May 2026 "Metalcore Revolution" Playlist - Metal Academy Radio

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yFgscg5HWKGoIy2s0xRfG

Tracklisting:

1. Ithilien - "Blindfolded" from Shaping the Soul (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Phinehas - "Blood on My Knuckles" from The Last Word is Yours to Speak (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. We Butter the Bread with Butter - "N!CE" from Das Album (2021)

4. Hope for the Dying - "Iniquitous" from Aletheia (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. August Burns Red - "The Nameless" from The Nameless (2026)

6. Boundaries - "Death Will Follow Me" from Death Will Follow Me (2026)

7. Ankor, SiM - "DANZO · Lying Ghost" from DANZO · Lying Ghost (2026)

8. Mirrorcell, VCTMS - "Ichi" from Long Nights in Lovescape (2026)

9. Vision of Disorder - "The Craving" from Razed to the Ground (2015)

10. As I Lay Dying - "The Voices That Betray Me" from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001) (based on A Long March: The First Recordings (2006))

11. ERRA - "Hybrid Earth" from Augment (2013)

12. Rise of the Northstar - "Back 2 Basics" from Back 2 Basics (2025)

13. Like Moths to Flames - "Burn in Water, Drown in Flame" from No Eternity in Gold (2020)

14. Excessive Force - "Misfortune" from In Your Blood (1995) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. The Devil Wears Prada - "Swords, Dragons & Diet Coke" from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. The Agonist - "Immaculate Deception" from Days Before the World Wept (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. AVRALIZE - "Liminal" from Liminal (2025)

18. Bleed from Within - "Escape Yourself" from Uprising (2013)

19. Worm Shepherd - "Wilted Moon" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

20. A Wake in Providence - "Black Mass (feat. Dickie Allen)" from Insidious: Phase II (2017)

21. The Last Ten Seconds of Life - "Sacrifice (the Prince)" from Soulless Hymns (2015)

22. Within Destruction - "Death Awaits Us All" from Deathwish (2018)

23. Frontierer - "Mt. Swath" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

24. Psyopus - "Ms. Sunflower" from Odd Senses (2009)

25. Invent Animate, Silent Planet - "Armageddon Eyes" from Bloom in Heaven (2025)

26. Northlane, In Hearts Wake - "Equinox" from Equinox (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. Darkest Hour - "Accessible Losses" from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (2003)

28. Bullet for My Valentine - "The End" from The Poison (2005)

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Ithilien - "Blindfolded" from Shaping the Soul (2017)

5/5. Starting its original album and this playlist is a slow march of guitars and Celtic instruments, then when the screaming vocals enter the picture, the drumming tempo really speeds up. This is basically the kind of soundtrack Game of Thrones needs for their enemy-slashing battles. And when the mid-paced folk sections come back on, they're for getting hammered, partying, and simply headbanging to the loud heaviness.

Phinehas - "Blood on My Knuckles" from The Last Word is Yours to Speak (2013)

5/5. "FACE YOUR WRATH!!!" Phinehas have made some awesome Christian metalcore, and their second album has some country/southern vibes. I love the riffing after the first chorus. The lyrical themes seem to continue from their debut Thegodmachine. Furthermore, the soloing is so beautiful and intense. I'm glad to include it in the playlist.

We Butter the Bread with Butter - "N!CE" from Das Album (2021)

4.5/5. Pretty nice, right? Nice in the heavy and not depressive sense.

Hope for the Dying - "Iniquitous" from Aletheia (2013)

5/5. This highlight kicks off with some European neoclassical shredding. Then the lyrics battle against false beliefs, "you almost believe the lies yourself". Lots of epic power despite being a short song compared to the rest of that album.

August Burns Red - "The Nameless" from The Nameless (2026)

4.5/5. August Burns Red still have their heavier metalcore roots to make me happy from the rage. Don't shoot the Messengers!

Boundaries - "Death Will Follow Me" from Death Will Follow Me (2026)

4/5. Some wild tempo changes here. They're going as hard as 156/Silence and TDWP's Zombie EPs. And it all leads to the brutal ending breakdown.

Ankor, SiM - "DANZO · Lying Ghost" from DANZO · Lying Ghost (2026)

3.5/5. Ankor are still cranking up good bangers, this one featuring MAH from SiM.

Mirrorcell, VCTMS - "Ichi" from Long Nights in Lovescape (2026)

4/5. This one deserves attention for its VCTMS guest feature and its intense heaviness. I heard that it's a common song to start listening to Mirrorcell, but that would've raised some people's expectations too high. Either way, another solid track!

Vision of Disorder - "The Craving" from Razed to the Ground (2015)

4.5/5. This one is slightly more progressive, having an unorthodox time signature. The power and strength makes that song another one of the best in the original album.

As I Lay Dying - "The Voices That Betray Me" from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001) (based on A Long March: The First Recordings (2006))

5/5. I'm glad the Long March compilation is on Spotify, otherwise I wouldn't be able to add in this standout. In the middle is some well-made heavy sh*t.

ERRA - "Hybrid Earth" from Augment (2013)

4.5/5. An underrated song by ERRA. Their current vocalist JT Cavey should re-record their first two albums with the rest of the band.

Rise of the Northstar - "Back 2 Basics" from Back 2 Basics (2025)

5/5. I love it when a band goes back to their basic roots. I also love the guest vocals by Florent Salfati of Landmvrks.

Like Moths to Flames - "Burn in Water, Drown in Flame" from No Eternity in Gold (2020)

5/5. One of my favorite songs from that Like Moths to Flames album, with a catchy chorus to balance out with the heaviness. And it only gets better from there, reaching its height with the final BLEGH and riffing.

Excessive Force - "Misfortune" from In Your Blood (1995)

4.5/5. One of, if not THE best track of its original album. It's quite strong in the lyrical message of self-reflection and the kick-A riffing. The heavy drumming is also irresistible.

The Devil Wears Prada - "Swords, Dragons & Diet Coke" from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006)

5/5. Swords, Dragons, &....Diet Coke???? Well, some knights might be underaged or Muslims. This is one of the best songs by the band in the earlier part of their career. It is relatable for those who feel sadness from dead languages and lonely hearts. Christian melodic metalcore can help those get back up after feeling down.

The Agonist - "Immaculate Deception" from Days Before the World Wept (2021)

4.5/5. It's sad that The Agonist are no longer around. Vicky Psarakis can be considered the princess of melodeath/metalcore.

AVRALIZE - "Liminal" from Liminal (2025)

4/5. Another d*mn great track, though a little pop-ish.

Bleed from Within - "Escape Yourself" from Uprising (2013)

4.5/5. Extreme madness that needs more attention, especially in the final riffing outro.

Worm Shepherd - "Wilted Moon" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

5/5. The symphonics shine the best here. This epic highlight is almost a redux to the Lorna Shore track "And I Return to Nothingness".

A Wake in Providence - "Black Mass (feat. Dickie Allen)" from Insidious: Phase II (2017)

4.5/5. A nearly 6-minute epic with great drumming flow from Anthony Dipietro. I enjoy the alternation between Ramos' growls and the screams of Dickie Allen (Infant Annihilator, later Nekrogoblikon). Nothing ever sounds weak there! Their ex-vocalist Will Ramos has that monstrous intensity that would continue to stun listeners 5 years later in his time with Lorna Shore. Absolutely insane!

The Last Ten Seconds of Life - "Sacrifice (the Prince)" from Soulless Hymns (2015)

5/5. So d*mn perfect, absolutely impressive with the brutal music and irreligious lyrics. F*** yeah!

Within Destruction - "Death Awaits Us All" from Deathwish (2018)

5/5. Another 5-minute epic with some great variation. As far as their later sound would go, that one's pretty close.

Frontierer - "Mt. Swath" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

4.5/5. This one is never a disappointment. The rage from the bass and downtuned guitars can pack some punches even in the lowest mix.

Psyopus - "Ms. Sunflower" from Odd Senses (2009)

5/5. One of the best songs by this band. Even something dark, dissonant, and chaotic like during the final minute can comfort me.

Invent Animate, Silent Planet - "Armageddon Eyes" from Bloom in Heaven (2025)

4.5/5. What would you call this collaboration project? Silent Invention? Animated Planet? Nonetheless, an amazing multi-band work!

Northlane, In Hearts Wake - "Equinox" from Equinox (2016)

5/5. It's not every day an interlude deserves a perfect 5 stars. It's what connects the two songs of the Northlane/In Hearts Wake collaboration EP together and is a beautiful smooth interlude. It works as a prelude to something big to close things off, which is kinda the reason for this submission.

Darkest Hour - "Accessible Losses" from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (2003)

4.5/5. Darkest Hour have built the bridge between melodeath and metalcore in tracks like this 8-minute epic. It's just f***ing wild, save for a long yet pleasant soft bridge midway through. And it works well when paired with one last epic...

Bullet for My Valentine - "The End" from The Poison (2005)

5/5. I really love this great end to another metalcore journey. More mellow and depressing but still stands out well. The guitar riff is so simple, Matt can focus on more emotion in his vocals in the cleaner verses. I wish he could keep doing that emotional technique but that would mean he would have to drop the guitar full-time. The song gets heavier but once again, there's no solo. Then it returns to the intro riff used as the outro with soft guitar harmony over it as it all fades out. Another personal favorite!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!