illusionist's Forum Replies

Similarly, I'd love to see the discography of Massachusetts blackened thrash band Black Mass updated. I saw them live recently and they're great. I then went back and listened to their most recent record and plan on listening/rating future releases by them.

Can we please add the US symphonic power metal band Empress sometime? Their debut album last year was great.

Would love for Charlotte, NC Doom/Stoner Metal band Cosmic Reaper to be added. They've been one of my favorite new finds lately.

I realized it has been a whole YEAR since I listened to one of my favorite albums of all time, so I'm reacquainting myself with this trusty old friend.

Texas power metal band Immortal Guardian would be a great add, thanks!

This is my favorite Symphonic or Power Metal song of the year so far! And favorite debut album!

Never been a huge fan of the bands with female operatic vocals, but I dig this. The vocal melody at the end is instantly catchy and uplifting. And as a history nerd, I love the subject matter :D

I'd like to request the addition of US Symphonic/Power Metal band Everdawn, who released their debut album this week. It's excellent material mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö. I'd love to post a review!

This is my favorite song from the new Persuader album so far. These guys can do no wrong! Still the kings when it comes to heavier/darker side of Power Metal.

Persuader's new album Necromancy came out this week and it rules. Hint hint. :) 

Thanks!

Can you add Leprous' 2019 album Pitfalls?

It would be tagged as Non-Metal since it's "Art Rock" on RYM, but personally I think there's still enough Progressive Metal running through it to be on the site, and tagged Prog Metal secondary on RYM.

It's also a great album :)

As much as I'd like to make an exception for you illusionist, I'm going to stick to my rule and not add non-metal releases unless the band has a metal album or EP both prior AND after it. If I start breaking that rule I'll be wasting my days entering literally thousands of releases that have nothing to do with metal.

No problem, I understand!

Could you please add US Progressive/Black Metal band Naeramarth?

Can you add Leprous' 2019 album Pitfalls?

It would be tagged as Non-Metal since it's "Art Rock" on RYM, but personally I think there's still enough Progressive Metal running through it to be on the site, and tagged Prog Metal secondary on RYM.

It's also a great album :)

A bit more neoclassical/speed metal leaning than pure thrash, but still brilliant

I'd like to see Dutch band The Spirit Cabinet. They are a blackened heavy/doom project from the same guy behind Urfaust, and their new album is really solid. Probably in my top 5-10 of the year.

Symphonic / Melodic Death Metal band Atavistia please

They're basically 2010s Wintersun worship, so maybe Horde and Guardians?

US progressive black metal band Panegyrist, please! They're awesome!

Please add Danish death metal band Thorium

Please add the American blackgaze/dsbm band Griefloss

Requesting the New Zealand black/death metal band Diocletian

I think Bloom will still be my favorite record by them (it's one of my all-time favorites), but Rise Radiant definitely has the potential to contend for 2nd.

If only "The Ascent" was a true emotional epic like "Graves". That would really push the album over the top past some of their others.

I've really been enjoying that new Caligula's Horse album.

They've really become one of my favorite current bands out there.

Requesting the Icelandic black metal band Potentiam

Can we also get the Swedish band Cronian?

Can we get the new Lör album added?

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/lor/edge-of-eternity/

Progressive Metal with Power and Folk Metal aspects

Definitely Infinite, with Guardians as the other most likely

I was thinking the same. Usually there's a power metal release or two that has grabbed my attention by now, but not this year. I thought maybe I was missing out on stuff other people were digging. But I guess not 

I heard about Emblas Saga and listened to a couple tracks, but it didn't seem like my jam. Maybe I'll check out the new Lovebites.

I have faith that the year will pick up though: I'm excited for new releases from Persuader, Judicator, Falconer, and Helloween

What are y'all's favorite Power Metal album so far this year?

Thanks for adding these.

I'd also add Mistigo Varggoth Darkestra (Ukraine)

It's good, but not one of my favorites. Mental Funeral is definitely superior in my opinion.

I had no idea Green Carnation were even recording new music! Woah! Gonna check out that video now. I was a big fan of Light of Day, Day of Darkness. Will be interesting to see what they sound like in 2020.

Caligula's Horse will release their new album later in May and the new single is straight FIRE. I played in 15 times the day it came out.

Hi Ben,

When you have time, I'd love to see the Finnish avant-garde doom band Aarni on here.

They should probably be tagged as Infinite as well since the avant-garde and prog aspects of their sound are extremely prominent in addition to the doom metal backbone.

Please add the US Power Metal band Armory

Only two albums on that one ;)

Hey Ben! I'm back after a few months away. I've discovered some new black metal bands in that time that I'd like to rate.

AEBA (Germany)

Svartgren (Serbia)

Lutomysl (Ukraine)

Carpe Noctem (Iceland)

Consummation (Australia)

VHOL (USA) - also Guardians

Could we get the new Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra album added at somewhat priority? It has been out for a few weeks now and it's hard to think of many bands more important to this clan than Blind Guardian.

I'm not sure whether it would be filed under BG's profile or whether you should create a new entity for Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.

Blind Guardian of the Galaxy

Now THAT'S a movie I would watch

Anthrax and the W.A.S.P.

Also solid. I bet Paul Rudd likes Anthrax.

I'm more of a "ratta-tat-tat" or "BOOM BOOM CRASH BOOM BOOM CRASH" drum guy, myself.

Welcome!

Can you add the Norwegian MasseMord? Should've specified in my earlier request. Looks like you added the Polish one - haha.

In fact I edited a couple My Dying Bride albums to play at a 2x faster tempo so they wouldn't sound too slow and doomy for me. 

Blasphemy! 

When it comes to classic Katatonia, it's Dance of December Souls that I always find myself coming back to. It would definitely be in my own Top 25. They perfected that primitive black/doom metal sound there. The vocal performance is so gut-wrenching that Jonas basically ruined his vocal chords recording that album. I don't think he has done those raw screams since.

Of their modern era, Viva Emptiness is my go-to. It has a bleak urban feel to it that pairs well with the crime/noir lyrical concept.

A couple more to add, since it seems you've completed my main list a few posts above:

Obscuring Veil

Fejd

Massemord

Mirrorthrone (also Infinite)

Myrkur

Thulcandra

Also, the new Alcest album! It came out this weekend!

I've also experienced this several times... being taken to the first page when I wanted to go to the latest reply. Minor annoyance to have to scroll down and click the page numbers. I wish it was more obvious how to jump straight to latest post.

Out of curiosity, what made you "fall out of love", so to speak, with epic/folk metal?

Amorphis - "Tales From The Thousand Lakes" (Vinyl Remaster)

Both the music and the artwork have been sharpened in quality and the resulting experience is amazing. Amorphis' most atmospheric album and one of the unique landmarks of Finnish metal and 90s death metal has never sounded better to my ears.

Thanks for adding Aether Realm! Love those guys!

Quick note, however. I appreciate your use of the proper conjoined "AE" character, however it makes the band difficult to search for. Most people can't easily type that on a keyboad. If you search "Aether Realm" (as I suspect most would), there are no results.

Seems like this should be easy to fix somehow.

Howdy! Nice to no longer be the newest welcome thread :D

We have quite a bit in common with our tastes. I love the proggy and cheesy epic melodic stuff too. I've noticed many of your power/symphonic/folk metal reviews already and found myself largely agreeing with them.

Thanks Ben!

A good and needed change.  I agree, the charts make a lot more sense now.

Ratings with more data points backing them should definitely have more clout in some form or fashion. While the RYM algorithm isn't perfect, that's one aspect it has right, and this is a step in that direction it seems.

Definitely Bathory for Viking Metal as well for me. Hammerheart blew my mind on first listen after someone posted it on a gaming forum I frequented. Black Mark would also be one of my first "trve" black metal favorites later, although first exposure to Black Metal was actually seeing Dimmu Borgir's Abrahadabra on the shelf at WalMart. Yes, at WalMart of all places. Being a curious fledgling 14-year-old metalhead, I looked up who the band behind that awesome-looking album cover was and started listening to "Gateways" and "Renewal" on YouTube. I soon made my way from there to Cradle of Filth. So I suppose I made my way in from the Symphonic/dramatic side. It took a few years to warm up to the real stuff.

As for Folk Metal, I got into it a lot quicker. I believe my first exposure was either Skyforger by accident on iTunes or Eluveitie on Last.fm's MeloDeath Radio. It rapidly became a favorite.

Exmortus and Noisem would be good adds here

Bear with me, I consider North my "first" clan, so this is where I noticed the most absent from my collection. I'll try to trim out bands I don't care about as much.

Månegarm (one of my very favorites, please prioritize them first)

Xanthochroid (please prioritize, also a true favorite. Could also be Guardians for Symphonic or Infinite for Progressive)

Alcest (would like to see their non-metal albums added)

Abbath

Catamenia

Cirith Gorgor

Cor Scorpii

Covenant (AKA The Kovenant)

Forefather

Hel

Helheim (the one still going, from Bergen not Sarpsborg)

Nocte Obducta (could also be Infinite)

Noenum

Pillorian

Rudra

Satanic Warmaster

Skyforger

SuidAkra (could also be Horde for Melodic Death)

Thrawsunblat

Uada

Wormwood (Sweden, formed 2014)

I figure this is as good of a place as any to also mention that I'm seeing two duplicate artist entries for Timeghoul

Would be great to see these bands on here:

Akphaezya

Cormorant

Maladie (Progressive Black Metal - should also be North)

Quadrivium (Progressive Black Metal - should also be North)

Todtgelichter (Progressive Black Metal - should also be North)

Lör (might actually be a slightly better fit under Guardians for Folk Metal, but both work)

Wilderun (same as Lör)