Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies
Here are my thoughts on some tracks (still going strong in this clan):
Calva Louise – W.T.F. (2025)
4/5. A great track to start my commenting run, frantic progressiveness with a punky pace.
Cynic – Sentiment (1993)
4.5/5. This might just be the best track of this Cynic album, maybe one of the best of prog-metal! The best part of it all is the ethereal midsection bridge.
Scale the Summit – Mass (2017)
5/5. A killer masterpiece of beauty, with lovely acoustic guitarwork by Yvette Young.
Sea in the Sky – Dingus (2014)
4.5/5. An amazing unique song for one with an amusing insult as its title.
Seventh Wonder – Tiara’s Song (Farewell Pt. 1) (2018)
5/5. Now we head back to the non-instrumental songs. As always, the vocal power by Tommy Karevik and the basswork by Andreas Blomqvist shine the most. The lyrics rule as well, "With you, Tiara, we crown the skies, unlike Aniara you won't fly to your demise." Even though Tommy is out of Seventh Wonder now, he's still with Kamelot.
Shylmagoghmar – I Am the Abyss (2014)
4.5/5. In this 9-minute instrumental, everything shines in beautiful melancholy! And while the rest of that Shylmagoghmar album isn't progressive enough for The Infinite, that highlight alone certainly is.
Waidelotte – Opulent Mirage (2024)
4/5. This one is another progressive highlight, mixing the mid-2000s eras of Enslaved, Leprous, and Opeth.
Watchtower – M-Theory Overture (2016)
4.5/5. Concluding with Watchtower's prog-thrash sound still stable is this EP's under 4-minute overture.. It goes beyond overture levels by getting listeners geared up for the thrashy riffing and time changes coming up in the EP's pther 4 tracks. They continue to give their longtime fans delight!
Well, Saxy, as much as I appreciate all your work on the Gateway playlists, this one kind of threw me off. I mean, it starts off great and strong in like the first quarter of the playlist, but then it falls into... I really hate to say this, "mid" territory. Don't worry, it's not the fault of the songs nor your song choices (apart from not including my Linkin Park submission). It's just the matter of my mood, and with the majority of my track ratings being 3 stars or under, including my own submissions, it means I'm not as excited about The Gateway as I was earlier, and it doesn't give me enough motivation to continue listening to the playlists from this clan. Sorry about this. Again it's not your fault, just my mood. I still have one more round of track submissions planned for your September Gateway playlist though. In the meantime, here are my thoughts on some tracks from this month's playlist, including that strong first quarter:
Alligatoah/Fred Durst – So Raus (2024)
3.5/5. OK, this one's not too bad for me for a rap metal duet. Better lyrics than other tracks of the genre out there.
Breaking Benjamin – Crawl (2009)
4/5. For nearly half my life, this is one of my brother's favorite Breaking Benjamin tracks. I enjoy this one too, having some of the best lyrics in alt-rock/metal.
Burn Season – Any Harder (2011)
4.5/5. Oh wow, these vocals are so otherworldly! I really should recommend this to my bro for him to listen. Sadly, they split up after this album.
Code Orange – Grooming my Replacement (2023)
5/5. The only track in this playlist to receive a perfect 5-star rating from me. This is the closest the band has been to their savage past roots in a more industrial level. The distortion is Morgan's vocals makes him sound possessed, in this unique heavy production. I was wondering about whether or not I should include it in a Sphere playlist, but f*** it, it sounds brilliant here.
Dir En Grey – Ranunculus (2018)
4.5/5. I love this beautiful composition, continuing the melodic experimental alt-metal sound Dir En Grey has had since Vulgar. One of my favorites from this band! While I was a late bloomer when discovering this band in my early 20s in the early 2020s, better late than never. And it's so haunting without ever going deathly.
Disturbed – The Vengeful One (2015)
4/5. Another one of my brother's favorite tracks that I also enjoy. I can't really play guitar, but if I could, I would perform a cover of this song for his birthday or something.
Earthtone9 – Grind and Click (1999)
3.5/5. Pretty good, but a bit stretchy for a shorter song. Will the tone of the playlist be better?...
Falling in Reverse/Marilyn Manson – God is a Weapon (2025)
3/5. Unfortunately, no. As much as I'm one of the very few people to love Popular Monster, the more I listen to Falling in Reverse's collaboration with Marilyn Manson, the less it agrees with me. The chorus sounds epic, especially the final one, but everything else is a bit bland. Now I'm starting to feel the hate people have towards those two artists.
Fever 333 – Made An America (2018)
2.5/5. F***ing d*mn it, those lyrics are too immature for my standards, "They call it cleaning up the streets, We call HOMICIDE!" The chorus has some good points, but that's about it really.
Gemini Syndrome – Stardust (2013)
3/5. A decent song with just a couple things I like such as the guitarwork by Mike Salerno (RIP) and the bridge at over the two-minute mark.
Limp Bizkit – My Generation (2000)
2.5/5. If my brother can raise his horns to songs by this band, good for him. All I know is, the rap metal generation doesn't really fly for me.
Metallica – Frantic (2003)
2/5. Perhaps the lowest point of this playlist for me, or at least in the parts I'm commenting on. I'm not going to continue describing how bad this song and most of the other ones in St. Anger are. My thoughts are all in my review if you'd like to check it out.
Nonpoint – Chaos and Earthquakes (2018)
2.5/5. Good lyrics, but the music sounds too Rage Against the Machine-ish and comes out poorly.
Sleep Token – Emergence (2025)
3/5. My thoughts on the last two songs I've chosen to review are actually kind of a surprise, considering how much I've enjoyed these bands. For Sleep Token, the electropop side is a little too top-heavy, and not even Take Me Back to Eden had that kind of lack of balance in its songs. The heaviness is still there to some degree, but not enough. All in all, seems a little too tame and lame for me, a serious metalhead who is age 26, turning 27 in less than half a year.
Waltari – Kill for Sport (2025)
2.5/5. For Waltari, the heaviness starts off killer, but the vocals by Kärtsy Hatakka end up ruining everything. And I'm only just realizing this as I was giving this playlist a listen, making me wish I didn't submit this sh*t to the playlist. The alt-metal dream for me is dead....
Excellent choice, Saxy! I look forward to reviewing this album by these British progressive djent masters and the rest of their discography.
August 2025
1. Sybreed - "Emma-0" from Antares (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
2. KONG - "Hok" from Mute Poet Vocalizer (1990)
3. Godflesh - "Slavestate" from Slavestate (1991)
4. Pitchshifter - "Catharsis" from Industrial (1991)
5. KMFDM - "Inane" from Xtort (1996)
6. Genitorturers - "Lessor Gods" from 120 Days of Genitorture (1993)
7. Lard - "Bozo Skeleton" from The Last Temptation of Reid (1990)
8. Mechina - "Machine God" from Tyrannical Resurrection (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
9. Skrew - "Jesus Skrew Superstar" from Dusted (1994)
10. Lord of the Lost, Tina Guo - "Ghosts" from Ghosts (2025)
11. The Interbeing - "Ruin" from Icon of the Hopeless (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
12. Oddko - "Kitty Girl" from Kitty Girl (2022)
13. A Dark Halo - "It Never Sleeps" from Omnibus One (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
14. Fear of Domination - "Legion" from Distorted Delusions (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
15. Cypecore - "Chosen Chaos" from Version 4.5: The Dark Chapter (2024)
16. Fange - "Mortes Promesses" from Purulences (2025)
17. Rammstein - "Zeig Dich" from Rammstein (2019)
18. Megaherz - "Abendstern" from Götterdämmerung (2012)
19. Source of Tide - "Serenade of Silence" from Blueprints (2002)
20. Ktulu - "In a Gada Da Vida - Iron Butterfly" from 2078" (2000)
21. Dagoba - "The Fall of Men" from What Hell is About (2006)
22. Eisbrecher - "Segne Deinen Schmerz" from Eiszeit (2010)
23. Killing Joke - "Blood on Your Hands" from Killing Joke (2003)
24. Static-X - "The Trance is the Motion" from Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)
25. Neurotech - "To Theta State" from Stigma (2015)
26. Omega Lithium - "Pjesma" from Kinetik (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
August 2025
1. Eighteen Visions - "Vanity" from Vanity (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
2. Blessthefall - "Mallxcore" from Mallxcore (2025)
3. Trivium - "Dusk Dismantled" from In Waves (2011)
4. Lorna Shore - "Unbreakable" from Unbreakable (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
5. Wolves at the Gate - "Lights & Fire" from Eulogies (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
6. All That Remains - "Six" from The Fall of Ideals (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
7. Cave In - "Crossbearer" from Beyond Hypothermia (1998)
8. Calva Louise - "Tunnel Vision" from Edge of the Abyss (2025)
9. Dal Av, Jackson Rose - "Colors Collapsed" from Petrichor (2025)
10. A Day to Remember - "Bullfight" from Bad Vibrations (2016)
11. As I Lay Dying - "Confined" from Shadows are Security (2005)
12. Neaera - "...To Oblivion" from The Rising Tide of Oblivion (2005)
13. Born of Osiris - "Activated" from Through Shadows (2025)
14. Underoath - "Thorn" from Voyeurist (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
15. Parkway Drive - "Karma" from Deep Blue (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
16. Architects - "Blackhole" from The Sky, the Earth & All Between (2025)
17. Deadguy - "The Long Search for Perfect Timing" from Near-Death Travel Services (2025)
18. Coalesce - "A Disgust for Details" from Functioning on Impatience (1998)
19. Stevie T - "Metalcore Song" from Metalcore Song (2013)
20. Demon Hunter - "Ribcage" from The Triptych (2005)
21. August Burns Red - "Bloodletter" from Guardians (2020)
22. Motionless in White - "Undead Ahead 2: The Tale of the Midnight Ride" from Disguise (2019)
23. Currents - "It Only Gets Darker" from It Only Gets Darker (2025)
24. Frontierer - "Corrosive Wash" from Oxidized (2021)
25. Converge - "Vengeance" from No Heroes (2006)
26. Car Bomb - "Rid" from Centralia (2007)
27. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravanganza - "Passenger 57" from Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)
28. Psyopus - "Scissor Fuck Paper Doll" from Our Puzzling Encounters Considered (2007)
29. The Chariot - "Back to Back" from The Fiancee (2007)
30. Cult Leader - "Gutter Gods" from Lightless Walk (2015)
31. The Red Chord - "Face Area Solution" from Fed Through the Teeth Machine (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
32. Mental Cruelty - "A Tale of Salt and Light" from Zwielicht (2023)
33. Worm Shepherd - "And at the End of Fear, Silentium" from Hunger (2024)
August 2025
1. Sabaton - "The Future of Warfare" from The Great War (2019)
2. Battle Beast - "Steelbound" from Steelbound (2025)
3. Lamb of God - "Children of the Grave" from Children of the Grave (2025)
4. Rainbow - "Man on the Silver Mountain" from Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
5. Angel Witch - "Angel Witch" from Angel Witch (1980)
6. Motorhead - "Motorhead" from The Manticore Tapes (1976/2025)
7. Gus G., Ronnie Romero - "My Premonition" from My Premonition (2025)
8. Iced Earth - "Depths of Hell" from The Dark Saga (1996)
9. Accept - "Man Up" from Humanoid (2024)
10. Ozzy Osbourne - "I Don't Know" from Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
11. Metal Church - "Beyond the Black" from Metal Church (1984)
12. Metallica - "Sad But True" from Metallica (1991)
13. Mercyful Fate - "Come to the Sabbath" from Don't Break the Oath (1984)
14. Masterplan - "Enlighten Me" from Masterplan (2003)
15. Mechina - "Gene Heresy" from Telesterion (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
16. Visions of Atlantis - "Cast Away" from Cast Away (2004)
17. Rhapsody of Fire - "A Brave New Hope" from Challenge the Wind (2024)
18. Heavenly - "Evil" from Dust to Dust (2004)
19. Sonata Arctica - "Shah Mat" from Clear Cold Beyond (2024)
20. Alestorm - "No Quarter" from Black Sails at Midnight (2009)
21. Gloryhammer - "On a Quest for Aberdeen" from On a Quest for Aberdeen (2025)
22. Apocalyptica - "Helden" from Worlds Collide (2007)
23. Joe Stump - "Viking Pillage" from Diabolical Ferocity (2021)
24. Galneryus - "Chain of Distress" from Under the Force of Courage (2015)
25. Enforcer - "Mask of Red Death" from From Beyond (2015) [Suggested by Sonny]
Here's my review summary:
As we all know, Northern Europe has pretty much the biggest amount of metal bands in any subregion. Denmark doesn't have as many popular metal bands as in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, but I enjoy some notable bands from the country including Mercenary and Mnemic. What if you can combine the sounds of those two bands to make tech-ish melodeath/cyber metal? Enter the Interbeing, whose killer talent is highly displayed in their perfect debut Edge of the Obscure! The cyber melody and heavy rhythms show a lot of the band's Mnemic/Fear Factory influences. There's also djenty groove worth headbanging to if you're a fan of Periphery and Meshuggah. With that, Edge of the Obscure shows that the band can wear their influences like a battle jacket. Something that sounds amongst the best really should've made it big!
5/5
Recommended tracks: "Pulse Within the Paradox", "Face Deletion", "Fields of Grey", "Swallowing White Light", "Celestial Flames", "Rhesus Artificial"
For fans of: Fear Factory, Mnemic, Soilwork
Here's my review summary:
August Burns Red has one of the most solid discographies to come from a metalcore band. They've made great albums in their career, including the perfect Constellations. I've always wondered if there would ever be another August Burns Red that as much of a masterpiece as Constellations. Well I shall wonder no more with their new offering Death Below! The album is a much further throwback with their fast pacing in songs that I can consider total bangers. Plus a few songs each have a guest appearance from a vocalist or guitarist of another well-known metalcore band, and that's often a grand treat. Those guests includes Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarist Jason Richardson (known for his work with All That Remains, All Shall Perish, Born of Osiris, and Chelsea Grin), Erra's JT Cavey, and Underoath vocalist Spencer Chamberlain. An alternate version of "The Cleansing" also includes the one and only Will Ramos of Lorna Shore. Oh yeah, "The Cleansing" and "Reckoning" are two of the greatest highlights here, two nearly 8-minute epics that are the band's longest, not including the closing epic of their 2005 debut, all full of stylistic transcendence. All in all, Death Below can show you how to overcome the dark struggles of this decade and look into the light, through heaviness and despair. August Burns Red's 10th album can very well be their greatest, most ambitious work yet!
5/5
Recommended tracks: "The Cleansing", "Ancestry", "Backfire", "Revival", "Dark Divide", "Reckoning"
For fans of: All That Remains, Erra, Killswitch Engage
Here's my sneak peek submission for the September Guardians playlist:
Kiuas - "Warrior Soul" (from The Spirit of Ukko, 2005)
Update for September:
THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny
THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi
THE GUARDIANS: KARL, Andi, Sonny
THE HORDE: SONNY, Karl, Vinny
THE INFINITE: ANDI, Saxy
THE NORTH: VINNY, Sonny, Karl
THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny
THE REVOLUTION: ANDI
THE SPHERE: ANDI
Annihilator is one of the most prolific bands around, as well as one of the chameleon-esque bands when it comes to its lineup, having dozens of lineup changes throughout these past 4 decades. This includes having several different vocalists throughout their tenure, one of them being remaining founding member Jeff Waters. I enjoy all of those vocalists, but if I were to do a ranking of all the ones that appear in different albums, here's what it would be, from worst to best:
7. Joe Comeau - Carnival Diablos, Waking the Fury
These early 2000s albums are a couple of the most furious releases by the band. However, Joe Comeau's vocals are OK but not so great. If the band could've re-recorded those two albums with Dave Padden while he was still in the band, I would've enjoyed them more.
6. Jeff Waters - King of the Kill, Refresh the Demon, Remains, Suicide Society, For the Demented, Ballistic Sadistic
As much as I enjoy the guitarwork of Jeff Waters, his singing, not a huge lot. It's the same problem with Scorpions' Uli Jon Roth; better at guitar than vocals.
5. Aaron Randall - Set the World on Fire
I don't have to explain much when the one album Aaron Randall was in is one of the lowest but still enjoyable parts of the discography.
4. Dave Padden - All for You, Schizo Deluxe, Metal, Annihilator, Feast
Dave Padden is the vocalist who was able to stay with the band the longest without leaving or passing vocal duties to someone else, with a decade-long run of 5 consecutive albums. Metal is one of my all-time favorite Annihilator albums besides the first two. Though he still can't beat some one of the one-off vocalists in my opinion.
3. Stu Block - Metal II
I'm familiar with the vocals of Stu Block from Into Eternity and Iced Earth, so hearing him in the Metal re-recording was like a cherry on top an already perfect metal sundae.
2. Randy Rampage - Alice in Hell, Criteria for a Black Widow
The albums with Randy Rampage are two of the most awesome albums by the band, and rightfully so. Rampage's vocals rule! RIP... However, there's one other vocalist that I think should've had more time in the spotlight...
1. Coburn Pharr - Never Neverland
Since Coburn Pharr's passing last February, I've given the one album he appeared in, Never Neverland, some more listening, and believe it or not, I just realized how glorious he sounded! No disrespect to Randy Rampage and other vocalists, but Pharr really should've stayed with the band, as I think his vocals would've made them more popular and less everchanging in the lineup, at least in the vocal department. Sadly he's gone now. RIP
Anyway, all of these vocalists are quite good, and not super terrible in any way. I just prefer some over others, and that's my true opinion. Any vocalists you think shine more in Annihilator's discography? Discuss!
My favorite track in the more alternative side, shining with Jess Allanic's vocals:
Although this Calva Louise album isn't progressive enough for The Infinite, there are a few tracks that stand out in the clan on their own, like this unpredictable highlight:
An awesome alt-metalcore blast often turning into pop and dubstep:
Ben, please add Dead Silence Hides My Cries (also qualifies in The Revolution as deathcore).
Ben, please add these bands:
Decode the Design
Subliminal Fear
Just weeks after his final concert with Black Sabbath, it became time for his true farewell. Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, metal's forefather.... May he rest in peace.
A couple more of my favorite metal YouTubers I've been watching lately include Steve Terreberry (definitely in the "funny" category) and Jared Dines. For the latter, Jared hosted a contest for vocalists to write their own chorus to perform for a song he wrote for his project with Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage, Light the Torch), Sion. The winner would have their chorus added to the final product. NO, I didn't participate. I may be good at clean/harsh vocals, but I'm so not ready for the spotlight. Still I had a blast listening to around 150 vocalists sing and scream their hearts out. However, that's not all of them. It's only around 5% of the total, because Jared had actually received 3000 ENTRIES!!! Wow! This proves that there are still so many vocalists with confident passion this year besides the professionals out there. And it might just be the biggest metal vocalist contest in YouTube history! Anyway, the contest is over, and while the winner has gotten what he earned, we can still appreciate what other people have submitted, 100 of whom can be found in this video (quite a long one, so you don't have to watch it all if it's too much):
Here's a list of all the singers I enjoy from that video (consider this a list of who I would recommend listening to if you can't sit through the whole thing):
1:23 JOHHNY CIARDULLO (known for his Lorna Shore clean-sung covers, I enjoy his melody towards the end)
3:18 SPENCER (DAMAGEJOY) (quite some killer vocals here)
5:07 SAM POWER
6:22 ZSANI
7:36 MARIJE
8:51 HEAVY HOLDEN
9:31 YULIYA
11:32 DRYSTAN BARNETT (some of the most natural vocals here)
12:45 LAUREN
15:20 BENNY MARSON KHONGWIR (from delicate air to deathly fire)
17:32 SPRING HOLLOW
18:10 KURT WONDRELY
18:47 KOTTI (despite not winning, he had some potential)
19:23 LINUS
23:50 DANNY CHAVIS
27:03 NICOLAS GONZALEZ
30:05 JEREMY GRAHAM (such an impressive vocal range)
33:43 DAN ROHDE (Bring Your Pet Dog to a Vocal Contest Day)
39:27 MATTEO MAGAZZINI
42:26 PATRICK RUSSEL (that metal synthwave guy)
43:03 CHRIS HUFF
50:03 ASTRID CAROLINA (beautiful voice and beautiful hair, my personal favorite in the female category)
50:46 BOGDAN HASAS
51:24 BRANDON RENEGADE (probably the closest sounding to Howard Jones here)
52:00 BRYCE GARLAND
52:37 CAM HESSELBROCK
53:16 CAM WALCH
54:37 BEING HUMAN
56:41 CURTIS BLAND
57:28 DOOMICK THE PANCAKE
58:03 THE STEPMOMS (interesting band name)
58:40 EMIL SKOLD
59:20 EMIR BEKBOLOTOV (my personal favorite in the heavy category)
59:59 FELIPE QUEIROZ
1:04:50 JORDAN HOUGHTON (the most pop-ish one here)
1:06:40 KASEY KARLSEN
1:08:04 LINUS (SAWCON) (the German lyrics really pack a punch)
1:08:41 LOGAN GAMESON
1:16:31 NIGHTFARER (reminds me a bit of Issues)
1:17:49 PETER MITCHELL
1:22:45 LEO KRACK (amazing blackened-ish screaming, but hard to hear the song)
1:26:55 YELLOWSTAR
1:28:58 ZOKZO (my personal favorite in the melodic category)
1:29:39 DARIO SAVINO
1:30:55 SOHEIL AVAKH (my personal favorite in the category that blends heavy and melodic)
1:31:30 ADAM R
1:40:42 JOEL DICKSON (excellent, but why did he only do the first half?)
1:43:48 CHRISTIAN O'NEAL (impressive highs, close to post-hardcore category)
As much as all those vocalists deserve their time to shine, of course, there could only be one winner. I won't spoil who won, but I'll say he's easily one of my top 10 in the list. If you'd like to know the winner, see this video at 15:40, 21:20, and 23:40:
All the best, Daniel and Sonny.
Take good care of yourself, Sonny, and hope everything will still be OK for you.
Today I decided to check out those two bonus cover songs from the Warkings album Morgana. As much as they really nailed their Powerwolf cover... they really butchered one of DragonForce's greatest hits. First of all, why did they add a low G-tuned 7th string to the guitar?! Everyone knows a DragonForce song shouldn't sound djent-ish! And now it sounds more like that sh*tty Sabaton song "Union" that I said was like a f***ed-up version of "Cry Thunder". Just stick with the 6-string guitar and play the song in C-minor! Or was the Tribune (Georg Neuhauser) not able to reach the highs of Marc Hudson? Second, Morgana's growls just don't sit well in the verses, making it sound like Arch Enemy covered the song with Marc Hudson's vocals as a not-so-generous way of paying back for having Alissa White-Gluz appear in the guest vocalist edition of "Burning Heart". Third, THE SOLO AND FINAL CHORUS ARE SHORTENED!!! It's like a radio edit or something, and not even DragonForce did that with the original! All in all, a recipe for failure:
Today I decided to check out those two bonus cover songs from the Warkings album Morgana. Their cover of this Powerwolf hit is just SPOT-ON, really doing the original justice. Thumbs-up for this one! Unlike the other cover song that I'll mention soon...
Epic crushing sorrow to end the new Born of Osiris album:
Everything experienced so far in the new Born of Osiris album is put together in a trancey metalcore fiesta:
An epic throwback to the band's blackened side of their past, packed with sounds of deathly destruction:
This melancholic finale marks yet another epic deathcore album ending with the best climax:
A grand blend of the symphonic melodeath of Skyfire and early Starkill with the deathly metalcore of Bleeding Through:
The new Shadow of Intent masterpiece album closes with another one of the darkest epics in deathcore:
The earlier Deadguy fans' 30-year search for the perfect song to surpass the debut is over. What they've been looking for is right here:
Awesome vocals, awesome guitars, awesome bass, awesome drums... All that I want more of from this band:
PAIN isn't the only band Peter Tägtgren is known for. He is also known as the founding member of melodeath band Hypocrisy. Check out this band for some atmospheric alien-themed melodeath!
Taking over the Guardians playlists has allowed me to get back in touch with material from bands I've long forgotten about and encounter some fascinating discoveries. Could that be enough for me to consider proposing my re-entry to the clan? Maybe... In the meantime, here are 5 power metal bands that I've heard of when I was still completely in that zone 10 years ago (except Warkings), but didn't start listening to them full-time until I rediscovered them in the playlists that I've assembled in the last few months:
Ben, please add these new releases:
Kiuas - Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus
Visions of Atlantis - Armada LIVE Over Europe
Warkings - Armageddon
Thanks, Sonny. I'll add that to the playlist soon.
An outside-world friend of mine has just showed me this song from one of the new Mobile Suit Gundam games. He says it's a mix of many genres, but I've narrowed it down to Japanese alt-metal/electronicore similar to other bands whose songs were used in Mobile Suit Gundam like Coldrain, Crossfaith, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:
Good list, Rex! I enjoy the opening tracks for those Neurosis and Killing Joke albums as well.
Ben, please add In Chasms Deep.
While many of the other songs in this Slipknot album are heavy classics in the overhated genre of nu metal, the 15-minute closing title epic is an incredible journey for those who are patient and never restless:
An insane highlight in which the band sings about themselves and their greatness:
A highlight from this month's Revolution playlist, one of a few new dark heavy bangers by Dal Av, featuring Hollow Front vocalist Tyler Tate:
The perfect progressive ending epic for this excellent album:
Truly my favorite song in this new era of Cave In, having some muscular sludgy groove:
The Black Sabbath tribute covers are really pouring in this weekend, the weekend of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's true swansong show. Lamb of God have made their own killer rendition of "Children of the Grave" that combines the original's classic heavy metal sound with the groove metal Lamb of God is known for:
What's supposed to be the title opener attempts to emphasize vocal distortion but sadly really butchers it:
Some of the band's most vicious aggression since their 1998 debut:
Thanks, Daniel.
With Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's final show ever going on later today, there's no better time than now for me to share Cave In's awesome cover of this early heavy metal classic, enhanced with atmospheric metalcore instrumentation:
A slow acoustic stinker that sounds too programmed:
A true majestic alt-metal epic that has taken what they had in their early 2000s material and made it way better:
I've done my review, here's its summary:
Now this is something Cave In wanted to do, make a post-hardcore/alt-metal release that balances their earlier heaviness with the alt-ish tendencies they were sucked into. They started off with metalcore in Beyond Hypothermia and Until Your Heart Stops, adopted more of a spacey alt-rock sound in Jupiter and Tides of Tomorrow, and was signed to RCA to make the accessible Antenna. That last album was not worth it for the band and their longtime fans. Heading back to the more lenient Hydra Head, Perfect Pitch Black shows the band taking their sound from Jupiter and making it heavier, even adding in the harsh vocals last used in Until Your Heart Stops. If the objective was to regain their earlier fans with songs having a better balanced structure, they've done it. Though not by a long shot... I enjoy the heavier and well-structured songs of the album and Stephen Brodsky's soaring cleans have beautiful strength and wider range compared to the previous two albums. And then there are Caleb Scofield's cool growls. His screams and bass give some songs instant memorability. RIP... And of course, I've struggled with the shorter softer tracks. Perfect Pitch Black may not be Cave In's return to their 90s peak, but it's a slight improvement from their previous two albums and has more enjoyable tracks. A decent comeback to the earlier aspects they've revolutionized....
3/5