December 2024 "The Gateway" Playlist - Alternative Metal Authority
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7aY7WjCGySb3Lb4x79Dk5T?si=528dcff3d38d40c9
1. 40 Below Summer – 5 Of A Kind (2006)
2. Alesti, Anxxiety – Dissipate (2021)
3. Bad Omens – Dethrone (2019)
4. Breaking Benjamin – Awaken (2024)
5. Cosmosquad – Lubitorium (2007)
6. Electric Love Hogs – Just Another Day (1992)
7. Galactic Cowboys – Tilt-A-Whirl (1997)
8. Godsmack – 1000hp (2014)
9. Junius – A Mass for Metaphysicians (2017)
10. Kittie – Safe (KMFDM Remix) (2002)
11. Lansdowne – Conquer Them All (2023)
12. Linkin Park – Heavy Is the Crown (2024)
13. Moron Police – Who’s That Chicken? (2012)
14. Nothing More, David Draiman – Angel Song (2024)
15. Primus – Welcome To This World (1993)
16. Soil – Halo (2001)
17. Soundgarden – Smokestack Lightning (2017)
18. Starset – Brave New World (2024)
19. Tourniquet – Spineless (1991)
20. Trash Boat – Be Someone (2024)
21. Void of Vision – Gamma Knife (2024)
Here are my thoughts on some tracks:
40 Below Summer – 5 Of A Kind (2006)
4/5. Any nu metal fans out there wanting to rock out to songs like this, be my guest. It's pretty great, but I sense better kinds of this music elsewhere.
Alesti, Anxxiety – Dissipate (2021)
4.5/5. I probably would never have heard of Alesti if not for my brother listening to a couple of his tracks. Quite a wild song to love!
Bad Omens – Dethrone (2019)
5/5. Surprising you hard is the heaviest track of its original album. In contrast to the album's clean soft tracks, that one has Emmure-like moshing moments to make it clear that Bad Omens can be considered metal.
Breaking Benjamin – Awaken (2024)
4.5/5. Epic new single by another hard rock/alt-metal/post-grunge band that my brother enjoys, from the upcoming Breaking Benjamin album coming out next year.
Godsmack – 1000hp (2014)
4/5. The title opener of Godsmack's 6th album 1000hp is an anthem of their journey so far, taking us back to the year of their formation, 1995. Listen to that aggressive guitarwork and argue with me about whether or not that's metal, because I might win that debate. The loudness and powerful vocals shall pack some heavy face-punches. "TURN THAT SH*T UP LOUDER!!!"
Lansdowne – Conquer Them All (2023)
4.5/5. I'm quite thankful to my brother for helping me start my metal path and conquer practically all the different lands of metal, though this song and band we didn't encounter until around last year.
Linkin Park – Heavy Is the Crown (2024)
4/5. The main theme song for this year's League of Legends World Championship greatly throws back to "Faint" in the pace and instrumentation, along with "Given Up" in the massive 16-second scream in the bridge, "THIS IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOOOOOOOORRRRRR!!!!!!"
Moron Police – Who’s That Chicken? (2012)
3.5/5. Interesting blend of comedy, punky metal, and radio-friendliness.
Nothing More, David Draiman – Angel Song (2024)
4/5. Nothing More is almost like a blend of Disturbed, Godsmack, and Fall Out Boy. The emotional lyrics and guest vocals by Disturbed's David Draiman really hit the spot.
Starset – Brave New World (2024)
4.5/5. Starset wasn't kidding about wanting to make their sound more cinematic. Good work, guys!