded (1993)
11. Fear Factory – "Scumgrief (Deep Dub Trauma Mix)" from Fear is the Mindkiller E.P. (1993) [submitted by Daniel]
12. Red Harvest - "Beyond the End" from Sick Transit Gloria Mundi (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
13. The CNK - "Total Eclipse of Dead Europa" from L'hymne à la joie (2007)
14. Dodheimsgard - "Foe X Foe" from Supervillain Outcast (2007)
15. In This Moment - "Mother" from Mother (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
16. PAIN - "On and On" from Rebirth (1999) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
17. Luminous Vault - "Earth Daemon" from Animate the Emptiness (2022)
18. Neurotech - "We are the Last" from Antagonist (2011)
19. Mechina - "Elephtheria" from Empyrean (2013)
20. Turmion Katilot - "Verta Sataa" from Perstechnique (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
21. Deathstars - "Trinity Fields" from Termination Bliss (2006)
22. Black Magnet - "Hegemon" from Hallucination Scene (2020)
23. Unheilig - "Schneller, höher, weiter" from Astronaut (2006)
24. Samsas Traum - "Es tut uns leid" from Poesie: Friedrichs Geschichte (2015)
25. Ministry - "Cult of Suffering" from HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (2024)
26. Sybreed - "System Debaser" from Slave Design (20th Anniversary Edition) (2024)
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Blue Stahli - "Obsidian" from Obsidian (2021)
5/5. I love the opening track of Blue Stahli's new album Obsidian, which in a way, is like a more cyber Circle of Dust. After building up in drums and guitars for almost a minute, you get to hear one of the darkest melodies in industrial metal. Then a minute after that part ends, a DOOM-like drop B-flat breakdown comes in before that melody is reprised once more. Truly exceptional! Bret Autrey has done fantastic work, even in the lyrics that only show up briefly.
Celldweller - "The Last Firstborn" from Celldweller (2003)
5/5. Another f***ing awesome piece of electro-industrial rock/metal! Many of Celldweller's songs have appeared in different TV shows, video games, and movies. There really should be more progressive songs for Klayton to create. I also love the heavy verses, first one at the one-minute mark.
Psyclon Nine - "Crown of the Worm" from Icon of the Adversary (2017)
4.5/5. Heavy is the f***ing crown worn by these masters of blackened electro-industrial metal.
Dawn of Ashes - "Poisoning the Steps of Babel" from Anathema (2013)
4/5. One of the most f***ing disturbing songs I've heard in industrial metal and probably any other genre. This dramatic blackened industrial metal sound is like a more electronic take on the symphonic black metal of Covenant and Dimmu Borgir. Adding to the disturbance is the muffled cries of torture heard throughout the song, most prominently during the final 30 seconds.
Red Queen - "Naked" from Star Blood (2016)
3.5/5. I said this before and I'll say it again; Red Queen is basically In This Moment gone Psyclon Nine/Dawn of Ashes.
Marilyn Manson - "In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" from Holy Wood (2000)
3/5. The soft acoustic first half sounds a little too poppy for me, but at least the second half has the industrial rock/metal that fans of the genre can adore.
OOMPH! - "Es ist nichts, wie es scheint" from Richter und Henker (2023)
3.5/5. Slightly better, but not by a long shot, since this is the unappealing to me Neue Deutsche Härte.
Rammstein - "Angst" from Zeit (2022)
4/5. This one stomps away the anxiety that Rammstein has written about in the lyrics.
Static-X - "Cold" from Machine (2001)
3.5/5. Many people remember this track from the movie Queen of the Damned. RIP Aaliyah, and RIP Wayne...
Meathook Seed - "Cling to an Image" from Embedded (1993)
4/5. The second-best song of this Meathook Seed album (behind its opener), in which dynamic beats intertwine with the complex guitar.
Fear Factory – "Scumgrief (Deep Dub Trauma Mix)" from Fear is the Mindkiller E.P. (1993)
2.5/5. This remix starts off promising with its original proto-melodeath riffing. However, the overuse of techno beats can be quite traumatic for the more deathly metalheads. Well, not all deathly metalheads. Daniel is the one who requested it, thanks for that.
Red Harvest - "Beyond the End" from Sick Transit Gloria Mundi (2002)
4/5. Some great extreme industrial metal from this Norwegian band!
The CNK - "Total Eclipse of Dead Europa" from L'hymne à la joie (2007)
3.5/5. Grand chorus and rhythms, though a little too pompous. Next!
Dodheimsgard - "Foe X Foe" from Supervillain Outcast (2007)
4/5. Fight against your foes with this piece of experimental blackened industrial metal!
In This Moment - "Mother" from Mother (2020)
4.5/5. The title track of In This Moment album has a spoken prayer in the intro followed by quiet piano before the powerful vocals explode in with tender moments. "I'll give you my everything, I'll never let you fall".
PAIN - "On and On" from Rebirth (1999)
5/5. One of the most f***ing kick-A songs in this dance-y kind of industrial metal. A cool one for any weight-lifters to train.
Luminous Vault - "Earth Daemon" from Animate the Emptiness (2022)
4.5/5. Sludgy blackened industrial metal worth battling your demons!
Neurotech - "We are the Last" from Antagonist (2011)
4/5. Wulf is quite a genius in his Neurotech project. The first 45 seconds have a sweet blend of epic orchestration and heavy riffing.
Mechina - "Elephtheria" from Empyrean (2013)
4.5/5. This is perhaps the most well-executed highlight in this Mechina album, never as poorly aging as the other tracks.
Turmion Katilot - "Verta Sataa" from Perstechnique (2011)
5/5. Having more of the stereotypical catchy industrial metal is this highlight that fuels the cyber sounds of The Kovenant and Deathstars.
Deathstars - "Trinity Fields" from Termination Bliss (2006)
4.5/5. Speaking of Deathstars, we have this track that's the longest of their 2006 album Termination Bliss, though only 4 and a half minutes long. It works as a relaxing change of pace in one of their gigs, or at home after a long day out. Different yet nicely great.
Black Magnet - "Hegemon" from Hallucination Scene (2020)
4/5. Similar vibes to late-80s Ministry/Godflesh, maybe even Machines of Loving Grace.
Unheilig - "Schneller, höher, weiter" from Astronaut (2006)
3.5/5. The vocals sounds quite good here, eerie while not in the same level as Count Dracula.
Samsas Traum - "Es tut uns leid" from Poesie: Friedrichs Geschichte (2015)
4/5. Also solid while I'm still not really into NDH. Now what else is here?...
Ministry - "Cult of Suffering" from HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (2024)
4.5/5. Oh yeah, we have this Ministry track that's excellent despite relying so much on gospel-like female singing.
Sybreed - "System Debaser" from Slave Design (20th Anniversary Edition) (2024)
5/5. Swiss cyber/industrial metallers Sybreed plan have released a 20th anniversary remaster of their stellar debut Slave Design. It includes two new bonus tracks; a re-recording of "Bioactive" and this killer previously unreleased banger to close this playlist. No word on whether or not the band will truly reunite.
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!