Ben's Forum Replies

May 2023

1. Keep of Kalessin - Katharsis (from Katharsis, 2023)

2. Sarastus - Open the Noxious Veins (from The Deceased Dwell in Darkness, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Burzum - Erblicket die Töchter des Firmaments (from Filosofem, 1996)

4. Hoplites - Ἔκτρωμα (from Τρωθησομένη, 2023)

5. Totalselfhatred - Enlightenment (from Totalselfhatred, 2008)

6. Aara - Emphase der Seelenpein (from Triade III: Nyx, 2023)

7. Labyrinthus Stellarum - Void Dwellers (from Tales of the Void, 2023)

8. Furia - Opętaniec (from Nocel, 2014)

9. Imperium Dekadenz - The Night Whispers to the Wise (from Dämmerung der Szenarien, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Marduk - Beyond the Grace of God (from Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered, 1996)

11. Winterhorde - Worms of Soul (from Maestro, 2016)

12. Alcest - Faiseurs de mondes (from Les voyages de l'ame, 2012) [Submitted by Daniel]

13. Portrayal of Guilt - Devil Music (from Devil Music, 2023)

14. Ulver - Capitel V: Bergtatt - Ind i fjeldkamrene (from Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler, 1995)

15. Nordicwinter - A Blissful Twilight Death (from Threnody, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Abigail Williams - Flood (from In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns, 2008)

17. Conqueror - Domitor Invictus (from War.Cult.Supremacy, 1999) [Submitted by Daniel]

18. Amesoeurs - Bonheur amputé (from Ruines humaines, 2006)

19. Darkspace - Dark 3.11 (from Dark Space III, 2008)

It's certainly something I can discuss with my developer. Unfortunately he's very busy these days, so it can be hard to lock in time. I'll ask him what he thinks.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 21st to the 28th of April, 2023.

1. Malevich (FALLEN, NORTH)

2. Chat Pile / Nerver (FALLEN)

3. MAG (FALLEN)

4. Astrosoniq (FALLEN)

5. Human Quena Orchestra, The (FALLEN)

6. Disappearer (FALLEN, INFINITE)

7. Manatees (FALLEN, INFINITE)

8. Realmbuilder (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

9. House of Broken Promises (FALLEN)

10. Odium (GATEWAY, HORDE, REVOLUTION)

11. City of Fire (GATEWAY)

12. Jonah Quizz (GUARDIANS)

13. Wildpath (GUARDIANS)

14. Hevisaurus (GUARDIANS)

15. Helvetets Port (GUARDIANS)

16. Blazon Rite (GUARDIANS)

17. Manimal (GUARDIANS)

18. Whyzdom (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

19. Empress (GUARDIANS) - requested by illusionist

20. Oni (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

21. General Surgery / Butcher ABC (HORDE)

22. Borgia (HORDE, NORTH)

23. Infinitum Obscure (HORDE)

24. Degradead (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

25. Those Who Lie Beneath (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

26. Putrefaction Sets In (HORDE)

27. Wills Dissolve (HORDE, INFINITE)

28. Vile Apparition (HORDE)

29. In Grief (HORDE, INFINITE)

30. Instant Suppression (HORDE, INFINITE)

31. Faust (HORDE)

32. Manufacturer's Pride (HORDE)

33. Lay Down Rotten (HORDE)

34. Embryonic Depravity (HORDE)

35. Fondlecorpse (HORDE)

36. Metroid Metal (INFINITE)

37. Three Steps to the Ocean (INFINITE)

38. Red Circuit (INFINITE)

39. Darkology (INFINITE)

40. Heáfodbán (NORTH)

41. Telos (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

42. Folkvang (NORTH)

43. Diamatregon (NORTH)

44. Myrkr (NORTH)

45. Depressive Years (NORTH)

46. Kult Ofenzivy (NORTH)

47. The Arrival of Satan (NORTH)

48. Eyes of Noctum (NORTH)

49. Calderum (NORTH)

50. Wintaar (NORTH)

51. Yggdrasil (NORTH)

52. Gothmog (NORTH)

53. Fferyllt (NORTH)

54. All the Cold (NORTH)

55. Rimfrost (NORTH)

56. Hellsaw (NORTH)

57. Körgull the Exterminator (NORTH, PIT)

58. Instinct of Survival (PIT)

59. Urto (PIT)

60. Exhibition (PIT)

61. Prayers of Sanity (PIT)

62. Dead and Divine (REVOLUTION)

63. The Empire Shall Fall (REVOLUTION)

64. Corpus Christi (REVOLUTION)

65. In the Midst of Lions (REVOLUTION)

Violator - Violent Mosh (2004)

Having ignored most thrash bands that have formed in the past couple of decades, I've lately discovered that there's more quality there than I'd previously assumed. Brazilian band Violator are yet another example of some dudes trying to replicate what their heroes were doing a generation prior, but they do so with admirable energy and an abundance of exciting thrash riffs. If you enjoy Exodus in their prime, then this will almost certainly provide a level of entertainment and comfort. I enjoy the first four tracks enough to rate this a bit higher, but there are some flaws with this EP that cause me drop my score down. First and foremost, the final two tracks were clearly recorded in a different session. I did some digging and discovered that they were actually recorded for a compilation a year prior. The production isn't as good and the songwriting is lacking in comparison to the other tracks on the EP to the point where I think it would have just been better without them. My second flaw is a bit more nitpicky, but Violator's tendency to include silliness at the end of tracks, such as the belch at the end of Thrash Maniacs and the apparent acoustic busker closing off the otherwise excellent The Plague Never Dies. As much as these flaws tarnish the experience for me, I still think Violent Mosh is deserving of 3 stars. I'll definitely check out their first full length at some point.

3 stars

Just added a new band that fits this topic nicely. Wintaar have 39 full length albums, all released between 2016 and 2023. Only one album has more than 25 ratings, bring Winterwomb from 2017. So much effort... so little response.

I do wonder what keeps bands like this going, particularly at such a high rate of output. Anyway, the good news is that many of these albums have outstanding covers, which made adding them to the site quite enjoyable.

Please note that none of what I'm about to say is directed at anyone. It's just that this topic has been on my mind a lot in recent years.

I must admit that I've attempted way too many chronological order projects over the years, ignoring the fact that I'm generally never going to get even of a fraction of the way through any of the lists. To be very honest, I know that I'm struggling a bit with life when I start spending all my time making lists of things I'm going to do, rather than actually doing them. Lists of every movie I'm going to watch, without actually watching any. Lists of comics or books I'm going to read, without ever reading a page. Whenever I find myself doing this these days, I force myself to actually do something rather than just planning to do something, even though the completist in me is screaming that "I haven't started from the right place in time" or "I've not experienced all the predecessors to this to be able to fully appreciate it". This website actually helps a lot, as I can funnel these completist tendencies into something that metal fans can use and appreciate (including myself).

Anyway, I'm certainly not telling anyone that chronological plans should never be undertaken (I still do it). I just think setting an achievable criteria is a must, to avoid almost certain failure. My advice? Set a number of albums you can realistically listen to over the course of a few months (maybe 20, 50 or 100). You want to check out every important power metal or death metal album? Start with the top 20, then once you've finished with that, add another 20, and then another. At some point you'll almost certainly get bored or be inspired to do something else, at which point you won't have wasted your time exploring all the most primitive and often shit releases without ever getting to the stuff you actually wanted to experience. Burnout is real, and the best way to achieve it is to force yourself through low quality content when you could be listening to the cream of the crop.

For anyone that's interested, my current project is to work my way through a list of 100 releases (chronologically of course), made up of the top 25 releases on RYM for each of my favourite genres (death metal, black metal, thrash metal, doom metal). I'm putting them in a precise order as I go, with the end goal of finally figuring out what my top 25 releases of all time actually is (so I can populate it in my Metal Academy profile). Once I reach the end of the 100 releases, if I'm still interested in continuing, I plan to add an additional genre (I'm currently eyeing off progressive metal, gothic metal or maybe even industrial metal) and form a list of 125 to move onto. I'll keep going until something pulls me in another direction, but at least I feel like these lists are achievable. I'm already 40 releases through the first list and having fun.

This should do the trick. 

If I'm not too late for this month, here are my submissions...

The Howling Void - Lord of the Black Gulf off Shadows Over the Cosmos (2010)

Stake (aka Steak Number Eight) - Photonic off The Hutch (2013)

Thanks Sonny.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 20th of April, 2023.

1. Garden of Worm (FALLEN)

2. Black September (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)

3. Funeral Tears (FALLEN)

4. Mose Giganticus (FALLEN)

5. General Lee (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Turbid North (FALLEN, HORDE)

7. Dragonauta (FALLEN, INFINITE)

8. Rosetta / Restorations (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Sól án varma (FALLEN, NORTH)

10. nothing,nowhere. (GATEWAY)

11. Dawn of Silence (GUARDIANS)

12. Golden Resurrection (GUARDIANS)

13. Skinflint (GUARDIANS)

14. Canopy (HORDE)

15. Andromorphus Rexalia (HORDE)

16. Paroxsihzem (HORDE)

17. Stench (HORDE)

18. Bum Sick (HORDE)

19. Nex Carnis (HORDE)

20. No One Gets Out Alive (HORDE)

21. Krampus (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)

22. Incarnia (HORDE)

23. Universum (HORDE)

24. Hideous Deformity (HORDE)

25. Úlfúð (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Plague Bearer (HORDE, NORTH)

27. TDK (INFINITE)

28. Whirling (INFINITE)

29. I Built the Sky (INFINITE)

30. Mantric (INFINITE)

31. Labirinto (INFINITE)

32. Sadness // Abriction (NORTH)

33. Spear of Cassius (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

34. Doodswens (NORTH)

35. Viter (NORTH, SPHERE)

36. Pustota (NORTH)

37. Misogi (NORTH)

38. Supplicium (NORTH)

39. Hexenmeister (NORTH)

40. Panopticon / When Bitter Spring Sleeps (NORTH)

41. Svartrit (NORTH)

42. Flagellant (NORTH)

43. Jaldaboath (NORTH)

44. Tilintetgjort (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

45. Bitter End (PIT, REVOLUTION)

46. Skourge (PIT, REVOLUTION)

47. Thrown (REVOLUTION)

48. Etienne Sin (REVOLUTION)

49. Zubrowska (REVOLUTION)

50. A Bullet for Pretty Boy (REVOLUTION)

51. A Hero A Fake (REVOLUTION)

52. For All Those Sleeping (REVOLUTION)

53. Fit for an Autopsy / Thy Art Is Murder / Malevolence (REVOLUTION)

Sturmgeist - Meister Mephisto (2005)

My options weren't great in the April Review Draft for The North, but I must admit that I felt like an explorer intent on uncovering a hidden treasure when I selected Sturmgeist's Meister Mephisto album from 2005. It had ok ratings, and I generally find enjoyment whenever industrial and black metal are melded together (Aborym, Thorns etc.). My confidence was quickly challenged though, with the first few tracks having very little to do with black metal at all. Instead I was experiencing a strange version of German industrial metal with a gothic coat of paint. I did however quickly recognise the vocalist as none other than Cornelius Jakhelln from the very avant-garde Solefald, and this fact alone reinvigorated me to push on and give the album time to work whatever magic the crazy guy was conjuring into my ear. Fast forward three full listens and I have to say that I've not discovered anything that I particularly enjoy. Simplistic riffs can be fine in industrial metal when the album is given a huge production, but that's not the case here. Cornelius' vocals are generally always over-theatrical, but I find them to be extra difficult to tolerate in this framework. The album does veer further into black metal as it goes on though, particularly closing track Walpurgisnacht - 2. Satz: Meister Mephisto, and it's here that I feel the band's potential is uncovered. Sadly, it's too little too late, with the remaining bad taste convincing me that this is one bottle I won't be partaking from in future.

2 stars

The Howling Void - Shadows Over the Cosmos (2010)

Daniel has recommended this album to me a couple of times in the past, but I ignored him, just like I tried to do when we were kids and he refused to get out of my room. I'm starting to wonder whether he did actually have something interesting to say all those times. It still seems unlikely, but on this occassion I have to begrudgingly admit that he's right. The Howling Void's second full length, Shadows Over the Cosmos, is 100% up my alley, and I'm hitting myself (which also happens to be something he used to make me do) that I didn't check it out earlier. This is Skepticism worship of the highest order, with slow pounding drums, a backdrop of atmospheric yet non-invasive keyboards, deep chasm-filling death vocals, and a combination of simplistic yet impactful heavy riffs and gorgeous melodies. If you like Funeral Doom Metal, and it's definitely not for everyone, then there's absolutely no reason that you won't find this to be a crushing and emotionally moving album. That said, it is an album that needs a couple of spins before you can really appreciate it, but that's really a given for music as sparse and lengthy as this (there are only four real tracks, but it still has a running time of just under an hour).

How this rates 3.47 on RYM while albums it clearly matches in quality and style are up over 3.70 is just beyond me. Sonny, don't be like me and ignore this release any longer (if indeed you haven't already checked it out). I think you'll dig this! The title track and closing monster Lord of the Black Gulf are my highlights.

4.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 30th of March to the 12th of April, 2023.

1. Bong-Ra (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Bad Life (FALLEN)

3. Earthship (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Universe 217 (FALLEN, INFINITE)

5. Bongripper / Conan (FALLEN)

6. Gator Bait Ten (FALLEN)

7. Ice Dragon (FALLEN)

8. Ocoai (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Wizard Smoke (FALLEN)

10. LizZard (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

11. Dropout Kings (GATEWAY)

12. Phantom Reign (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Morpheus Kitami

13. The Wizards (GUARDIANS)

14. Trillium (GUARDIANS)

15. Sonic Poison (HORDE)

16. CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP (HORDE)

17. Wadge (HORDE)

18. Toughness (HORDE)

19. Stress Angel (HORDE, PIT)

20. Bones (HORDE)

21. Looking for an Answer (HORDE)

22. Deviant Syndrome (HORDE)

23. Puteraeon (HORDE)

24. Fumes of Decay (HORDE)

25. Keith Merrow (HORDE, INFINITE)

26. Artas (HORDE, PIT)

27. Cranial Osteotomy (HORDE)

28. Maze of Sothoth (HORDE)

29. Today I Caught the Plague (INFINITE)

30. FDS (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. BaK (INFINITE)

32. Akribi (INFINITE)

33. Aliases (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

34. Andy James (INFINITE, PIT, REVOLUTION)

35. Sadness / Oculi Melancholiarum (NORTH)

36. Eigenlicht (NORTH)

37. Belkètre (NORTH)

38. Aksumite (NORTH)

39. Saille (NORTH)

40. Circle of Ouroborus / Drowning the Light (NORTH)

41. Theriomorph (NORTH)

42. Flame (NORTH)

43. Shroud of Distress (NORTH)

44. Numinous (NORTH)

45. Noctem (NORTH)

46. Strike Master (PIT) - requested by Vinny

47. Toxic Wine (PIT) - requested by Vinny

48. Venemous (PIT) - requested by Vinny

49. Commando (PIT) - requested by Vinny

50. Tungsteno (PIT) - requested by Vinny

51. Piraña (PIT) - requested by Vinny

52. Disaster (PIT) - requested by Vinny

53. Marthirio (PIT) - requested by Vinny

54. The Force (PIT)

55. Fromjoy (REVOLUTION)

56. Tears Seven Times (REVOLUTION)

All three of us have stated in our reviews that there's little to no black metal on this release, so it is somewhat shocking that so many RYM members are voting that up. I have to wonder whether they've actually heard the album.

Anyway, I'm stoked that you guys enjoyed this feature as much as I do. I plan to check out more of their discography.

Note that we can't currently have a subgenre of a subgenre here at Metal Academy (I feel like that's a good thing), so if we want Dissonant Death Metal on the site, it can't be a subgenre of Technical Death Metal, which is already a subgenre of Death Metal. There are other instances of this on RYM (Gorenoise is a subgenre of Goregrind), but I've just been adding the releases here with the parent subgenre. It just hasn't felt right to me adding every album listed as Dissonant Death Metal on RYM as Technical Death Metal. As Daniel suggests, there are albums that are clearly dissonant, but not overly technical.

As always though, if anyone disagrees with our suggested approach, or can think of another way of doing things, let's discuss.

I bought that Altar album on CD as soon as it was released based on rave reviews that stated it was as evil as Deicide. Spoiler alert: I recall being very disappointed.

I recall you having it, but I don't think I ever listened to it.

Wow. I've ended up getting first pick for all four of my drafts this month. I better make the most of it.

I'll go with the Violator EP. I don't think I've ever heard the band before.

Over to you Sonny...

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

1. Ben

2. Sonny

3. Vinny

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

I get first pick this month and...ahem...that appears to be fortunate, as none of these albums have received much praise from what I can see. I'm going to take a punt here and choose the Sturmgeist album, if for no other reason than I generally enjoy industrial black metal.

Over to you Xephyr, if you're around this month...

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)...

I get first pick this month, so I'll go with...hmmmm...not a great line-up to be honest. I'll take the Stillborn album.

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)...

I get first pick this month. Hmmm... I'd be happy with most of these releases. I've always wanted to spend some time in The Howling Void, so that's my pick.

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

3. Vinny

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

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Sw9mEcyXo1pGyFHR3znLT?si=5d01e19b4ad14581

1. Azaghal - Kuolemanmarssi (from Alttarimme on luista tehty, 2023)

2. Vorna - Maa martona makaa (from Sateet palata saavat, 2019)

3. Sarcoptes - Trenches (from Prayers to Oblivion, 2023)

4. Liber Null - Hexenblood Vessel (from Whom Is the Night, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Mayhem - Freezing Moon (from De mysteriis dom Sathanas, 1994)

6. Falaise - Revelations of the Red Sword (from After All This Time, 2023)

7. Svartidaudi - Aureum Lux (from Revelations of the Red Sword, 2018) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Psychonaut 4 - Tbilisian Tragedy (from Beautyfall, 2020)

9. Afsky - Tak for alt (from Om hundrede år, 2023)

10. Frozen Dawn - Cosmic Black Chaos (from The Decline of the Enlightened Gods, 2023)

11. Panopticon - Into the North Woods (from Autumn Eternal, 2015) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Mgła - Exercises in Futility V (from Exercises in Futility, 2015)

13. Downfall of Gaia - Optograms of Disgust (from Silhouettes of Disgust, 2023)

14. Cerberus - Kingdom of Emptiness (from My Prophecy Will Come, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Moonsorrow - (from Tulimyrsky EP, 2008)

April 2023

1. Azaghal - Kuolemanmarssi (from Alttarimme on luista tehty, 2023)

2. Vorna - Maa martona makaa (from Sateet palata saavat, 2019)

3. Sarcoptes - Trenches (from Prayers to Oblivion, 2023)

4. Liber Null - Hexenblood Vessel (from Whom Is the Night, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Mayhem - Freezing Moon (from De mysteriis dom Sathanas, 1994)

6. Falaise - Revelations of the Red Sword (from After All This Time, 2023)

7. Svartidaudi - Aureum Lux (from Revelations of the Red Sword, 2018) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Psychonaut 4 - Tbilisian Tragedy (from Beautyfall, 2020)

9. Afsky - Tak for alt (from Om hundrede år, 2023)

10. Frozen Dawn - Cosmic Black Chaos (from The Decline of the Enlightened Gods, 2023)

11. Panopticon - Into the North Woods (from Autumn Eternal, 2015) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Mgła - Exercises in Futility V (from Exercises in Futility, 2015)

13. Downfall of Gaia - Optograms of Disgust (from Silhouettes of Disgust, 2023)

14. Cerberus - Kingdom of Emptiness (from My Prophecy Will Come, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Moonsorrow - (from Tulimyrsky EP, 2008)

Zarathustra - In Hora Mortis (2006)

Zarathustra are unfamiliar to me and, judging by the lack of a single rating for any of their albums, to everyone else here on Metal Academy. Well, they are a German black metal band who formed in 1996, releasing three albums between 2000 and 2006, In Hora Mortis being the last one to date. The band still officially exist, albeit having been on hold for a while and drummer Mersus, who was skinsman for Deströyer 666 for a decade, is the only original member still in the band.

My first playthrough was whilst out dog-walking during an early spring snow flurry and In Hora Mortis made for a very apt companion on that trip as it has a frostbitten edge to it that was very much enhanced by the billowing white stuff falling from those Northern Skies. Zarathustra play quite fundamental second-wave black metal and fans of bands like Immortal should feel right at home with In Hora Mortis. Most of the tracks are medium paced with occasional blasting sections, similarly to Immortal, and they have enough melody to them to make each track memorable in it's own right and to stop the album sounding samey and forgettable. Producing actual "songs" seems to have gone out of fashion a bit in black metal circles, but rather, a huge amount of bands strive to produce "pieces" that lean heavily on dissonance and avant-garde stylings, Zarathustra, however, most definitely do not fall into that category, they still understand the benefits of a well-crafted song that can be recalled after the disc has finished playing and that makes the listener want to bang their head and pummell the air with their fists! They have crafted some fine black metal riffs here with some tasty lead work, the rhythm section is strong, Mersus providing a decent approximation of an artillery battery on overdrive with his skinwork. Vocalist Hurricane (Dennis Freiberger) has an abrasive harsh bark that suits the tracks very well and sounds suitably evil whilst still being clear enough to understand the lyrics. All the songs are strong, but there is a brace of tracks in the middle of the album, Salvation from Being and Crown of Creation that could blow the balls off a charging mammoth at forty paces!

I guess In Hora Mortis is one of those albums that often gets short shrift from a large percentage of metalheads simply for geing "generic", despite the fact that this is actually a very good slab of no-frills early second-wave worship. Personally I am very happy to have crossed path with this terrific chunk of horns-in-the-air, unpretentious black metal goodness and once more the review draft seems to have come up trumps for me. I will definitely be looking into these guys further.

(Strong)4/5

This sounds like an album I should check out. I would have drafted it if you didn't get in first.

Vorna - Sateet palata saavat (2019)

This is my first experience with Vorna and I must admit it has taken a bit of time to appreciate. While I don't think there's much in the way of actual folk metal on this release, I do feel the band's style of melodic black metal would be a comfortable fit for fans of that genre. Black metal riffs, while often present, are not always the focus here, and there's very little in the way of darkness or brutality on offer. The vocals are often clean, with an emphasis on melodicism, although the more traditional black metal vocals are certainly effective. None of this adds up to a sound that leans into my personal preferences and yet repeat listens have brought with them increased enjoyment. While many tracks have a section or two that rub me up the wrong way, they also contain some very rousing and at times beautiful moments. The back to back run of Maa martona makaa and Aalloista in the middle of the album is undoubtedly the high point of the album for me, showcasing the potential of the band, and the album overall is quite heavily weighted towards the second half (in other words, it's starts slowly before bringing things home strongly).

This is one of those albums that's well executed for what it is and it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that it was someone's favourite release of 2019. For me it's an interesting yet inconsistent listen with high points that really hit home on an emotional level. I'll likely check out more of what the band have to offer at some point.

3.5 stars

I'm still figuring out what my best of lists really look like, but I do know that the below albums would definitely be in my top 10 for 1986, and probably in these positions.

1. Slayer - Reign in Blood

2. Metallica - Master of Puppets

3. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time

4. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

5. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?

6. Kreator - Pleasure to Kill

7. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

As for the rest, I feel like Manilla Road's Deluge, Fate's Warning's Awaken the Guardian and Kreator's Flag of Hate might feature.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 22nd to the 29th of March, 2023.

1. Bereft (CA-USA) (FALLEN)

2. Moonless (FALLEN)

3. Earthen Grave (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

4. Arc of Ascent (FALLEN)

5. Faal (FALLEN)

6. Wizard Rifle (FALLEN)

7. Kontrust (GATEWAY)

8. Kabanos (GATEWAY, PIT)

9. Revo (GUARDIANS)

10. Pertness (GUARDIANS)

11. Sound Storm (GUARDIANS)

12. Earthcry (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

13. Lyriel (GUARDIANS, NORTH)

14. Sick (HORDE)

15. Thousand Leaves (HORDE)

16. Karnarium (HORDE)

17. King Parrot (HORDE, PIT)

18. Mantas (HORDE, PIT)

19. Absvrdist (HORDE)

20. Tithe (HORDE, NORTH)

21. Gargling (HORDE)

22. Wretched Fate (HORDE)

23. Outcast (HORDE, INFINITE, PIT)

24. Binah (HORDE)

25. Sectu (HORDE)

26. Diocletian / Weregoat (HORDE, NORTH)

27. Nowen (HORDE, PIT)

28. Bodyfarm (HORDE)

29. Abu Lahab (INFINITE, NORTH, SPHERE)

30. Ethereal Architect (INFINITE)

31. Status Minor (INFINITE)

32. The Omega Experiment (INFINITE)

33. Loincloth (INFINITE)

34. Breaking Orbit (INFINITE)

35. magnólia (NORTH)

36. Uškumgallu (NORTH)

37. Dark Sonority (NORTH)

38. Obscurcis Romancia (NORTH)

39. Chaosweaver (NORTH)

40. Bucovina (NORTH)

41. Satanic Bloodspraying (NORTH)

42. Rage nucléaire (NORTH)

43. Master of Cruelty (NORTH, PIT)

44. 4arm (PIT)

45. Vindicator (PIT)

46. Obey the Brave (REVOLUTION)

47. XweaponX / World of Pleasure (REVOLUTION)

48. Follow the White Rabbit (REVOLUTION)

49. Foreground Eclipse & Draw the Emotional (REVOLUTION)

50. Adestria (REVOLUTION)

51. Signal the Firing Squad (REVOLUTION)

That meant adding 22 Deep Purple releases between In Rock and Perfect Strangers, which Rexorcist suggesting should be considered metal.

To be clear, I don't plan to add extensive non-metal band discographies to the site, but if a regular member requests an album or two so they can add them to the Hall of Judgement, I'll happily fulfill the request.

If I ignore the podcast (which was almost entirely The Guardians), I'd say mine would be something like...

• 30% The North
• 25% The Horde
• 20% The Fallen
• 15% The Pit
• 5% The Infinite
• 5% The Sphere

I rarely listen to The Guardians and basically never listen to The Revolution or The Gateway. I see this as a fault, as I really don't know whether or not I actually like the genres in those clans. I have next to no experience with them.

I have a plan to correct this situation in the coming years.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 15th to the 21st of March, 2023.

1. Tombstoned (FALLEN)

2. Vagrond (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

3. Consciousness Removal Project (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. The Graviators (FALLEN)

5. OAK (FALLEN)

6. Wo Fat / Egypt (FALLEN)

7. Midnight Odyssey / The Crevices Below / Tempestuous Fall (FALLEN, NORTH)

8. Void of Sleep (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Lord Mountain (FALLEN)

10. Obelyskkh (FALLEN)

11. Alice Longyu Gao (GATEWAY)

12. Undead Corporation (GATEWAY, HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)

13. DIMLIM (GATEWAY)

14. Gangnam Park (GATEWAY)

15. Kamijo (GUARDIANS)

16. Evertale (GUARDIANS)

17. Arven (GUARDIANS)

18. Piah Mater (HORDE, INFINITE)

19. Tentacult (HORDE)

20. Astriferous (HORDE)

21. The Sound That Ends Creation (HORDE, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

22. Cangaço (HORDE)

23. Scatorgy (HORDE)

24. Necrobutcher (HORDE)

25. Involuntary Convulsion (HORDE)

26. Ground (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

27. Euphoric Defilement (HORDE)

28. Pyrithion (HORDE)

29. Illuminati (HORDE)

30. Leper Colony (HORDE)

31. Sarah Longfield (INFINITE)

32. Felix Martin (INFINITE)

33. The Gabriel Construct (INFINITE)

34. Toehider (INFINITE)

35. Vangough (INFINITE)

36. Tellus Requiem (INFINITE)

37. Epysode (INFINITE)

38. Withem (INFINITE)

39. Fanebærer (NORTH)

40. Circle of Ouroborus / Cosmic Church (NORTH)

41. Situs Magus (NORTH)

42. Sodality (NORTH)

43. Combust (PIT)

44. Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals / Warbeast (PIT)

45. Exarsis (PIT)

46. Pest Control (PIT)

Strangely, neither "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" (3.5/5) or "Left Hand Path" (3.5/5) have ever struck me as being anything terribly special & I came into both in real time. If pushed I'd probably take "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" over "Left Hand Path" by a slim margin but I find "Clandestine" (4.5/5) to be miles ahead of both.

Totally agree with this.

I'll take the Fog of War album. An album with a cover that bad has got to be great, right guys? ....guys?

Over to you Vinny.

I still can't believe you first picked this. 

I must admit that I'm hoping you manage to get to it (totally fine if you don't though!). Call me intrigued.

Trepalium - Voodoo Moonshine (2014)

This is my first time listening to Trepalium and I have to say it's been interesting to say the least. I'd noticed the avant-garde metal tag applied to it, so expected something out of the ordinary, but I wasn't at all prepared for what I got. I don't know if this is representative of what this French band normally produce, but what we have here is a mix of funk, groove and... I don't know... swing? That description's not really doing it justice, so let me try again. Can you imagine The Muppets doing a metal cabaret based on the film Metropolis? No? Well, Voodoo Moonshine may just scratch an itch you never knew you had!

Once I came to grips with the style, I've spent quite a bit of time letting it sink in before making any sort of judgement. The result is that I do quite enjoy this EP. At only 23 minutes in length, it doesn't overstay it's welcome, and the six tracks on offer are reasonably consistent in quality. That said, there are certainly aspects that grate on me, and despite the release having a very unique sound, it doesn't compete with the genius songwriting and hilarity of Mr. Bungle's debut (which I consider a distant ancestor). Points for something different though, and I'm certainly glad I've danced with these wangas!

3.5 stars

Xibalba - Años en infierno (2020)

This is my first experience with U.S. band Xibalba. They appear to have been a metalcore outfit at one point, but this latest album is very much a death metal release with a couple of doom metal tracks tacked onto the end. As that description suggests, the album has a strange flow to it, having a heavy pummelling death metal approach for the most part, before changing gears entirely for the rest. I actually the enjoy the production, and when I focus on individual moving parts, Años en infierno seems to have all the ingredients to be a rewarding experience. The issue is really in the songwriting though, with all the chopping and changing resulting in several tracks that lack any sort of identity. It's a bit sad when the most memorable tracks are an instrumental, that admittedly has very cool tribal drumming throughout, and a lengthy doom metal track that's somewhat tarnished by sub-par clean vocal sections. I have a feeling these guys could do something that really hits home, but they haven't got their crafting sensibilities in order at this point.

3 stars

Steak Number Eight - The Hutch (2013)

I can't say I was too excited about picking this release in the March Review Draft for The Fallen, but I think that had more to do with the band's silly name than it being an atmospheric sludge metal album. I shouldn't have judged a book by it's cover, as I've ended up finding quite a lot to enjoy on the band's third full length. It's certainly on the lighter side of the subgenre, with many sections sitting just as comfortably in alternative metal territory than anything close to sludge, but it does contain enough heavy riffs to satisfy my personal preferences. I can't say I ever really get bored while listening to it, despite the 71 minute running time, and many of the tracks have strong identifying features and hooks that slide under your skin with ease. All this said, the album is certainly not without flaws. There's a simplicity in the vocals that often seems at odds with the neatly structured music, and while vocalist Brent Vanneste has a pleasant (mostly clean) style, he rarely moves beyond safe, unimaginative pastures. Still, I like The Hutch enough to be interested in checking out more form the band, who thankfully go by the more palatable name Stake these days. I'll give it a mildly generous 3.5 stars for keeping my interest for several listens. If you're interested in checking out what this is all about, the three track run of Photonic, Push/Pull and Pilgrimage of a Black Heart is, in my opinion, the strongest part of the album.

3.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 7th tot he 14th of March, 2023.

1. Full of Hell & Primitive Man (FALLEN)

2. Häxenzijrkell (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. Et Moriemur (FALLEN)

4. Primitive Man / Fister (FALLEN)

5. Krokodil (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Forlesen (FALLEN)

7. Sewer Fiend (FALLEN, HORDE)

8. Anatomy of Habit (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Cold Night for Alligators (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

10. King Yosef (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

11. Autumn's Dawn (GATEWAY, NORTH)

12. Capture (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

13. Graphic Nature (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

14. Menace (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

15. Kirk (GUARDIANS)

16. Cyntia (GUARDIANS)

17. Barbarian (GUARDIANS, PIT)

18. Night Mistress (GUARDIANS)

19. 4th Dimension (GUARDIANS)

20. Ascension (GUARDIANS) - requested by Rexorcist

21. Ancient Death (HORDE)

22. Ozigiri (HORDE)

23. Sacrocurse (HORDE, NORTH)

24. Majesties (HORDE)

25. Psychiatric Regurgitation (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Atomic Aggressor (HORDE)

27. Kever (HORDE)

28. Kataplexis (HORDE)

29. The World Is Quiet Here (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

30. Sundrowned (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. Red Handed Denial (INFINITE)

32. Psycrence (INFINITE)

33. Dioramic (INFINITE)

34. Stamina (INFINITE)

35. Aastraal (INFINITE, NORTH)

36. Miroist (INFINITE)

37. Funeralbloom (INFINITE, NORTH)

38. Trhä / Sëht (NORTH)

39. Shagor (NORTH)

40. Vicarivs Filii Dei (NORTH)

41. Nachtreich / Spectral Lore (NORTH)

42. Moloch (NORTH)

43. Walg (NORTH)

44. Qwälen (NORTH)

45. Erebus Enthroned (NORTH)

46. Frozen Dawn (NORTH)

47. Vampyric Winter (NORTH)

48. Section H8 (PIT)

49. Skaven (PIT)

50. WARSAWWASRAW (REVOLUTION)

51. Unleashing My Demons (REVOLUTION)

Somehow I failed to select a release for The North! I'll go with the Vorna album. Never heard them, and I don't mind a bit of melodic black metal. That said, I don't always get on with Finnish black metal. Time will tell!

Re-reading my recent comment, it might sound like I'm discouraging people from exploring outside their clans / comfort zones. That's not what I was intending. I was pointing out that the clan system allows people to do all the exploration they want, without necessarily having a direct impact on the Clan Ratings. That's one of the things that makes Metal Academy unique.

I realize the meat of this topic is all a year old, but I find it interesting. Back when I used RYM, metal charts tended to be considerably more biased towards those very same generic releases, to the point that people were complaining about it. At least what I remember is that whenever I played some new release I couldn't tell you what was so special about it more than half the time. Seems like people over corrected in the opposite direction. Not withstanding that people who use RYM are going to at least pretend to have a deeper understanding of music than your average joe.

That said, it does seem like whenever I pop in here, to check new feature releases, certain sub-genres will get reviews consisting of two paragraphs of writing that could be summarized as "don't care for this genre, 2/5". It doesn't really make me eager to join in on the discussion.

I agree with you that very little value can be taken from a review written by someone who was never going to like the album. Daniel and I have had this conversation many times, as he likes to delve into everything that metal has to offer, despite knowing that he'll hate a lot of it before he even listens. That is of course why I designed the clan system though and, in particular, the split between Release Rating and Clan Rating. In most cases, albums that are way out of your comfort zone will belong to a clan you're not part of, and so your scores will not have any impact on the Clan Rating for those albums. A quick look at the clans that a reviewer belongs to can also impact how much relevance the stance of the review should hold too.

I can imagine a future time when there are hundreds of active members using Metal Academy, and I think the value of the Clan Rating system will really shine through at that time.

Hi Ben, can you consider me for inclusion on this next month please?

Definitely!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 23rd of February to the 6th of March, 2023.

1. Earth Moves (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Palehorse (FALLEN)

3. Hemelbestormer (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Nightslug (FALLEN)

5. Moon Coven (FALLEN)

6. Dunsmuir (FALLEN)

7. Slabdragger (FALLEN)

8. Bombus (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

9. Valborg (FALLEN, HORDE, INFINITE)

10. Shroud of the Heretic (FALLEN, HORDE)

11. Exgenesis (FALLEN)

12. Holy Serpent (FALLEN)

13. Sidus Atrum (FALLEN, NORTH)

14. Ascendia (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

15. Enbound (GUARDIANS)

16. Necromancing the Stone (GUARDIANS)

17. Blizzard Hunter (GUARDIANS)

18. Lord Fist (GUARDIANS)

19. Neupink (HORDE)

20. The Projects (HORDE)

21. Okazaki Fragments (HORDE)

22. Crepitation (HORDE)

23. Dendritic Arbor (HORDE, NORTH)

24. Must Kill (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Vinny

25. Carnosus (HORDE)

26. Neurogenic (HORDE)

27. Embryectomy (HORDE)

28. Thunderwar (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)

29. Xenomorphic Contamination (HORDE)

30. Brutally Deceased (HORDE)

31. The Wakedead Gathering (HORDE)

32. Oracles (HORDE)

33. Bode Preto (HORDE, NORTH)

34. Abhorrent Decimation (HORDE)

35. Unrest (HORDE)

36. Disgrace (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

37. Internal Devour (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

38. Nug (INFINITE)

39. Solip (INFINITE)

40. Nevoa (INFINITE, NORTH)

41. Vitalism (INFINITE)

42. Abnormal Thought Patterns (INFINITE)

43. Hemina (INFINITE)

44. A Sense of Gravity (INFINITE)

45. Sacrificio (NORTH, PIT)

46. Mortichnia (NORTH)

47. A Diadem of Dead Stars (NORTH)

48. Ill Omened (NORTH)

49. Erraunt (NORTH)

50. Akaitsuki (NORTH)

51. Cerberus (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

52. Liber Null (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

53. Firienholt (NORTH)

54. Antzaat (NORTH)

55. Astral Path (NORTH)

56. LVTHN (NORTH)

57. Deathcode Society (NORTH)

58. Baphomet's Blood (PIT)

As long as it's clearly stated, I'm not going to be pedantic about how or where. I understand that including the text in the image itself might be too intrusive. In the description if there is one, or as a directly associated comment etc. is fine.

Given how difficult it has been to attract a larger audience to the site (which I genuinely believe it deserves), I can't say I'd oppose anyone wanting to advertise its existence. That said, I'm very particular when it comes to the branding of Metal Academy. I worked with a fantastic artist in the Ukraine to get the exact feel and visual style that I wanted. So yes, feel free to use the logo and clan images, but I do need to ask that you include the following in fine print.

"This content is inspired by, yet not officially connected to, the Metal Academy website. Logo and clan images used with permission."

Please don't take this as me not being appreciative of any efforts you make to spread the word. It just feels like a good precedent to set.

I'm sure the genre is not for all metalheads, but I'm certainly attracted to it, if only as background music. Thanks for the recommendations, as I haven't delved into it as much as I probably should have. Just listening to Old Sorcery now.

I'll take the Trepalium EP. Never heard them before, so should be interesting.

I'm not sure we're going to hear from Xephyr this month. He did post that he was unlikely to be involved in the drafts, so let's push ahead.

You're up Sonny!

I'll go with Xibalba.