Ben's Forum Replies

Memory Garden - Forever (1995)

I'll say straight off that if you enjoy Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus, I thoroughly recommend checking out this debut EP from Swedish band Memory Garden. It contains the sort of doomy riffs and soaring vocals that you'd expect from both of those classic bands. So why am I only giving it 3 stars? Well, for starters, it's only 18 minutes in length which is, particularly for a doom release, reasonably insubstantial. But the main reason I can't give Forever the sort of score that it probably deserves is due to vocalist Stefan Berglund. He's a fantastic singer, clearly having a level of training to match the legendary vocalists from the aforementioned bands. But, well, he has such a strong lisp that I find myself laughing at how hilarious it all sounds. If you've ever watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, well imagine if Biggus Dickus joined a doom metal band and sang lyrics such as "With my thord and thpear, I'll make the hereticth thuffer." It's such a shame really, as this is otherwise great.

3 stars

Sorry Ben, I haven't found time to review the Draft release for November. If I get time I will try to get it done early in December.

All good Sonny. I don't think anyone should feel pressure to review every draft release they pick. Like everything, once it feels like a chore, the fun rapidly dissipates. I've missed a couple of releases in the first few drafts. 

December 2022

1. Patristic - 03 (from Apologetica, 2022)

2. Negativa - XVII (from 03, 2018)

3. Cirith Gorgor - The Declaration of Our Neverending War (from Onwards to the Spectral Defile, 1999) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Sear Bliss - Omen of Doom (from The Arcane Odyssey, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Aborym - U.V. Impaler (from With No Human Intervention, 2003)

6. Drudkh - Till We Become the Haze (from All Belong to the Night, 2022)

7. Axis of Advance - Of One to Conflict It (from Obey, 2004)

8. Coldworld - Wound (from Isolation, 2022)

9. Thy Darkened Shade - Or She-Ein Bo Mahshavah (from Liber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet, 2014) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Ateiggär - Us Lyschegiftig Schlaf verwached (from Tyrannemord, 2022)

11. Gudsforladt - The Three Sights (from Friendship, Love and War, 2022)

12. White Ward - Love Exchange Failure (from Love Exchange Failure, 2019)

13. Gevurah - Towards the Shifting Sands (from Gehinnom, 2022)

14. Lord Belial - Enter the Moonlight Gate (from Enter the Moonlight Gate, 1997)

15. Fleurety - Englers piler har ingen brodd (from Min tid skal komme, 1995)

Here's my list for the year...

1. Inanna - Void of Unending Depths

2. Immolation - Acts of God

3. Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain

4. Ataraxy - The Last Mirror

5. Pharmacist - Flourishing Extremities on Unspoiled Mental Grounds

6. Hath - All That Was Promised

7. Cosmic Putrefaction - Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones

8. Allagaeon - Damnum

9. Aeviterne - The Ailing Facade

10. Schizophrenia - Recollections of the Insane

11. Shadow of Intent - Elegy

12. Esoctrilihum - Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh

13. The Chasm - The Scars of a Lost Reflective Shadow

14. The Halo Effect - Days of the Lost

15. Undeath - It's Time... to Rise From the Grave

16. Imperial Triumphant - Spirit of Ecstasy

17. Needless - The Cosmic Cauldron

Unlike the last few years, I can actually contribute here, having listened to a lot of 2022 albums. I should caveat this by saying I haven't listened to Dvvell of Funeral Orchestra yet, both of which have potential to sit towards the top of my list.

1 - Shape of Despair - Return to the Void

2 - Mournful Congregation - The Exuviae of Gods - Part 1

3 - Mizmor & Thou - Myopia

4 - Epitaphe - II

5 - Messa - Close

6 - Ataraxy - The Last Mirror

7 - Tzompantli - Tlazcaltiliztli

8 - Druid Lord - Relics of the Dead

9 - Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - The Harvest

10 - Friends of Hell - Friends of Hell

11 - Primitive Man - Insurmountable

12 - Konvent - Call Down the Sun

13 - Night Hag - Phantasmal Scourge

14 - Hangman's Chair - A Loner

15 - Temple of Void - Summoning the Slayer

16 - Obsidian Sea - Pathos

17 - Mizmor - Wit's End

18 - Bog Body - Cryonic Crevasse Cult

Assassin - Combat Cathedral (2016)

While I've always been aware of Assassin (their debut album The Upcoming Terror is held in reasonably high regard), I'm not certain I'd ever checked them out. Selecting their 5th album, 2016's Combat Cathedral, as my November draft pick for The Pit has given me the opportunity to do just that. Right from the get go I've been impressed with what I've heard. The production is strong, and the band certainly know how to write punchy thrash riffs. Vocalist Ingo Bajonczak is a definite highlight too, being a cross between Testament's Chuck Billy and Pantera's Phil Anselmo, albeit with a German accent. When I listen to the album while doing other things, I'm consistently drawn in by the album's highlight moments, but I have to admit that it's formulaic approach and 53 minute running time have made it a bit of a slog to really focus on in one sitting. In the end I think I get enough enjoyment out of Combat Cathedral to go with 3.5 stars. If you enjoy traditional thrash metal, you could do a lot worse than this.

3.5 stars

Dead to Fall - For the Memories

Metal-Archives has this release listed as a demo. The lack of ratings on RYM also suggests this is likely the case. Do you have anything to suggest otherwise?

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 12th to the 18th of November, 2022.

1. Forbidden Site (FALLEN, NORTH)

2. 7Zuma7 (FALLEN)

3. Cattle Press / Agoraphobic Nosebleed (FALLEN, HORDE)

4. Profecium (FALLEN, NORTH)

5. Ashbreather (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Lilitu (FALLEN, HORDE)

7. Poundhound (GATEWAY)

8. Zebrahead (GATEWAY)

9. Catupecu Machu (GATEWAY)

10. Manhole (GATEWAY)

11. Rainbow Butt Monkeys (GATEWAY)

12. Unjust (GATEWAY, PIT)

13. Nothing More (GATEWAY)

14. Roland Grapow (GUARDIANS)

15. October 31 (GUARDIANS, PIT)

16. Holy Martyr (GUARDIANS)

17. Prophanity (HORDE)

18. Systral (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

19. HatePlow (HORDE)

20. Judgement Day (HORDE)

21. Necrotic Mutation (HORDE)

22. Nembrionic (HORDE)

23. Maat (HORDE)

24. Crimson Midwinter (HORDE, NORTH)

25. Withering Surface (HORDE)

26. Ever Dark (HORDE)

27. Christ Denied (HORDE)

28. Stabbing (HORDE)

29. I Am (HORDE, PIT, REVOLUTION)

30. Altura (INFINITE)

31. The Afterimage (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

32. Nächtlich (NORTH)

33. Psychonaut 4 / Nocturnal Depression (NORTH)

34. Grimoire (ISR) (NORTH)

35. Thy Repentance (NORTH)

36. Grabunhold (NORTH)

37. Nekrasov (NORTH)

38. Surrender of Divinity (NORTH)

39. Arathorn (NORTH)

40. Unlord (NORTH)

41. Nahash (NORTH)

42. Mussorgski (NORTH, SPHERE)

43. Thornium (NORTH)

44. Grafvitnir (NORTH)

45. Malón (PIT)

46. Johnny Booth (REVOLUTION)

47. Training for Utopia / Zao (REVOLUTION)

48. Culture (REVOLUTION)

49. Spread the Disease (REVOLUTION)

If I'm not too late...

• Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - Valmasque off Y proffwyd dwyll (2016)
• Candlemass - Solitude off Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)
• Daylight Dies - Dismantling Devotion off Dismantling Devotion (2006)

Necrodeath - Ton(e)s of Hate (2003)

It's my understanding that Necrodeath released a couple of decent thrash metal albums in the late 80s, but the awful ratings that are generally attributed to Ton(e)s of Hate made me feel pretty uncomfortable about having to pick it for the latest Horde Review Draft. It didn't take long for me to understand why its been so consistently criticised over the years. While the death and thrash genre tags are accurate, it's fairly clear that the band were attempting to make an accessible and occasionally pop-inspired release. What they completely forgot to do in the process was include great riffs, or any riffs really. While it's not unusual for bass players to simply accompany the guitar riffs in this style of music, I think it's pretty rare that the base completely overpowers the guitars in the mix. I find myself knowing what the riffs probably are at any given moment, but all I can really hear is the bass. It causes the whole experience to lack power and impact, particularly during the thrashier sections where the riffs should be front and centre. Even ignoring any production issues, the songwriting just isn't that great, with some of the more memorable sections only being so because they're repetitive and annoying. Queen of Desire is probably the only track that I really enjoy the whole way through, with no silly repetitious vocal line or grating cymbal / cowbell combo. These Italians have 13 full length releases, but I can't say that Ton(e) of Hate has made me want to go and check any of the others out.

2.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 5th to the 11th of November, 2022.

1. Todd (FALLEN)

2. Examination of the... (FALLEN, INFINITE)

3. ASG (FALLEN, GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)

4. Worship / Stabat Mater (FALLEN)

5. Abuse (FALLEN, HORDE)

6. Angel Rot (FALLEN)

7. Ancient Ceremony (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)

8. Kal-El (FALLEN)

9. Radigost (FALLEN, GUARDIANS, NORTH)

10. Level (GATEWAY)

11. Pressure 4-5 (GATEWAY)

12. Professional Murder Music (GATEWAY)

13. Relative Ash (GATEWAY)

14. Trapt (GATEWAY)

15. Decyfer Down (GATEWAY)

16. Insolence (GATEWAY)

16. Darwin's Waiting Room (GATEWAY)

17. The Deadlights (GATEWAY)

18. Fleshwater (GATEWAY)

19. Alkemyst (GUARDIANS)

20. Butcher ABC (HORDE)

21. Corpse Molestation (HORDE)

22. Human Mastication (HORDE)

23. Necrotic Disgorgement (HORDE)

24. Sympathy (HORDE)

25. Japanische Kampfhörspiele (HORDE)

26. Mutilated (HORDE)

27. Sanatorium (HORDE)

28. Dawn of Orion (REVOLUTION)

29. Hypnos (HORDE)

30. Eskhaton (HORDE, NORTH)

31. Scholomance (INFINITE)

32. Tarantula Hawk (INFINITE)

33. Braindance (INFINITE)

34. Night of the Vampire (NORTH)

35. Ātesh (NORTH)

36. Wormsblood (NORTH)

37. Sun of the Sleepless / Nachtmahr (NORTH)

38. Imperial Crystalline Entombment (NORTH)

39. Iuvenes / Leviathan (NORTH)

40. Nazgul (NORTH)

41. Titan Mountain (NORTH)

42. Daeva (NORTH, PIT)

43. Glittertind (NORTH)

44. Nydvind (NORTH)

45. XIV Dark Centuries (NORTH)

46. Crucial Unit / Municipal Waste (PIT)

47. Fordirelifesake (REVOLUTION)

48. All Else Failed (REVOLUTION)

49. Speed (REVOLUTION)

50. Annisokay (REVOLUTION)

51. Death Threat (SPHERE)

Negative - 03  (2018)

I very much enjoyed Spanish band Negativa's unimaginatively titled 2022 album 04, so was excited to be able to first pick it's predecessor (yep, you guessed it...03) in the November Review Draft for The North. My excitement appeared to be well founded after the first couple of tracks, with both XVII and XVIII having the same hypnotic Shining-meets-modern-Leviathan quality that made 04 so effective. The band really understand how to get the most out of their riffs, with the other instruments staying relatively clear of the spotlight while they work their magic. This restraint makes the uptempo sections all that more effective, and allow tracks that might otherwise have blended together to become more memorable. Sadly, after this great start, 03 gradually falls away throughout the remaining four tracks, becoming less and less gripping, right up to the noisy and fairly pointless final track, XXII. There's enough good stuff here to hang on for a 3.5 star rating, but I'm fairly certain 03 will always sit behind 04 (see what I did there?) to the point I'm not sure I'll revisit this with any regularity.

3.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 28th of October to the 4th of November, 2022.

1. SpiRitual (FALLEN)

2. Wreck of the Hesperus (FALLEN)

3. Shores of Null (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Imindain (FALLEN)

5. Mandragora Scream (FALLEN)

6. Slimelord (FALLEN, HORDE) - requested by Vinny

7. Bokor (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

8. Sleeping With Sirens (GATEWAY)

9. KXM (GATEWAY)

10. Digital Summer (GATEWAY)

11. Inactive Messiah (GATEWAY, HORDE)

12. Stonegard (GUARDIANS, PIT)

13. Steel Assassin (GUARDIANS)

14. Knorkator (GUARDIANS, SPHERE)

15. The Codex (GUARDIANS)

16. Metal Inquisitor (GUARDIANS)

17. Sockweb (HORDE)

18. Sulaco (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

19. Stoma (HORDE)

20. Vacuous (HORDE) - requested by Vinny

21. Gutvoid (HORDE)

22. Coscradh (HORDE, NORTH)

23. Horrified (GBR) (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)

24. Nami (HORDE, INFINITE)

25. Stillborn (POL) (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Divinity (HORDE)

27. Embalmer (HORDE)

28. Serpent (HORDE)

29. Renascent (HORDE, NORTH)

30. Non-Human Level (HORDE)

31. Mortuary Spawn (HORDE) - requested by Vinny

32. Counter-World Experience (INFINITE)

33. Age of Nemesis (INFINITE)

34. Arkheth (INFINITE, NORTH)

35. Blood Tyrant

36. Circle of Ouroborus / Crooked Necks

37. The Skaden (NORTH)

38. Slavia (NORTH)

39. Control Human Delete (NORTH, SPHERE)

40. Altorių Šešėliai (NORTH)

41. Skogyr (NORTH)

42. Deadlife (NORTH)

43. Angantyr / Nasheim (NORTH)

44. Oakhelm (NORTH)

45. Abusiveness (NORTH)

46. Kroda / Oprich (NORTH)

47. Slechtvalk (NORTH)

48. Gjallarhorn (NORTH)

49. Harlots (REVOLUTION)

50. Dance Club Massacre (REVOLUTION)

51. A Wake in Providence (REVOLUTION)

I'll take Assassin's Combat Cathedral. I think I've heard their debut at some point, but that's about it.

Both of us have already rated Schizophrenia's album, which didn't leave a huge amount of choice this month. I haven't spent much time with Necrodeath, so I'll take their Ton(e) of Hate album. It's ratings suggest I might be in for a rough time.

Hmmm...that was going to be my choice. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

I'll try out the Memory Garden release. It has very high ratings, so perhaps it's a hidden gem?

Sorry, I cut off the band names and titles. I obviously can't get the randomised page back, so they're...

• Amon Amarth - Once Sent from the Golden Hall
• Machetazo - Necrocovered
• Schizophrenia - Recollections of the Insane
• Necrodeath - Ton(e)s of Hate

Time for another Review Draft for The Pit. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

3. Sonny

I've removed Rexorcist, as he failed to check in last month. If you're still interested Rexorcist, let me know. The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny has first pick this month...

As it's my first pick this month, I'm going with Negativa's 03. I very much enjoyed 04, so I'm pretty happy to have an excuse to check out its predecessor.

Over to you Xephyr...

Time for another Review Draft for The North. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Xephyr

3. Sonny

4. Vinny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Time for another Review Draft for The Horde. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny gets first pick this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The Fallen. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Sonny

2. Ben

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

Sonny gets first pick this month...

November 2022

1. Batushka - Ектения • VIII • Спасение (from Litourgiya, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

2. Keep of Kalessin - Crown of the Kings (from Armada, 2006)

3. Gnaw Their Tongues - Lick The Poison From The Cave Walls (from Abyss of Longing Throats, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Raventale - Author of Incest (from Transcendence, 2012) [Submitted by Sonny]

5. Adorior - Birth of Disease (from Author of Incest, 2005) [Submitted by Xephyr]

6. Nazxul - Vow Of Vengeance (from Black Seed, 1998)

7. Immortal - Penance (from Northern Chaos Gods, 2018) [Submitted by Primordial_Demiurge13]

8. Mo'ynoq - Penance (from Penance, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

9. Urfaust - Der halbtoten Dichters Schein-Existenz (from Ritual Music for the True Clochard, 2012) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Khors - Throne of Antiquity (from The Flame of Eternity's Decline, 2005) [Submitted by Sonny]

11. Gaerea - Mirage (from Mirage, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Nahvalr - Swallower of Bile (from Nahvalr, 2008) [Submitted by Daniel]

13. Windfaerer - Depletion (from Breaths of Elder Dawns, 2021)

14. Behexen - Night of the Blasphemy (from Rituale Satanum, 2000) [Submitted by Sonny]

15. Thy Light - The Crossing of the Great White Bear (from Thy Light, 2021)

Congratulations Vinny! Have an awesome time in Wales!

Rejoice! The Light Has Come - Rejoice! The Light Has Come (2020)

I took a bit of a stab in the dark when picking this EP by oddly named U.S. band Rejoice! The Light Has Come in the October North Review Draft. The only review on RYM namedropped Deathspell Omega and, given my adoration for that band, I figured I'd have to find something to enjoy here. Well I'll start by saying that the aforementioned review certainly wasn't wrong. There's a LOT of Deathspell Omega influence on display here, with the same style of dissonant riffing and drumming we've come to expect from those French legends. The vocalist even sounds like Mikko Aspa, making the connection pretty blatantly obvious. I have to say that the band have done a pretty decent job in replicating what makes Deathspell Omega so interesting, particularly on the lengthier third track (Vultures Swirling Overhead, an Obsidian Wreath Cast Above a Sleeping Mind), but there are sadly a few aspects holding their first release back. Firstly, while the production is strong overall, the drums are a bit too clicky for my liking, drawing a little too much attention. Secondly, the band stop and start more than is necessary, building and releasing momentum too regularly in my opinion. Thirdly, and probably most importantly, there just isn't enough of substance on this 14 minute EP to really get your teeth into. There's definitely potential here though, and given the right production and a full length running time, Rejoice! The Light Has Come could produce something special. I guess time will tell.

3.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 20th to the 27th of October, 2022.

1. Herder (FALLEN)

2. Echtra (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. AUN (FALLEN)

4. Livsnekad (FALLEN, NORTH)

5. Pussygutt (FALLEN)

6. Pig Heart Transplant (FALLEN)

7. Nadja / Aidan Baker / Leah Buckareff (FALLEN)

8. Nadja / Atavist / Satori (FALLEN)

9. Black Death Cult (FALLEN, NORTH)

10. Rituals of the Oak (FALLEN)

11. Woburn House (FALLEN, INFINITE)

12. Lipali (GATEWAY)

13. Straight Line Stitch (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

14. Scheepers (GUARDIANS)

15. Pharaoh Overlord (GUARDIANS)

16. Futures End (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

17. Tantric Bile (HORDE)

18. Imaginary Flying Machines (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

19. Bamseom Pirates (HORDE)

20. Infested (HORDE)

21. Pseudogod / Blaze of Perdition (HORDE, NORTH)

22. Mulk (HORDE)

23. Weeping Birth (HORDE, NORTH)

24. Embodied Torment (HORDE)

25. Barghest (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Darkness Ablaze (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)

27. Dagon (HORDE)

28. Bone Gnawer (HORDE)

29. Embryonic Devourment (HORDE)

30. Carnophage (HORDE)

31. Spasm (HORDE)

32. Insidious Disease (HORDE)

33. Incinerate (HORDE)

34. A.A. Williams (INFINITE)

35. Al-Kamar (INFINITE, NORTH)

36. Jumalhämärä (INFINITE, NORTH)

37. Thence (INFINITE)

38. Tomorrow's Eve (INFINITE)

39. Ashdautas / Bone Awl (NORTH)

40. Haud Mundus / Wormlust (NORTH)

41. Infernal Stronghold (NORTH)

42. Panopticon / Wheels Within Wheels (NORTH)

43. Velho (NORTH)

44. Hanging Garden (USA) (NORTH)

45. ... (NORTH)

46. Skullflower (NORTH)

47. Ars Diavoli (NORTH)

48. Lake of Blood (NORTH)

49. Folkstone (NORTH)

50. Draugadróttinn (NORTH)

51. Orcivus (NORTH)

52. Wastelander (PIT)

53. House vs. Hurricane (REVOLUTION)

54. Reign Supreme (REVOLUTION)

55. Nasty (REVOLUTION)

56. Gwen Stacy (REVOLUTION)

57. Herrschaft (SPHERE)

The Gathering - Nighttime Birds (1997)

It took me a while to find my way to the gothic metal genre, having first formed an obsession with death doom in the early nineties. If you ignore the gothic aspect of My Dying Bride, it was probably Moonspell and Tiamat that gave me my first real taste, along with Type O Negative's October Rust. It wasn't until late in 1998, when I returned home from a trip to Utopia Records in Sydney with The Gathering's How to Measure a Planet and Theatre of Tragedy's Aegis, that the ingredient that really draws me to the genre was revealed to me... female vocals. Musicianship is rarely the main focus in gothic metal, with atmosphere and song-writing being brought right to the fore. The angelic beauty of Anneke van Giersbergen and Liv Kristine's performances on these two albums completely destroyed me, and formed an infatuation that has continued up to the present, when Heike Langhans (Draconian) and Aleah (Trees of Eternity) blissfully torture my soul. That first The Gathering experience led me to the band's most prized releases, and while many fans appear to prefer 1995's Mandylion, it's Nighttime Birds that became (and remains) my personal favourite.

It often feels like this album was designed to showcase just how talented Anneke is. The softer moments allow her emotion and tenderness to shine, while the heavier sections are really just vehicles for her to soar to places most vocalists could only ever dream of. The lyrics are simplistic and at times almost child-like, but they're given huge gravitas and power through her delivery. The music does everything it needs to do, while occasionally introducing creative techniques and instrumentation that aren't often heard in metal. A few of these more experimental moments aren't all the successful for me, particularly the toe-tapping chorus section of Third Chance, which ruins any chance that Nighttime Birds had of receiving 5 stars from me. In the end though, I'm really glad that the October Review Draft allowed me to use my first pick and finally give this a review and rating.

4.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 19th of October, 2022.

1. Ethereal Riffian (FALLEN)

2. Psyke Project, The (FALLEN, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

3. Take Over and Destroy (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)

4. The Order of Israfel (FALLEN)

5. Moanaa (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Mothership (FALLEN)

7. Dvvell (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny

8. Primal Rock Rebellion (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)

9. Fight the Fury (GATEWAY) - requested by Andi

10. Sonja (GUARDIANS)

11. Triddana (GUARDIANS, NORTH)

12. Kaledon (GUARDIANS)

13. No/Más (HORDE)

14. Dire Omen (HORDE, NORTH)

15. The Haunting Presence (HORDE, NORTH)

16. 13th Moon (HORDE, NORTH)

17. Serpent of Gnosis (HORDE)

18. A Million Dead Birds Laughing (HORDE)

19. Revel in Flesh (HORDE)

20. Traumatomy (HORDE)

21. Yossi Sassi (INFINITE)

22. Profusion (INFINITE)

23. Besna (INFINITE, NORTH)

24. Four Stroke Baron (INFINITE)

25. Lazer/Wulf (INFINITE)

26. Akeldama (INFINITE)

27. District 97 (INFINITE)

28. Lost in Kiev (INFINITE)

29. Bad Salad (INFINITE)

30. Anup Sastry (INFINITE)

31. Lubbert Das (NORTH)

32. Intolitarian (NORTH)

33. Aurvandil (NORTH)

34. Loss of Self (NORTH)

35. Liminal Shroud (NORTH)

36. Alraune (NORTH)

37. Adorn (NORTH)

38. Midnight Odyssey / Aeon Winds (NORTH)

39. White Medal (NORTH)

40. Windbruch (NORTH)

41. The Ongoing Concept (REVOLUTION)

42. Simulakra (REVOLUTION)

43. Babymetal x Kiba of Akiba (REVOLUTION)

A big welcome from me too! Given your clan selections, I think we're going to get on just fine. I'd be keen to know some bands that you consider to be your favourites. Not just a nice ice-breaker, but also creates the opportunity for recommendations.

Speaking of recommendations, we're always looking for ways to make the site better, so any feedback you have around your experience would be most welcome.

Here are my November selections...

• Trouble - Psalm 9 off Psalm 9 (1984)
• The Gathering - Strange Machines off Mandylion (1995)
• Isole - Shadowstone off Bliss of Solitude (2008)

And know that I have been listening to and enjoying The Fallen playlists each month. Sorry for not commenting much. I generally listen while doing other things and note the tracks that are grabbing my interest.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 6th to the 12th of October, 2022.

1. Hegemone (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

2. Flooded Church of Asmodeus (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. Black Table (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

4. Alucarda (FALLEN)

5. Dautha (FALLEN)

6. Sundrifter (FALLEN)

7. Book of Wyrms (FALLEN)

8. DVSR (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

9. Refuge (GUARDIANS)

10. Trick or Treat (GUARDIANS)

11. Wings of Destiny (GUARDIANS)

12. Monument (GUARDIANS, PIT)

13. Ravensire (GUARDIANS)

14. Terminus (GUARDIANS)

15. Jupiter (GUARDIANS)

16. Electric Citizen (GUARDIANS)

17. Stabbed (HORDE)

18. Transient & Bastard Noise (HORDE)

19. Kosmokrator (HORDE, NORTH)

20. Bhavachakra (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)

21. Miscreance (HORDE, PIT)

22. Coffin Mulch (HORDE)

23. Facelift Deformation (HORDE)

24. Virulent Depravity (HORDE)

25. Far Beyond (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Dark Oath (HORDE)

27. Catacomb (HORDE)

28. The Antichrist Imperium (HORDE, INFINITE)

29. Gravitational Distortion (HORDE)

30. Urobilinemia (HORDE)

31. Kucoshka (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

32. Galactic Empire (INFINITE)

33. Wolf Hoffmann (INFINITE)

34. Absconditus (INFINITE, NORTH)

35. Ottone Pesante (INFINITE)

36. Toska (INFINITE)

37. Dagorath (NORTH)

38. Prosternatur (NORTH)

39. Abyssion (NORTH)

40. Nordvrede (NORTH)

41. Utarm (NORTH)

42. Nahvalr (NORTH)

43. Emit (NORTH)

44. Morgal (NORTH)

45. Vonlaus (NORTH)

46. Avslut (NORTH)

47. Kafirun (NORTH)

48. Sol Sistere (NORTH)

49. Kres (NORTH)

50. Aderlating (NORTH)

51. Origami Angel (REVOLUTION)

52. Worn (REVOLUTION)

53. Hands of God (REVOLUTION)

54. Boris the Blade (REVOLUTION)

55. The Crinn (REVOLUTION)

56. CrazyEightyEight (REVOLUTION)

57. Get the Shot (REVOLUTION)

I just realised I never picked my release for The North. I'll go with the oddly named Rejoice! The Light Has Come, if only because the only review on RYM namedrops Deathspell Omega.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 17th of September to the 5th of October, 2022.

1. Heaume Mortal (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

2. Sankara (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. The Nest (FALLEN, NORTH)

4. Sakis Tolis (FALLEN)

5. Bokassa (FALLEN)

6. Sempiternal Dusk (FALLEN, HORDE)

7. Silvertomb (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

8. Smallman (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

9. No One (GATEWAY)

10. Lennon (GATEWAY)

11. Money (GUARDIANS)

12. Pulver (GUARDIANS)

13. Azul Limão (GUARDIANS)

14. Deathsiege (HORDE, NORTH) - requested by Vinny

15. Abhorrency (HORDE, NORTH) - requested by Vinny

16. Miscreant (HORDE)

17. Hadit (HORDE)

18. Bodybox (HORDE)

19. Colostomy Spacebag (HORDE)

20. Sartegos (HORDE, NORTH)

21. Cryptic Hatred (HORDE)

22. Necrophagous (HORDE)

23. Cadavoracity (HORDE)

24. Cadaveric Incubator (HORDE)

25. Revulsion (HORDE)

26. Omnivortex (HORDE, INFINITE)

27. Bloodred Hourglass (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

28. Cognizance (HORDE)

29. Decline of the I (INFINITE, NORTH)

30. Sadness / Soulless / In Autumnus / Grief & Bliss (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. Kmac2021 (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

32. High Castle Teleorkestra (INFINITE)

33. Fer de Lance (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

34. Money (USA) (GATEWAY)

35. Without Waves (GATEWAY, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

36. Age of Apocalypse (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

37. New Horizon (GUARDIANS)

38. Cabinet (HORDE, NORTH)

39. Fleshrot (USA) (HORDE)

40. Shrouded Infinity (HORDE)

41. Crestfallen Dusk (INFINITE, NORTH)

42. Cailleach Calling (NORTH)

43. Spiter (NORTH)

44. Gudsforladt (NORTH)

45. Ixachitlan (NORTH)

46. Autonoesis (NORTH, PIT)

47. Witch Trail (NORTH)

48. Morild (NORTH)

49. Worsen (NORTH)

50. Astrophobos (NORTH)

51. Vampirska (NORTH)

52. Non Est Deus (NORTH)

53. Labored Breath (NORTH)

54. Kull (NORTH)

55. Fugitive (PIT)

56. Downcast (REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi

57. Bone Cutter (REVOLUTION)

58. Thoughtcrimes (REVOLUTION)

59. As Everything Unfolds (REVOLUTION)

60. Kingdom of Giants (REVOLUTION)

61. Sleepsculptor (REVOLUTION)

62. Lotus Eater (REVOLUTION)

63. Abnegation / Chapter (REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi

64. From Here On (REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi

We've not been able to get hold of Rexorcist and since it's already the 5th day of the month (he didn't submit features either), I think we need to push ahead with our picks.

I'm going for Cranium's Speed Metal Satan. I know nothing about the band, but a sub-20 minute thrash / speed EP could be just what I need this month.

Over to you Sonny...

Negură Bunget - "'n crugu bradului" (2002)

It's 20 years since the highly regarded sophomore album from Romanian atmospheric black metallers Negură Bunget first hit the shelves today. I've gotta say that I've never understood the attraction to this band (in fact I rated this album 2/5 on my last revisit) but they seem to have developed an almost cult-like following over the years. 

This is the low point in their discography to date for me.  Not that I have heard all of their stuff but Om stands head and shoulders above this and is their magnum opus in my mind.

I love this album. Not as much as OM, but it's still excellent.

I will take the Floor album Ben as they are the only one of the four bands I have never heard before.

I might have left the sludge / stoner release for you Sonny, given there were two gothic metal releases to choose from. 

October 2022

1. Gaerea - Deluge (from Mirage, 2022)

2. Satanic Warmaster - Winter's Hunger (from Fimbulwinter, 2014) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Devil Master - Shrines in Cinder (from Ecstasies of Never Ending Night, 2022)

4. Krohm - I Suffer the Astral Woe (from A World Through Dead Eyes, 2004)

5. Horna - Haudanusva (from Perimä vihassa ja verikostossa, 1999) [Submitted by Sonny]

6. Sear Bliss - Blood on the Milky Way (from The Arcane Odyssey, 2007)

7. Thy Darkened Shade - Elixir of Azazel (from Liber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet, 2014) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Cradle of Filth - Dawn of the Serpent (from Cruelty and the Beast, 1998) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Beastcraft - Satanist (from Dawn of the Serpent, 2005) [Submitted by Sonny]

10. Deafheaven - Luna (from New Bermuda, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

11. Hulder - Sylvan Awakening (from The Eternal Fanfare, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Lunar Aurora - Vat gëlénva!!! (from Ars Moriendi, 2001)

13. Trhä - Jadështahhdlha nudahhhana dëvét (from Vat gëlénva!!!, 2022)

14. Ash of Ashes - Under the Midnight Sun (from Traces, 2022)

15. Cult of Fire - Samhara Raktha Kali (from Ascetic Meditation of Death, 2013) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Sainte Marie des Loups - Meurtrières (from Funérailles de feu, 2020) [Submitted by Sonny]

17. Mörk Gryning - Journey (from Tusen år har gått..., 1995)

18. Akhlys - Breath and Levitation (from The Dreaming I, 2015)

Rexorcist gets first pick this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The Pit. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Rexorcist

2. Ben

3. Sonny

4. Vinny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Time for another Review Draft for The North. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Xephyr

2. Sonny

3. Vinny

4. Ben

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

First pick goes to Xephyr...

Hmmm... I know nothing about any of these releases! I guess that's what the drafts are all about. Having just done a bit of research, I'm going with Ingurgitating Oblivion. Reviews namedrop Immolation and Gorguts, which can't be a bad thing.

Over to you Vinny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Horde. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Vinny

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

Since I get first pick this month, I'm going to snatch up Nighttime Birds. It's an album I've heard many times, but never properly assessed or reviewed.

Over to you Sonny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Fallen. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Sonny

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

A 20 year celebration for Void of Silence's Criteria ov 666, a great doom record from a very underrated Italian band.

I'm sorry Sonny. It has been one of those months. I assume you've completed the playlist by now, but if not...

• Solstice - Death's Crown Is Victory off Death's Crown Is Victory (2013)
• Slow - Déluge off V - Oceans (2017)

If you've already completed this months, these can be for next month.

Thanks!

Solstice - Death's Crown Is Victory (2013)

The Review Draft here at Metal Academy has again forced me to really delve into a release from a band I'd previously only dabbled with, only to find that I've been missing out on something great. This EP from English band Solstice is a pretty clear mix of heavy metal and doom metal and while that combination doesn't always bring me joy, the great production and epic atmosphere of these 4 tracks have put this right in my wheelhouse. I may not personally feel that the Epic Doom Metal subgenre is required, but surely the music on display here is exactly what the pushers have in mind. If the excellent riffs, melodies and leads aren't enough to make you think of times long past and glories well earned, then Paul Kearns' soaring vocals surely will. The band that most comes to mind when listening to this EP is Manowar, with slightly less cheese and a fair bit more doom. I'm actually fine with that, and now find myself eager to delve into the rest of Solstice's discography. As far as recommendations go, there's really only two tracks (along with lengthy intro and outro instrumentals), with the near 10 minute monster title track being the easy highlight for me. In fact, I think I'll request this track be included in the October Fallen playlist to share the glory.

4 stars

And so the family grows!

Aspid - Кровоизлияние (1993)

Aspid's one and only release is an album I've had on my radar for many years, but just never got around to checking out until now. Perhaps it's the technical thrash metal tag that caused me to put it off, having a somewhat rocky relationship with the subgenre. Or maybe I'd unfairly written it off, figuring it would likely be an overrated and underproduced record from a part of the world not known for its thrash metal. While I can't be sure why it has taken me this long, I can say that I'm very happy that I've finally made the effort. Not only does the album sound a lot better than I expected to, these guys have serious chops to go with it! Similar to what Sadus were producing back in the 90s, Кровоизлияние (which apparently translates to Extravasation, whatever that means) is filled with great riffs, a heap of time changes, really nice leads, impressive and very audible bass, and enough variety for it remain exciting for it's entire 48 minute runtime. Vitaly Kholopov's vocals are quite aggressive for thrash, particularly in his native Russian, and the music itself occasionally approaches death metal (the awesome blastbeats on track 6 make me wish they'd pushed things a little further).

As good as I've found this album to be, I don't think I can justify anything higher than 4 stars. For starters, I don't consider any of the 8 individual tracks to deserve a full 5 stars. I also can't ignore that fifth track Эй ты fails to make much of an impression, and the lengthy intro is both tacky and unsuited to what follows. Overall though, consider me a fan, and given how dead thrash metal was in 1993 (Anacrusis' Screams and Whispers excluded, but that was really a progressive metal album), this certainly deserves its high standing in the metal community.

4 stars

Here's a review I wrote over 10 years ago. I really should check the album out again to see if I'm still this passionate about it, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was.

I can't say I like grindcore all that much (or deathgrind for that matter), but this is plain awesome! Brutal Truth managed what so many other grindcore bands have failed to achieve, and they did it way back in 1992. They made a consistently interesting album filled with variety in a genre known for being fairly one dimensional. Of course, there are heaps of grindcore clichés all over the place, with combined guttural and screaming vocals, tracks that go for about 5 seconds, lyrics about politics etc. etc. But then there are also stacks of great doomy riffs and tracks like Time, which contains 6 minutes of extremely well-structured song-writing as opposed to endless blasting.

Brutal Truth know exactly how to get you pumped up. They're happy to dwell in the dark and heavy depths before pumping into full on battering chaos. Kevin Sharp's vocals are perfect for this style with his death growls being the epitome of awesomeness. Scott Lewis' drumming is just about inhuman. But it's Brent McCarthy's riffs that really float my boat. Check out Birth of Ignorance, Denial of Existence, Time, Walking Corpse and Wilt for simply cracking deathgrind. If you're even slightly interested in the more extreme side of metal, go get this album. You won't regret it!

4.5 stars