Ben's Forum Replies

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 24th of May and the 1st of June, 2021.

1. Drumcorps (HORDE, SPHERE)

2. Liers in Wait (HORDE)

3. Disgrace (HORDE)

4. Accidental Suicide (HORDE)

5. Epidemic (HORDE, PIT)

6. Logistic Slaughter (HORDE)

7. Blindfolded and Led to the Woods (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

8. Altar / Cartilage (HORDE)

9. Crematory (HORDE)

10. Seance (HORDE)

11. Eternal Dirge (HORDE, PIT)

12. Pathologist (HORDE)

13. Transgressor (HORDE)

14. Torchure (HORDE)

15. Impaler (HORDE)

16. Traumatic Voyage (HORDE, NORTH)

17. Necrophiliac (HORDE)

18. Epitaph (HORDE)

19. SeeYouSpaceCowboy / If I Die First (REVOLUTION)

20. Channel Zero (PIT, GATEWAY)

21. Thought Industry (PIT, INFINITE, GATEWAY)

22. Killers (PIT, GUARDIANS)

23. Uncle Slam (PIT, GUARDIANS)

24. Acid Storm (PIT)

25. Lowered (NORTH, FALLEN) - requested by Vinny

26. Keys of Orthanc (NORTH)

27. Heaven Pierce Her (GATEWAY)

28. My Sister's Machine (GUARDIANS)

29. Widowmaker (GUARDIANS)

30. Internal Void (GUARDIANS, FALLEN)

31. King Diamond / Mercyful Fate (GUARDIANS)

32. Tang Dynasty (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

33. Babylon Sad (INFINITE, FALLEN)

34. 1782 (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

35. Thronehammer (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

36. Nostone (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

37. Fires in the Distance (FALLEN)

I think there are bands / releases that are very connected to metal in one way or another, and I'm not opposed to them being on the site, particularly when a loyal regular like VInny makes the request. That said, I really don't want to be spending stacks of time adding non-metal artists when I have so many obviously metal material still to add.

So I'll add Wardruna, but with the caveat that everyone be considerate when making similar requests. Think about things like "is the band a side project of a metal band" and "is this release on an otherwise obviously metal label".

Here's an example of a release I used to listen to that isn't technically metal, but is so grounded in it that it wouldn't seem out of place on Metal Academy. It was released on Adicopere, which is very much a metal label, and I used to listen to it quite a bit when it came out. I might add it one day...

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/akhenaton_f1/divine_symphonies/

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 14th to the 23rd of May, 2021.

1. Gore (FALLEN)

2. Hela (FALLEN)

3. Skin Tension (INFINITE, REVOLUTION, NORTH)

4. Doom (INFINITE, PIT, SPHERE)

5. Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa (INFINITE, NORTH)

6. Kruiz (GUARDIANS, PIT)

7. Chernyj Kofe (GUARDIANS)

8. Screamer (GUARDIANS)

9. Cacophony (GUARDIANS, PIT)

10. Bad News (GUARDIANS)

11. Gargoyle (GUARDIANS)

12. Powerlord (GUARDIANS, PIT)

13. S.D.I. (GUARDIANS, PIT)

14. Coven (GUARDIANS, PIT)

15. Racer X (GUARDIANS, PIT)

16. Shok Paris (GUARDIANS)

17. Hittman (GUARDIANS)

18. Wild Dogs (GUARDIANS, PIT)

19. Spitfire (GUARDIANS)

20. Pokolgép (GUARDIANS)

21. Malice (GUARDIANS)

22. Deadly Blessing (GUARDIANS, PIT)

23. Sacred Oath (GUARDIANS)

24. Artch (GUARDIANS)

25. Apocrypha (GUARDIANS)

26. Tarot (GUARDIANS)

27. Barren Cross (GUARDIANS)

28. Hellion (GUARDIANS, PIT)

29. Korrozia Metalla (PIT)

30. Minotaur (PIT, HORDE)

31. Vengeance Rising (PIT)

32. Agony (PIT)

33. Wendy O. Williams / Plasmatics (PIT)

34. Autumn Nostalgie (NORTH)

35. Sur Austru (NORTH)

36. Odal (NORTH)

37. Revolting (HORDE)

Serpent Temptation by Incubus (Opprobrium) off Serpent Temptation (1988)

Sadistic Intent by Sinister off Diabolical Summoning (1993)

Drowned Maid by Amorphis off Tales From the Thousand Lakes (1994)

Destroying Divinity by Monstrosity off In Dark Purity (1999)

Shapeshifter by Theory in Practice off Colonizing the Sun (2002)

Under the Whip by The Crown off Crowned in Terror (2002)

Xenoverse Discharger by Wormed off Exodromos (2013)

Total Running Time: 29 minutes and 8 seconds

In the Hate of Battle by Xasthur off Nocturnal Poisoning (2002)

Blackheim's Forest Kept the Seasons Forever by Diabolical Masquerade off Ravendusk in My Heart (1996)

Aether Wind by Mare Cognitum off Luminiferous Aether (2016)

Total Running Time: 23 minutes and 39 seconds

Medusa by Paradise Lost off Medusa (2017)

It Came Upon One Night by Solitude Aeturnus off Beyond the Crimson Horizon (1992)

Malefica by The Ruins of Beverast off Blood Vaults (2013)

Total Length = 23 minutes 40 seconds

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 11th to the 13th of May, 2021.

1. Man Is the Bastard (FALLEN)

2. Upsidedown Cross (FALLEN)

3. Phobocosm (FALLEN, HORDE)

4. Culted (FALLEN)

5. L7 (GATEWAY)

6. Kaonashi (REVOLUTION)

7. Discharge (GUARDIANS, PIT)

8. Cycle Sluts From Hell (GUARDIANS)

9. Törr (GUARDIANS, PIT, NORTH, SPHERE)

10. Xerath (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

11. The Odious (INFINITE, HORDE)

12. Flaming Row (INFINITE)

13. Conquering Dystopia (INFINITE)

14. Khôra (INFINITE, NORTH)

15. Martire (NORTH, HORDE, PIT)

16. Nuclearhammer (NORTH, HORDE)

17. Sickle of Dust (NORTH)

18. Jumpin' Jesus (HORDE)

19. Megaslaughter (HORDE)

20. Mortuary (HORDE, PIT)

21. Sororicide (HORDE)

22. Imperator (HORDE, PIT)

23. Magnus (HORDE, PIT)

24. Dead Head (HORDE, PIT)

25. Nocturn (HORDE, PIT)

26. Funebre (HORDE)

27. Corpus Rottus (HORDE)

28. Viogression (HORDE)

29. Immortalis (HORDE)

30. Desecrator (HORDE)

31. Authorize (HORDE)

32. Chainsword (HORDE)

33. Celestial Sanctuary (HORDE)

34. No Return (HORDE, PIT)

35. Cyclone Temple (PIT)

36. Soziedad Alkoholika (PIT)

37. Nekromantheon (PIT)

I go by the name The Trickster (or Tricky) pretty much everywhere, including RYM. The reason for the name? Trickster G (aka Garm) from Arcturus. I went through a massive Arcturus / Ulver period in the late 90s, which was exactly when internet communities started popping up, so that's where it comes from.

When creating Metal Academy, it seemed silly to call myself anything but Ben, since listeners of the Metal Academy podcast already knew who Daniel and I were. Plus I like the idea of being an approachable enabler as opposed to a masked overlord, pulling the strings in my secret lair. 

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 1st to the 10th of May, 2021.

1. Calhoun Conquer (INFINITE) 

2. Equinox (INFINITE, PIT)

3. Gargoyle (INFINITE, PIT)

4. Sacred Warrior (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)

5. Suffocate for Fuck Sake (INFINITE)

6. Scardust (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)

7. Mānbryne (NORTH)

8. Ninkharsag (NORTH)

9. Hermética (PIT, GUARDIANS)

10. Risk (PIT, GUARDIANS)

11. Mordred (PIT, GATEWAY)

12. Gang Green (PIT)

13. Gothic Slam (PIT)

14. Wrathchild America (PIT, GUARDIANS, GATEWAY)

15. Angkor Wat (PIT)

16. Forced Entry (PIT)

17. D.A.M. (PIT)

18. Disciples of Power (PIT, HORDE)

19. Dead Horse (PIT)

20. Pariah (PIT, GUARDIANS)

21. Slammer (PIT)

22. Energetic Krusher (PIT)

23. Shah (PIT)

24. A.R.G. (PIT, HORDE)

25. Wovenwar (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

26. Electric Boys (GATEWAY)

27. EZO (GUARDIANS)

28. Phantom Blue (GUARDIANS)

29. Wolfsbane (GUARDIANS)

30. Nitro (GUARDIANS)

31. Attack (GUARDIANS)

32. Zed Yago (GUARDIANS)

33. Bodom After Midnight (HORDE)

34. Socioclast (HORDE)

35. Blood (HORDE)

36. Turris Eburnea (HORDE) - requested by saxystephens

37. Sky Eats Airplane (REVOLUTION) - requested by shadowdoom9

38. Metalite (REVOLUTION)

39. Quill, The (FALLEN)

I've decided to use my designated Feature releases as a way to bring lesser known albums to the attention of others that might not be aware of them. Sure, I'll occasionally select an obvious classic, but I personally find more value when people select releases I've not given a chance before.

With this in mind, my first Fallen feature is Dolorian's self-titled album. If you've not heard the band before, don't expect a crushing doom experience. This is much more subtle, with almost whispered vocals, and a strong focus on atmosphere. On first listen you might find that some of the tracks sound a bit samey, but given a few spins, I think you'll find the nuances get their claws in.

This is an album I return to regularly, despite it not being on my preferred platform (Spotify), but it's follow-up Voidwards is just as good. I hope at least someone discovers this underrated release.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 27th to the 30th of April, 2021

1. Skin Yard (GATEWAY)

2. 24-7 Spyz (GATEWAY, PIT)

3. Scatterbrain (GATEWAY, PIT)

4. Xysma (HORDE)

5. Prophecy of Doom (HORDE, INFINITE)

6. Delirium (HORDE, FALLEN)

7. Atrocity (HORDE, PIT)

8. Autarkh (HORDE, SPHERE)

9. Seprevation (HORDE, PIT)

10. Demon King (HORDE)

11. Hexenhaus (PIT, GUARDIANS)

12. Re-Animator (PIT)

13. The Great Kat (PIT, GUARDIANS)

14. Seventh Angel (PIT, FALLEN)

15. Deliverance (PIT, GUARDIANS)

16. Reverend (PIT, GUARDIANS)

17. Pyracanda (PIT)

18. Cerebral Fix (PIT)

19. Defiance (PIT)

20. Headhunter (GUARDIANS)

21. Dragon (HORDE, GUARDIANS)

22. Fuoco Fatuo (FALLEN, NORTH)

23. Wheel (FALLEN)

24. Secrecy (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)

25. Chris Poland (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)

26. Helix Nebula, The (INFINITE)

27. Chroming Rose (GUARDIANS)

28. Unisonic (GUARDIANS)

29. Dai-ichi / Lamp of Murmuur (NORTH)

30. Dai-ichi (NORTH)

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

With a result of 7 Yes to 8 No, Daniel's request has been rejected by the Hall. Venom's Possessed will therefore retain the Speed Metal genre and remain in The Pit.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 22nd to the 27th of April, 2021

1. War Cloud (GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny92

2. Viathyn (GUARDIANS)

3. Sworn In (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

4. Devil You Know (REVOLUTION)

5. iwrestledabearonce (REVOLUTION)

6. We Butter the Bread With Butter (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

7. From First to Last (REVOLUTION)

8. Caïna (INFINITE, NORTH)

9. Flub (INFINITE, HORDE)

10. Kowloon Walled City (FALLEN)

11. Cowards (FALLEN, NORTH)

12. Occultation (FALLEN)

13. Trhä (NORTH)

14. Zaklon (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

15. Wounds of Recollection (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

16. Genocide Shrines (NORTH, HORDE)

17. Goat Semen (NORTH, HORDE, PIT)

18. Vindland (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

19. Utstøtt (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

20. Drudkh / Winterfylleth (NORTH)

21. Wampyric Rites (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

22. Oblivionized (HORDE)

23. Hatebeak (HORDE)

24. Moral Collapse (HORDE)

25. Acrania (HORDE, PIT, INFINITE)

26. Gorgasm (HORDE)

27. Steel Bearing Hand (PIT) - requested by Daniel

28. Dust Bolt (PIT)

Hi Ludo! Welcome to Metal Academy. I must admit that I'm intrigued about what metal related sites and events you might take a fellow metalheads to in Venice. We have very little to offer in Sydney when it comes to metal. In fact, Daniel and I pretty much see the same crowd when we go to extreme metal gigs at various locations around Sydney. Not a very big scene at all.

Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son were my first Iron Maiden albums, and while I'm reluctant to say that they're their best albums, they will always be the ones closest to my heart. It's funny how those early experiences have such an impact on us.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 14th to the 21st of April, 2021

1. Will Haven (REVOLUTION, FALLEN)

2. Viscera Infest (HORDE)

3. Active Stenosis (HORDE)

4. Manhunt (HORDE)

5. Frosttide (HORDE, GUARDIANS, NORTH)

6. Gouge (HORDE)

7. Svffer (HORDE)

8. Ulthima (HORDE)

9. Putridity (HORDE)

10. Vorum (HORDE)

11. Abhorrent (HORDE)

12. Invincible Force (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)

13. Temple of Baal (HORDE, NORTH)

14. Moldé Volhal (NORTH)

15. Mäleficentt (NORTH)

16. Volahn / Shataan / Arizmenda / Kallathon (NORTH)

17. Shataan (NORTH)

18. Arizmenda (NORTH)

19. Zuriaake (NORTH)

20. Abominor (NORTH)

21. Mastery (NORTH, INFINITE)

22. Sanguine Relic (NORTH)

23. Vattnet (NORTH, INFINITE)

24. Non Opus Dei (NORTH)

25. So Hideous (NORTH, INFINITE)

26. Severoth (NORTH)

27. Spire (NORTH)

28. Ride for Revenge (NORTH, FALLEN)

29. Grimoire (NORTH)

30. Nécropole (NORTH)

31. Addaura (NORTH)

32. Gnaw Their Tongues & Dragged Into Sunlight (NORTH, FALLEN)

33. Revenge / Black Witchery (NORTH)

34. Hæthen (NORTH)

35. Satanic Warmaster / Archgoat (NORTH)

36. Raketkanon (FALLEN)

37. Phantom Winter (FALLEN, INFINITE)

38. Sepulcros (FALLEN)

39. Good Tiger (INFINITE)

40. Anopheli (INFINITE)

41. Arcane (INFINITE)

42. Widek (INFINITE)

Sear Bliss - A Mirror in the Forest off Letters from the Edge (4:50)

Darkspace - Dark 4.20 off Darkspace III I (18:24)

Total Running TIme: 23:14

Now and Forever by Grave off You'll Never See (1992)

Vahall Awaits Me by Amon Amarth off With Oden on Our Side (2006)

Denial of Existence by Brutal Truth off Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses (1992)

An Anatomy of the Beast by Intestine Baalism off An Anatomy of the Beast (1997)

Summoning Redemption by Morbid Angel off Gateways to Annihilation (2000)

Total Time: 26 minutes 1 second

The Promise of Snakes by The Angelic Process off Weighing Souls With Sand (2007)

Nighttime Birds by The Gathering off Nighttime Birds (1997)

…Of Tragedy by Unholy off Gracefallen (1999)

Total Time = 23 minutes 40 seconds

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

This release has been submitted to the Hall of Judgement.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 9th to the 13th of April, 2021

1. Woorms (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

2. Plaguewielder (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

3. Yearning (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

4. World Below (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

5. Yidhra (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

6. The Scalar Process (HORDE) - requested by Xephyr

7. Devil’s Reef (HORDE) - requested by Xephyr

8. Ghosts of Atlantis (HORDE, GUARDIANS) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

9. Scythian (HORDE, PIT)

10. Konquest (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr

11. Herzel (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr

12. Todd La Torre (GUARDIANS) - requested by shadowdoom9

13. Warrior Path (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr

14. Savage Hands (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

15. Darkness Divided (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

16. Across Five Aprils (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

17. Eternal Lord (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

18. Scars of Tomorrow (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

19. Shattered Sun (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

20. Red Cain (INFINITE) - requested by Xephyr

21. Königreichssaal (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

22. Vallendusk (NORTH)

Am I seriously the only Metal Academy member who enjoys this album?! Jeez... Well I’m still happy that my DragonForce submission for this month’s Guardians feature release made it and I get to see what other members of the site think of it, despite the honest yet poor feedback. I’m gonna make sure that while my later feature release submissions have similar historical value for my experience, they would greatly appeal to everyone else. I would sure like to find out Xephyr’s opinion on this DF album.

Don't worry about what others think when choosing a feature album. You have every right to love Dragonforce, and you certainly wouldn't be alone amongst metal fans in general. I think it's great that we give others an opportunity to explore things that might not normally, even if they find it's not to their taste.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 31st of March to the 8th of April, 2021

1. Apocalypse Orchestra (FALLEN, NORTH)

2. Fossilization (FALLEN, HORDE)

3. Kanonenfieber (HORDE, NORTH)

4. Anthropophagous (HORDE)

5. Helpless (HORDE)

6. Sanguisugabogg (HORDE)

7. Acephalix (HORDE)

8. Swampbeast (HORDE)

9. Replacire (HORDE)

10. Stortregn (HORDE)

11. Plasmodium (INFINITE, NORTH)

12. Skeleton (NORTH)

13. Koldovstvo (NORTH)

14. Saidan (NORTH)

15. Cryptosis (PIT)

16. Demoniac (PIT)

17. Paranorm (PIT)

18. God's Hate (REVOLUTION)

I don't think there's any massive reason to rush into removing these subgenres. I reckon we just leave it for a while and see what the response is at RYM. People will either agree that these releases aren't actually metal, or start giving them a replacement metal genre / subgenre. That could help guide us in the most appropriate direction.

It always takes a while for genre changes to correct themselves. Just look at how long it took for Post-Metal to be applied to older releases once it was implemented.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

I've skipped the Hall for this one, and just added the Post-Metal genre. When I first added releases to the site, the Post-Metal genre was actually reasonably fresh on RYM. When I see albums that are now heavily voted up for that genre, I just make the change.

This means that Post Self now belongs to both The Sphere and The Infinite.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times

I'm getting dangerously close to finally completing the 1st Decade Black Metal list and this was definitely a cool one. The way it incorporates a folk/fantasy atmosphere into an aggressively grindy Black Metal album is neat, even though it's definitely flawed in a lot of ways.

I've got 5 more old Black Metal albums to review and it's getting tough, I feel like I'm really starting to repeat myself. I might go back and redo my In The Nightside Eclipse review since that album deserves more than one paragraph, but I'm not sure. 

Always been a big fan of this album. I probably rate it too highly due to how important it was for me as a teenager.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 21st to the 30th of March, 2021

1. A Storm of Light (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Sonny92

2. Squalus (FALLEN, INFINITE)

3. Mephistofeles (FALLEN)

4. Bloodiest (FALLEN, INFINITE)

5. Red Fang (FALLEN)

6. A Storm of Light / Nadja (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Sonny92

7. Muscle and Marrow (FALLEN)

8. Wretch (FALLEN)

9. The Old Wind (FALLEN)

10. Cult of Luna / The Old Wind (FALLEN, INFINITE)

11. Thränenkind (FALLEN, NORTH, INFINITE)

12. Superjoint Ritual (FALLEN)

13. Ghoulgotha (FALLEN, HORDE, INFINITE)

14. Vipassi (HORDE, INFINITE)

15. Geryon (HORDE)

16. Death Fetishist (HORDE, NORTH)

17. Diphenylchloroarsine (HORDE)

18. Dormant Ordeal (HORDE)

19. Serpentine Dominion (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

20. Entheos (HORDE, INFINITE)

21. Miasmal (HORDE)

22. Irkallian Oracle (HORDE, NORTH)

23. Ritual Chamber (HORDE)

24. Brain Drill (HORDE)

25. Reactory (PIT) - requested by MacabreEternal

26. Mutant Squad (PIT)

27. Evil (PIT, NORTH)

28. Giraffe Tongue Orchestra (GATEWAY)

29. Toothgrinder (GATEWAY, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

30. Hacktivist (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

31. Okilly Dokilly (REVOLUTION)

32. Pierce the Veil (REVOLUTION)

33. Pupil Slicer (REVOLUTION)

34. Thy Art Is Murder / The Acacia Strain / Fit for an Autopsy (REVOLUTION)

35. Église (REVOLUTION)

36. Pan-Amerikan Native Front (NORTH)

37. Constellatia (NORTH, INFINITE)

38. Anicon (NORTH)

39. Orphaned Land & Amaseffer (NORTH, INFINITE)

40. Forest of Harambe (NORTH)

41. Lampir (NORTH)

42. DSKNT (NORTH, INFINITE)

43. Germ (NORTH)

44. Blut aus Nord / Ævangelist (NORTH, INFINITE)

45. Lascar (NORTH)

46. Pale Chalice (NORTH)

47. Polyphia (INFINITE)

48. Grant MacDonald (INFINITE)

49. Dissona (INFINITE)

50. Amaseffer (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)

51. Native Construct (INFINITE)

Hi Ben, I realized that when I have private message email notifications on, the email title reads "You received a private message from Xephyr", even though it was someone else sending it. Inside the email itself it's correct, saying "You received a private message from insert account name here", maybe a mix-up in the code for the email subject lines?

Thanks.

Thanks. Will check it out at some point.

Welcome Joseph! Glad to hear that the link in my profile was clicked on at least once. 

I can already tell that we're going to get on great, as anyone that gives 5 star ratings to Ved Buens Ende, My Dying Bride, Dissection, diSEMBOWELMENT, Death, Cynic and Devin Townsend albums must have similar tastes to me.

Let us know what you like / don't like about Metal Academy. We're always looking for ways we can make things even better.

A truly excellent response indeed.

Iconoclasm Omega by Dark Fortress off Stab Wounds (2004) - Yes, Dark Fortress are a Dark Funeral clone, who themselves are a Dissection clone, but I've always got time for Swedish style black metal when it's this good.

Vastness and Sorrow by Wolves in the Throne Room off Two Hunters (2007) - sorry MacabreEternal, but I'm stealing your WITTR slot this month. This is their finest moment in my opinion and their best album overall.

V pogonie za beloj ten'yu by Arkona off Khram (2018) - Folk metal doesn't get much love on these playlists, so I challenged myself to include something this month. I'm kind of cheating though, as Arkona's latest album is by far the least folk and the most black they've ever been, which is why I enjoy it more I guess.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 20th of March, 2021

1. Last in Line (GUARDIANS)

2. Angel Sword (GUARDIANS)

3. Denner / Shermann (GUARDIANS)

4. Bat (PIT)

5. Vektor / Cryptosis (PIT)

6. Q'uq'umatz (NORTH, INFINITE)

7. A.M.S.G. (NORTH)

8. Fyrnask (NORTH)

9. Naðra (NORTH)

10. Oak Pantheon (NORTH, INFINITE)

11. Sierść (NORTH)

12. Woman Is the Earth (NORTH)

13. Fuath (NORTH)

14. Bestial Raids (NORTH)

15. Predatory Light (NORTH)

16. Waldgeflüster (NORTH)

17. Waldgeflüster / Panopticon (NORTH)

18. Mistur (NORTH)

19. Sun Worship (NORTH)

20. Atomikylä (FALLEN)

21. Mountain Witch (FALLEN)

22. Brimstone Coven (FALLEN)

23. Eight Bells (FALLEN, INFINITE)

24. FVNERALS (FALLEN)

25. Seven Sisters of Sleep (FALLEN)

26. The Morningside (FALLEN, INFINITE, HORDE)

27. Light Field Reverie (FALLEN)

28. Terra Tenebrosa (FALLEN, INFINITE)

29. Dehumanizing Itatrain Worship (HORDE)

30. Sissy Spacek (HORDE)

31. Temisto (HORDE)

32. Jarhead Fertilizer (HORDE)

33. Setentia (HORDE)

34. The Zenith Passage (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

35. Trap Them (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

36. Dreamshade (HORDE, REVOLUTION, GATEWAY) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

37. Coma Cluster Void (HORDE, INFINITE)

38. Breakdown of Sanity (REVOLUTION)

39. I See Stars (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

40. Neon Graves (REVOLUTION) - requested by Theo-Wyoming

41. The Word Alive (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

42. Shokran (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)

43. Brain Tentacles (INFINITE)

44. Headspace (INFINITE)

45. Kurushimi (INFINITE)

46. Five the Hierophant (INFINITE)

If I'm reading this correctly, you're submitting an album to the Hall of Judgement despite listening to only one track? If all albums were assessed this way, I imagine we'd have some really messed up genres attached to loads of releases. So with the intention of discouraging such premature assessment, the Hall rejects this submission.

If you still feel the same way after listening to the whole album, by all means pop back here and resubmit.

I think I need to offset the pure death metal awesomeness that MacabreEternal has selected with at least a couple of less traditional offerings. Hmmmm...

Slaves to the Subliminal by Scar Symmetry off Pitch Black Progress (2006) - I've never been fond of all the clean vocals that Scar Symmetry rely on, but at least the death vocals are brutal. Definitely their best album. (5:04)

The Battle of Geeheeb by Pan.Thy.Monium off Khaooohs & Kon-Fus-Ion (1996) - Speaking of less traditional, this is one of the weirdest (and wonderful) efforts you're likely to hear. You'll either hate this album or it will change your life. Which are you? (11:55)

Mystic Places of Dawn by Septic Flesh off Mystic Places of Dawn (1994) - I've been a fan of these Greeks since 1996's Ezontpon album, so it's always bothered me how ignored their early work is. This is a fantastic debut death metal album that already showcases the things that make this band unique and awesome. (6:14)

Slaughter of Innocence by Malevolent Creation off Retribution (1992) - Malevolent Creation have never again reached the heights of their first two albums, and vocalist Bret Hoffmann has a lot to do with that. This track will show you why. (3:44)

Meticulous Invagination by Aborted off Goremageddon: The Saw and the Carnage Done (2003) - The doctor is in! That is all. (3:02)

Total Length: 29:59 (I promise that wasn't intentional!)

OK, 30 minutes you say...

Written in My Scars by Shape of Despair off Monotony Fields (2015) - yes, this is my second track off this album, but until they put more Shape of Despair on Spotify, you all better get used to it. Possibly my favourite band ever. (7:51) - Funeral Doom Metal

Another World by Light Field Reverie off Another World (2020) - I just stumbled across this band literally a few minutes ago, but decided to go for something fresh and new. It's got Heike Langhans from Draconian, so it's got that going for it. (5:50) - Gothic Metal

Funeral Owlblood by Bethlehem off Dark Metal (1994) - I decided to include this track because I'm not sure how many metal fans realise that Bethlehem once played decent death doom. This track has a smattering of black metal, but should give you some idea what to expect of the rest of the album. (6:52)

The Light That Would Fade by Doom:VS off Aeternum Vale (2006) - Doom:VS doesn't always hit the mark for me, but tracks like this one certainly do. There's another connection to Draconian here, with sole member Johan Ericson also playing for that band. (9:29)

Total Length: 30:02 (consider the extra 2 seconds as bonus material )

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 10th to the 12th of March, 2021

1. The Bread Scientists (GATEWAY)

2. Second to Sun (NORTH, INFINITE, PIT) - requested by Xephyr

3. Cara Neir (NORTH, INFINITE, HORDE)

4. Forhist (NORTH)

5. Ymir (NORTH)

6. Gaylord (NORTH)

7. Urgehal (NORTH)

8. Ignited (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

9. Spellcaster (GUARDIANS)

10. Ghoul (PIT, HORDE)

11. Knoll (HORDE, REOLUTION)

12. Bæst (HORDE)

13. Black Sheep Wall (FALLEN, INFINITE)

14. My Threnody (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

15. Iotunn (INFINITE)

16. Unprocessed (INFINITE)

Hi Ben, could you provide a few pronunciation pointers for that last one!!

So glad you asked. It's an agglutinative neologism, with loans from Latin, Ancient Egyptian, Akkadian and Sumerian terms of the Chaosatanic tradition. When divided into fragments, it creates the magic spell of the formless Lords of the prior Darkness. The fragments are Eximpe-ritu-serqethh-zeb[ul]ib-šiptu-gakkath-šu[r]l-welia[l]r-za-xu[l]ł-um.

Oh, and if you're wondering what the title of the album Prajecyrujučy Sinhuliarnaje Wypramieńwańnie Daktryny Absaliutnaha J Usiopahłynaĺnaha Zła Skroź Šaścihrannuju Pryzmu Sîn-Ahhī-Erība Na Hipierpawierchniu Zadyjakaĺnaha Kaŭčęha Zasnawaĺnikaŭ Kosmatęchničnaha Ordęna Palieakantakta, Najstaražytnyja Ipastasi Dawosiewych Cywilizacyj Prywodziać U Ruch Ręzanansny Transfarmatar Časowapadobnaj Biaskoncaści Budučyni U Ćwiardyniach Absierwatoryi Nwn-Hu-Kek-Amon, Uwasabliajučy Ŭ Ęfirnuju Matęryju Prach Ałulima Na Zachad Ad Ękzapłaniety means, it translates to Projecting the Singular Emission ov the Doctrine ov Absolute and All-Absorbing Evil through the Hexahedral Prism ov Sîn-Ahhī-Erība upon the Hypersurface ov Zodiacal Arc ov the Cosmotechnical Order ov Paleocontact Founders the Utterly Ancient Hypostases ov Pre-Axes Civilizations Actuate the Resonance Transformer ov Temporally Similar to the Eternity ov the Future in the Towers ov Nwn-Hu-Kek-Amon’s Obcervatory Embodying the Ashes ov Alulim into the Ethereal Matter to the West ov Exoplanet.

Got it?

Morgion - Solinari (1999)

Listening to this classic death/doom gem

I remember listening to this quite a bit when it came out and enjoying it. I think it's time I checked it out again!

Welcome to Metal Academy Emanuel!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 4th to the 9th of March, 2021

1. Everdawn (GUARDIANS) - requested by illusionist

2. Alkerdeel (NORTH, FALLEN)

3. Show Me a Dinosaur (NORTH)

4. Malikliya (NORTH, INFINITE)

5. Trespasser (NORTH)

6. Misotheist (NORTH)

7. Les Chants de Nihil (NORTH)

8. Magoth (NORTH)

9. Hyperion (NORTH)

10. Yashira (FALLEN, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

11. Hexgrafv (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

12. Wo Fat (FALLEN)

13. Spelljammer (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

14. öOoOoOoOoOo (INFINITE)

15. Sunburst (INFINITE)

16. Shrezzers (REVOLUTION)

17. Hazing Over (REVOLUTION)

18. Gravesend (HORDE)

19. Deathgoat (HORDE)

20. Fractal Generator (HORDE)

21. Eximperituserqethhzebibšiptugakkathšulweliarzaxułum (HORDE)

A couple of the other YouTube versions have significant sound issues, so I hope no-one judges the album without hearing it the way it was supposed to be heard.

God forbid that anyone's forced to endure an underground black metal release with a lo-fi sound production Ben. ;)

Haha, you're right. Some people will probably find the shitty sound to be a benefit!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 12th of February and the 3rd of March, 2021

1. Scythelord (PIT)

2. Mongrel's Cross (PIT, NORTH)

3. For Your Health (REVOLUTION)

4. Nansarunai (NORTH)

5. Pale (NORTH)

6. Sugar Wounds (NORTH, HORDE)

7. Ivar Bjørnson (NORTH)

8. Lihhamon (NORTH)

9. Tardigrada (NORTH)

10. Caveman Cult (NORTH)

11. VRTRA (NORTH, FALLEN)

12. Départe (NORTH, FALLEN, INFINITE)

13. El-Ahrairah (NORTH)

14. Ustalost (NORTH)

15. La Torture des ténèbres (NORTH)

16. Mare Cognitum / Aureole (NORTH)

17. Aureole (NORTH)

18. Agatus (NORTH, GUARDIANS)

19. Aenaon (NORTH, INFINITE, HORDE)

20. Arkona (NORTH)

21. Drudkh / Grift (NORTH)

22. Winterhorde (NORTH, INFINITE)

23. Thy Worshiper (NORTH)

24. Martröð (NORTH)

25. Draugnim (NORTH)

26. Void Meditation Cult (NORTH, HORDE)

27. Oksennus (INFINITE, HORDE, FALLEN)

28. Deviant Process (INFINITE, HORDE)

29. Nuclear Power Trio (INFINITE)

30. Ştiu Nu Ştiu (INFINITE)

31. An Abstract Illusion (INFINITE, HORDE)

32. An Endless Sporadic (INFINITE)

33. Dysrhythmia (INFINITE)

34. Jambinai (INFINITE, FALLEN)

35. Rendezvous Point (INFINITE)

36. Cadaveric Fumes (HORDE)

37. Cognizant (HORDE)

38. Voidspawn (HORDE)

39. Devouring Humanity (HORDE)

40. Vermin Womb (HORDE)

41. Dipygus (HORDE)

42. Altered Dead (HORDE)

43. Baalsebub (HORDE)

44. Qrixkuor (HORDE)

45. Serenity in Murder (HORDE, GUARDIANS)

46. Divide and Dissolve (FALLEN)

47. Whores. (FALLEN)

48. Black Tomb (FALLEN)

49. High Priest of Saturn (FALLEN)

50. Demon Bitch (GUARDIANS)

51. Sumerlands (GUARDIANS)

I personally feel that Nehemah are one of the more underrated black metal bands, which is why I selected this release. They didn't do anything that others didn't do before them, but damn they did what they did well. If you plan on checking out this release on YouTube (it's sadly not on Spotify), I recommend this vinyl version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZJEOsiX5vQ.

A couple of the other YouTube versions have significant sound issues, so I hope no-one judges the album without hearing it the way it was supposed to be heard.

If you don't have time to check out the whole album, I highly recommend the Burzum-like beauty of Taken Away by the Torn Black Shroud and the monstrous, black-as-fuck closer Through the Dark Nebula.

Would love to hear from any of you.