Daniel's Forum Replies

September 2021

1. Mnemic – “Deathbox” (from “The Audio Injected Soul”, 2004)

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

3. Lindemann – “Blut” (from “F & M”, 2019)

4. Uniform & The Body – “Day Of Atonement” (from “Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back”, 2019)

5. 2wo – “My Ceiling’s Low” (from “Voyeurs”, 1998)

6. Rob Zombie – “Shadow Of The Cemetery Man” (from “The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy”, 2021)

7. Dodheimsgard – “Shiva-Interfere” (from “666 International”, 1999)

8. 16volt – “And I Go” (from “SuperCoolNothing”, 1998)

9. Combichrist – “Maggots At The Party” (from “We Love You”, 2014)

10. Pain – “On & On” (from “Rebirth”, 1999)

11. Static-X – “Worth Dyin’ For” (from “Project Regeneration, Vol. 1, 2020)

12. KMFDM – “Hau Ruck” (from “Hau Ruck”, 2005)

13. Godflesh – “Shut Me Down” (from “A World Lit Only By Fire”, 2014) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Sybreed – “Ego Bypass Generator” (from “Antares”, 2007)

15. Corrections House – “Crossing My One Good Finger” (from “Know How To Carry A Whip”, 2015)

16. Turmion Kätilöt – “Verta ja lihaa” (from “Hoitovirhe”, 2004)

17. Samael – “Exodus” (from “Exodus” E.P., 1998)

18. Dagoba – “Maniak” (from “Dagoba”, 2003)

19. Ministry – “Burning Inside” (from “The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste”, 1989) [Submitted by Daniel]

20. Autarkh – “Introspectrum” (from “Form In Motion”, 2021)

21. Fear Factory – “Manufactured Hope” (from “Aggression Continuum”, 2021)

22. Oomph! – “Born – Praised - Kissed” (from “Wunschkind”, 1996)

23. Author & Punisher – “The Barge” (from “Melk en Honing”, 2015)

24. Strapping Young Lad – “Skeksis” (from “Alien”, 2005)

25. Black Magnet – “Punishment Map” (from “Hallucination Scene”, 2020)

26. DEAFBRICK – “Máquina obssessivo-compulsiva” (from “Deafbrick”, 2020)

September 2021

1. The Devil Wears Prada – “Nora” (from “ZII” E.P., 2021)

2. Wristmeetrazor – “Anemic (The Same Six Words)” (from “Replica Of A Strange Love”, 2021)

3. Mental Cruelty – “Ultima Hypocrita” (from “A Hill To Die Upon”, 2021)

4. Zao – “In the Jaws Of Dread” (from “The Crimson Corridor”, 2021)

5. BABYMETAL – “Ijime Dame Zettai” (from “BABYMETAL”, 2014)

6. We Came As Romans – “To Plant A Seed” (from “To Plant A Seed”, 2009)

7. Shadows Fall – “Of One Blood” (from “Of One Blood”, 2000) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Motionless In White – “Immaculate Misconception” (from “Creatures”, 2010)

9. Demon Hunter – “Sixteen” (from “Storming The Gates Of Hell”, 2007) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Earth Crisis – “Killing Brain Cells” (from “Slither”, 2000) [Submitted by Daniel]

11. Will Haven – “I’ve Seen My Fate” (from “El Diablo”, 1997)

12. Crisis – “Different Ways Of Decay” (from “Deathshead Extermination”, 1996)

13. Underøath – “Paper Lung” (from “Ø (Disambiguation)”, 2010) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Kaonashi – “T.A.Y.L.O.R.” (from “Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year”, 2021)

15. Chimaira – “Sp Lit” (from “Pass Out Of Existence”, 2001)

16. Integrity – “Rise” (from “Seasons In the Size Of Days”, 1997)

17. While She Sleeps – “Crows” (from “The North Stands For Nothing” E.P., 2010)

18. Converge – “You Fail Me” (from “You Fail Me”, 2004) [Submitted by Vinny]

19. Pupil Slicer – “Mirrors Are More Fun Than Television” (from “Mirrors”, 2021)

20. Born Of Osiris – “Recreate” (from “The Discovery”, 2011) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Darkest Hour – “Beneath The Blackening Sky” (from “Darkest Hour”, 2014) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

22. God’s Hate – “Finish The Job” (from “God’s Hate”, 2021)

23. For Today – “Devastator” (from “Breaker”, 2010)

24. Coalesce – “Have Patience” (from “Give Them Rope”, 1997)

25. Veil Of Maya – “Namaste” (from “[id]”, 2010) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. The Dillinger Escape Plan – “The Running Board” (from “Calculating Infinity”, 1999) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. 100 Demons – “Forsaken” (from “In The Eyes Of The Lord”, 2000)

28. Bridge Burner – “Chlorine Eyes” (from “Disempath”, 2021)

29. Poppy – “Say Cheese” (from “Eat (NXT Soundtrack) E.P., 2021)

30. Embodyment – “20 Tongues” (from “Embrace The Eternal”, 1998)

31. Darko – “Insects” (from “Darko”, 2021)

September 2021

1. Evile – “Incarcerated” (from “Hell Unleashed”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

2. Soulfly – “Seek ‘n’ Strike (from “ॐ”, 2002) [Submitted by Daniel]

3. ZnöWhite – “Do Or Die” (from “All Hail To Thee” E.P., 1984) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Body Count – “KKK Bitch” (from “Body Count”, 1992)

5. Prong – “Beg To Differ” (from “Beg To Differ”, 1990)

6. Vulture – “Star-Crossed City” (from “Dealin’ Death”, 2021)

7. Artillery – “Turn Up The Rage” (from “X”, 2021)

8. Testament – “The Haunting” (from “The Legacy”, 1987) [Submitted by Sonny92]

9. Metallica – “Harvester Of Sorrow” (from “…And Justice For All”, 1988) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Slayer – “Skeletons Of Society” (from “Seasons In The Abyss”, 1990) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Suicidal Tendencies – “I Feel Your Pain… & I Survive” (from “Join The Army”, 1987) [Submitted by Daniel]

12. Gojira – “Born For One Thing” (from “Fortitude”, 2021)

13. Pantera – “I’m Broken” (from “Far Beyond Driven”, 1994) [Submitted by Daniel]

14. Ritual Carnage – “Escape From The Light” (from “Every Nerve Alive”, 2000) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Helstar – “Pandemonium” (from “Glory Of Chaos”, 2010)

16. Striker – “Crossroads” (from “City Of Gold”, 2013)

17. Flotsam & Jetsam – “Blood In The Water” (from “Blood In The Water”, 2021)

18. Anthrax – “Imitation Of Life” (from “Among The Living”, 1987) [Submitted by Sonny92]

19. Vreid – “Shadows Of Aurora” (from “Wild North West”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

20. Kreator – “Under A Total Blackened Sky” (from “Enemy Of God”, 2005) [Submitted by Sonny92]

21. Hirax – “Flesh & Blood” (from “El Rostro de la Muerte”, 2009) [Submitted by Vinny]

22. Feared – “Your Black Is My White” (from “Svart”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

23. Cruel Force – “Victim Of Hellfire” (from “The Rise Of Satanic Might”, 2010)

24. Nekrofilth – “Crave The Grave” (from “Devil’s Breath”, 2013)

25. Cryptic Slaughter – “Wake Up” (from “Money Talks”, 1987) [Submitted by Daniel]

26. Scythelord – “Wireframe” (from “Earth Boiling Dystopia”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

27. Sadus – “The Wake” (from “Swallowed In Black”, 1990) [Submitted by Vinny]

28. Nekromantheon – “Zealot Reign” (from “Visions Of Trismegistos”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

September 2021

1. Blodsrit – “Vanmakt” (from “Helveteshymner”, 2004) [Submitted by Vinny]

2. Nameless Mist – “Unearthed” (from “Nameless Mist”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

3. Dawn – “Diabolical Beauty” (from “Nær sólen gar niþer for evogher”, 1994) [Submitted by Ben]

4. Dimmu Borgir – “Alt lys er svunnet hen” (from “Stormblåst”, 1996)

5. Alcest – “Écailles de lune - Part 2” (from “Écailles de lune”, 2010)

6. Mystifier – “Cursed Excruciation / The Sinuous Serpent of Genesis (Leviathan)” (from “Goetia”, 1993) [Submitted by Ben]

7. Bathory – “The Lake” (from “Blood On Ice”, 1996)

8. Felled – “Ember Dream” (from “The Intimate Earth”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

9. Blut aus Nord – “Epitome XI” (from 777 – The Desanctification”, 2011) [Submitted by Ben]

10. Primordial – “Autumn’s Ablaze” (from “A Journey’s End”, 1998)

11. Khold – “Nattpyre” (from “Masterpiss Of Pain”, 2001)

12. Silencer – “Death – Pierce Me” (from “Death - Pierce Me”, 2001)

13. Warmoon Lord – “Empowered With Battlespells” (from “Battlespells”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

14. Pillorian – “Archaen Divinity” (from “Obsidian Arc”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Mare Cognitum – “Pulses in Extraconscious Lucidity” (from “An Extraconscious Lucidity”, 2012) [Submitted by Sonny92]

16. Sainte Marie des Loups – “Des profondeurs le silence” (from “Funérailles de feu”, 2020) [Submitted by Sonny92]

17. Agrypnie – “Wir Ertrunkenen” (from “Metamorphosis”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

18. Bestial Warlust – “Blood & Valour” (from “Blood & Valour”, 1995)

September 2021

1. Mastodon – “Curl of the Burl” (from “The Hunter”, 2011) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Skin Tension – “Conqueror Worm” (from “Machinic Impulses of the Hyperreal”, 2021)

3. Dola – “-“ (from “Czasy”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

4. Ayreon – “Beneath The Waves” (from “01011001”, 2008) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Psychotic Waltz – “Into The Everflow” (from “Into The Everflow”, 1992)

6. Papangu – “Holoceno” (from “Holoceno”, 2021)

7. Fates Warning – “Still Remains” (from “Disconnected”, 2000)

8. Soen – “Pluton” (from “Tellurian”, 2014) [Submitted by Xephyr]

9. Dream Theater – “Pull Me Under” (from “Images & Words”, 1992)

10. Symphony X – “Absinthe & Rue” (from “Symphony X”, 1994) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Teramaze – “A Deep State Of Awake” (from “I Wonder”, 2020) [Submitted by Xephyr]

12. Between The Buried & Me – “Astral Body” (from “The Parallax II: Future Sequence”, 2012) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Gojira – “Another World” (from “Fortitude”, 2021) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Alcest – “Protection” (from “Spiritual Instinct”, 2019)

15. Textures – “Young Man” (from “Polars”, 2004)

16. Vildhjarta – “Dagger” (from “Måsstaden”, 2011)

17. Thy Catafalque – “Köd utánam” (from “Róka Hasa Rádió”, 2009) [Submitted by Xephyr]

September 2021

1. Witch Vomit – “Purulent Burial Mound” (from “Abhorrent Rapture” E.P., 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

2. At The Gates – “Spectre Of Extinction” (from “The Nightmare Of Being”, 2021)

3. Pestilence – “Morbvs Propagationem” (from “Exitivm”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Bologna Violenta – “Trapianti giapponesi” (from Il nuovissimo mondo”, 2010)

5. Messiah – “Extreme Cold Weather” (from “Extreme Cold Weather”, 1987) [Submitted by Daniel]

6. Entombed – “Retaliation” (from “Inferno”, 2003)

7. Be’lakor – “Venator” (from “Stone’s Reach”, 2009) [Submitted by Ben]

8. Bolt Thrower – “World Eater” (from “Realm Of Chaos”, 1989) [Submitted by Daniel]

9. Seputus – “Tautology” (from “Phantom Indigo”, 2021)

10. Ghastly – “Out Of The Psychic Blue” (from “Mercurial Passages”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

11. Disbelief – “Misery” (from “Worst Enemy”, 2001) [Submitted by Ben]

12. Carcass – “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” (from “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” single, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

13. Grave Miasma – “Rogyapa” (from “Abyss Of Wrathful Deities”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

14. Skeleton Of God – “Urine Garden” (from “Urine Garden” E.P., 1993)

15. Cattle Decapitation – “Mauled” (from “Homovore”, 2000)

16. Nasum – “Relics” (from “Helvete”, 2003) [Submitted by Ben]

17. Extreme Noise Terror – “Work For Never” (from “The Peel Sessions ’87-‘90”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

18. Deicide – “Crucifixation” (from “Deicide”, 1990) [Submitted by Ben]

19. Malignant Altar – “Retribution Of Jealous Gods” (from “Retribution Of Jealous Gods” demo, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

20. Blood – “Kadath” (from “O agios pethane”, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]

21. Blood Red Throne – “Itika” (from “Imperial Congregation”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

22. Broken Hope – “Mutilated & Assimilated” (from “Mutilated & Assimilated”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

23. Drawn & Quartered – “Oblivion Pilgrimage” (from “Congregation Pestilence”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

24. Torsofuck – “Raped By Elephants” (from “Erotic Diarrhea Fantasy”, 2004)

25. Internecine – “Ceremonies Of Deceit (Effulgence Rituals)” (from “The Book Of Lambs”, 2002) [Submitted by Ben]

26. Ophidian I – “Spiral To Oblivion” (from “Desolate”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

27. Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire – “Teeth & Hair” (from “Songs Of Ill Hope & Desperation”, 2010) [Submitted by Daniel]

28. Hate – “Seventh Manvantara” (from “Auric Gates Of Veles”, 2019) [Submitted by Ben]

September 2021

1. Venom Inc. – “Ave Satanas” (from “Avé”, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

2. Stratovarius – “Speed Of Light” (from “Episode”, 1996) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Wintersun – “Time” (from “Time I”, 2012) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. After Forever – “Ephemeral” (from “Prison Of Desire”, 2000) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Samson – “Thunderburst” (from “Head On”, 1980) [Submitted by Vinny]

6. Saxon – “Heavy Metal Thunder” (from “Strong Arm Of The Law”, 1980)

7. Alice Cooper – “Brutal Planet” (from “Brutal Planet”, 2000)

8. The Lord Weird Slough Feg – “Sky Chariots” (from “Down Among The Deadmen”, 2000) [Submitted by Vinny]

9. Saber – “Without Warning” (from “Without Warning”, 2021)

10. Traveler – “Street Machine” (from “Traveler”, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Pharaoh – “The Powers That Be” (from “The Powers That Be”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

12. Sonic Haven – “The Darker Side” (from “Vagabond”, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]

13. Cirith Ungol – “Blood & Iron” (from “One Foot In Hell”, 1986) [Submitted by Xephyr]

14. Bloodbound – “March Into War” (from “Creatures Of The Dark Realm”, 2021)

15. Grand Magus – “Varangian” (from “Sword Songs”, 2016) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Haunt – “In Our Dreams” (from “Beautiful Distraction”, 2021)

17. Blaze Bayley – “War Within Me” (from “War Within Me’, 2021)

18. Elvenking – “Reader Of The Runes – Book I” (from “Reader Of The Runes – Divination”, 2019) [Submitted by Xephyr]

19. Exmortus – “For The Horde” (from “Ride Forth”, 2016)

20. Powerwolf – “Beast of Gevauden” (from “Call Of The Wild”, 2021)

21. Helloween – “Fear Of The Fallen” (from “Helloween”, 2021)

22. Judas Priest – “Painkiller” (from “Painkiller”, 1990)

23. Dragonland – “Storming Across Heaven” (from “The Battle of the Ivory Plains: The Dragonland Chronicles Part I”, 2001) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Epica – “Victims Of Contingency” (from “The Quantum Enigma”, 2014) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

September 2021

1. While She Sleeps – “Systematic” (from “Sleeps Society”, 2021)

2. Mushroomhead – “Solitaire/Unraveling” (from “XX”, 2001)

3. downset. – “Empower” (from “Do We Speak A Dead Language?”, 1996)

4. Staind – “Something To Remind You” (from “Staind”, 2011) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Dub War – “Enemy Maker” (from “Wrong Side Of Beautiful”, 1996)

6. P.O.D. – “Youth Of The Nation” (from “Satellite”, 2001)

7. Skindred – “Cut Dem” (from “Union Black”, 2011)

8. The Almighty – “All Sussed Out” (from “Just Add Life”, 1996)

9. Dir en Grey – “The Final” (from “Withering To Death.”, 2005) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Sevendust – “Nothing Left To See Here Anymore” (from “Blood & Stone”, 2020)

11. (hed)pe – “Serpent Boy” (from “(hed)pe”, 1997)

12. Adema – “Giving In” (from “Adema”, 2001)

13. Djerv – “Headstone” (from “Djerv”, 2011)

14. Chevelle – “Peach” (from “Niratias”, 2021)

15. Serj Tankian – “Your Mom” (from “Elasticity” E.P., 2021)

16. Earshot – “Asleep, I Lie” (from “Letting Go”, 2002)

17. Polkadot Cadaver – “Bloodsucker” (from “Sex Offender”, 2011)

18. Deftones – “Be Quiet & Drive (Far Away)” (from “Around The Fur”, 1997) [Submitted by Daniel]

19. Geezer – “Man In A Suitcase” (from “Black Science”, 1997)

20. Pulse Ultra – “Build Your Cages” (from “Head Space”, 2002)

21. American Head Charge – “Just So You Know” (from “The War Of Art”, 2001)

22. Infectious Grooves – “Cousin Randy” (from Groove Family Cyco”, 1994)

23. Lantlos – “Lake Fantasy” (from “Wildhunt”, 2021)

24. Ill Nino – “Unreal” (from “Revolution/Revolucion”, 2001)

25. Drowning Pool – “Bodies” (from “Sinner”, 2001)

26. Stuck Mojo – “Pigwalk” (from “Pigwalk”, 1996)

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

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

29. Machine Head – “Bulldozer” (from “Supercharger”, 2001)

30. The Bread Scientists – “Helios” (from “Troposphere”, 2021)

31. Beartooth – “Dominate” (from “Below”, 2021)

September 2021

1. My Dying Bride – “A Kiss To Remember” (from “Like Gods Of The Sun”, 1996) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Melvins – “Eye Flys” (from “Gluey Porch Treatments”, 1987)

3. Red Fang – “Arrows” (from “Arrows”, 2021)

4. Theatre Of Tragedy – “Forever Is The World” (from “Forever Is The World”, 2009) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Saint Vitus – “Saint Vitus” (from “Saint Vitus”, 1984) [Submitted by Sonny92]

6. Paradise Lost – “The Last Time” (from “Draconian Times”, 1995) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Anathema – “A Dying Wish” (from “The Silent Enigma”, 1995) [Submitted by Ben]

8. Candlemass – “Dark Reflections” (from “Tales Of Creation”, 1989)

9. Earth – “Seven Angels” (from “Earth 2: Special Low Frequency Version”, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]

10. Draconian – “Stellar Tombs” (from “Sovran”, 2015) [Submitted by Ben]

11. Temple Of Void – “Leave The Light Behind” (from “The World That Was”, 2020) [Submitted by Sonny92]

12. Witchrot – “Million Shattered Swords” (from “Hollow”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny92]

13. Cult Of Luna – “O R O” (from “Vertikal II” E.P., 2013) [Submitted by shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Inter Arma – “Citadel” (from “Sulphur English”, 2019) [Submitted by Sonny92]

15. Fossilization – “Neanderthal Tombs” (from “He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten”, 2021)

16. Tyranny – “Coalescent Of The Inhumane Awareness” (from “Tides Of Awakening”, 2005) [Submitted by Ben]

17. Amenra – “Ogentroost” (from “De doorn”, 2021) [Submitted by Daniel]

Wonderfully intense post-sludge metal from the Californain masters of the subgenre. For fans of Isis, Cult of Luna & Amenra.

English gothic metal for fans of Cemetary, Tiamat & late 90's Katatonia.

After completing my Top Ten Doom Metal Releases Of All Time list last weekend, I thought I'd take a shot at my Top Ten Traditional Doom Metal Releases Of All Time. Here's what I came up with:

01. Candlemass – “Nightfall” (1987)

02. Saint Vitus – “Born Too Late” (1986)

03. Candlemass – “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” (1986)

04. Paul Chain Violet Theatre – “Detaching From Satan” E.P. (1984)

05. Pentagram – “Pentagram” (1985)

06. Saint Vitus – “Saint Vitus” (1984)

07. Trouble – “Psalm 9” (1984)

08. Pagan Altar – “The Time Lord” E.P. (2004)

09. Trouble – “The Skull” (1985)

10. Saint Vitus – “Hallow’s Victim” (1985)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/129

Let's see yours!

Timeghoul - "Panaramic Twilight" demo (1994)

Ben, I think you'd really dig this progressive death metal demo tape. You can find it on the end of the "1992-1994 Discography" compilation.

Nevermore - "Dead Heart In A Dead World" (2000)

Xephyr, I think this one might be something that you'd enjoy.

A highly ambitious mid-90's progressive death metal demo track from Missouri, USA. For fans of Blood Incantation, Demilich & Nucleus.

Thanks Xephyr. I'll add it to the playlist.

Progressive groove metal from Seattle, USA. For fans of Communic, “Shadow Work”-period Warrel Dane & “The Year The Sun Died”-era Sanctuary.

This monster of a doom metal track sounds like Black Sabbath's debut album crossed with Led Zeppelin's "Dazed & Confused" & I absolutely love it.

How much of an absolute riff-fest is this Teutonic thrash belter?! For fans of Sodom, Slayer & Destruction.

Kreator - "Coma Of Souls" (1990)

I revisited this legendary slab of Teutonic thrash glory over the last couple of days & very quickly remembered how much of an absolute riff-fest it is. The production is superb (particularly the killer rhythm guitar tone) & the addition of Frank Blackfire on lead guitar adds some welcome technique & melody to proceedings. There are three or four unmitigated belters amongst the ten tracks on offer here but it's the inevitable quality of the filler material that best showcases the album's true strength i.e. it's overall consistency. Mille's raspy vocals still possess that imposing & instantly recognisable snarl that I've always loved so much but the most noteworthy characteristic of "Coma Of Souls" is the whole new level of maturity in the song-writing which showcases an unusual level of restraint at times. The continued improvement of Ventor as a powerful, precise & efficient drummer is equally impressive, even if it sometimes comes at the expense of one of Kreator's greatest charms i.e. their unbridled aggression. I guess this is partially responsible for "Coma Of Souls" not being my favourite Kreator record. In fact, it probably wouldn't even make my top three but it's still an undeniable classic which is as strong an indication of the importance of Germany's finest metal export as there ever was. What an album cover too!!

For fans of Sodom, Slayer & Destruction.

4.5/5

Yeah I don't like "Teacher's Pet" either. It massively disrupts the flow of the album & stands out like a sore thumb in the tracklisting. In truth though, there's actually a couple of other tracks on "Black Metal" that don't do a lot for me too though, namely "Raise The Dead" & "To Hell & Back". I certainly enjoy the "Black metal" album but I actually prefer "At War With Satan" & "Welcome To Hell" over it these days.

One of the most wonderful female vocal performances in all of metal from this Dutch gothic metal outfit. For fans of Tiamat, The 3rd & the Mortal & Theatre Of Tragedy.

Ben, I'd suggest that "The Black Halo" is definitely a power metal record. The strong use of symphonics & double-kick & the extensive focus on the melody place it pretty comfortably within that category in my opinion although it sounds much more like a European power metal record than it does a US one. Despite this, it has to be said that Kamelot keep their cheesier urges in check much more successfully & the anthemic vocal hooks hold a much greater level of sophistication than the vast majority of their power metal competition. The symphonics are used as an accompaniment in order to accentuate the song-writing rather than as an overthetop focal point too.

Although I've stated earlier that I think "The Black Halo" is the pinnacle of the power metal genre (at least in my experience), there are certainly other releases that you'll find enjoyment in. I'd highly recommend that you check out one of the recent The Guardians feature releases in Unleash The Archers' "Apex" from 2017. Xephyr submitted that one & Vinny & I really dug it which is saying something given our more extreme tendencies & general aversion to a lot of power metal. Interestingly though, Unleash The Archers used to be a melodeath band in their earlier days. Anyway... I'd like to challenge you to check that one out & report back to us. I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts.

Crusty Californian sludge metal for fans of Sea Of Deprivation, Damad & Noothgrush.

Dystopia - "The Aftermath" E.P. (1999)

After thoroughly enjoying 1994's "Human=Garbage" E.P. from crusty Californian sludge metal outfit Dystopia, I decided it'd be well worth my while to check out some more of their back-catalogue & I thought I'd start with this short 20 minute E.P. from 1999 which seems to be regarded in a similar vein. It's certainly not as twisted as "Human=Garbage" in that it doesn't drape itself in the blatant serial killer themes of its older sibling however it doesn't sit far behind in terms of overall quality. The hardcore vocals are spat out in pure contempt throughout while the production is suitably dirty. I really enjoy the hints at artistic experimentation within some of the compositions although it has to be said that the short spurts of blasting drums are poorly executed even if they do have an endearing quality about them. I don't find the doomier final track "Sleep" to be quite as compelling as the first three songs however it's still enjoyable & there's an impressive consistency to the tracklisting that sees me feeling significant reward at its completion. This gives "The Aftermath" a strong replay value even if there are no genuine classics included.

For fans of Sea Of Deprivation, Damad & Noothgrush.

4/5

Classic old-school English death metal with a strong grindcore influence. For fans of Benediction, Hail Of Bullets & 90's Napalm Death.

Bolt Thrower - "Realm Of Chaos" (1989)

Revisited this old friend for the first time in many years this morning. It was my introduction to Bolt Thrower around 1989/90 & I would go on to purchase the album on cassette a short time afterwards. "Realm Of Chaos" showcases a band that was starting to find their sound but was still waiting for their technical skills to catch up with their ambition because the production & performances are pretty sloppy but this doesn't take away from a gloriously pure death metal atmosphere. There's a much stronger grindcore influence to this album than you'll here on Bolt Thrower's later material with early Napalm Death & Carcass clearly having been an inspiration along with "Reign In Blood" era Slayer. You'll get the odd hint at those signature Bolt Thrower melodies here & there but the catchy song-writing is already in full effect despite the rawer faster & more blast-beat driven approach. This is still a very solid death metal record that possibly hasn't aged as well as some which has subsequently seen me rating it behind later releases like "The IVth Crusade", "...For Victory" & "Those Once Loyal".

For fans of Benediction, Hail of Bullets & 90's Napalm Death.

4/5

Congratulations Ben. Amazing work.

Can I request the ability to edit the name of a forum thread?

I actually think there's a strong case for this month's feature releases being the strongest we've had since we introduced the clan-member submissions arrangement as I'm not sure I've gained the consistency of enjoyment before.  Here are my results in order of preference:

1. Akhlys - "The Dreaming I" (2015)  5/5

2. Leprous - "Tall Poppy Syndrome" (2009)  4.5/5

3. Katatonia - "Brave Murder Day" (1996)  4.5/5

4. Dog Fashion Disco - "Adultery" (2006)  4/5

5. Saxon - "Thunderbolt" (2018)  4/5

6. The Chasm - "Procession To The Infraworld" (2000)  4/5

7. Nuclear Assault - "Game Over" (1986)  4/5

8. Skycamefalling - "10.21" (2000)  4/5

9. OLD - "Lo Flux Tube" (1991)  3.5/5

There were a few old favourites from Nuclear Assault, Katatonia & The Chasm that are still as potent as they've ever been. There were not one but TWO brand new classics to hang in my Hall of Metal Glory from Akhlys & Leprous. The Dog Fashion Disco, Saxon & Skycamefalling releases were all pleasant surprises & I even found myself getting into the OLD record, despite not finding it particularly interesting back in the day.

And well done to Vinny who has given me one of the greatest extreme metal experiences I've ever had in that Akhlys record. To say I was blown away is a massive understatement. It's one of the best couple of discoveries I've been gifted with since the Metal Academy website started up a few years ago.

Possibly the greatest example of the more European variety of power metal ironically comes from a US outfit in Kamelot. For fans of Dream Theater, Avantasia & Sonata Arctica.

Kamelot - "The Black Halo" (2005)

Ben first introduced me to this wonderful American power metal record back in 2014 & it's since continued to develop an increasingly more significant hold on my emotions ever since. In fact, I don't think I can deny that it's my favourite power metal record after this revisit. The below review was completed at the time & it still rings very true today:

I'm generally not much of a fan of power metal but this album has really gotten under my skin. The production & performances are outstanding & vocalist Roy Khan is an amazing talent. "March Of Mephisto", "When The Lights Are Down", "The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)" & "The Black Halo" are all five star belters with loads of hooks that'll have you singing the choruses in your head for days afterwards. There are some cheesier moments but none of the weaker material has a major impact on my overall enjoyment levels as there aren't really any genuine duds here. There seems to be a strong Dream Theater influence in the band's sound & that can't be a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. It's not overly technical though. It's more in the atmosphere & melodic structure. At the end of the day there can be very little doubt that this is a high quality melodic metal record that could possibly be my new favourite power metal album.

For fans of Dream Theater, Avantasia & Sonata Arctica.

4/5

Here's my updated list after revisiting Kamelot's "The Black Halo" album over the last couple of days:

01. Iron Maiden – “Somewhere In Time” (1986)

02. Iron Maiden – “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” (1988)

03. Iron Maiden – “Powerslave” (1984)

04. Judas Priest – “Painkiller” (1990)

05. Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil” (1982)

06. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)

07. W.A.S.P. – “The Crimson Idol” (1992)

08. Iron Maiden – “Live After Death” (1985)

09. Crimson Glory – “Crimson Glory” (1986)

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

11. Black Sabbath – “Live Evil” (1982)

12. Iron Maiden - "Rock In Rio" (2002)

13. Black Sabbath - "Sabotage" (1975)

14. Iron Maiden - "The Number Of The Beast" (1982)

15. Queensryche - "Operation: Mindcrime" (1988)

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

17. Manowar - "Into Glory Ride" (1983)

18. Iron Maiden - "Piece Of Mind" (1983)

19. Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" E.P. (1984)

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

21. Motorhead - "No Sleep Till Hammersmith" (1981)

22. Dio - "Holy Diver" (1983)

23. Black Sabbath - "The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham" (2017)

24. Queensryche - "Operation:LIVEcrime" (2001)

25. Judas Priest - "Defenders Of The Faith" (1984)

Magnificent US grindcore for fans of Gridlink, Fuck The Facts & Antigama.

I was in dire need of some violence & brutality to revitalise my metal mantra when I finally returned to extreme music after a decade in the electronic music wilderness in 2009 & this requirement was promptly met in no uncertain terms by the 2000 third album from New Jersey grindcore act Discordance Axis. “The Inalienable Dreamless” unapologetically beat my brains in with a jackhammer & left me wondering if the entire scene had gone insane in my time away. Strangely, I haven’t returned to it since so a revisit has been well overdue for many years now.

In classic grindcore style, “The Inalienable Dreamless” comprises of a full 17 tracks but takes just 23 minutes to pummel you into submission. It doesn’t muck around either because this is some of the most ridiculously abrasive material you’re likely to find in extreme metal & this isn’t just due to the awesome blasting drum performance of talented skinsman Dave Witte whose amazingly powerful performance is highlighted by a brilliant understanding of how to use his ride cymbal to further accentuate his blast beats. Front man Jon Chang unsurprisingly screams his fucking guts out & there’s a spasmodic chaos to this record that borrows heavily from mathcore acts like The Dillinger Escape Plan in order to create an added layer of interest with the use of odd time signatures & more angular riff structures taking the album to new levels of interest & intrigue.

Despite pushing past the majority of its peers as far as pure savagery goes, this really isn’t your average grindcore record. It’s much more sophisticated than that & sports a production job that offers the perfect balance of clarity & extremity. The fact that I often find myself looking back at each track & wondering how the band have managed to stuff so much substance into such a short period of time is a sure sign of a superior grindcore act. It's worth mentioning that this is not the type of album that I feel like sticking on all that often though as it fits a very specific niche & does it particularly well to say the least as you’ll rarely find a release that possesses more energy, violence & chaos than this one. These are some of the primary requirements of good grindcore music too which makes "The Inalienable Dreamless" one of the most effective examples of its type. In fact, I’m gonna go so far as to say that it’s just slipped past Pig Destroyer’s “Prowler In The Yard” to snatch the honour of being my all-time favourite grindcore release these days so it should be essential listening for anyone interested in the genre.

For fans of Gridlink, Fuck The Facts & Antigama.

4/5

The Lord Weird Slough Feg - "Traveller" (2003)

Andi, I'd imagine that you'd really dig this epic US power metal record. You too Vinny if you haven't already given it a run. Think Brocas Helm, Manilla Road & Eternal Champion.

Some very solid US power metal from Pennsylvania, USA. For fans of Brocas Helm, Manilla Road & Eternal Champion.

Late 80's Swiss technical thrash metal.

Coroner - "Punishment For Decadence" (1988)

My below review from many years ago still holds up but I'm now finding that I'd probably take "R.I.P." over the CD version of "Punishment For Decadence" due to the entirely unnecessary cover version of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" that's tacked on the end. The vinyl & cassette version (which is what I grew up with) is a step up though. There are some genuinely great moments, despite the fact that many of the riffs still resemble practice exercises more than artistic expression.

"This was my introduction to Coroner way back in 1988/89. I bought the album on cassette & listened to it quite regularly. It was certainly a much classier effort than their debut album "R.I.P." from the previous year but I still found myself struggling a little with Tommy's occasional neo-classical indulgences. Instrumental "Arc-Lite" with its Malmsteen-esque arpeggios was a particularly awkward listen for me as the neo-classical element seems to take away from the darkness of the atmosphere & at times it all seems a little cheesy. The rest of the album is generally quite enjoyable though with "Absorbed", "Sudden Fall" & "The New Breed" being the pick of the bunch. It's definitely a solid release but 80's Coroner never really appealed to me like 90's Coroner did."

4/5 for the vinyl/cassette version

3.5/5 for the CD version

High quality blackened death metal from Mexico. For fans of Dissection, Cenotaph & Infinitum Obscure. 

I first became aware of Mexican outfit The Chasm through a South American tape trader way back in the mid 1990’s & didn’t mind their first couple of doom-laden death metal albums, particularly their 1996 sophomore effort “From The Lost Years…”. But it would be more than a decade before I’d return to the band & discover that they’d become somewhat of a cult artist in the underground extreme metal scene while I’d been busy indulging myself in the electronic music scene. 2000’s “Procession To The Infraworld” (arguably The Chasm’s most highly regarded work) would be the first of The Chasm’s classic period releases that I'd investigate & it didn’t make as big an impact on me as I’d expected upon first listen. Thankfully, I gave it some time & was warmly rewarded for my patience.

“Procession Into The Infraworld” isn’t the most clinical death metal record you’ll find. Instead, it goes for a much looser & more chaotic approach to both its production & execution. The musicianship isn’t amazing to be honest. Antonio León’s drumming is certainly pretty ambitious however the incredibly clicky kick drum sound is particularly unforgiving & showcases Antonio’s technical failings fairly obviously while the lead guitar work is performed at a pretty basic level & is one of the weaknesses of the album. The complexity of the song-structures is quite impressive though with The Chasm rarely sticking to the one riff for more than a few bars which gives the album an urgency that it might not have possessed otherwise. Daniel Corchado’s vocal performance offers great variety & a significant amount of menace which gives some of the less imposing tracks a little more underground credibility too. Those of you who are familiar with Incantation's "Diabolical Conquest" album might be pleasantly surprised at the alternative directions he takes here in comparison to the more consistently deep & guttural contribution he made to that particular late 90's classic.

Musically, “Procession Into The Infraworld” isn’t the most brutal death metal release you’ll find & it doesn’t have the darkest atmosphere either but neither of those comments should be taken as negatives. The Chasm’s more death metal inclined riffage sports a uniquely Mexican edge that’s got plenty of room for melody without ever crossing over into melodeath territory. It reminds me a lot of Corchado’s early 90’s band Cenotaph’s 1994 sophomore album “Riding Our Black Oceans” & also 2009’s “Sub Altris Caelis” record from fellow Mexicans Infinitum Obscure which was more than likely influenced by it. But if you allow yourself to ignore all of the genre-tagging you see online, close your eyes & focus on what’s really going on, you’ll notice something really interesting because at least half of the guitar work on this release sits more comfortably under the black metal banner than it does under a death metal one & I feel that this major element is deserving of the "blackened death metal" label. There are loads of dissonant open-string arpeggios going on that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Satyricon or Burzum record & there’s a thrashy edge to some of it that’s not all that dissimilar to Immortal’s “At The Heart Of Winter” album too. But the major influence I pick up from “Procession To The Infraworld” is that of Swedish melodic black metal gods Dissection with the same sort of complex melodic movement being employed consistently across the tracklisting. It’s this ever-changing combination of accessible black metal melody & more meaty death metal chug that give this record its widespread underground appeal in my opinion.

On paper, “Procession To The Infraworld” isn’t exactly in line with my usual death metal preferences however it’s hard not to admire the integrity in its concept as it really is an unabashed statement on the strength of the underground extreme metal scene & it’s this characteristic that allows me to overlook its flaws. There are some really strong tracks included here but it’s really only closer “Storm Of Revelations” that sees me reaching tier one levels of admiration. The rest of the album is very consistent but the lack of precision & polish in the performances I mentioned earlier combines with a greater concentration on melody than I’m usually comfortable with to see me reeling my adoration in a bit. There’s no doubt that this is a strong record. It’s just not the classic that some people would have you believe it is.

For fans of Dissection, Cenotaph & Infinitum Obscure.

4/5

Avant-garde industrial metal from New Jersey, USA. For fans of Godflesh, Voivod & early Scorn.

My nomination of the 1991 sophomore album from New Jersey artist OLD as our monthly The Sphere feature release was very much intended so that I could take a retrospective look at an album that I overlooked at the time. I’d become acquainted with OLD through their 1988 debut full-length “Old Lady Drivers” a short time before the release of “Lo Flux Tube” which was mainly due to the band’s link to the amazingly consistent Earache Records label. Unfortunately, the tongue-in-cheek brand of grindcore that the debut album presented me with hadn’t left a huge impression on me however I noticed that their follow-up effort seemed to be receiving an increased level of attention so gave it a casual once over. It didn’t hit the spot for me on that brief dalliance so I redirected my attentions towards releases that were more in line with my tastes at the time. Listening to the album now, I have to say that I’m not terribly surprised at this outcome given that I was completely obsessed with the darkest & most extreme death/black metal in the world back in the early 1990’s but there were also a couple of obvious obstacles for a young fella to overcome too. My musical palate is much better equipped to navigate those issues these days though so I think it’s time to see whether I’ve missed out on a rewarding artistic experience over the last three decades or not.

The first element that confronted me after pressing that little triangle on my iPhone screen is the weak production job & I was immediately reminded of the reasons for my having initially struggled with “Lo Flux Tube”. The guitars reside in a space that almost sounds like they’re in another room & have a very noisy & treble-heavy tone that reminds me a lot of early 80’s gothic rock & post-punk. In fact, those influences also play a role in the use of the bass guitar throughout the tracklisting with the bass being positioned quite forward in the mix even though it’s not afforded all that much actual bass from an equalization point of view. It took me a full listen to the duration of the album to become accustomed to production flaws but once I returned for my second visit I found that I was able to see past them & the album started to open up a bit. In saying that though, this is an unusually inaccessible record for other reasons too. To be more specific, the vocals of Alan Dubin (who was also in Khanate with band leader James Plotkin during the early 2000’s) take some getting used to as they amount to nothing more than a shrieking black metal scream that at first seems fairly out of place on top of the experimental noise going on beneath it. Again, this issue becomes much easier to deal with over time & I’m now a lot more comfortable with it but there’s no doubt it was a career-limiting move & I can’t help but think that these vocal & production traits are what prevented me from committing to “Lo Flux Tube” a good three decades ago now.

Instrumentally, the album openly highlights a couple of fairly obvious inspirations but utilizes them in a way that amounts to much more than simply being the sum of those influences. The first is that of English industrial metallers Godflesh with the consistent use of artificial harmonics & feedback over the top of mid-paced & mechanical sounding drum machine programming forming the basis of OLD’s sound. But it needs to be said that OLD take that sound to much more bizarre places than Justin Broadrick ever dreamt of with avant-garde Canadian progressive metal outfit Voivod playing a big part in the chaos that ensues at regular intervals across the tracklisting. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to claim "Lo Flux Tube" as a combination of "Streetcleaner" & "Dimension Hatross" really as there’s an unconventional & often alarming psychotic feel to the way that the riffs are structured & it seems like they’ve made a conscious decision to focus on messing with people’s minds as much as creating an enjoyable listening experience. OLD often employ the use of psychedelics in order to further dismantle the listeners mental state which works pretty well for the most part & is a characteristic that was always going to offer me a fair amount of appeal. It doesn’t always work of course but it’s hard not to admire the ambition even when things don’t quite gel.

“Lo Flux Tube” is undeniably a strange listening experience however it’s also an entertaining one with only the misguided instrumental psych-out “Dissassemble” failing to hit the mark. Its flaws were always going to prevent it from reaching the top tiers of the industrial metal genre however there’s a lot to take in here which sees it possessing a strong replay value that’s further enhanced by the sheer intrigue it offers with its avant-garde & cerebral approach.

For fans of Godflesh, Voivod & early Scorn.

3.5/5

Here's my updated list:

01. Burzum - "Filosofem" (1996)

02. Deathspell Omega - "Kénôse" E.P. (2005)

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

04. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger" (1994)

05. Oranssi Pazuzu - "Mestarin kynsi" (2020)

06. Burzum - "Hvis lyset tar oss" (1994)

07. Oranssi Pazuzu - "Värähtelijä" (2016)

08. Wolves In The Throne Room - "Two Hunters" (2007)

09. Bathory - "Blood Fire Death" (1988)

10. Mayhem - "De mysteriis dom Sathanas" (1994)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/120

Here's my updated list:

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

24. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger" (1994)

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

22. ISIS - "Panopticon" (2004)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Post #3709

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: Ulcerate - "Everything Is Fire"

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: Nekromantheon - "Visions Of Trismegistos"

Ultra-brutal yet endlessly atmospheric US black metal for fans of Blut aus Nord, Leviathan & Darkspace.

Thank you so much Vinny for bringing this wonderful release to my attention. It's utterly blown me away. Here's my review:

Oh…. My…. Fucking…. God… !!!!! It’s amazing how extreme music continues to surprise me after all these years. Just when you think that all of the good stuff has already been done, an underground release comes along & obliterates all of the walls that you’ve so carefully constructed to protect the eras you’ve placed on the highest pedestals. 2015’s “The Dreaming I” sophomore album from Colorado-based black metal duo Akhlys is one such release for me. I’ve always had an enormously strong passion for the darkest & most brutal end of extreme metal & my chosen brand of black metal is no exception. I like my drums blasting, my lyrics blasphemous & my vocals searing with an atmosphere that’s as cold & suffocating as a séance in an arctic snow storm. It seems that I’ve found a couple of kindred spirits here in Naas Alcameth & Ain too because this record couldn’t be more up my alley if they’d set out with the sole intention of satisfying my evil fantasies.

I have to admit that I had a little bit of a head-start on “The Dreaming I” as I gave it my first spin in late July after seeing Vinny name it as his all-time favourite black metal release. I got to know Vinny a bit on other metal-focused internet forums for a number of years before Metal Academy became a thing & over the extended period of time that we've been connected I’ve realised that we share some pretty similar tastes when it comes to black metal so my interest was immediately tweaked upon noticing that he held a release that I’d never heard in such high regard. The amazing cover artwork was also a major drawcard but I didn’t even manage to get halfway through the opening song before realising that I was experiencing something pretty special. In fact, the only reason that I haven’t mentioned it up until now is because my feelings were so strong that I had to get my head around just how much praise I could deem to be appropriate for a release that I was still so new to & the answer to that question has been… well…. all of it really!! Every bit of praise I can muster.

I’ve noticed “The Dreaming I” being labelled as atmospheric black metal which is interesting. Sure, there can be no doubting the all-encompassing power of the atmosphere of sheer darkness however this is much too brutal & the riffs are too upfront for that tag in my opinion. I’m much more comfortable with the conventional black metal one. Perhaps these links are encouraged by the dark ambient sections, the densely layered wall of guitars & the slow pace of the longest piece “Consummation” but they seem a little unnecessary to me. In saying that though, I can certainly see the irony in the fact that my brain wants to link Akhlys to other bands that receive the same sort of comparisons.

This 45 minute album contains just the five tracks & begins with a couple of absolute blast-fests. I’m a total sucker for insanely overthetop extreme metal drumming & you won’t find too many better examples of it than this one. I was actually wondering whether I was listening to a real drummer at times, such was the precision intensity on display & I’m still not entirely sure to tell you the truth. I suspect not though given the tone & timbre of the drum kit which has impressed the pants off me. Then we get a 17 minute epic piece that sports a slower tempo & gradually builds through a cacophony of intentionally warped melodic ideas & eventually culminating in one of the truest realizations of pure evil I’ve ever encountered. The dark ambient component is executed outstandingly well at various times throughout the tracklisting which is another key element of the album &, as someone that’s spent a lot of time with that particular niche subgenre, I was blown away by how well Akhlys understand the intricacies of ambient music. The use of twisted higher register melodic motifs is another important element of their sound & it’s unnerving to hear just how dark these can come across at times. The screaming vocals of Naas Alcameth are quite brilliant too as he works his evil magic & engulfs the listener in unholy contempt.

I’m completely unable & unprepared to find fault with “The Dreaming I” to tell you the truth. It’s as perfect a representation of the modern black metal sound as I’ve heard in many years &, after giving it the time to really sink in over the last couple of weeks, I’ve decided that it’s a top three black metal release of all time for me. In fact, it’s easily forced its way into my all-time top ten for metal in general & I don’t take a statement like that lightly at all after all these years of obsessive musical exploration. Akhlys have managed to truly capture every last inch of me with this record. I’m fully invested & it’s actually left me wondering if I should reverse my decision to leave The North given that I so clearly hold such a strong passion for black metal.

For fans of Blut aus Nord, Darkspace & Leviathan.

5/5

"They Played Rock 'n' Roll" is certainly not one of the stronger tracks from the album but it's a long way from a stinker in my opinion. I actually quite like it.

This one is my pick from the album. It a melodic heavy metal anthem out the highest order & a real ear-worm. For fans of Judas Priest, Accept & Grim Reaper.

This one has really surprised me. I wasn't expecting all that much going into it to be honest. I've had a very long relationship with Saxon after having first experiencing them through 1981's "Denim & Leather" album back in the late 80's & then exploring the remainder of their classic trio of 1980-81 records. It wasn't until Ben & I conducted the Metal Academy podcast three or four years ago that I took a focused look at their self-titled debut as well as the three records that immediately followed their classic period. The debut was the only one of Saxon's first seven records that I didn't have time for with 1983's "Power & the Glory" surprisingly becoming my personal favourite, closely followed by their 1982 live album "The Eagle Has Landed: Live" & 1980's legendary "Strong Arm Of The Law" record. Strangely, I've never gotten around to giving a single post-1985 Saxon release a chance until now however "Thunderbolt" has unceremoniously turned things on their head as I actually think it may be my new favourite Saxon release.

"Thunderbolt" is certainly the most metal Saxon release I've heard to date. In fact, it's a seriously metal record in general which was always going to be a feather in its cap with someone like myself. The AC/DC & Van Halen worship that was so prevalent on Saxon's 80's material is nowhere to be found while the Judas Priest influence has been beefed out significantly & is more focused on Priest's post-1970's material now. Bif Byford's vocals are surprisingly as strong as they've ever been & are a real highlight, as is the stunning lead guitar work of the ever reliable Paul Quinn & new kid on the block (well he's been there since 1995 but I've never heard him Saxon before) Doug Scarratt. There are a truckload of great riffs included & they're accentuated by a splendidly chunky production job that sees this release completely shunning any references to the NWOBHM. In fact, if this record came out of the USA then you'd be seeing it being labelled as US power metal, such is the weight of its riffage.

The tracklisting is impressively consistent with only the lacklustre & lethargic chorus of "Speed Merchants" failing to keep me entertained. The album opens with a beautifully executed & suitably imposing intro piece called "Olympus Rising" that sets the tone for the album nicely. Then you'll find yourself thrust into a world that's simply full to the brim with metal pedigree. The anthemic album high point "The Secret Of Flight" is as addictive as anything Saxon have done in their career while the dark majesty of "Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz)" captured me from the word go. I'm not sure I really need the raw version of that track tacked onto the end of the album though. It may not include the synthesizers of the original version however it doesn't really add anything to my life. The less impressive tracks are generally those that take more of an old school approach that borders on speed metal. These are still fairly fun inclusions but are certainly less substantial than the more ambitious & noticeably meatier mid-paced material. On the other hand though, Saxon records have traditionally included the odd commercial dud & thankfully you'll find none of those on this occasion so it's hard to complain much.

I have to admit that I'm well impressed with just how relevant Saxon still sounded after 42 years of existence & that fact that they've managed to achieve a sound that's better suited to my personal tastes than their classic material was is a testament to that. I've always liked Saxon but I rarely loved them. It's nice to see a group of old codgers that aren't afraid to get with the times & are still so clearly influenced by great metal music.

For fans of Judas Priest, Accept & Grim Reaper.

4/5