Ben's Forum Replies

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.

Tiamat - Whatever That Hurts from Wildhoney (1994)

Nortt - Til Gravens Vi from Galgenfrist (2007)

Burning Witch - Sacred Predictions from Crippled Lucifer (1998)

Carcass -  Incarnated Solvent Abuse from Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious (1991)

Into Eternity - Splintered Visions from Buried in Oblivion (2004) - I really wish I could see my brother's face when he listens to this

Ulcerate - Stare Into Death and Be Still from Stare Into Death and Be Still (2020)

The Ruins of Beverast - Ropes into Eden from The Thule Grimoires (2021)

Coldworld - Scars from Autumn (2016)

Primordial - The Golden Spiral from The Gathering Wilderness (2005)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 4th to the 11th of February, 2021

1. Acrophet (PIT) - requested by Daniel

2. Bloody Panda (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Sonny92

3. Mortiferum / Hyperdontia (FALLEN, HORDE)

4. Inside the Beehive (HORDE, REVOLUTION - requested by Daniel

5. Blood Spore (HORDE)

6. Time, the Valuator (INFINITE, GATEWAY)

7. CyHra (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

8. LeftyFish (REVOLUTION)

9. Bloodbather (REVOLUTION)

10. Kharàce (NORTH)

11. Hulder (NORTH)

12. Mooncitadel (NORTH)

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement. If it goes through, I'll change both versions of the album.

Both judgements have been cancelled.

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.

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.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 28th of January to the 3rd of February, 2021

1. Houkago Grind Time (HORDE)

2. John Frum (HORDE, INFINITE)

3. The Lurking Fear (HORDE)

4. Succumb (HORDE)

5. ZONΞ ΞATΞR vs. §E▲ ▓F D▓G§ (HORDE)

6. Shaarimoth (HORDE)

7. Alluvial (HORDE, INFINITE)

8. The Drip (HORDE)

9. Enfold Darkness (HORDE)

10. Acraniu s (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

11. Thaw (FALLEN, NORTH)

12. Hexis (FALLEN, NORTH, REVOLUTION, INFINITE)

13. Purple Hill Witch (FALLEN)

14. Gravetemple (FALLEN)

15. Dread Sovereign (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny92

16. Sabbath Assembly (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

17. Mystik (GUARDIANS, PIT)

18. Manacle (GUARDIANS)

19. Portrait (GUARDIANS)

20. Pentakill (GUARDIANS)

21. Quiet Riot (GUARDIANS)

22. Verwoed (NORTH)

23. Netra (NORTH)

24. Sacred Son (NORTH)

25. If I Could Kill Myself (NORTH)

26. Ferriterium (NORTH)

27. Thundering Hooves (NORTH)

28. Anomalie (NORTH)

29. Draugsól (NORTH)

30. Gjendød (NORTH)

31. Farsot (NORTH)

32. Sorrow Plagues (NORTH)

33. Eldamar (NORTH)

34. Dead Cross (PIT)

35. Volumes (REVOLUTION, INFINITE, GATEWAY)

36. Juan Bond (REVOLUTION)

37. Twitching Tongues (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

38. Oceans Ate Alaska (REVOLUTION)

39. We Came as Romans (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

40. Slaughter to Prevail (REVOLUTION)

41. Stray From the Path (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

42. Gone Is Gone (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

43. Prophets of Rage (GATEWAY)

44. Pryapisme (INFINITE)

45. Disperse (INFINITE)

46. Distant Dream (INFINITE)

47. For Giant (INFINITE)

I'm extending the award cut off to Friday this week (so they will be announced on Friday). Get your release and cover ratings in for 2020!

I won’t rate an album without giving it at least three listens too, often a lot more.

As for that last comment, I can only assume you’re excluding all of the better albums that came before it, such as Powerslave, Paranoid and Ride the Lightning. If you exclude all the clearly better albums, then I totally 100% agree with your opinion.

You're exaggerating my position. Bonded by Blood is a good album. I just don't believe it deserves it's classic status, for the simple reason that Paul Baloff's vocals sounds like they were performed by an untalented, over-excited muppet that hasn't had its meds. I'm pretty sure that's why you like them too, so we'll just have to agree to disagree. I haven't heard it for a while, but it would definitely get a 3.5 to 4 stars, cause the music is awesome.

I don't rate everything I listen to Andi. I like to actually sit down and give an album a final focussed listen before settling on a score, which unfortunately isn't something I find time to do much these days. I've heard many thousands of metal albums, as has Daniel, but I'm always doing 2 or 3 things at any given time. It's just how I function. I don't think Metal Academy would exist otherwise!

That's great, thanks Ben! Can you please implement these filters to the charts, so members don't miss out on some of the highest-rated releases of their favorite subgenre?

I'm not even sure the Charts bring much value these days. You can do everything you need on the Releases page.

• Sort by Average Rating? - check
• Filter by clans? - check
• Minimum rating? - check
• Exclude releases you've rated? - check
• Display by Site Rating or Clan Rating? - check

Given you can do all of these things on the Releases page plus so much more, I'm a little reluctant to keep pumping resources into the Charts. The only difference is the view.

Thoughts?

5. Your worship of live releases over studio albums has always baffled me.

Quoted Ben

"Live" is a very strong term to use when referring to "Live Undead".

It's performed live isn't it? Whether the audience is actually present or not doesn't really change that fact. Or does it?