Daniel's Forum Replies

Picture - "Wings" (Release date: 16th August)

The tenth studio album from these Dutch heavy metal stalwarts.

Boris - "Love" single (Release date: 15th August)

The new single taken from the legendary Japanese dronesters upcoming album "LφVE & EVφL".

Cough - "More Dead Than Live" (Release date: 9th August)

Limited edition vinyl-only live album from these US doom/sludge metal outfit. It was recorded during the closing series of their local venue Strange Matter. 

Kayo Dot - "Choirs Of The Eye" (2003)

An incredibly slick post-metal debut from this US outfit which sits amongst the best few examples of the subgenre overall.

4.5/5

Ben, please add Kruger (Switzerland).

Ben, please add Kerasphorus (USA) & Kronos (France).

Voivod - "Rrröööaaarrr" (1986)

Thrashy Canadian speed metal that should appeal to fans of Exciter, Venom & Motorhead. I think it's an underrated release even though I definitely prefer Voivod's "debut album "War & Pain & their "To The Death" demo tape over this one. The filthy production is the main problem but there can be no denying the quality of the song-writing & musicianship you'll find if you polish off the dirt a bit.

3.5/5

Welcome Vlgrim. We're delighted to have you onboard & from the looks of your ratings so far you're just the sort of member we're looking for. So don't be shy. The very concept of this website is about acceptance & celebration of the widely varying tastes & backgrounds that make up the global metal community so you won't be seeing any judgements floating around here. We encourage active participation & get excited about every new member & every fresh contribution.

Y&T - "Black Tiger" (1982)

The fourth album from this Californian heavy rock outfit is unfortunately a noticeable step down from its predecessor "Earthshaker" from the previous year. There's little doubt that "Black Tiger" is the more metal record but unfortunately there's a thick layer of 80's cheese coating a few of these songs & the high quality guitar solos & Sammy Hagar-eque vocal delivery aren't quite enough to warrant return listens.

3/5

Hirax - "Hate, Fear & Power" (1986)

The raw & intense second album from these Californian thrash metallers & it was a huge step up from their "Raging Violence" debut of the previous year. Eight tracks over just sixteen minutes with a strong thrashcore element that even includes the use of blast beats. This is a massively underrated release that should appeal to fans of Anthrax, Vio-lence & Steve Souza-era Exodus.

4/5

Ben, please add Jucifer (USA).

Ben, please add Istapp (Sweden).

Heaven - "Where Angels Fear To Tread" (1983)

Heavy rock from Sydney, Australia. This is some pretty decent stuff & should appeal to fans of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, Rose Tattoo & early 80's Saxon & Krokus.

3.5/5

Ufomammut - "XX" box set (Release date: 9th September)

This box set (released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this Italian stoner/sludge/doom trio) compiles their nine albums in one box offering numerous re-recorded bonus tracks, a special book, photos, lyrics, poster & backpatch. 

As I Lay Dying - "Shaped By Fire" single (Release date: 9th August)

The new single from this US melodic metalcore institution is the title track from their upcoming album which is due for release on 20th September.

Mgla - "Age of Excuse II" single (Release date: 3rd August)

The new single from the Polish black metallers upcoming album "Age Of Excuse".

Disillusion - "The Liberation" (Release date: 6th September)

The third album from this German progressive metal outfit.

Dorsal Atlântica - "Antes do fim" (1986)

Raw & intense underground thrash metal from Brazil in the vein of Slayer, Dark Angel & Violence with a little crossover stuff similar to early Slaughter. Makes up for some poor musicianship & production with unbridled enthusiasm & energy. I really dig it.

4/5

Ben, please add Imperium Dekadenz (Germany).

Ben, please add High Tension (Australia).

Ben, please add The Grotesquery (Sweden/USA).

Bolt Thrower - "Those Once Loyal" (2005)

The final album from one of the greats of the death metal subgenre. The general consensus seems to be that it's their best work but I've never thought it was quite as strong as their early 90's material. It's certainly a professional outing but the groovier riffs that pop up here & there don't appeal to me so much.

4/5

Korn - "The Nothing" (Release date: 13th September)

Ben, please add Living Death from Germany.

Bulldozer - "The Final Separation" (1986)

I didn't think much of these Italian thrashers 1985 debut album "The Day Of Wrath" & I struggle with this one for largely the same reasons although I favour it just slightly.

3/5

Tool - "Fear Inoculum" (Release date: 30th August)

Imperium Dekadenz - "When We Are Forgotten" (Release date: 30th August)

The new album from these German atmospheric black metallers.

Rage Against The Machine - "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium" (2003)

The kings of rap metal. Presumably the last live show RATM ever played & despite a production job that doesn't really highlight the heaviness of the band, you can't really go wrong with this tracklisting if you're a fan of their studio albums.

3.5/5

Necronomicon - "Necronomicon" (1986)

German thrash metal ala Destruction & Sodom with a bit of a hardcore punk streak down the middle. Very average musicianship but a nice raw production & a dark atmosphere manage to overcome the obvious flaws i.e. the God-awful guitar solos, sloppy drumming & lack of structure in the song-writing.

3.5/5

Ben, please add Entrails Eradicated (Australia) & Fleshrot (England).

Ben, please add Dew-Scented from Germany.

More - "Blood & Thunder" (1982)

A seriously underrated hard rock record from the NWOBHM. This is better than their "Warhead" debut from the previous year. And how much does the singer sound like Chris Cornell from Soundgarden/Audioslave??

4/5

1349 - "Through Eyes Of Stone" single (Release date: 16th August)

Norwegian black metal.

At War - "Ordered To Kill" (1986)

Raw speed metal-infused thrash which brings to mind Slayer, Sodom, Razor & a little bit of Motorhead. Not bad at all.

3.5/5

Ben, please add the following bands:

Dead Beyond Buried (England)

Defeated Sanity (Germany)

Echidna (Greece)

Riot - "Archives Volume 4: 1988-1989" compilation (Release date: 23rd August)

Black Alice - "Endangered Species" (1983)

The debut album from a tragically overlooked Perth-based heavy rock outfit whose sound sits somewhere between the hard Australian pub rock of AC/DC & the European heavy metal of Judas Priest, Saxon & Accept. Their powerful frontman sounds like Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Udo Dirkschneider (Accept) & Blackie Lawless (WASP) at various times. If these guys were from England we'd know all about them.

3.5/5

Holy Moses - "Queen Of Siam" (1986)

The debut album from these female-fronted German thrashers. Well in truth this record is more of a hybrid of Acid style speed metal & Iron Maiden style heavy metal than it is thrash. The vocals are pretty terrible but there are a few tracks that float my boat.

3/5 

Ben, please add the following bands:

Castavet (USA)

Celestia (France)

Ereb Altor (Sweden)

Bathory - "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" (1987)

The first truly great black metal record in my opinion.

4.5/5

Kreator - "Flag Of Hate" E.P. (1986)

One of the biggest records of my teenage years. A true classic of the Teutonic thrash metal movement.

4.5/5

Korn - "Korn" (1994)

I'm surprised by just how much I like this record given my generally strong aversion to nu metal. This is a solid metal record made more impressive by the fact that it was the first release of its type.

4/5

Ben, please add these bands:

Burial Invocation (Turkey)

Cenotaph (Turkey)

Chronic Decay (Sweden)

Celtic Frost - "Tragic Serenades" E.P. (1986)

4/5

Nevermore - "Dreaming Neon Black" (1999)

A superb progressive metal concept album that includes a mixture of thrash metal, groove metal, power metal & gothic metal influences. I absolutely love it.

4.5/5

Pathology - "Reborn To Kill" (Release date: 9th August)

The tenth album from this San Diego slam death metal outfit.

Disillusion - "The Liberation" (Release date: 6th September)

The new album from these German progressive metallers.

Suicide Silence - "Live & Mental" (Release date: 12th July)