Vinny's Forum Replies
Not a fan of this. The very concept of everything needing to fit into neat little boxes drives me up the wall if I am honest. Obviously a passionate subject for some and each to their own but this won't make my Metal Academy experience any different I sense.
Panopticon - Kentucky (2012)
I have grown really fond of this record in recent weeks (think I picked up on it from a track on the North playlist the other month). It is such a well composed album that deals with a very emotive subject very sensibly in terms of how the folk, bluegrass and black metal elements are deployed to tell the story. Need to find time to get a review done on this so will hold off rating at this stage.
1. King Diamond is a terrible vocalist and the real talent in Mercyful Fate has always been Denner and Shermann. That withstanding, none of their albums are worthy of nearly half of the praise they receive and all of KD's solo releases are boring.
2. Likewise, Joey Belladonna is an overrated vocalist and Anthrax's output is patchy at best.
3. Voivod have never released a good album and are none of my business.
4. Amon Amarth have been releasing the same album for the last 29 years and it is still boring.
5. The internet has too many fucking lists on it.
6. Iron Maiden were at their best when Paul Di'Anno was on vocals.
7. Meshuggah sacrifice power and passion in their music in favour of unnecessary complexity.
8. AC/DC are massively overrated and nowhere near as influential as fans make them out to be.
I still can't call whether it is the debut or this album that I prefer but this release is full of looming and complex angles that have enough light on them to make them catchy and memorable. Accessible without sacrificing the threat of each track the album has a level of engagement and instant appeal that is not always present on such releases. Helped in no small part by Dolan's appropriate yet legible vocal delivery and those cutting and entertaining riff patterns the album offers points of interest at every turn.
4.5/5
https://metal.academy/reviews/19644/642
I am a slow reader nowadays, considering when I was younger I read 2 books most weeks with horror fiction being my genre of choice. I have currently been reading the same book for 2 years now, Orlando Figes - The Russian Revolution: A People's Tragedy and then I have the complete works of Poe to get through.
In answer to the question though, no I am not into science fiction be it classic or otherwise. Not against picking up something in the future but never had any overarching desire to pursue it as a genre.
My favourite Overkill album from what I have heard and spent quality time with. A real riff ripping thrash metal album that maintains a high level of consistency throughout. Had I not been able to get over my initial dislike of Bobby's vocals then I may never have discovered what a great album Horrorscope is. I kind of want all Overkill records to sound like this but then of course that's what keeps this one top of the pile of favourites from the band.
4.5/5
Great start to 2021 with this and my favourite Overkill album in The Pit too. Will be flexing my fingers on a couple of reviews over the bank holiday weekend.
EDIT : Already reviewed Overkill. Doh!
Pentagram - Day of Reckoning (1987)
A band I finally got around to checking out in 2020 and in the last few days of 2020 I went on a doom trip listening to Windhand then a sharp turn back in time to The Obsessed and then Pentagram. Very mellow vocals to my ears that still retain a sense of malice and sinister intent to add some edge to things. Worth a punt to get me to check out more of their back catalogue at least.
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
A recent CD (re) purchase - I sold my original copy back in the 90s - and boy does this take me back to happy times. Hands down my go to Slayer record even though I acknowledge South of Heaven and Reign in Blood to be superior, but what the 1990 release offers is the urgent and yet dogged pace coupled with some atmospheric gems like Dead Skin Mask and the title track. Slight lull towards the end but still a great record.
4.5/5
Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You (1970)
Since listening to Oranssi Pazuzu yesterday I immediately went on a Hawkwind trip and have found myself on a backward journey regressing into the 70's. After some Edgar Broughton Band I ended up settling next on some Atomic Rooster for my old school itch.
Just caught on to Onirik's latest release and have spent most of the weekend with that so far. But also dusted off some old vinyl (second hand purchases) that wouldn't play on my old vinyl player - because the player was shite - but now seem to be okay, so last night I got through Winger's self-titled (shut up) with a few whisky and cokes in me and sang along like a teenage girl! Onirik and Winger in the same day, what an eclectic bastard I am.
That is an incredible amount of work Ben and your dedication is amazing. Thanks 25,000 times for all your stellar efforts to provide your members with a satisfying experience.
In these crazy times we are all living in, it is fantastic to have a place where you can just "hang out" and shoot the shit with like- (or sometimes unlike-) minded individuals about music, nothing more and nothing less. No pandemic, no mentally unhinged politicians, just talking with (and hopefully listening to) others about something we all love. Many, many thanks to both you, Ben and Daniel for all the hours you both must spend to provide this all for us.
Best wishes to both of you and your families for Xmas and the New Year and also to all the Academy members.
Seconded.
I think on reflection that although it has never been my exclusive genre of music to listen to, it is clear that metal has consistently been the genre I return to after any foray into other styles. I listen to electronic, pop, hip-hop, classical, jazz and some folk music and for a period of about 2 years in the late nineties was not listening to any metal at all.
I think the thing that always brought me back to it was the fact that it was such a massive part of my growing up as a teenager and therefore represents vital importance in terms of nostalgia and a key period of my life. I recall I was interested in a couple of tracks (Gary Moore Over the Hills and Far Away seems to be one I recall) that were borderline metal on the music tv channels and so knowing my cousin had a decent collection of albums I borrowed those and never looked back.
The underlying rationale in getting into metal though was because everyone else in my peer circle at the time had started to listen to indie bands like Inspiral Carpets and the Stone Roses and like sheep everyone in school went down the same path. A couple of us "rebelled" and went down our own path of non-conformity as we saw it then and as such I have always felt like metal is somehow personal to me as a genre, like it is mine oddly.
I can't say if I will always listen to metal (my Dad fell out of love with music 30 years ago - he donated his classical music collection to me - and has never bothered to return), but it has brought much value to my life at various points and most definitely has shaped me as a person.
Yeah I've always thought "Louder Than Love" was awesome. It's highlights ("Hands All Over", "Loud Love", "Gun", etc.) are sensationally bad-ass & heavy as fuck. It's definitely got some of Soundgarden's best material. I don't think the overall album is as as consistent as the two albums that followed it though, particularly "Badmotorfinger" which is my personal favourite.
Interestingly I am the other way. I find both later albums inconsistent and flawed despite their being obvious "hits" on them.
Soundgarden - Louder Than Love (1989)
For some reason I never bothered much with this record back in the 90's. It's great though, playing like a really alternative version of Led Zeppelin. In hindsight probably better than Badmotorfinger and most of Superunknown which were my go to albums throughout the period. 4/5
I think on a site with limited members already (not meant to sound harsh) I would not see the point in further division of the existing clans. Look at The Sphere which is I agree a defined genre of metal that has the lowest activity of the clans. If you take out Viking Metal and Folk Metal and Trance Metal/core (whatever the fuck that is?) you're just diluting the coverage of these sub-genres and potentially limiting exposure to them across the site.
I grow tired easily of "boxes" talk so I am probably in my own "box" (the irony) in terms of what seems to be a very passionate subject for other members but in all honesty I just don't care that much about what fits into what genre/sub-genre.
January:
Drautran - Blót - Lohen der Opferung from Throne of the Depths (2007)
Akhlys - Succubare from Melinoë (2020)
Wallachia - Heathen Shores from Monumental Heresy (2018)
Much to enjoy here for me and a couple of takeaways for me to explore more in Kawir, Katavasia and Panopticon. Heard Panopticon before but never explored beyond the one album I own. I think I have the Nocternity half of a spit they did with Kawir and have never heard any Katavasia until now so got some warm black metal tones to listen to over the coming weeks.
This one was a bit too grindy for me this time around and so I didn't really pick out too much to explore off the back of it. Will be listening through Despise The Sun again though as I have never given it much attention for some reason before now. I did get through the Entombed track and quite enjoyed it which is bolt from the blue as I have no time normally for Clandestine, so perhaps time for another spin of that too.
Hi Ben,
Please add Norway's Wallachia to the North clan?
Wallachia - Monumental Heresy (2018)
An unexpected freebie from Debemur Morti Productions when my copy of Akhlys Melinoë arrived today. Tucked into the packaging was this CD. It's an album I am familiar with but have never infested much time in. It's symphonic elements feel more folk than outright Emperor like grandiosity and when it goes bm it does so with sufficient abrasiveness to please my kvlt tendencies.
4/5
That's a great message. How are you catering for that while listening to music in your home office if you don't mind me asking? I'm asking for.... a friend.... who is still addicted to loud music despite knowing he's done himself irreparable damage & is not doing himself any good for later life. (That's my story & I'm sticking with it.)
I am fortunate to live in a house big enough for the music I play to be relatively isolated from other spaces in the house so my fiancée isn't disturbed (plus I don't listen to music loudly all that often) and my office is at the side of the house that is not attached to an adjacent property. I have started to try and open my day with an album to stop me logging straight onto my work laptop each day and then also making effort to play an album at the end of my working day to acknowledge that's done and I am out of work mode.
Review is up and I stood by my original 4 star rating. Strong debut that shows the huge potential of Chuck, Alex and Eric in particular. Held back by a lazy mix that makes it hard to hear all the performances.
I am not entirely sold on this release if I am honest. There’s enough functional change of pace and style throughout the track to keep me interested but in all honesty it would have worked better as a three track EP as opposed to one long track. Whilst I enjoy it in it’s current format, I don’t love it and feel that the band are not utilising their resources to maximum effect. It plays like one long jam session that somehow is able to be edited together to make some semblance of continuous progress only there’s not enough cohesion to marry it all together harmoniously. As such it feels like the entertainment is by chance as opposed to anything planned.
I will stick with Paracletus and Drought in the main but this release at least shows the versatility of the band.
2.5/5
Review is up. Not a bad record tbh, just very safe and sterile to my ears. Feels like the band are trying to recapture old vibes from twenty years ago and force them upon the listener as opposed to genuinely sharing something with us. Better than Gore (I mean - how could it not be) but far from their best.
Actually a release in The Sphere clan I have already reviewed. Not my usual bag this but it still holds merit as great background music (and driving music as it turns out also). Can see how it fits the game perfectly based on what I hear throughout the 31 tracks here. It doesn't get me nostalgic like I expected it would but at the same time I actually was surprised I could listen to the whole thing at all.
3.5/5
Ah, I rated this but never wrote an actual review so this will be a good opportunity to put some words to the stars.
Now we are talking, one of the best Incantation releases in their discography. Corchado's input is certainly influential here but McEntee and co also put in a sterling effort. Less murky but by no means any less powerful. Probably the last great Incantation record. 4.5/5
Before I miss this altogether, to firstly state that I genuinely look forward to both the feature releases and the playlists each month as this usually means something to challenge me or at least present something new for me to discover, despite my best intentions I never quite get around to every release or playlist so this thread will highlight my inconsistency if nothing else.
Neptunian Maximalism - Eons 2/5
After much debate I decided that I just didn't really need this in my life. Nice to hear something a bit different but couldn't escape the feeling that it was just being put together for the sheer hell of being different instead of out of any genuine cohesive process. Played like some long and intense jam session (which fits the jazz influence perfectly) as opposed to a proper album
Faith No More - Angel Dust 4.5/5
Massive rediscovery for me. The jarring and unhinged nature of the performance, composition and song content makes it sound like some really adult black comedy on one of those art channels that you really have to be in the know to be watching.
Disillusion - Back To Times of Splendour 0.5/5
Terrible vocals that I just couldn't get past.
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 2.5/5
Really don't understand the interest in this record. Not a patch on anything that came before it and some tired sounding performances. Glad they managed to pull themselves back on to form with the superb Sabotage after this record. Title track aside there's not much to praise for me here.
Undeath - Lesions of a Different Kind 4/5
One of my preferred releases of the month and probably not surprising knowing my tastes. Although no wheels get reinvented here the ability and attitude of the band carry through into the music brilliantly (although not the shit artwork). A great reminder of all the good reasons of why I got into DM.
Warbringer - Weapons of Tomorrow 3/5
Demolition Hammer worship it may be but who can argue with that if it is done well enough? Consistent delivery and energy levels of small children make the record memorable enough and the lead work gives it a little polish. Terrible lyrics though.
Shining - V Halmstad 4.5/5
Said pretty much all I wanted to say in my review. A touchy subject matter for me DSBM may be, but this record moves away from simply glorifying mental health problems and incorporates the actual essence of such illness into the fabric of the tracks. Superb and clever stuff.
Ben, please add Canadian death metallers Outre Tombe and their two full-length releases Répurgation (2015) and Nécrovortex (2018) - thanks.
Considered Daniel's comments thirded. The dedication is a credit to you Ben (and also Daniel). To see this level of commitment to an often dying means of community is uplifting - even to a ruined, dead, cursed soul like mine.
It's the same for reviewing only I add a 0 and 0.5 just specifically for anything Machine Head release nowadays.
And the Disillusion feature release apparently.
The "vocalist" in that band is stealing a living.
5 - exceptional
4 - good
3 - solid
2 - inconsistent
1- piecemeal
Simple man, simple means. That's what I use for owned albums. It's the same for reviewing only I add a 0 and 0.5 just specifically for anything Machine Head release nowadays.
I just thought this would be a little faster since activity in the Hall has been slowed to a standstill lately.
what makes you think activity on the forum is any more “alive”?
Hi Ben,
Could you please add:
Eternal Valley from the US (atmo-black)
Ifing also from the US (folk/atmo-black)
Ifing - Against This Weald (2014)
Folkly, atmospheric black metal from the US featuring recorders and tin whistles on the instrument list. The cover gives the game away in terms of what to expect. Enjoyable if not predictable.
3/5
Blut Aus Nord - MoRT (2006)
Industrial-edged, black metal, dissonant goodness for a Sunday morning wake up.
Great playlist this month Daniel, one of the best yet. Sorry though Vinny, the Jute Gyte track went right over my head. Summoning are only really any good for table-top RPGing and I found the Ensiferum track a bit fromage-friendly! I was also wondering why the Deafheaven track was so crap until... Bam!! When it gets going it is amazing. Everything else was terrific and to be honest how can any playlist that features Immortal, Bathory and Darkthrone not be awesome? A few I need to check out further too, such as Wiegedood and Anorexia Nervosa (I remember not being impressed by them before, but their track on here is very good indeed).
Ha, Jute Gyte is a challenge alright.
Review done and I will go on record as saying how much I love this. Aside from the fact that it worships the living shit out of the genre, it transcends just being fanboy regurgitation of old-school death metal by simply being so fucking well done. These guys know their death metal and it shows. They had me convinced on more than one occasion that they had been at this for years together because that's how tight they sound. Very well-informed death metal and you can hear it.
4/5
I agree with the theme in this conversation that there's too many "pretenders" in the DSBM scene who just latch onto a scene for attention and make a mockery of mental illness as a result, for this reason I don't actively seek out content of the sub-genre. As someone who spent several years of my life looking after a variety of age groups, hospitalised with various mental health problems the concept of any attempt to glorify depression or suicide is not one that sits well with me. In short if your going to deliver a record based on the themes of mental illness you simply have to represent the challenge in full in order for it to be a success. Yes, the image of a young woman with a gun in her mouth on the cover of the album could be deemed as pure theatre but with the context of the music itself I believe V-Halmstad to be one of the most honest iterations of the real challenges of mental health problems.
Depression, anxiety, personality, psychotic, eating and post-traumatic stress disorders etc are crippling and that's what comes across on this release. It doesn't focus on sadness in singularity (you can be in a very happy place and be struck by depression for no obvious reason/s), instead it focuses on the dramatic shift in mood that occurs with mental illness and as such presents a real journey over the six tracks. As Sonny says, this record gets under the skin of the issue.
That having been said, I disagree that fans of the genre are all sat there with scars of self-harm visible and that they are all seeking the misery promised by the sub-genre tag. I think as Daniel says, there's often not much difference to other iterations of bm and so I suspect that it a lot of people don't actually they know they are listening to a DSBM record without looking up further detail.
Review is done. Frankly, a masterpiece of creativity and subsequently a masterclass in how to write songs that are personal and able to effortlessly articulate the challenges of mental illness without coming off as attention seeking or just being miserable for the sake of a band image. Production job is great but the talent of the guitarists in particular frame the perfection of the album to me as they create consistency of performance alongside varied outputs across the album, touching on many different styles.
4.5/5
Hirax - Flesh & Blood from El Rostro de la Muerte (2009)
Nekromantheon - Cast Down To The Void from Rise, Vulcan Spectre (2019)
S.O.D. - Kill Yourself from Speak English Or Die (1985)
Dee Snider - Tomorrow's No Concern from For The Love of Metal (2018)
Falls of Rauros - The Cormorants Shiver on Their Rocks from The Light That Dwells in Rotten Wood (2011)
Keys of Orthanc - Witchking from Dush Agh Golnauk (2018)
Förjord - Suohauta from Ajasta Ikuisuuteen (2008)
Twilight Force - Hydra from Dawn of the Dragonstar (2019)
Raven - Hung Drawn & Quartered from All For One (1983)
W.A.S.P. - Jack Action from The Last Command (1985)
Black Curse - Seared Eyes from Endless Wound (2020)
Vastum - Re-member from Carnal Law (2011)
Grave Miasma - Glorification of the Impure from Endless Pilgrimage (2016)
Why would you need to delete a cover rating? There's an update cover rating button already?
What if you don't like your own cover rating and wanna get rid of it altogether? That's what the delete button is for!
I can't think of a time where it would matter that much to me if I am honest.
Why would you need to delete a cover rating? There's an update cover rating button already?
I would change nothing. I don't always search by clan anyway and I am far too laidback to be concerned about things not necessarily sitting in the right place for me. Like Sonny says, I feel the clans promote discussion amongst like minded fans and this is really important in a developing community.
This be some murky shit right here! Elements of Bolt Thrower, Incantation and Finnish death metal with a clarity to the riffing not often heard in this gloomier style of death metal. Don't be put off by the artwork (the drummer did it - but he's much better at drumming) as the actual album content is nowhere near as amateur. Review to follow at some point.