Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

A Spotify playlist I've made based on my Neurotech favorite tracks list: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fe4e87QJUw8Ej9JxkUUEu

After my Neurotech album reviewing marathon, I thought I would share my top 20 favorite tracks from that band:

1. (Ultra) Us - Infra Versus Ultra (2014)

2. Part II - Revelation - Blue Screen Planet (2011)

3. Escapism - Exo Escapism (2025)

4. To Theta State - Stigma (2015)

5. Atlas - Infra Versus Ultra (2014)

6. Memory Eternal - Memory Eternal (2024)

7. The Halcyon Symphony - Symphonies (2016)

8. The Serpent Bites - Ave Neptune (2023)

9. The Messianic Symphony - Symphonies II (2022)

10. We Are the Last - Antagonist (2011)

11. At a Standstill - The Catalyst (2017)

12. Light Betides - Solace (2021)

13. Decipher - The Decipher Volumes (2013)

14. Through Hardships - Stigma (2015)

15. Ectogenesis - Unreleased Demos (2011 - 2016) (2020)

16. The Lost Hope - In Remission (2016)

17. Transhuman - Transhuman (2008)

18. The Cyber Waltz - The Decipher Volumes (2013)

19. Alleviate - In Remission (2016)

20. Uplift - Evasive (2015)

And now for one of the most diverse one-man projects in industrial/cyber metal, coming from Slovenia:

Neurotech (including EPs that aren't compiled in albums)

1. Stigma

2. Infra Versus Ultra

3. Exo Escapism

4. Ave Neptune

5. Symphonies

6. Memory Eternal

7. Solace

8. The Decipher Volumes

9. The Catalyst

10. Symphonies II

11. Unreleased Demos (2011 - 2016)

12. Blue Screen Planet

13. In Remission

14. Antagonist

15. Transhuman

16. Evasive

Pretty much everything Neurotech fans love is in in this 8-minute progressive cyber metal monumental epic:

A powerful anthem and one of the best in this new and improved Neurotech:

A potential instant classic from the Stigma era:

A perfect 4-minute summary of the project's journey in the last album of the first part of Neurotech's career:

Many different acts woven together for one of the best epics done by Neurotech or any other artist:

An outstanding symphonic/cyber metal composition take your soul through a galactic adventure:

This epic highlight practically follows the footsteps of that Evasive track above:

The only track from Neurotech's electronic album Evasive to have enough of an industrial metal vibe for this thread:

An 11-minute ambient electronic instrumental that marks a perfect mini-journey of darkness and hope:

One of the only true highlights in this decent but bland very beginning of Neurotech's career:

The second third of Bellum Interruptum has arrived! Below are my thoughts on the tracks.

1. Bellum Interruptum - 10:42

2. On the Wings of Vecterra - 6:01

3. Invictus Thales - 7:04

The title track is my favorite track of this part, one of the best Mechina tracks I've heard in ages, a 10-minute epic that includes a spine-chillingly beautiful two-minute bridge in the middle. "On the Wings of Vecterra" comes close, JUST CLOSE, to surpassing the previous track, and this time the female vocals are mostly from Treasur Necole, who I'm guessing is Necole Wright from Venator's "Totemic", plus some wild shredding soloing by Dean Paul Arnold. "Invictus Thales" makes me think of Xenon's "Thales" along with "Invictus" by Neurotech in the title, but the song itself is different from those two, adding in some more of Dave Lowmiller's growls in duet with Mel Rose's cleans. At this point I have a feeling that Lowmiller really is replacing David Holch as the band's growling vocalist, though maybe Holch would appear in one of the tracks in the 3rd and final part premiering next week. That's what I'm hoping for along with "When Honor Meant Something" appearing in that part. I would be shocked if it doesn't. Stay tuned...

THE GATEWAY: Lacuna Coil - Karmacode (2006) 3/5

THE GUARDIANS: Trail of Tears - Winds of Disdain (2024) 5/5

THE INFINITE: Persefone - Aathma (2017) 4.5/5

THE NORTH: Stormlord - At the Gates of Utopia (2001) 4.5/5

THE REVOLUTION: Shadow of Intent - Melancholy (2019) 5/5

THE SPHERE: Neurotech - Ave Neptune (2023) 4.5/5

This month has been a wild ride through all of the feature releases for my clans, plus two feature releases outside my clans that had to be nominated by me due to Xephyr's departure from major activity in the site. They're all quite awesome except for The Gateway feature release that didn't hit me as well as it once did when I first heard it 10 years ago. Still I would recommend them all to fans of their respective genres. Keep up the good work on the feature releases, all!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Accept - "Metal Heart" from Metal Heart (1985)

4.5/5. 40 years ago, this is what metalheads call a banger, and I agree with them. I love how they added in some classical themes from Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

Capilla Ardiente - "The Hands of Fate Around My Neck" from Where Gods Live and Men Die (2024)

4/5. A doomy heavy metal epic. Enough said!

Throne of Iron - "Past the Doors of Death" from Adventure One (2020)

3.5/5. Same with this one, though here it has a more galloping pace.

Savatage - "Strange Reality" from Streets - A Rock Opera (1991)

4/5. Another melodic heavy metal highlight to sing along to.

Sabaton - "Unbreakable" from The Art of War (2008)

4.5/5. This progressive highlight is one of the best songs I've heard by Sabaton, and I still think that today. It's the band's own Black Sabbath "Heaven and Hell"!

Heavenly - "Sign of the Winner" from Sign of the Winner (2001)

5/5. Absolute power metal greatness with superb guitarwork by Frédéric Leclercq who would later become the bassist for DragonForce.

Blind Guardian - "Nightfall" from Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

4.5/5. I still know this track as a power metal classic, better than that d*mn "Bard's Song". This is how I knew the character Morgoth before the German death metal band.

Saxon - "Crusader" from Crusader (1984)

4/5. Anyone into NWOBHM, join the Saxon crusade!

Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" from Medieval Steel (1984, reissued on The Dungeon Tapes (2005))

4.5/5. I hope this doesn't sound sinful, but this track sounds like Twisted Sister gone Riot/Omen. That said, it really rocks out as a metal hymn. It's practically the band's own theme song! Not all heroes wear capes; some wield swords or play metal. Classic heavy metal can be quite interesting.

Lethal - "Arrival" from Programmed (1990) 

4/5. Classic tracks like this still exist. Keep it real!

Taramis - "Doesn't Seem" from Queen of Thieves (1988)

4.5/5. Cool 80s progressive power metal right there!

Conception - "Silent Crying" from Parallel Minds (1993)

5/5. A fantastic out-of-this world ballad, and I don't usually say that about ballads. I haven't heard Conception until, but I'm glad there's the beauty of Roy Khan's singing before he joined Kamelot. Such a wonderful piece! From what I heard, Conception is kinda like a more progressive take on Khan's early years with Kamelot. They've recently returned with a new EP and album. The ballad reminds me of the ones by early Nevermore and Crimson Glory. There's nothing cheesy in this plate!

Rampage - "Benevolent Approach" from Acid Storm demo (1986, reissued on Veil of Mourn (1988))

4.5/5. After that slow ballad, we go fast again with this pretty amazing heavy/speed metal demo track.

Brocas Helm - "Fly High" from Black Death (1988)

4/5. Another great hymn with slight hints of Iron Maiden.

Attacker - "Battle at Helm Deep" from Downfall (1985)

3.5/5. 80s US power metal, closer to classic heavy metal, before Stratovarius and Hammerfall stormed in from Europe.

Destiny's End - "Breathe Deep the Dark" from Breathe Deep the Dark (1998)

4/5. In the 90s, Iced Earth and Destiny's End were still cranking up their classic heavy/US power metal sound. You might also know James Rivera as the vocalist of Helstar.

Concerto Moon - "The Gold Digger" from Back Beyond Time (2023)

3.5/5. Pretty good, but a little goofy for a band keeping up the Japanese power/neoclassical metal scene started by Galneryus.

Vitalij Kuprij - "Piano Overture" from Forward & Beyond (2004)

4/5. RIP Vitalij Kuprij. Enjoy this cool cover of Moonlight Sonata with Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo.

Within Temptation - "Caged" from Mother Earth (2000)

4.5/5. Then we have the slow folk-ish highlight "Caged". Both the vocals by Sharon den Adel and the instrumentation are quite diverse. The peaceful calmness are at the right dose here, before it all ends up crashing down later in the original album.

Nightwish - "Ghost Love Score" from Once (2004)

4.5/5. The true epic of this playlist and its original album, and very much everything the album has already offered is blended together greatly. First we have a couple verses with more of the Eastern sitar, then it slows down to a ballad-like section, and after that, we have a lovely orchestral break that is well-executed. Immediately when the metal comes back on, you're hit by one of the most epic moments in symphonic metal, right before Tarja continues singing. And the rest is memorable too.

Mechina - "When Honor Meets Steel" from Venator (2022)

5/5. An aggressive way to head out than can pulverize those earlier melodic tracks, complete with blasts and more growls, most of them coming from guest vocalist Anna Hel. So brutally awesome!

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!

With Xephyr having stepped down from major activity in the site and none of the other Guardians members seeming to be up to taking over The Guardians playlist (based on no response), I decided to step in with Daniel's approval and allowing me to be a collaborator, at least for now until we can find a Guardians member who can manage the playlist full-time. I also included all the unused submissions from January and February in the half-a-month-late March playlist, so consider it a special suggestions-filled playlist. For future playlists though, I'd like to note a few things. I'll still do the usual monthly schedule, so I can release new playlists on April, May, June etc., because I enjoy making the playlists and have a lot of time in my hands, and I want to keep those playlists active in the uncommon chance of attracting new listeners of these genres. Though I might skip a month or a few if I end up busy in the outside world with a job or a college course like when I had that break a couple years ago. Contributions are always welcome, but the one track per non-clan member rule still stands for the sake of the playlist's legitimacy, though if you send me two or 3 submissions that are all by bands I'm familiar with and enjoy, I can accept them all. While the recommended deadline is the 15th of each month, I'm flexible enough to allow one submission after that date. The maximum deadline is the second-to-last day of the month (clarified in the deadline list below), so I can have time in the last day of the month to finalize the playlist and get it ready for when a new month dawns. If anyone has comments about this, please let me know here or PM me. Let's hope the playlists can stay alive!

Deadlines for next few months' playlists after the April one:

May playlist: recommended - April 15, maximum - April 29

June playlist: recommended - May 15, maximum - May 30

July playlist: recommended - June 15, maximum - June 29

And so on, until a new Guardians member wants to take control of the playlist.

March 2025

1. Accept - "Metal Heart" from Metal Heart (1985) [Suggested by Karl]

2. Capilla Ardiente - "The Hands of Fate Around My Neck" from Where Gods Live and Men Die (2024) [Suggested by Karl]

3. Throne of Iron - "Past the Doors of Death" from Adventure One (2020) [Suggested by Karl]

4. Savatage - "Strange Reality" from Streets - A Rock Opera (1991) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Sabaton - "Unbreakable" from The Art of War (2008) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Heavenly - "Sign of the Winner" from Sign of the Winner (2001)

7. Blind Guardian - "Nightfall" from Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

8. Saxon - "Crusader" from Crusader (1984) [Suggested by Karl]

9. Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" from Medieval Steel (1984, reissued on The Dungeon Tapes (2005)) [Suggested by Karl]

10. Lethal - "Arrival" from Programmed (1990) [Suggested by Karl]

11. Taramis - "Doesn't Seem" from Queen of Thieves (1988)

12. Conception - "Silent Crying" from Parallel Minds (1993) [Suggested by Daniel]

13. Rampage - "Benevolent Approach" from Acid Storm demo (1986, reissued on Veil of Mourn (1988)) [Suggested by Daniel]

14. Brocas Helm - "Fly High" from Black Death (1988) [Suggested by Karl]

15. Attacker - "Battle at Helm Deep" from Downfall (1985) [Suggested by Karl]

16. Destiny's End - "Breathe Deep the Dark" from Breathe Deep the Dark (1998) [Suggested by Karl]

17. Concerto Moon - "The Gold Digger" from Back Beyond Time (2023)

18. Vitalij Kuprij - "Piano Overture" from Forward & Beyond (2004)

19. Within Temptation - "Caged" from Mother Earth (2000)

20. Nightwish - "Ghost Love Score" from Once (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Mechina - "When Honor Meets Steel" from Venator (2022)

Whitechapel's brutal roots are back, especially in the album's title highlight:

Oh dear... Hope things won't go that serious. All the best, Zach.

Featuring harmonic soloing by Doc Coyle from God Forbid and Bad Wolves, this is the new Bleeding Through album's ultimate highlight of melody and intensity:

My renewed interest in melodic/symphonic/progressive death metal really shows as I discover more bands of that sound such as this German tech-death band:

And this Chicago-based melodeath/symphonic power metal band:

Melodic metalcore supergroup formed by the talented Howard Jones, formerly of Killswitch Engage, with some melodic yet heavy moments similar to his time with KSE:

Wicked new single by this alt-metal/rock band from Maryland:

Ben, please add A Day to Remember's Big Ole Album Vol. 1, along with their 2021 album You're Welcome to bridge the gap.

The new Mechina album Bellum Interruptum has arrived! Or at least the first third of it. And so far, it's shaping up quite well as another great offering of epic cyber metal. Here's the first part that has just premiered, and below are my thoughts on the tracks:

1. Cruelty is the Point - 5:03

2. The Plague Pit - 5:22

3. The Wasteful Energy of Words - 6:27

"Cruelty is the Point" throws back to the Venator era nicely with the serene vocals of Mel Rose. "The Plague Pit" is my favorite track of this part, a powerful djenty banger that reminds me of a futuristic Arch Enemy with the crushing growls of Anna Hel. "The Wasteful Energy of Words" is a duet between Mel Rose and Dave Lowmiller, similarly to the single "When Honor Meant Something" which I hope would also appear in the full album. And maybe we'll also have David Holch somewhere in the next two parts. Or are Anna Hel and/or Dave Lowmiller the new growlers? More coming up through the next two weeks, so stay tuned...

Ben, please add League of Distortion.

Ben, please add Pridian.

The perfect track to exemplify what the new Dark Tranquillity album is going for thematically, darkness and dread for the endtimes:

Hope you and your family will be safe, Daniel.

Here's my review summary:

What makes Stormlord stand out in the symphonic black metal pack is the lyrics centered around Italian mythology, and it fits well for when the music alternates between melodic and thrashy. At the Gates of Utopia is the band's second album and their first with the locally popular Scarlet Records after a decade in the underground. Many songs have an epic black metal structure of fast guitars and drums occasionally slowing down for a gloomy section. Even people like me who aren't into black metal that much can enjoy this power and glory. There's also some dramatic choir and male operatic singing. Still we have great speed in the guitars, bass, and drums, in conjunction with the epic atmosphere. As amazing as At the Gates of Utopia is, I still don't feel up to switching back to the on side of my on-off relationship with black metal. Nonetheless, this is the best I've heard from symphonic black metal in a long while, particularly in some highly memorable tracks including the title intermission. As for a couple tracks, they rule too but could've had less forced ideas. With all that said, power metal-ish symphonic black metal might just be worth it for any metal listener!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Under the Samnites' Spears", "Xanadu (A Vision in a Dream)", "At the Gates of Utopia", "The Curse of Medusa", "The Secrets of the Earth"

For fans of: Arcturus' 1996 debut, Bal-Sagoth, Demoniac (the pre-DragonForce band formed in New Zealand)

Here's my review summary:

The musical journey of Trail of Tears was filled with sorrow (Helena Iren Michaelsen era), darkness (A New Dimension of Might), violence (Kjetil Nordhus era), and accessible glory (Cathrine Paulsen's second era). It really is a shame that the band fell apart after Bloodstained Endurance and Oscillation. The talented voice of Cathrine can't be found anywhere besides this band and Lucid Fear. During the split, Ronny Thorsen was in a different band, Viper Solfa. And now these extreme gothic metallers are reborn! Two singles were released, leading up to the EP Winds of Disdain. Their greatness is still in full force, but a new female vocalist has stepped in, Ailyn. Here we have crushing guitars, bombastic symphonics, bass/drum assaults, and cool synth effects to reminds us who they are. I look forward to if the band ever makes a new album with this kind of sound plus more of the occasional acoustic section and audible bass. An absolute must for any symphonic gothic metal fan. Oscillation wasn't their final stand after all!

5/5

Recommended tracks: all of them, especially "Winds of Disdain", "No Colours Left"

For fans of: Epica, Sirenia, Starkill

Update due to Xephyr stepping down from major activity in MA (including feature releases and the Guardians playlist) to focus on his work and personal life (I also swapped mine and Saxy's places in The Infinite for April and May to make April a little more fair):

THE FALLEN: VINNY, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: ANDI, Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: KARL

THE HORDE: KARL, Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: SAXY, Andi

THE NORTH: SONNY, Karl

THE PIT: SONNY, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

Ben, please add Myproof.

The gothic strength of Comalies and the groove-metalcore-ish sound of Delirium actually become one in this mighty first single and ending track of the new Lacuna Coil album:

An absolute must-listen for anyone wanting to hear the bridge between Comalies and Karmacode:

My curse of cover tracks I've once enjoyed 10 years ago ending up becoming f***ing awful today continues. I prefer It Dies Today's cover!

Although I don't like Karmacode as much as I did 10 years ago, there are still a few amazing songs like this one remaining immortal in my memory:

Well this album didn't hit me as well as it once did when I first heard it 10 years ago, sorry Saxy. I'll just post my review link here: https://metal.academy/reviews/38245/6445

The band's early atmospheric progressive doom sound reaches its greatest height in this 19-minute epic:

A doomy highlight of peaceful melancholy:

I'm voting YES for this entry too, Daniel. Same thoughts on the progressiveness of this album as in Sorrow.

All right, thanks Sonny.

OK then, please cancel my submissions, Sonny.

Here's my review summary:

Somewhere in Southern Europe lies a small land between borders, a great distance away from wherever you live but smaller than your country's average state... Andorra! And over there is one group who has taken both eastern philosophy and western-cultural music in a great attempt to let people about Andorra's existence, and that is... melo-deathly progressive metal band Persefone! The band's spiritual philosophy continues from their previous album as they maintain their atmosphere-flavored extreme impact that has kinda put them in rivalry against the Australian Ne Obliviscaris (friendly rivals, of course, Ne Obliviscaris' Tim Charles would perform guest vocals and violin in a special single later), yet there's the slight addition of traditional prog ala Dream Theater. Persefone's previous two albums established their motive of songs ranging one-minute interludes to 10-minute epic. For this album, they've spiced it up with a 4-part 20-minute epic. The esoteric amount of subjects is in strong symmetry with the clean and unclean vocals, plus a small bit of robotic vocals from Cynic vocalist Paul Masvidal. That epic perfectly exemplifies all the band has to offer, plus some vocals by Merethe Soltvedt (best known from a few songs by Two Steps From Hell) and guitars by Øystein Landsverk who recently left Leprous. Any fan of Persefone should get Aathma, and probably start with an earlier album if they're newcomers. It has been Persefone's quest to expand their horizons, and they have a promising path to please the Earth!

4.5/5

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

The Amenta - "Slave" (5:12) from n0n (2008)

Celldweller - "I Believe You" (3:26) from Celldweller (2003)

Circle of Dust - "Onenemy (Fury Weekend Remix)" (4:32) from Circle of Dust (Remixed) (2022)

Fear Factory - "Descent" (4:36) from Obsolete (1998)

Godflesh - "Live to Lose" (5:39) from Us and Them (1999)

Sybreed - "I Am Ultraviolence" (4:03) from The Pulse of Awakening (2009)

Total length: 28:28

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

Amaranthe - "Supersonic" (3:17) from Maximalism (2016)

Carnifex - "How the Knife Gets Twisted" (3:50) from Necromanteum (2023)

Demon Hunter - "Worlds Apart" (4:28) from Worlds Apart (2024)

Every Time I Die - "Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance" (4:36) from Last Night in Town (2001)

From Autumn to Ashes - "Pioneers" (3:42) from Holding a Wolf by the Ears (2007)

God Forbid - "Gone Forever" (4:28) from Gone Forever (2004)

Imminence - "Continuum (feat. Niklas Karlsson)" (4:17) from Continuum (2024)

Total length: 28:38

Here are my submissions for the April Infinite playlist:

Allegaeon - "Driftwood" (4:28) from Driftwood (2025)

Apocalyptica - "Aqua Genesis" (7:32) from Aquarela (2019)

Fallujah - "Levitation" (5:30) from The Flesh Prevails (2014)

Into Eternity - "Behind the Disguise" (4:15) from Into Eternity (1999)

Meshuggah - "Swarm" (5:26) from Koloss (2012)

Total length: 27:11

Here are my submissions for the April Gateway playlist:

Any Given Sin - "Rest for the Wicked" (3:02) from Rest for the Wicked (2025)

Demon Hunter - "Freedom is Dead" (2:53) from Exile (2022)

Falling in Reverse - "Prequel" (3:53) from Popular Monster (2024)

Five Finger Death Punch - "A Little Bit Off" (3:11) from F8 (2020)

In This Moment - "Adrenalize" (4:15) from Blood (2012)

Lacuna Coil - "I Wish You Were Dead" (2:51) from Sleepless Empire (2025)

Spiritbox - "Perfect Soul" (3:59) from Perfect Soul (2025)

Swallow the Sun - "What I Have Become" (4:06) from Shining (2024)

Total length: 28:10