Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Why does the "again and again and again" part of this Architects song sounds so much like part of the chorus of this Chainsmokers song?! Surely that has to be a coincidence, right? RIGHT???

A catchy highlight I would recommend to anyone wanting to get into alt-metalcore:

Some of the most intense lyrics and music I've heard in this amazing masterpiece of a song that is a sequel to the epic "Memento Mori":

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

Architects has fully redeemed themselves after the poor Hollow Crown (still enjoyable by others) and the unloved Here and Now. The excellent Daybreaker and the incredible Lost Forever Lost Together are just what we need in the metalcore realms! And with All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, the distant past remains the past. Most of the songs have a perfect blend of brutality and melody within the Meshuggah-infused technical djent-core that spreads through a lot of the album. You can expect anthemic choruses, complex riffing rhythms, and a dark galactic atmosphere. And it all ends with Architect's longest song and one of the most heartful tear-shedding tracks in all of metalcore, "Memento Mori". This astonishing epic, along with the rest of this album, was written, recorded, and released in the last months of the life of Tom Searle, and the lyrics include a couple recorded quotes from Alan Watts that perfectly do justice to the inevitable transcendence into infinite darkness that awaited him. Absolutely amazing, emotional, and deserving to be heard beyond the universe. RIP this amazing legend... As awesome as many metalcore bands are to me, Architects stands out with all of its heartful emotion in All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us. Clearly, they deserve to be on top with Meshuggah, Converge, and TDEP. And all their mistakes from the past are left in the forgotten void.

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Nihilist", "Deathwish", "Downfall", "The Empty Hourglass", "Gravity", "Memento Mori"

For fans of: August Burns Red, ERRA, Silent Planet

3 minutes of metalcore chaos, just the way I love it, featuring Bring Me the Horizon vocalist Oli Sykes:

Ben, please add Sin Deliverance.

This sh*t sounds too much like a clean My Chemical Romance ballad. Why the f*** choose this as a closing title track?

So diversely packed with a lot to expect from bands like All Shall Perish, Black Veil Brides, Every Time I Die, and Trivium:

For the band's first time dropping into a much lower tuning, this track just falls f***ing flat and ruins an otherwise entirely listenable album:

A total crusher that is a solid heavy start to Architects' second album and first one with current vocalist Sam Carter:

Awesome guitar melodies make this track not just the best highlight of the album, but one of the best ever by this band:

The best track of this Cynic album in my opinion, and perhaps one of the best of progressive metal:

I also regard it as a progressive/tech-death classic, though upon revisiting, I find that it's not as 100% perfect as I thought it was 5 years before this comment. Here's my review summary:

As I revisit Cynic's 1993 debut, I can still hear its amazing uniqueness! Many of the members have started out in death metal bands, appearing in at least one album by Death, Master, and Monstrosity. Cynic had the idea of blending death metal with jazzy prog, which has also been done by Atheist back then. The best moments of Focus come in their more spacey moments as opposed to when they just go all-out tech-death. A lot of the power comes from the rhythm section, with the mystical bass of Sean Malone and the dexterous drumming of Sean Reinert (RIP the two Seans). It's also interesting hearing Paul Masvidal's vocoded cleans in contrast with the death growls of Tony Teegarden, along with the guitarwork of Jason Gobel. Two of the tracks would end up serving as the basis for later bands' names, "Veil of Maya" and "Textures". Those tracks and a couple others in the first half have lots of Watchtower-infused jazzy brilliance. However, their attempts at sounding metal in a couple tracks are a bit iffy and that's why a half-star is knocked from my original 5-star rating. Still it's quite a classic, with most of the first half still as perfect as ever. Just turn it on and.... FOCUS!

4.5/5

Ben, please add Botch's 1997 compilation album The Unifying Themes of Sex, Death, and Religion.

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

The Amenta - "Vermin" (4:03) from n0n (2008)

Deathstars - "No Light" (3:24) from Synthetic Generation (2002)

Gothminister - "Darkside" (3:56) from Happiness in Darkness (2008)

Mechina - "Unearthing the Daedalian Ancient" (7:11) from As Embers Turn to Dust (2017)

Neurotech - "Uplift" (6:06) from Evasive (2015)

Pain - "I Am" (3:58) from I Am (2024)

Total length: 28:38

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

The Amity Affliction - "All That I Remember" (3:50) from All That I Remember (2025)

The Autumn Offering - "Your Time Is Mine" (3:15) from Fear Will Cast No Shadow (2007)

Botch - "Closure" (3:10) from The Unifying Themes of Sex, Death and Religion (1997) (based on Unifying Themes Redux reissue, 2002)

Bury Tomorrow - "What If I Burn" (3:52) from Will You Haunt Me, with That Same Patience (2025)

Drown in Sulphur - "Absentia" (4:04) from Vengeance (2025)

Polaris - "Fault Line" (5:05) from Fatalism (2023)

Wolves at the Gate - "Unrest" (4:53) from Wasteland (2025)

Total length: 28:09

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

Opeth - "The Baying of the Hounds" (10:41) from Ghost Reveries (2005)

The Third and the Mortal - "Oceana" (18:46) from Tears Laid in Earth (1994)

Total length: 29:27

Here are my submissions for the July Gateway playlist:

Apocalyptica - "Rage of Poseidon" (8:49) from 7th Symphony (2010)

Chaoseum - "Unreal" (5:09) from The Third Eye (2022)

Demon Hunter - "I'm Done" (4:48) from I'm Done (2025)

Five Finger Death Punch - "Wrong Side of Heaven" (4:31) from The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 (2013)

Limp Bizkit - "Re-Arranged" (5:56) from Significant Other (1999)

Total length: 29:13

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Fear of Domination - "Fear of Domination" from Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

5/5. It starts off clean but heavy in what can be the band's own theme song. You can hear some background cleans by keyboardist Niina Telen. Awesome start!

White Zombie - "Super Charger Heaven" from Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

4.5/5. This one's a great thrash-rock highlight. The drums have wicked kicks! The only downside is Zombie's vocals not sounding as aggressive or deep as they should. Still it's one of the best songs here!

Skrew - "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame" from Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame (1992)

4/5. Skrew's 1991 debut's title track unleashes as much industrial destruction as Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste.

Pitchshifter - "Gravid Rage" from Industrial (1991)

4.5/5. This one is another highlight of industrial metal machinery with convincing growls by Mark Clayden. Oh yeah, Mark is the bassist of the band, but he also performed vocals in this album. His brother J.S. would take over on vocals from their Submit EP onwards, though he's done additional vocals in their debut.

A Dark Halo - "Vector Unknown" from Omnibus One (2023)

5/5. Now this is darker and heavier, featuring Anna Hel. The softer cleans and heavier screams alternating between each other sound so haunting. It's like a lurking menace in the space of tranquility, turning it intense and bleak. The cleans still shine, along with the creativity in the music. The band is never afraid to explore the unknown, and as a result, we have another wonderful standout!

Illidiance - "Defying Gravity" from The Iconoclast (2019)

4.5/5. Obviously it's not a Wicked cover (thank goodness!), though it's quite diverse with everything from progressive/djenty bands like Periphery and Chaos Divine, to modern/melodic bands like Mnemic and Of Mice & Men. Now that's wicked!

KONG - "P.R.O.K.O.V." from Mute Poet Vocalizer (1990)

4/5. This one has cool riffing by guitar duo Aldo Sprenger and Dirk de Vries. While some might consider the circus audio sample odd, it helps make that track one of my favorites in its original album.

Sonic Violence - "Symptom" from Jagd (1990)

4.5/5. This is shorter and less varied, but it doesn't need to have a lot to sound amazing, especially in the final climax.

Meathook Seed - "A Furred Grave" from Embedded (1993)

4/5. The best of Peres' vocal alternation occurs in this one.

Ministry - "Jesus Built My Hotrod" from Psalm 69 (1992)

4.5/5. I'm already familiar with this crazy highlight via the Lamb of God/Burn the Priest cover. The song has an interesting narrative and fun lyrics, sung by the Butthole Surfers' Gibby Haynes.

Psyclon Nine - "I Choose Violence" from And Then Oblivion (2025)

5/5. In real life, I wouldn't choose violence as the answer, but I would choose dark violent trap-ish industrial metal to listen to.

Rammstein - "Ich Tu Dir Weh" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

4.5/5. And then the violence turns sexual. The BDSM-themed lyrics were too extreme for the German public market and its original album had to be reissued with the track omitted. Still I enjoy the anthemic-sounding chorus here.

Circle of Dust - "Dust to Dust" from Dust to Dust (2017)

5/5. A powerful masterpiece track that is apparently meant to be an early hint for an upcoming Circle of Dust release. I have an awesome feeling about that album...

Celldweller - "Blackstar" from Wish Upon a Blackstar (2012)

4.5/5. One of the best songs in this album by Klayton's other project, Celldweller!

Sybreed - "Doomsday Party" from The Pulse of Awakening (2009)

5/5. This highlight is quite fun. Not as fun as that DragonForce track from 15 years later, but here, Sybreed have their own way of channeling 80s pop with its catchy chorus while staying metal. This more lively sound was first hinted in Antares, and it sounds like the coldness of Slave Design has been left behind.

Subway to Sally - "Post Mortem" from Post Mortem (2024)

4.5/5. An amazing blend of Neue Deutsche Härte and medieval folk, and you definitely wanna stay from beginning to end.

Filter - "For the Beaten" from For the Beaten (2023)

4/5. For an uplifting song with soaring vocals, it sure has some of the heaviest fire in industrial metal riffing.

Stahlhammer - "Can't Touch This" from Wiener Blut (1997)

3.5/5. One of only two songs I like in that sh*tty Stahlhammer album, fitting in the "metalizing covers" category.

Tyrant of Death - "Fluorescent" from Singles & Extras (2018)

3/5. Not the best I've heard from this project, but I'm glad to have a djenty industrial metal instrumental here.

Mick Gordon - "Rip & Tear" from Doom (Original Game Soundtrack) (2016)

3.5/5. And another one of that style! Demons better look out, as the DoomSlayer plans to RIP AND TEAR.

Conflict - "Mechanism of Life" from Transform into a Human (2014)

4/5. Now this is a true winning highlight. It sounds nicely like a sequel to the title track of Mechina's "The Assembly of Tyrants", along with having a Xerath-esque blend of symphonics and groove elements. I also love the anthemic chorus.

Death SS - "Panic" from Panic (2000)

3.5/5. Steve Sylvester can make some dark haunting songs with his band Death SS, which is basically Ghost before Ghost. I love the chorus here! And the keyboards after that sound so eerie. This is basically gothic/heavy metal gone electro-industrial. You can get the darkness of Behemoth and Vader without ever going as deathly as those bands. Still I prefer to get my dark beauty elsewhere.

Fange - "Grand-Guignol" from Purulences (2025)

4/5. And by elsewhere, I mean in the form of sludgy industrial metal.

Khost - "Transfixed" from Many Things Afflict Us Few Things Console Us (2024)

4.5/5. And more of that but with more electronics and less sludge. But we'll get something more epic in the next track...

Mechina - "Anagenesis" from Progenitor (2016)

5/5. One h*ll of a cyber metal epic. The intro reminds me of Apocalyptica with its melancholic violins and cello, then the usual symphonic cyber metal goes on like a more orchestral blend of Alchemist and Northlane. Absolute futuristic glory!

Death Therapy, Brook Reeves - "Reject" from Reject (2020)

4.5/5. I stumbled upon this cover of a song I included in last month's Revolution playlist, by Death Therapy (a side-project by Becoming the Archetype's Jason Wisdom) featuring Brook Reeves (Impending Doom). Quite a sick unique combo! Now we need Fit for a King covering one of Living Sacrifice's later metalcore songs. I also hear some Argyle Park vibes in this Death Therapy cover. Maybe there should've been some soloing to make up for the hip-hop-ish beat. But never mind, I won't mess with it.

Lord of the Lost - "Ordinary World" from Weapons of Mass Seduction (2023)

4/5. And finally we end with a beautiful cover of a Duran Duran ballad. Although they've really done that song justice, even with Chris Harms' bass-baritone vocal range (similar to my own), I still prefer Mechina's cover, which sadly isn't on Spotify.

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!

Fantastic milestone, Ben! And wow, the lucky 60,000th happens to be one of my personal favorite and most anticipated albums of this year! Thanks for all your work, good sir.

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

ERRA - "Cure" from CURE (2024)

5/5. A f***ing killer start to its original album and the playlist to listen to!

Architects - "Elegy" from The Sky, the Earth & All Between (2025)

5/5. It's then followed by another epic track to kick things off further!

Like Moths to Flames - "Real Talk" from Sweet Talker (2010)

4.5/5. Real talk, though: Screamed vocals are what keep many metalcore bands going, and I enjoy Chris Roetter's screams along with his cleans.

Undying - "Echoes" from The Whispered Lies of Angels (2000)

4/5. The guitar, vocals, and drums roll through in melodic passion is another great start.

God Forbid - "Nothing" from Determination (2001)

4.5/5. This one gives you a p*ssed flying kick in the face! Byron Davis' furious vocals alongside the pummeling music really shows you what a solid album its original album Determination is gonna be.

The Autumn Offering - "Embrace the Gutter" from Embrace the Gutter (2006)

5/5. Some of you might be familiar with this track from Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. I enjoy the vocals by Dennis Miller and the guitar solo by producer Jason Suecof.

Shadows Fall - "Souls Devoured" from Souls Devoured (2025)

4.5/5. Shadows Fall, the guys behind The Art of Balance, continue their comeback! And their "male metalcore Rapunzel" lead vocalist Brain Fair still has his hair and strength like Samson.

Trivium - "Throes of Perdition" from Shogun (2008)

5/5. This longtime highlight has a nice heavy main riff that is once again as progressive as Dream Theater with a catchy chorus. This would work well as a radio single, if it wasn't too intense at some parts.

Bleeding Through - "Dead But So Alive" from Nine (2025)

4.5/5. This one erupts into thrashy chaos, evolving into blazing soloing and the vocals of Brandan Schieppati and keyboardist Marta Demmel together in the chorus that makes an epic standout imprinted in your mind.

Shadow of Intent - "Feeding the Meatgrinder" from Feeding the Meatgrinder (2025)

5/5. This single from Shadow of Intent's upcoming album Imperium Delirium is so f***ing brutal and doubling the brutality is the guest vocals by none other than Corpsegrinder from Cannibal Corpse.

Parkway Drive - "Sacred" from Sacred (2025)

4.5/5. A vicious new banger that shall never disappoint fans!

Carnifex - "Dead but Dreaming" from Until I Feel Nothing (2011)

5/5. Lots of aggressive anger in this track from the album that marks a transition from their earlier brutal deathcore to blackened deathcore.

Imminence - "Death Shall Have No Dominion" from The Return of the Black (2025)

4.5/5. Even Imminence is getting in on the epic blackened deathcore alongside their usual intense violin-infused metalcore. F*** YEAH!!!!

7 Angels 7 Plagues - "Silent Deaths, Crowded Lives" from Jhazmyne's Lullaby (2001)

5/5. 7 Angels 7 Plagues was another short-lived metalcore band from the early 2000s. It's highlights like this one that make me wish they were still active.

LEVELS - "BREED" from PULSE (2024)

4.5/5. Even with the chorus sounding like early Linkin Park, this is still an intense banger. Not only that, the music video can also be artistic.

Invent Animate - "Forest Haven" from Everchanger (2014)

5/5. Over 10 years and Invent Animate can still shape up the djent-core sound alongside ERRA. This band can make such riff-tastic songs. The more I listen to them, the more potential I find in them. While both the intro and chorus has that blend of While She Sleeps and Northlane, the brief midsection bridge is just BRUTAL.

Spiritbox - "No Loss, No Love" from Tsunami Sea (2025)

4.5/5. I love how heavy this track is, really throwing back to Courtney LaPlante's previous band Iwrestledabearonce.

I Prevail - "Violent Nature" from Violent Nature (2025)

4/5. New I Prevail single, and it's violently heavy and killer as f***, nothing but pure destruction.

Born of Osiris - "Through Shadows" from Through Shadows (2025)

4.5/5. Another journey awaits Born of Osiris. Impressive vocals here, both the screams and cleans!

Out of Vision - "Dissolve" from Deceiving Lights (2024)

4/5. The intro grabs you and drags you through the rest of this song that shows the band's talent. Once again, I enjoy the melodic singing and brutal growls. It's part of their album Deceiving Lights released last year. It might remind some of Our Mirage. As d*mn great as this is, the generic chorus is the only thing setting it back.

Daughters - "Nurse, Would You Please Prep the Patient for Sexual Doctor?" from Canada Songs (2003)

4.5/5. This song I'm already prepped for, thanks to my 4 years of listening to mathcore (that started with The Dillinger Escape Plan).

Converge - "This is Mine" from The Poacher Diaries (1999)

4/5. The lyrics are quite sick here, as is the rest of the song.

The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "The Lost & Damned" from Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

4.5/5. Same with this cool unique song. Enough said about that!

The Chariot - "Forgive Me Nashville" from The Fiancee (2007)

4.5/5. Most people in my generation would've discovered bands like this in their high-school, but I've only just heard of this band for a couple years now. This is one of my favorite tracks by The Chariot. I especially love the midsection breakdown that gets broken down further into sludgy levels.

Rolo Tomassi - "Party Wounds" from Cosmology (2010)

4/5. Another great hard-hitter, from this female-fronted British mathcore band.

Car Bomb - "M6" from Centralia (2007)

3.5/5. I think there's good chaos as the tempo ranges all over the place, from slow sludge to sonic blasting.

The Ghost Inside - "Shiner" from Fury and the Fallen Ones (2008)

3/5. This one breaks through the hardcore fire of Comeback Kid with a more metallic spin.

Allt - "The Orphan Breed" from From the New World (2024)

3.5/5. Heavy insanity in the music and vocals, especially the back-breaking breakdown at over the one-minute mark. D*mn, what a banger! But there are better ones around.

Aerial - "Foresight" from Foresight (2016)

4/5. Yet another great track from a band in the ERRA/Invent Animate-inspired league. The instrumentation and vocals are what more of this world needs to hear. Those guys are so talented as f***!

Graphic Nature - "The Downpour" from A Mind Waiting to Die (2023)

4.5/5. This one strikes with brutality and emotion, "I lost it because I trusted you". One of the best saved for one of the last that shall leave listeners wanting more!

Worm Shepherd - "Winter Sun" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

5/5. This epic can almost be a deathcore tribute to the band Wintersun with its blackened symphonic power metal-ish guitarwork. It might just be the strongest epic deathcore album ending track! But we still have one more track in this playlist...

The Amity Affliction - "Stairway to Hell" from Severed Ties (2008)

4.5/5. Although early The Amity Affliction has more of a post-hardcore sound than metalcore, the final track of their debut has similar vibes to Memphis May Fire and Imminence, the former in the intense first minute, and the latter in the epic two-minute outro. Perhaps my favorite song in the Troy Brady era!

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!

Ben, please add the new Neurotech album Exo Escapism.

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Apocalyptica - "Worlds Collide" from Worlds Collide (2007)

5/5. A masterpiece track to begin this playlist! Cellos and metal collide and swirl amongst each other like fire and water. A band that started as a Metallica tribute band ended up becoming pioneers of cello metal. This song has also been used as a New Japan entrance theme.

Nightwish - "Wishmaster" from Wishmaster (2000)

4.5/5. Epic chorus, beastly guitars... This still reigns as one of my favorite Nightwish songs for over a decade. I can hear Dragonlance/Lord of the Rings lyrical influences.

Volbeat - "The Human Instrument" from Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (2007)

4/5. My brother likes a few songs by Volbeat, and this one I can like and accept.

Serpent Rider - "Radiant" from The Ichor of Chimaera (2025)

3.5/5. This attempt at a female-fronted revival of classic heavy/power metal is pretty good but not that suiting for me. Still a nice choice, Sonny!

Iron Maiden - "The Evil That Men Do" from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)

4/5. When Iron Maiden first entered the NWOBHM scene, it really changed it forever. The soloing and the lyrics can get you hooked, "Living on the razor's edge, balancing on a ledge, y'know, y'know..."

Black Sabbath - "Iron Man" from Paranoid (1970)

3.5/5. It's astonishing how old this song is now, like 55 years old. With that said, I can't really get as much appeal from that track as some of Black Sabbath's other hits.

Ozzy Osbourne - "Flying High Again" from Diary of a Madman (1981)

3/5. The early 1980s was a time when classic heavy metal was really branching out beyond Black Sabbath. However, it spawns a bit of the glam sh*t hinted in this track. Still the guitarwork by Randy Rhoads is something I enjoy. RIP

Megadeth - "Symphony of Destruction" from Countdown to Extinction (1992)

3.5/5. I haven't really listened to much of this band or Metallica to see where I stand in the debate between those two bands. Not even Slayer, apart from a couple albums! However, did Slayer ever explore classic heavy metal in the 90s? NOPE.

Metallica - "Moth Into Flame" from Hardwired...to Self-Destruct (2016)

4/5. Metallica battle against the sellout claims by blending their Black Album heavy metal sound with their earlier speed.

Queensryche - "Neue Regel" from Rage of Order (1986)

4.5/5. I'm 26 years old as of this comment. A few years ago, I enjoyed bands like Queensryche, but now, I want to focus on darker heavier modern metal genres. Nonetheless, the truth is, I still enjoy a few amazing songs from the band like this one. There also some slight hints of industrial all used in their mid-90s material. If I could have a time machine, I would travel back 40 years to enjoy music from the 80s while it was still fresh. Excellent vocals and lyrics!

Rainbow - "Gates of Babylon" from Long Live Rock N Roll (1978)

4/5. This one takes you on a journey through the Middle-East, both musically and lyrically, from the keyboard intro, to the mystical riffing, and the vocal power in the chorus. Although keyboardist Tony Carey was still around for a few other tracks in this album, David Stone stepped in with his own keyboard contributions in this track and a few others, here to provide an exotic atmosphere and get you hooked alongside Blackmore's riffs. I love this track!

Brainstorm - "Your Soul That Lingers in Me" from Plague of Rats (2025)

3.5/5. One of only two tracks I like from this Brainstorm album, Leaves' Eyes clean vocalist Elina Siirala's impressive vocals blow away most of the album's tough issues.

HammerFall - "The Dragon Lies Bleeding" from Glory to the Brave (1997)

4/5. Another great heavy/power metal track that I still enjoy to this day!

Battle Beast - "Out of Control" from Battle Beast (2013)

4.5/5. I also love this Battle Beast track and Sabaton's cover.

DragonForce - "Tomorrow's Kings" from Maximum Overload (2014)

5/5. Another one of my favorite track from my true power metal heroes, with awesome catchiness.

Mob Rules - "Future Loom" from Future Loom (2025)

4.5/5. An amazing song with power and glory in the music and complex lyrics!

Unleash the Archers - "Crypt" from Time Stands Still (2015)

5/5. It's so cool hearing power metal blended with metalcore-ish melodeath. All hail Unleash the Archers!

Masterplan - "Heroes" from Masterplan (2003)

5/5. The first time I heard Jorn Lande and Michael Kiske together was in one of Avantasia's tracks. This clearly shows the heroic side of power metal, and a heroic side that I love! Definitely has some Stratovarius vibes here. I should really check out more of this band and kick-A songs like this one.

Blind Guardian - "Ashes to Ashes" from Somewhere Far Beyond (Revisited) (2024)

4.5/5. Such an underrated song by Blind Guardian, still being one of my favorites from this band. While Helloween may take the throne as the creators of European power metal, Blind Guardian should get that fame as well. Although I enjoy this new version, I still prefer the original one, y'know, so I can feel the nostalgia of first encounter that track nearly a decade ago.

Mechina - "Bellum Interruptum" from Bellum Interruptum (2025)

5/5. My favorite track of the brand-new Mechina album, one of the best Mechina tracks I've heard in ages, a 10-minute epic that includes a spine-chillingly beautiful two-minute bridge in the middle.

Time Requiem - "Attar of Roses" from The Inner Circle of Reality (2004)

4.5/5. Excellent virtuoso in this one! There is also some progressiveness from Symphony X and Dream Theater. I also enjoy the vocals by Apollo Papathanasio (Firewind) and the keyboard magic of Richard Andersson.

Warmen - "Return of Salieri" from Accept the Fact (2005)

5/5. Mozart would've been proud of this powerful composition. So would Alexi Laiho. RIP

Orden Ogan - "The Long Darkness" from The Order of Fear (2024)

4.5/5. A nice headbanging closing epic in practically all its glory!

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!

Saxy, you've done an amazing job with this playlist! So much so that I have the incentive to comment on all the tracks in it. So here are all my thoughts:

Allegaeon – Wake Circling Above (2025)

5/5. Although Allegaeon's new album The Ossuary Suns continues their melodic/technical death metal, a couple tracks are progressive enough for The Infinite, especially this highlight to start this playlist. The background cleans by guitarist Michael Stancel provide an incredible contrast with the blackened growls of Ezra Haynes.

Calva Louise – Aimless (2025)

4.5/5. Calva Louise needs to be discovered more. My brother and I can't be the only ones enjoying these fun experimental works!

Changeling – Abdication (2025)

4.5/5. Changeling is another progressive tech-death band similar to Allegaeon, though I still prefer that band and Fallujah.

Fallujah – Labyrinth of Stone (2025)

5/5. Killer new single from these San Francisco-based progressive/tech-death metallers. An awesome blast, I would say!

Haken – Deathless (2011)

4.5/5. Now for some deathless prog-metal! This is still a hidden melodic diamond in the deathly rough. The only thing extreme about this song is the lyrics, but everything else is so melodic and heartful, like a more metal take on Opeth's Damnation, maybe even later Leprous. Despite the lack of soloing, the song can still take you on a beautiful journey far beyond. One of the most lovely songs by this band!

In Vain – Times of Yore (2013)

5/5. And now we're back to some awesome progressive heaviness! The outro is one of the most epic I've ever heard, and it hints at the song's sequel in the next album.

Intronaut – Cubensis (2020)

4.5/5. I love the kick-A drumming in this one. I've only discovered this band a couple years ago, and they still rule!

Mandroid Echostar – Haunted Vows (2013)

5/5. Awesome vocals, awesome guitars, awesome bass, awesome drums... F*** YEAH!!!! I want more of this!

Ne Obliviscaris – Xenoflux (2012)

5/5. This one has a perfect blend of loud and emotional, especially in its climax that comes to a sudden stop.

Nevermore – The Psalm of Lydia (2005)

4.5/5. This one is full of surprises, such as acoustic guitar briefly snuck into the wild progressive thrash.

A Notion of Silence – Journey’s End (2022)

4/5. The journey is still far from its end, as we going into more rock-ish territory.

The Ocean – Atlantic (2023)

4.5/5. This still remains one of my favorite songs from the new The Ocean album, and it might very well fit in a David Attenborough documentary. From the 6-minute mark onwards, you can hear dark heaviness to remind some of TOOL. Sad that the lineup has to face some changes after this album and tour. Still this track is mind-blowing!

Ovid’s Withering – Falsehood of Blasphemous Voices (2015)

4/5. I think I just found what planted the seed for the symphonic blackened deathcore scene of Lorna Shore and Shadow of Intent. Pretty great despite certain allegations.

Pain of Salvation – Beyond the Pale – remix (2016)

4.5/5. I remember hear the original song but not the remix. Here the vocals by Daniel Gildenlöw have amazing clarity. This pretty much fulfills the song's purpose, "To make each other better, to heal each other's wounds."

Protest the Hero – Reverie (2020)

4/5. This one continues the theatrical nature with expert guitar impression. The composition sounds a bit closer to Rhapsody of Fire style of symphonic power metal while seamlessly matching the usual PTH progressive metal.

Syncatto – Hollow (2025)

4.5/5. An amazing djent instrumental!

Utopian Dream – Restriction of a Mind (2016)

4/5. This one is also cool despite sounding a bit restrained.

Wheel – Empire (2024)

3.5/5. D*mn cool bass with the sound having more in common with Karnivool, VOLA, and Caligula's Horse. Still can't beat those bands though, while still being a solid ending to this playlist.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Alien Weaponry – Myself to Blame (2025)

5/5. Let's start with some slow sludgy groove. The vocal power of Lewis Raharuhi de Jong help make that track an epic highlight.

Apocalyptica – Cold Blood (2015)

5/5. One of my favorite songs by this cello metal band! If you love it too, welcome in! If you don't, there are other things to try.

Disturbed – Sacred Lie (2005)

4.5/5. Raise your fist to some kick-A alt-metal! This year, this album will turn 20 on September 20. The final chorus really strikes with its heavy riffing.

Elysion – Made of Lies (2014)

4/5. Beautiful vocals and wonderous lyrics, but a little too much of an early 2000s Lacuna Coil knockoff.

Gemini Syndrome – 2B1 (2025)

3.5/5. This solid new track might remind some of A Perfect Circle. I'm a little surprised my alt-rock/metal-loving brother only discovered this band recently and not over a decade ago unlike those other bands he likes. After all, Lux and Memento Mori were released in the 2010s. Pretty good track!

Linkin Park – Papercut (2000)

3/5. The rapping verses by Mike Shinoda make a decent blend with the melodic vocal chorus by Chester Bennington (RIP).

Nonpoint – That Day (2012)

3.5/5. Another cool banger!

Tremonti – Just Too Much (2025)

4/5. Another great track, blending his earlier work with the new stuff.

Treyarch Sound (Elena Siegman, Kevin Sherwood – Beauty of Annihilation (2011)

3.5/5. The version that appears in the playlist is actually the Brian Tuey remix, but as long as the original vocals are still there, it's still that song. I especially like the drop to start the final third of the song, it's the perfect drop!

Underoath – Outsider (2025)

4/5. This one marks the grand end of the journey, in both its original album and this playlist. Aaron Gillespie sings solo in this track, and that helps it being an easy track to end with. The perfect way out, with more to expect in the future!

Here's my submission for the July North playlist, Sonny:

Shylmagoghnar - "A New Dawn" (from Emergence, 2014)

7 Angels 7 Plagues was another short-lived metalcore band from the early 2000s. It's highlights like this one that make me wish they were still active:

Warbringer was originally named Onslaught but had to change the name because of this British thrash band that I now enjoy. Punky thrash with a melodic/progressive edge:

Some more bands I've discovered in my journey of death metal redemption include the Swedish death metal of Grave, with some experimentation with groove/industrial tones in songs like this one:

And two doomy melodeath side-projects by Before the Dawn founder Tuomas Saukkonen:

My brother likes a few songs from this British experimental alt-metalcore band. He has shared with me this track that's quite a wicked banger. The vocal power of Jess Allanic makes the song sound not too far off from Ankor and Poppy:

Ben, please add these new albums:

Waltari - Nation's Neurosis

Wolves at the Gate - Wasteland

Ben, please add the new Onslaught album Origins of Aggression.

June 2025

1. Fear of Domination - "Fear of Domination" from Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

2. White Zombie - "Super Charger Heaven" from Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

3. Skrew - "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame" from Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame (1992)

4. Pitchshifter - "Gravid Rage" from Industrial (1991)

5. A Dark Halo - "Vector Unknown" from Omnibus One (2023)

6. Illidiance - "Defying Gravity" from The Iconoclast (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. KONG - "P.R.O.K.O.V." from Mute Poet Vocalizer (1990)

8. Sonic Violence - "Symptom" from Jagd (1990)

9. Meathook Seed - "A Furred Grave" from Embedded (1993)

10. Ministry - "Jesus Built My Hotrod" from Psalm 69 (1992)

11. Psyclon Nine - "I Choose Violence" from And Then Oblivion (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Rammstein - "Ich Tu Dir Weh" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

13. Circle of Dust - "Dust to Dust" from Dust to Dust (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Celldweller - "Blackstar" from Wish Upon a Blackstar (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Sybreed - "Doomsday Party" from The Pulse of Awakening (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Subway to Sally - "Post Mortem" from Post Mortem (2024)

17. Filter - "For the Beaten" from For the Beaten (2023)

18. Stahlhammer - "Can't Touch This" from Wiener Blut (1997)

19. Tyrant of Death - "Fluorescent" from Singles & Extras (2018)

20. Mick Gordon - "Rip & Tear" from Doom (Original Game Soundtrack) (2016)

21. Conflict - "Mechanism of Life" from Transform into a Human (2014)

22. Death SS - "Panic" from Panic (2000)

23. Fange - "Grand-Guignol" from Purulences (2025)

24. Khost - "Transfixed" from Many Things Afflict Us Few Things Console Us (2024)

25. Mechina - "Anagenesis" from Progenitor (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Death Therapy, Brook Reeves - "Reject" from Reject (2020)

27. Lord of the Lost - "Ordinary World" from Weapons of Mass Seduction (2023)

June 2025

1. ERRA - "Cure" from CURE (2024)

2. Architects - "Elegy" from The Sky, the Earth & All Between (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Like Moths to Flames - "Real Talk" from Sweet Talker (2010)

4. Undying - "Echoes" from The Whispered Lies of Angels (2000)

5. God Forbid - "Nothing" from Determination (2001) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. The Autumn Offering - "Embrace the Gutter" from Embrace the Gutter (2006)

7. Shadows Fall - "Souls Devoured" from Souls Devoured (2025)

8. Trivium - "Throes of Perdition" from Shogun (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Bleeding Through - "Dead But So Alive" from Nine (2025) [submitted by Saxy S]

10. Shadow of Intent - "Feeding the Meatgrinder" from Feeding the Meatgrinder (2025)

11. Parkway Drive - "Sacred" from Sacred (2025)

12. Carnifex - "Dead but Dreaming" from Until I Feel Nothing (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Imminence - "Death Shall Have No Dominion" from The Return of the Black (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. 7 Angels 7 Plagues - "Silent Deaths, Crowded Lives" from Jhazmyne's Lullaby (2001)

15. LEVELS - "BREED" from PULSE (2024)

16. Invent Animate - "Forest Haven" from Everchanger (2014)

17. Spiritbox - "No Loss, No Love" from Tsunami Sea (2025)

18. I Prevail - "Violent Nature" from Violent Nature (2025)

19. Born of Osiris - "Through Shadows" from Through Shadows (2025)

20. Out of Vision - "Dissolve" from Deceiving Lights (2024)

21. Daughters - "Nurse, Would You Please Prep the Patient for Sexual Doctor?" from Canada Songs (2003)

22. Converge - "This is Mine" from The Poacher Diaries (1999)

23. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "The Lost & Damned" from Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

24. The Chariot - "Forgive Me Nashville" from The Fiancee (2007)

25. Rolo Tomassi - "Party Wounds" from Cosmology (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Car Bomb - "M6" from Centralia (2007)

27. The Ghost Inside - "Shiner" from Fury and the Fallen Ones (2008)

28. Allt - "The Orphan Breed" from From the New World (2024)

29. Aerial - "Foresight" from Foresight (2016)

30. Graphic Nature - "The Downpour" from A Mind Waiting to Die (2023)

31. Worm Shepherd - "Winter Sun" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

32. The Amity Affliction - "Stairway to Hell" from Severed Ties (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

June 2025

1. Apocalyptica - "Worlds Collide" from Worlds Collide (2007)

2. Nightwish - "Wishmaster" from Wishmaster (2000)

3. Volbeat - "The Human Instrument" from Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (2007)

4. Serpent Rider - "Radiant" from The Ichor of Chimaera (2025) [Suggested by Sonny]

5. Iron Maiden - "The Evil That Men Do" from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)

6. Black Sabbath - "Iron Man" from Paranoid (1970)

7. Ozzy Osbourne - "Flying High Again" from Diary of a Madman (1981)

8. Megadeth - "Symphony of Destruction" from Countdown to Extinction (1992)

9. Metallica - "Moth Into Flame" from Hardwired...to Self-Destruct (2016)

10. Queensryche - "Neue Regel" from Rage of Order (1986)

11. Rainbow - "Gates of Babylon" from Long Live Rock N Roll (1978)

12. Brainstorm - "Your Soul That Lingers in Me" from Plague of Rats (2025)

13. HammerFall - "The Dragon Lies Bleeding" from Glory to the Brave (1997)

14. Battle Beast - "Out of Control" from Battle Beast (2013)

15. DragonForce - "Tomorrow's Kings" from Maximum Overload (2014)

16. Mob Rules - "Future Loom" from Future Loom (2025)

17. Unleash the Archers - "Crypt" from Time Stands Still (2015)

18. Masterplan - "Heroes" from Masterplan (2003)

19. Blind Guardian - "Ashes to Ashes" from Somewhere Far Beyond (Revisited) (2024)

20. Mechina - "Bellum Interruptum" from Bellum Interruptum (2025) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Time Requiem - "Attar of Roses" from The Inner Circle of Reality (2004)

22. Warmen - "Return of Salieri" from Accept the Fact (2005)

23. Orden Ogan - "The Long Darkness" from The Order of Fear (2024)

Here's my review summary:

One of the albums that marked a defining landmark in industrial metal is Godflesh's Streetcleaner. The torch would be shared with other different bands of this genre and era. Jagd is a bleak heavy continuation of Godflesh's sound in Streetcleaner, albeit by a much lesser-known band. Guitars are the key, and so are the d*mn destructive drums! They're often slow and sludgy with not much speed. All just repetitive yet mighty rhythms. The guitars are pretty much rhythmic all the way through. There aren't any harmonics that are as slashing as the cover art (see what I mean!?). Those riff chords have an apocalyptic vibe and perfectly fit well with the bass and drums. As a result, the tone is filled with menacing power. Honestly, I love old-school industrial metal when it has that mechanical rage going on, unlike the more dance-y sh*t from some bands. You can't give the machine any impact to make it stop. The impact that happens is what the machine gives you. You don't have time to relax in any peaceful moment before the bleak industrial riffing crashes in and crushes anything its path in mechanical greatness. You can also hear some lovely synths later on. The harsh vocals fit greatly with the lyrics. Jagd might just be my favorite industrial metal album from 1990 or earlier that isn't Godflesh. A true recommendation!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Saturation", "Tortured (Dub)", "Ritual", "Symptom", "Glory"

For fans of: Fear Factory's slower but heavier tracks, Godflesh, early 90s Pitchshifter

Here's my review summary, which I've copied from an earlier post:

Roadrunner Records is one of the most famous and diverse metal/hard rock record labels of all time. Famous and infamous bands signed to the label like Slipknot, Trivium, Fear Factory, and Machine Head have made the label as big as it is. And the then-core members of each of those 4 bands were chosen for ambitious project conceived by ex-vice president of the label Monte Conner. He wanted to do a special thing for Roadrunner's 25th anniversary. He wanted 4 members of different bands band together to make an album dedicated to the label. But then he decided to upgrade his idea into something more ambitious... The 4 chosen ones, ex-Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison (RIP), Trivium frontman Matt Heafy, Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, and Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn were tasked in each recording 4 songs (though one captain would have a bonus 5th) and choose any member of a Roadrunner-signed band past or present to record with them. The end result is a massive 18-song 77-minute album featuring 57 artists from 45 bands! Here's to another impressive project like this in the future, hopefully in Roadrunner's 50th year, 2030.

4/5

Recommended tracks: "The Dagger", "The Enemy", "In the Fire", "The End", "Tired 'n Lonely", "Baptized in the Redemption", "Blood and Flames", "I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)", "Army of the Sun"

For fans of: Fear Factory, Machine Head, Slipknot, Trivium, and pretty much every band whose members were involved here

Here's my sneak peek submission for the July Guardians playlist:

Xerath - "Veil Part 2" (from Xerath III, 2014)

Update for July:

THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: ANDI, Sonny, Karl

THE HORDE: KARL, Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: ANDI, Saxy

THE NORTH: SONNY, Karl, Vinny

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

That's good to hear, Daniel. Hope things will continue working out well and you can stay healthy.

Ben, please add Wolves at the Gate's 2014 album VXV. It's considered melodic metalcore in RYM alongside post-hardcore. And please add their 2016 album Types & Shadows, to bridge the gap.

Sorry to hear, Sonny. Hope your wife can recover soon.

Ben, please add Disparaged.

Incredible speed in this epic deathcore highlight, only slowing down at the end for one of the darkest breakdowns of the year:

After sharing those two new singles by the master bands of epic deathcore (Shadow of Intent and Lorna Shore), I realized that I haven't shared this other single from Shadow of Intent's upcoming album Imperium Delirium. This one's so f***ing brutal and even includes guest vocals by none other than Corpsegrinder from Cannibal Corpse. This is also a sneak peek for next week's June Revolution playlist:

New I Prevail single, and it's violently heavy and killer as f***:

If you listen closely to the "na-na na-na, na-na na-na" hook throughout this Falling in Reverse song, do you hear anything familiar?

It's "Elmo's World"! I swear I can hear Elmo singing "Elmo's World" in my mind every time that hook comes on. That's gotta be a coincidence! See the first 30 seconds of this video:

Small fact about me that I once thought was embarrassing but I now have the guts to say here: When I was a small kid 20 years ago, singing along to that show's theme song, I kept singing "Elmo's Squirrel" instead of "Elmo's World". My parents were a little confused, thinking "Elmo has a pet squirrel?!"

A private plane crash occurred before dawn last Thursday in San Diego, California. Sadly, all 6 people onboard didn't make it, one of them being former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams. His work in the band was quite phenomenal in the albums he was in. This is one of my favorite tracks from his time with the band. RIP

A true atmospheric black/melodeath highlight in which Skirge's emotion in his growls and screams help out the song's modern epicness:

I enjoy the vocals that give this song its Dark Tranquillity/In Vain vibe: