Ben's Forum Replies

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.

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.