Daniel's Forum Replies

Here's what I wrote about this release when I last revisited it 18 months ago:

Am I the only one who finds German thrashers Exumer's least celebrated sophomore effort to be better than their highly regarded debut "Possessed By Fire" from the previous year? From my brief googling it would seem to be that way. Everyone seems to say that it was a bit of a misfire with flat riffs & very little energy but I can't for the life of me see where that opinion's coming from. Sure it's not as raw, is slightly more accomplished musically & is a complete & utter rip-off of "Hell Awaits" & "Reign In Blood" era Slayer but metal doesn't get any better than classic Slayer & the band do a pretty good job at interpreting it so who fucking cares. The new vocalist is pretty bad ass too & he contributes a more than decent Tom Araya impression. Despite a stupid two minute S.O.D. style comedy number I find this to be a massively underrated record.

4/5

Here's what I wrote when Andi recommended this release to me back in February:

Thanks for the head up on this one Andi. I really enjoyed it. "Core" kinda sounds like they've crossed classic Dream Theater with Opeth & Ne Obliviscaris & tossed in a little Emperor here & there. It's extremely progressive & your Hall submission is valid in my opinion as there's so much more to this record than the death metal tag could ever indicate. Some of the lead guitar work is stunning & I love the all-round ambition Persefone display for just their second full-length effort. I'm going with a very solid 4/5 rating.

These days everyone seems to talk about WASP's self-titled debut but I come from an alternate direction as I feel that they got better after that with their peak being 1992's classic concept album "The Crimson Idol" (I know, I know.. a real shock that I don't favour their glammier stuff). Their 1989 fourth album "The Headless Children" sees Blackie & co. finally dropping most of the glam metal schmaltz in favour of more mature subject matter but I wouldn't say they reinvented themselves musically. This is still a WASP record from start to finish with a couple of hard rock focused numbers mixed in with their now signature anthemic heavy metal sound & Blackie's powerful pipes & well-defined hooks dominating proceedings. Admittedly those rockier tracks represent the weaker moments on the album but there's really only the ballad "Forever Free" that I don't find much appeal in. The rest of the tracklisting is very consistent with closer "Rebel in the F.D.G." & "Thunderhead" representing the album highlights & some of the best material of WASP's career. All heavy metal fans should find value in this record. It's not a game-changer by any means but it's got all the balls & excitement that you'd expect from a WASP record & I place it a comfortable second for their back catalogue overall.

For fans of Twisted Sister, 80's Judas Priest & "Shout At The Devil"-era Motley Crue.

4/5

Here's my submission for the November playlist:

Godflesh - "Wounds" (from "Godflesh" E.P., 1988)

Here's my track submission for the November playlist Andi:

Every Time I Die - "Dark Distance" (from "Radical", 2021)

Here are my submissions for the November playlist Vinny:

Bulldozer - "Endless Funeral" (from "The Day Of Wrath", 1985)

Carnivore - "Predator" (from "Carnivore", 1985)

Artillery - "Khomaniac" (from "By Inheritance", 1990)

Demolition Hammer - "Neanderthal" (from "Tortured Existence", 1990)

Slayer - "Disciple" (from "God Hates Us All", 2001)

Korzus - "Truth" (from "Discipline Of Hate", 2010)

Here are my submissions for the November playlist Ben:

Blasphemy - "Demoniac" (from "Blood Upon The Altar" demo, 1989)

Burzum - "Black Spell Of Destruction" (from "Burzum", 1992)

Panopticon - "Black Soot & Red Blood" (from "Kentucky", 2012)

Here are my track submissions for the November playlist:

Devourment - "A Virulent Strain Of Retaliation" (from "Obscene Majesty", 2019)

Dragged Into Sunlight - "Lashed To The Grinder & Stoned To Death" (from "Hatred For Mankind", 2009)

Asphyx - "Asphyx (Forgotten War)" (from "Last One On Earth", 1992)

Cannibal Corpse - "Meathook Sodomy" (from "Butchered At Birth", 1991)

Necrophagist - "Only Ash Remains" (from "Epitaph", 2004)

Here's my track nomination for the November playlist:

Linkin Park - "Drawbar" (from "The Hunting Party", 2014)

Here's my November picks Sonny:

Saint Vitus - "Mystic Lady" (from "Hallow's Victim", 1985)

My Dying Bride - "The Crown Of Sympathy" (from "Turn Loose The Swans", 1993)  - Sorry but this revisit was the biggest "The Fallen" release for me over the past month. :)

Crowbar - "The Lasting Dose" (from "Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form", 2001)

Adrift For Days - "The Leech" (from "The Lunar Maria", 2010)

I'm completely fine with your approach from last month Sonny. Everyone has their own submission time to do what they please with as long as it's reflective of the clan. That's why I always left some space for an additional person so that I could fill in some of the gaps.

Brutal slam death metal from Dallas, Texas. For fans of Cephalotripsy, Abominable Putridity & Kraanium.

I thought I'd forgotten to post my suggestions, but I've just noticed they are there.

Sorry mate. I must have overlooked that while I was typing out Ben's playlist on the morning of the 1st..... manually..... by hand..... unlike everyone else's playlists which they sent to me in advance to save me the trouble..... 

:P

Good looking playlist by the way Ben.

A belter of an opening track from the brand new album from this Buffalo-based metaclore outfit. For fans of Coalesce, Ithaca & Drowningman.

Every Time I Die - "Radical" (2021)

Andi, I think you should check out the brand new ninth album "Radical" from Buffalo-based metalcore outfit Every Time I Die. I first became acquainted with them back in 2012 through their "Ex Lives" album which I really enjoyed so I thought I'd check this one out after seeing it receiving a fair bit of praise from fans & media. It's a very solid release too. You'll find all of the usual metalcore traits here but the difference is that Every Time I Die are a class act & execute everything splendidly. There's a sophistication to the instrumentation which occasionally borders on mathcore complexity but there's also plenty of variation with the band throwing in a few more commercially focused alternative rock influenced numbers that show off a surprising amount of talent in song-writing & hook-development amidst their usual hardcore fuelled ferocity. Front man Keith Buckley screams his fucking head off as expected but also showcases a variety of alternative influences from Tom Araya to Serj Tankian to Zack de la Rocha at various times. The album opens & closes with its best tracks which are both absolutely sublime & I left the experience feeling well satisfied with my efforts.

For fans of Coalesce, Ithaca & Drowningman.

4/5

Here's the Decemberfeature release nominators:

THE FALLEN: Ben, Daniel, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Andi, Saxy S

THE GUARDIANS: Xephyr, Andi, Vinny

THE HORDE: Vinny, Ben, Daniel

THE INFINITE: Xephyr, Saxy S, Andi

THE NORTH: Vinny, Xephyr, Daniel, Sonny, Ben

THE PIT: Vinny, Ben, Daniel, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: Daniel, Andi

THE SPHERE: Daniel

November 2021

01. Samael – “In The Deep” (from “Lux Mundi”, 2011)

02. Master Boot Record – “Emm386.exe” (from “Floppy Disk Overdrive”, 2020)

03. Lindemann – “Allesfresser” (from “F & M”, 2019)

04. Oomph! – “Fieber” (from “Plastik”, 1999)

05. Deathstars – “Blood Stains Blondes” (from “Night Electric Night”, 2009)

06. DéspairsRay – “”Forbidden”” (from “Coll:set”, 2006)

07. The Mad Capsule Markets – “Good Girl (Dedicated to bride 20 years after)” (from “Osc-Dis (Oscillator in Distortion)”, 2001)

08. 3TEETH – “Pumped Up Kicks” (from “Metawar”, 2019)

09. Fear Factory – “Monolith” (from “Aggression Continuum”, 2021)

10. Static-X – “Black & White” (from “Machine”, 2000)

11. Eisbrecher – “Volle Kraft voraus” (from “Schock”, 2015)

12. Crossbreed – “Severed” (from “Synthetic Division”, 2001)

13. Rob Zombie – “Get Loose” (from “The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy”, 2021)

14. Turmion Kätilöt – “Ihmisixsixsix” (from “Perstechnique”, 2011)

15. Godflesh – “Dogbite” (from “Decline & Fall” E.P., 2014)

16. Scorn – “Hit” (from “Vae Solis”, 1992)

17. Ghostemane – “Crash ‘n Learn” (from “Fear Network II” E.P., 2021)

18. Ministry – “Disinformation” (from “Moral Hygiene”, 2021)

19. Lard – “Sylvestre Matuschka” (from “The Last Temptation Of Reid”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

20. Author & Punisher – “Sand, Wind & Carcass” (from “Drone Machines”, 2010)

21. Old – “Z.U.” (from “Lo Flux Tube”, 1991)

22. Pitchshifter – “Gravid Rage” (from “Industrial”, 1991)

23. Red Harvest – “Omnipotent” (from “Cold Dark Matter”, 2000)

24. Black Magnet – “Trustfucker” (from “Hallucination Scene”, 2020)

25. Skrew – “Sympathy For The Devil” (from “Burning In Water, Drowning In Flame”, 1992)

26. Meathook Seed – “A Furred Grave” (from “Embedded”, 1993)

27. Autarkh – “Alignment” (from “Form In Motion”, 2021)

28. DEAFBRICK – “Mega-ritual” (from “Deafbrick”, 2020)

29. Iperyt – “No State Of Grace” (from “No State Of Grace”, 2011)

November 2021

01. All That Remains - "This Calling" (from "The Fall of Ideals", 2006) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

02. Bullet for My Valentine - "Scream Aim Fire" (from "Scream Aim Fire", 2008) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

03. Unearth - "Watch It Burn" (from "Darkness in the Light", 2011) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

04. Trivium - "In the Court of the Dragon" (from "In the Court of the Dragon", 2021)

05. Attack Attack! - "Press F" (from "Press F", 2021)

06. Invent Animate - "The Sun Sleeps" (from "The Sun Sleeps", 2021)

07. Lucrecia - "Sleeping Slaves of Fate" (from "Sleeping Slaves of Fate", 2021)

08. Iwrestledabearonce - "You Know That Aint Them Dogs' Real Voice" (from "Ruining It for Everybody", 2011)

09. Void of Vision - "THE LONELY PEOPLE" (from "THE LONELY PEOPLE", 2021)

10. Aviana - "Rage" (from "Rage", 2021)

11. Wage War - "High Horse" (from "Manic", 2021)

12. August Burns Red - "Coordinates" (from "Phantom Anthem", 2017) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Skycamefalling - "10.21" (from "10.21", 2000) [Submitted by Daniel]

14. We Came as Romans - "Darkbloom" (from "Darkbloom", 2021)

15. Structures - "Extinction" (from "Life Through a Window", 2014)

16. Sleep Waker - "Serenity" (from "Alias", 2021)

17. Spirit Breaker - "The Mountain Between Us" (from "Cura Nata", 2021)

18. Caliban - "Army of Me" (from "The Undying Darkness", 2006)

19. Betraying the Martyrs - "Tapestry of Me" (from "Breathe in Life", 2011) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Make Them Suffer - "Drown With Me" (from "How to Survive a Funeral", 2020)

21. Shadow of Intent - "The Indexing" (from "Primordial", 2016)

22. Psyopus - "The Burning Halo" (from "Odd Senses", 2009)

23. Defocus - "Disease" (from "Disease", 2021)

24. Bound in Fear - "Saint of Sorrow" (from "The Hand of Violence", 2019)

25. Brand of Sacrifice - "The Branded" (from "God Hand", 2019)

26. Darko US - "(Devine Void)" (from "Pt. 1 Dethmask", 2020)

27. Car Bomb - "Dissect Yourself" (from "Mordial", 2019)

28. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Sandbox Magician" (from "Under the Running Board", 1998) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

29. Converge - "Thaw" (from "Jane Doe", 2001) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

30. Crossfaith - "Astral Heaven" (from "Xeno", 2015)

November 2021

01. Testament - "First Strike Is Deadly" (from The Legacy, 1987) [Submitted by Sonny]

02. Eternal Evil - "Bestial Fornication" (from The Warriors Awakening Brings The Unholy Slaughter, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

03. Dew-Scented - "Arise From Decay" (from "Invocation", 2010) [Submitted by Daniel]

04. Lamb of God - "The Faded Line" (from Ashes of the Wake, 2004)

05. Allegiance - "Torn Between Two Worlds" (from "D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n., 1994) [Submitted by Danie]

06. Artillery - "Into The Universe" (from "Fear Of Tomorrow", 1985) [Submitted by Daniel]

07. Municipal Waste - "You're Cut Off" (from The Fatal Feast: Waste In Space, 2012)

08. Fuelled By Fire - "Thrash Is Back" (from Spread the Fire, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

09. Merciless Death - "Slaughter Lord" (from Evil in the Night, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Onslaught - "Metal Forces" (from The Force, 1986) [Submitted by Sonny]

11. Ursus - "Motorockers" (from Garra de Acero, 2021)

12. Dark Angel - "Black Prophecies" (from Darkness Descends, 1986) [Submitted by Sonny]

13. Devastation - "Deliver the Suffering" (from Idolatory ,1991) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Nervosa - "Under Ruins" (from Perpetual Chaos, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Droid - "Amorphous Forms" (from Terrestrial Mutations, 2017)

16. Kreator - "Betrayer" (from "Extreme Aggression", 1989) [Submitted by Daniel]

17. Strike Master - "Inflexible Steel" (from Vicious Nightmare, 2009) [Submitted by Vinny]

18. Sepultura - "Phantom Self" (from Machine Messiah, 2017)

19. Death Angel - "Dethroned" (from "Killing Season", 2008) [Submitted by Daniel]

20. Gammacide - "Shock Treatment" (from Victims of Science, 1989) [Submitted by Vinny]

21.Chimaira - "Power Trip" (from The Impossibility of Reason, 2003)

22. Bewitcher - "The Widow's Blade" (from Cursed Be Thy Kingdom, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]

23. Children of Technology - "Soundtrack of No Future" (from Written Destiny, 2020)

24. Sabbat - "I for an Eye" (from History of a Time to Come, 1988) [Submitted by Sonny]

25. Total Annihilation - "...On Chains Of Doom" (from "...On Chains Of Doom", 2020) [Submitted by Daniel]

26. Speedwolf - "Up All Night" (from Ride With Death, 2011)

November 2021

01. Leviathan - "-" (from "Scar Sighted", 2015)

02. Veilburner - "Lurkers In The Capsule Of Skull" (from "Lurkers In The Capsule Of Skull", 2021)

03. Ereb Altor - "By Honour" (from "By Honour", 2008)

04. Blut aus Nord - "The Territory Of Witches/Guardians Of The Dark lake" (from "Memoria Vetusta I - Fathers Of The Icy Age", 1996) [Submitted by Vinny]

05. Conqueror - "The Curse" (from "War.Cult.Supremacy", 1999)

06. Alcest - "Onyx" (from "Kodama", 2016) [Submitted by Daniel]

07. Mayhem - "View From Nihil" (from "Grand Declaration Of War", 2000) [Submitted by Ben]

08. Schammasch - "In Dialogue With Death" (from "Triangle", 2016) [Submitted by Ben]

09. Bestial Warlust - "Death Rides Out" (from "Blood & Valour", 1995)

10. Moonsorrow - "Matkan lopussa" (from "Kivenkantaja", 2003) [Submitted by Daniel]

11. Sargeist - "Let The Devil In" (from "Let The Devil In", 2010) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Vargrav - "The Glory Of Eternal Night" (from "Reign In Supreme Darkness", 2019)

13. Teitanblood - "Sleeping Throats Of The Antichrist" (from "Death", 2014)

14. Drudkh - "Українська Повстанська Армія (Ukrainian Insurgent Army)" (from "Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells)", 2006) [Submitted by Daniel]

15. Horna - "Saatanan Viha" (from "Kuoleman kirjo", 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Seth - "Métal noir" (from "La morsure du Christ", 2021)

17. Blasphemy - "Blasphemous Attack" (from "Fallen Angel of Doom....", 1990)

18. Månegarm - "Preludium" (from "Vredens tid", 2005) [Submiited by Daniel]

19. Immortal - "Unslient Storms In The North Abyss" (from "Pure Holocaust", 1993) [Submitted by Vinny]

20. Kvist - "Ars manifestia" (from "For kunsten maa vi evig vike", 1996)

21. Havukruunu - "Aavevalo" (from "Havulinnaan", 2015) [Submitted by Xephyr]

22. Sarcófago - "INRI" (from "I.N.R.I.", 1987) [Submitted by Daniel]

23. Aorlhac - "Vingt sièges, cent assauts" (from "Pierres brûlées", 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

24. NONE - "A Chance I'd Never Have" (from "Damp Chill of Life", 2019)

November 2021

01. Evergrey - "Misled" (from "In Search Of Truth", 2001) [Submitted by Andi]

02. Enslaved - "Caravans to the Other World" (from "Utgard", 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

03. Ne Obliviscaris - "And Plagues Flower the Kalidescope" (from "Portal Of I", 2012)

04. Plini - "Pan" (from "Impulse Voices", 2020)

05. Pain of Salvation - "On A Tuesday" (from "In The Passing Light Of Day", 2017) [Submitted by Andi]

06. Dream Theater - "Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity" (from "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory", 1999) [Submitted by Xephyr]

07. Unreqvited - "Autumn & Everly" (from "Beautiful Ghosts", 2021)

08. Imperial Triumphant - "Transmission to Mercury" (from "Alphaville", 2020)

09. Seventh Wonder - "Unbreakable" (from "Mercy Falls", 2008) [Submitted by Andi]

10. Canvas Solaris - "Renormalization" (from "Chromosphere", 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

11. Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - "Chevron" (from "Mariner", 2016)

12. Ostura - "Deathless" (from "The Room", 2018)

13. Voivod - "Experiment" (from "Dimension Hatross", 1988) [Submitted by Andi]

14. Rivers of Nihil - "Dreaming Black Clockwork" (from "The Work", 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

15. An Abstract Illusion - "Drop This Planet of Dust " (from "Illuminate The Path", 2016)

16. Textures - "Reaching Home" (from "Dualism", 2011)

17. Thy Catafalque "Köszöntsd a hajnalt" (from "Vadak", 2021)

November 2021

01. Tenebro – “Cannibalismo sanguinario” (from “Liberaci dal male”, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]

02. Dark Tranquillity – “A Bolt Of Blazing Gold” (from “Skydancer”, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]

03. Inferi – “Mesmeric Horror” (from “Vile Genesis”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

04. Bubblegum Octopus – “Loud Noise In My Room” (from “Bad Happy”, 2011)

05. Insomnium – “The Conjurer” (from “Argent Moon” E.P., 2021)

06. In Mourning – “The Shrouded Divine” (from “Shrouded Divine”, 2008) [Submitted by Ben]

07. Entombed – “When In Sodom” (from “When In Sodom” E.P., 2006)

08. Pestilence – “Presence Of The Dead” (from “Testimony Of The Ancients”, 1991) [Submitted by Ben]

09. Napalm Death – “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” (from “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” E.P., 1993)

10. Coexistence – “Metaphysical Essence” (from “Collateral Dimension”, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Human Decay – “Abusami” (from “Mefitico”, 2018) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Distruzione – “Senza Futuro” (from “Endogena”, 1996) [Submitted by Vinny]

13. Subhuman – “In memoria di me” (from “Tributo di sangue”, 2012) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Helslave – “Perpetual Damnation” (from “From The Sulphur Depths”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Artificial Brain – “Absorbing Black Ignition” (from “Labyrinth Constellation”, 2014) [Submitted by Ben]

16. Sermon Of Flames – “Chords Rung From The Ribs Of The Earth” (from “I Have Seen The Light, & It Was Repulsive”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

17. Septicflesh – “The Vampire From Nazareth” (from “The Great Mass”, 2010) [Submitted by Ben]

18. Gorefest – “The Glorious Dead” (from “False”, 1992) [Submitted by Ben]

19. Cephalic Carnage – “Wraith” (from “Anomalies”, 2005) [Submitted by Ben]

20. Repulsion – “The Stench Of Burning Death” (from “Horrified”, 1989) [Submitted by Daniel]

21. Sete Star Sept – “D-Thread Suicide” (from “Revision Of Noise”, 2010) [Submitted by Daniel]

22. Full Of Hell – “Urchin Thrones” (from “Garden of Burning Apparitions”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

23. Defacement – “Shattered” (from “Defacement”, 2021)

24. Cryptopsy – “Open Face Surgery” (from “Blasphemy Made Flesh”, 1994) [Submitted by Daniel]

25. Pig Destroyer – “Genital Grinder/Regurgitation Of Giblets” (from “Isis/Pig Destroyer” E.P., 2000)

26. Artery Eruption – “Scalped” (from “Gouging Out The Eyes Of Mutilated Infants”, 2005)

27. Aborted – “ManiaCult” (from “ManiaCult”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

28. Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition – “Cerebellum” (from “Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition”, 2001) [Submitted by Daniel]

29. Fulci – “Tomb” (from “Exhumed Information”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

November 2021

01. Unto Others – “Heroin” (from “Strength", 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

02. Crimson Glory – “Red Sharks” (from “Transcendence”, 1988)

03. Chevalier – “Stormbringer” (from “Destiny Calls”, 2019)

04. Omen – “Bring Out the Beast” (from “Battle Cry”, 1984)

05. Blazon Stone – “Hell on Earth” (from, “Damnation”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

06. Angra – "The Course of Nature" (from “Aurora Consurgens”, 2006) [Submitted by Andi]

07. Amberian Dawn – “Letter” (from “Circus Black”, 2012)

08. Seven Spires – “Shadows on an Endless Sea” (from “Gods of Debauchery”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

09. Vanishing Point – “Dead Elysium” (from “Dead Elysium”, 2020)

10. Battlelore – “Doombound” (from “Doombound”, 2011) [Submitted by Andi]

11. Edguy – “Nailed to the Wheel” (from “Mandrake”, 2001)

12. Running Wild – “Little Big Horn” (from “Blazon Stone - Remastered”, 2017) [Submitted by Andi]

13. Gamma Ray – “Land of the Free” (from “Land of the Free - Anniversary Edition”, 2017) [Submitted by Andi]

14. Manilla Road – “The Riddle Master” (from “Crystal Logic”, 1983)

15. Luca Turilli – “Where Heroes Lie” (from “King of the Nordic Twilight”, 1999)

16. Twilight Force – “Gates of Glory” (from “Tales of Ancient Prophecies”, 2014) [Submitted by Andi]

17. Silver Talon – “As the World Burns” (from “Decadence and Decay”, 2021)

18. Lunar Shadow – “And Silence Screamed” (from “Wish to Leave”, 2021)

19. Thornbridge – “Neverwinter Nights” (from “What Will Prevail”, 2016)

20. Vexillum – “Last Bearer's Song” (from “When Good Men Go To War”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

21. Falconer – “Wings of Serenity” (from “Falconer”, 2001)

22. Trivium - "Silence In The Snow" (from "Silence In The Snow", 2015) [Submitted by Andi]

23. Atlantean Kodex - "A Secret Byzantium - Numbered as Sand and the Stars" (from "The Course Of Empire", 2019)

November 2021

01. While She Sleeps – “Anti-Social” (from “So What?”, 2019) [Submitted by Andi]

02. Papa Roach – “Time & Time Again” (from “Lovehatetragedy”, 2002)

03. Body Count – “Institutionalized 2014” (from “Manslaughter”, 2014)

04. Disturbed – “A Reason To Fight” (from “Evolution”, 2018) [Submitted by Andi]

05. The Gentle Men – “2004 Breakup (Remastered)” (from :The Evolution Of Tears”, 2021)

06. Lacuna Coil – “Closer” (from “Karmacode”, 2006) [Submitted by Andi]

07. Linkin Park – “Pushing Me Away” (from “Hybrid Theory”, 2000) [Submitted by Andi]

08. The Bread Scientists – “!!!” (from “Troposphere”, 2021)

09. Katatonia – “Lethean” (from “Dead End Kings”, 2012) [Submitted by Daniel]

10. Stereomud – “Pain” (from “Perfect Self”, 2001)

11. Sleep Token – “Alkaline” (from “This Place Will Become Your Tomb”, 2021)

12. Incubus – “Take Me To Your Leader” (from “Enjoy Incubus” E.P., 1997)

13. Sugar Ray – “Mean Machine” (from “Lemonade & Brownies”, 1995)

14. Lantlos – “Dream Machine” (from “Wildhund”, 2021)

15. Otep – “The Lord Is My Weapon” (from “Jihad” E.P., 2001)

16. Psiheya – “W.W.W. (Wой Wаленький Wир)” (from “Герой Поколения Бархат”, 2001)

17. Staind – “Mudshovel” (from “Dysfunction”, 1999)

18. Chevelle – “Verruckt” (from “Niratias”, 2021)

19. Beartooth – “The Past Is Dead” (from “Below”, 2021)

20. Anthrax – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (from “I’m The Man” E.P., 1987)

21. Linea 77 – “Moka” (from “Ketchup Suicide”, 2001)

22. Boy Hits Car – “As I Watch The Sun Fuck The Ocean” (from “Boy Hits Car”, 2001)

23. 40 Below Summer – “Falling Down” (from “Invitation To The Dance”, 2001)

24. Green Carnation – “The Quiet Offspring” (from “The Quiet Offspring”, 2005) [Submitted by Andi]

25. Mushroomhead – “Solitaire/Unraveling” (from “M3”, 1999)

26. Metallica – “Frantic” (from “St. Anger”, 2003)

27. Atreyu – “Baptize” (from “Baptize”, 2021)

28. Mass Hysteria – “Furia” (from “Contraddiction”, 1999)

29. Love & Death – “Down” (from “Perfectly Preserved”, 2021)

30. Architects – “Meteor” (from “For Those That Wish To Exist”, 2021)

31. Reveille – “What You Got” (from “Bleed The Sky”, 2001)

32. Spiritbox – “Holy Roller” (from “Eternal Blue”, 2021)

Novermber 2021

01. LLNN - "Imperial" (from "Unmaker", 2021)

02. October Tide - "Grey Dawn" (from "Grey Dawn", 1999) [submitted by Ben]

03. Skepticism - "The March of the Four" (from "Comapnion", 2021) [submitted by Sonny]

04. Paradise Lost - "Elusive Cure" (from "Draconian Times", 1995) [submitted by Daniel]

05. Tankograd - "Nie Dać Się Zarżnąć" (from "KLĘSKA", 2021) [submitted by Sonny]

06. MonumentuM - "Consuming Jerusalem" (from "In Absentia Christi", 1995)

07. Nadja - "Fruiting Bodies" (from "Luminous Rot", 2021)

08. Eyehategod - "Take As Needed for Pain" (from "Take As Needed for Pain", 1993)

09. Amenra - "Het Gloren" (from "De Doorn", 2021)

10. Coffins - "Into the Coffin (Oppression)" (from "Mortuary in Darkness", 2005)

11. Forest of Shadows - "Eternal Autumn" (from "Where Dreams Turn to Dust EP", 2001) [submitted by Ben]

12. Un - "Sentiment" (from "Sentiment", 2018) [submitted by Ben]

13. Elder - "Spires Burn" (from "Spires Burn / Release EP", 2015) [submitted by Daniel]

14. Reverend Bizarre - "Caesar Forever" (from "III: So Long Suckers", 2007) [submitted by Daniel]

15. Warning - "Footsteps" (from "Watching from a Distance", 2008) [submitted by Sonny]

Scion - "Tresor.200 - Arrange & Process Basic Channel Tracks" (2002)

A lovely 55 minute DJ mix from this German DJ & producer who also goes by the name of Substance & Vainqueur. The tracklisting is comprised entirely of material produced & released by seminal German dub techno legends Basic Channel. It offers a warm, dubby analogue feel & is deeply cerebral but also offers more dancefloor appeal than its peers. Great stuff!

Yeah it might be a case of it having had its licensing removed for certain countries which isn't ideal. Let's go with the Trivium track instead.

I'm very pleased to announce that our darkest, most blasphemous & generally very naughty administrator Ben will be programming & managing the monthly Metal Academy Radio "The North" Spotify playlist moving forwards (starting with the November playlist). 

Thanks for the kind words everyone. It's always been our intention to have our clans being more like self-sufficient communities but it's taken much longer than expected to take the plunge on this particular item. I guess I was expecting our contributing membership to grow a little faster than it has but I'm now at the point where my work & family commitments simply don't allow me to continue giving the playlists the time they deserve. I'll be maintaining The Horde (my comfort zone) & The Sphere (no one's comfort zone) but I'll be speaking with some of you about the other playlists over the coming days.

I'm very pleased to announce that Saxy will be taking over the programming & management of the monthly Metal Academt Radio "The Infinite" Spotify playlist beginning with the November list. I have to admit that I've always struggled a little bit with the direction of this playlist so it'll be good to have someone as knowledgeable & passionate as Saxy overseeing it to see if we can take it to another level. Looking at his initial tracklisting, I'd suggest we're off to a good start too. :)

It's been a full 30 years since another yet death metal classic was released today. I picked this one up upon release after their 1989 sophomore album "Symphonies Of Sickness" had made such a major contribution to me veering off towards death metal from my thrash roots a year or two earlier. "Necroticism - Descanting The Insalubrious" was more ambitous, more sophisticated & more melodic than its older sibling but, despite the fact that Carcass had dropped their grindcore roots almost entirely, they'd lose none of their underground credibility. The dual vocal attack was more potent & the lead guitar work had taken a good couple of steps up too. It's still one of my all-time favourite death metal records & is easily Carcass' best work in my opinion.

I've never noticed anything "post" about Mastodon or much "sludge" in Solstafir to be fair Andi.

I'm pleased to announce that Andi will be programming & managing the monthly Metal Academy Radio "The Revolution" Spotify playlist moving forwards (starting with the November list). Andi has been our only regularly contributing member of The Revolution since our inception & I'm excited about the prospect of having someone more dedicated to the clan being responsible for unearthing new & exciting sounds from all eras & subgenres.

I'm very excited to announce that Vinny will be taking over the programming & management of the monthly Metal Academy Radio "The Pit" Spotify playlist moving forwards (starting with the November list). I think this will be a real win for the site as it was always hard to me to ensure the highest quality standards when programming nine two-hour playlists every month. I'm very excited to see what Vinny will pump out each month too as our tastes are pretty well aligned & he's consistently shown himself to have his finger on the pulse as far as underground releases go.

I'm very excited to announce that Sonny will be taking over the programming & management of the monthly Metal Academy Radio "The Fallen" Spotify playlist moving forwards (starting with the November list). I think this will only work to improve what is already one of our strongest & most consistent playlists in my opinion.

Laurel Halo - "DJ-Kicks" (2019)

A really cool, quirky & interesting single disk techno mix from this American ambient, pop & electronic producer. Thoroughly enjoyable stuff.

Classic gothic death/doom from the masters of the subgenre. For fans of Saturnus & early Paradise Lost/Anathema.

My Dying Bride - "Turn Loose The Swans" (1993)

It's been many years since I revisited this old favourite so I was interested to see if it would still leave me lying in a pool on the floor in the same way as it did during my formative years. Well the answer to that question is that it certainly does but not quite as much as it once did which is mainly due to the overly-theatrical clean vocal moments like we hear in the opening track "Sear Me MCMXCIII" where Aaron is consciously trying to be the most dark, emotional & generally gothic person on earth. When the band hit their straps though (as they do in the classic three track run that includes "The Snow In My Hand", "The Crown Of Sympathy" & the title track) there are very few doom-related bands that can compete with them & the growly vocal stuff is always much appreciated. There are occasional moments when the violins get a little too cheesy but these are generally balanced out by some super-dark riffs of pure doom & order is well & truly restored. I guess my musical radar just isn't quite asin tune with the more gothic end of metal as it once was but I still think this is My Dying Bride's best full-length & it remains in my top three for the doom/death genre overall although it may have  slipped back into third position now.

For fans of Saturnus & early Paradise Lost/Anathema.

4.5/5

Here's my updated list:

01. Morbid Angel - "Altars of Madness" (1989)

02. Death - "Human" (1991)

03. Suffocation - "Pierced From Within" (1995)

04. Immolation - "Close To A World Below" (2000)

05. Dragged Into Sunlight - "Hatred For Mankind" (2009)

06. Suffocation - "Despise The Sun" E.P. (1998)

07. Carcass - "Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious" (1991)

08. Dead Congregation - "Promulgation Of The Fall" (2014)

09. Morbid Angel - "Blessed Are The Sick" (1991)

10. Death - "Individual Thought Patterns" (1993)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/125

Here's my revised list:

1970: Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

1971: Black Sabbath – “Master Of Reality”

1972: Black Sabbath – “Vol 4”

1973: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”

1974: Budgie – “In For The Kill”

1975: Black Sabbath – “Sabotage”

1976: Judas Priest - "Sad Wings Of Destiny"

1977: Quartz – “Quartz”

1978: Judas Priest – “Killing Machine”

1979: Judas Priest – “Unleashed In The East”

1980: Diamond Head – “Lightning To The Nations”

1981: Motorhead – “No Sleep Till Hammersmith”

1982: Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil”

1983: Slayer – “Show No Mercy”

1984: Metallica – “Ride The Lightning”

1985: Exodus – “Bonded By Blood”

1986: Slayer – “Reign In Blood”

1987: Bathory – “Under The Sign Of The Black Mark”

1988: Metallica – “…And Justice For All”

1989: Morbid Angel – “Altars Of Madness”

1990: Slayer - "Seasons In The Abyss"

1991: Death – “Human”

1992: Alice In Chains – “Dirt”

1993: diSEMBOWELMENT – “Transcendence Into The Peripheral”

1994: Darkthrone – “Transilvanian Hunger”

1995: Suffocation – “Pierced From Within”

1996: Burzum – “Filosofem”

1997: Exodus – “Another Lesson In Violence”

1998: ISIS – “The Mosquito Control” E.P.

1999: Botch - "We Are The Romans"

2000: Immolation – “Close To A World Below”

2001: Tool - "Lateralus"

2002: ISIS – “Oceanic”

2003: Boris – “Boris At Last -Feedbacker-“

2004: ISIS – “Panopticon”

2005: Deathspell Omega – “Kenose” E.P.

2006: Celtic Frost – “Monotheist”

2007: Wolves In The Throne Room – “Two Hunters”

2008: Pig Destroyer - "Natasha" E.P.

2009: Dragged Into Sunlight - "Hatred For Mankind" (2009)

2010: Deathspell Omega - "Paracletus"

2011: Inside The Beehive - "Drink Bleach; Live Forever" E.P.

2012: Deftones - "Koi no Yokan"

2013: Gorguts - "Colored Sands"

2014: Dead Congregation - "Promulgation Of The Fall"

2015: Akhlys - "The Dreaming I"

2016: Mick Gordon - "Doom (Original Game Soundtrack)"

2017: Fen - "Winter"

2018: Saxon - "Thunderbolt"

2019: Altesia - "Paragon Circus"

2020: Oranssi Pazuzu - "Mestarin kynsi"

2021: Altarage - "Succumb"

Here's my updated list:

25. Carcass - "Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious" (1991)

24. ISIS - "Panopticon" (2004)

23. Suffocation - "Despise The Sun" E.P.

22. ISIS - "The Mosquito Control" E.P. (1998)

21. Dragged Into Sunlight - "Hatred For Mankind" (2009)

20. diSEMBOWELMENT - "Transcendence Into The Peripheral" (1993)

19. Neurosis - "Souls At Zero" (1992)

18. Botch - "We Are The Romans" (1999)

17. Rosetta - "The Galilean Satellites" (2005)

16. Slayer - "South Of Heaven" (1988)

15. Immolation - "Close To A World Below" (2000)

14. Esoteric - "The Maniacal Vale" (2008)

13. Suffocation - "Pierced From Within" (1995)

12. Boris - "Boris At Last -Feedbacker-" (2003)

11. Alice In Chains - "Dirt" (1992)

10. Death - "Human" (1991)

09. Morbid Angel - "Altars Of Madness" (1989)

08. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (1988)

07. Mick Gordon - "DOOM (Original Game Soundtrack)" (2016)

06. Akhlys - "The Dreaming I" (2015)

05. Sunn O))) - "Black One" (2005)

04. Pig Destroyer - "Natasha" E.P. (2008)

03. Deathspell Omega - "Kenose" E.P. (2005)

02. Burzum - "Filosofem" (1996)

01. Slayer - "Reign In Blood" (1986)

Insanely intense deathgrind meets ultra-abrasive sludge metal. For fans of Lord Mantis, Coffinworm & Autokrator.

Dragged Into Sunlight - "Hatred For Mankind" (2009)

OK, so this is a fucking awe-inspiring masterpiece of extremity right here. I'd dare say that I'm probably the only member that will think so though as it sits in an ultra-abrasive realm that's rarely touched upon. I already rated it extremely highly back at the time of release however this revisit has seen me elevating it into a space that only the death metal gods dare wander. You honestly won't find a more extreme record than this. It's completely over the top! The production has been tailor made to make it as noisy as possible too with the crash cymbals searing themselves into your cranium. I've never heard anything quite like "Hatred For Mankind" in all honesty. I'd describe it as blasting deathgrind crossed with the most abrasive sludge metal & an insane pig-squealing vocalist ranting about serial-killers. The intensity is almost unbearable at times & the long track lengths only work to prolong the highlights as there's never a dull moment with another serving of fucked-up brutality being only seconds away at any point across the tracklisting. It's an utterly superb record that's made me rethink my top five death metal records of all time this afternoon.

For fans of Lord Mantis, Coffinworm & Autokrator.

5/5

The late 80's birth of war metal from the Canadian godfathers of the subgenre. For fans of Archgoat, Proclamation & Black Witchery.

Blasphemy - "Blood Upon The Altar" demo (1989)

After reading Sonny's list above, I got the inspiration to go back & revisit this old demo which I'd originally encountered through tape trading in the very early 1990's. I remember quite liking it but don't think it ever made quite the impact on me that it did on many others & this still seems to be the case. I was really into the South American extreme metal scene at the time & Blasphemy seemed to draw from the same sources of inspiration (i.e. Sodom, Bathory, Hellhammer, Slayer,  etc.) which poses the question as to whether this combination of thrash, black & death metal really created an entirely new subgenre or not. I tend to think not as it doesn't sound all that different to a band like Sarcofago. "Blood Upon The Altar" definitely falls under the war metal banner by definition but I'm just not sure that "blackened death metal" doesn't cover this sound adequately enough without the requirement to create new descriptors.

Nocturnal Grave Desecrator & Black Winds' vocals aren't particularly strong & could have had a lot more aggression behind them but there's a truck load of youthful energy spread across the twenty minutes. I tend to enjoy the sheer blast-fests more than the tracks that go for chuggy thrash bridges as I don't think Blasphemy were particularly good at the thrashier stuff. They were at their best when they were simply blasting away uncontrollably & there's enough of that stuff here to keep me interested throughout the 21 minute duration. The eerie intro tracks are pretty effective too & add an additional element to an unblemished tracklisting.

"Blood Upon The Altar" may not be essential listening for all extreme metal fans but it does offer a raucous ride & a pretty fun experience throughout. 

For fans of Archgoat, Proclamation & Black Witchery.

3.5/5

Doomy old-school death metal from the Netherlands. For fans of Autopsy, Cianide & Grand Supreme Blood Court.

Popol Vuh - "Affenstunde" (1970)

The 1970 debut album from this legendary German krautrock outfit is often overlooked within their star-studded back catalogue but it actually represents the earliest full-length example of ambient music that I'm aware of with a strong tribal component being incorporated in conjunction with the early synthesizer experimentation. "Affenstunde" is comprised of four tracks across forty minutes with the nineteen minute title track being the centrepiece. It's certainly not as immediate as a lot of their other material & subsequently requires a little more commitment. Second track "Ich Mache Einen Spiegel: Dream Part 5" is a misguided failure but the other three inclusions have a lot to offer & I've always thought this was an underrated record to be honest, despite the fact that it doesn't really challenge Popol Vuh's more classic material.

4/5

For this weekend's "top ten of all time" list I've decided to go with power metal which is a subgenre that I've often struggled with over the years but have now found enough releases that I like to put together a list like this one. Check it out & feel free to post your own.

01. Kamelot - "The Black Halo" (2005)

02. Iced Earth - "Alive In Athens" (1999)

03. Unleash The Archers - "Apex" (2017)

04. Lost Horizon - "Awakening The World" (2001)

05. Blind Guardian - "Imaginations From The Other Side" (1995)

06. Lost Horizon - "A Flame To The Ground Beneath" (2003)

07. Blind Guardian - "Nightfall In Middle-Earth" (1998)

08. Blind Guardian - "Live" (2003)

09. Blind Guardian - "Somewhere Far Beyond" (1992)

10. Gamma Ray - "Blast From The Past" (2000)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/139

Intense New York thrash metal for fans of Morbid Saint, Dark Angel & early Sadus.