December 2024 "The Fallen" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rSh9MnfQo9HmPLo2W5MBa?si=d8b43fdf8dd74bb6
1. Candlemass - "Born in a Tank" (from "Candlemass", 2005)
2. Moonspell - "Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)" (from "Wolfheart", 1995)
3. Reverend Bizarre - "Doom Over the World" ( from "II:Crush the Insects", 2005) [suggested by Vinny]
4. Anathema - "Cries on the Wind" (from "Eternity", 1996) [suggested by Sonny]
5. Ministry – “Filth Pig” (from “Filth Pig”, 1996) [suggested by Daniel]
6. Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - "The Wreck of the S.S. Needle" (from "Mariner", 2016) [suggested by Sonny]
7. Shape of Despair – “Monotony Fields” (from “Monotony Fields”, 2015) [suggested by Daniel]
8. Eyehategod – “Blank” (from “Take as Needed for Pain”, 1993) [suggested by Daniel]
9. Castle Rat - "Dagger Dragger" (from "Into the Realm", 2024) [suggested by Vinny]
10. The Flight of Sleipnir - "Vingthor" (from "Nature's Cadence", 2024) [suggested by Sonny]
11. Earth – “German Dental Work” (from “Demo 1990”, 1990) [suggested by Daniel]
12. Grin - "Torre del Serpe" (from "Hush", 2024)
13. Sporae Autem Yuggoth - "Disguise the Odius Spirits" (from "...However It Still Moves", 2023)
14. In the Woods... - "The Recalcitrant Protagonist" (from "Pure", 2019) [suggested by Sonny]
15. Pallbearer - "Cruel Road" (from "Heartless", 2017) [suggested by Vinny]
16. Dystopia - "Sleep" (from "The Aftermath", 1999) [suggested by Sonny]
17. Toadliquor – “Fratricide: A Requiem” (from “Feel My Hate - The Power Is the Weight - R.I.P. Cain”, 1993) [suggested by Daniel]
18. Yith - "centuries of horror" (from "dread", 2016) [suggested by Sonny]
Some brief notes and comments on this month's playlist:
1. Candlemass - "Born in a Tank" (from "Candlemass", 2005)
One of my favourites from Candlemass' great 2005 return-to-form album. Some uptempo epic shit to get us going!
2. Moonspell - "Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)" (from "Wolfheart", 1995)
I recently checked out Moonspell's "Night Eternal" album and enjoyed it massively, so I thought I would dig a bit deeper and that resulted in this catching my attention from their debut, particularly the guitar work in the latter part of the track.
3. Reverend Bizarre - "Doom Over the World" ( from "II:Crush the Insects", 2005) [suggested by Vinny]
An old Rev Biz classic suggested by Vinny. I love this track, being compelled to nod my head and tap my foot whenever I hear it, so no complaints from me!
4. Anathema - "Cries on the Wind" (from "Eternity", 1996) [suggested by Sonny]
I have been spending a little time filling in the gaps in my listening of the Fallen charts here on Metal Academy and "Eternity" was one of the highest-rated releases I hadn't heard, so I had to put that to rights, with this penultimate track being the one to especially stand out. A real melancholy, creeping-under-the-skin cracker this one with a cool guitar solo.
5. Ministry – “Filth Pig” (from “Filth Pig”, 1996) [suggested by Daniel]
I honestly didn't think Ministry were capable of producing a track as great as this. Good pick Daniel, count me impressed. Sickly, crawling industrialised sludge - sounds like the description of the UK river network!
6. Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - "The Wreck of the S.S. Needle" (from "Mariner", 2016) [suggested by Sonny]
Another great discovery from my Fallen charts completionist project. Obviously I am familiar with CoL, but I thought Julie Christmas was a stand-up comedienne! As atmospheric as we have come to expect from the band, but Ms. Xmas adds an extra dimension and they sound even more menacing and ominous than usual. A top discovery.
7. Shape of Despair – “Monotony Fields” (from “Monotony Fields”, 2015) [suggested by Daniel]
I am well familiar with this as I bought a digital copy from Bandcamp when it came out and I am always up for some funeral doom, especially as performed by experts like SoD. Another nice pick from Daniel as Monotony Fields is often overlooked in favour of the first two albums, but is a great listen nonetheless.
8. Eyehategod – “Blank” (from “Take as Needed for Pain”, 1993) [suggested by Daniel]
Another album I have become well acquainted with over recent years. Desolate, bleak sludge that comes from a place of pain and frustration. A top example of real sludge metal with loads of hardcore attitude.
9. Castle Rat - "Dagger Dragger" (from "Into the Realm", 2024) [suggested by Vinny]
I have had this on my "to listen" list for a little while, so thanks to Vinny for nominating this one. Nice, catchy chunk of trad doom that reminds me very much of Jess and the Ancient Ones' "Astral Sabbat". Good enough to see me checking out the album at some point I think.
10. The Flight of Sleipnir - "Vingthor" (from "Nature's Cadence", 2024) [suggested by Sonny]
I selected this for submission as I bought the album on vinyl and have been playing it a fair bit over the last few weeks. This is my favourite and a nice indication of where thay are now.
11. Earth – “German Dental Work” (from “Demo 1990”, 1990) [suggested by Daniel]
Much as I love some of Earth's work, the lack of production quality of a demo recording does them absolutely no favours.
12. Grin - "Torre del Serpe" (from "Hush", 2024)
I love the riff on this, although the song is a bit too brief and is over just as it really gets good.
13. Sporae Autem Yuggoth - "Disguise the Odius Spirits" (from "...However It Still Moves", 2023)
I'm always a sucker for some Lovecraft-themed doom metal, so when that also involves a relatively new chilean death doom crew then I am doubly interested. Hulking and ominous-sounding old-school death doom that isn't innovative, but that is still very atmospheric and heavy. Could do with a bit more bottom end though (unless it's my headphones).
14. In the Woods... - "The Recalcitrant Protagonist" (from "Pure", 2019) [suggested by Sonny]
This is from my favourite In the Woods... album since their debut and I have been giving it a fair bit of airtime over the last couple of month's, so thought a track from it would be in order. I love the epic melancholic feel of this track and this is how gothic metal should sound.
15. Pallbearer - "Cruel Road" (from "Heartless", 2017) [suggested by Vinny]
One of Pallbearer's best tracks since the debut album. A nice warm up for a dive into the new album.
16. Dystopia - "Sleep" (from "The Aftermath", 1999) [suggested by Sonny]
I've been getting well into Dystopia just lately. Noisy, pissed-off sludge, just as it was originally meant to be.
17. Toadliquor – “Fratricide: A Requiem” (from “Feel My Hate - The Power Is the Weight - R.I.P. Cain”, 1993) [suggested by Daniel]
This is another sludge metal release I have got more into over the last year or two, so it's good to see a track from it getting nominated here. I like to round the playlists off with some dark shit and this certainly fulfills that criteria. It's pretty fucking heavy too.
18. Yith - "centuries of horror" (from "dread", 2016) [suggested by Sonny]
A seriously overlooked blackened doom outfit who are one of the best in the field. This just exudes horrifying, misanthropic menace and is a genuine black metal / doom hybrid and, I think, a good way to end the playlist.