Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Anacrusis – Release (1993)

5/5. Let's start with a highlight that tackles a style similar to earlier progressive rock/metal. A remix would later appear as a bonus track for its original album.

Between the Buried and Me - Obfuscation (2009)

4.5/5. This one can fit well as a single that should've been recorded and released between Alaska and Colors. It also shows the soft-hard blend they've used since The Silent Circus. All in all, an excellent piece of progressive action!

Fallujah – Kaleidoscopic Waves (2025)

5/5. One of the best tracks from the new Fallujah album! I love the bass work by Evan Brewer (formerly of Animosity and The Faceless).

Leprous – Painful Detour (2012)

4.5/5. Somehow you can consider this the Aerosmith "Dream On" of modern progressive metal. There are also some early prog-rock vibes here, plus some nice lyrics like "Building a castle, foundation on the sound". For the next couple minutes after that lyrics, some Opeth/Pain of Salvation-isms come in, leading to an amazing rhythm right around the middle. One minute later, it gets heavier and more epic. Then another minute later, a one-minute funky solo rising up to that "Dream On"-like chorus once more.

Mastodon – Naked Burn (2004)

4/5. RIP Brent Hinds... G****mn it, I wish I hadn't lost interest in this band a few years ago. I really need to appreciate a lot of the work the band has put in their music, including Brent's riffing and vocals. Lots of classic hits I still remember in Leviathan.

Mastodon - The Beast (2021)

3.5/5. This one's a heavier beast than the other Mastodon track, but having a little too much of a country vibe. Still I can accept this tribute to Brent Hinds. Again, RIP

The Ocean Collective – The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts (2010)

4/5. The Ocean is still going strong, despite much of the lineup having left in the year of this comment.

The Third and the Mortal – Silently I Surrender (2004)

4.5/5. A more progressive while still doomy 8-minute epic.

Threshold – The Man Who Saw Through Time (2017)

5/5. Oh my f***ing word, what a masterpiece! Since I'm really getting back into the more melodic zone of 10 years ago, I might just give this band a second chance after my "touch and let go" moment 5 years ago. It's one of the most beautiful melodic progressive metal epics, and it could practically make the soundtrack of a short film. The guitar and keyboard soloing near the 7 and a half minute mark is so perfectly unique, as are Glynn Morgan's vocals. He should really guest appear in the next Ayreon album!

Voivod – Meteor (1995)

4.5/5. Another killer track, throwing back to the Killing Technology era.

Wheel – Movement (2021)

4/5. The more rock-ish progressive metal sound might remind some of Soen. This month's playlist may be over, but the progressive metal wheel shall keep moving!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Blind Guardian - "Imaginations From the Other Side" from Imaginations From the Other Side (1995)

5/5. The opening title track of this absolute gem of a Blind Guardian album is one of the best album openers and power metal songs I've heard in my life. It picks up where things left off from the end of their previous album Somewhere Far Beyond, this time with more atmospheric structure. The vocal density would be further displayed in the next album Nightfall in Middle-Earth, as well as those harmonic guitar leads. EPIC!!!!

Galneryus - "Finally, It Comes!" from The Stars Will Light the Way (2024)

5/5. I think I just found my new favorite Japanese metal band in Galneryus. The music and lyrics are so strong and never disappoint. This song in particular takes many cues from their earlier songs has the same "stars and space" vibe as DragonForce. They've also taken on 7-string B-flat tuning similar to recent Trivium.

Trivium - "Until the World Goes Cold" from Silence in the Snow (2015)

3/5. Speaking of Trivium's new 7-string B-flat-tuned era, well... This one is kind of a plodding track, but still an acceptable hit in a Guardians playlist.

Black Sabbath - "Hole in the Sky" from Sabotage (1975)

3.5/5. Time for one of a couple tributes here to the late mighty Ozzy Osbourne, sadly already taken to Heaven. RIP

Battle Beast - "Here We Are" from Here We Are (2025)

4/5. Earlier this year, I wasn't thinking I would actually return to The Guardians, but HERE WE ARE!!! And I'll never regret it any time soon! All the band members have power and talent shining within them.

Metal Church - "Metal Church" from Metal Church (1984)

3.5/5. Should there be a metal mosque for Muslims like me? Anyway, this is a good mind-blowing classic, but I think it's more suited for people from my dad's generation.

Halford - "Resurrection" from Resurrection (2000)

4/5. Rob Halford is quite f***ing impressive in his vocal range, able to keep his highs going from the intro onwards.

Judas Priest - "The Serpent and the King" from Invincible Shield (2024)

4.5/5. And there's more of Halford's vocal power in his main band Judas Priest. He still sounds as mighty as he was in the 70s and 80s, and the other band members have strong fire within their respective instruments. So monstrous with nothing wasted!

Ozzy Osbourne - "Believer" from Diary of a Madmen (1981)

4/5. Another great tribute to the Prince of Darkness who brought metal to the light of day. RIP him and Randy Rhoads. Fantastic earth-shattering soloing from the latter at the 3-minute mark! These lyrics should help motivate you to believe in yourself.

Crimson Glory - "Masque of the Red Death" from Transcendence (1988)

4.5/5. Now this song continues to kick a**! RIP Midnight, another fallen legend of a vocalist. I should really listen to this band and album more, as I had a few years before this comment. His high vocals covering the last minute of the track shows that he and vocalists from other bands like Queensryche need more attention, not pop stars like Ed Sheeran whose vocal range is more limited yet still get all the fame. Classic music like this should never be forgotten!

Accept - "Shadow Soldiers" from Stalingrad (2012)

4/5. Wolf Hoffmann is a master of the guitar in German classic metal. His work should be appreciated as much as other guitar heroes in the rest of Europe, UK, and America.

Mercyful Fate - "Melissa" from Melissa (1983)

4.5/5. Beautiful melancholy and strong lyrical poetry! As I'm already 26, my music mind has expanded more in different areas, mostly metal of course. I don't mind a small bit from this band that would plant the seed for satanism in metal that would form the lyrical basis of black metal. I love the guitar leads in the intro that the soloing 4 minutes later. Why take something like that for granted!? The drumming is also good, and while I enjoy King Diamond's vocals, I wish it would have the same power Rob Halford has.

Manowar - "Battle Hymn" from Battle Hymns (1982)

4/5. I probably would've love this band a lot more when I was 16 and enjoy the sh*t out of fantasy-filled heavy/power metal, but back then I wasn't into music from the 80s or earlier. Just like the previous track, the best guitar soloing happens in over the 4-minute mark. I also love the epic vocals here!

Sabaton - "The Duelist" from The Duelist (2025)

4.5/5. Songs like this should also be appreciated for the music and lyrical concept. Simply cool!

Beyond the Black - "Break the Silence" from Break the Silence (2025)

5/5. I'm really breaking my symphonic metal silence with the first of not one but 3 gems from bands of that genre that I wish I discovered 10 years prior! This would be a grand recommendation for symphonic metal fans!

Xandria - "Fight Me" from India (2005)

5/5. I only just started hearing about Xandria a couple years ago when temporarily filling in for Xephyr in assembling the Guardians playlists. This is the first song from this band that I actually consider perfect! Lisa Middelhauve has some of the best female singing around.

Amberian Dawn - "River of Tuoni" from River of Tuoni (2008)

5/5. I've actually encountered this track 10 years before this comment but for some reason, that band didn't hop aboard my symphonic/power metal train at the time. Now I realize how epic this song is, as the lyrics take on the death of Lemminkäinen from the Kalevala. The intro riffing sounds cool, though the real beauty comes the voice of an angel, Heidi Parviainen, singing smoothly and serenely, just like Tarja Turunen. I should keep up this search for underrated symphonic/power metal bands. H*ll, I really want to move to Finland and the rest of Scandinavia for some awesome metal there. This band should really be as popular as Nightwish, Epica, and Within Temptation.

Within Temptation - "Iron" from The Unforgiving (2011)

4.5/5. And speaking of Within Temptation, this track is so heavy and epic, right from the intro riffing onwards. The song itself reminds me of DragonForce's "Cry Thunder" and it's better at that than those poor rip-offs like Warkings' cover of that song and Sabaton's "Union".

Kiuas - "Warrior Soul" from The Spirit of Ukko (2005)

5/5. A f***ing hammering power metal anthem. Enough said!

Golden Resurrection - "Identity in Christ" from Man with a Mission (2011)

4.5/5. That's right, Christian neoclassical power metal exists! Christian Liljegren has amazing widely ranged vocals as he sings about the eternal truth and finding his identity in his god. These kinds of lyrics help the band stand out amongst the power metal scene of bands like Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian, Sabaton, and Powerwolf.

Yngwie Malmsteen - "World on Fire" from World on Fire (2016)

4.5/5. In a time when metal is about adding more guitar strings than just 6 per guitar, Yngwie Malmsteen still has his 6-string magic. Lots of incredible different changes in the guitar tone here. He can really go fast and furious!

Visions of Atlantis - "Seven Seas" from Trinity (2007)

5/5. And now we slow down for one of the best songs by Visions of Atlantis! Well, as much as I love the vocals by Melissa Ferlaak, their first female vocalist Nicole Bogner really helped the band out in their earlier years. RIP...

Dark Moor - "Dies Irae (Amadeus)" from The Gates of Oblivion (2002)

5/5. Then at last, we reach the epic climax of this playlist, paying tribute to Mozart's works. The most incredible guitar technicality by Enrik Garcia is one of the many things that make this Dark Moor's most fascinating epic. As incredible as this is, I feel like there could've been slight trimming to tone down some of the repetition. Still I wouldn't change a thing, and it's all worth it in the end. One tiny miniscule flaw won't weigh anything down.

Stratovarius - "Goodbye" from Fright Night (1989)

4.5/5. Now how about a beautiful yet melancholic acoustic outro to end it all? Goodbye until next time in the Guardians playlist....

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

September 2025

1. Architects - "Deep Fake" from The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Lord of the Lost, Within Temptation - "Light Can Only Shine in the Darkness" from Light Can Only Shine in the Darkness (2025)

3. Mechina - "Vanquisher" from Acheron (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Fear Factory - "Martyr" from Soul of a New Machine (1992)

5. Misery Loves Co. - "Sonic Attack" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

6. Acumen Nation - "Queener" from Territory=Universe (1996)

7. Tyrant of Death - "Because Death is Not Ready Yet" from Re Connect (2012)

8. Mass Hysteria - "Matiere Noire" from Matiere Noire (2015)

9. Sonic Violence - "Ritual" from Jagd (1990)

10. Killing Joke - "Mathematics of Chaos" from Pandemonium (1994)

11. Zynthetic - "Bled Dry" from Soundtrack for the Apocalypse (2010)

12. Rammstein - "Ich Will" from Mutter (2001)

13. OOMPH! - "Breathtaker" from Sperm (1994)

14. Circle of Dust - "Deviate (Blue Stahli Remix)" from alt_Machines (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Illidiance - "Mind Hunters" from Damage Theory (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Realize - "In Silence" from Two Human Minutes (2023)

17. Raubtier - "Varldsherravalde" from Skriet Fran Vildmarken (2010)

18. Skymning - "Trolltekk / Aggrotekk" from Machina Genova (2004)

19. Bong-Ra - "Bloodclot" from Black Noise (2025)

20. NOWHERE2RUN, Loathe - "Ant in the Afterbirth" from Ant in the Afterbith (2024)

21. Turmion Katilot - "Helvetin Torvet" from Universal Satan (2018)

22. Atrocious Filth - "Moans" from Moans (2016)

23. Eisbrecher - "Atem" from Die Holle Muss Warten (2012)

24. Neurotech - "Memory Eternal" from Memory Eternal (2024) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Fear of Domination - "Ruin" from Metanoia (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

September 2025

1. Aftershock - "Prelude to Forever" from Through the Looking Glass (1999)

2. Overcast - "Root Bound Apollo" from Reborn to Kill Again (2008)

3. Nora - "For the Travelers" from Loser's Intuition (2001)

4. Zao - "The Race of Standing Still" from (Self-Titled) (2001) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. August Burns Red - "Composure" from Messengers (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Poison the Well - "12/23/93" from The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation (1999)

7. The Breathing Process - "Inferno" from In Waking: Divinity (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Neaera - "Desecrators" from Let the Tempest Come (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Strife - "Lift" (3:35) from One Truth (1994)

10. Blood of the Martyrs - "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills" (3:41) from Once More With Feeling (2011)

11. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Horse Hunter" (3:11) from Ire Works (2007)

12. Car Bomb - "Blindsides" from Tiles Whispers Dreams (2025)

13. Converge - "Worms Will Feed / Rats Will Feast" from Axe to Fall (2009)

14. Frontierer - "Bunsen" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

15. Cult Leader - "Craft of Mourning" from A Patient Man (2018)

16. Drown in Sulphur - "The Sleeping Abomination" from Sulphur Cvlt (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Mental Cruelty - "Chapter II - The Rise of the Antichrist" from Purgatorium (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. A Wake in Providence - "The Court ov the Trinity" from Eternity (2022)

19. The Red Chord - "Breed the Cancer" from Fused Together in Revolving Doors (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Spitfire - "Quintenessence at Glance" from The Dead Next Door (1999)

21. Trivium - "Bury Me With My Screams" from Bury Me With My Screams (2025)

22. Annisokay - "Into the Gray" from Abyss Pt II (2025)

23. Avenged Sevenfold - "Second Heartbeat" from Waking the Fallen (2003)

24. Vision of Disorder - "Jada Bloom" from Imprint (1998)

25. Hope for the Dying - "Legacy" from Legacy (2016)

26. Wolves at the Gate - "The Father's Bargain" from VxV (2014)

September 2025

1. Blind Guardian - "Imaginations From the Other Side" from Imaginations From the Other Side (1995)

2. Galneryus - "Finally, It Comes!" from The Stars Will Light the Way (2024)

3. Trivium - "Until the World Goes Cold" from Silence in the Snow (2015)

4. Black Sabbath - "Hole in the Sky" from Sabotage (1975)

5. Battle Beast - "Here We Are" from Here We Are (2025)

6. Metal Church - "Metal Church" from Metal Church (1984)

7. Halford - "Resurrection" from Resurrection (2000)

8. Judas Priest - "The Serpent and the King" from Invincible Shield (2024)

9. Ozzy Osbourne - "Believer" from Diary of a Madmen (1981)

10. Crimson Glory - "Masque of the Red Death" from Transcendence (1988)

11. Accept - "Shadow Soldiers" from Stalingrad (2012) [Suggested by Sonny]

12. Mercyful Fate - "Melissa" from Melissa (1983)

13. Manowar - "Battle Hymn" from Battle Hymns (1982)

14. Sabaton - "The Duelist" from The Duelist (2025)

15. Beyond the Black - "Break the Silence" from Break the Silence (2025)

16. Xandria - "Fight Me" from India (2005)

17. Amberian Dawn - "River of Tuoni" from River of Tuoni (2008)

18. Within Temptation - "Iron" from The Unforgiving (2011)

19. Kiuas - "Warrior Soul" from The Spirit of Ukko (2005) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Golden Resurrection - "Identity in Christ" from Man with a Mission (2011)

21. Yngwie Malmsteen - "World on Fire" from World on Fire (2016)

22. Visions of Atlantis - "Seven Seas" from Trinity (2007)

23. Dark Moor - "Dies Irae (Amadeus)" from The Gates of Oblivion (2002)

24. Stratovarius - "Goodbye" from Fright Night (1989)

Here's my submission for the October Gateway playlist, my first single-track submission since my switch from The Gateway to The Guardians, and it's a long epic too:

Slipknot - Iowa (from Iowa, 2001)

Update for October:

THE FALLEN: VINNY, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: ANDI, Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: ANDI, Sonny, Karl

THE HORDE: KARL, Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: SAXY, Andi

THE NORTH: SONNY, Karl, Vinny

THE PIT: SONNY, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

This track is from Blue Stahli's Antisleep instrumental album series that mostly centers around electro-industrial tracks. However, as much as this track tries to go the EDM/house route similar to Avicii and David Guetta, it actually has a similar vein to Neurotech's Evasive, touching in on Deathstars and Turmion Katilot, giving it a somewhat industrial/cyber metal vibe, enough for it to fit well in The Sphere:

One of only two tracks I like in this release, it's not often you hear a track that's basically power metal/grind/deathcore:

One of only two tracks I like in this release, this one has a brutal breakdown similar to early Job for a Cowboy:

This heavy epic track I still consider one of the best standouts in Within Temptation's career:

"Evolution" and "Set the World on Fire" are both wonderful highlights. "Egypt" and "Paradise Lost" (the title track) are also great but could've been improved more in my opinion.

One of the greatest epics in the metal part of my existence that I'm grateful to revisit after so many years away from what I once knew:

Another awesome epic of unbreakable glory:

This short highlight shows that the band can kick a** with their progressive neoclassical metal sound:

Some of the best melodic progressive metal occurs in one of my favorite tracks by this band, filled with neoclassical madness:

The greatest conclusion to Rhapsody (of Fire)'s first 5-album saga:

A 5-part 13-minute progressive epic that serves as the literal centerpiece of the "A New Age Dawns" saga and would itself spawn a couple sequels in subsequent albums:

Dark Moor's most fascinating epic, paying tribute to Mozart's works:

Just a few months after he left the band. Another metal legend gone. RIP Brent Hinds 

This opening track is a favorite of mine and my brother's, proving that Elvis metal works like a dream:

One of the most climatic album-closing tracks in standard heavy metal, despite being from a 2000s album that blends the genre with rockabilly:

If you can get hooked by the neoclassical leads and melodic chorus in this memorable 9-minute epic, you'll definitely wanna stick around for the rest:

Glad you're doing well, Zach. Hope you continue living the good Florida life!

Pretty much the DragonForce "Ring of Fire" cover of this Nightwish album, I used to love it, but now, f*** this sh*t:

A fantastic epic paying tribute to the animated works of Disney:

But this 2007 reissue bonus track is also worth going an extra mile:

A live rendition of what still reigns as one of my favorite Nightwish songs today:

Still one of the best album openers and power metal songs I've heard to this very day:

Ben, please add the Snapcase album Designs for Automotion. It qualifies as Alternative Metal within the RYM 2:1 ratio: FOR - 6, AGAINST - 2.

The perfect anthem to start this early metalcore/hardcore gem:

Another one's coming as well! Dark Angel's looooooong-awaited new album will come out next month.

From djenty deathcore breakdowns and monstrous vocals to guitar tremolos blast beats, the violent quest for heaviness rolls on:

Sparse Gojira-esque melody is balanced out with the rest of the song's intensity:

This expansive standout displays more of the band's ongoing quest for the ultimate heaviness:

With the opening highlight of Humanity's Last Breath's sophomore album, the brutality hasn't withered away since their 2013 debut:

You can't go wrong with brutality in deathcore and djent, they know how to bust sh*t hard:

Both parts of the brutal "Bellua" suite are better suited as a full 8-minute epic. You can enjoy both parts here, but I'm telling you, it's one of those "better together" situations:

One of the most epic and innovative metal tracks I've heard in my life, in The Revolution or any other clan:

Seriously, listeners should check this song out for all its symphonic grandeur:

A fantastic progressive start to another one of Hope for the Dying's epic journeys:

Good feedback, Sonny! And sorry about those first two tracks affecting your plan to switch clans.

No worries, Sonny. Better slightly late than too close to when the playlists are due. This was also one of my favorite Accept songs when I was listening to that band. Submission accepted with thanks!

This glorious 15-minute 3-track suite works better with every part stitched together as a whole, and I've literally just done that as my own video:

Part of the revival of my Guardians interest comes from some bands of other genres that I like. Mechina is an obvious example by how much i enjoy them, but Hope for the Dying would also have a say in this with their symphonic metalcore sound that includes more progressive structures and Two Steps From Hell-esque orchestra:

A killer neoclassical metalcore standout to start Hope for the Dying's first offering:

THEY'RE FUCKING BACK!

F*** YEAH, THEY'RE BACK!!!! And they're back HARD!!! Honestly the heaviest I've heard from these Swiss tech-thrash masters!

Good photo, Sonny! That can also double as a potential Spotify blackgaze playlist image.

That is kind of a strange trend going on in some metal genres. It's like, take a photo of countryside with power lines and at least at one lamp post, add fluro color effects, and BOOM, you have an album cover. One less common theory might be that the band members don't have enough money in their budget to hire a professional photographer or artist to make artwork and, in the current decade, don't wanna have to resort to AI. This trend also seems to spread beyond blackgaze/post-metal, before Deafheaven caused blackgaze to erupt in popularity. One example being Katatonia's Dead End Kings, which I wouldn't consider too strange because it's an artwork made by the talented graphic artist Travis Smith, and his works often have diversity and experimentation:

A strange closing stinker, even for me:

One of the most quintessential songs in early sludgy math/metalcore: