Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Slam death metal is never usually my thing, as I tend to avoid the more brutal death metal subgenres, but Fanguine takes on a strong diverse direction in both the music and lyrical themes, instead of just gore, gore, and more gore. The music sounds quite good despite still sounding brutal, with several other metal genres thrown into their main technical/slam death metal sound. A couple highlights for me are the final two tracks; "Let Me Explain" with its "broken transmission" deathcore, and "Genocidal Genesis", a decently long progressive epic that still stands by their usual sound. I can definitely imagine the latter track making history in the extreme metal scene, and that final verse with "Angel of Death"-esque Nazi lyrics would definitely be making headlines. Lots of great moments in the album! Still too brutal for me, but highly recommendable for the more extreme metalheads. I give that album a personal rating of 3/5, or a percentage rating of 64%.

Emotional Suffering - Nocturnal Solitude

Primary genres: deathcore, melodic death metal

Secondary genres: dark folk, symphonic black metal, gothic metal

In November 19, 2027, an album is released to continue the rising scene of epic deathcore popularized by bands like Shadow of Intent, Lorna Shore, and Mental Cruelty. This is... Nocturnal Solitude by Emotional Suffering, a deathcore/melodic death metal band from Wisconsin. They expand on the dark lyrical themes mostly of death, depression, and loss, close to the lyrical themes that many doom metal bands have, but of course in a different sound. While sticking firmly in melodic deathcore, elements of genres like dark folk, symphonic black metal, and gothic metal are added into the mix. The ethereal yet spooky cover art is by a young artist inspired by the late Mariusz Lewandowski, a tree being blown heavily by a dark lightning storm, with a background mirage of a Grim Reaper. After the short symphonic blackened deathcore introductory title track that starts with a one-minute intro, you can expect a solid run of diverse melodic deathcore. Background female vocals can be found in the tracks "Darkness and Sorrow", "It's All We've Loved", and "Beyond the Killing End". The latter track is the 3-part 16-minute final epic, in a similar vein to the title suites of Shadow of Intent's Elegy and Lorna Shore's Pain Remains, though indexed as a full track. The second part is a 4-minute dark folk/ambient interlude, sandwiched between the two other 6-minute parts that have the usual melodic deathcore sound with symphonic black metal elements. The third part has less emphasis on deathcore, but it unleashes one final deathcore breakdown that, despite not being a single, can surpass that of Lorna Shore's "To the Hellfire", and a one-minute dark folk outro to end the album. Or at least the standard edition of the album. The edition released in Japan has a bonus track, a cover of Lorna Shore's "Immortal" released on YouTube the prior year, so popular upon upload, that's how they have gained a record label. The album sells well in a steady pace, and the aforementioned final breakdown and folk outro is often played at the end of concerts.

Lyrical themes: sadness (1, 5, 6, 7), death (2, 3, 4, 8, 9), loss (2, 4, 5, 6, 7), sorrow (3, 4, 8, 9), depression (3, 5, 7, 8)

1. Nocturnal Solitude (2:53, dark folk, deathcore, symphonic black metal)

2. Cut Up Alone (4:42, deathcore, melodic death metal)

3. Darkness and Sorrow (3:25, deathcore, gothic metal, melodic death metal)

4. Dead Tomorrow After Living Today (6:15, deathcore, melodic death metal, technical death metal)

5. Coma Eclipse (4:43, deathcore, folk metal, dark folk)

6. The Blackened Path of Silence (4:13, deathcore, melodic death metal)

7. Distant Calling (5:27, deathcore, melodic death metal, gothic metal)

8. It's All We've Loved (5:27, deathcore, gothic metal)

9. Beyond the Killing End (16:07, deathcore, melodic death metal, symphonic black metal, dark folk, dark ambient)

I. The Dwelling of Death (deathcore, melodic death metal, symphonic black metal)

II. Sun Without a New Year (dark folk, dark ambient)

III. It Ends Forever (melodic death metal, symphonic black metal, deathcore, dark folk)

10. Immortal (Lorna Shore cover) (Japanese edition bonus track) (6:48, deathcore, symphonic black metal, technical death metal)

There are a couple Attila albums I enjoy: Closure, Villain and Rage.

Rage and Outlawed are, to me, a perfect transition between their earlier metal/deathcore sound and their later nu metalcore. Villain and Closure I also find enjoyable.

Many albums from Attila, Emmure, and the deathcore era of Bring Me the Horizon. I can understand the hate for those bands/albums but I find them underrated and enjoy them far more than nearly everyone in the world does.

As much as I enjoy most of the new Freedom Call live album, a few tracks were a bit too happy-joy-joy for me. While I have mixed feelings for a couple of those tracks, this one is a strange sh*tter, in both the title and the song itself:

The ultimate highlight of Freedom Call's latest live album is actually a newly recorded studio track in honor of the eponymous festival:

But if you're expecting me to add something the main live part of the release, this is my pick:

Ben, please add the new Voivod re-recording album Morgoth Tales.

Ben, please add these new releases:

Butcher Babies - Eye for an Eye…

Butcher Babies - …'Til the World’s Blind

Waltari - 3rd Decade: Anniversary Edition

I've listened to that Devin Townsend album before, and I believe it to be a blend of atmospheric progressive metal and alternative metal, with a bit of industrial.

A brand-new emotional single from Beartooth as we wait for their upcoming album The Surface to surface:

Aside from the joke of the hair metal discussion, we still have people discussing, or even bickering, over whether or not Converge are too punk to be metal or too metal to be punk or both.

Metal Archives seems to think it's the former.

With some non-metal releases added to the site to be sent to the Hall of Judgement lately, I think it's a good time for me to suggest a couple more. Ben, please add the Psyclon Nine albums Crwn Thy Frnicatr and We the Fallen. I strongly believe there's a lot of industrial metal in the majority of those albums' tracks mixed with the band's earlier aggrotech.

All right! I look forward to seeing your list here, Rex.

Sounds like the industrial direction from the previous In This Moment album Mother will continue in their upcoming album Godmode. You'll know what I mean when you check out the brand-new single from this band led by modern metal goddess Maria Brink:

Thrash aggression with a bit of melody, from the (at the moment) latest album from one of the most well-known American thrash bands besides the Big 4:

There was one song from this album that I discovered via a YouTube ad that made me up to checking out this band, and it's another well-done blend of heavy and ethereal:

Fair enough, Rex, for both the rule and what you think of the Kolossal albums. To be honest, when I was writing those song titles, a lot of ideas for what genres they should have came to mind, and I think I let my ideas run a little too wild. I tried to keep them in control for the second album, but it's still a similar problem to the first. Maybe if the songs I mentioned to have singles/music videos are compiled into their own album, we'll have a more enjoyable release of melodic death/power/symphonic metal. Anyway...

Now this Born from the Slime album is a little more up my alley! Crossover thrash/melodic metalcore are blended together along with some fun comedic elements, scoring some cool highlights in "The Gory Rebirth of Alex Kidd", "Drink", "I Burst Through a Wall and Felt Real Good", "Satanic Messages in the Static", and "Here's Your Grand Finale". The remaining 3 songs are too funky for me though. I give that album a personal rating of 4/5. My turn again, also with a different band...

Firebound - The Game of Flame

Primary genres: Technical thrash metal, progressive metal, heavy metal

Secondary genres: Power metal, neo-classical metal

1. Overpowered Beast (4:19, technical thrash metal, progressive metal)

2. The Game of Flame (4:49, progressive metal, technical thrash metal, heavy metal, power metal)

3. Everything Runs Wild (6:08, heavy metal, progressive metal, neo-classical metal)

4. Hell's Sofa (Instrumental) (7:30, technical thrash metal, progressive metal, neo-classical metal)

5. Over the Leviathan (7:38, technical thrash metal, symphonic death metal, progressive metal)

6. Dead Yet Victorious (5:30, technical thrash metal)

7. Shadows Falling (5:56, technical thrash metal, heavy metal)

8. Invictus Drift (4:15, progressive metal, heavy metal, power metal)

9. Ethereal Dreams (6:40, progressive metal, neo-classical metal)

10. Neon Paradise (3:54, progressive metal, power metal, heavy metal)

History:

Continuing the Kolossal story with a year added to the future, in late 2027, before recording of the band's second album can commence, one of their guitarists, who goes by the pseudonym Flameson Prime, calls it quits due to being dissatisfied with the band's indecisiveness between genres. Flameson wants to start a different band that can stick firmly in two or three genres that he likes with occasional visits to other genres. His new band Firebound is formed in early 2028, a technical thrash/progressive/heavy metal band with elements of power metal and neo-classical metal, a style he calls "epic bad@$$ action metal". The band record their debut The Game of Flame, releasing it on February 23, 2029. Songs released as singles/music videos are "Overpowered Beast", the title track, and "Over the Leviathan". There's also a music video for "Hell's Sofa", a 7 and a half minute instrumental tribute track to some of Flameson's favorite technical thrash and progressive metal bands, with the title parodying one of Dream Theater's instrumentals "Hell's Kitchen". The album gains more positive reception than any of the two Kolossal albums, with reviewers commenting on Flameson's motive for the band's sound being the right move, and mostly fitting well for the technical thrash revival, as many more bands of the subgenre are already forming thanks to bands like Coroner, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, and Sadus releasing their first albums in two or three decades (assuming that happens in the future). So anyone here in the present day, feel free to step into the imaginary future and get a chance to imagine-listen to this album and give it a suitable rating. A good future of technical thrash is nigh!

An atmospheric blend of beauty and heaviness, and the only track in this Finnish-sung album to have English lyrics:

Cool game, Rex! This is gonna be fun. For that Ovie Aries album, I'm not a fan of war/avant-garde metal, but I can recommend it to any fan of that combo. My personal rating would be 3/5, with "Left Behind" and the title track being my highlights. Now for my turn (two albums from one band if that's OK, might do more in my next turn)...

Band: Kolossal

Album 1: Cryogenic Pandemic

Primary genres: Melodic death metal, thrash metal, progressive metal, symphonic death metal

Secondary genres: Atmospheric black metal, heavy metal, alternative metal, power metal

1. Cold Singularity (Overture) (3:32, epic, Celtic folk, progressive folk, contemporary folk)

2. Cryogenic Pandemic (3:02, technical death metal, cybergrind, melodic death metal, black metal)

3. Octane Destruction (5:30, thrash metal, groove metal, heavy metal)

4. Replaced Existence (3:21, deathcore, melodic death metal, thrash metal, progressive metal)

5. Withering Course (3:17, melodic death metal, progressive metal)

6. Devouring Cataclysm (6:29, atmospheric black metal)

7. Dissonance is Here (3:39, melodic death metal, thrash metal, metalcore, symphonic metal, alternative metal)

8. Projected Wall (5:24, progressive metal, deathcore)

9. Cold Chronos (3:29, atmospheric black metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal)

10. Technical Hell (3:35, progressive metal, thrash metal, groove metal, industrial metal)

11. Siege of Oscillation (5:16, gothic metal, symphonic metal, melodic death metal)

12. Impervious to Death (3:53, thrash metal, power metal, speed metal, heavy metal)

13. Monster of Fear (2:46, heavy metal, power metal, symphonic metal)

14. Welcome to Your Fate (3:23, melodic metalcore, alternative metal, symphonic metal)

15. Fractured Vanguard (4:04, gothic metal, doom metal, alternative metal)

Album 2: Destruction of Equilibrium

Primary genres: Power metal, melodic death metal

Secondary genres: Progressive metal, symphonic metal

1. Destruction of Equilibrium (5:27, deathcore, technical death metal, progressive metal)

2. Seventh Reaction (6:27, folk metal, heavy metal)

3. Telekinetic Allegiance (6:21, progressive metal, power metal, melodic death metal, thrash metal)

4. Brain Storm (Mandragora Scream cover) (5:11, gothic metal)

5. Hell Necrosis (5:44, black metal, melodic death metal)

6. Parallel Resistance (6:36, heavy metal, folk metal, power metal)

7. The Forces of Evil (End of Time Part 1) (5:36, symphonic black metal, melodic death metal)

8. We Are Vengeance (End of Time Part 2) (5:57, melodic death metal, power metal, symphonic metal)

9. Chronos' Death (End of Time Part 3) (8:45, symphonic metal, progressive metal, power metal)

10. Will We Ever Die? (3:23, melodic metalcore, power metal, melodic death metal)

History:

Let's travel 5 years into the future for a glimpse at an upcoming heavily diverse metal band! Kolossal is formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2026, and their intention is to transcend through a huge variety of metal genres that the band members enjoy, all while following a conceptual saga about the Greek god of time, Chronos, with a sci-fi twist. The band consider their style to be "epic massive powerful shapeshifting metal". They record their debut album Cryogenic Pandemic, releasing it on February 19, 2027. The album receives good reception, but criticism is pointed towards the album title (referencing the COVID pandemic too soon), the band's indecisiveness between genres, the large amount of songs, and how condensed many of them are at a short length (mostly 3 to 4 minutes each). Songs released as singles/music videos are "Replaced Existence", "Withering Course", "Projected Wall", "Cold Chronos", "Siege of Oscillation", "Monster of Fear". The popularity of those songs (with "Withering Course" and "Monster of Fear" being the most popular) has encouraged Kolossal to seal a power/melodic death metal sound for their next album Destruction of Equilibrium, often dipping into progressive/symphonic metal, and several other genres though less frequently. There are 10 songs in the album, 9 of which are longer than 5 minutes. The remaining song "Will We Ever Die?" is a bonus re-recording/reprise of "Welcome to Your Fate", with different lyrics and a sound closer to that of the second album. A quest female vocalist was hired for the band's cover of "Brain Storm" by Mandragora Scream, a favorite song of one of the band members that fits well with one part of the concept. "Will We Ever Die?" was released as the album's lead single. This is then followed by singles/music videos for "Telekinetic Allegiance", "Hell Necrosis", "The Forces of Evil", and "We Are Vengeance". The music video for "Chronos' Death" will be released on July 21, 2028, the same day as the second album's release. Metal Academy members who have been on the site for at least a year get a secret link to the full album a week early. So anyone here in the present day, feel free to step into the imaginary future and get a chance to imagine-listen to this album and give it a suitable rating. And there will be more of the future of this band for me to explore in my next turn. Now onwards to a diverse future!

If you're up for some non-generic deathcore with atmospheric orchestral sounds, here's what I recommend to you, Rex:

Lorna Shore - Pain Remains

Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom

Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht

It's quite a strange thing to believe, but even a dark song about a real-life murder can be so mesmerizing:

I've just given the new Mental Cruelty album Zwielicht some listening and a review. It's one of the most epic albums of this year, but what's stopping me from giving it more than a 4-star rating? Well, the vocals of Lukas Nicolai are so powerful and diverse for the most part, yet the weakness lies in his attempts to imitate Lorna Shore's Will Ramos. I also would've liked the album a little more if it's not too heavily reliant on black metal in a couple songs. So that Mental Cruelty album is a prime example of a couple weaknesses that prevent an album from reaching total perfection for me; when the vocals try to purposely sound too much like someone else, and too much reliance on a genre I'm not usually up for.

Although "Firestorm" is forever hailed as Earth Crisis' true classic anthem, this standout from the less impactful prior EP comes close to surpassing it:

An anthemic standout from another alternative rock band starting off as nu metal:

Whether or not you wanna avoid this band like a plague because of the vocalist's horrid actions, it's songs like this that should remain immortal in the nu metal community:

With a lot of deathcore I've been discovering lately, I think it's time for me to update my top 10:

1. Lorna Shore - Pain Remains (2022)

2. Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom (2012)

3. Embodyment - Embrace the Eternal (1998)

4. Whitechapel - A New Era of Corruption (2010)

5. Born Of Osiris - The Discovery (2011)

6. Iwrestledabearonce - Hail Mary (2015)

7. Attila - Outlawed (2011)

8. The Acacia Strain - ...And Life Is Very Long (2002)

9. Upon a Burning Body - Red. White. Green. (2012)

10. Within the Ruins - Elite (2013)

THE GATEWAY: Sleep Token - "Take Me Back to Eden" (2023) 5/5

THE INFINITE: Tómarúm - "Ash in Realms of Stone Icons" (2022) 4.5/5

THE REVOLUTION: Whitechapel - "A New Era of Corruption" (2010) 5/5

THE SPHERE: Scorn - "Vae Solis" (1992) 3/5

Despite my busy schedule, I still managed to listen to and review this month's feature releases for all my clans, and most of them turned out fantastic. My Revolution nomination is a perfect deathcore album I would recommend to fans of the genre. The Sleep Token and Tómarúm albums are amazing discoveries (thanks Saxy!). I like a good amount of that Scorn album, though some issues could've been sorted out for more than the 3-star rating I've given it. Keep up the good work on the feature releases, all! I look forward to more...

Impressive technicality, ominous melody, and vicious vocals shine in this progressive highlight:

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

This young duo from Atlanta, Georgia first started off with a one-track demo and a two-track EP. Soon after the latter, Prosthetic Records came in to add this band to their expanding lineup of bands. Tómarúm made their debut full-length album Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons that is filled with hot talented extreme progressive metal that can be found in 5 epics each with an average length of 11 minutes, alongside two soft interludes. Many of those songs have a savage assault of pulverizing drums and evil riffing bursts through, along with the vicious vocals. The immense emotion will make sure nothing is ever draggy. Ash in Realms of Stone Icons can expand beyond their limits and keep listeners on their seats for some extensive progressive epics, as metal instrumentation is blended with background orchestration. The creativity is really what set this band apart from others of this style, and is greatly worth giving this release a spin!

4.5/5

Ben, please add Alase.

The first single and track of the new Sleep Token album is an incredible ethereal atmospheric highlight:

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

Having just come back from headlining a tour in Australia, Sleep Token started getting ready for an immense comeback that is Take Me Back to Eden! Pretty much half of their album was released as 6 singles one by one in the 5 months leading up to its release. Apparently, this album concludes a trilogy that began with their first two albums. Mixing heartful melodies and reflective lyrics with metal guitars, Take Me Back to Eden breaks the boundaries of heavy music and pays off with graceful strides. Throughout the album, you can hear the heaviness of djenty alternative metal often switching to pop/R&B, and it works better than other bands who have attempted that mix. This is best displayed in the singles and longer epics, complete with vocals and instrumentation all ranging from soulful to brutal. With all that beautiful greatness, we have a lot of emotional complexity to explore that will have you wanting more once you try it. I was given a chance to check out the hype, and it was well worth the ride!

5/5

A brutal piece of aggressive djenty industrial metal from the DOOM soundtrack:

One of the most hypocritical songs I've heard in deathcore and metal in general. Listen to both the music and lyrics and find out if they make sense with each other. Spoiler: They don't.

Our Endless War is pretty good which some killer fast songs, but the slower songs is where the quality drops, including this one, in which the slow djentcore riff is just some mediocre annoying sh*t:

As much as I love A New Era of Corruption, I also enjoy Whitechapel's 2012 self-titled album, with mature highlights like its opening track:

A more diverse deathcore standout, featuring Deftones frontman Chino Moreno:

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

Since their formation, Whitechapel has made some kick-A albums. Their debut The Somatic Defilement kicks off their journey with brutal heaviness. Their sophomore album This is Exile is more diverse and unique than some of the bands they influenced like Impending Doom and Oceano. Further cementing the band's position in the modern metal scene is their perfect 3rd-time charm A New Era of Corruption! The more serious metalheads might hate it, but it's something for me, a Revolution guy, to love. The music in this album and the previous two help make the band stand out. Why? GUITAR SOLOS, Y'ALL!!! People should stop judging a band by their genre. Deathcore isn't always just replacing solos with breakdowns. Just because not every song in the album has solos, doesn't mean there's none. Half the amount of songs have solos to please the heavier listeners. The riffs, rhythms, and occasional groove also stand out in killer chaos. Still there's no escape from the more strict metalheads who hate deathcore, but just ignore them and don't expect anything happy and sunny here. A New Era of Corruption is an epic winner in deathcore. Satisfaction guaranteed for fans of the genre!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Devolver", "Breeding Violence", "Reprogrammed to Hate", "Unnerving", "Murder Sermon", "Single File to Dehumanization"

For fans of: Impending Doom, Suicide Silence, Chelsea Grin

A 7-minute deathcore epic to make up for small mistakes and remind you why this album is amazing:

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Motionless in White - "Disguise" from Disguise (2019)

4.5/5. The opener for this playlist and the song's original album begins with a jack-in-the-box melody, then pop goes Chris Motionless yelling "GET UP! GET UP!" The guitar and drums kick in with the band's signature sound. The catchy chorus with Chris' cleans is easy to listen to. The harder breakdowns builds up with an excellent breakdown. Chris has a lot of vocal emotion.

Omega Lithium - "Infest" from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

5/5. Just how could this awesome band be short-lived?!? This band can add electronics into metal without ever going into hip-hop territory! The sexy vocals sounds far better than Lady Gaga. Absolutely precious!

Gothminister - "Liar" from Anima Inferna (2011)

4.5/5. This album's single has an electro-synth intro that expands through the guitars and vocals. Brem has excellent vocal range and harmonic effect. The track drives through in the beat and melody.

Deathstars - "Everything Destroys You" from Everything Destroys You (2023)

5/5. Magic fills the air from this band that I still can't believe I didn't discover until last year when I'm already a young adult. They can continue their sound without caring about any harsh opinions. Welcome back, Deathstars!

Pain - "Party in My Head" from Party in My Head (2021)

5/5. Who knew industrial metal can sound so h*lla beautiful?! The lyrics are quite fun to sing! "There's a party in my head! You're all invited, you're all my friends."

Ministry - "Search and Destroy" from Moral Hygiene (2021)

4.5/5. This one's quite excellent. Industrial metal genius Al Jourgensen thought it would be a good idea to turn an Iggy Pop song into a cover by Ministry, and it seems like he has quite f***ing nailed it!

Megaherz - "Komet" from Komet (2018)

4/5. It's interesting how despite having decided that Neue Deutsche Härte is part of conventional industrial metal rather than a separate subgenre, I still found enough NDH tracks to make up most of the second quarter of this playlist. This track has some good wonders of the subgenre.

Oomph! - "Come and Kick Me" from Defekt (1995)

4.5/5. Perhaps the best of this NDH second quarter! I don't have much words to describe its beauty.

Misery Loves Co. - "Private Hell" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

4/5. Next up is a winning standout with sharp riffing especially in the chorus.

Schwarzer Engel - "Endzeit" from Sieben (2022)

3.5/5. This is another partying industrial metal song to like. I still can't get the full appeal of bands like Schwarzer Engel and Rammstein though. Nonetheless, the music is pretty good whether or not you can understand the lyrics.

SKYND - "Jim Jones" from Chapter II (2019)

4/5. As part of the disturbing haunting darkness of this band's lyrics of true crime, this is based on the Jonestown Massacre, a mass murder-suicide in which approximately 909 people died, a 3rd of that amount being children, and most of them drank Flavor Aid cyanide. Jim Jones was the cult leader, and he shot himself in the head. The song is darker than even the more extreme metal genres, and yet I'm intrigued. Just remember, life is too precious to be laid down.

Erdling - "Rabenherz" from Helheim (2021)

3.5/5. Now this one's a destructive pounder! I like "Absolutus Rex" (from the May playlist) slightly better, but this one's quite catchy. What's great is when there's around 30 seconds left, the band picks up some killer speed!!! There's even a nice bit of the sound of Schwarzer Engel, which is pretty cool. Once again NDH has never been my favorite, but songs like this are fun to listen.

Ost+Front - "Ikarus" from Dein Helfer in der Not (2020)

3/5. OK, this one's quite decent, having the gothic sound of ASP which sound cool, I guess. However, this really could have a little more heat for strength. But at least they're nowhere near as medieval-sounding as Saltatio Mortis.

Rammstein - "OK" from Zeit (2022)

3.5/5. This one full-on rages in the vein of their early 2000s work. The soaring choir and Pantera-like groove is what levels up my enjoyment.

Static-X - "Sweat of the Bud" from Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)

4/5. Stepping in again the metal aspect for this song while having more of the programmed drums and vocals from earlier.

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

4.5/5. This one starts with tight guitar before the bass and drums join along with background cleans. The riffing continues to expand alongside the drums. Then finally, EXPLOSIVE DEATH METAL CHAOS!!!! The dominant drums and vocals work with the guitars to tear this f***ing place apart! They stay steady despite the samples and tempo changes. Then there's a clean bridge before more of the deathliness. It ends a bit abruptly, but still worth some fun in a mosh pit.

Strapping Young Lad - "Aftermath" from Strapping Young Lad (2003)

5/5. Now this is a real gem in this playlist and it's original album. It's like a massive war anthem! Near the end is some amazing riffing energy that any metalhead should love.

Danzig - "Cult Without a Name" from 6:66: Satan's Child (1999)

4.5/5. This one shows how well Glenn Danzig can blow listeners' minds away with his voice. He can sing clean whispers and then roar like a bull in smashing intent. An excellent way to lead the drums, guitars, and bass!

Red Harvest - "Sick Transit Gloria Mundi" from Sick Transit Gloria Mundi (2002)

5/5. One of the best songs I've heard from this band that I need listen to more of! I should continue my journey through this band with this album and Cold Dark Matter.

Viral Millennium - "Destroy" from Vomitosis (2014)

4.5/5. This one is also quite underrated, a track of both beauty and brutality! It's basically a killer mix of symphonic industrial/cyber metal. I hope to find more music like in this song, maybe in other bands?

Avulsed - "Pastvoracity - Frozen Speed" from Cybergore (1998)

4/5. Brutal death metal gone industrial/proto cyber metal, eh? Not an ideal mix, but has great potential.

Assimilate - "Apparatus" from EP (2014)

3.5/5. A nice song to like. What else can I say?

Herrschaft - "Rat in Cage" from Les 12 Vertiges (2010)

3/5. I also like some parts of this song, but it could've been way better.

Neurotech - "Brighten" from Stigma (2015)

3.5/5. More and more I keep discovering some good songs from bands and projects like Neurotech that brighten my mood a bit. Industrial/cyber metal is never highly boring, and you can have fun with tracks like this. If they ever make a film based on Cyberpunk 2077, or the next John Wick or Matrix film, you bet this song would be part of the soundtrack! It's quite well done! What's keeping the score down is, it sounds like a little too much like Depeche Mode.

S.U.P - "In Those Times - Demo" from Transfer (remix) (1996)

4/5. This is a more of a throwaway track before the final 3 songs of this playlist. Again, not ideal, but having great potential.

Yutaka Minobe - "The Last Way" from SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK (2006)

4.5/5. Now here's a shocker, a video game OST track that isn't Doom, sounding close to industrial metal! Well, in this case, it's industrial metal mixed with 16-beat cinematic ambience. But hey, if this song can appear towards the end of the Shadow the Hedgehog game, it can surely fit well towards the end of this playlist.

Dodheimsgard - "Completion" from 666 International (1999)

5/5. And that track that can completes the full game here has a blend of black metal and industrial experimentation. My only complaint that doesn't detract the perfect score is when a Machine Head-ish riff appears that sounds out of place. Despite that, this can be a brilliant closing track for that amazing journey!

Godflesh - "Forgive Our Fathers" from A World Lit Only by Fire (2014)

4.5/5. ...Except we have one more track to finish things off, having dreamy atmosphere that's never out of place. Justin Broadrick continues his vocal variation once more, from his usual low growls to the occasional usage of clean singing.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite some bumpiness in some places. Anyway, 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 Daniel for accepting this and your help with your submission, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

A special playlist I've made to celebrate the second year of my monthly Revolution Spotify playlists (3 months early due to my hiatus from working on the playlists for that clan): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JAUQiiHCc5p5JkiOOZ3Da

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Asking Alexandria - "Dark Void" from Dark Void (2023)

5/5. These metalcore-turned-hard-rock Brits are back with their return to the heaviness of 10 years prior, though in a more alt-metal light. With emotional lyrics, the playlist is off to a perfect start, and I can gladly welcome back this amazing band!

Dark Divine - "Dancing Dead" from Dancing Dead (2023)

4.5/5. This band's first recording was an EP titled Halloweentown (reminds me of that Disney Channel film series). Then came this killer single from their upcoming album! Ice Nine Kills, Motionless in White, and Black Veil Brides would be proud, wouldn't they?! These new guys on the modern horror metal block deserve more attention. The breakdown is especially a f***ing blessing that I adore. Definitely worth spicing up a Halloween party!

In Flames - "State of Slow Decay" from Foregone (2023)

4/5. The alt-metal/melodeath action is kicked up a notch with the lead single of the new In Flames albums, which pleasantly surprised fans with heavy riffing, drumming energy, and metal soloing, bringing back the glory of the band's earlier era and At the Gates. This is straight on metal heaviness that's entirely different from their previous album I the Mask. And that's the single my brother likes from this album. Quite strong and promising!

Breaking Benjamin - "Polyamorous" from Saturate (2002)

4.5/5. Another lead single for an album! It shows vocalist Benjamin Burnley having his ability to sing and perform background screams. A catchy tune that I still remember throughout all these years, thanks again to my brother.

POYNTE - "Hold On" from Discreet Enemy (2015)

4/5. Yet another one of my brother's favorite songs, and I can definitely hear why. It's a heavy rock anthem of dreams that you just gotta hold on. Any rock fan shouldn't miss out on such a song!

Five Finger Death Punch - "Jekyll and Hyde" from Got Your Six (2015)

3.5/5. This band my brother and I think are pretty cool, despite other people thinking otherwise. It's as if what would could be considered by those people a mess-up ends up sounding solid to us. Rock on!

Saliva - "How Could You?" from Cinco Diablo (2008)

4/5. This one's pretty great, and I'm stunned that I didn't discover this band until after their remaining founding member guitarist Wayne Swinny passed away. RIP... I feel sorry for those who have been cheated on by their partners. Longtime Saliva fans can find a good throwback to the band's earlier material. I wouldn't say it's the best song I heard, but it still works well. These lyrics of heartbreak and cheating are something that shouldn't be put down. The chorus definitely reminds me of Breaking Benjamin, and I can recommend it to someone experienced with the band's music. Maybe my brother? Getting cheating on is painful, especially when you really like that person. It's good to look back at the wrongdoings of someone you once knew once in a while and learn from them. It's more suitable to listen to on a rainy day than a sunny one. There's nothing annoying about this sound, and those who think it is annoying are as thoughtless as those cheating a****les. It's a sad shame that the world can be so unfaithful...

Soil - "Black Betty" from Play It Forward (2022)

3.5/5. Not the best cover I've heard, but it's pretty good. The vocals might have a bit of a Monster Magnet kick. The song was first written by Lead Belly in the late 1930s, and then popularized by Ram Jam in the 70s, and again by Spiderbait in the 2000s. Soil's cover is a bit too Rob Zombie-sounding for me, and speaking of the devil...

Rob Zombie - "What?" from Hellbilly Deluxe II (2010)

3/5. A decent recommendation from another friend of mine, but some parts of the song make me think... "WHAT?!"

Avatar - "The King Wants You" from Avatar Country (2018)

3.5/5. "THE BEST OF THE GREATEST! THE GREATEST BUT FEW!! THE SOON TO BE HEROES... THE KING WANTS YOU!!!" Avatar Country was the first new album I discovered since my first move out of the earlier epic/melodic metal into the heavier more modern side. Nonetheless, this song sounds as Queen-inspired as those more melodic bands.

The Word Alive - "Made This Way" from Dark Matter (2016)

4/5. Telle's vocals are what make this song and other songs by the band so good. The music and lyrics fit well for these dark times. It's for that reason that Dark Matter is an album I can easily resonate with.

Mudvayne - "Happy?" from Lost and Found (2005)

4.5/5. Chad Gray is known for his screamed vocals, but it's songs like this in which his singing shines.

Celldweller - "The Last Firstborn - Klayton Remix" from Celldweller (2003)

5/5. This awesome remix makes me wanna listen to the original. H*ll, it makes we want more of Celldweller! Looking back at this though, this mix of metal with dubstep/house sounds a little more appropriate for a Sphere playlist.

Whitechapel - "Anticure" from Kin (2021)

5/5. I've just started a Whitechapel reviewing marathon (while making my busy schedule stays intact), and this album Kin is gonna be an interesting one to review with this perfect emotional lament. Reminds me of some of the slower ballad-like Trivium songs!

Lacuna Coil - "Spellbound" from Shallow Life (2009)

4.5/5. Perhaps one of the best songs from this band! Cristina Scabbia sounds beautiful as always. My brother and I have only discovered this band during the Delirium era, but better later than never. I might listen to this while writing my next book. And d*mn, this is the same band that made that dark gothic metal album In a Reverie. Of course, this track is not to be confused with a more well-known hit with the same title by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Male vocalist Andrea Ferro shines in the verses. Anyone who doesn't like this music should chill, keep what they say to themselves, and move on. Probably the best song by this band in the late 2000s era besides "Our Truth"! I need to get into listening to this band again.

Korn - "Forgotten" from Requiem (2022)

4/5. The lyrics of darkness and despair might seem unusual in nu metal, but they click well in this song. You can truly feel the grief! It actually sounds more natural than forced, with smoothness in the f***ing anger. The guitar creeps in the chorus for an eerie yet pleasant vibe. There's some enjoyable goodness in Korn! Probably due to the earlier Linkin Park-like sound this song has.

Nothingface - "Ether" from Skeletons (2003)

4.5/5. This is actually quite underrated. Apparently the lyrics are about George W. Bush and sound wicked when put into a similar sound to Korn and Slipknot. You might also know this from the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack. RIP Matt Holt...

Papa Roach - "Last Resort" from Infect (2000)

4/5. One of the earliest rock/metal songs my brother knows besides the bands he listens to. It's never really my favorite song, but I like it better than most other people do who just downright hate it.

Limp Bizkit - "Hot Dog" from Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000)

3.5/5. I accidentally selected the clean version of this song for the playlist, which is a bit unfitting considering the uncensored Papa Roach song in the same playlist. Despite that, it's quite good yet odd in the rapping. I love the dirty intro riff!

Linkin Park - "One Step Closer" from Hybrid Theory (2000)

4/5. This is their breakthrough single worth checking out for both metalheads and radio listeners. The riffing is both heavy and kid-friendly, the latter adjective maybe not the killer screaming bridge ("SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU! SHUT UP!!"). This is metal for Sesame Street-level beginners and probably the heaviest song to be allowed in karaoke (I know because I've been there).

Slipknot - "The Dying Song (Time to Sing)" from The End, So Far (2022)

3.5/5. The nu metal revival at its more maniacal. Enough said!

Mushroomhead - "Kill Tomorrow" from XIII (2003)

4/5. One of my favorite Mushroomhead songs from the nu metal era, though the quality could've been slightly higher.

Nonpoint - "Bullet With a Name" from To the Pain (2005)

4.5/5. Some might know this song that's practically an anthem, from WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. You can rock out to this song while watching wrestlers go nuts on each other. There is kind of a Disturbed vibe here.

Machine Head - "From This Day" from The Burning Red (1999)

4/5. While I still can't get the hang of this band, this is a nice crazy song, though a bit surreal. Some might be reminded of the band RED in the music. Bring the pain!

Infectious Grooves - "Violent & Funky" from Groove Family Cyco (1994)

3.5/5. The f***ing funky bass is performed by Robert Trujillo, known as the current bassist of Metallica. The lyrics fit with the song title ("Sticks and stones may break some bones, but a 357 gonna blow your d*mn head off"). And don't forget drummer Brooks Wackerman, who would later join Bad Religion, and then Avenged Sevenfold.

Faith No More - "Epic" from The Real Thing (1989)

4/5. I wouldn't say this song is epic, but it can certainly be an anthem of sudden love within the lyrics. This would fit well for the ending of a video game to celebrate the main character's victory before the piano ending hints at a possible sequel. Apparently, this song is a big inspiration for Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor. You can let your personal imagination run wild through the lyrics, even during the simpler parts ("It's it! What is it!?"). See? Funk rock/metal isn't just Red Hot Chili Peppers, and there certainly isn't any naked staging. The vocals and piano really take the show.

Living Colour - "Cult of Personality" from Vivid (1988)

3.5/5. The lyrics of leadership make more sense once you give the song further listening. It's the kind of message to express for your land. Everyone has their own personality, and that's something relevant and should never be forgotten. You can find this song in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and it is also used by WWE professional wrestler CM Punk. The quality could've been better though.

Primus - "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" from Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)

3/5. For a heavily funk-infused song, it tells the sad tale of a young lad who lost his life in a drunk driving accident. "Fire it up, man!" RIP Jerry

Nuclear Rabbit - "Secretly Meaty" from Vicuna (1997)

3.5/5. Anyone longtime funk metal fans would definitely have a taste of nostalgia when they listen to this band and Mr. Bungle. It's not too much of a time-waster, but once again, there's a little too much funk.

Anthrax - "I'm the Man" from I'm the Man (1987)

4/5. The song that has kickstarted rap metal is a fun hilarious metal rap performed by the band members, not just in the instruments. The rappers keep messing up their verses in a funny way "I'll steal your pop tarts like I stole your...socks!" And the chorus paraphrases a line spoken by Taylor Negron in the movie Easy Money, "I'm so bad I should be in detention, I'm the man!", while sampling "Hava Nagila" in Dan Spitz's riffing.

Rage Against the Machine - "Wake Up" from Rage Against the Machine (1992)

3.5/5. While the song's original album is known for a certain different single, and a certain cover art of self-immolation, this song is best known as one of the end credits songs for The Matrix. "WAKE UP!!!"

Godsmack - "Lighting Up the Sky" from Lighting Up the Sky (2023)

4/5. One last song to dig in this playlist. One that can hits you with heaviness while staying calm. If this album really is the last one by this band, this song is a great way to end their recording career, along with this playlist.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite some bumpiness in the funk metal section. Anyway, I recommend this to any alternative metal fan and anyone who isn't into alternative metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks Saxy for granting me the privilege to make this playlist during your break, and Daniel for accepting it. I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had! (Coming next month: my thoughts on the July Infinite playlist)

Whitechapel's 3-guitar motive works well a breakdown and soloing harmonies form a unique combo:

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

DAGames - "Born Champion (Overwatch Song)" (5:06) from Born Champion (Overwatch Song) (2016)

Deathstars - "Motherzone" (4:06) from Termination Bliss (2006)

Fear Factory - "Genexus" (4:48) from Genexus (2015)

Gothminister - "Monsters" (3:12) from Empire of Dark Salvation (2005)

Mick Gordon - "BFG Division" (8:26) from DOOM (2016)

Samael - "Ailleurs" (3:55) from Eternal (1999)

Total length: 29:33

Here are my submissions for the August Revolution playlist:

All That Remains - "Not Alone" (3:30) from The Fall of Ideals (2006)

Amaranthe - "Countdown" (3:01) from Helix (2018)

Electric Callboy - "Everytime We Touch - Tekkno Version" (3:17) from Everytime We Touch - Tekkno Version (2023)

Emmure - "Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth" (3:50) from The Complete Guide to Needlework (2006)

Iris - "I'm the Animal" (4:36) from Goliath's Throne (2019)

Killswitch Engage - "The Signal Fire" (3:05) from Atonement (2019)

Trivium - "Brave the Storm" (4:29) from Vengeance Falls (2013)

Total length: 25:48

Here are my submissions for the August Infinite playlist:

Arcturus - "La Masquerade Infernale" (2:00) from La Masquerade Infernale (1997)

Dødheimsgard - "It Does Not Follow" (8:24) from Black Medium Current (2023)

Evergrey - "Recreation Day" (5:21) from Recreation Day (2003)

Sólstafir - "Svartir Sandar" (8:22) from Svartir Sandar (2011)

The Ocean - "Subboreal" (4:46) from Holocene (2023)

Total length: 28:53

Here are my submissions for the August Gateway playlist:

Asking Alexandria - "Psycho" (4:00) from Bad Blood / Psycho (2023)

Breaking Benjamin - "Never Again" (3:43) from Dark Before Dawn (2015)

Five Finger Death Punch - "Mama Said Knock You Out" (2:47) from The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 (2013)

I Prevail - "Paranoid" (2:24) from Trauma (2019)

In This Moment - "Rise With Me" (2:07) from Blood (2012)

Lacuna Coil - "Never Dawn" (4:49) from Never Dawn (2023)

Parkway Drive - "Wishing Wells" (5:04) from Reverence (2018)

Poynte - "In My Head" (4:32) from Discreet Enemy (2015)

Total length: 29:26

Here's my submission for the July Guardians playlist:

Avenged Sevenfold - "Heretic" (from Hail to the King, 2013)

As part of my semi-hiatus, like I said, I asked someone else to work on The Revolution playlists. You'll find out who it is when he posts the thread for his first Revolution playlist in the beginning of August (unless he would like me to reveal who it is early, to which I'll just edit this comment). Don't worry, I'll still be submitting some tracks in the playlist suggestion threads so he won't have to do it all on his own when doing The Revolution playlists. However, I think I have time to squeeze in working on The Sphere playlists during those 3 months. They're easier for me to do than the playlists for other clans because there are only two subgenres in the clan (industrial metal and cyber metal, now I consider Neue Deutsche Härte as part of conventional industrial metal instead of its own subgenre), and since I seem to be the only active Metal Academy member familiar with The Sphere, I don't wanna have to put the Sphere playlists to a halt. Anyway, I'll still comment on my Sphere playlists, but for each of the playlists for my other clans that I worked on for July, I'll spread out the commenting throughout these next couple months. I'll comment on my Gateway playlist on Monday (slight delay as I need some rest due to a saw throat- Sorry, sore throat and cough), my Infinite playlist in the beginning of August, and my Revolution playlist in the beginning of September. Stay tuned...

July 2023

1. Motionless in White - "Disguise" from Disguise (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Omega Lithium - "Infest" from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

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

4. Deathstars - "Everything Destroys You" from Everything Destroys You (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Pain - "Party in My Head" from Party in My Head (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Ministry - "Search and Destroy" from Moral Hygiene (2021)

7. Megaherz - "Komet" from Komet (2018)

8. Oomph! - "Come and Kick Me" from Defekt (1995) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Misery Loves Co. - "Private Hell" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

10. Schwarzer Engel - "Endzeit" from Sieben (2022)

11. SKYND - "Jim Jones" from Chapter II (2019)

12. Erdling - "Rabenherz" from Helheim (2021)

13. Ost+Front - "Ikarus" from Dein Helfer in der Not (2020)

14. Rammstein - "OK" from Zeit (2022)

15. Static-X - "Sweat of the Bud" from Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)

16. Fear Factory - "Suffer Age" from Soul of a New Machine (1992) [submitted by Daniel]

17. Strapping Young Lad - "Aftermath" from Strapping Young Lad (2003)

18. Danzig - "Cult Without a Name" from 6:66: Satan's Child (1999)

19. Red Harvest - "Sick Transit Gloria Mundi" from Sick Transit Gloria Mundi (2002)

20. Viral Millennium - "Destroy" from Vomitosis (2014)

21. Avulsed - "Pastvoracity - Frozen Speed" from Cybergore (1998)

22. Assimilate - "Apparatus" from EP (2014)

23. Herrschaft - "Rat in Cage" from Les 12 Vertiges (2010)

24. Neurotech - "Brighten" from Stigma (2015)

25. S.U.P - "In Those Times - Demo" from Transfer (remix) (1996)

26. Yutaka Minobe - "The Last Way" from SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK (2006)

27. Dodheimsgard - "Completion" from 666 International (1999)

28. Godflesh - "Forgive Our Fathers" from A World Lit Only by Fire (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

July 2023

1. Rorschach - "Mandible" from Protestant (1993)

2. Trivium - "The Sin and the Sentence" from The Sin and the Sentence (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Converge - "The Broken Vow" from Jane Doe (2001)

4. Botch - "Mondrian was a Liar" from We are the Romans (1999)

5. Burst - "Two-Faced" from Two-Faced (1997)

6. Earth Crisis - "Unseen Holocaust" from Firestorm (1993)

7. Unbroken - "The Setup" from Life. Love. Regret (1994)

8. Vision of Disorder - "D.T.O." from Vision of Disorder (1996)

9. Living Sacrifice - "180" from Reborn (1997)

10. The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "Texas Dolly" from Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear. (2005)

11. Demon Hunter - "Storm the Gates of Hell" from Storm the Gates of Hell (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. 36 Crazyfists - "Kenai" from A Snow Capped Romance (2004) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Strife - "Will to Die" from In This Defiance (1997)

14. Morning Again - "Minus One" from The Cleanest War (1996) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Ice Nine Kills - "The Nature of the Beast" from Every Trick in the Book (2015)

16. Bullet for My Valentine - "Eye of the Storm" from Scream Aim Fire (2008)

17. Amaranthe - "Dynamite" from Massive Addictive (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. The Browning - "Cryosleep" from Isolation (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Parkway Drive - "The River" from Atlas (2012)

20. Polaris - "No Rest" from The Guilt and The Grief (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

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

22. Make Them Suffer - "Ghost of Me" from Ghost of Me (2023)

23. Any Given Day - "Diamonds" from Diamonds (2022)

24. Brojob, Enda Vinera - "BARBIE GIRL" from BARBIE GIRL (2023)

25. Shadow of Intent - "The Coming Fire" from Elegy (2022)

26. Whitechapel - "Breeding Violence" from A New Era of Corruption (2010)

27. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "Vicki Mayhem" from Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

28. Iwrestledabearonce - "Button It Up" from Ruining It for Everybody (2011)

29. Invent Animate - "Immolation of Night" from Heavener (2023)

30. Lorna Shore - "Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire" from Pain Remains (2022)