Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

And now for one of the more popular bands in the Christian alt-metal/metalcore scene:

Demon Hunter - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mlaMr1Nf1YzQpIind6IZi

Disc 1

1. Infected

2. The Gauntlet

3. Not Ready to Die

4. Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator

5. Not I

6. One Thousand Apologies

7. Sixteen

8. Follow the Wolves

9. Collapsing

10. The World is a Thorn

11. Feel as Though You Could

12. Tomorrow Never Comes

13. Dead Flowers

Disc 2

1. Death

2. Beyond Me

3. Jesus Wept

4. The End

5. Cut to Fit

6. The Negative

7. Peace

8. Fear is Not My Guide

9. Loneliness (Resurrected)

10. Silence the World

11. Godless

12. Sorrow Light the Way

13. There Was a Light Here

And now for one of the more popular bands in the Christian alt-metal/metalcore scene:

Demon Hunter

1. The World is a Thorn

2. The Triptych

3. Storm the Gates of Hell

4. True Defiance

5. Summer of Darkness

6. Extremist

7. Demon Hunter

8. War

9. Outlive

10. There Was a Light Here

11. Peace

12. Exile

13. Songs of Death and Resurrection

An absolutely epic and emotional highlight with no breakdowns, basically extreme power-ish symphonic metal, enough to qualify in this thread:

The band tries so hard to sound like fellow Christian alt-rock band Skillet here, but there isn't enough ambition and it comes out as one of the worst tracks they've ever done:

Probably the best Demon Hunter track since the highlights from their 3rd, 4th, and 5th albums (the grand album triptych):

One of the only tracks in Demon Hunter's new album to qualify for The Revolution, this opening highlight may be the closest to the band's earlier melodic metalcore roots:

Plankton AI metal is back again, here's another solid banger:

An epic of triumph and emotion, perhaps Lorna Shore's greatest achievement! More info in my review once their new album gets added to the site:

I couldn't find any of the Cream Abdul Babar tracks from that split EP on YouTube, but I was able to find the sh*tter of Teen Cthulhu's side:

The more black metal-ish track of Teen Cthulhu's side of the EP:

A well-done combination of metalcore and symphonic black metal before early Abigail Williams made it cool:

Ben, please add Ära Krâ.

Indeed. The vocalist of one of Gothenburg melodeath's pioneering bands is sadly gone. RIP Tomas Lindberg 

Despite heading back to the melodic progressive/power metal zone, I enjoy a few of the more modern metalcore bands, like this formerly Christian metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona:

And this Finnish band that started off as modernized old-school thrash metal but ending up going the alt-metal/metalcore route starting with their 2020 album:

Early Norwegian progressive/power metal with wonderful singing by Roy Khan who would later join Kamelot:

Once again, my return to The Guardians has caused my heavy/power/symphonic metal interest to be reborn and rapidly expand. Here are 6 bands of those genres that I've heard of when I was still completely in that zone 10 years ago (except The Dark Element), but didn't start listening to them full-time until I rediscovered them in the playlists that I've assembled in the last few months:

Ben, please add the 2003 Cream Abdul Babar / Teen Cthulhu split album.

Breaking boundaries further is this standout featuring the Stimmgewalt choir, sounding similar to Moonspell's more symphonic works:

Another well-done piece of gothic/industrial metal:

Starting off hard is this majestic opener of aggression and beauty:

An epic rendition of a Pet Shop Boys classic, even more than Gamma Ray's cover:

The melancholy sounds absolutely right in this gothic cover of a Bronski Beat hit:

A highlight by these masters of war-themed power metal, sounding both catchy and epic:

A grand majestic 10-minute epic summarizing all this album has:

The Chronicles of Eden is one of the most essential compilation albums for a band, with the first disc consisting of bonus tracks for their first 5 albums, including this awesome cover of a James Bond movie theme:

And the second disc having two full songs per album; one greatest hit and one 8+ minute epic, the latter including one of the most melodic epics I've heard in my over a decade of listening to metal:

A massive 12-minute epic with killer riffing, synths, and vocals by a few of the guest vocalists:

And there are some more of those splendid vocals from those vocalists and a couple more in the bonus track:

Here's my one submission for the October Horde playlist, Sonny:

Warmen - "Untouched" (from Band of Brothers, 2025)

Here's my one submission for the October Fallen playlist, Sonny:

Within Temptation - "Enter" (from Enter, 1997)

Children of Bodom-esque melodeath from a band once known for its neoclassical power metal sound:

Perhaps the most Christmas-like melodic metal song since some songs by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Majestica's Christmas Carol, worth listening in the holiday season:

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

With my recent return to The Guardians, I've become more determined to discover more heavy/power metal that's either brand-new or I haven't heard before but wish I had 10 years ago when those two genres were my main focus. This month's Guardians feature release is worth continuing my journey. It's time to check out this band Blazon Rite and listen to them sing their Wild Rites and Ancient Songs! It's quite a promising album with tough instrumentation and melodic writing. I also love the song titles, even though they all look like those AI-generated song titles with at least 5 words each. Considering the amount of bands who get put down for any alleged usage of AI, I just hope this band doesn't get wrongfully accused. The songs are often midpaced or fast, though they can slow down for the occasional bard-sung waltz. In the modern age of metal, not many people expect epic melodies within the way of classic heavy/power metal, but bands like Blazon Rite still have their exciting glory. It's great hearing this band bring more life to a style of metal that has withered decades after its highest peak. This offering shall appeal to listeners wanting more epicness and melody in metal without any cheese or orchestra. It's a Blazon Rite of passage!

4.5/5

A fantastic highlight resurrecting the earlier thrashy aggression:

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

Creativity and technology were really advancing in the 90s. ONE MAN, Klayton decided to put his music skills to the test as a once-unknown man determined to fulfill his vision. His project Circle of Dust takes on industrial metal fury that has given him a reasonable fanbase. Turmoils over record labels and the target audience caused the end of the project. He would start his next project Celldweller and formed his own label FiXT, having more electronic rock/industrial metal freedom. Early hints of Circle of Dust returning came in 2015 with a couple remixes of Celldweller and Scandroid (his electronic side-project) tracks. Later that year, it was announced that he finally regained to the albums he made as Circle of Dust, as well as Argyle Park, re-releasing them in remastered forms with a huge array of bonus material. While he has completely brought all of his 90s work back to light, there was one thing left to prove that Circle of Dust isn't dead... A new album! Machines of Our Disgrace, released in late 2016, has the blazing aggression of industrial metal you've known from Circle of Dust, probably the best album since Brainchild. Some of the best lyrics, riffs, keys, and samples can be found in this album. There's more of the cyber complexity from the first two albums as well as the synths and beats of Disengage. Well-produced compositions push through the limits of industrial metal, coming out as another perfect achievement. The music and lyrics are both heavy and compelling, with the concept of striking back against the mechanical atrocities of the world. Klayton has proven himself to be a master of industrial rock/metal, and longtime fans can enjoy this music that's so complex and intense. Circle of Dust has returned, and the vision has come full circle!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Machines of Our Disgrace", "Contagion", "Humanarchy", "Hive Mind", "Outside In", "Neurachem", "Neophyte"

For fans of: Argyle Park, Blue Stahli, Celldweller

Yet another highlight worth giving lots of praise to, for some of its different versions:

I also enjoy this Blue Stahli remix of a different track from the album:

These tracks were in the original 1992 edition of Circle of Dust's self-titled debut and were never re-recorded because of how much Klayton hated them. And I have to agree, these two sh*tty tracks should never have existed:

I really dig this Circle of Dust highlight, so much so that I love a few different versions of it:

An awesome piece of industrial rock/metal greatness:

But this Blue Stahli remix from the deluxe remastering gives another already great song more life:

Another true anthem of melodic deathcore:

An absolutely phenomenal melodic deathcore highlight! WILL YOU PURSUE?!

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

There has been some talk about As Blood Runs Black's debut Allegiance being similar to The Black Dahlia Murder. I haven't listened to a lot of that band, but based on the few songs I've heard from TBDM, I can totally understand. Allegiance I would consider more of a blend of deathcore and melodeath. And everything is in perfect place, including the breakdowns! This is also back when melodic deathcore was more deathly and less blackened/symphonic than their younger peers. Allegiance has the fast guitarwork, melodic soloing, and brutal breakdowns to expect in any metalcore/deathcore album. Vocals range from blackened to deathly. Lots of blast beats are used in the drumming. And the songs are all under 5 minutes in length, so don't expect any progressive epics. The breakdowns actually have audible bass which isn't quite common in other parts of the album. This album would've been 100% perfect but ends up getting a couple percentage points knocked off for a beautiful yet unfitting acoustic interlude in the middle. Still, Allegiance is the best place for anyone wanting to test out deathcore for the first time without going into the popular new wave of symphonic blackened deathcore. I just hope As Blood Runs Black would return with another masterpiece like this without any acoustic interludes. We need more straight-up melodic deathcore, seriously!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "In Dying Days", "My Fears Have Become Phobias", "The Brighter Side of Suffering", "Strife (Chug Chug)", "Legends Never Die"

For fans of: All Shall Perish, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Crimson Armada

Another glorious 7-minute epic of unforgiving riffing:

This massive 80-minute journey is all worth it once you reach this 10-minute sonic behemoth of a closing epic:

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

A decade had passed since the djenty debut album by Vildhjarta, Masstaden, the album that pushed the boundaries of djent just like when Meshuggah invented it in the mid-90s. The long wait for their second album is partially because of Calle Thomer (guitar) and Buster Odeholm (drums) being focused on fellow thall developer Humanity's Last Breath. They still have their perfect groove-ish progressive djent in this next album, the massive 80-minute Masstaden Under Vatten (Seagull Town Underwater)! While thall can mean anything, I would say it's as evil and strong as Thrall, the World of Warcraft character that inspired the genre's name. This is exemplified by the complexity, atmosphere, and downtuned heaviness that make the subgenre, following the band's unconventional ways including no set structure, destructive riffing, and clean melody only used for haunting atmosphere, thereby maintaining the band's aggressive evolution. The talent of each member shines from the vocals of Vilhelm Bladin, the drums of Odeholm, the guitars of Thomer and Daniel Bergstrom, and the bass of Johan Nyberg, all drifting through dark djenty waters. The thall sound has opened up dimensions of darkness and brutality that barely any other band could. This is true kaos!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Nar De Du Alskar Kommer Tillbaka Fran De Doda", "Toxin", "Den Helige Anden", "Passage Noir", "Vagabond", "Detta Drommars Skote en Sloja Till Ormars Naste", "Sunset Sunrise", "Sunset Sunrise Sunset Sunrise", "Paaradiso"

For fans of: Humanity's Last Breath, Meshuggah, Reflections

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

Blue Stahli - "Not Over Til We Say So" (3:41) from The Devil (2015)

A Dark Halo - "Unbreakable" (4:27) from Catalyst (2006)

The Interbeing - "In the Transcendence" (3:08) from Edge of the Obscure (2011)

Mechina - "Praise Hydrus" (8:15) from Venator (2022)

Neurotech - "Escapism" (6:22) from Exo Escapism (2025)

Omega Lithium - "Point Blank" (3:57) from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

Total length: 29:50

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

The Breathing Process - "Metamorphosis" (4:21) from Odyssey (Un)Dead (2010)

Cave In - "N.I.B." (4:17) from Anomalies, Vol. 1 (2010) (RIP Ozzy Osbourne)

Fear of Domination - "Inner Lies" (4:03) from VI: Revelation (2021)

It Dies Today - "Marigold" (3:06) from The Caitiff Choir (2004)

We Came as Romans - "Dreams" (4:15) from To Plant a Seed (2009)

While She Sleeps - "Gates of Paradise" (5:20) from So What? (2019)

Winds of Plague - "The Impaler" (3:01) from Decimate the Weak (2008)

Total length: 28:23

For the October Infinite playlist, I'd like to nominate this long epic that's one of the best of melodic progressive metal:

Symphony X - "The Odyssey" (24:09) from The Odyssey (2002)

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the October Guardians playlist:

Galneryus - "My Hope is Gone" (7:00) from Into the Purgatory (2019)

Masterplan - "Music" (7:27) from PumpKings (2017)

Powerwolf - "Fire & Forgive" (4:30) from The Sacrament of Sin (2018)

Visions of Atlantis - "Lemuria" (3:41) from Cast Away (2004)

Warkings - "Armata Strigoi" (4:14) from Morgana (2022)

Total length: 26:52

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Architects - "Deep Fake" from The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit (2022)

4/5. The opening track of its original album and this playlist has the band's typical riff-wrath in a slower industrial march. The lyrics pay tribute to their previous album, "But the rest of us wish to exist". We have a killer blend of riffs and synths here. It's clear that they're following Bring Me the Horizon's footsteps during their Post Human era. Sam Carter even channels his own Oli Sykes in the heavy chorus. Carter might be able to sing that one song featuring Sykes by himself. Anyway, great track!

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

4.5/5. Lord of the Lost and Sharon den Adel are practically a match made in Heaven! Her vocals shining in the band's symphonic/industrial metal sound adds a new dimension of dark yet bright serenity.

Mechina - "Vanquisher" from Acheron (2015)

5/5. Another powerful highlight, this one working well separately from the concept as a pre-release single.

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

5/5. This highlight already shows the band's audacity of beginning with a verse of brutal guitar and growls and then switching to a clean bridge midway through. Well played!

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

3.5/5. This one starts off in a ballad-like pace, then the sharp riffing aggression continues.

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

4/5. A great track of electro-industrial metal. RIP James Duffy

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

4.5/5. It's sad that some talented people have to go, but death is not ready yet for this underrated shining star of djenty industrial metal, Alex Rise.

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

4/5. The beginning samples here sound like a NASA rocket launch, great metaphor for this song blasting off into French industrial metal.

Sonic Violence - "Ritual" from Jagd (1990)

4.5/5. This one is a loud puncher with simple yet intriguing lyrics, "For devotion, read mental abuse, to bind together, the love prostitutes".

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

4/5. This one takes you into a metallic trance, as the wizardry of the instrumentation is in clear production, thanks to Youth.

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

4.5/5. My brother enjoys playing "shoot 'em up" video games like Killing Floor and Left 4 Dead. He also likes the soundtrack, whether it's the OST or rock/metal bands contributing with their own songs. From the 20-second intro, you're already in for some eerie electro-industrial metal with background growls/screams. You can have fun slaying your enemies in the game while listening to this track. Quite inspiring despite having absolute zero lyrics. This also might remind some of Nine Inch Nails' more experimental noise material. In these kinds of games, it's all about skill and survival.

Rammstein - "Ich Will" from Mutter (2001)

4/5. The keyboard/guitar rhythm is so catchy though can get tiring after many listens. This song of desire for fame has made a fantastic live staple.

OOMPH! - "Breathtaker" from Sperm (1994)

3.5/5. Indeed what the title suggests, unlike most of that album.

Circle of Dust - "Deviate (Blue Stahli Remix)" from alt_Machines (2018)

5/5. Klayton and Blue Stahli have remixed so many of each other's tracks. They should really make a collaboration album sometime! One of the best remixes by Blue Stahli!

Illidiance - "Mind Hunters" from Damage Theory (2010)

4.5/5. Fear Factory has planted the seed for the cyber metal subgenre, with one of those bands including Illidiance. Sybreed and Breach the Void are definitely part of that wave too. And don't forget the more epic bands like Mechina and Neurotech. Anyway, I enjoy the clean/harsh vocal harmonies, definitely like a more futuristic Disarmonia Mundi and The Human Abstract.

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

4/5. Now we're getting into a more experimental lineup of tracks, starting with this one.

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

3.5/5. Not as highly experimental as the next few tracks, but there are interesting parts to like such as the second verse one and a half minutes in.

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

3/5. This one's more aggrotech-ish than I accounted for while still metal.

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

3.5/5. Now we have a straight-on interlude, but it's better than the previous track.

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

4/5. Members of Code Orange and Loathe have collaborated with each other for a cyber industrial track. It has a similar vibe to late-80s Ministry and Marilyn Manson, the latter whom Reba Meyers has been performing with lately.

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

4.5/5. In this excellent gem, you can hear some of the most diverse lyrics from the band, all fitting well with the music they're known for.

Atrocious Filth - "Moans" (5:21) from Moans (2016)

4/5. Lots of atmospheric power similar to the late 80s industrial metal developing classics by Godflesh and Ministry.

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

4.5/5. One more hauntingly beautiful Neue Deutsche Harte track.

Neurotech - "Memory Eternal" from Memory Eternal (2024)

5/5. This one is a progressive cyber metal monument. Pretty much everything Neurotech fans love is in in this 8-minute epic. A much better one than the title track of Solace!

Fear of Domination - "Ruin" from Metanoia (2018)

5/5. The absolute best highlight of its original album and this playlist! It's one of the most experimental tracks by the band, starting off doomy before exploding into a ballad when some Apocalyptica-like cellos and jazzy magic. So different yet a perfect way out!

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

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

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

4/5. It's not often a metalcore album or playlist starts with a 7 and a half minute epic, but here we are. Ambient feedback rises before a couple minutes of heavy sludgy riffing and drumming. So basically, the first third of the song is an instrumental. As the vocals come in, the tempo in the riffing slowly increases from mid-tempo to finally reaching a punky thrash pace. This is early groove-ish metalcore at its finest, sounding quite heavy without ever having to resort low djent tunings. Fast riffing, catchy hooks, and deathly breakdowns, all in the moderately heavy drop C tuning. What more can you ask for in metalcore?

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

4.5/5. Thundering riffs and rhythms continue in this song that was meant to be for Overcast's then-shelved 3rd album and ended up in Shadows Fall's album Of One Blood. It still remains one of my favorite early-ish metalcore songs with a fast searing Metallica-like solo, alongside the thrashy riffing and vocals.

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

4/5. Then we have one of the heaviest anthems I've heard from this band. The riffs and tempo practically shapeshift into different forms, even slowing down for the dark effects of Godflesh. Indeed for the metalcore travelers!

Zao - "The Race of Standing Still" from (Self-Titled) (2001)

4.5/5. Songs like this remain eternal classics, just like many of the tracks from albums like Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest. The intro might remind some of Deftones before their usual metalcore rises. "RISING TOWARDS IT!!!" They can sing about death without adding deathly elements to their music. This band, Haste the Day, and Poison the Well would bring metalcore to a greater light in the early 2000s.

August Burns Red - "Composure" from Messengers (2007)

5/5. One of the band's best and most popular songs, with lyrics about keeping yourself together and carrying on. The song itself features an exciting headbanging breakdown with dual guitar harmony.

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

5/5. After the beginning drum roll by Chris Hornbrook, there's a lot of fury from the guitar and vocals. Jeffrey Moreira has wonderful vocals as he screams well-written lyrics at the top of his lungs. Not a lot of metalcore vocalists have the same rage as Jeffrey, and that's probably good health-wise. That, along with active smoking and when he used his screaming offstage after finding out the band's equipment was stolen, would lead to him suffering a collapsed lung, but he recovered. Anyway, he also does some clean singing that helps the band standout among other early metalcore bands.

The Breathing Process - "Inferno" from In Waking: Divinity (2008)

4.5/5. An earlier track from the I Am Legion demo, and I love the clean chorus here. If they had more of that in the actual album, I would rate it higher.

Neaera - "Desecrators" from Let the Tempest Come (2006)

4/5. Another kick-A track from this melodeath/metalcore band bordering in deathcore.

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

3.5/5. This one lifts things up through hardcore fire.

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

5/5. Absolutely loving this track. The drumming isn't totally perfect, but everything else it. More from this band please!

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

4.5/5. An amazing track usual TDEP mathcore before going into their Zappa influences, more furious groove, spacey synths, and guest vocals by Mastodon's Brent Hinds. This was a last-minute addition to the playlist after finding out about Brent's passing. RIP

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

4.5/5. Savage drumming and guitar by Elliot Hoffman and Greg Kubacki, respectively. It might be worth listening to in a car ride, but at the risk of ending up in sonic speed.

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

5/5. This crushing two-part choice cut slows the action down to sludgy doom.

Frontierer - "Bunsen" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

4.5/5. More of the mathcore action comes in with tons of noisy distortion in a catchy fashion.

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

4/5. Some of the most f***ing deathly mathcore I've heard! Some might get Cannibal Corpse/Spawn of Possession vibes here.

Drown in Sulphur - "The Sleeping Abomination" from Sulphur Cvlt (2021)

4.5/5. The lyrics strike with their dark universal concept in the best song of this Drown in Sulphur album.

Mental Cruelty - "Chapter II - The Rise of the Antichrist" from Purgatorium (2018)

5/5. One of the most technical tracks by this band. This relentless charger is like a more brutal Within the Ruins!

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

5/5. This one very well summarizes both this deathcore trilogy and its original trilogy with lots of exciting moments. In all honesty, the original trilogy really should be performed in a live setting in its entirety. No separating the tracks!

The Red Chord - "Breed the Cancer" from Fused Together in Revolving Doors (2002)

4.5/5. Another perfect highlight! Though this one I consider outside of that deathcore trilogy.

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

4.5/5. One of the most quintessential songs in early math/metalcore, with Rosetta-esque sludgy tempo.

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

5/5. Trivium is back with a vengeance, filled with awesome heavy groove. Hopefully the Struck Dead EP would lead up to the new album next year.

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

4.5/5. Another powerful new track, this one being more of a ballad, sounding like a more electronic Imminence. Nice vocals by both vocalists!

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

4/5. F***ing underrated track compared to their more popular singles. The ending solo is one of the best by the band, especially with its drop C tuning.

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

4.5/5. Late 90s metalcore has spawned some great treasures. It really touches my heart as pretty much one of the first ever uplifting metalcore ballads. I've also heard that one of their songs (not this one) features Phil Anselmo. The beat is still quite hammering, along with the addictive heavy starting riff. Around that time, this band and Fear Factory were the ones popularizing this clean/scream blend. So f***ing beautiful, especially that second half!

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

5/5. My ultimate favorite track of its original album and this playlist is the 9-minute title epic that really packs some punches. A smooth two-minute bridge comes in midway through before some blazing soloing out of nowhere. Then it ends with soft strings.

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

4.5/5. "What kind of love is this, friends? What kind of love is that is so big, so without bounds, that He would come, He would want, He would want to do so much to rescue people who wanted nothing to do with Him? Who fought Him even when He came to cleave us from hell? What kind of love is it that sees us in our filth, comes to rescue us, sees us resist that rescue, but continues to rescue us anyway? What foolishness is this? That He would come offer us rescue and we would say, 'No!' Why? What are we gaining by our resistance? Oh, how glorious He is, that He saw you like that and didn’t give up!" A well-spoken quote from this Christian metalcore track to end this playlist, suitable for anyone whether or not raised as a Christian.

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

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!