April 2024 "The Gateway" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7aY7WjCGySb3Lb4x79Dk5T?si=49a27f36ac6848cb

1. Bad Brains – Soul Craft (1989)

2. Blanket – Where the Light Takes Us (2021)

3. Body Count – Violent Demise (1997)

4. Crossfaith – Zero (2024)

5. Dark new Day – Evergreen (2005)

6. Dead by April – Break My Fall (2024)

7. Demon Hunter – Time Only Takes (2019)

8. From Ashes to New – Shadows (2016)

9. In Flames – Clayman (2020 Version)

10. In This Moment – Standing Alone (2010)

11. Jeris Johnson, BOI WHAT – Battling My Demons (2024)

12. Karnivool – The Caudal Lure (2010)

13. Mordred – Falling Away (1991)

14. Mucky Pup – Mucky Pumpin’ Motion (1992)

15. Nik Nocturnal, Fronzilla – In Da Club (2023)

16. Nonpoint – Tribute (2000)

17. Poppy – Concrete (2019)

18. Powerman 5000 – Action (2003)

19. Rollins Band – Tearing (1992)

20. Sleep Token – Gods (2019)

21. Spineshank – New Disease (2000)

22. Twelve Foot Ninja – Manufacture of Consent (2010)

23. Yousei Teikoku – Missing (2013)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Crossfaith – Zero (2024)

5/5. Crossfaith lives again! The strength of their new single is insane.

Dark new Day – Evergreen (2005)

4.5/5. Over a decade ago, my brother was just starting to listen to the hard rock/alt-metal he still likes today. He probably would love this bada** beast of a song that sounds close to Breaking Benjamin. It relates well to the troubles of relationship neglect. Honestly, it would work as a wrestler's entrance theme.

Dead by April – Break My Fall (2024)

5/5. Now this is some hard fire creeping in! It's not related to that Breaking Benjamin song, but it has a similar vibe to that band but heavier.

Demon Hunter – Time Only Takes (2019)

4.5/5. Personally a timeless melodic Demon Hunter classic!

From Ashes to New – Shadows (2016)

4/5. Another beast of a song that I'm sure my brother would enjoy, since there's one From Ashes to New song he likes, which I've submitted to a Gateway playlist a few months back. And there are other songs to like from this playlist too...

In Flames – Clayman (2020 Version)

4.5/5. As if the new In Flames album Foregone isn't already a throwback to the band's melodeath roots, a few years prior, they re-recorded some songs from their 2000 album Clayman as part of a reissue, and that makes me up to one day revisiting the original version.

In This Moment – Standing Alone (2010)

5/5. Another grand banger, as the bass groove and drum fury speed on. It really stands out with the howling and singing contrasting with each other.

Jeris Johnson, BOI WHAT – Battling My Demons (2024)

4.5/5. Jeris Johnson has collaborated with Boi What (known for his AI Plankton voice) for an anthem to battle your inner struggles. Nicely f***ing done!

Karnivool – The Caudal Lure (2010)

4/5. Sounds Awake is more of an alt-prog rock album than metal, but I appreciate this song have some of their earlier TOOL-like sound, just the way I like it.

Nik Nocturnal, Fronzilla – In Da Club (2023)

4.5/5. The result of modern metal YouTuber Nik Nocturnal and Attila vocalist Fronz making their own version of a 50 Cent hit with the violent rage of metal.

Rollins Band – Tearing (1992)

4/5. Another excellent single. It has caused Rollins' work to spread to MTV and metalheads.

Sleep Token – Gods (2019)

4.5/5. "MY F***ING FORM IS BUT A WRECK BENEATH THEM!" The guitar and overall heaviness might remind some of Deftones and Loathe, in contrast with the soft piano and ambience for a diverse mix.

Spineshank – New Disease (2000)

4/5. I remember adding this song to my first ever Sphere playlist two years ago, and I don't mind commenting on it again. The early 2000s was when alternative/industrial metal was on the rise, and when songs like this one were sports video games. I did not like metal during my kiddy years of the 2000s. It wasn't until the 2010s when my metal interest took off. Still this can give fans of this style of metal quite a bit of nostalgia.

Twelve Foot Ninja – Manufacture of Consent (2010)

4.5/5. F***ing great experimental greatness. Enough said!

Yousei Teikoku – Missing (2013)

4/5. An interesting song to end this playlist, with a dark metal equivalent to anime theme music. Great way to head out!