Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

July 2023

1. Dream Theater - "The Alien" from A View From the Top of the World (2021)

2. Sons of Apollo - "Goodbye Divinity" from MMXX (2020)

3. Amorphis - "Bad Blood" from Under the Red Cloud (2015)

4. Between the Buried and Me - "Bicycle Race" from The Anatomy of (2006)

5. Opeth - "Burden" from Watershed (2008)

6. Evergrey - "For Every Tear That Falls" from The Dark Discovery (1998)

7. Watchtower - "Technology Inaction" from Concepts of Math: Book One (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Devin Townsend - "Why?" from Empath (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. The Ocean - "Firmament" from Heliocentric (2010)

10. Cult of Luna - "The Revelation Embodied" from Cult of Luna (2001) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Rosetta - "Release" from A Determinism of Morality (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Obscure Sphinx - "Nastiez" from Anaesthetic Inhalation Ritual (2011)

13. Maudlin of the Well - "The Ferryman" from Bath (2001)

14. Sigh - "Mayonaka No Kaii" from Shiki (2022)

15. Dog Fashion Disco - "Private Eye" from Adultery (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Polkadot Cadaver - "Get Possessed" from Get Possessed (2016)

17. Cardona - "Insight" from Seasons (2012)

18. Reflections - "Lost - Redux" from The Fantasy Effect Redux (2022)

19. Entities - "Atlas" from Rebirth (2020)

20. Veil of Maya - "Disco Kill Party" from [M]other (2023)

21. Boyinaband - "Djentstep - Dubstep + Metal Genres Mash" from Djentstep - Dubstep + Metal Genres Mash (2012)

22. Fates Warning - "The Last Song" from Long Day Good Night (2020)

July 2023

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

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

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

4. Breaking Benjamin - "Polyamorous" from Saturate (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. POYNTE - "Hold On" from Discreet Enemy (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Five Finger Death Punch - "Jekyll and Hyde" from Got Your Six (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

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

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

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

10. Avatar - "The King Wants You" from Avatar Country (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. The Word Alive - "Made This Way" from Dark Matter (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

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

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

14. Whitechapel - "Anticure" from Kin (2021)

15. Lacuna Coil - "Spellbound" from Shallow Life (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Korn - "Forgotten" from Requiem (2022)

17. Nothingface - "Ether" from Skeletons (2003)

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

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

20. Linkin Park - "One Step Closer" from Hybrid Theory (2000) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

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

22. Mushroomhead - "Kill Tomorrow" from XIII (2003) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 2023

1. VOLA – Alien Shivers (2018) (49)

2. Scar Symmetry – Chrononautilus (2023) (6)

3. Azusa – Iniquitous Spiritual Praxis (2018)

4. Queensryche – The Mission (1988) (20)

5. Oceill – Course Bottom (2023) (7)

6. Burst – I Hold Vertigo (2008)

7. DVNE – Court of the Matriarch (2021) (19)

8. Evergrey – I’m Sorry (2003)

9. Slugdge – Crop Killer (2018) (36)

10. The Ocean – Unconformities (2023) (22)

11. An Abstract Illusion – In The Heavens Above, You Will Become a Monster (2022) (12)

12. In The Woods… - The Cave of Dreams (2016)

13. öOoOoOoOoOo – No Guts = No Masters (2016) (18)

14. Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution – Odyssey (2023) (5)

15. Ne Obliviscaris – Misericorde II – Anatomy of Quiescence (2023)

16. Animals As Leaders – Arithmophobia (2016) (10)

17. Kardashev – Snow-Sleep (2020) (18)

18. Avenged Sevenfold – We Love You (2023) (37)

June 2023

1. Wheel – Tyrant (2019)

2. Breaking Benjamin – Red Cold River (2018)

3. Sleep Token – Euclid (2023)

4. Slipknot – Disasterpiece (2001)

5. Coldrain – Bloody Power Fame (2022)

6. Nonpoint – Divided… Conquer Them (2016)

7. Device – Vilify (2013)

8. Evanescence – Haunted (2003)

9. Puya – Ride (2001)

10. System of a Down – Streamline (2002)

11. Five Finger Death Punch – If I Fall (2011)

12. Of Mice & Men – Unbreakable (2018)

13. Yakui The Maid – Amyloidosis#2 (2016)

14. I Prevail – Bow Down (2019)

15. My Ruin – Silverlake (2008)

16. Lacuna Coil – Sword of Anger (2019)

17. Escape the Fate – Gorgeous Nightmare (2010)

18. New Years Day – Relentless (2015)

19. Parkway Drive – Shadow Boxing (2018)

20. Ektomorf – Ten Plagues (2014)

Here's my review summary:

It's interesting how the creators of the first side of Napalm Death's Scum, known as the founding album of grindcore, would go on to make their own industrial metal acts. Justin Broadrick would focus on Godflesh, and Mick Harris and Nick Bullen would create... SCORN. The debut album from this project fits well at home in the Earache label. Although Vae Solis mostly shows its industrial direction, there are slight traces of thrashy death metal that Harris was moving away from for the project. This is heard vocally from Bullen's growls though they're not too far from Broadrick's vocals. Also giving the album a Godflesh vibe is the guitar contributions from Broadrick. However, most of what happens in the album is strong spacey ambience with occasional reverb within the metal. The tracks can range from fast and thrashy to slow and doomy. While the guitars and percussion are worth hearing, Bullen's vocals are what stand out in the original tracks, ranging from direct singing to deathly snarls. I would've given the album a higher rating if I was only rating the LP edition, which is filled with decently solid industrial metal that can sometimes be brutal or ambient....

3/5

I haven't updated my top metal releases by year list in a few months, and I think this thread is a good one to continue updating, so here's my updated list:

Beginning oldies (1984-1989)/B.M. (Before Metalcore):

1984: Voivod - War and Pain

1985: Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly

1986: Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

1987: Voivod - Killing Technology

1988: Sadus - Illusions

1989: Godflesh - Streetcleaner

Old golden classics and millennium transition highlights (1990-2001)/Metalcore's humble beginnings and light of day-seeing classics:

1990: Rorschach - Remain Sedate

1991: Old - Lo Flux Tube

1992: Sadus - A Vision of Misery

1993: Old - The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak

1994: Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes

1995: Fear Factory - Demanufacture

1996: Red Harvest - HyBreed

1997: Waltari - Space Avenue

1998: Embodyment - Embrace the Eternal

1999: Botch - We Are The Romans

2000: Extol - Undeceived

2001: Candiria - 300 Percent Density

Modern favorites (2002-2013)/Rise of the full Revolution:

2002: Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing

2003: Animosity - Shut It Down

2004: ISIS – Panopticon

2005: Trivium - Ascendancy

2006: Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery

2007: Dethklok - The Dethalbum

2008: In This Moment - The Dream

2009: Vektor - Black Future

2010: Whitechapel - A New Era of Corruption

2011: Trivium - In Waves

2012: Bury Tomorrow - The Union of Crowns

2013: Dethklok - The Doomstar Requiem: A Klok Opera

The best of the most recent (2014-present)/A greater new uprising:

2014: The Acacia Strain - Coma Witch

2015: Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud

2016: Insomnium - Winter's Gate

2017: Brendon Small - II: Become the Storm

2018: Amorphis - Queen of Time

2019: Northlane - Alien

2020: Code Orange - Underneath

2021: Trivium - In the Court of the Dragon

2022: Lorna Shore - Pain Remains

2023 so far: Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current

2023 albums I'm looking forward to getting:

Will Haven - VII

Freedom Call -  The M.E.T.A.L. Fest (live album) (self-recommendation to get back in touch with this power metal band I used to like)

Voivod - Morgöth Tales

Dethklok - Dethalbum IV/Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar

The Word Alive - Hard Rest

Polaris - Fatalism

Sylosis - A Sign of Things to Come (self-recommendation)

Bring Me the Horizon - Post Human: Nex Gen

RIP Polaris guitarist Ryan Siew. A young fellow responsible for the band's melodic hooks in his guitar leads, gone too soon. And just over two months away from the release of their next album Fatalism...

Although I enjoy this comeback for both this band and my motivation to dive into doom metal/death-doom, it's this standout that as upbeat as the mid-90s albums of Katatonia and Amorphis that really hits the spot. I know, it's just my speed-enjoying self talking.

An abrasive standout from Godflesh's comeback of industrial metal purity:

RIP Dark Angel guitarist Jim Durkin. Though he's gone from this world now, the wicked thrash material he's made with Dark Angel shall rise in our hearts.

Just over 3 months later, another Dark Angel member has left this world. Lee Rauch, one of a few drummers the band had before the legendary Gene Hoglan. Rauch was also known for contributing to Megadeth's Last Rites demo. RIP

While we're on this topic, I found this Metal Trenches video. Have you guys heard of any of the albums mentioned in this video, and do you think some of them have a metal-like vibe? Personally the only one of these releases I'm familiar with is The Prodigy's The Fat of the Land, via the single "Firestarter" which, despite being a rave track, also has that upbeat energy and dark atmosphere similar to the metal that I like.

I used to listen to epic trailer music company Two Steps From Hell. Most of their tracks aren't metal, but they often have that upbeat energy and occasional dark atmosphere similar to the metal that I like.

Ben, please add the new Mental Cruelty album Zwielicht.

A modern revival of crossover thrash, the way it should really sound:

The band from the Metalocalypse realm has returned with their first single in over a decade! Dethklok fans, look out for the next Dethalbum and their upcoming Metalocalypse special Army of the Doomstar.

Thanks, Morpheus! The robotics class is just a separate thing, and it's only just basic robot building and programming, rather than complex engineering.

It's been 3 months since one of us shared what's been going on in our lives, and what better way to turn this thread back on than with a special announcement involving some big stuff happening in my life? Starting from June 26, I'll be having a lot of work going on every day for 3 months:

Monday and Tuesday: college course

Wednesday and Thursday: work internship

Friday: robotics class

Saturday and Sunday: writing and drawing my next book

Because of how super busy I'm gonna be during that 3-month period, I won't be able to contribute to a lot of the major activities in Metal Academy and will have to take a hiatus from them. So I asked Daniel to cross me out of the feature releases poster, and 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 submit 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, while I'll be less active in the forums and ratings, I might still do the occasional forum post, rating, and review. So it's basically gonna be a semi-hiatus for me. It's only the feature release submissions and Revolution playlists I can't do during then. So once again, during those 3 months, I'll be less active in the forums and ratings and won't be able to do feature release submissions and Revolution playlists, but I can still do track submissions in the playlist suggestion threads and full Sphere playlists. Wish me luck as I approach these super busy times!

Ben, please add the new Saturnus album The Storm Within.

Ben, please add the New Godflesh album Purge.

OK, thanks Daniel.

The killer second single by Enda Vinera, still having that epic Lorna Shore vibe while more originally written:

Yes Daniel, but the tracks often favor one genre over the other. Here are a few of the tracks that are mainly heavy/power metal-based symphonic metal (which, looking back at now, also makes me think of a darker Trans-Siberian Orchestra):

And here are a few of the tracks that focus on melodic/symphonic death metal, whether in the instrumentation or entirely:

Getting back into more of the melodeath zone, here are a couple highlights from bands I've discovered, including one of the most melancholic melodeath bands from Finland besides Insomnium:

And a virtual band from the Adult Swim program Metalocalypse:

Some more metalcore bands I now enjoy thanks to what I discovered when assembling the Revolution playlists and listening to the Gateway playlists:

Ben, please add the new Omnium Gatherum EP Slasher.

Ben, please add the new In This Moment EP Blood 1983.

Here are my top 10 feature release discoveries, mostly centered around my main clans:

1. Opeth - Blackwater Park (2001)

2. Gaza - I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die (2006)

3. Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites (2005)

4. Godflesh - Godflesh (1988)

5. Dir En Grey - Uroboros (2008)

6. Skycamefalling - 10.21 (2000)

7. Karnivool - Themata (2005)

8. Old - The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak (1993)

9. The Chariot - Long Live (2010)

10. Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current (2023)

THE FALLEN: Hexer - "Cosmic Doom Ritual" (2017) 3/5

THE GATEWAY: Katatonia - "Sky Void of Stars" (2023) 4.5/5

THE INFINITE: Dødheimsgard - "Black Medium Current" (2023) 5/5

THE SPHERE: Strapping Young Lad - "Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing" (1995) 4/5

This month went quite well for most of my clans. My Gateway and Sphere nominations are pretty solid albums that I would recommend to fans of their respective genres. That Dødheimsgard album is a perfect discovery (thanks Xephyr!). I like a good amount of that Hexer 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...

A prime example of psychedelic progressive black metal:

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

I was also late for the Dodheimsgard party. I've never heard of this band until just a couple weeks ago when I discovered their earlier masterpiece 666 International during my ongoing industrial metal exploration. And now I get to check out their latest album that's as fantastic as their earlier pinnacle! Since the aforementioned 666 International, these Norwegian progressive black/avant-garde metal masters have an 8-year interval between releases. I don't know if that's intentional, but the wait was worth it for longtime DHG fans with Black Medium Current! The band was formed in the 90s as part of Norway's black metal scene, then they took on a more progressive/avant-garde direction. Their determination to keep going has resulted in a successfully written album to give you the best of their recent times. With an epic blend of clean and harsh vocals, soft and heavy guitar, and some stellar synths, all this definitely makes many of the tracks worthwhile. With that, Black Medium Current is another grand magical experience from this band. The psychedelic synth moments are good for anyone up for DHG and any other progressive black/avant-garde metal band. My curious mind can certainly get the best rewards!

5/5

It's mostly in the last track, "Black Lava Flow". It seems to me that the atmospheric steam that has leveled up the album is lost, and therefore doesn't reach the earlier intensity.

I've given Cosmic Doom Ritual some listening and a review. The album is certainly post-sludge, but with its doomy atmosphere, it leans much closer to The Fallen than bands like Neurosis and Isis. It made me realize that post-sludge might have some Fallen potential alongside its strength in The Infinite. It wouldn't seem right for this album to have The Infinite as its sole clan, so it's quite a tough call. Also it might be possible for there to be a post-black metal subgenre. A few other albums I've reviewed, each from one of these bands; Agalloch, Alcest, Deafheaven, and Oranssi Pazuzu, make a seamless blend of post-metal and black metal with its immense ambience and broad experimentation. Of course, Alcest and Deafheaven have the more appropriate subgenre label of blackgaze. I'm not sure though, I'm never really a black metal connoisseur. Any thoughts all?

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

What's expected in one of those "post-" genres is the immense atmosphere. It helps you live through the enjoyment of such a journey. Cosmic Doom Ritual is a title that may sound simple yet promising in the dreamy atmosphere. It also sums up what you might find in this offering; the cosmic ambience of Darkspace, the sludgy doom of early Isis, and the post-metal ritual of Neurosis, all combined into a savory space-doomy post-sludge sound... Cosmic Doom Ritual is the debut album by Hexer (whose band name appears to be inspired by The Witcher franchise). The band has projected their sound through the conceptual tale of a giant sea creature devouring its prey. They can really make a story similar to a Mastodon or Ahab album with a cosmic twist. There are 3 tracks, each with an average length of 12 minutes, all in good alternation with the post-rock melancholy. The vocals remind me of Godflesh and, to a lesser extent, Napalm Death. The melody has created an interesting soundscape. However, the tedious production, especially in the last track, is why I don't find it as awesome as the doomy metalheads would. Still the immense atmosphere has kept the band growing....

3/5

It's very unusual for The Ocean to actually have a qualifying song here, but its repetitive structure makes this a skippable stinker, and you wonder if this is the same band:

On second thought, this cover of a pop song my brother and I have known since before we started our rock/metal interests is a total standout that has blown my mind with how a rock cover is meant to be done:

Ben, please add Skynd.

A standout from another one of my brother's favorite alt-metal bands. My review for this album coming soon...

1. Gateway playlist - 4/5 (number of songs commented: 12)

2. Infinite playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 18)

3. Revolution playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 30)

4. Sphere playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 28)

For the clans I've made the monthly playlists for, along with the one for the Infinite, I've listened to the entire playlists! I'm grateful to Saxy and Daniel for their playlist works. I really dig the tracks I've reviewed in the Gateway playlist made by Saxy, and I'm glad all those other playlists I've reviewed paid off. I recommend them to any fan of the clans' respective genres and anyone who isn't into those genres but wants to get into a great start in enjoying them. Thanks, Daniel, for accepting these playlists, and good work all! Also, all the best with overcoming your struggles, Saxy, and see you next month or two!

This 13-minute 3-part suite is epic, though not as glorious as Lorna Shore's Pain Remains suite:

A true industrial metal swansong from Devin Townsend's heavier band:

A massive war anthem of extreme industrial metal:

One of the heaviest songs I've heard in my life, arguably heavier than most death/thrash metal:

I find the song title hilarious because it's not filler at all, but rather a great highlight from the beginning album of Devin Townsend's massive career:

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

I understand that this album isn't for the pure old-school thrash fans. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing is basically heavy thrashy industrial metal with lots of noise and rage. Despite a few disorganized songs, the album comes out as a great beginning for Devy's massive career. I'm not kidding about the raging intensity, many of the songs have savage riffing hellfire, blazing drum blasts, and screaming vocal anger, though there are some clean moments and Devy's signature humor. It's all here in the beginning of this Canadian metal man's adventurous journey. After two albums for one-time projects (Punky Brüster and Ocean Machine), Devin Townsend would bring the sound of SYL to perfection in the band's next album City....

4/5

Recommended tracks: "S.Y.L.", "In the Rainy Season", "Cod Metal King", "The Filler - Sweet City Jesus", "Drizzlehell"

For fans of: Devin Townsend's heavier albums, Space Avenue-era Waltari, Fear Factory

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

Deathstars - "Everything Destroys You" (3:55) from Everything Destroys You (2023)

Godflesh - "Forgive Our Fathers" (7:40) from A World Lit Only by Fire (2014)

Gothminister - "Liar" (3:39) from Anima Inferna (2011)

Motionless in White - "Disguise" (3:58) from Disguise (2019)

Oomph! - "Come and Kick Me" (6:24) from Defekt (1995)

Pain - "Party in My Head" (3:08) from Party in My Head (2021)

Total length: 28:44

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

36 Crazyfists - "Kenai" (2:47) from A Snow Capped Romance (2004)

Amaranthe - "Dynamite" (3:14) from Massive Addictive (2014)

The Browning - "Cryosleep" (3:51) from Isolation (2016)

Demon Hunter - "Storm the Gates of Hell" (2:54) from Storm the Gates of Hell (2007)

Morning Again - "Minus One" (6:13) from The Cleanest War (1996)

Polaris - "No Rest" (4:15) from The Guilt and The Grief (2016)

Trivium - "The Sin and the Sentence" (5:49) from The Sin and the Sentence (2017)

Total length: 29:03

Here are my submissions for the July Infinite playlist:

Cult of Luna - "The Revelation Embodied" (7:45) from Cult of Luna (2001)

Devin Townsend - "Why?" (4:59) from Empath (2019)

Dog Fashion Disco - "Private Eye" (3:40) from Adultery (2006)

Rosetta - "Release" (5:36) from A Determinism of Morality (2010)

Watchtower - "Technology Inaction" (6:20) from Concepts of Math: Book One (2016)

Total length: 28:20

Here are my submissions for the July Gateway playlist:

Avatar - "The King Wants You" (4:20) from Avatar Country (2018)

Breaking Benjamin - "Polyamorous" (2:56) from Saturate (2002)

Five Finger Death Punch - "Jekyll and Hyde" (3:26) from Got Your Six (2015)

Lacuna Coil - "Spellbound" (3:21) from Shallow Life (2009)

Linkin Park - "One Step Closer" (2:35) from Hybrid Theory (2000)

Mushroomhead - "Kill Tomorrow" (3:45) from XIII (2003)

Poynte - "Hold On" (4:04) from Discreet Enemy (2015)

The Word Alive - "Made This Way" (4:15) from Dark Matter (2016)

Total length: 28:42

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Meathook Seed - "Famine Sector" from Embedded (1993)

4.5/5. The crushing opener of this playlist is, without a doubt, one of the best songs of this industrial death metal blend! I don't have much to describe its greatness.

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

5/5. Deathstars is back, and back hard! They've made an explosive throwback to their 2000s era. Whiplasher sounds like the guy who can just be a fan of the band and still lead them. Great music as always!

Pitchshifter - "Landfill" from Industrial (1991)

4.5/5. Pitchshifter made a prime example of using Godflesh's industrial metal formula. They just repeat the same riff throughout, and even the lyrics are minimal. It's just "Hate, I hate, hate, I hate you motherf***er, drown, bleed, I wish you could." They even mix in a few samples with slow guitars/drums. Despite the repetition, I enjoy that one. Fear Factory made their own cover of that song over two decades later.

Sore Throat - "Phase IV" from Inde$troy (1989)

4/5. This is often called the "Air" section and has standard hardcore heaviness while having that industrial vibe.

Rob Zombie - "Superbeast" from Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)

3.5/5. You can shout along to this highlight and its gang-infused chorus. I saw the music video for that song quite long ago.

Dead World - "Kill" from The Machine (1993)

4/5. This is a pretty good throwback to the earlier doom, though the Marilyn Manson-like lyrics cause some complications, "Football on the TV, beer in the hand, the extent of his rational depth. He's a god fearing man, a wife beating f***, a vacuous flag waving fool."

Skrew - "Albatross" from Dusted (1994)

4.5/5. Also in a slightly higher level than Ministry is quite a monster within those chords.

Pain - "On Your Knees (Again)" from Pain (1997)

5/5. This is without a doubt a true highlight. The standard riffs sound so greatly written.

White Zombie - "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama" from Astro-Creep: 2000 – Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

4.5/5. This is a song I can have an awesome blast with. One of the best songs to love here! After a heavy headbanging, the speed slows down, while still having its greatness.

Godflesh - "Crush My Soul" from Selfless (1994)

4.5/5. Stretching out the skeletal structure, there are more traditional industrial sounds, with electronic samples reminding some of Aphex Twin at that time. Though being released as the first single might've tricked fans into thinking the entire album would be like that.

Fear Factory - "Regenerate" from Genexus (2015)

5/5. This one continues to have the heavy and melodic sides duel with each other. Bell's vocals get you hooked as always, while the keyboards by Rhys Fulber sound clean and melodic, essential for making that song one of the most memorable here.

Mushroomhead - "Everyone's Got One - Only Mix" from Remix (1997)

4.5/5. "Only Mix", huh? Makes sense when it's the only original song of that remix album. It's so soft and beautiful that you can play it loud and not disturb the neighbors.

Marilyn Manson - "Antichrist Superstar" from Antichrist Superstar (1996)

4/5. At the start of the Disintegrator Rising cycle, this track will make sure you want the album to keep going as long as you like.

Samael - "Angel's Decay" from Passage (1996)

4.5/5. Although I thought of Samael's Passage as a masterpiece, I ended up turning my back from it to avoid going down the black metal hellhole that the albums before this are in. This amazing song can get still my skin into a Jupiterian vibe. Samael and Pain have some of that modern industrial metal strength, a little more than Rammstein.

Code Orange - "You and You Alone" from Underneath (2020)

5/5. This one moves through the screaming metalcore madness alongside a withering chorus ("You play your part, you know your role") for teens to yell along to, rebelling against the electronic uprising with complex poetry.

Gothminister - "All This Time" from The Other Side (2017)

4.5/5. Dark philosophical lyrics. Enough said!

Static-X - "Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)" from Project Regeneration, Vol. 1 (2020)

4/5. This song was supposed to be in the Start a War album, but did not make it in. Any song with the subtitle "Project Regeneration" is a scrapped song that has been revived for the project. Definitely has some Wisconsin Death Trip fire in there, especially in the intro. Pretty good one!

King Satan - "Left Hand Path Symphony" from Occult Spiritual Anarchy (2022)

4/5. This one's quite killer, reminding me of Powerwolf gone Rammstein. I don't like this band too much though, which is good because it would be awkward if I, someone who would never be satanic, say "Hail King Satan!" The vocals sound nice in beautiful harmony. Some of the lyrics seem to reference The Holy Mountain. It's quite f***ing great how the keyboards sounds like they're from Deep Purple while having an entirely different sound, and that I quite love.

Combichrist - "One Fire" from One Fire (2019)

3.5/5. Quite underrated, but at the same time not. A bit too much like Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein. The last third of the track is a bit weird.

Crematory - "Inglorious Darkness" from Inglorious Darkness (2022)

4/5. There's some great beauty in here. What else is there to say?

Contracult Collective - "Follow" from FOLLOW (2020)

4.5/5. Well this is quite a kick-A banger! F***ing great, man!

D'espairsRay - "Dears" from Coll:set (2006)

5/5. Do you think in an alternate universe where my brother and I live in a different country like Japan, this would be what my brother would start listening to over a decade ago? I don't know, I don't care. This is a h*lla awesome track! It would've been an easy one for me to sing if I understood Japanese, but I don't. Nonetheless, I love it! They've already pleased fans from America and Europe when they were touring.

Mechina - "The Horizon Effect" from Progenitor (2016)

4.5/5. Such godly music with easy yet chilling lyrics, "I stand in shadows of monuments". This can almost be the cyber metal symphony of the universe! Imagine a more melodic female-led Fear Factory, and you're not too far off. Normally, Mechina is one of those growling bands, but this cleaner female direction is cosmic.

Ministry - "Leper" from Animositisomina (2003)

4/5. Upon stumbling upon this instrumental industrial metal piece, I thought this would be a cool addition to the playlist. Al Jourgensen has really jammed out with drummer Max Brody in this one, sounding fun while the song reeks of empty despair. Ministry, Rammstein, and Nine Inch Nails are 3 of the most popular industrial metal bands, but never really bands I'm up to checking out a lot of. While not having any lyrics, the track warns quite well about humanity's possible future extinction.

Erdling - "Blizzard" from Yggdrasil (2020)

3.5/5. Pretty good though, like most other Neue Deutsche Härte bands, a bit too much like Rammstein. The lyrics are quite great despite being in hard-for-me-to-understand German. I think it can still hammer your skin.

Stahlmann - "Spring Nicht" from Quecksilber (2012)

4/5. Once a Man of Steel, always a Man of Steel. This one's quite great.

Ost+Front - "Ost+Front 2014" from Olympia (2014)

4.5/5. I wonder if anyone seeing the band's name thinks they specialize in original soundtracks for video games. They don't, but this song should be in one.

The Amenta - "Parse Over" from Revelator (2021)

5/5. Forget what I said about that Meathook Seed song being one of the best of industrial death metal, this is even better! There's even some ambient doom throughout to add to the bleakness. That's the kind of playlist ending I need here!

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!