February 2021 "The Gateway" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7aY7WjCGySb3Lb4x79Dk5T?si=1d045ddce7374c18

1. Breaking Benjamin – Torn in Two (2018) Requested by Andi

2. Karnivool – Mauseum (2005) (album feature)

3. Loathe – Dimorphous Display (2022)

4. Kittie – Brackish (2000)

5. Mushroomhead – Come One (2010)

6. Bullet For My Valentine – Piece of Me (2018) Requested by Andi

7. Powerman 5000 – Neckbone (1997)

8. Tool – Die Eier Von Satan (1996)

9. Linkin Park – Krwlng (2002) Requested by Andi

10. Skinlab – Venomous (2019)

11. King 810 – Killem All (2014)

12. Bad Wolves – Springfield Summer (2021) Requested by Daniel

13. Tourniquet – If I Was There (1997)

14. Muse – Won’t Stand Down (2022)

15. Dark new Day – Fist from the Sky (2012)

16. Machinae Supremacy – A View from the End of the World (2010) Requested by Andi

17. Motograter – Dorian (2017)

18. Girugamesh – Drain (2013)

19. Spiritbox – Eternal Blue (2021)

20. Slipknot – Unsainted (2019)

21. Head Control System – Masterpiece (of Art) (2006)

22. Dir En Grey - 輪郭 (Rinkaku) (2014) Requested by Andi

23. Korn – Cold (2019)

24. Deftones – Ohms (2020)

25. Motionless in White – Another Life (2019) Requested by Andi

26. Ra – Do You Call My Name (2002)

27. Soilwork – Stabbing the Drama (2005)

28. Sevendust – All I Really Know (2021) Requested by Vinny

29. While She Sleeps – Division Street (2021) Requested by Andi

30. 3rd Strike – No Light (2002)

February 2022 obviously

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Breaking Benjamin – Torn in Two (2018)

4.5/5. A killer song to start this playlist! This is one of my brother's favorite Breaking Benjamin songs, and it's probably now one of my favorites too when my brother was playing in a car ride that was in with him. This massive boss battle theme is what really gets me hyped. "Broken I crawl back to life..."

Karnivool – Mauseum (2005)

5/5. The heaviness builds up again with this slower highlight. I found that song and someone's orchestral version a few years ago.

Bullet For My Valentine – Piece of Me (2018)

3.5/5. This one has some breakdowns and screams similar to their older material, but everything else falls into the electronic sea, similar to Asking Alexandria. Fortunately, their recent self-titled album made up for the mistakes made in Gravity.

Linkin Park – Krwlng (2002)

4/5. Further distancing from most of the hip-hop sh*t in Reanimation is what you've all been waiting for, an epic dramatic revisit of "Crawling", with Staind singer Aaron Lewis, where the beat and brief rapping have earned a greater edge for a crossover with less emphasis on hip-hop. Well done, guys...

Bad Wolves – Springfield Summer (2021)

3/5. Nice acoustic country, but it doesn't really work for the most part. Next!

Machinae Supremacy – A View from the End of the World (2010)

4/5. To tell you the truth, I loved this song more 5 years ago when my taste in power metal was still at height, but this band has an amazing mix of that genre, alt-metal, and 8-bit synths. Deep lyrics fit well for these astral video game metal heroes. In the alt-metal side, this band really separates itself from other bands who keep focusing on hip-hop and dubstep. Yet I caught all of this band like all that Pokemon sh*t much more back in those earlier days...

Spiritbox – Eternal Blue (2021)

4.5/5. The title track of the first and so far only Spiritbox album clearly calms down the metal wolf for ethereal clarity. Mike continues his heavy and melancholic soloing, and Courtney wishes that her "blood would slow down".

Dir En Grey - 輪郭 (Rinkaku) (2014)

5/5. I'm still stunned by how amazing this band is, especially the vocal range of Kyo that goes in different levels, from low to mid to high. Bad-a** amazing fun! I still have my faith in one of my favorite Japanese metal bands. I also sense a bit of Yakuza-like jazziness.

Motionless in White – Another Life (2019)

4.5/5. This hits me with wonderful beauty and great lyrics that could shed me to tears. F***ing fascinating!

While She Sleeps – Division Street (2021)

4/5. Sleeps Society is another good album in 2021, and we've had several songs from the album, each one in one of the Gateway playlists last year. This one is a soft ballad that I thought would break things up a bit, and I like that it's saved for one of the last.

3rd Strike – No Light (2002)

3.5/5. Thanks for this playlist, Saxy. This song is quite good, but it's not really how I wanted to end it. A pseudo-rap metal track right after a soft ballad that would've nicely sealed the ending better. 3rd Strike is not a charm, despite some cool potential.