Vinny's Forum Replies

New Immolation album due 18 Feb 2022.  I am a bit underwhelmed by the start of it although I acknowledge it does get better and becomes exactly what I would expect from the guys.

This playlist is going to be a challenging wakeup call for me as straight up Heavy Metal is one of my least listened to genres. Anything that would be close to Heavy Metal that I seem to enjoy either falls too much on the Doom Metal side (Crypt Sermon) or is just Power Metal in disguise, plus traditional Heavy Metal isn't a genre that gets a whole lot of buzz in the modern era so I end up brushing over any notable new releases. I knew coming into this that my playlists would be very Power Metal skewed, so I'll have to see what I can do moving forward once the year end list rush is over.

I hear ya.  I am pummelling my earholes with groove metal and speed metal to try and get a better understanding of the variety needed for The Pit playlist as I am a conventional thrash fan at heart with only fleeting forays into crossover and technical thrash really.

Savatage – “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” (from “Dead Winter Dead”, 1995) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

An enjoyable start to the playlist considering it is an instrumental which are not always my thing this was entertaining from start to finish 4.5/5

The Lord Weird Slough Feg – “Warriors Dawn” (from “Down Among the Deadmen”, 2000)

One of my favourite tracks from this album so always on for full marks 5/5

Ravenous E.H. – “...Of Beasts & Faust” (from “Hubris”, 2021)

More than a bit over-pompous for me (which is odd considering I waxed lyrical about Majestica this month) but I did get a sense of trying to push themselves too far. As a result the track loses credibility and so I lost interest. 2.5/5

Avantasia – “Seduction of Decay” (from “Ghostlights”, 2016)

Recognised Geoff Tate from the off on here alongside Tobias on vocals. Enjoyed the track overall too which is rare for me – some serious mellowing going on with me this month. 4/5

Powerwolf – “Incense & Iron” (from “The Sacrament Of Sin”, 2018)

A band I have never taken time much time to explore, thought it got going well after a shaky start. 3.5/5

Rhapsody Of Fire – “Unholy Warcry” (from “Symphony of Enchanted Lands II (The Dark Secret)”, 2004) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

A bit of a stretch for me in all honesty, was at power metal overload by this point. 2/5

Blind Guardian – “Journey Through the Dark” (from “Somewhere Far Beyond”, 1992) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

Slight upturn again on this from one of my preferred power metal bands 3.5/5

Accept – “Princess of the Dawn” (from “Restless and Wild”, 1992) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

Nice sultry and brooding number to break out of that power metal from one of heavy metal’s finest albums. 4.5/5

Primal Fear – “Eyes Of An Eagle” (from “Nuclear Fire”, 2000)

Hard to believe they considered this guy Ralf to replace Rob Halford in Priest, I am not a fan of him but this track isn’t bad musically. 3/5

Iced Earth – “Anthem” (from “Dystopia”, 2011)

Just do not like Iced Earth, vocals are terrible 1/5

Iron Maiden – “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (from “Powerslave”, 1984)

Nothing to be said really that hasn’t been said a million times before. One of the classic Maiden tracks that more than has the staying power to keep the attention over the entire 13:39 run time. 5/5

Denner / Shermann – “War Witch” (from “Satan's Tomb” E.P., 2015)

Not sure what we have going on here – heavy metal with power metal vocals. Doesn’t work. 2/5

Dragonforce – “The Last Journey Home” (from “Ultra Beatdown”, 2020) [Submitted by shadowdoom9]

Not dissimilar to every other Dragonforce track I have ever heard but entertaining, nonetheless. 3/5

Firewind – “Allegiance” (from “Allegiance, 2006)

Inoffensive but unremarkable 2.5/5

Hunted – “Misled” (from “Deliver Us”, 2021)

Interesting in an unusual sounding way that sounds polished and rough at the same time, feels a bit immature overall but tempted to listen to more before dismissing. 3/5

Metal Church – “Dead on the Vine” (from “From the Vault”, 2020)

Proof if needed of how relevant MC still are (were?) in the world of heavy metal in 2020 with this being one of 4 new studio tracks. 3.5/5

Majestica – “Ghost of Christmas Present” (from “A Christmas Carol”, 2020)

Yep, my love for this one is already known 4.5/5

Overall a great list, I was drowning in power metal at one point but the rest of the list remedied this nicely.

Pulling together this month's playlist saw me doing a lot of proof-listening of it whilst I was working out in a morning and so it took on a rather aggressive flow to suit the mood as I fucking hate doing workouts but I ain't getting any younger but I am getting fatter.

First up, I struggled massively with where to place that Bulldozer track that Daniel submitted.  It was too lacklustre to open the playlist and would take a lot of momentum out of the list if placed midway through so in the end the only logical place for it was at the end.

With Sonny and Daniel covering off the classics with Demolition Hammer, Messiah, Carnivore, Mutilator, Artillery and Sacrifice getting nominated by them both I was able to build around these choices nicely and bring in the likes of Tankard and Cerebral Fix to continue this old-school vibe.  My personal finds on the list are Scarecrow, Mortal Vision and Knife.  All three associated releases are on rotation currently.

I am still learning the sub-genres of crossover thrash, speed metal and groove metal but was really surprised to hear how much I liked the Prong track as normally I cannot get along with the vocals.  In the end I went obvious perhaps with Machine Head for one of the groove metal tracks but I do still have a massive soft spot for Burn My Eyes.

It has been a while since a listened through the debut full-length from the now defunct Wodensthrone. The sound borrows more than just a tad from Drudkh to the extent that the opening of album closer That Which Is Now Forgotten – 597 borders on pure worship of the Ukrainians. The atmospheric elements contained within Loss draw a direct line to the first four Drudkh albums and similarly the charging momentum of the Wodensthrone debut matches the same impetus. Now, to have such a comparator is without question something of merit for a band who at the time were in their fourth year of existence. However, when you struggle to be able to stabilise where the influence stops and the genuine motivations of Wodensthrone begin then it is clear I have some challenges here.

With most releases (certainly most debut releases) I am looking for a band’s identity to shine through even if a plethora of influences are obvious at the same time. On Loss, I just do not get any sense of identity overall and the band come off as just combining the best bits of WITTR, Drudkh and then hark to some Winterfylleth to round things off. What I get therefore, whilst being of good quality, just is not that interesting in the grander scheme of things. In the more pagan inspired moments is where I find the greater levels of intrigue if I am honest, and as such I want to enjoy the record more than I do.

Now this is not to say that Loss is without its moments. The thundering fury of Black Moss needs acknowledging and celebrating as it is by far the most powerful and energised track on display here. It is the only track that shows enough individuality of sound to warrant notice above the other far too obviously influenced tracks. Whilst it most certainly does stray into that Drudkh hole that they continually fall into it does still standout as an individual triumph still with an acute level of intensity that is both imposing and welcome at the same time. The tremolo riffs wail on this track and the more basic riff patterns give real life to the passages. In many ways it is the most straight forward track on the album and is one whose structure they perhaps should have embraced a little more throughout the album.

In terms of quality, Wodensthrone knew how to write and play great atmospheric bm (just not necessarily own it at the same time). The level of musicianship was up there with the likes of Fen, Saor, Fuath and even Negura Bungent’s less ambient moments. However, it all just lacked an element of responsibility for the own sound and that in so many ways is an absolute tragedy.

3/5

Classic thrash metal, done with a power metal mentality.

Wow good call Vinny, this album fucking rips. Really got off on this one. I rustled up a review in between being beaten black and blue by it's relentless aggression:

I'm sure you are all familiar with that scene in Pulp Fiction when Vincent Vega hits Mia Wallace with an adrenaline shot after a heroin overdose and she sits bolt upright with a huge gasp. That was the effect this album had on me the first time I sleepily put it on just after waking up one morning. There is no subtlety here, there is no light and shade, this is nothing more or less than an adrenaline shot to the heart that will energise you and thrill you. Condor are a Norwegian three-piece and blackened thrash metal is their meat and drink, red and raw. The songs in themselves aren't especially memorable (and that isn't a criticism) - there are no melodic hooks or riffs for your brain to cling on to, but they are aggressive and they are relentless. For thirty-six minutes this album makes you feel like you are on a runaway train without any means of braking, holding on for dear life as it hurtles along. In a way it kind of reminds me of Reign in Blood, in that occasionally the band sound like they are barely holding it together and are on the verge of it all falling apart into chaos, but somehow they manage to maintain the integrity of the songs, which makes for a remarkably thrilling listen. Lyrically the songs mirror the music in that they deal with violence, horror and evil and Chris Sacrifice's ragged shrieking vocals perfectly fit in with this aesthetic. Condor have managed to pull off the extremely difficult trick of, to a certain extent, reproducing the sound of their heroes, such as Sodom, Kreator and Slayer whilst also making it sound modern and relevant to younger audiences as well as appealing to original fans of those bands.

Apparently Condor are members of the Kolbotn Thrashers Union, a loose grouping of thrash bands from the Kolbotn area of Norway, brought together by Fenriz of Darkthrone and include Nekromantheon who have released one of 2021's best thrash albums. In my opinion blackened thrash albums like Unstoppable Power and the aforementioned Nekromantheon's Visions of Trismegistos have saved thrash metal from it's twenty-year long sojourn in the wilderness and bands playing this style are now starting to sound relevant again. Long may it continue as these albums have made me enthusiastic about thrash metal once more.

4/5

Glad you enjoyed it Sonny.  Both my Pit and Horde clan releases this month are "no fucks to give" violent and primitive releases.  Condor only have two full-lengths and I have never gotten round to their debut (or the EP that precedes it) and it is a shame they split up although I believe all members are still active in and around the death, thrash and heavy metal scene in some capacity.  My copy of Nekromantheon's Rise, Vulcan Spectre should land this week in the post so I plan a night of some blackened thrashing madness later in the week with this Condor release on the playlist.

Review done, and fair to say the outcome surprised even me.  Xephyr, credit to you for this one mate.  Completely outside of my comfort zone and I absolutely loved it.

Not being the world’s biggest fan of Christmas (or of Majestica) seeing this album come up for review this month in the Guardians clan made me shudder somewhat. These facts withstanding it is impossible to deny the unwavering commitment to their artform that Majestica display on this album. The fact that I can acknowledge this after just the first three tracks of this album bodes better than originally thought for the Swedes.

Before getting into the detail of the album proper, let me just apply some context to my opening statement about not being Christmas’ biggest fan. I do not hate Christmas as an annual event, more the fact that it is so vividly commercialised and capitalised that it feels a far cry from the true meaning of it. The side of Christmas that Majestica deliver here is the bit I don’t mind so much. The pomp and circumstance of the band’s brand of symphonic power metal is perfect for such a themed album.

The artists involved are capable musicians. With Sabaton guitarist Tommy Johansson handling the majority of the songwriting and Alex Oriz, Joell Kollberg, Chris David and Tommy all sharing vocal duties across the album, it is obvious that real thought went into this album. Yes, it is cheesy as fuck! Yes, it has a shit-ton of polish applied to it (it’s a symphonic power metal album after all) and it is so far away from my usual comfort zone that I need a compass, passport, and a few booster jabs to get back “home” safely but the point is, I DON’T FUCKING CARE! This album is like a giant yuletide hug and even if you don’t want hugging then you have no choice in the matter because it’s shiny, glitzy arms are massive and will grab you no matter how quick you try to run.

Be slightly annoyed by the way that they weave the tune of a hundred Christmas carols into the music as it ploughs through grandiose power metal structures. Feel a little uncomfortable at how infectious those over-the-top the vocals are all, hide your incessant foot-tapping under your desk and fight the urge hang some lights but you know you are loving this.

I rarely enjoy power metal nowadays, but this is how it should be done. Mercilessly contagious and fantastically theatrical, A Christmas Carol is a blueprint for a hundred wannabe power metal to study and understand that you either go hard or go home.

4.5/5

I am veering towards becoming more completist right now.  I recently got hooked on Paysage d'Hiver (again) and have started to piece together their discography on vinyl with the debut and sophomore releases arriving this past month.  I just find it more interesting to get the physical media in my hands and then I can sit looking through the artwork, sleeve and liner notes whilst I listen.  My focus is on physical copies of band's discographies that I really enjoy.  Some are easier than others (Nekromantheon only have three full-lengths and an EP, for example) and I have already got the complete Immortal albums in my possession, but I do want to focus on the music I want to listen to.

Loving my ability to contribute to the playlists and be active in putting together the Pit playlist but already feeling the drain of keeping up with new releases generally.  Overall, it is a thankless task that I have already trimmed back on but plan on doing so more going into 2022 in favour of keeping growing my physical music collection.  There's still a ton of stuff from the past for me to find and sling into rotation on the features and playlists here and the modern/new stuff will most certainly get a place on The Pit playlist still, just not much of the latter will be retained in the library at this end unless it is truly exceptional.

It took a while to get going for me but we got another great playlist this month.  (I am not even commenting on that Cybergrind entry this month).  I need to spend more time with Archspire based on this track here and have taken an action to try more Mortician even though I find the vocals quite ridiculous.  Loving the blasts of Asphyx, CC, Morbid Angel, Cryptospy and Necrophagist on the retro side of death metal this month.

I don't know what Six Feet Under did to that Prong track but they ruined it.  Spawn of Possession are a little to brutal an technical for me but Regurgitate need more attention most definitely.

For January:

Kill the Thrill - "Soave" (from Tellurique, 2005)

Just as I start to turn my back on The Sphere clan altogether...

I am yet to fully explore the Killing Joke discography and have limited experience of Swans, but I can hear elements of both in here as Daniel alludes to.  What an emotionally urgent and tense record.  I don't recall hearing anything quite like Soave in a while; a shedding of skin like it is melting from your being.  There is so much here to explore and enjoy that I cannot do it justice by trying to formulate into some description for a review at this early stage.  It has turned my head - I mean it has nearly snapped my neck - and so will be on rotation for a few days.

I found this month's list to be a bit hit and miss for me. Absolutely loved that Burzum choice and the inclusion of Drudkh, Mare Cognitum and Panopticon were the highlights for me.  Not sure at all about møl - too gazey for me in all honesty and I will need another couple of cracks at that Code track before settling down on one side of the fence on it.

The more Havukruunu I hear the less I like them for some reason.  I find them to be a little too earthy in their approach and this is normally something I would admire but for some reason with these guys it just rubs me up the wrong way.  Empyrium are a group I need to spend more time with though as I already had that track queued on my "likes" to get back to after a couple of listens - uplifting stuff.

I know I added them myself but I am on the fence about Antichrist Siege Machine.  Accepting that I do need an uninterrupted end-to-end session with the album at some point, but currently I am not finding it that good in snippets.  Maybe the full auditory assault of the whole offering will help shift my perspective to a more positive direction.

That Panopticon track to close is so perfect to end the playlist though.  Cannot think of an album that uses spoken word recordings against a musical background so effectively.  This track invokes a real sense of struggle quite unlike anything I have heard before.

January;

Life of Agony - "This Time" (from River Runs Red, 1993) 

For January :

1914 - "Corps d'autos-canons-mitrailleuses (A.C.M)" 9from Where Fear And Weapons Meet, 2021) 07:54

Atrae Bilis - "Lore Beyond Bone" (from Apexapien, 2021) 05:03

Vitriol - "The Parting of a Neck" (from To Bathe From The Throat of Cowardice, 2019) 04:33

Gravesend - "Rats Among Us" (from Preparations for Human Disposal, 2021) 01:58

Wormrot - "Blockhead Fuck Off" (from Voices, 2016) 01:08

Creeping Death - "Ripping Through Flesh" (from Wretched Illusions, 2021) 05:08

Noxis - "Paths of Visceral Fears" (from Communion of Corrupted Minds, 2021) 04:16

Run time = 30 mins

For January:

Black Sites - "Sword of Orion" (from Untrue, 2021) 05:48

Tower -  "Prince of Darkness" (from Shock to the System, 2021) 04:22

Riot City - "Burn the Night" (from Burn the Night, 2019) 03:37

Traveler - "Starbreaker" (from Traveler, 2019) 05:41

The Night Eternal - "Son of Sin" (from Moonlit Cross, 2021) 06:31

Hammer King - "Hammerschlag" (from Hammer King, 2021) 03:21

Run time = 29:20

For January:

Panzerfaust  - "The Day After 'Trinity'" (from The Suns of Perdition, Ch. 1:War, Horrid War, 2019) 05:24

Uada - "Djinn" (from Djinn, 2020) 07:52

Serpent's Oath - "Malediction" (from Nihil, 2020) 04:47

Otargos - "Fleshborer Soulflayer" (from Fleshborer Soulflayer, 2021) 04:54

Run time = 22:57

If this is the shape of things to come on The Gateway playlist with Saxy curating then long may it continue.  The Gateway is not always a clan I get along with as we know but on here there are some very familiar tracks (FNM, Deftones, Soundgarden and Helmet) plus a few new discoveries, as well as a couple of shocks also.

Not sure how I have missed Hum but they just went to the top of my list to check out more of their stuff.  That track has a doomy vibe and also some off-kilter rhythms thrown in to keep things interesting.  Not sold entirely on the vocals but can see how they fit this track perfectly.

I actually didn't mind that Butcher Babies track.  Yes it was predictable as hell but equally entertaining at the same time.  Similarly with the Lacuna Coil track, it does not make me want to necessarily run off and discover more of the back catalogue but it was a good track.

Main surprise was Breaking Benjamin (a band I had thought not to be anything to do with metal).  I found this track quite a pleasant way to open the playlist.

I could not cope with Utsu-P and those fucking vocals and Twelve Foot Ninja are filed under "none of my business" as well now.  Spiritbox aren't for me as I don't think they truly let the more intense aspects of their sound shine enough despite having obvious promise and I just cannot get on with P.O.D. despite repeated attempts.

Solid month though. 

December 2021

01. High Command – “Devoid of Reality” (from “Beyond the Wall of Desolation”, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

02. Artillery – “Khomaniac” (from “Deadly Relics”, 1998) [Submitted by Daniel]

03. Mortal Vision – “Devastated Existence” (from “Mind Manipulation”, 2021)

04. Demolition Hammer – “Neanderthal” (from “Tortured Existence”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

05. Tankard – “The Morning After” (from “The Morning After”, 1988)

06. Cerebral Fix – “Descent Into the Unconsciousness” (from “Bastards”, 1991)

07. Harlott – “As We Breach” (from “Detritus Of the Final Age”, 2020)

08. Xentrix – “Balance of Power” (from “Shattered Existence”, 1989) [Submitted by Sonny]

09. Korzus – “Truth” (from “Discipline of Hate”, 2010) [Submitted by Daniel]

10. Toxikull – “Cursed and Punished (from “Cursed and Punished”, 2010)

11. Knife – “Behold the Horse of War” (from “Knife”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Sacrifice – “Burned at the Stake” (from “Torment in Fire”, 1986) [Submitted by Sonny]

13. Carnivore – “Predator” (from “Carnivore”, 1985) [Submitted by Daniel]

14. Bezerker – “Take All” (from “Lost:Remastered”, 1990)

15. Dungeon Crawl – “Draconic Cremation” (from “Roll for Your Life”, 2021)

16. Slayer – “Disciple” (from “God Hates Us All”, 2001) [Submitted by Daniel]

17. Mantic Ritual – “Crusader” (from “Crusader”, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

18. Messiah – “Akasha Chronicle” (from “Choir of Horrors”, 1991) [Submitted by Sonny]

19. Infant Death – “Subhuman Elimination” (from “Violent Rites”, 2016) [Submitted by Vinny]

20. Mutilator – “Paranoic Command” (from “Immortal Force”, 1987) [Submitted by Sonny]

21. Prong – “Revenge…Served Cold” (from “Carved Into Stone”, 2012) [Submitted by Vinny]

22. Machine Head – “Death Church” (from “Burn My Eyes”, 1994)

23. Equinox – “Auf Wiedersehen” (from “Auf Wiedersehen”, 1989)

24. Scarecrow – “Raise the Death’s Head” (from “Raise the Death’s Head”, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]

25. Bulldozer – “Endless Funeral” (from “The Day of Wrath”, 1985) [Submitted by Daniel]

Great debut album from a band of young Swedes obviously raised on a diet of Slayer and the giants of Teutonic Thrash that is a throwback to the days when every release didn't have to push the envelope or change the world, but it was enough for an album just to be great for headbanging to.

Fuck yeah Sonny!

Heavy Meta - "Worms" 2021

My fellow moderator over at the Metal Forum has shared his latest band's single on YouTube.  Kind of proggy/metallic hardcore which is not always my bag but done well enough still.

Over 100 additions in 3 weeks.  Thanks Ben for your dedication in continuing to grow the wealth of bands and releases on the site.

Well, better late than never, here I am to praise another superb playlist for The Horde this month.  Bubblegum fucking Octopus aside, there was not a lot not to love here.  Anything from Repulsion is a sure fire winner for me and dropping Cryptopsy, Pestilence and Naplam Death in here made me smile muchly.

My most impressive "finds" of the list are Sermon of Flames and Defacement and I will be checking out more from both acts imminently.

Never really got on with Schammasch (not for want of trying).  I find their avant-garde approach to be at the expenses of the bm in their sound as opposed to marrying with it in any regard.  This track reminds me of Deathspell Omega to start but soon becomes meandering as it lacks the depth of the aforementioned artist.  Similarly, I can't get on with Alcest, just nothing for me to grab hold of to keep me interested.  I even prefer that Moonsorrow over the Alcest track, even though it constantly broods and never really gets going.

One of my kittens was in the room when that Månegarm track was one and was well fascinated by the bird and animal noises if not the battle sounds.  Entertaining for some at least.

Never heard of Vargrav before but they are very Emperor-like and a little too close to worship for me, nothwithstanding Symphonic bm is a very one-dimensional offering.  I don't feel they do anything exceptional though.  Great to hear some Drudkh on the list and the furious stabs of war metal punctuated the list pretty well to give a real sense of variety.  I need more Teitanblood in my life, just never get around to spending a lot of time with their stuff for some reason even though I have never heard anything by them that I did not like.  Like Sonny I just don't gel with Seth; in all honesty I am yet to figure out why but I soon reached for the skip button on this list when they came on as I had tried their album earlier this year to no avail.

The classic bands ruled the roost for me this month with Blasphemy, Sarcofago and Kvist sitting nicely against my familiar band choices.

I think the clan ratings speak for themselves to a degree so see no issue with doing what we did previously.  Not a massive fan of just lists of "top" releases (Decibel drive me fucking mental releasing their list in November for "end of year" ratings. I prefer to read lists with narrative behind the choices and as such have kept a top thirty in the lists section which I will update and release (probably in January).  Not knocking anyone with a love for a list without detail (time is precious - I know).  2021 has been one the first years in a long time that I have kept track of new releases with any effort for a good while.  Still picking up stuff I missed though, even as we hit December.

Getting back to the awards discussion though I think it is fine to leave things as they are.

Title track from the latest Exodus album.  Not half as bad as expected and I will definitely be dipping in for a full listen through in the coming weeks.

Opening track from the latest 200 Stab Wounds opus Slave to the Scalpel.  

Besides continuing the Release of the Year awards, I just thought of something in the site that could be awarded. We have the monthly Spotify clan playlists for over a year now, and while many of them have positive reception, it would be interesting to see which one of the 12 playlists throughout the year for each clan really stands out and deserves the Playlist of the Year award for each clan. So here's what I propose: Each member who is assembling the playlists for their respective clan revisits the 12 playlists throughout the year for that clan for at least one full listen per playlist, then decides which one is the best of them all and deserving of the award. For example, I revisit the 2021 playlists for The Revolution and decide which one would be the winner, while you, Daniel, do the same for The Horde (what you enjoy) and The Sphere (what no one else enjoys). Quite some more work, but should be rewarding for the value of these playlists. I think my Playlist of the Year award idea is a good one, does anyone else agree?

There Is no way I have the time to sit and listen to 12 playlists I am afraid.  Even if I did it sounds hellish listening up to 2 hours of thrash, groove and speed metal each day for the best part of a fortnight.  I think the playlists are too vast to rate as a “list of the year” thing, even if we had more members.  Sorry but not an idea I think would work.

Really enjoyed this playlist - nice one Vinny, there are some real rippers here.

A couple of surprises for me was quite enjoying the Lamb of God and Sepultura tracks despite never being a fan of LoG and believing (rightly I think) that Sepultura's best days are long behind them.

Most of my own choices were pretty safe, but I'm still really loving the Bewitcher track.

There are several albums I will have to check out further but particularly the Eternal Evil, Speedwolf and Allegiance discs.

The Children of Technology, Chimaira and Death Angel tracks I could live without, but everything else hit the spot most satisfactorily!

Thanks Sonny, I find LoG and latter day Sepultura very hit and miss.  I am making a conscious effort to expand my horizons in the clan though especially outside of my comfort zone which in all honesty is conventional thrash metal with the odd bit of crossover and a lot of blackened thrash.  I have already got loose playlists put together that cover these more "uncomfortable" sub-genres such as Groove, Speed and Technical thrash metal to around Feb 22.  I am actively listening to full albums of this stuff as well so the playlist does represent genuinely what I am listening to and I do still include shit I can't get on with (like Chimaira).

I just cannot get on with Death Angel.  To much weird stuff thrown into a band that really can deliver on the thrash front when they put their mind to it.  That Eternal Evil album drops today and this sounds like it will scratch my black/thrash itch for the month of December.  Having said that I just managed to get Nekromantheon's sophomore LP on Todestrieb Records this afternoon so depending on delivery times that might get a bashing throughout the month also.

I am going right off Sabbat though which were one of my favoured UK bands for thrash - those vocals and me just don't get on like we used to.  Kreator, Dark Angel and Testament gave me my hits this month really.

Hi Ben,

Can you add the latest release from 200 Stab Wounds please - Slave to the Scalpel.

Speed metal with heavy metal traits from Germany.  One of the most tongue in cheek releases of the year from Knife.

Vektor's Outer Isolation hits ten years old today.  Noticed a couple of these more modern releases hitting their first key milestones lately.  I tend to think that records that I acknowledge in the daily Anniversaries section (one of my favourite parts of the site) are the ones that have left a lasting impression on me as I recognise their maturity on their anniversary date.  Remember finding this a tad of a step down from the debut album yet still enjoyable enough.

Also Ben, can you add the Canadian atmospheric, depressive black metal artist Nordicwinter please?

Opening track off the latest Nordicwinter LP released 05th Nov.  Atmospheric, depressive black metal from Canada.

Blackened thrash from the Netherlands that pays homage to Brazilian thrash titans such as Vulcano, Sarcofago & Holocausto. 

Glorious death metal from the US, from Malignant Altar.  Off their Realms of Exquisite Morbidity EP, due out 10th Dec.

Darkspace member's solo output is arguably more than covered off in terms of quality by Wintherr with his Paysage d'Hiver releases. With a lot of that discography still to discover it was on my mind to park listening to Zhaaral's single album under his Sun of The Blind logo until I had fully explored his bandmate's much more vast list of releases (the first of which will arrive on vinyl this weekend as it happens). As I alluded to in the forum thread, Skullreader is a grower needing more than a cursory listen to fully appreciate what it delivers.

Despite me having spent numerous hours with it, I am still not overly in love with it. If anything I find it to be great background music, which is hardly glowing praise and does sound unfair when it is obvious that there is lots of evidence of talent on this record. This a very lush and melodic experience overall and not one that relies too much on just swooshing atmospherics to set the scene. The repetition on the record breeds an assuring familiarity as it plays but at the same time makes it impossible to maintain the focus solely upon just the music. It does need more atmosphere though as it is far too warm sounding (without being Hellenic) as a result of the lush and rich melodies. Whilst I cannot fault the effort and the means behind it, I have to conclude that the delivery is off, resulting in an album that seems to just pass me by as opposed to give much in the way of snapping my attention onto it for just over forty minutes.

Zhaaral is really a victim of his bandmates success as I have heard very similar ideas done much better by Wintherr (consistently so over the cross-section of the discography I have heard) and as a result I can't help but feel Skullreader just to be an attempt to get something off Zhaaral's chest that he himself was probably over quite quickly - hence the one release only. It isn't a bad album but it just gets a bit dreary the more you try to chip away at it to glean some sense of excitement and direction.

3/5

Sorry Vinny, hope I'm not too late. My December suggestions:

Sacrifice - Burned at the Stake (4:44) from Torment in Fire (1986)

Mutilator - Paranoic Command (3:43) from Immortal Force (1987)

Xentrix - Balance of Power (5:14) from Shattered Existence (1989)

Messiah - Akasha Chronicle (3:55) from Choir of Horrors (1991)

Further apologies, I haven't actually checked if all are available on Spotify due to the lateness of my submission. Sorry, again.

All added Sonny.

This is growing on me.  First listen left me cold (and not in a kvlt bm way) and I thought it a bit boring.  It is better than I first thought but not ready to jump in with a review yet.  I find it a bit too melodic overall and this is more memorable than the atmospheric aspects of the record for me.

More to follow.

Ben, please add Gaahl's WYRD's latest release The Humming Mountain.

Thanks.

I'll look into what can be done with the Hall voting. Perhaps we can make it so people can change their votes? I don't really see why we shouldn't allow that. Thoughts?

I don't think there's any way to control browser behaviour though. If you click back in the browser or close a window, I don't think the site can do anything to save you. Maybe I'm wrong? Have any of you seen that elsewhere?

I have seen numerous sites (usually in my day job so more corporate based than MA) where you get a "If you leave this page changes will be lost!" style pop ups.  A lot of CRM's have these so I am not sure how easy it is to code them into a site but would think it could be done.

If Bubblegum Octopus are indicative of the cybergrind genre then it most definitely does need putting in the avant-garde section.  I can't subject myself to listening to anymore of it (knowingly) to explore its future to make a truly informed decision though.

Since I got a new mouse with a back button right near my thumb I have lost reviews numerous times this past few months.  Now taken to writing in Word and pasting over when done.

Ben?

Can you ban your brother from the site please for that Bubblegum Octopus track he placed on here?

EDIT:

He's forgiven for that Sermon of Flames track.  Fuck me, what a terrifying track that is.

Hi Ben,

Please add:

Scarecrow (United States) - Death Angel and Exhumed members collaboration

Dungeon Crawl (United States)

Mortal Vision (Ukraine)

Knife (Germany) - Black/Speed Metal

Methedras (Italy)

Dead Heat (United States) - Crossover/Thrash Metal

Thanks.

Just three from me for December:

Sorcerer - "The Hammer of Witches" (from Lamenting of the Innocent, 2020)

Night Cobra -  "The Serpent's Kiss" (from The Serpent's Kiss, 2022)

Shadowland - "Ligeia" (from The Necromancer's Castle, 2021)

Length = 14:35

Still not feeling too much of the trad metal/heavy metal vibe at present so listening to a lot less of this clan for now.

I already reviewed this album and my words back a couple of years ago still ring true to this day.

My introduction record to Nile, their fourth full-length offered a brilliant gateway into their brand of technical and brutal death metal. Vast though it seemed in scope at the time the whole experience felt varied and accessible still. Whether it was the far eastern promise on the strings or the looming beastly riffs that cemented the death metal credentials of the record, there was enough ability on show for the record to gain instant respect from this listener.

For me this record completed the band's golden run that started with 2000's Black Seeds Of Vengeance. It engaged all the brutality of the preceding two records but also showed a much more mature and skilled delivery, complete with a story-telling to the song writing that made the whole experience even more compelling. The multi-instrumental wizard that is Karl Sanders leads brilliantly on this release. His supporting cast of Toler-Wade, Vesano and the brilliant Kollias play sterling roles in the execution of the album and Kernon's production job lets the music come across as vibrant as Landau's artwork suggests it will be.

The band for me went into a bit of a decline post-Annihilation of the Wicked culminating in the decidedly ordinary Vile Nilotic Rites in 2019. But their 2005 release was a triumph in both design and content and is an album I still visit with regularity to this day.

4/5

Exumer’s sophomore album is a complete unknown to me, indeed the band has a very limited footprint in my world. Having heard their debut album a coupe of times and being sufficiently unmoved to progress further into their discography I would have very easily missed out on a bit of a gem had this not been put up for feature this month on MA.

The first thing I note however is a criticism. The drums start off strong in the mix as opening track Winds of Death begins but soon disappear behind a wall of heaving vocals and rabid riffing and although they are most certainly there throughout the album, they are never clear enough to be fully appreciated.

Percussion challenges aside, Rising From The Sea is a blinding thrash metal record. It is utterly relentless in its delivery and cunningly melodic at the same time. The melodic riffs that alter the pace of the title track so well are just one example of these nuances that make this more than just a balls to the wall thrash metal record. The title track reminds me of the kind of structuring that Megadeth deployed years later on Hangar 18, with the swirling sonics being more reminiscent of Slayer, however.

There is a ton of references to other Teutonic bands of course, with Kreator, Destruction and Sodom all popping in as influences although Kreator started out around the same time as Exumer so more the likely the influence is a shared sound. Vocalist Paul Arakari has that perfect thrash metal style with his gruff vocals a perfect complement to the instrumentation. Although not exactly stellar performances (they are a bit too wild sometimes) Bernie and Ray Mensh make a huge impression with their rhythm and lead work, even if they could have done with reining it in a bit on occasion.

I think the direction f the production was correct on this as the sound does capture that raw, underground intensity that us extreme metal fans crave so much. That having been said, the album sounds like it was recorded in a studio as opposed to a basement or rehearsal space. Whilst never coming off as overly professional, the band retain that energy that they display with wanton abandon at times, centring them as underground in their sound.

For album number two this was one hell of a thrash metal record, notwithstanding that some of the rawness was genuinely down to the ability (or lack of) of some of the musicians involved. However, I take nothing away from Exumer on this record because its rough edges are all part of the charm it exudes and they are more than forgivable.

4/5

Here's my submission for December:

Author & Punisher - "The Speakers Are Systematically Blown" (from Beastland, 2018)

Hi Ben, could you please add UK sludge metallers Mastiff?