Ben's Forum Replies
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
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 remove it from The North.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
I'd have to listen to quite a bit of it to form an opinion, and based on this track, that won't be happening anytime soon.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 29th of October to the 8th of November, 2021.
1. Demians (GATEWAY)
2. The Murder of My Sweet (GUARDIANS)
3. Ryan Adams (GUARDIANS)
4. Heljareyga (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
5. Dawnbringer (GUARDIANS, NORTH, PIT)
6. Sister Sin (GUARDIANS)
7. Holy Grail (GUARDIANS, PIT)
8. Charred Walls of the Damned (GUARDIANS)
9. Steelwing (GUARDIANS)
10. Züül (GUARDIANS)
11. Acrassicauda (PIT)
12. Besieged (PIT)
13. Cruel Force (PIT, NORTH)
14. Children of Technology (PIT)
15. Dishammer (PIT)
16. Young and in the Way (REVOLUTION, NORTH, HORDE)
17. Short Bus Pile Up (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
18. Early Graves (REVOLUTION)
19. This or the Apocalypse (REVOLUTION)
20. All Pigs Must Die (REVOLUTION)
21. Structures (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
22. Shadow of the Colossus (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
23. Woe, Is Me (REVOLUTION)
24. Our Last Night (REVOLUTION)
25. I Am Abomination (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
26. Mutiny Within (REVOLUTION, INFINITE, HORDE)
27. And Hell Followed With (REVOLUTION)
28. Brobdingnagian (INFINITE, NORTH)
29. Son of Aurelius (INFINITE, HORDE)
30. Vestiges (INFINITE, FALLEN)
31. Les Discrets (INFINITE)
32. Kälter (INFINITE, HORDE)
33. Echoes (INFINITE)
34. gru (INFINITE)
35. The Shadow Theory (INFINITE)
36. Aspera (INFINITE)
37. Candy Cane (INFINITE, NORTH)
38. Candy Cane / Oranssi Pazuzu (INFINITE, NORTH)
39. Division by Zero (INFINITE)
40. Wharflurch (HORDE)
41. Sete Star Sept (HORDE)
42. Nocturnal Blood (HORDE, NORTH)
43. Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire (HORDE, FALLEN)
44. Bologna Violenta (HORDE)
45. Enthrope (HORDE)
46. Witchrist (HORDE, FALLEN, NORTH)
47. Calm Hatchery (HORDE)
48. Prosanctus Inferi (HORDE, NORTH)
49. Blood Revolt (HORDE, NORTH)
50. Arkaik (HORDE)
51. Cerebral Effusion (HORDE)
52. Odz Manouk (NORTH)
53. Mortualia (NORTH)
54. Bagatur (NORTH)
55. Manierisme (NORTH)
56. Clair Cassis (NORTH)
57. Sexdrome (NORTH)
58. Dopamine (NORTH)
59. Duszę wypuścił (NORTH)
60. Sleeping Peonies (NORTH)
61. Anguished (NORTH)
62. The Austrasian Goat (NORTH, FALLEN)
63. Aiumeen Basoa (NORTH)
64. Morowe (NORTH)
65. Marțolea (NORTH)
66. Odem Arcarum (NORTH)
67. Skagos / Panopticon (NORTH)
68. Темнозорь (NORTH)
69. Nàttsòl (NORTH)
70. Ov Hell (NORTH)
71. Exiled From Light (NORTH)
72. Black Space Riders (FALLEN)
73. Ophis (FALLEN)
74. Noctum (FALLEN)
75. Stonehelm (FALLEN)
76. Eibon (FALLEN)
77. Oryx (FALLEN)
78. Djinn and Miskatonic (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
I thought I'd forgotten to post my suggestions, but I've just noticed they are there.
Never fear Sonny. Your entries meant there was no need for me to hunt down War Metal tracks for inclusion. You covered that for me perfectly! I'll add your name now.
There was really contrasting material to include in this playlist, so I decided to spread it all out rather than bunch similar track styles together. I personally enjoy regular shifts in style throughout playlists to add that attention grabbing surprise factor. I still tried to make the tracks flow as much as I could, but I like the feeling of never knowing quite what you're going to get next.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I discovered a few interesting new bands in the process. 
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 28th of October, 2021.
1. Swashbuckle (PIT, HORDE)
2. Veilburner (INFINITE, NORTH, HORDE)
3. Apparition (HORDE, FALLEN) - requested by Vinny
4. LANDMVRKS (REVOLUTION)
5. Altar of Oblivion (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
6. Lament Christ (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
7. Astralium (GUARDIANS)
Plus a bunch of new releases from existing bands.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 14th to the 27th of October, 2021.
1. In Fear and Faith (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
2. Dead by April (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
3. Elysion (GATEWAY, FALLEN)
4. Slagmaur (SPHERE, NORTH)
5. Black Light Discipline (SPHERE)
6. Nachtreich (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
7. Ketzer (GUARDIANS, PIT, NORTH)
8. Sarke (GUARDIANS, PIT, NORTH)
9. Demetori (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
10. Illusion Suite (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
11. Iron Claw (GUARDIANS)
12. Horrific (GUARDIANS, HORDE)
13. Tim "Ripper" Owens (GUARDIANS)
14. Sinister Realm (GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
15. Gwyllion (GUARDIANS)
16. Armour (GUARDIANS, PIT)
17. Excoriate (HORDE)
18. Soulfallen (HORDE, NORTH)
19. Ignivomous (HORDE)
20. Goreaphobia (HORDE)
21. Gwynbleidd (HORDE, INFINITE)
22. Luna Mortis (HORDE)
23. Amputated (HORDE)
24. The Slamburglars (HORDE, INFINITE)
25. Oblomov (HORDE, NORTH)
26. Kalisia (INFINITE)
27. Nesseria (FALLEN, REVOLUTION)
28. Centaurus-A (HORDE)
29. The Few Against Many (HORDE)
30. Denial (HORDE)
31. Squash Bowels (HORDE)
32. Ascended (HORDE, FALLEN)
33. General Surgery (HORDE)
34. Maim (HORDE)
35. Heathen Foray (HORDE, NORTH)
36. Claws (HORDE)
37. Cerebral Incubation (HORDE)
38. Gnostic (HORDE, PIT)
39. Conducting From the Grave (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
40. The Boy Will Drown (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
41. Vomit the Soul (HORDE)
42. Iron Age (PIT)
43. Children (PIT, INFINITE)
44. AssJack (PIT)
45. Alkoholizer (PIT)
46. Razor of Occam (PIT, NORTH)
47. Tenet (PIT)
48. Bywar (PIT)
49. Process of Guilt (INFINITE, FALLEN)
50. Les Discrets / Alcest (INFINITE)
51. Exivious (INFINITE)
52. Proghma-C (INFINITE)
53. Echoes of Yul (INFINITE, FALLEN)
54. Circle of Contempt (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
55. Eryn Non Dae. (INFINITE, FALLEN)
56. Roswell Six (INFINITE)
57. CiLiCe (INFINITE)
58. Fu Xi (NORTH, FALLEN)
59. Plaga (NORTH)
60. Sui Caedere (NORTH)
61. Miserere Luminis (NORTH)
62. Apati (NORTH)
63. Black Vomit (NORTH)
64. Skitliv (NORTH, FALLEN)
65. Fenriz' Red Planet / Nattefrost (NORTH, FALLEN)
66. Orcustus (NORTH)
67. Serpent of the Abyss (NORTH)
68. Helleruin (NORTH)
69. Irminsul (NORTH)
70. Skagos (NORTH)
71. When Mine Eyes Blacken (NORTH)
72. Askival (NORTH)
73. Anal Blasphemy (NORTH)
74. Happy Days (NORTH)
75. Рожь [Rozh] (NORTH, FALLEN)
76. Geïst (NORTH)
77. Here Comes the Kraken (REVOLUTION)
78. ABACABB (REVOLUTION)
79. The Arusha Accord (REVOLUTION)
80. Narrows (REVOLUTION, FALLEN)
81. Adept (REVOLUTION)
82. Texas in July (REVOLUTION)
83. Dying Wish (REVOLUTION)
84. Molotov Solution (REVOLUTION)
85. A Skylit Drive (REVOLUTION)
86. Arkaea (REVOLUTION)
87. Griftegård (FALLEN)
88. Wine From Tears (FALLEN)
89. Scott Weinrich (FALLEN)
90. Dark Castle (FALLEN)
91. Ablaze in Hatred (FALLEN)
92. Celan (FALLEN)
93. Megasus (FALLEN)
Huge anniversary for me today... Death's Human turns 30!
1991 was such an exciting year in my life. I was 14, with all the freedoms and experiences that come with that age. I think it was the year that I really started moving beyond my Metallica / Slayer / Iron Maiden roots, and into the formerly scary world of extreme metal. This album, along with Morbid Angel's Blessed Are the Sick, Sepultura's Arise, Carcass' Necroticism, Entombed's Clandestine, Pestilence's Testimony of the Ancients and Bolt Thrower's War Master set me on an extraordinary journey of extremity, darkness, and dare I say beauty. It's a journey I'm still on today, and there have been very few destinations on the way that are as perfect as Death's Human.
I want to take this moment to thank my big brother Daniel for guiding me down this path. I'm fairly certain I would never have found it without him.
R.I.P. Chuck! I still genuinely feel like crying when I think about the loss. I'm not ashamed to say that I did cry on the day I found out that he'd passed away. I'd be shocked if Daniel didn't shed a tear too.
I have this conversation with people all the time. I don't hide the fact that metal music (not to mention horror movies) is one of the most important things to me in my life. This shocks people no end, particularly in my workplace where I'm in a senior role, and normally results in immediate comments like "But you seem like such a nice person" and "You mean that shouting, angry stuff? I can't understand how anyone can actually like that. It all sounds the same doesn't it?"
I generally respond by saying "I genuinely love the shouting, angry stuff if it's performed really well, but that's only part of metal. Metal is a hugely varied, internationally huge genre, with so many different styles that really don't sound anything alike." This is normally met with disbelief and another negative comment like "You can't even understand what they're saying! Why do they have to be so angry all the time!", to which I inform them that I'm 100% certain that they've never heard a single second of any of my favourite bands, so perhaps their judgement is premature. How would they feel if I told them all their favourite artists and TV shows are rubbish when I've never experienced any of them? There's a lot of beauty and differing emotions to be found in metal music, and I'd be more than happy to showcase some of it for them if they'd be willing.
I've never had anyone (ever) choose to actually listen to what I enjoy after having that conversation. It always goes the same, with them shaking their heads and seeing me in a very different light after the discovery that I clearly worship Satan and have very, very bad taste.
Now this is all face to face, "real world" stuff. I don't think it's any surprise that the anonymity of the internet and the general trolly nature of its inhabitants results in this negative response being exacerbated to an aggressive degree (which is rather ironic). I can't see it ever changing, so choose to ignore it.
I'm all for people making lists like "10 albums that other metal fans love that I just don't connect with" or "my top 10 most disappointing albums". I have no time for videos like this one, that exist only to shit on someone else's birthday cake for the controversy (apparently the only way to get attention these days).
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 10th to the 13th of October, 2021.
1. Tel (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
2. Age of the Wolf / Tel (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
3. Age of the Wolf (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
4. KK's Priest (GUARDIANS)
5. Heavy Sentence (GUARDIANS)
6. Immortal Guardian (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by illusionist
7. Ekulu (PIT)
8. Zombie Shark (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
9. This Day Forward (REVOLUTION) - requested by shadowdoom9
10. Crypts of Despair (HORDE)
11. Groza (PIT)
Also added a heap of new releases from bands already on the site.
October Tide - Grey Dawn off Grey Dawn (1999)
Forest of Shadows - Eternal Autumn off Where Dreams Turn to Dust (2001)
Un - Sentiment off Sentiment (2018)
Total Running TIme: 25 minutes and 57 seconds
Pestilence - Presence of the Dead off Testimony of the Ancients (1991)
Gorefest - The Glorious Dead off False (1992)
Cephalic Carnage - Wraith off Anomalies (2005)
In Mourning - The Shrouded Divine off Shrouded Divine (2008)
Septicflesh - The Vampire from Nazareth off The Great Mass (2011)
Artificial Brain - Absorbing Black Ignition off Labyrinth Constellation (2014)
Total Running Time: 29 minutes and 58 seconds
Mayhem - View From Nihil off Grand Declaration of War (2000)
Windir - Fagning off Likferd (2003)
Schammasch - Metanoia off Triangle (2016)
Total Running Time: 19 minutes and 36 seconds
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 24th of September to the 9th of October, 2021.
1. Viikate (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)
2. Head (GATEWAY)
3. Day Without Dawn (GATEWAY)
4. Eyes Set to Kill (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
5. Attack Attack! (REVOLUTION)
6. Black Tide (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS, REVOLUTION)
7. Dub Trio (GATEWAY)
8. The Gentle Men (GATEWAY)
9. Iamerror (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
10. For the Fallen Dreams (REVOLUTION)
11. Fellsilent (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)
12. Maruta (HORDE)
13. Greeley Estates (REVOLUTION)
14. Salt the Wound (REVOLUTION)
15. Oceana (REVOLUTION)
16. For Today (REVOLUTION)
17. Blessed by a Broken Heart (REVOLUTION)
18. I Set My Friends on Fire (REVOLUTION)
19. Capsule (REVOLUTION, FALLEN)
20. Saviours (PIT, GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
21. Eliminator (PIT)
22. Hayaino Daisuki (PIT, HORDE)
23. Syphilitic Vaginas (PIT, NORTH, GUARDIANS, HORDE)
24. Necrovation (HORDE)
25. Go Ahead and Die (PIT)
26. Austrian Death Machine (PIT)
27. Njiqahdda (FALLEN, NORTH, INFINITE)
28. Unto Others (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
29. Trinacria (FALLEN, NORTH, INFINITE)
30. Jesu / Battle of Mice (FALLEN, INFINITE)
31. Exoskeleton (FALLEN)
32. Pentemple (FALLEN)
33. Salome (FALLEN)
34. Black River (FALLEN)
35. Thou / Leech (FALLEN, NORTH)
36. Nadja & Black Boned Angel (FALLEN)
37. Withered (FALLEN, NORTH, HORDE)
38. Swallow the Ocean (FALLEN, INFINITE)
39. TESA (FALLEN, INFINITE)
40. Electric Wizard / Reverend Bizarre (FALLEN)
41. Outlaw Order (FALLEN)
42. Nivathe (FALLEN, NORTH)
43. Plaguewielder (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
44. Unsun (FALLEN)
45. Abyssmal Sorrow (FALLEN)
46. Samothrace (FALLEN)
47. The Lamp of Thoth (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
48. Trenches (FALLEN, INFINITE)
49. Kivimetsän Druidi (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
50. Obtest (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
51. Revolution Renaissance (GUARDIANS)
52. Ocrilim (NORTH, INFINITE)
53. Arkan (NORTH, HORDE, INFINITE)
54. Armanenschaft (NORTH)
55. I'm in a Coffin (NORTH)
56. Austere / Isolation (NORTH)
57. Isolation (NORTH)
58. Trancelike Void (NORTH)
59. Impavida (NORTH)
60. Brocken Moon (NORTH)
61. Wrath of the Weak (NORTH)
62. Krypt (NORTH)
63. Angst Skvadron (NORTH, INFINITE)
64. Svarti Loghin (NORTH)
65. Ofermod (NORTH, HORDE)
66. Ayat (NORTH)
67. Pyha (NORTH)
68. Deathspell Omega / S.V.E.S.T. (NORTH)
69. Austere / Lyrinx (NORTH)
70. Wehmut (NORTH)
71. Sorgsvart (NORTH)
72. Svartediket (NORTH, INFINITE)
73. Ansur (NORTH, INFINITE)
74. Blasphemophagher (NORTH, HORDE)
75. Behexen / Satanic Warmaster (NORTH)
76. Celestial Bloodshed (NORTH)
77. Grave Desecrator (NORTH, PIT, HORDE)
78. Thron (NORTH)
79. Cause for Effect (INFINITE, HORDE)
80. Ephrat (INFINITE)
81. Paul Gilbert (INFINITE)
82. Oceans of Sadness (INFINITE, HORDE)
83. Emir Hot (INFINITE)
84. Benea Reach (INFINITE)
85. Iron Thrones (INFINITE, HORDE)
86. Noism (HORDE)
87. Nervecell (HORDE)
88. Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Insect Warfare (HORDE)
89. Animosity & Drumcorps (HORDE)
90. Made of Hate (HORDE)
91. Orchidectomy (HORDE)
92. Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation (HORDE)
93. Venomous Concept (HORDE)
94. Kill the Client (HORDE)
95. Sermon of Flames (HORDE)
96. Human Mincer (HORDE)
97. The Rotted (HORDE)
98. Captain Cleanoff (HORDE)
99. Vacant Coffin (HORDE)
100. Burning the Masses (HORDE)
101. Lunarsea (HORDE)
102. Hail of Bullets (HORDE)
103. Archons (HORDE)
104. Blaze Inside (HORDE)
105. Devoid of Thought (HORDE)
106. Helslave (HORDE)
What gives you that impression Daniel?
"God this is juvenile!"
"There is no entertainment value for me to Lard."
"There is a difference between repetition and predictability folks."
"Just want it to stop and leave me alone."
"It cements for me the ever-growing notion that Al Jourgensen is one of the most over-rated artists in the history of metal."
"Mindless song structures and terrible vocals."
"One painful listen."
Rest assured that when I decide to include a My Dying Bride track, it will be one you can enjoy Sonny. There has been a big focus on the gothic side of the band, instead of the doom, which they're more than capable of doing well.
When I'm not listening to metal, I mostly listen to a variety of electronic, ambient and synthwave artists, not to mention videogame soundtracks. That means mostly Boards of Canada style IDM, Perturbator-ish synthwave and a smattering of straight ambient (James Murray has been a fave lately).
Today I've listened to the new Thomas Barrandon release Tin Can three times while working, which I can only describe as ambient synthwave. It's really great, so if that sounds at all like your thing, check it out.
Hi Ben, if you weren't going to already, can you please add Skepticism's new album Companion.
I can most definitely do that! I hope it's a good one!
Another 1000 releases added in just over a month. This lockdown working from home thing isn't all that bad.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 23rd of September, 2021.
1. abingdon boys school (GATEWAY)
2. Girugämesh (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
3. Cosmosquad (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
4. Polkadot Cadaver (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
5. EkoTren (GATEWAY)
6. Mustasch (GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
7. Jelonek (GUARDIANS)
8. Krypteria (GUARDIANS, FALLEN)
9. Northern Kings (GUARDIANS)
10. Ari Koivunen (GUARDIANS)
11. Andre Matos (GUARDIANS)
12. Andrew W.K. (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
13. Odious (GUARDIANS, NORTH, INFINITE)
14. Sebastian Bach (GUARDIANS)
15. Powerglove (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
16. Excalion (GUARDIANS)
17. Versailles (GUARDIANS)
18. Ride the Sky (GUARDIANS)
19. Wolfchant (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
20. Depressed Mode (FALLEN)
21. Funeralium (FALLEN)
22. Unpersons (FALLEN)
23. Zozobra (FALLEN, INFINITE)
24. Birushanah (FALLEN, INFINITE)
25. Asbestosdeath (FALLEN)
26. Arachnotaur (FALLEN)
27. Indricothere (FALLEN, HORDE)
28. Atavist & Nadja (FALLEN)
29. Во скорбях (FALLEN)
30. Pulling Teeth (FALLEN, REVOLUTION)
31. Before the Rain (FALLEN)
32. Häive (NORTH)
33. Souvenir's Young America (FALLEN, INFINITE)
34. Lesbian (FALLEN, INFINITE)
35. Middian (FALLEN)
36. Concept of God (FALLEN)
37. Dead Elephant (FALLEN, INFINITE)
38. Abysmal Grief (FALLEN, NORTH)
39. Baroness / Unpersons (FALLEN)
40. Kongh (FALLEN)
41. Direwolf (INFINITE)
42. 1980 (INFINITE)
43. Long Distance Calling (INFINITE)
44. Bergraven (INFINITE, NORTH)
45. Neoandertals (INFINITE, HORDE)
46. Amaran's Plight (INFINITE)
47. Whourkr (INFINITE, HORDE)
48. Sickening Horror (INFINITE, HORDE)
49. Echoes of Eternity (INFINITE)
50. Grayceon (INFINITE)
51. Hacride (INFINITE, HORDE)
52. Child Abuse (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
53. Dominici (INFINITE)
54. Mind's Eye (INFINITE)
55. Gire (INFINITE)
56. Nahemah (INFINITE, HORDE, NORTH)
57. Animations (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
58. Thought Chamber (INFINITE)
59. Psyclon Nine (SPHERE)
60. C-187 (PIT, GATEWAY)
61. Terrordome (PIT)
62. Be Persecuted (NORTH)
63. Ash Pool (NORTH)
64. Angmar / Alcest (NORTH)
65. Blutklinge (NORTH)
66. Strid (NORTH)
67. Christicide (NORTH)
68. Truppensturm (NORTH, HORDE)
69. Trist (NORTH)
70. Raate (NORTH)
71. Noctule (NORTH)
72. Pessimista (NORTH) - requested by Sonny
73. Hardingrock (NORTH)
74. Demonical (NORTH, HORDE)
75. Bloodoline / Reverence / Blut aus Nord / Karras (NORTH)
76. Bloodoline (NORTH)
77. Angmar (NORTH)
78. Arkha Sva (NORTH)
79. Lönndom (NORTH)
80. Corpus Christii (NORTH)
81. Dodsferd (NORTH)
82. Austere (NORTH)
83. Lyrinx (NORTH)
84. Friisk (NORTH)
85. Aonarach (NORTH) - requested by Sonny
86. See You Next Tuesday (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
87. Vanna (REVOLUTION)
88. Dr. Acula (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
89. Destroyer Destroyer (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
90. Duck Duck Goose (REVOLUTION)
91. Anterior (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
92. I Declare War (REVOLUTION)
93. Life in Your Way (REVOLUTION)
94. Misericordiam (REVOLUTION, HORDE)
95. Architect (REVOLUTION)
96. Rose Funeral (REVOLUTION)
97. Cephalotripsy (HORDE)
98. Blinded Colony (HORDE)
99. Vulvectomy (HORDE)
100. Hacksaw to the Throat (HORDE)
101. Orgone (HORDE)
102. In Disgust (HORDE)
103. Agents of Abhorrence (HORDE)
104. Infernal Revulsion (HORDE)
105. Demiurg (HORDE)
106. Nerlich (HORDE)
107. County Medical Examiners, The (HORDE)
108. Zonaria (HORDE)
109. Evocation (HORDE)
110. Funebrarum / Interment (HORDE)
111. Death Breath (HORDE)
112. Dawn of Tears (HORDE)
113. Deathevokation (HORDE)
114. Gosudar (HORDE)
115. Tougher Than Nails (HORDE)
Absolutely correct!
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
I guess it should come as no surprise that another genre discussion has resulted in very little clarity around a best way forward, if indeed there is one. I just want to say that I respect everyone's opinions before I continue, so please don't read any of my comments as combative.
The big issue I have with all of this is the contrasting ways that we're expected to deal with different genres. With Thrash Metal, it's easy. Is the band playing using Thrash Metal techniques (in other words, are they playing Thrash Metal)? Yes? Then it's a Thrash Metal release. The same can be said for the vast majority of metal genres.
For some reason we're expected to treat Progressive Metal in a completely different way. We're not asking whether the band is playing any particular style of metal. We're now asking whether it "takes a more expansive & often quite cerebral approach to composition & possesses accomplished performances, complex song structures, clean & precise production qualities & the ability to build an atmosphere that takes the listener to places that are in direct contrast to their everyday lives". This seems HUGELY subjective to me. The bands could be playing absolutely any style of metal and fit the above description, or they could sound extremely similar to Dream Theater but not meet several of the criteria.
I still think Progressive Metal is flawed as an idea in general. I still stand by the opinion that there should be a genre that covers all the Dream Theater-ish bands, which ideally would not be called Progressive Metal. Almost everything else that gets lumped into Progressive Metal has (or can easily have) a logical place for it to go that doesn't require a this highly misused catch-all.
So in conclusion, Viking Metal is a real thing.
The same idea could be used to solve our "symphonic" problem in my opinion although there is one problem we'd have to overcome. If we had an "extreme symphonic metal" subgenre it'd solve the issue of extreme metal releases residing within The Guardians. The only question would be what clan would you associate an extreme symphonic metal subgenre with. We've already got a symphonic black metal one too.
I personally don't think the Extreme thing solves much. One man's (or woman's) extreme is another's soft. It's pretty subjective, and isn't representative of any particular sound.
That's just my opinion though.
I think the Metal Academy clans should be a secondary consideration to creating a simplified and practical metal genre tree. Or maybe not?
Plus there's no reason why we couldn't have a rule that any of the Progressive subgenres are connected with their natural clan and The Infinite.
So then Extreme Progressive Metal would become the catch all for any releases that have progressive qualities but aren't actually Progressive Metal. It improves things slightly, but all those releases (that we agree aren't actually Progressive Metal in the truest sense) would still sit under the Progressive Metal genre. It still feels like sweeping things under the carpet.
Why can't we just call Individual Thought Patterns "Progressive Death Metal"? If that subgenre existed under Death Metal, then that album is perfectly covered. Same with Atheist.
Well, let's continue down the theoretical rabbit hole and see where we end up.
If you created all sorts of Progressive subgenres to strip out all the releases that have progressive tendencies (Progressive Death Metal, Progressive Black Metal, Progressive Thrash Metal etc.) what genre would be applied to the likes of Dream Theater, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Symphony X, Circus Maximus, Liquid Tension Experiment etc.
If we don't want an overly thematic or descriptive genre title, we have to come up with something that feels right without drawing unsuspecting metal listeners into choosing it incorrectly. My first thought is Dream Metal. I know it sounds too fluffy for a metal genre, but it really draws attention to the link to Dream Theater. Plus many musicians could only "dream" of being able to perform some of the stuff these bands play.
Anyone got another idea? I'm trying to come up with a word that relates to technical proficiency, or virtuosity or something like that.
Back to the actual topic though... I agree with Daniel that Viking Metal is an actual sound, as found on Hammerheart and Twilight of the Gods. I just don't think there are many bands that actually play it. I was listening to one just yesterday though that certainly fits the bill. Check out this Hades track.
They definitely need to be genres. I just think the names are misleading. I believe descriptive names should be saved for Subgenres. For example, Death Metal is a top level genre, then it has more descriptive subgenres, such as Melodic Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal and Technical Death Metal. This is how genres should be IMO.
Terms like Symphonic, Melodic, Brutal, Technical, Progressive, Depressive, Atmospheric should be saved for subgenres, otherwise you run the risk of people using them incorrectly. Having descriptive genre names results in a band like Fleshgod Apocalypse getting linked to Symphonic Metal, and absolutely EVERYTHING that has progressive qualities being linked to Progressive Metal.
Take a look at the top 30 or so albums for Progressive Metal on RYM. Do the likes of Tool, Opeth, Mastodon, Gojira, Atheist, Queensryche, Maudlin of the Well, Voivod, Dream Theater, Enslaved and Nevermore actually sound at all similar? Is there any reason for a fan of Dream Theater to assume that they would enjoy Atheist? Is there any real reason to assume that a huge fan of Voivod would totally dig Maudlin of the Well too? I see Orphaned Land has Progressive Metal as its primary genre too. Is it progressive? Yeah, sure. Does it sound like Queensryche?
Gothic Metal is another example. Having such a descriptive name results in a whole heap of black metal bands like Cradle of Filth getting dumped into that genre. There are also heaps of bands that are definitely what we consider to be Gothic Metal that have absolutely nothing to do with gothic in its literal sense (The Gathering and Lacuna Coil come to mind). It's confusing, so no wonder people get it wrong.
Note that this is all a theoretical conversation. I'm not suggesting we get rid of any of these genres or even that we should change them to something else. I just wish they were different. Imagine a world where there are between 10 to 20 non-descriptive metal genres that are used to clump together releases that actually "sound" somewhat similar, rather than merely having the same theme or some musical element like being progressive or contain symphonic instrumentation. Genres would be so much more useful then, allowing people to easily discover music that's actually similar in style to something else they've enjoyed.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 3rd to the 12th of September, 2021.
1. Jazkamer (FALLEN, INFINITE)
2. Suma (FALLEN, INFINITE)
3. Toner Low (FALLEN)
4. Orthodox (FALLEN, INFINITE)
5. Akimbo (FALLEN)
6. The River (FALLEN)
7. Accept Death (FALLEN)
8. Om / Current 93 (FALLEN)
9. Earth / Sunn O))) (FALLEN)
10. Red Sparowes / Made Out of Babies / Battle of Mice (FALLEN, INFINITE)
11. Sahg (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
12. Inborn Suffering (FALLEN)
13. The Abominable Iron Sloth (FALLEN)
14. Kalas (FALLEN)
15. Angtoria (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
16. Across Tundras (FALLEN, INFINITE)
17. Dominia (FALLEN, GUARDIANS, HORDE, NORTH)
18. Marche Funèbre (FALLEN)
19. Youth Code & King Yosef (SPHERE)
20. Drottnar (INFINITE, NORTH)
21. Shaolin Death Squad (INFINITE)
22. Naikaku (INFINITE)
23. Sebkha-Chott (INFINITE)
24. Lye by Mistake (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
25. Sleep Terror (INFINITE, HORDE)
26. Axamenta (INFINITE, NORTH, HORDE)
27. Ikuinen Kaamos (INFINITE, NORTH, HORDE)
28. Twisted Into Form (INFINITE)
29. To-Mera (INFINITE)
30. The Flying Luttenbachers (INFINITE)
31. Outworld (INFINITE)
32. Kayo Dot / Bloody Panda (INFINITE)
33. Electro Quarterstaff (INFINITE)
34. Prototype (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)
35. Sir Lord Baltimore (GUARDIANS)
36. Crescent Shield (GUARDIANS)
37. Chrome Division (GUARDIANS)
38. Beautiful Sin (GUARDIANS)
39. Luca Turilli's Dreamquest (GUARDIANS)
40. Edu Falaschi (GUARDIANS)
41. Leverage (GUARDIANS)
42. Significant Point (GUARDIANS, PIT)
43. Evil Army (PIT)
44. Space Chaser (PIT)
45. Blockheads (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
46. Negativa (HORDE)
47. Astomatous (HORDE)
48. Magrudergrind / Shitstorm (HORDE)
49. Shitstorm (HORDE)
50. Dim Mak (HORDE)
51. Cretin (HORDE)
52. Masturbation (HORDE)
53. Graf Orlock (HORDE)
54. Cutting Pink With Knives (HORDE)
55. Atheretic (HORDE)
56. Cloacal Kiss (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
57. Torchbearer (HORDE, NORTH)
58. Guttural Secrete (HORDE)
59. Robinson (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
60. Infected Malignity (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
61. Mumakil (HORDE)
62. Gory Blister (HORDE)
63. Pitbulls in the Nursery (HORDE)
64. Miseration (HORDE)
65. Lividity (HORDE)
66. Coldworker (HORDE)
67. Proclamation (NORTH)
68. Inferi (NORTH)
69. Anti (NORTH)
70. Hypothermia (NORTH)
71. Urfaust / Circle of Ouroborus (NORTH)
72. Szron / Kriegsmaschine (NORTH)
73. Ulytau (NORTH)
74. Fauna (NORTH)
75. Monte Penumbra (NORTH)
76. Leiþa (NORTH) - requested by Vinny
77. Sapthuran (NORTH)
78. Sapthuran / Leviathan (NORTH)
79. Branikald (NORTH)
80. Ljå (NORTH)
81. Forest Silence (NORTH)
82. Pagan Reign (NORTH)
83. Black Messiah (NORTH)
84. Wedard (NORTH)
85. Heresi (NORTH)
86. Melencolia Estatica (NORTH)
87. Szron (NORTH)
88. Sterbend (NORTH)
89. Jotunspor (NORTH)
90. Downcross (NORTH)
91. Silent Civilian (REVOLUTION)
92. Phoenix Bodies (REVOLUTION)
93. Arsonists Get All the Girls (REVOLUTION)
94. Burning Skies (REVOLUTION)
95. As Blood Runs Black (REVOLUTION)
96. First Blood (REVOLUTION)
97. Destroy the Runner (REVOLUTION)
Viking metal is one of those sub-genres that has so few genuine adherents that it feels almost irrelevant to me. I honestly wonder sometimes whether life is too short to contemplate for any length of time whether an album fits snugly into a micro-genre or not. If the purpose of genre tagging is to guide people to other releases similar to ones they like, do these really niche genres serve much of a purpose at all as they feel way too specific.
As a more general Academy question, which I guess needs to be directed to Ben or Daniel, does downvoting a genre in the genre tags on a release serve any purpose on the site or can the genre tags only be changed via The Hall? I have downvoted Viking Metal on Vredens Tid so it has zero positive and one negative vote, but it still shows folk and viking metal as it's genre tags.
We don't want the Clans for a Release to change without going through the Hall of Judgement. For that reason, we didn't want Genres to automatically be affected by people downvoting a Subgenre. Think of the Subgenres as just a helpful additional filtering tool. Then again, if a release is having a particular subgenre downvoted significantly, that could be grounds for adding it to the Hall for proper judgement, or as Andi suggested, treating it as judgement itself.
As for Viking Metal, it's the same issue raised many a time. Genres shouldn't have names that relate to a location (NWOBHM, US Power Metal), nor should they have purely thematic names (Viking Metal) or vaguely descriptive names (Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal). Just go and look how many people have tried to give Amon Amarth albums the Viking Metal genre to see why Viking Metal is a problem. Sure, they've been correctly downvoted, but many listeners were obviously convinced to select it by the name.
Thrash Metal is a perfect name for that genre. People know what Thrash Metal is based on the style of music they're listening to, because the name itself isn't suggestive enough to lead them astray. Death, Black and Power Metal are also great genre names.
All good points Ben. I agree with you that you are not well qualified for any of your four clans & should consider not having any. ;)
P.S. Please dump my ass back in The North when you get a minute. *runs off to review the latest Mago de Oz record*
Done! Welcome back brother of The North!
Runemagick - Dethrone the Flesh off Enter the Realm of Death (1999)
Vital Remains - Dechristanize off Dechistianize (2003)
Arch Enemy - Nemesis off Doomsday Machine (2005)
Funebrarum - Perish Beneath off The Sleep of Morbid Dreams (2009)
Nile - In the Name of Amun off What Should Not Be Unearthed (2015)
Total Running Time: 29 minutes and 26 seconds
Abigor - The Rising of Our Tribe off Orkblut (1995)
Anaal Nathrakh - When Fire Rains Down From the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown off When Fire Rains Down From the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown (2003)
An Autumn for Crippled Children - To Set Sail to the Ends of the Earth off Lost (2010)
Progenie Terrestra Pura - subLuce off oltreLuna (2017
Total Running Time: 23 minutes and 18 seconds
Esoteric - Dominion of Slaves off The Pernicious Enigma (1997)
Black Lodge - Dissonance off Covet (1995)
Lacuna Coil - Senzafine off Halflife (2000)
Total Running Time = 28 minutes and 23 seconds