Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Motionless in White - "Immaculate Misconception" from Creatures (2010)

4.5/5. Although I haven't listened to much Motionless in White lately, this is still one of my favorite tracks from the band. The chorus rules, and so is the bridge that leads to the breakdown. This band is certainly comfortable staying away from the Christian scene that other metalcore bands seem to hop in at the time.

ERRA - "Eye of God" from Eye of God (2019)

5/5. ERRA has helped shape up the future of progressive metalcore. This incredible track practically throws back to the Prometheus era, especially that midway breakdown.

Silent Civilian - "Ghost Stories" from Ghost Stories (2010)

4.5/5. Silent Civilian is quite underrated compared to the more popular and still awesome August Burns Red, Trivium, and Unearth. Anyway, in some copies of this album, including the one I own, there's some glitching in the solo, which fortunately they don't have in the Spotify version. That error aside, I still enjoy this track.

Fit for a King - "No Tomorrow" from Lonely God (2025)

4/5. Fit for a King are starting to sound more like Invent Animate. The drums and vocals and f***ing both beautiful and brutal, reaching their climax at the end.

Adept - "Carry the Weight" from Sleepless (2016)

4.5/5. Wow, that intro sounds like yet another song in the "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"/"Give in to Me" plagiarism chain! Besides that, this song hits f***ing HARD.

Bleed from Within - "Night Crossing" from Fracture (2020)

5/5. Horns way up for this one, including the guitar soloing by Matt Heafy of Trivium.

Unearth - "Dawn of the Militant" from The Wretched; the Ruinous (2023)

4.5/5. Deeper down the line is more of the classic metallic hardcore sound of Earth Crisis and Strife. This is solid heaviness we really need. It then leads to perhaps the most brutal breakdown the band has ever made. Absolutely killer sh*t right there!

Despised Icon - "In the Arms of Perdition" from The Ills of Modern Man (2007)

5/5. In terms of brutal standard deathcore, Despised Icon has mastered it quite well. The guitars and vocals sound so wicked, especially in the breakdown. I'm glad they're still around after that temporary breakup.

Humanity's Last Breath - "Abyssal Mouth" from Abyssal (2019)

4.5/5. The heaviness really bursts out alongside those haunting vocals by Filip Danielsson. And we have more of those machine-gun blast beats.

Born of Osiris - "A Solution" from The Discovery (2011)

4/5. Blown away by all that deathcore heaviness yet? Well here's a small break for you to catch your breath. A short interlude with the synths and cleans of Joe Buras.

Sun Eater - "Wounds" from Death Crown (2026)

4.5/5. What other sound would you expect from a band possibly named after a Lorna Shore song and having once included Mental Cruelty vocalist Lukas Nicolai? This is crushing deathcore that is like a blend of Lorna Shore and Spite. The monstrous vocals of Sten Govers make this song a lot more than just a banger. And that breakdown throughout the last minute is brutal as f***.

Worm Shepherd - "The Emptiness Between Stars" from In the Wake ov Sol (2020)

5/5. This highlight starts off smooth and ambient then unleashes the slower downtempo deathcore before ending with the same ambience. Darkness rises from the void!

Space of Variations - "GHOST TOWN" from GHOST TOWN (2026)

4.5/5. "All these shiny diamonds don’t lead me back to you", but they do lead me to another amazing track! It is part of their new album Poisoned Art, and listeners definitely had something to get them pumped up for the album.

Wage War - "The River" from Blueprints (2015)

4/5. Great work from this band, even though my interest seems to fade.

The Amity Affliction - "Bleed" from House of Cards (2026)

4.5/5. Some Lamb of God and Kingdom of Giants vibes in this one, though the latter would've been more likely if bassist Jonathan Reeves (who was formerly in that other band) has done his cleans. Nonetheless, Joel Birch sounds so vicious in his vocals, and the whole track is practically a breakdown.

While She Sleeps - "Be(lie)ve" from This is the Six (2012)

5/5. While She Sleeps would grow in popularity after the earlier releases that this underrated standout appeared in.

The Narrator - "Stained Glass Reality" from Lore (2024)

4.5/5. Sounds like the style of those previous 3 bands has been modernized.

Johnny Booth - "Get Well Soon" from Get Well Soon (2025)

4/5. Imagine if Boundaries, Loathe, and The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza collaborated with one another. It would probably something like this ravaging banger. That breakdown in over the one-minute mark slays.

Defects - "Heresy" from Heresy (2025)

3.5/5. Is it heresy here to say that I don't rate this track as highly as other metalcore songs in this playlist? Still I appreciate the music f***ing slapping, alongside the vocals by Tony Maue who was the lead guitarist for The Raven Age.

Elwood Stray - "Genesis" from Descending (2026)

3.5/5. Elwood Stray can basically make a blend of 2020s Architects and Linkin Park with this banger. A little too alternative for me, yet dark and heavy. And no, this has nothing to do with the rock band Genesis. The guitars switching between electric and acoustic is quite creative, though Mental Cruelty has a little more creativity in their sound. Those vocals have both beauty and rage. As good as the music and vocals are, they do seem a little AI-generated, though they likely aren't.

Dead by April - "Losing You" from Dead by April (2009)

4/5. I'm glad to revisit this solid gem after taking some time away from the work of Dead by April. The intro has some piano sounding borrowed from late 90s Paradise Lost that then leads into electronic alt-metalcore with some seeds planted for Starset. The music and vocals sound so beautiful. "All I need is you..."

As I Lay Dying - "Redefined" from Shaped by Fire (2019)

4.5/5. Featuring Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red, this song has angrier vocals and insane drumming and fulfilling guitar melodies. The cleans still do their respective part.

Black Veil Brides - "Woe & Pain" from Vindicate (2026)

4/5. Great to witness Black Veil Brides get their heavier side more recognized.

The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "If These Bullets Could Talk" from Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses (2003)

4.5/5. If these bullets could talk, they would be screaming your heads off. "I dont have much, but I'll ask you this....why would you destroy your best friend?"

Converge - "Dream Debris" from Hum of Hurt (2026)

5/5. The centerpiece of the new Converge album and likely this playlist is this 6-minute epic. Right from the tribal march of drummer Ben Koller and the rumbling of bassist Nate Newton, comes a spectacular slow buildup to a massive headbanging groove. Converge still have their later atmospheric side to go with their earlier math/metalcore, as that majestic gem has proven.

Snapcase - "Lookinglasself" from Lookinglasself (1993)

4.5/5. A true representation of the band at their early stage. The hardcore riffing is so sludgy and adds to the brooding emotion. Their talent is on full display!

Rorschach - "Oppress" from Remain Sedate (1990)

5/5. The chaotic dissonance fades out after the closing gem of the first ever metalcore offering.

Burst - "(We Watched) The Silver Rain" from Lazarus Bird (2008)

4.5/5. This epic starts by building up a rhythmic fill from calm to storming in the first two minutes, then calms down and, near the 3-minute mark, starts a bass transition. Then clean vocals enter and go on in extensive amounts with beautiful melancholic riffing for the rest of the song. There's still plenty of heaviness and yelling, just not as much as the clean parts.

August Burns Red - "Crusades" from Constellations (2009)

5/5. However, this 5-minute closer is a much better ending than the previous track, finding an equal balance between fast and slow. After some insane intensity, there's a small blues break that builds up into an epic final verse to end on a perfect note.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Dog Fashion Disco – Leper Friend (2018)

4.5/5. Dog Fashion Disco was one of those go-to bands for humor in metal, like Mr. Bungle but f***ing heavier. This album seemed to disappear from Spotify for some time, and now it's back there! I should revisit the original version sometime.

Gorod – Transcendence (2011)

5/5. Oh my Gorod, this is one of the best progressive/tech-death epics I've heard! With that, I'll be expanding my good taste with more of this band sometime soon.

Haken – Bleeding Sky (2026)

4.5/5. Haken is back with what sounds like a heavier take on Leprous' "The Sky is Red", in both the music and lyrics.

Ihlo – Signals (2025)

4/5. The climax of this Ihlo album is in beautiful flow. The band lets the beauty drift by, only saving the heaviness for when it's the right time. In the end, the track and its original album closes the way it should.

Leprous – The Flood (2015)

4.5/5. Leprous made a beautiful impact to 21st century melodic prog-metal/rock. The vocalizing in the bridge midway through sounds so heavenly.

Orphaned Land – Like Orpheus (2018)

5/5. Part of an epic journey through the distant Orphaned Land, with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kursch guiding you through one of the verses.

Tyr – Land (2008)

5/5. When the vocals start at around the 2 and a half minute mark, you know a legendary tale is to be told. I'm glad to be back onboard the epic progressive folk metal ship after having resisted it for nearly a decade. The vocals range from clean singing to a battlecry. I also can't resist the ending sounding so classical in the Grieg-esque strings. I just love these kinds of epics that have appeared in their earlier albums. So come sail away over the Atlantic seas for honor and glory!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Twilight Force - "Dawn of the Dragonstar" from Dawn of the Dragonstar (2019)

4/5. Great song to kick off this playlist, though a little too cheesy from the uplifting symphonics.

Heavy Load - "Stronger than Evil" from Stronger than Evil (1983)

4.5/5. An older and slightly stronger track, having the kind of energy bands like Europe had around that year.

Warkings - "Live is Life" from Live is Life (2026)

5/5. Before we continue diving into some 80s heavy metal, how about this awesome modern heavy metal cover of an 80s hit! This proves how well a metal band can add a unique diverse twist to a pop rock single. and that's the kind of covers I love, just enhancing the song with their own sound. You may also know the 1989 performance done by Diego Maradona in sync with the original Opus song. RIP...

Century - "Fallen Hero" from Sign of the Storm (2025)

4.5/5. And how about this splendid revival of classic heavy metal for this century!

Black Sabbath - "Born Again" from Born Again (1983)

4/5. If a classic Black Sabbath fan hears this and says "This is a f***ing Black Sabbath song!?!", I say it is, but a different era. This is from their only album with vocalist Ian Gillan (Deep Purple). The song sounds pretty deep, particularly throughout the second half which includes melancholic guitar solo by Tony Iommi at the 5-minute mark.

TOWER - "And I Cry" from Let There Be Dark (2025)

4.5/5. This excellent highlight begins sounding like a ballad, then they become more energetic in the second half and keep you hooked in no time.

Accept - "Starlight" from Breaker (1981)

4/5. I wasn't around when many of these classic heavy metal albums came out, but I understand the appeal earlier metalheads have of this era of metal that they've heard in their youth. Although Accept was starting to rise with this album, they would have their breakthrough in their next album Restless and Wild.

Anvil - "School Love" from Hard 'n' Heavy (1981)

3.5/5. Anvil has really gone as big as the more popular classic heavy metal bands out there, though they have planted the seed for notable bands like the thrash metal Big 4. The guitarwork by Dave Allison (RIP) is so good. Apparently, this song was in the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. We've gotten Anvil in a GTA game before GTA6! Anyway, I think this band would appeal more to fans of the old-school heavy metal league led by Judas Priest. Or maybe it's just the vocals sounding repetitive to me, I don't know. But hey, there's something for anyone to love.

Dokken - "In My Dreams" from Under Lock and Key (1985)

3/5. A little too glam but still metal. A decent song all and all.

Judas Priest - "Heading Out to the Highway" from Point of Entry (1981)

3.5/5. This one has more positive motivation. Those parents who thought metal was satanic have been proven wrong. Songs like this encourage you to head out to the highway and make the best of your life. It's supposed to help you get over, never into, addiction and depression. You can also listen while playing Need for Speed.

Riot - "Hard Lovin' Man" from Restless Breed (1982)

4/5. Riot is more underrated compared to the more popular classic heavy metal bands, honestly. RIP Mark Reale and Rhett Forrester

LOUDNESS - "HARD WORKIN'" from DEVIL SOLDIER (1982)

3.5/5. Hard lovin', hard workin'... How hard can these bands get!? A little harder than this should've been, but still good.

Motorhead - "Bomber" from Bomber (1979)

3/5. This Motorhead hit is about a World War II bomber and is based on a Len Deighton book. As OK as this sounds, it sounds a little, well, bombed. Still, RIP Lemmy

Plasmatics - "The Damned" from Coup D'Etat (1982)

3/5. Wendy O. Williams sounds more theatrical than all those famous popstars from the 80s and the present day. With that said, I'm too fond of her vocal style here, but I still respect what she could do. RIP

DOMINUM - "Dark Melodies" from Dark Melodies (2026)

3.5/5. With this catchy song filled with dark melodies, it's possible for Dominum to enter Eurovision. Sabaton, Warkings, Powerwolf, and Beast in Black would all give this band their seal of approval.

Within Temptation - "Ice Queen" from Mother Earth (2000)

4/5. This popular single is quite catchy, though the original album's title track has a little more magic.

Kamelot - "Insomnia" from Haven (2015)

4.5/5. I've heard of Kamelot for over a decade, and they were one of the first ever power metal (and metal in general) bands I was a fan of besides DragonForce. I'm glad to revisit this song after so many years, because it was one of my favorites back then and might still be now. Nice lyrics too!

DragonForce - "Burning Heart (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)" from Burning Heart (2025)

5/5. Then we hit earth-shattering speed and blazing hammering fury, apart from a retro synthwave bridge. One of the most killer highlights here! And made even more killer with the vocals Alissa White-Gluz, who has just left Arch Enemy and joined DragonForce full-time! She has definitely reached her height in the final transposed chorus.

Avantasia - "Neverland" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)

4.5/5. An amazing song from this metal opera project, with great lyrics!

Epica - "Feint" from The Phantom Agony (2003)

4/5. A beautiful song like this one can sound sad while giving you happiness.

Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" from Score to a New Beginning (2009)

4.5/5. RIP Philippe Giordana... Fairyland is another one of those bands I wish I could've discovered 12 years before this comment when my interest in symphonic power metal was at its early peak. This wonderful song has similar vibes to both Sonata Arctica and Two Steps From Hell.

Nightwish - "Slaying the Dreamer" from Century Child (2002)

4/5. For a melodic symphonic metal band, this one is quite heavy. Maybe that's why it was one of my favorite Nightwish songs when I was young.

Xandria - "The Shannon's Home" from The Shannon's Home (2026)

4.5/5. Ever since vocalist Ambre Vourvahis joined Xandria, they're slowly becoming Nightwish 2.0. Still they have different vibes from other bands like the majesty of Vision of Atlantis and the occasional heaviness of Seven Spires. Plus some of their power metal side is still around that I've once heard in Dragonland and Avantasia. That heavy midsection breakdown gets me every time and tempts me every time. Amazing song to make me look forward to their upcoming album Eclipse!

Seven Spires - "Serenity" from Solveig (2017)

5/5. An absolute grand example of extreme folk-ish symphonic metal! The lyrics sound so poetic and original. You gotta appreciate the massive vocal range of Adrienne Cowan. I can just feel the power that has kept me engaged.

Tyr - "Valkyrja" from Valkyrja (2013)

4.5/5. A beautiful epic to close its original album, but not yet this playlist...

Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" from Awakening from Abyss (2017)

5/5. I still can't believe I haven't discovered Lovebites until just earlier this year. Probably because by the time this band started to rise shortly after this album came out, I was moving away from power metal in favor of the heavier modern metal genres. This fantastic track has more power in this version than in the EP, along with English lyrics.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any heavy/power/symphonic/neoclassical metal fan and anyone who isn't into those genres but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

July 2026

1. A Dark Halo - "Thin Be the Veil" from Omnibus One (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Mechina - "Pray to the Winds" from Conqueror (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Third Realm - "Diabolic Crush" from Beyond Good and Evil (2012)

4. Old - "Outlive" from Lo Flux Tube (1991)

5. Acumen Nation - "Parasite Mine" from The 5ifth Column (2002)

6. Black Magnet - "Keep It Downtown" from Keep It Downtown (2026)

7. Herrschaft - "Human Soul" from Tesla (2008)

8. Diablerie - "Weltschmerz - 2024" from Weltschmerz (2024)

9. Celldweller - "Just Like You" from End of an Empire (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Fear Factory - "Depraved Mind Murder" from The Industrialist (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Der Martyrer - "I" from Der Martyrer (2025)

12. En Esch - "Dog 2 U" from Trash Chic (2016)

13. Samael - "Hail to the Sun" from Hail to the Sun (2026)

14. Circus of Dead Squirrels - "Death Saves the Derelict" from Indoor Recess (2004)

15. Treponem Pal - "Souls on Fire" from Rockers' Vibes (2017)

16. Cubanate - "Body Burn" from Brutalism (2017)

17. Static-X - "Just in Case" from Start a War (2005)

18. Harm's Way, JK Flesh - "Call My Name - Justin Broadrick Remix" from PSTHMN (2019)

19. Uranium - "Black Knight Satellite" from Pure Nuclear Death (2023)

20. In This Moment - "Sleeping with the Enemy" from Sleeping with the Enemy (2026)

21. Motionless in White, Maria Brink - "Contemptress" from Reincarnate (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Mnemic - "Mindsaver" from The Audio Injected Soul (2004)

23. The Interbeing - "Eternal Eclipse" from Icon of the Hopeless (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Pain - "Bye/Die" from Dancing with the Dead (2005)

25. Scorn - "Heavy Blood" from Vae Solis (1992)

26. Die Krupps - "Fire" from Paradise Now (1997)

27. Genitorturers - "All Hell Breaks Loose (Live)" from Flesh is the Law (2002)

28. Gothminister - "We Come Alive" from Pandemonium II - The Battle of the Underworlds (2024)

July 2026

1. Motionless in White - "Immaculate Misconception" from Creatures (2010)

2. ERRA - "Eye of God" from Eye of God (2019)

3. Silent Civilian - "Ghost Stories" from Ghost Stories (2010)

4. Fit for a King - "No Tomorrow" from Lonely God (2025)

5. Adept - "Carry the Weight" from Sleepless (2016)

6. Bleed from Within - "Night Crossing" from Fracture (2020)

7. Unearth - "Dawn of the Militant" from The Wretched; the Ruinous (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Despised Icon - "In the Arms of Perdition" from The Ills of Modern Man (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Humanity's Last Breath - "Abyssal Mouth" from Abyssal (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Born of Osiris - "A Solution" from The Discovery (2011)

11. Sun Eater - "Wounds" from Death Crown (2026) [submitted by Vinny]

12. Worm Shepherd - "The Emptiness Between Stars" from In the Wake ov Sol (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Space of Variations - "GHOST TOWN" from GHOST TOWN (2026)

14. Wage War - "The River" from Blueprints (2015)

15. The Amity Affliction - "Bleed" from House of Cards (2026)

16. While She Sleeps - "Be(lie)ve" from This is the Six (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. The Narrator - "Stained Glass Reality" from Lore (2024)

18. Johnny Booth - "Get Well Soon" from Get Well Soon (2025)

19. Defects - "Heresy" from Heresy (2025)

20. Elwood Stray - "Genesis" from Descending (2026)

21. Dead by April - "Losing You" from Dead by April (2009)

22. As I Lay Dying - "Redefined" from Shaped by Fire (2019)

23. Black Veil Brides - "Woe & Pain" from Vindicate (2026)

24. The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "If These Bullets Could Talk" from Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses (2003)

25. Converge - "Dream Debris" from Hum of Hurt (2026)

26. Snapcase - "Lookinglasself" from Lookinglasself (1993)

27. Rorschach - "Oppress" from Remain Sedate (1990) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Burst - "(We Watched) The Silver Rain" from Lazarus Bird (2008)

29. August Burns Red - "Crusades" from Constellations (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

July 2026

1. Twilight Force - "Dawn of the Dragonstar" from Dawn of the Dragonstar (2019)

2. Heavy Load - "Stronger than Evil" from Stronger than Evil (1983)

3. Warkings - "Live is Life" from Live is Life (2026) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Century - "Fallen Hero" from Sign of the Storm (2025) [Suggested by Sonny]

5. Black Sabbath - "Born Again" from Born Again (1983)

6. TOWER - "And I Cry" from Let There Be Dark (2025)

7. Accept - "Starlight" from Breaker (1981)

8. Anvil - "School Love" from Hard 'n' Heavy (1981)

9. Dokken - "In My Dreams" from Under Lock and Key (1985)

10. Judas Priest - "Heading Out to the Highway" from Point of Entry (1981)

11. Riot - "Hard Lovin' Man" from Restless Breed (1982)

12. LOUDNESS - "HARD WORKIN'" from DEVIL SOLDIER (1982)

13. Motorhead - "Bomber" from Bomber (1979)

14. Plasmatics - "The Damned" from Coup D'Etat (1982)

15. DOMINUM - "Dark Melodies" from Dark Melodies (2026)

16. Within Temptation - "Ice Queen" from Mother Earth (2000)

17. Kamelot - "Insomnia" from Haven (2015)

18. DragonForce - "Burning Heart (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)" from Burning Heart (2025)

19. Avantasia - "Neverland" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)

20. Epica - "Feint" from The Phantom Agony (2003)

21. Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" from Score to a New Beginning (2009) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Nightwish - "Slaying the Dreamer" from Century Child (2002)

23. Xandria - "The Shannon's Home" from The Shannon's Home (2026)

24. Seven Spires - "Serenity" from Solveig (2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Tyr - "Valkyrja" from Valkyrja (2013) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" from Awakening from Abyss (2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Here's my review summary:

It's not often for a band to last two decades with most of the members intact since the beginning. 4 of the 7 members of Fear of Domination have stayed together for all of their albums; male vocalist Saku Solin, bassist Lauri Ojanen, and guitarists Jan-Erik Kari and Johannes Niemi. One other longtime member, keyboardist Lasse Raelahti joined the band in 2012. And now there are two new members for a new album in a new era, with Katharsis marking the debut of female vocalist Jessica Salmi and drummer Anton Nisonen. The verses screamed by both vocalists are in a great contrast with the catchy sung choruses for a well-balanced composition. The riffing attacks with headbanging rhythm, while the dancey keyboards have you moving to the beat. Fear of Domination still have their strong talent in Katharsis, with energetic songs worth both dancing and headbanging to. Despite a couple slight struggles somewhere, there's hope for their music to make a strong global impact....

4/5

Recommended tracks: "Alone", "Imposter", "Last Words", "All as One", "Endgame"

For fans of: Amaranthe, Turmion Katilot, A Dark Halo

Update for August:

THE FALLEN: Vinny, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: Sonny, Xephyr, Andi

THE HORDE: Sonny, Vinny

THE INFINITE: Saxy, Andi, Xephyr

THE NORTH: Xephyr, Vinny, Sonny

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

Ben, please add the Eden's Curse album Trinity. It qualifies as heavy metal within the RYM voting ratio (FOR: 12, AGAINST: 6).

That's quite a lot of bands you've requested, Gannister. If you're gonna send dozens of requests, could you please do them all in a single list, instead of just multiple forum replies with cover arts of all of each band's releases? That way, it would be easier for Ben to keep track of them all. Thanks.

It ain't right now. RYM is just throwing some power metal albums under the bus, huh?

Ben, please add these new releases:

Grailknights - Forever

Moonlight Haze - Interstellar Madness (EP)

Visions Divine - A Clockwork Reverie (EP)

Thanks, Vinny. I look forward to seeing your review if you have the time to write it.

I've done my review, here's its summary:

Tower has released 3 albums and an EP. Vocalist Sarabeth Linden, guitarists James Danzo and Zak Penley, bassist Philippe Arman, and new drummer Keith Mikus have gathered together to perform their towering sound. Their 3rd album Let There Be Dark was recorded and produced by Arthur Rizk, with cover art made by Jared Fleming. Sarabeth's vocals can sound operatic while rocking out. There are fast intense guitars and drums to mosh to. And when the two guitarists work together, they can prove their skills without problems. The two interludes are a little disruptive, but every other track has given Tower a promising path in their career....

4/5

I've done my review, here's its summary:

With their 7th album Wilderness of Mirrors, Myrath continue to step up their game, with slight improvement in the production. I also loved how audible the bass is now. As always, the amount of worldwide influences makes Myrath one of the most diverse and versatile bands around. Middle Eastern symphonic progressive metal is a style that Myrath can perform at ease, and that's something worth praising a lot. One of those tracks has encouraged me to start listening to Myrath full-time after about 10 years of hearing about them but brushing them aside, thanks to one of the monthly Infinite playlists. I honestly wasn't expecting oriental prog-metal to hit me so hard, but I'm glad it did. It's also worth noting the soaring singing of vocalist Zaher Zorgati and the Middle Eastern arrangements by keyboardist Kevin Codfert. All in all, Wilderness of Mirrors may be tied with Karma as my favorite Myrath album that isn't the glorious Tales of the Sands. It's too spectacular to ignore. Myrath needs to be appreciated more, and they shall!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "The Funeral", "Until the End", "Les Enfants du Soleil", "Soul of My Soul", "Echoes of the Fallen"

For fans of: later Orphaned Land, Evergrey, Kamelot

Ben, please add Dissentient.

Dozens of different rip-offs/coincidences between metal bands and other artists compiled in one video (including the hilarious Septicflesh/Meowmix comparison):

When I was giving this album some listening for my review, I ended up dropping the rating from 4 stars to 3 stars because it isn't as great as I thought it was. But do I regret nominating this a feature release? Nope. It shall still be acknowledged as one of the albums that metalcore wouldn't have been the same without. Here's my review summary:

Well I wouldn't say their is entirely bad. It's more like laying down the blueprints for what they would do in their next album Progression Through Unlearning. And when their debut is at its good side, they strike hard. Vocalist Daryl Taberski was originally the bassist while vocals were done by Tiger Balduf and Chris Galas. Once Galas left, Taberski decided to switch to vocals, and he has the aggressive intensity to go with the raging riffing and breakdowns. That has helped with the rhythmic dissonance this album has. The hardcore riffing is so sludgy and adds to the brooding emotion. Their talent is on full display, until a few tracks in the second half having too much alt-ish experimentation that don't really bring forward any of its needed substance. Luckily, the closing track makes up for those flaws with a true prime example of metalcore in its very early days, and that is no illusion. Lookinglasself is the kind of album that you can understand its status of importance yet find some parts of it a little painful. It takes the right amount of ambition to shape up the sound they were going for, but the experimentation can be too much at times. Nonetheless, they have all they needed to fulfill their vision in their next album. So we gotta be thankful for the existence of Lookinglasself and its impact on metalcore/hardcore. Something decent can go a long way....

3/5

Recommended tracks: "Drain Me / Filter", "Deceived", "Lookinglasself", "Fields of Illusion"

For fans of: Earth Crisis, Integrity, Shawn Jonas-era Zao

Hey Andi, I have a couple of suggestions for July if you want them:

Knights of the Realm - "Blood on Steel" (from "Knights of the Realm", 2021)

Century - "Fallen Hero" (from "Sign of the Storm", 2025)

I was not able to find the Knights of the Realm track on Spotify (must be only in your country), but I could find the Century track, so I've just added that to the playlist.

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the July Sphere playlist:

Celldweller - "Just Like You" (5:03) from End of an Empire (2015)

A Dark Halo - "Thin Be the Veil" (4:44) from Omnibus One (2023)

Fear Factory - "Depraved Mind Murder" (4:43) from The Industrialist (2012)

The Interbeing - "Eternal Eclipse" (4:20) from Icon of the Hopeless (2022)

Mechina - "Pray to the Winds" (6:00) from Conqueror (2011)

Motionless in White - "Contemptress" (4:02) from Reincarnate (2014)

Total length: 28:52

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the July Revolution playlist:

August Burns Red - "Crusades" (5:11) from Constellations (2009)

Despised Icon - "In the Arms of Perdition" (4:24) from The Ills of Modern Man (2007)

Humanity's Last Breath - "Abyssal Mouth" (4:31) from Abyssal (2019)

Rorschach - "Oppress" (3:45) from Remain Sedate (1990)

Unearth - "Dawn of the Militant" (2:56) from The Wretched; the Ruinous (2023)

While She Sleeps - "Be(lie)ve" (3:54) from This is the Six (2012)

Worm Shepherd - "The Emptiness Between Stars" (4:55) from In the Wake ov Sol (2020)

Total length: 29:36

Here are my submissions for the July Infinite playlist, having just two long epics in mind:

Ihlo - "Signals" (10:01) from Legacy (2025)

Tyr - "Land" (16:19) from Land (2008)

Total length: 26:20

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the July Guardians playlist:

Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" (5:33) from Score to a New Beginning (2009)

Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" (6:10) from Awakening from Abyss (2017)

Seven Spires - "Serenity" (4:36) from Solveig (2017)

Tyr - "Valkyrja" (7:31) from Valkyrja (2013)

Warkings - "Live is Life" (3:27) from Live is Life (2026)

Total length: 27:17

Here's my submission for the July Gateway playlist, last one for this clan:

Profiler - "Shadow" (from Shadow, 2026)

The links are in the playlist titles, Sonny. By clicking on them, you can access them.

Cool playlists, Zach!

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Treponem Pal - "Ghost Rider" from Dead Inside (2025)

3.5/5. Treponem Pals unite!!! I actually didn't know this until when I was commenting on this track, but it's actually a cover of a song by experimental electronic rock band Suicide as a tribute to that band. RIP Alan Vega... Not a bad start to this playlist, but a little too industrial.

S.U.P. - "Insect Drug" from Imago (2005)

4/5. So apparently those Budweiser guys are actually saying "What Spherical Unit Provided???" Lol. OK but seriously, this is some progressive industrial metal here.

Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" from Withstand the Agony (2026)

4.5/5. Wulf seems to be bringing back the earlier dark heaviness of Neurotech's earlier material from 15 years ago, showing his (inter)stellar talent. And boy, does it hit hard as f***! This should work well in a boss battle. And when the harsh growls and clean singing collide with each other before the last chorus, it's an amazing blast! I should really get back in touch with some of Neurotech's material, especially the new album In Delta Negative.

Static-X - "Jic Boi" from Project Regeneration Vol. 2 (2024)

4/5. Apparently this is a re-recording of a discarded demo for one of their songs "Just in Case" with some elements of "Cold". The vocals by the late Wayne Static (RIP) and Xer0 fit so greatly together. The drumming by Ken Jay also fits in with the improved sound. Even though some people think the band should've ended after Cult of Static (the last one before Wayne's death), others are pleased with how the Project Regeneration series turned out. Oh, and if you think they should've been like Bieber and Timberlake, that's wrong. They DON'T WANNA BE YOUR JUSTIN! But I guess you can consider this Static Dope, because of the somewhat disputed fact that Xer0 is Edsel Dope.

Die Krupps - "To the Hilt" from II - The Final Option (1993)

4.5/5. "Burn the bridges! Forge ahead! To the hilt!" The industrial rock/metal hilt, that is...

Gothminister - "616" from Anima Inferna (2011)

5/5. This highlight switches to an interesting synth intro before the guitar and drum strength comes again. Brem's vocals become grittier and deeper, similar to the earlier albums, that wasn't heard in this Gothminister album until that point.

PAIN - "Parallel to Ecstasy" from Rebirth (1999)

4.5/5. D*mn, what a trip! A trip though Pain's more electronic side. One band that would also blend electronics with rock/metal well is ASP.

Genitorturers - "Flesh is the Law" from Flesh is the Law (2002)

4/5. The better side of the band can be found in this solid track.

The Amenta - "Angry Chair" from Plague of Locus (2023)

4.5/5. This Alice in Chains hit is given a f***ing darker treatment, sounding angrier than that chair. The deep grooves and clean singing are pulled off easily.

Bile - "I Reject" from ReGurge:a Bucket of Bile (2004)

4/5. This one was originally in the band's 1994 debut SuckPump. I'm glad this version from 10 years later has taken out the sounds of regurgitation at the end.

Combichrist, King 810 - "Demons Wanna Be Summoned" from Demons Wanna Be Summoned (2026)

4.5/5. Combichrist and King 810 are really summoning the former industrial metal demons here. It's surpisingly excellent, even though I like my industrial metal to have fast aggression. And Combichrist would have more of that in this next track...

Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015)

5/5. Now this should end up as part of a Devil May Cry game soundtrack (which Combichrist have contributed to before)! Combichrist have given this track a heavy punch in the guitars, bass, and drums. This alone is probably the heaviest Klayton has gone since Brainchild. I think the drum kicks have a greater kick and are not as goofy as some might think. The slight pause in the instrumentation during the final chorus has pretty much enhanced it. Well done!

Samael - "For a Thousand Years" from Lux Mundi (2011)

4.5/5. H*ll yeah to this track too! Far better than that similarly titled Christina Perri song.

Illidiance - "Open Your Eyes" from Open Your Eyes (2019)

4/5. An interesting cyber metal take on a song by Guano Apes.

Clawerfield - "Bend the Sky" from Butterflies of Smoke (2016)

4.5/5. Another underrated band for sure! Clawerfield have their djent-ish cyber metal sound similar to The Interbeing, with slight hints of metalcore. An amazing direction, I would say! I especially love the d*mn catchy chorus. Meshuggah have done their job well in planting the seed for this young league of djent-infused bands.

Mechina, Melrose - "Cryoshock" from Progenitor (2016)

4/5. Quite futuristic and mesmerzing, right from the intro onwards. "Oh the price that we pay for the lives we betrayed..." If we could have more of Mechina's sound from the mid-2010s in the future, I would head back to listening to that band more. Basically Fear Factory gone Nightwish!

Black Comedy - "Favourite Hateobject" from Instigator (2008)

4.5/5. Perhaps one of my favorite Black Comedy songs that I would never hate!

Fear of Domination - "II" from Distorted Delusions (2014)

5/5. One of the best gems of this Fear of Domination album!

Harms Way, King Woman - "Undertow" from Common Suffering (2023)

5/5. An awesome experimental highlight featuring Kristina Esfandiari (King Woman). It has a more haunting industrial sound, enough for this one to qualify for The Sphere.

Motionless in White, Jonathan Davis - "Necessary Evil" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

4.5/5. I still love this track despite not listening to this band as much as I used to. Not only does it feature Jonathan Davis of Korn, but the chorus interpolates that of the Lesley Gore hit "It's My Party". One other song that has done that is "Pity Party" by Melanie Martinez.

Unheilig - "Kleine Puppe" from Puppenspiel (2008)

4/5. A cool kick-A track. Although I don't usually enjoy Neue Deutsche Harte, I'm probably the only person in my country Malaysia aware of that genre besides Rammstein.

Semargl - "Loneliness" from SATANIC POP METAL (2012)

3.5/5. Not as satanic as the band claims this album to be, but a little too poppy for this dance-y industrial metal sound.

Rammstein - "Mehr" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

4/5. Rammstein can make something contemplative whether or not you can understand their language. The bridge sounds more uplifting than anything else they've done.

Sybreed - "Critical Mass" from Slave Design (2004)

4.5/5. This one is an interesting closing track. It starts off sounding almost like the second Embodyment album The Narrow Scope of Things, but it slowly rises into the usual cyber metal that Illidiance would later have. But we still have a couple more tracks for this playlist...

Turmion Katilot - "To Be Contiuned Act 1" from Technodiktator (2013)

4/5. This one is a bit confusing. Not just in the name, but it's also the band's longest song. Now I like long epics, but I prefer the edition without the 4 minutes of Finnish dialogue in the middle of the song, and even then, they should've shortened the rest to around a length of 6 minutes. Still a climatic epic!

Lord of the Lost - "The Days of Our Lives" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

4.5/5. The grand finale of this playlist and the Opvs Noir saga. Vocalist Chris Harms and keyboardist Gerrit Heinemann perform their respective roles, shining as the vocals and keys close the gates on a solemn note.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Invent Animate - "Fall Like Rain" from Fall Like Rain (2026)

5/5. Invent Animate are back with a brutal banger. After blending their metalcore with Periphery-style djent for so long, they now blend it with Vildhjarta-style THALL.

Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" from Obsession (2024 re-recording)

4.5/5. In 2024, Eighteen Visions re-recorded their album Obsession for its 20th anniversary, and they made it even heavier, heavy enough to be considered metalcore. The original song was in Burnout 3, so maybe if that video game was remastered, they would include this new version of the song.

Downswing - "Disease" from Dark Side of the Mind (2017)

4/5. Brutal hardcore/metalcore, sometimes almost as dark as The Acacia Strain.

Wage War - "4x4" from IT CALLS ME BY NAME (2026)

4.5/5. I seem to lose interest in the more alt-ish metalcore bands lately, probably because I've had enough of alt-metal. Wage War is one of those bands, though I still enjoy this kick-A track that my brother likes as well.

No Cure - "Convulsing in the Dark" from Convulsing in the Dark (2026)

4/5. G****mn, this band can really crank up their hardcore/metalcore hard, even a bit of deathcore too.

Guilt Trip - "Disdain" from Unrelenting Force (2016)

3.5/5. Who knew a short track can cause a huge impact of heaviness? This is the kind of music that should catch on in the metalcore realms! The breakdown is so mosh-worthy and emotional at the same time. The song would be much better if it wasn't so short though.

Harper - "Thorn in My Side" from Thorn in My Side (2025)

3/5. Holy cow, this girl can do metalcore screams so well, and she's what, 13?! Harper has a bright future ahead of her! This song's a little too Spiritbox-esque for me though.

Samurai Pizza Cats - "City of Gold" from Press Start (2026)

2.5/5. Too electronicore for my palate, but I give it some points for Sebastian Fischer's vocals.

VCTMS - "Lobotomy" from Sickness: Vol. 1 (2014)

3/5. F***ing sick guitarwork in this one, yet that's all that's really special here.

Iridium - "Nihility" from Sub-Zero (2019)

3.5/5. A better discovery that I see some potential in.

Attack Attack! - "Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" from Someday Came Suddenly (2008)

4/5. Confess sins, accept truth... A spiritual message for an electronicore/screamo track.

Black Veil Brides - "Vindicate" from Vindicate (2026)

4.5/5. Some of the f***ing heaviest amazing sh*t this band has had since We Stitch These Wounds to help you get through the pain of life.

Harms Way - "Heaven's Call" from Common Suffering (2023)

5/5. Another perfect track! Just pure heaviness that I'm glad was submitted to this playlist.

Adept - "Secrets" from Silence the World (2013)

4.5/5. It's no secret that some metalcore bands can make bangers that have long-lasting greatness. The breakdown that starts the last minute is so brutal.

Cage Fight - "Exuvia" from Exuvia (2026)

4/5. You may know Rachel Aspe for her stunning performance of a Sybreed song in France's equivalent to America's Got Talent, but she would later form her own band.

Knut - "Whacked Out" from Challenger (2002)

4.5/5. Straight on into pummeling madness, this wacky track opens its original album with discordant guitar and thick bass before a Botch-like math-metalcore groove. The chaotic guitar flows through frantic drumming and heavy rhythm.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" from Option Paralysis (2010)

5/5. A spine-chilling highlight, not because of the creepy song title but also the song itself, especially when vocalist Greg Puciato screams "'CAUSE WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!!!" during the ending.

Snapcase - "Fields of Illusion" from Lookinglasself (1993)

4.5/5. Snapcase have shaped up metalcore in its very early days, and that is no illusion.

Johnny Booth - "Sleeping with Serpents" from Connections (2012)

4/5. Johnny Booth has pretty much resurrected and modernized early hardcore/metalcore for the -core masses.

Atreyu - "The Theft" from A Death-Grip on Yesterday (2006)

4.5/5. Even when this one sounds like a power ballad, it explodes into the usual melodic metalcore with the powerful vocals of Alex Varkatzas.

Northlane - "Masquerade" from Singularity (2013)

5/5. The aggression really levels up in perhaps the strongest track of this Northlane album with something special, guest vocals by Drew York of Stray from the Path. The catchy chorus is what makes this song a total highlight, along with lyrical fire and breakdown brutality.

Sylosis - "Lacerations" from The New Flesh (2026)

4.5/5. Bangers like this really need to catch on in the metal world.

Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" from Zenith (2025)

5/5. My favorite song from the new Bleed from Within album. The intro guitar melody alongside the choir and strings is THE SH*T. This song can even go as f***ing progressive as Mastodon, helped out by that band's drummer/co-lead vocalist Brann Dailor guest appearing here.

Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy" from Stand Up and Scream (2009)

4.5/5. Where the h*ll have I been away from this band?! This song still rules after all these years!

The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" from Orphans (2019)

5/5. I just love the vocal abilities Vicky Psarakis has, it's so wild.

Stevie T - "French Deathcore Song" from French Deathcore Song (2015)

4.5/5. Can French lyrics really work in deathcore? Stevie T has proven that theory with hilarious yet brutal results. "LE CROISSANT!!!!"

Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

5/5. If you're wondering if this standout is a re-recording of a song by Jonny Santos' other band Spineshank, no it ain't. They just added "2006" to the title to avoid confusion. Still an awesome song to me!

Fit for a King, Chris Motionless - "Witness the End" from Witness the End (2025)

4.5/5. Symphonic blackened METALcore?!? This is true heavy fire, featuring Motionless in White's Chris Motionless!

We Butter the Bread with Butter - "Extrem" from Das Monster Aus Dem Schrank (2008)

5/5. WBTBWM has shown us how extreme can be, starting with a funny intro that sounds like a constipated attempt at screaming the song title. Then we get to some sludgy deathcore. Now this breakdown is listed by Stevie T as one of the "top 10 messed up breakdowns", and for good reason. This is a f***ing pulverizing breakdown that gets slower and heavier to the point of drone. And finally a beautiful ending with piano, synths, and drop C-tuned riffing. What more can you ask for?!

Humanity's Last Breath - "The Aftermath" from Structures Collapse (2011)

4.5/5. This one starts off soft and eerie then explodes into a hardcore frenzy. It is much better executed with brutal growls and riffs pack a punch together with sinister melodies. If there's a true highlight for the original Humanity's Last Breath offering, it's gotta be that one!

Worm Shepherd - "Whispers of a Dying Land" from Dawn of the Iconoclast (2026)

5/5. It all comes down to the grand 7-minute closing epic. From the orchestral/choral grandeur to towering riffing and breakdown, it's a dark glorious experience that should be worth it for any fan of deathcore and/or epic deathcore. It doesn't surpass the previous Worm Shepherd album's ending epic, but it's very close.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Submissions accepted! Thanks, Sonny.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

The Contortionist – Primal Directive (2010)

4.5/5. The Contortionist started off as a progressive deathcore band in Exoplanet that would then gradually become softer in subsequent albums. Even then, this song has some sweet ethereal melody. Bands like this have helped this record label Good Fight win the good fight. At least Periphery still have their djenty sound from their own debut.

Green Carnation – My Dark Reflections of Life and Death (2020)

5/5. Now we get to the re-recording of a 15-minute epic from Green Carnation's debut Journey to the End of the Night. The melody fades in before the drumming starts to build up, going from doomy to mid-paced. And finally, the distorted guitar enters and we get some cool doomy riffing. Vocals don't start until just under the 4-minute mark, and it has to be said, Kjetil Nordhus is a much better male vocalist than Rx Draumtanzer, the latter's singing being too stretched out in the original. It would still be nice if we could get some death growls in place of that. Never mind that, he's great with his deep drama. Soon the heavy distortion drops, having more of that acoustic clean guitar. It used to fade to practically silence, but the music can still be heard as everything rises back up, including more of Kjetil's drama. By the way, there's also none of the female chanting that occurs in the original. Still, different melodies in the music and vocals make that epic the true highlight of the album, like the original is for the debut.

Growth – Gird Your Loved in Armour While Yet You Wither (2020)

4.5/5. An 11-minute gauntlet in which they're not gonna leave peacefully. The technical fury is here to stay until the very end.

Haken – In a Fever Dream (2026)

4/5. First Karnivool made their comeback, then Plini, then Periphery... And now, Haken has reawakened after the departure of two of their longtime members Charles Griffiths and Connor Green. And HOLY SH*T, is that Ross Jennings screaming?!? He sounds as monstrous as the last time he was doing screamed vocals! That last time being in their debut Aquarius. And if you're wondering who the bassist is for this song, it's the prolific Bryan Beller.

Mandroid Echostar – Citadels (2013)

4.5/5. The sound here is quite excellent, basically melodic progressive metal with some small hints of folk/power metal. You definitely wanna stick around for the final third of the song with its beautiful electric soloing and acoustic outro.

Nine Orders – The Vast Forgotten (2026)

4/5. That was a lot of orders, you sure the restaurant staff can handle all that? OK, but seriously, this modernized melodic prog-metal ride is still going.

The Ocean – Hadopelagic II: Let Them Believe (2013)

4.5/5. "Let them believe in themselves..." And also let them believe in marine biology. The beauty of this music touches my heart. Besides having that post-sludge sound similar to Cult of Luna, they can also go as progressive as Katatonia and TOOL, the latter particularly midway through. I really need to listen to this album Pelagial, I remember how much I considered that album a masterpiece.

Persefone – Prison Skin (2017)

4/5. You find yourself confined in a state of unawareness within the dark "Prison Skin" that you refuse to be held captive in. You start to struggle to find your way through without any distracting assaults holding you back, before getting to positive power... To be continued in the next Infinite playlist, I guess.

Ben, please add the new Neurotech album In Delta Negative.

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Culprit - "Guilty as Charged" from Guilty as Charged (1983)

4.5/5. The 6-minute title opener of this prog-ish classic heavy metal album has some heaviness in the guitar while staying melodic, which adds to the ambition. The fast pace has great variation to keep listeners awake. It's pretty much a grand example of the sound from both the album and the band.

Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" from Into Your Light (2004)

5/5. One of the best Leaves' Eyes tracks! I probably could've saved it for later on in this playlist, but it's too good to be put that late.

Black Sabbath - "The Mob Rules" from Mob Rules (1981)

4.5/5. RIP DIO. Some may know this amazing song from its alternate version appearing in the film Heavy Metal from the same year. A classic metal anthem!

DOMINUM - "Doctor Doctor" from Doctor Doctor (2026)

4/5. Ehh, what the f***'s up, doc?! For those wondering if this is a cover of a UFO song, no it ain't!

Accept - "Diving Into Sin" from Humanoid (2024)

4.5/5. A kick-A banger that's probably the best of this Accept album! And this came out close to the release of the new Judas Priest album.

Heavy Load - "Heavy Metal Angels (In Metal and Leather)" from Death or Glory (1982)

4/5. Some more of this solid classic heavy metal from the 80s. Leather-clad angels will soar!

Europe - "Seven Doors Hotel" from EUROPE (1983)

4.5/5. Hard to imagine that the band that made "The Final Countdown" had more of a thrash-ish heavy/proto-power metal sound in their first two albums, but here we are. And honestly, I love this track much more than the one that would become their ultimate hit. But at least it would stay a solid live staple.

Iron Maiden - "The Trooper" from Piece of Mind (1983)

4/5. Before the rise of thrash, classic heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden striking through with great hits like this one.

Diamond Head - "Am I Evil" from Borrowed Time (1982)

3.5/5. Diamond Head re-recorded one of their most well-known songs from their debut Lightning to the Nations as a bonus track for their second album Borrowed Time. Although the intro riffing is quite strong, it's actually a bit slower than the first version, as is the rest of the song. Still it has the thrashy power that would encourage Metallica to cover that song later, giving both bands' versions almost as much notability as that Maiden hit. The 1980 version is better on its own though.

Pagan Altar - "Liston Church" from Never Quite Dead (2025)

3/5. I'm actually not quite sure why I added in this song. It sounds a little too doomy here, and also a little tame for my standards. Nonetheless, it's pretty cool hearing the basswork by Diccon Harper, who was in DragonForce's debut album Valley of the Damned along with its demo.

Saxon - "Witches of Salem" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

3.5/5. Actually I think I know why I added in that Pagan Altar song. This Saxon one that follows has that similar waltzing pace. However, it has a better, more heavy metal vibe than the Pagan Altar one.

Legend - "Prologue" from Death in the Nursery (1982)

4/5. Some more genuine NWOBHM to be thankful for.

Riot V - "High Noon" from Mean Streets (2024)

4.5/5. Just like Accept and Judas Priest, Riot V are still shining strong in their 50-year career. They're really doing justice to the late Mark Reale's legacy. RIP

Motorhead - "No Class" from Overkill (1978)

4/5. What do some kids in school wish they would have? NO CLASS! The lyrics here are quite great and deep. RIP Lemmy

Dark Moor - "Somewhere in Dreams" from The Hall of the Olden Dreams (2000)

4.5/5. Then we blast off into this song that I enjoyed to bits when I was in the power metal zone. When I first encountered that song all those years ago, it was love at first hearing. I knew I had to listen to the rest of the album and the band's material right away. It's one of my favorite Dark Moor songs to this day and I'll never get tired of it.

Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018)

5/5. Just like how I'll never get tired of this song after having only started listening to this band full-time a few months ago. They've done everything well here.

Nightwish - "Gethsemane" from Oceanborn (1998)

4.5/5. Another beautiful song that still touches my metal heart after over a decade. The music, lyrics, and vocals are so wondrous, especially leading to the outro.

Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" from A Fortress Called Home (2024)

5/5. Nowadays, I like the more extreme-tinged symphonic metal better. Adrienne Cowan is one of the most underrated female metal vocalists. Her vocal range is incredible!

Elvenking - "Pagan Revolution" from The Pagan Manifesto (2014)

4.5/5. F***ing fun Pagan power metal right here! One of my favorite songs by this band.

Alestorm - "Drink" from Sunset on the Golden Age (2014)

4.5/5. Alestorm is another band mastering folk/power metal, this time on the more pirate side of things.

Follow the Cipher - "Valkyria" from Follow the Cipher (2018)

5/5. I seem to discover some bands with a wide-ranged female vocalist lately. Linda Toni Grahn's vocals can strike like lightning. Too bad she left the band after one album.

Kamelot - "The Human Stain" from Ghost Opera (2007)

4.5/5. Another excellent song from another essential band in my earlier power metal era.

Tyr - "Battle Ballad" from Battle Ballads (2024)

4.5/5. One of the mightiest tracks here. Everything's a small journey in this song! It's almost like Devin Townsend helped produced it alongside the album's actual producer Jacob Hansen. The bass should still be as audible as the rest, honestly.

Elvellon - "Dreamcatcher" from Until Dawn (2018)

5/5. OK, my earlier claim that I like the more extreme-tinged symphonic metal better isn't really false. However, there are some melodic symphonic metal songs and bands that I love. This one is quite beautiful and has some similar vibes in the instrumentation to the brighter upbeat side of Kamelot.

Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" from Awaking the Centuries (2000)

4.5/5. A beautiful medieval symphonic metal epic that I wish had discovered over a decade before this comment.

Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" from Horizons (2020)

5/5. And finally, one last awesome symphonic metal song to share. Enjoy the wasteland!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any heavy/power/symphonic/neoclassical metal fan and anyone who isn't into those genres but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here's my review summary:

I've checked out this band Genitorturers before, and I thought their material was pretty great. However, what was holding me back from fully enjoying this band is the amount of NSFW and BDSM they have in their aesthetics and lyrics. While I don't totally mind all that, it's obviously not the kind of band to share in the world outside the internet. With that said, the music can entertain me quite well. First track "Lecher B***h" is best known for appearing in the soundtrack for the video game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Sadly for me, it's f***ing bad. This is where I draw the line in the band's BDSM themes being too on the nose. Luckily, the rest of the EP has the music and lyrics better executed, even in a couple of the live renditions of earlier tracks that make up the second half of the EP, though a couple others still fall flat. Besides the energetic music, the vocals of Gen have that perfect primal edge that fits in well with the sound. And honestly, the usage of electronics blended with this metal sound is similar to that of one of Fear Factory's earlier remix releases. Maybe if this band wasn't so BDSM-heavy, they would have the mainstream success Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails have had. Still, Flesh is the Law is a good EP worth listening to. Just skip the bad tracks and keep the highlights to your own self-entertainment....

3.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Flesh is the Law", "House of Shame", "Guns Are Good", "All Hell Breaks Loose"

For fans of: KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, Omega Lithium

June 2026

1. Treponem Pal - "Ghost Rider" from Dead Inside (2025)

2. S.U.P. - "Insect Drug" from Imago (2005)

3. Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" from Withstand the Agony (2026) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Static-X - "Jic Boi" from Project Regeneration Vol. 2 (2024)

5. Die Krupps - "To the Hilt" from II - The Final Option (1993)

6. Gothminister - "616" from Anima Inferna (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. PAIN - "Parallel to Ecstasy" from Rebirth (1999)

8. Genitorturers - "Flesh is the Law" from Flesh is the Law (2002)

9. The Amenta - "Angry Chair" from Plague of Locus (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Bile - "I Reject" from ReGurge:a Bucket of Bile (2004)

11. Combichrist, King 810 - "Demons Wanna Be Summoned" from Demons Wanna Be Summoned (2026)

12. Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Samael - "For a Thousand Years" from Lux Mundi (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Illidiance - "Open Your Eyes" from Open Your Eyes (2019)

15. Clawerfield - "Bend the Sky" from Butterflies of Smoke (2016)

16. Mechina, Melrose - "Cryoshock" from Progenitor (2016)

17. Black Comedy - "Favourite Hateobject" from Instigator (2008)

18. Fear of Domination - "II" from Distorted Delusions (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Harms Way, King Woman - "Undertow" from Common Suffering (2023)

20. Motionless in White, Jonathan Davis - "Necessary Evil" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

21. Unheilig - "Kleine Puppe" from Puppenspiel (2008)

22. Semargl - "Loneliness" from SATANIC POP METAL (2012)

23. Rammstein - "Mehr" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

24. Sybreed - "Critical Mass" from Slave Design (2004)

25. Turmion Katilot - "To Be Contiuned Act 1" from Technodiktator (2013)

26. Lord of the Lost - "The Days of Our Lives" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

June 2026

1. Invent Animate - "Fall Like Rain" from Fall Like Rain (2026)

2. Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" from Obsession (2024 re-recording) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Downswing - "Disease" from Dark Side of the Mind (2017)

4. Wage War - "4x4" from IT CALLS ME BY NAME (2026)

5. No Cure - "Convulsing in the Dark" from Convulsing in the Dark (2026)

6. Guilt Trip - "Disdain" from Unrelenting Force (2016)

7. Harper - "Thorn in My Side" from Thorn in My Side (2025)

8. Samurai Pizza Cats - "City of Gold" from Press Start (2026)

9. VCTMS - "Lobotomy" from Sickness: Vol. 1 (2014)

10. Iridium - "Nihility" from Sub-Zero (2019)

11. Attack Attack! - "Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" from Someday Came Suddenly (2008)

12. Black Veil Brides - "Vindicate" from Vindicate (2026)

13. Harms Way - "Heaven's Call" from Common Suffering (2023) [submitted by Vinny]

14. Adept - "Secrets" from Silence the World (2013)

15. Cage Fight - "Exuvia" from Exuvia (2026)

16. Knut - "Whacked Out" from Challenger (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" from Option Paralysis (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Snapcase - "Fields of Illusion" from Lookinglasself (1993)

19. Johnny Booth - "Sleeping with Serpents" from Connections (2012)

20. Atreyu - "The Theft" from A Death-Grip on Yesterday (2006)

21. Northlane - "Masquerade" from Singularity (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Sylosis - "Lacerations" from The New Flesh (2026)

23. Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" from Zenith (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy" from Stand Up and Scream (2009)

25. The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" from Orphans (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Stevie T - "French Deathcore Song" from French Deathcore Song (2015)

27. Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Fit for a King, Chris Motionless - "Witness the End" from Witness the End (2025)

29. We Butter the Bread with Butter - "Extrem" from Das Monster Aus Dem Schrank (2008)

30. Humanity's Last Breath - "The Aftermath" from Structures Collapse (2011)

31. Worm Shepherd - "Whispers of a Dying Land" from Dawn of the Iconoclast (2026)

June 2026

1. Culprit - "Guilty as Charged" from Guilty as Charged (1983)

2. Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" from Into Your Light (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Black Sabbath - "The Mob Rules" from Mob Rules (1981)

4. DOMINUM - "Doctor Doctor" from Doctor Doctor (2026)

5. Accept - "Diving Into Sin" from Humanoid (2024)

6. Heavy Load - "Heavy Metal Angels (In Metal and Leather)" from Death or Glory (1982)

7. Europe - "Seven Doors Hotel" from EUROPE (1983)

8. Iron Maiden - "The Trooper" from Piece of Mind (1983)

9. Diamond Head - "Am I Evil" from Borrowed Time (1982)

10. Pagan Altar - "Liston Church" from Never Quite Dead (2025)

11. Saxon - "Witches of Salem" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

12. Legend - "Prologue" from Death in the Nursery (1982)

13. Riot V - "High Noon" from Mean Streets (2024)

14. Motorhead - "No Class" from Overkill (1978)

15. Dark Moor - "Somewhere in Dreams" from The Hall of the Olden Dreams (2000)

16. Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Nightwish - "Gethsemane" from Oceanborn (1998)

18. Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" from A Fortress Called Home (2024) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Elvenking - "Pagan Revolution" from The Pagan Manifesto (2014)

20. Alestorm - "Drink" from Sunset on the Golden Age (2014)

21. Follow the Cipher - "Valkyria" from Follow the Cipher (2018)

22. Kamelot - "The Human Stain" from Ghost Opera (2007)

23. Tyr - "Battle Ballad" from Battle Ballads (2024)

24. Elvellon - "Dreamcatcher" from Until Dawn (2018)

25. Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" from Awaking the Centuries (2000) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" from Horizons (2020) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Update for July:

THE FALLEN: Sonny, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: Andi, Sonny, Xephyr

THE HORDE: Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: Xephyr, Saxy, Andi

THE NORTH: Sonny, Xephyr, Vinny

THE PIT: Vinny, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

I've decided to step down from nominating The Gateway feature releases, since the well has run dry for which feature releases for me to nominate and I'm pretty much done contributing to the clan. I hope you don't mind being on your own in submitting The Gateway feature releases, Saxy.

Thanks for your feedback, Sonny. Now a bit of a spoiler for the June Guardians playlist that will come out this Monday: It has a little more symphonic metal emphasis than this one because I was in that kind of mood when doing my sneak peek submissions, but I've made sure there's enough classic heavy metal to please you and other fans of the genre.

I haven't listened to Sun Eater before, but I know that the current vocalist for Mental Cruelty, Lukas Nicolai was in that band. This submission has given me a great heavy feeling about that band. Thanks, Vinny! I shall add it to the July Revolution playlist.

Ben, please add the new Orphaned Land live album A Heaven You May Create.

I've done my review, here's its summary:

The first time I heard this band was when I was listening to a song from their debut Union in an Infinite playlist 6 months before this review. I thought the song was a nice stylistic homage to Periphery from start to finish. And now I can say the same about their new album Legacy! They're a new addition to the melodic modern progressive metal league of Leprous, Haken, The Contortionist, and Tesseract. It took 5 years for this British progressive metal/rock band to make this follow-up to 2019's Union. Part of the delay was due to the hardships of the COVID lockdowns. But now they're here to deliver us this progressive offering. You can really hear both the production and talent from the two key members of the band; guitarist Phil Monro and vocalist Andy Robison. They, along with the other members, work together to craft complex structures in which ambience turns into metal grace, from decent-length 5-minute tracks to long epics. This beautiful album Legacy has all the melody and power you can get. Well, maybe a slight more metal heaviness would be ideal, but that's OK. I look forward to what path they would take. The modern progressive metal/rock shaped up by VOLA and BTBAM is in the good hands of these young British lads!

4.5/5

I really want to get into more of the post-sludge of bands like Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna, and Rosetta, but there are a couple things that set me back on my exploration. One thing is the amount of genres I'm already focused on like metalcore, industrial metal, power metal, and progressive metal, which gives me little time to explore the more niche genres. Emphasis on "niche" because there really aren't many prominent post-sludge bands other than the 4 I've already mentioned, The Ocean, and Sumac. And the genre seemed to die down when I was trying to get into it a few years ago. That is, until recently when that promising Dimscua release came out and Neurosis surprise-released their new album with Aaron Turner (Isis/Sumac/Greymachine) replacing Scott Kelly, so there may be hope for post-sludge in the future.

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the June Sphere playlist:

The Amenta - "Angry Chair" (6:31) from Plague of Locus (2023)

Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" (3:52) from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015)

Fear of Domination - "II" (4:35) from Distorted Delusions (2014)

Gothminister - "616" (3:22) from Anima Inferna (2011)

Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" (3:58) from Withstand the Agony (2026)

Samael - "For a Thousand Years" (4:55) from Lux Mundi (2011)

Total length: 27:13

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the June Revolution playlist:

The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" (3:33) from Orphans (2019)

Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" (4:16) from Zenith (2025)

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" (4:15) from Option Paralysis (2010)

Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" (3:18) from Obsession (2024 re-recording)

Knut - "Whacked Out" (5:25) from Challenger (2002)

Northlane - "Masquerade" (3:33) from Singularity (2013)

Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" (5:06) from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

Total length: 29:26

Here are my submissions for the June Infinite playlist, having just two long epics in mind:

Green Carnation - "My Dark Reflections of Life and Death" (15:37) from Leaves of Yesteryear (2020)

Growth - "Gird Your Loved in Armour While Yet You Wither" (11:09) from The Smothering Arms of Mercy (2020)

Total length: 26:46

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the June Guardians playlist:

Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" (3:49) from Horizons (2020)

Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" (9:34) from Awaking the Centuries (2000)

Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" (3:39) from Into Your Light (2004)

Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" (5:37) from A Fortress Called Home (2024)

Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" (5:49) from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018)

Total length: 28:28

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Code Orange - "(deeperthanbefore)" from Underneath (2020)

4/5. A suitable electronic intro for how deep the band is gonna get in diversity.

Oddko - "Disobey" from Disobey (2019)

3.5/5. Oddko can also be a bit diverse in their electro-industrial metal domination.

Rammstein - "Mein Teil" from Reise, Reise (2004)

4/5. Rammstein can make a song and music video about something so disturbing and still have mainstream success. The song is based on a real-life case of cannibalism in which a man named Armin Meiwes murdered and cannibalized another man he found in the internet, including eating his privates. So morbid yet an intriguing song.

Celldweller - "My Disintegration (Joe Ford Remix)" from Satellites (Remixed) (2023)

4.5/5. We need more music like this heard globally, and Joe Ford and Celldweller to keep their collabs going. Honestly, Celldweller should someday do remixes of songs by Infected Mushroom and the Prodigy. The only things that would be disintegrated are people's ears if they turn it up to full blast. And hey, maybe Joe Ford can also remix "Shapshifter". This wicked remix would take your breath away and give it back repeatedly. Who knew something that might be based on the past can sound futuristic?

Fear Factory - "Scapegoat" from Soul of a New Machine (1992)

4/5. The criminal justice system has its flaws pointed out in this killer track.

Waltari - "Progression" from Space Avenue (1997)

3.5/5. Space Avenue shows Waltari at their more progressive and industrial.

Iperyt - "Antihuman Hate Generator" from No State of Grace (2011)

3/5. "There is no way of finding a single absolute truth, an irrefutable argument which might help answer the questions of mankind. Philosophy, therefore, is dead, because whereof we cannot speak, thereof we must be silent." I like how f***ing heavy this is, but I feel a little underwhelmed.

Circus of Dead Squirrels - "8-Bit Piece of Shit" from Indoor Recess (2004)

2.5/5. "Piece of Sh*t" is right. This is too much like if video game nerds try to make a KMFDM-inspired song. I can still applaud how clever they are when adding in the Mario soundtrack in the intro and outro. Vocalist Matt Foran has also formed a side-project with ex-Mushroomhead members, Ventana. This song can also go as weird as avant-garde. The lyrics are quite cringe for me, especially when he says "I must be r***rded to write a song about this sh*t". I suppose if I were to check out some avant-garde alt-metal, I would check out Dog Fashion Disco even though I haven't listened to that band in a long while.

Crossbreed - "Seasons" from Synthetic Division (2001)

3/5. This song is more crushing, emotional, and music video-worthy, sounding similar to Static-X and Dope.

Dagoba - "The Things Within" from What Hell is About (2006)

3.5/5. Good-quality industrial/groove metal that might make a great ringtone.

Rorschach Test - "New Blood Order" from The Eleventh (1994)

4/5. At around the same time Rorschach was pioneering metalcore, Rorschach Test was unleashing their own brand of dark industrial metal.

Neurotech - "The Race to Recovery" from The Decipher Volumes (2013)

4.5/5. "Erase me, don't tell me, I'll take you far away from here, delete me, complete me, in the race to recovery." If I had discovered this gem like 12 years ago when my I was starting off my metal taste nice and melodic, I would've loved it back then. I probably would've continued listening to this project if Wulf could bring back the sound of this song and the debut Antagonist, or maybe even as epic and extreme as Mechina. I also love the female vocals and the key-changed outro.

Pain - "Just Think Again" from Psalms of Extinction (2007)

5/5. The guitar soloing here is performed by Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho (RIP). The song itself is a special 6-minute epic.

Strapping Young Lad - "Far Beyond Metal" from The New Black (2006)

4.5/5. Strapping Young Lad can make a song making fun of metal and still make it metal. RIP the Maggot Master, Dave Brockie AKA Oderus Urungus (GWAR)...

Fear of Domination - "Punish Y.S." from Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

5/5. This rapid punisher really speeds up as rapid riff-tastic highlight. With some great production in the melodeath riffs blended with industrial synths, Norther would probably wish they had more of that.

Subway to Sally - "Herz in der Kinde" from Post Mortem (2024)

4.5/5. If anyone thought Neue Deutsche Harte and epic medieval metal wouldn't go together, Subway to Sally proved them wrong. And sometimes they can provide more than just the experience of music by making an animated video.

Autarkh - "Strife" from Emergent (2023)

4/5. Great guitarwork in this track, right off the bat! Fear Factory and Meshuggah are still the masters of guitar heaviness though.

Persher - "Medieval Soup From the Milkbar" from Sleep Well (2024)

4.5/5. I was expecting this band to go as medieval as Subway to Sally, but this experimental noise-ridden sound is quite killer.

Turmion Katilot - "Revi Minut Auki" from Global Warning (2020)

5/5. This highlight takes you back to the band's beginnings, especially their debut Hoitovirhe with the perfect spark of their earlier sound. Perfect for party rocking, despite the lyrics I don't dare to mention.

Treponem Pal - "Evil is Us - Lofofora Remix" from Evil Music for Evil People (2013)

4.5/5. Even remixes can maintain the evil vibes of the original song despite some electronic overusage.

Combichrist - "RISE" from RISE (2025)

4/5. All rise for some exciting aggrotech metal!

SUB DUB MICROMACHINE - "Road to Nowhere" from Auferstanden! (2008)

3.5/5. The quality is quite good, though the bass could've been more audible.

Static-X - "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" from Beneath...Between...Beyond (2004)

3/5. RIP Wayne Static. This is one of the most punky tracks by the band, even throwing back to a bit of their sound from the debut Wisconsin Death Trip. Quite fun but I feel like it could've been way better.

Vibrion - "Revenge" from Instinct (2002)

3.5/5. Not the best but slightly better. Vengeful deathly industrial metal right there.

Unheilig - "Ausblick (Outro)" from LIEBE GLAUBE MONSTER (2026)

4/5. I've been getting some slightly appear for NDH bands like Unheilig now, and I guess I can start small with one of their outro tracks. This is one beautiful and tear-jerking, sounding like the soundtrack to celebrating your victory in the path to freedom. So wonderful, and Hans Zimmer and Two Steps From Hell come to mind.

Mechina - "Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood" from Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood (2023)

4.5/5. We still have one more track left in this playlist, and of course, it's the final epic! You'll definitely wanna play Warframe and Star Wars Battlefront while listening to this 18-minute journey. And this is the last we hear from David Holch and his growling vocals before he left the band next year. Best of luck in his future endeavors...

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Ithilien - "Blindfolded" from Shaping the Soul (2017)

5/5. Starting its original album and this playlist is a slow march of guitars and Celtic instruments, then when the screaming vocals enter the picture, the drumming tempo really speeds up. This is basically the kind of soundtrack Game of Thrones needs for their enemy-slashing battles. And when the mid-paced folk sections come back on, they're for getting hammered, partying, and simply headbanging to the loud heaviness.

Phinehas - "Blood on My Knuckles" from The Last Word is Yours to Speak (2013)

5/5. "FACE YOUR WRATH!!!" Phinehas have made some awesome Christian metalcore, and their second album has some country/southern vibes. I love the riffing after the first chorus. The lyrical themes seem to continue from their debut Thegodmachine. Furthermore, the soloing is so beautiful and intense. I'm glad to include it in the playlist.

We Butter the Bread with Butter - "N!CE" from Das Album (2021)

4.5/5. Pretty nice, right? Nice in the heavy and not depressive sense.

Hope for the Dying - "Iniquitous" from Aletheia (2013)

5/5. This highlight kicks off with some European neoclassical shredding. Then the lyrics battle against false beliefs, "you almost believe the lies yourself". Lots of epic power despite being a short song compared to the rest of that album.

August Burns Red - "The Nameless" from The Nameless (2026)

4.5/5. August Burns Red still have their heavier metalcore roots to make me happy from the rage. Don't shoot the Messengers!

Boundaries - "Death Will Follow Me" from Death Will Follow Me (2026)

4/5. Some wild tempo changes here. They're going as hard as 156/Silence and TDWP's Zombie EPs. And it all leads to the brutal ending breakdown.

Ankor, SiM - "DANZO · Lying Ghost" from DANZO · Lying Ghost (2026)

3.5/5. Ankor are still cranking up good bangers, this one featuring MAH from SiM.

Mirrorcell, VCTMS - "Ichi" from Long Nights in Lovescape (2026)

4/5. This one deserves attention for its VCTMS guest feature and its intense heaviness. I heard that it's a common song to start listening to Mirrorcell, but that would've raised some people's expectations too high. Either way, another solid track!

Vision of Disorder - "The Craving" from Razed to the Ground (2015)

4.5/5. This one is slightly more progressive, having an unorthodox time signature. The power and strength makes that song another one of the best in the original album.

As I Lay Dying - "The Voices That Betray Me" from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001) (based on A Long March: The First Recordings (2006))

5/5. I'm glad the Long March compilation is on Spotify, otherwise I wouldn't be able to add in this standout. In the middle is some well-made heavy sh*t.

ERRA - "Hybrid Earth" from Augment (2013)

4.5/5. An underrated song by ERRA. Their current vocalist JT Cavey should re-record their first two albums with the rest of the band.

Rise of the Northstar - "Back 2 Basics" from Back 2 Basics (2025)

5/5. I love it when a band goes back to their basic roots. I also love the guest vocals by Florent Salfati of Landmvrks.

Like Moths to Flames - "Burn in Water, Drown in Flame" from No Eternity in Gold (2020)

5/5. One of my favorite songs from that Like Moths to Flames album, with a catchy chorus to balance out with the heaviness. And it only gets better from there, reaching its height with the final BLEGH and riffing.

Excessive Force - "Misfortune" from In Your Blood (1995)

4.5/5. One of, if not THE best track of its original album. It's quite strong in the lyrical message of self-reflection and the kick-A riffing. The heavy drumming is also irresistible.

The Devil Wears Prada - "Swords, Dragons & Diet Coke" from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006)

5/5. Swords, Dragons, &....Diet Coke???? Well, some knights might be underaged or Muslims. This is one of the best songs by the band in the earlier part of their career. It is relatable for those who feel sadness from dead languages and lonely hearts. Christian melodic metalcore can help those get back up after feeling down.

The Agonist - "Immaculate Deception" from Days Before the World Wept (2021)

4.5/5. It's sad that The Agonist are no longer around. Vicky Psarakis can be considered the princess of melodeath/metalcore.

AVRALIZE - "Liminal" from Liminal (2025)

4/5. Another d*mn great track, though a little pop-ish.

Bleed from Within - "Escape Yourself" from Uprising (2013)

4.5/5. Extreme madness that needs more attention, especially in the final riffing outro.

Worm Shepherd - "Wilted Moon" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

5/5. The symphonics shine the best here. This epic highlight is almost a redux to the Lorna Shore track "And I Return to Nothingness".

A Wake in Providence - "Black Mass (feat. Dickie Allen)" from Insidious: Phase II (2017)

4.5/5. A nearly 6-minute epic with great drumming flow from Anthony Dipietro. I enjoy the alternation between Ramos' growls and the screams of Dickie Allen (Infant Annihilator, later Nekrogoblikon). Nothing ever sounds weak there! Their ex-vocalist Will Ramos has that monstrous intensity that would continue to stun listeners 5 years later in his time with Lorna Shore. Absolutely insane!

The Last Ten Seconds of Life - "Sacrifice (the Prince)" from Soulless Hymns (2015)

5/5. So d*mn perfect, absolutely impressive with the brutal music and irreligious lyrics. F*** yeah!

Within Destruction - "Death Awaits Us All" from Deathwish (2018)

5/5. Another 5-minute epic with some great variation. As far as their later sound would go, that one's pretty close.

Frontierer - "Mt. Swath" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

4.5/5. This one is never a disappointment. The rage from the bass and downtuned guitars can pack some punches even in the lowest mix.

Psyopus - "Ms. Sunflower" from Odd Senses (2009)

5/5. One of the best songs by this band. Even something dark, dissonant, and chaotic like during the final minute can comfort me.

Invent Animate, Silent Planet - "Armageddon Eyes" from Bloom in Heaven (2025)

4.5/5. What would you call this collaboration project? Silent Invention? Animated Planet? Nonetheless, an amazing multi-band work!

Northlane, In Hearts Wake - "Equinox" from Equinox (2016)

5/5. It's not every day an interlude deserves a perfect 5 stars. It's what connects the two songs of the Northlane/In Hearts Wake collaboration EP together and is a beautiful smooth interlude. It works as a prelude to something big to close things off, which is kinda the reason for this submission.

Darkest Hour - "Accessible Losses" from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (2003)

4.5/5. Darkest Hour have built the bridge between melodeath and metalcore in tracks like this 8-minute epic. It's just f***ing wild, save for a long yet pleasant soft bridge midway through. And it works well when paired with one last epic...

Bullet for My Valentine - "The End" from The Poison (2005)

5/5. I really love this great end to another metalcore journey. More mellow and depressing but still stands out well. The guitar riff is so simple, Matt can focus on more emotion in his vocals in the cleaner verses. I wish he could keep doing that emotional technique but that would mean he would have to drop the guitar full-time. The song gets heavier but once again, there's no solo. Then it returns to the intro riff used as the outro with soft guitar harmony over it as it all fades out. Another personal favorite!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Thanks, Daniel. I say my view is that Culprit album and those first 3 Queensryche albums are progressive metal, whether mostly or to some extent, yet they haven't cut the bridge between that genre and heavy metal, unlike Fates Warning when they went pure melodic progressive metal from No Exit onwards and Dream Theater which has always been an Infinite band. With that in mind, I'll be voting NO there.

I shall check out that album at some point. Thanks again!

You got it, Xephyr. Welcome back aboard!

THE FALLEN: Vinny, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: Xephyr, Andi, Sonny

THE HORDE: Sonny, Vinny

THE INFINITE: Andi, Xephyr, Saxy

THE NORTH: Vinny, Sonny, Xephyr

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi