Ben's Forum Replies
Thanks Ben. Khazad-dûm eh? I thought I was the only one who liked that album (although not many people have even listened to it!)
It's funeral doom...and Tolkien...how can that be bad?
Don't answer that Daniel.
Apologies for the delay Sonny.
Worm - Empire of the Necromancers off Foreverglade (2021)
Khazad-dûm - Transmuted off Hymns from the Deep (2020)
Lethian Dreams - Shades off Red Silence Lodge (2014)
My Dying Bride - A Doomed Lover off Songs of Darkness, Words of Light (2004)
Shadows of Intent - Blood in the Sands of Time off Elegy (2022)
Immolation - Apostle off The Age of No Light (2022)
Unleashed - Blood of Lies off Midvinterblot (2006)
Gorguts - Disincarnated off Considered Dead (1991)
Nekrovault - Eremitorium off Totenzug: Festering Peregrination (2020)
Virvum - Tentacles of the Sun off Illuminance (2016)
Runtime: 30:16
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 3rd to the 10th of February, 2022.
1. Schaliach (HORDE, FALLEN)
2. Expulser (HORDE)
3. Furbowl (HORDE)
4. The Everdawn (HORDE)
5. Flesh Parade (HORDE)
6. Intestinal Disgorge (HORDE, INFINITE)
7. Autophagia (HORDE)
8. Cranial Incisored (HORDE)
9. Infernal Torment (HORDE)
10. Fermenting Innards (HORDE, NORTH)
11. Inverted (HORDE)
12. Nominon (HORDE, NORTH)
13. Nomenmortis (HORDE)
14. Saprogenic (HORDE)
15. The Forsaken (HORDE)
16. Serpens Aeon (HORDE)
17. Pentacle (HORDE)
18. Paths of Possession (HORDE)
19. Martyr (PIT)
20. The Organization (PIT, GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)
21. Ballistic (PIT, GUARDIANS)
22. Taurus (PIT)
23. I.N.C. (PIT)
24. Amulance (PIT, GUARDIANS)
25. Alastor (PIT)
26. Faith or Fear (PIT)
27. Midas Touch (PIT)
28. Sacrosanct (PIT, FALLEN, INFINITE)
29. Wrath (PIT, GUARDIANS)
30. Damnation A.D. (REVOLUTION)
31. Trial (REVOLUTION)
32. Deadwater Drowning (REVOLUTION)
33. Taken (REVOLUTION)
34. Congress (REVOLUTION)
35. Limelight (GUARDIANS)
36. Proud (GUARDIANS)
37. Crucifixion (GUARDIANS)
38. Lefay (GUARDIANS)
39. Chevy (GUARDIANS)
40. Heavy Metal Army (GUARDIANS)
41. Ruthless (GUARDIANS)
42. Madison (GUARDIANS)
43. Tyran' Pace (GUARDIANS)
44. Drive (GUARDIANS)
45. Recon (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
46. Skullview (GUARDIANS)
47. Quicksand Dream (GUARDIANS)
48. Ring of Fire (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
49. Zonata (GUARDIANS)
50. Spartan Warrior (GUARDIANS)
51. The Beyond (GATEWAY)
52. Lifer (GATEWAY)
53. Human Waste Project (GATEWAY)
54. Unloco (GATEWAY)
55. Tommy Lee (GATEWAY)
56. Neurosis / Tribes of Neurot (FALLEN, INFINITE)
57. Eisregen (FALLEN, NORTH)
58. Nightstick (FALLEN)
59. Godsend (FALLEN)
60. Veni Domine (FALLEN, INFINITE)
61. Fistula (FALLEN)
62. Gloios (INFINITE)
63. Poverty's No Crime (INFINITE)
64. Gaahlskagg (NORTH)
65. Pest (NORTH)
66. Blut aus Nord / Reverence (NORTH, SPHERE)
67. Trollfest (NORTH)
68. Nocturnal Triumph (NORTH)
69. Vargavinter (NORTH)
70. Thyrane (NORTH, SPHERE)
71. Kataxu (NORTH)
72. Hellveto (NORTH)
73. Rivendell (NORTH)
74 .Elffor (NORTH)
75. Morrigan (NORTH)
I have only just realised that it is limited to 20 mins so please drop Mütiilation of my list. Apologies.
I like that album, so I'll include it anyway. 
Note: Seriously, how wonderful is the cover artwork. I used to have a "Still Life" t-shirt which I miss now that I look at that stunning piece of work for the first time in a while.
You gave it to me. Want it back?
For all the talk about there being a top 4 of American thrash metal, these lists show that there was very distinctively a top 3. Don't get me wrong, Anthrax were a great band at their peak, but they've never reached the popularity or acclaim of the other 3.
I must admit that I'm stunned to see that Filosofem has more ratings than Powerslave on RYM.
Glad you enjoyed it Sonny! I certainly can't take all that much credit, as you guys selected the vast majority of tracks. I can recommend the Wiegedood and Nameless Mist albums, as I've been given them quite a few spins (that term probably doesn't apply these days but whatever).
I'd be interested to hear what people think of the Funeral Mist track I kicked off with. I'd not heard this album before and it's actually pretty interesting.
What?! Where's Exterminator's "Total Extermination"??
Quoted Daniel
To answer your question (which I realise was not really a question), it's currently in position 108, which is dead last. It was only really challenged by Countess' horrible debut.
Just our of interest, did you apply a number of ratings filter when determining the clan release winners and if you did, did it vary from clan to clan?
Minimum of 4 ratings.
When there were ties, the release with the most ratings won.
If still a tie, then the clan rating was the decider.
"Omega" was actually our highest rating release of the year overall however I can't see it being something that'd appeal to me so I've given it a wide birth. Perhaps I'll re-evaluate that position after this result though.
P.S. I'm surprised to see that Accept cover artwork winning. Must have been slim pickings this year.
I'm personally also surprised that Accept's album managed to clinch it. It's good, but I'd never have predicted it to win. Below are some of my favourite Guardians covers for the year.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 25th of January to the 2nd of February, 2022.
1. Negu Gorriak (GATEWAY)
2. 7race (GATEWAY)
3. The Butterfly Effect (GATEWAY)
4. E-Town Concrete (GATEWAY)
5. Treyarch Sound (GATEWAY)
6. Ded (GATEWAY)
7. Draw the Emotional / ゆよゆっぺ [Yuyoyuppe] / Meola (GATEWAY)
8. Apartment 26 (GATEWAY, SPHERE)
9. Infected Rain (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION) - requested by SilentScream213
10. Portal / Rites of Thy Degringolade (NORTH, HORDE)
11. Nuclear Desecration (NORTH, HORDE)
12. Konflict (NORTH, HORDE)
13. Vehementer Nos (NORTH, INFINITE)
14. Lanayah (NORTH, INFINITE)
15. Lunaris (NORTH, INFINITE)
16. Orgy of Carrion (NORTH)
17. Paysage d'Hiver / Nordlicht (NORTH)
18. Dismal (NORTH)
19. Kapala (NORTH)
20. Majestic M ass (NORTH)
21. Misertus (NORTH)
22. Mothersuperior (NORTH)
23. Vauruvã (NORTH)
24. Mnima (NORTH)
25. Reek of the Unzen Gas Fumes (NORTH, HORDE)
26. Gloomy Grim (NORTH)
27. Stutthof (NORTH)
28. Förgjord (NORTH)
29. Svart (NORTH, FALLEN)
30. Gyibaaw (NORTH)
31. Galdr (NORTH)
32. Cohol (NORTH, HORDE)
33. Black Kirin (NORTH, HORDE)
34. Entheogen (NORTH)
35. Arkhtinn (NORTH)
36. Bloodbark (NORTH)
37. One Tail, One Head (NORTH)
38. Lycopolis (NORTH)
39. Gehenna (REVOLUTION)
40. Avenger (NORTH, HORDE)
41. Raventale (NORTH, FALLEN)
42. Khost (SPHERE, FALLEN)
43. Emigrate (SPHERE)
44. Dead Blue Sky (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
45. Death Before Dishonor (REVOLUTION)
46. December (REVOLUTION)
47. The Killing Tree (REVOLUTION)
48. It Prevails (REVOLUTION)
49. Blind Witness (REVOLUTION)
50. Spite (REVOLUTION)
51. God Mother (REVOLUTION)
52. Left Behind (REVOLUTION, FALLEN)
53. Irk (REVOLUTION)
54. State Craft (REVOLUTION)
55. Sufferer (REVOLUTION)
56. Los Natas (FALLEN)
57. Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean (FALLEN)
58. The Loveless (FALLEN)
59. C R O W N (FALLEN, INFINITE)
60. KRZTA (FALLEN)
61. Carcinoid (FALLEN, HORDE)
62. Servants to the Tide (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny
63. Toxodeth (HORDE, PIT)
64. She Said Destroy (HORDE, INFINITE)
65. Heinous Killings (HORDE)
66. Urine Festival (HORDE)
67. 29/09 (HORDE)
68. Parlamentarisk Sodomi (HORDE)
69. Konflict / Reek of the Unzen Gas Fumes (HORDE)
70. Shapeshifter (HORDE)
71. Poison (HORDE, PIT)
72. Psychopath (HORDE, PIT)
73. Scattered Remnants (HORDE)
74. Tyrant Trooper (HORDE)
75. Anasarca (HORDE)
76. Broken Torso (HORDE)
77. Benümb (HORDE)
78. Commit Suicide (HORDE)
79. Liturgy (IL-USA) (HORDE)
80. Man Must Die (HORDE)
81. Humanity Falls (HORDE)
82. Nothnegal (HORDE, GUARDIANS)
83. Agonal Breathing (HORDE)
84. Flesh (HORDE)
85. Dark Matter Secret (HORDE, INFINITE)
86. Tredegar (GUARDIANS)
87. Joey Tafolla (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
88. Koyaanisqatsy (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
89. Atlain (GUARDIANS, PIT)
90. Insania (GUARDIANS)
91. Hansen & Friends (GUARDIANS)
92. Power Paladin (GUARDIANS)
93. Tower (GUARDIANS) - requested by Vinny
94. Dire Peril (GUARDIANS, PIT)
95. Rocka Rollas (GUARDIANS)
96. Korovakill (INFINITE)
97. Scariot (INFINITE, PIT)
98. Totorro (INFINITE)
99. Jakub Żytecki (INFINITE)
100. The Last Sighs of the Wind (INFINITE)
101. Dyoxen (PIT)
102. MX (PIT)
103. Arachnid (PIT)
104. Coldseed (PIT)
105. Sacrifizer (PIT) - requested by Vinny
106. Sonic Assault (PIT) - requested by Vinny
107. Inhuman Nature (PIT) - requested by Vinny
108. Extinction A.D. (PIT) - requested by Vinny
February 2022
1. Funeral Mist - Twilight of the Flesh (from Deiform, 2021)
2. Dauþuz - Der Bergschmied IV: Zauberwerk (from Vom Schwarzen Schmied, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]
3. Whoredom Rife - Curse of the Moon (from Winds of Wrath, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
4. Nameless Mist - The Queen of Shadows (from Nameless Mist II, 2022)
5. Ulver - Hymne II - Wolf and the Devil (from Nattens madrigal: Aatte hymne til ulven i manden, 1997) [Submitted by Daniel]
6. Ereb Altor - Alvablot (from Vargtimman, 2022)
7. Wiegedood - Now Will Always Be (from There's Always Blood At The End Of The Road, 2022) [Submitted by Xephyr]
8. Nordicwinter - La mort des amants (from Le Dernier Adieu, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
9. Archgoat - Luciferian Darkness (from Whore of Bethlehem, 2006) [Submitted by Daniel]
10. Wodensthrone - Those That Crush the Roots of Blood (from Loss, 2009) [Submitted by Daniel]
11. Kanonenfieber - Unterstandangst (from Menschenmuhle, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
12. Gaerea - Absent (from Unsettling Whispers, 2018) [Submitted by Vinny]
13. Obtained Enslavement - Voice From a Starless Domain (from Soulblight, 1998)
14. Havukruunu - Yon Torni (from Kuu erkylän yllä, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
15. Mystras - The Fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (from Empires Vanquished and Dismantled, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]
16. Archurahl - Pig Slaughter (from Goedendag Injury, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
Yep, the band name is legitimately ██████.
Although, on Metal Archives...
The band has no name; a solid bar is often used instead. On websites limited to ASCII input, they have also used the name "nic" (Czech for "nothing/null/none"). For convenience, the band may be referenced on the Metal Archives by searching for "nic" or "Black Strip".
...and also the 2020 release from Sölicitör "Spectral Devastation"
Thanks.
This one is already on the site under the name Solicitor. I've made it so that it returns for a search for Sölicitör as well.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 14th to the 24th of January, 2022.
1. Destiny Potato (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
2. Crimson Shadows (GUARDIANS, HORDE)
3. Noble Beast (GUARDIANS)
4. Ancient Empire (GUARDIANS) - requested by Vinny
5. The Mire (INFINITE, FALLEN)
6. Save Us From the Archon (INFINITE)
7. USA Out of Vietnam (INFINITE, FALLEN)
8. Random (INFINITE)
9. A Pregnant Light (INFINITE, NORTH)
10. Deep Mountains (INFINITE, NORTH)
11. Kenn Nardi (INFINITE)
12. We All Die (Laughing) (INFINITE)
13. Audrey Fall (INFINITE)
14. Vestiges / Panopticon (INFINITE, FALLEN, NORTH)
15. Art Far Away (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
16. Nux Vomica (INFINITE, FALLEN)
17. Serdce (INFINITE, HORDE)
18. Fórn (FALLEN)
19. The Body / Sandworm (FALLEN, NORTH)
20. Aberration (HORDE, NORTH)
21. Gnaw Their Tongues & Alkerdeel (FALLEN, NORTH)
22. Swallowed (FALLEN, HORDE)
23. Salems Pot (FALLEN)
24. 1000mods (FALLEN)
25. Zaum (FALLEN)
26. Black Moth (FALLEN)
27. Crust (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
28. Uncertainty Principle (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
29. Hark (FALLEN)
30. Atriarch (FALLEN)
31. Anomalistic (HORDE)
32. Drowned (HORDE)
33. Piss Vortex (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
34. Alien Fucker (HORDE, NORTH)
35. Blind Equation (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
36. Excoriation (HORDE)
37. TrenchRot (HORDE)
38. Domains (HORDE)
39. Innsmouth (HORDE)
40. Ageless Oblivion (HORDE)
41. Zom (HORDE)
42. Lie in Ruins (HORDE)
43. Nausea (HORDE)
44. Rotting Sky (NORTH)
45. Azelisassath (NORTH)
46. Old Soul / ██████ (NORTH)
47. Black Monolith (NORTH)
48. Svolder (NORTH)
49. Sammath (NORTH)
50. The Deathtrip (NORTH)
51. Blut aus Nord / P.H.O.B.O.S. (NORTH, SPHERE)
52. Hellfekted (NORTH, PIT) - requested by Sonny
53. Paramnesia (NORTH)
54. My Useless Life (NORTH)
55. Falls of Rauros / Panopticon (NORTH)
56. The Temple (NORTH)
57. Stangarigel (NORTH)
58. Worm Shepherd (REVOLUTION)
59. Reek (PIT)
I don't personally know the answer, but I will say I'm not keen to set the precedent of having a metal genre that isn't attached to a clan. That kind of seems against the Metal Academy way of being all inclusive.
There are so few releases tagged as Trance Metal, that it doesn't seem an overly important question to answer, but for the sake of discussion, here's a bit of analysis. I looked at the top 50 Trance Metal releases on RYM (that have a decent amount of ratings), and recorded what other genres were associated with each of them (either as primaries or secondaries). The following genres appeared more than 5 times...
- Alternative Metal - 9 times
- Industrial Metal - 10 times
- Melodic Death Metal - 13 times
- Melodic Metalcore - 16 times
- Power Metal - 14 times
- Symphonic Metal - 6 times
Looking at this data, it's really no surprise that we're having difficulty slotting Trance Metal into one of the clans.
What's particularly interesting to me is that rarely is Trance Metal the only primary genre for a release. This leads me to wonder whether Trance Metal is really being used like a descriptor, and perhaps shouldn't be a genre of its own. If we look at 4 of the major bands in the genre, they're actually heavily associated with completely different styles of metal (Amaranthe - Melodic Metalcore, Blood Stain Child (Melodic Death Metal), Metalite (Power Metal) and BABYMETAL (Alternative Metal). Do any of these bands sound at all similar? It's a genuine question, as I've only had experience with BABYMETAL while at birthday gatherings for Daniel's kids.
Sirenia - On the Wane off At Sixes and Sevens (2002)
Paramæcium - The Unnatural Conception in Two Parts: The Birth and the Massacre of the Innocents off Exhumed of the Earth (1994)
SubRosa - Borrowed Time, Borrowed Eyes off No Help for the Mighty Ones (2011)
Running Time: 29:31
Revocation - The Outer Ones off The Outer Ones (2018)
Anachronism - Orogeny off Orogeny (2018)
Cadaveric Fumes - The Stirring Unknown off Echoing Chambers of Soul (2021)
Shadow of Intent - Gravesinger off Melancholy (2019)
Edge of Sanity - Enigma off Unorthodox (1992)
Putridity - Conceived Through Vermination off Ignominious Atonement (2015)
Running Time = 29:48
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 6th to the 13th of January, 2022.
1. Yousei Teikoku (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
2. Scar the Martyr (GATEWAY)
3. Device (GATEWAY)
4. Virtue (GUARDIANS)
5. Black Trip (GUARDIANS)
6. Newsted (GUARDIANS)
7. Hope for the Dying (GUARDIANS, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
8. Nautiluz (GUARDIANS)
9. Astronomikon (GUARDIANS)
10. Vandroya (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
11. Twilight of the Gods (GUARDIANS)
12. Majesty (GUARDIANS)
13. Christopher Lee (GUARDIANS)
14. Project: Roenwolfe (GUARDIANS, PIT)
15. Ashes of Ares (GUARDIANS)
16. Plini / Sithu Aye (INFINITE)
17. Duobetic Homunkulus (INFINITE, HORDE)
18. Altaar (INFINITE, FALLEN, NORTH)
19. New Keepers of the Water Towers (INFINITE, FALLEN)
20. Hessian (A.D.) (INFINITE, REVOLUTION, FALLEN)
21. S (INFINITE, NORTH)
22. CHON (INFINITE)
23. Circle of Illusion (INFINITE)
24. Modern Day Babylon (INFINITE)
25. Hierophant (HORDE, FALLEN, NORTH, REVOLUTION)
26. Dead in the Dirt (HORDE)
27. Sacriphyx (HORDE)
28. Nekrofilth (HORDE, PIT)
29. Sons of Aeon (HORDE)
30. Call of the Void (HORDE, FALLEN, REVOLUTION)
31. Beyond (HORDE)
32. Altars (HORDE)
33. Tyrants Blood (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)
34. Ade (HORDE)
35. Goemagot (HORDE)
36. Last Sacrament (HORDE)
37. Tyrant Goatgaldrakona (HORDE, NORTH)
38. Guttural Slug (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
39. Extermination Dismemberment (HORDE)
40. Coprocephalic (HORDE)
41. Hatred Surge (HORDE, FALLEN)
42. Atræ Bilis (HORDE)
43. Calvaiire (REVOLUTION)
44. Escape the Fate (REVOLUTION)
45. Grausamkeit (NORTH)
46. Torture Chain (NORTH)
47. Cirrhus (NORTH)
48. Kultura Kurenija (NORTH)
49. Ash Pool / Akitsa (NORTH)
50. Ambersmoke (NORTH)
51. Shitfucker (NORTH)
52. Sect Pig (NORTH)
53. Kryukokrest (NORTH)
54. Ildjarn / Hate Forest (NORTH)
55. And End... (NORTH)
56. Joel Grind (NORTH, PIT)
57. Apocynthion (NORTH)
58. Annorkoth (NORTH)
59. Dreariness (NORTH)
60. Old Sorcery (NORTH)
61. Cnoc An Tursa (NORTH)
62. Necronautical (NORTH)
63. Stomach Earth (FALLEN)
64. Survival (FALLEN)
65. Stone Titan (FALLEN)
66. Batillus (FALLEN)
67. Cough / Windhand (FALLEN)
68. Mount Salem (FALLEN)
69. Egypt (FALLEN)
70. Lumbar (FALLEN)
71. Charnel Altar (FALLEN)
If you're wondering why I selected this release as the January feature, I did so after a single listen. I've recently been trying to figure out why I don't listen to modern death metal anywhere near as much as the 90s, early 00s era. I've come to realise that while there are a lot of extremely brutal / technical death bands out there that create immensely impressive music, they often fail to give me the emotional feels that I got from those earlier classics. So many modern bands seem to be trying to up the ante when it comes to production, precision, brutality and technical sorcery, but I just don't get that horror-movie like, dark as fuck feel from them. As soon as I pressed play on this bad boy, I had that feeling, and had to share my appreciation of it.
I think most of us here are old enough to remember when magazines started advertising their contents as covering Extreme Metal (early to mid 90s). As Daniel mentioned, I think it was pretty easy to identify which genres were covered by the term, being Death, Thrash, Black, Grindcore and Funeral/Death Doom. It kinda made sense back then, as it differentiated the material from all the mags that claimed to be metal while focussing mainly on the likes of Skid Row, Motley Crue and Guns n Roses. I don't think the term really means much any more. There's so much crossover between genres these days, and there are releases in most metal genres that would be pretty fucking extreme to the inexperienced.
Interesting conversation though for sure. If you see me saying "extreme metal", I'm almost certainly using it the old school way. You'll have to excuse the fact that I'm simply getting old!
RYM seems to be completely down again right now. It's definitely been down a lot lately.
Makes it difficult for me to add new bands / releases to the site.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 24th of December, 2021 to the 4th of January, 2022. I've also added a whole stack of new releases for pre-existing bands.
1. Dr. Colossus (FALLEN)
2. Sentinels (REVOLUTION)
3. Carcinoma (NORTH, HORDE)
4. Reveal (NORTH, PIT, INFINITE)
5. Gabestok (NORTH)
6. Kommodus / Pan-Amerikan Native Front (NORTH)
7. Proscriptor McGovern's Apsû (NORTH, PIT)
8. Witchseeker (PIT, GUARDIANS)
9. Mvltifission (HORDE)
10. Ola Englund (INFINITE)
Great idea! I'll add it to the list.
January 2022
1. Otargos - Fleshborer Soulflayer (from Fleshborer Soulflayer, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
2. Gloosh - Hexenring (from Sylvan Coven, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]
3. Uada - Djinn (from Djinn, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]
4. Archgoat - Black Womb Gnosis (from Worship the Eternal Darkness, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
5. Arkona - Shtorm (from Khram, 2018)
6. Sun of the Blind - Fire & Thirst (from Skullreader, 2009) [Submitted by Daniel]
7. Panzerfaust - The Day After 'Trinity (from The Suns of Perdition - Chapter I: War, Horrid War, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]
8. Stormkeep - The Serpent's Stone (from Tales of Othertime, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
9. Blasphemy - Hoarding Of Evil Vengeance (from Fallen Angel Of Doom..., 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]
10. Cân Bardd - Autumn Shore (from Devoured by the Oak, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
11. Khandra - Irrigating Lethal Acres With Blood (from All Occupied by Sole Death, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]
12. Wormwitch - Canadian Denim Mountain Attack (from Wolf Hex, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]
13. Darkthrone - Quintessence (from Panzerfaust, 1995) [Submitted by Daniel]
14. Finsterforst - Zerfall (from Zerfall, 2019)
15. Serpent's Oath - Malediction (from Nihil, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]
16. Aquilus - Into Wooded Hollows (from Bellum I, 2021)
17. Ethereal Shroud - Discarnate (from Trisagion, 2021)
Great comments guys, and so much of it rings very true for me. Like the rest of you, I couldn't care less what other people think about me and what I enjoy. This sense has become stronger as I get older, and watching the world's inhabitants jump from one trend to another while my interests remain the same can be fairly amusing at times. If I'm honest, I think I enjoy it more when people are disbelieving and shocked at my interests these days than when they try to connect with me because they once heard a Disturbed or Dragonforce album. If COVID has taught me anything, it's that I really don't need very many people in my life to be genuinely happy. If I never had to go into the office another day for the rest of my life, I'd be genuinely happy. As long as I have my direct family, a few mates to share a beer with, and appropriate access to follow my passions (including Metal Academy of course), I'm all set!
To answer the original question though, I know it seems at odds to outsiders, but I often find dark things to hold immense beauty. It can be hard to explain why something that is undeniably violent and at times outright terrifying can provide a sense of euphoria to those of us that have this inclination, but that's my reality. That said, I do think that a lot of my favourite metal music has aspects that even non-metal fans would admit are quite beautiful. It just so happens that I'm also attractive to the dissonant, the technically challenging, the melancholic, the violent, the fucking strange, the outright scary, and all the other aspects that come into play in this incredible genre of music.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 15th to the 23rd of December, 2021.
1. Semantik Punk (REVOLUTION)
2. Semargl (REVOLUTION, NORTH, SPHERE)
3. Glass Cloud (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
4. AxeWound (REVOLUTION)
5. Eskimo Callboy (REVOLUTION)
6. Kill Devil Hill (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
7. Tantara (PIT)
8. Municipal Waste / Toxic Holocaust (PIT)
9. Cssaba (SPHERE, NORTH)
10. JK Flesh / Prurient (SPHERE)
11. Dawn of Ashes (SPHERE, HORDE, NORTH)
12. Vampillia + Nadja (FALLEN)
13. Vampillia (FALLEN, INFINITE)
14. Hua†a (FALLEN)
15. Rectal Hygienics (FALLEN)
16. Planks (FALLEN, INFINITE)
17. Rattenfänger (FALLEN, HORDE)
18. Nachtvorst (FALLEN, NORTH)
19. We Lost the Sea (FALLEN, INIFNITE)
20. Sunpocrisy (FALLEN, INFINITE, HORDE)
21. Serpentine Path (FALLEN)
22. Tragedy (FALLEN)
23. Year of No Light / Altar of Plagues (FALLEN, INFINITE)
24. Hellvetron (FALLEN)
25. Viaje a 800 (FALLEN)
26. Venomous Maximus (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
27. Derkéta (FALLEN, HORDE)
28. Blóð (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Sonny
29. Bloody Hammers (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
30. Hellwell (GUARDIANS)
31. Huntress (GUARDIANS)
32. Oceans of Time (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
33. Fogalord (GUARDIANS)
34. Pythia (GUARDIANS)
35. Morgul Blade (GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny
36. Alchemyst (NORTH, HORDE)
37. Trist / Lonesummer (NORTH)
38. Rahu (NORTH)
39. Затухание (NORTH)
40. Vaura (NORTH)
41. Deafheaven / Bosse-de-Nage (NORTH, INFINITE)
42. Nightbringer / Acherontas (NORTH)
43. God Seed (NORTH)
44. Ancestors (NORTH)
45. Cornigr (NORTH)
46. Wrathprayer (NORTH, HORDE)
47. Melankoli (NORTH)
48. Ulvegr (NORTH)
49. Totale Vernichtung (NORTH)
50. Vemod (NORTH)
51. Saturnian (NORTH)
52. Taranis (NORTH, INFINITE)
53. Agruss (NORTH, HORDE)
54. Angrrsth (NORTH)
55. Ancient Mast ery (NORTH)
56. Underdark (NORTH)
57. Liberteer (HORDE)
58. Murder Construct (HORDE)
59. Go-Zen (HORDE)
60. GOREZUNYAN (HORDE)
61. Maveth (HORDE)
62. Grand Supreme Blood Court (HORDE)
63. Blunt Force Trauma (HORDE)
64. Words of Farewell (HORDE)
65. Sophicide (HORDE)
66. The Kill (HORDE)
67. Malignant Altar (HORDE)
68. Intonate (HORDE, INFINITE)
69. Art by Numbers (INFINITE)
70. Glassing (INFINITE)
71. The Safety Fire (INFINITE)
72. Distorted Harmony (INFINITE)
73. Oddland (INFINITE)
74. In the Silence (INFINITE)
Unsurprisingly, given the last couple of years that we've had, there appears to be some turmoil in most people's lives at the moment. Very sorry to hear about your dad Sonny.
I think this thread is a great idea Daniel. It gives us some insight into the experiences people have when they're not listening to and discussing the metal music we love.
As for me, I've had a fairly massive project dumped on me out of nowhere, so I've had to cancel the majority of my planned Xmas leave. I'm pretty annoyed about it, but at least the project is a great opportunity for both the business and my own career. If I can nail this one, surely good things will come (at least that's what I keep telling myself while I wallow in self-pity).
Welcome to Metal Academy Scarecrow! You seem to have a fairly wide ranging interest in metal, so I imagine choosing your three clans might have been a bit challenging. Speaking of challenges, if you want to add a fourth clan, you can do so by working your way through some of our clan challenges (you can find them in the Lists section).
Anyway, we hope you find the site valuable and enjoy our unique features and very friendly community. Plus it's great to have another Summoning fan here. We need as many as we can get to counter Daniel's vitriol towards what is one of my favourite bands.
Just listened to the Shape of Despair single and it's sounding good for the new album!
To say I'm excited would be an understatement. Trying to keep my expectations in check.
Shape of Despair's new single! - Reflection in Slow Time (2021)
Swallow the Sun - This House Has No Home off Moonflower (2021)
Novembers Doom - The Pale Haunt Departure (2005)
Triptykon - Aurorae off Melana Chasmata (2014)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 4th to the 14th of December, 2021.
1. Dominus (PIT, HORDE)
2. Sijjin (PIT, HORDE)
3. Beowülf (PIT, GATEWAY)
4. Mysto Dysto (PIT)
5. Antidote (PIT, GUARDIANS)
6. Iceburn (GATEWAY, FALLEN)
7. Tetrarch (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
8. One Second Thought (REVOLUTION)
9. Loathe / Holding Absence (REVOLUTION)
10. Strongarm (REVOLUTION)
11. Suicide Nation (REVOLUTION, NORTH)
12. Crown Magnetar (REVOLUTION)
13. Unorthodox (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
14. Spina Bifida (FALLEN)
15. Smar SW (FALLEN, INFINITE)
16. Cemetery of Scream (FALLEN)
17. Rothadás (FALLEN)
18. Cool Feet (GUARDIANS)
19. Persian Risk (GUARDIANS)
20. Timo Tolkki (GUARDIANS)
21. Burning Starr (GUARDIANS)
22. Embrace of Souls (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
23. Hunted (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by Xephyr
24. Mentalist (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
25. Númenor (GUARDIANS, NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
26. Ravenous (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
27. Silent Winter (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
28. Sonic Haven (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
29. Sunrise (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
30. Thormenthor (INFINITE, HORDE)
31. N.EX.T (INFINITE)
32. Power of Omens (INFINITE)
33. ВТТА® (INFINITE, NORTH)
34. Syncatto (INFINITE) - requested by Xephyr
35. Turbulence (INFINITE) - requested by Xephyr
36. Wreche (INFINITE, NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
37. Sunless Dawn (INFINITE, HORDE)
38. Beastlor (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
39. Fester (NORTH, HORDE)
40. Algaion (NORTH, HORDE)
41. Kyprian's Circle (NORTH)
42. Obscurity (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Xephyr
43. Frummyrkrið (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
44. Intig (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
45. Sanctuaire (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
46. Sphere (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr
47. Los Males del Mundo (NORTH)
48. Paralysis (HORDE)
49. Lubricant (HORDE)
50. Coffin Nail (HORDE)
51. Sintury (HORDE)
52. Defaced Creation (HORDE)
53. Meshum (HORDE)
54. NecroticGoreBeast (HORDE) - requested by Xephyr
Gorement - My Ending Quest off The Ending Quest (1994)
Discordance Axis - Castration Rite off The Inalienable Dreamless (2000)
Bloodbath - Eaten off Nightmares Made Flesh (2004)
Quo Vadis - Silence Calls the Storm off Defiant Imagination (2004)
Sunless - Solaris off Ylem (2021)
Fallensun - The Wake of the Fall off The Wake of the Fall (2021)
Cenotaph - Pathogenic Morbid Incubation off Precognition to Eradicate (2021)
Total Running Time: 29:15
I'm committing to checking out more modern releases than I have been in recent years. I've been stuck in the 80s / 90s for quite some time, and while I still love that era of metal, there's so much great stuff still coming out that I rarely give more than a passing listen. Running the North playlist has already forced me to check out recent music, and I've discovered some cool stuff in just two months.
Let's see if I can follow through on this commitment.
I'm pleased that you did get at least some enjoyment from the album Sonny. I must admit that I selected it as my feature with some trepidation, knowing that it certainly wasn't going to have the same appeal to everyone as it does to me. I've always loved Futile, and listen to it quite regularly, along with Slumber's Fallout, which has a very similar sound. It's an album based on wonderful melodies as opposed to crushing riffs, and I often wonder whether it's really a Death Doom Metal album at all.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 1st to the 3rd of November, 2021, along with a load of new releases from existing bands.
1. Yakui the Maid (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
2. Eternal Evil (PIT, NORTH) - requested by Sonny
3. Zulu (REVOLUTION)
4. Hammer King (GUARDIANS)
5. Coexistence (HORDE, INFINITE)
6. Vertebra Atlantis (HORDE, NORTH)
7. Sulphurous (HORDE)
8. Converge & Chelsea Wolfe (FALLEN, INFINITE)
9. Dream Unending (FALLEN)
10. Tar Hag (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
11. Olde (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
12. Gautam Buddha (NORTH)
13. Mortem (NORTH)
14. Escumergamënt (NORTH)
15. Hænesy (NORTH)
16. Gorrch (NORTH, INFINITE)
17. Totenwache (NORTH)
18. Illyria (NORTH, INFINITE)
19. The Silver (INFINITE)
December 2021
1. Marduk - Beast of Prey (from Panzer Division Marduk, 1999) [Submitted by Sonny]
2. Thyrfing - Döp dem i eld (from Vanagandr, 2021)
3. Mare Cognitum - Occultated Temporal Dimensions (from Luminiferous Aether, 2016) [Submitted by Sonny]
4. Antichrist Siege Machine - Carried Into Darkness (from Purifying Blade, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
5. møl - Serf (from Diorama, 2021)
6. Havukruunu - Rautalintu (from Havulinnaan, 2015) [Submitted by Xephyr]
7. Serpent Column - Disobedience (from Katartisis, 2021)
8. Empyrium - Über den Sternen (from Über den Sternen, 2021)
9. Inferno - The Wailing Horizon (from Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity), 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
10. Blasphemy - Demoniac (from Blood Upon the Altar, 1989) [Submitted by Daniel]
11. Code - The Rattle of Black Teeth (from Resplendent Grotesque, 2009)
12. Drudkh - Sunwheel (from Autumn Aurora, 2004) [Submitted by Xephyr]
13. Antaeus - Inner War (from Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan, 2000) [Submitted by Sonny]
14. Cradle of Filth - Crawling King Chaos (from Existence Is Futile, 2021)
15. Astrophobos - Liktal (from Corpus, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
16. Untamed Land - A Nameless Shape (from Like Creatures Seeking Their Own Forms, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
17. Burzum - Spell of Destruction (from Burzum, 1992) [Submitted by Daniel]
18. Cantique Lepreux - Lune défroquée (from Sectes, 2021) [Submitted by Vinny]
19. Panopticon - Black Soot and Red Blood (from Kentucky, 2012) [Submitted by Daniel]
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 9th to the 30th of November, 2021.
1. KAT & Roman Kostrzewski (PIT, GUARDIANS)
2. Morbid (PIT, NORTH, HORDE)
3. Battlecross (PIT, HORDE)
4. Dead Heat (PIT) - requested by Vinny
5. Methedras (PIT, HORDE) - requested by Vinny
6. Mortal Vision (PIT) - requested by Vinny
7. Scarecrow (PIT) - requested by Vinny
8. Deathraiser (PIT)
9. Dungeon Crawl (PIT) - requested by Vinny
10. Knife (PIT) - requested by Vinny
11. Hundredth (REVOLUTION)
12. The Air I Breathe (REVOLUTION)
13. Mastiff (REVOLUTION, FALLEN) - requested by Vinny
14. The Unguided (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
15. Ever Forthright (INFINITE)
16. Last Chance to Reason (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
17. Aegaeon (REVOLUTION)
18. Design the Skyline (REVOLUTION)
19. Heart in Hand (REVOLUTION)
20. Like Moths to Flames (REVOLUTION)
21. The Color Morale (REVOLUTION)
22. Yuyoyuppe (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)
23. Don Broco (GATEWAY)
24. Luxtorpeda (GATEWAY)
25. Hank Williams, III (GATEWAY)
26. Video Nasty (PIT) - requested by Tymell
27. Chalice (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
28. Theragon (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
29. Burning Point (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
30. Age of Artemis (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
31. Devil (GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
32. ReinXeed (GUARDIANS)
33. Symfonia (GUARDIANS)
34. Darkest Era (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
35. Despise You / Agoraphobic Nosebleed (HORDE)
36. Flourishing (HORDE)
37. Gutalax (HORDE)
38. Nader Sadek (HORDE)
39. Total Fucking Destruction (HORDE)
40. Dephosphorus (HORDE, NORTH, FALLEN)
41. Anomalous (HORDE)
42. Arafel (HORDE, NORTH)
43. Archagathus (HORDE)
44. Apocalyptic Fear (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
45. Baring Teeth (HORDE)
46. Blaspherian (HORDE)
47. Book of Black Earth (HORDE, NORTH)
48. Euphoreon (HORDE)
49. Inhuman Condition (HORDE)
50. Lvcifyre (HORDE)
51. Monumental Torment (HORDE)
52. Noisear (HORDE)
53. Sonne Adam (HORDE, FALLEN)
54. War Master (HORDE)
55. Ashen (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
56. Abnormity (HORDE)
57. Condemned (HORDE)
58. Visceral Disgorge (HORDE)
59. Locrian (FALLEN, NORTH)
60. Portrayal of Guilt (FALLEN)
61. Wreck and Reference (FALLEN, INFINITE)
62. Falloch (FALLEN, NORTH, INFINITE)
63. Cavern Deep (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
64. Grief Collector (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
65. Switchblade Jesus (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
66. Miasma Theory (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
67. Ember Sun (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
68. Light Bearer (FALLEN, INFINITE)
69. Fimir (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
70. Beastwars (FALLEN)
71. Black Oath (FALLEN)
72. Conan / Slomatics (FALLEN)
73. Planet of Zeus (FALLEN)
74. Premonition 13 (FALLEN)
75. Steak Number Eight (FALLEN, INFINITE)
76. Turbowolf (FALLEN)
77. Hex A.D. (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
78. Circle of Sighs (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
79. Arenna (FALLEN)
80. Mourners (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
81. Lucifer's Children (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
82. Cognos (INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
83. Cloak of Altering (INFINITE)
84. GGUW (INFINITE, NORTH)
85. Oval / Liturgy (INFINITE, NORTH)
86. ICS Vortex (INFINITE)
87. Iroha (INFINITE)
88. Appearance of Nothing (INFINITE)
89. Circles (INFINITE)
90. Corelia (INFINITE)
91. For All We Know (INFINITE)
92. Paul Wardingham (INFINITE)
93. Smohalla (INFINITE, NORTH)
94. Dolorvotre (NORTH)
95. Goatmoon (NORTH)
96. Raspberry Bulbs (NORTH)
97. Seagulls Insane and Swans Deceased Mining Out the Void (NORTH)
98. Sun Devoured Earth (NORTH)
99. Sutekh Hexen (NORTH)
100. Tukaaria (NORTH)
101. Tukaaria / Odz Manouk (NORTH)
102. Xothist (NORTH)
103. Avichi (NORTH)
104. Dämmerfarben (NORTH)
105. Grai (NORTH)
106. Infestus (NORTH)
107. Thy Light (NORTH)
108. Nordicwinter (NORTH) - requested by Vinny
109. Wayne Static (SPHERE)
I was obviously taking the piss. That said, you're correct to assume that I wouldn't enjoy that track. It's pretty horrible. But then, like you, I don't like this sort of Folk Metal at all. I hated it when Isengard did it and I hated it when Windir and Enslaved did it. Others seem to enjoy it. I guess I personally don't see the point of adding tracks to the Stinkers thread when you despise the style of music in general. It's probably interesting and useful for people if you call a Thrash Metal or Brutal Death Metal track a stinker, or if I state that a Funeral Doom track is a stinker, because we normally love those genres, and are therefore suitable people to judge them. To be honest, I could add half the Power Metal tracks I've ever heard to the stinkers thread, but would that really be a fair assessment? I think I'd just offend people who shouldn't listen to my judgement of Power Metal anyway.
To be clear, I'm not telling you (or anyone) what they should or shouldn't call a stinker. You do you! There's just an obvious pattern to the last 6 entries here that I couldn't help but comment on.
As an aside, there's much to like on Arntor for me, and I totally get why so many see it as a classic. Tracks like The Blacksmith and the Troll of Lundamyri and The Longing are very enjoyable for me.
A Sonny built Fallen playlist was an exciting proposition, and this first one didn't disappoint.
I really need to give Reverend Bizarre more of a chance. My previous attempts haven't grabbed me like I expected them to, but all the praise can't be ignored.
I think you've turned all of us into Warning fans over the past couple of years.
Glad you enjoyed it Sonny. Schammasch was a great find for me too! The three disc album (Triangle) isn't easily consumed, but this band has clearly got the goods. I enjoy including tracks that break out of the norms and challenge people a bit (Veilburner for example). Gotta keep you all on your toes.
This thread might as well be called Daniel's consistent attempts to listen to Folk Metal and Melodic Black Metal bands that he already knows he's going to hate, then shares his vitriol with the world. If anything, it's probably a good place for Folk Metal fans to find good music.
I'm not surprised that the feedback for this release has been a bit mixed. I know that it has some production issues, and I can't deny that the tracks begin to bleed into each other.
But this is an album I find myself going back to again and again. There's a majestic, vortex swirling beauty to it that really got its claws into me and its refused to let go. Each time I listen to it I find my enjoyment increasing, so I totally agree with Vinny that Skullreader is a grower.
Anyway, it's an album I don't hear mentioned very often (if at all!), so figured making it a feature release would at least give a few passionate metal fans the chance to experience it.
Void of Silence - Farthest Shores off The Sky Over (2018) - not the best album from this highly underrated band, but still a good one
Light Field Reverie - Dreamwalker off Another World (2020) - I'm sure you'll hate this one Sonny, but someone has to choose some gothic metal - plus I really enjoy it!
Ophis - Default Empty off Spew Forth Odium (2021) - I expect this track will make it up to you
Total Running Time: 29:58
Morbid Angel - Brainstorm off Blessed are the Sick (1991)
Cryptopsy - Cold Hate Warm Blood off Whisper Supremacy (1998)
Illdisposed - Now We're History off 1-800 Vindication (2004)
Spawn of Possession - Scorched off Noctambulant (2006)
No One Knows What the Dead Think - Autumn Flower off No One Knows What the Dead Think (2019)
Be'lakor - Hidden Window off Coherence (2021)
Archspire - Drone Corpse Aviator off Bleed the Future (2021)
Total Running Time: 29:41
I'm sure it's possible. I'll ask my developer when I next get his attention (that is proving difficult at the moment).
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?
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement, with the request being to add it to The Sphere.