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.

I'd like to reward regular attendees of Metal Academy by allowing them to have some leeway when it comes to the criteria of the site. One way I can do that is by allowing the addition of certain albums that might otherwise miss the criteria. Tymell very much fits this bill, so I've added the two most recent full length albums as Non-Metal releases.

I've also added Reflections of a Floating World to the Hall of Judgement, with the request for it to be added to The Fallen. If I also included it's addition to The Infinite, I think it would only lower the possibility of a change occurring.

I thought that might be the case, but none of their releases meet the criteria for Metal Academy. It's all Experimental Rock. The Black Flux is the only album with a Black Metal primary, but the votes are 27 yes, 24 no.

While I've got you, I've had failed attempts to add Let 'em Burn, Man.Machine.Industry and Toby Knapp. Let 'em Burn appear to have only released two demos to date, while the other two bands have albums with zero genre votes on RYM. Unless you can confidently tell me what genres to attach to each of their releases, I might sit on those until there's more uptake.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 10th of March, 2020:

1. Sarcophagy (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

2. Déhà (NORTH, FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Sonny92

3. Semen Datura (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

4. Heol Telwen (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

5. The True Werwolf (NORTH)

6. Sentinel Beast (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

7. Vokonis (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

8. Ironflame (GUARDIANS)

9. Vision Divine (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

10. Witherscape (INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 9th of March, 2020:

1. Sarath (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

2. Circle of Ouroborus (NORTH)

3. Karg (NORTH, INFINITE)

4. Apokryphon (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

5. Secrets of the Moon (NORTH, FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

6. Sekhmet (PIT) - requested by Tymell

7. Virus (PIT) - requested by Tymell

8. Decimator (PIT)

9. Void Rot (FALLEN, HORDE) - requested by Sonny92

10. Atavisma / Void Rot (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 6th of March, 2020:

1. Rosetta / East of the Wall / Year of No Light (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel

2. Rwake (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel

3. Insect Ark (FALLEN)

4. Owl Maker (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

5. Thoren (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

6. Schizogen (HORDE)

7. Ruins (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Cult of Fire (HORDE)

Yeah, go for it. I wish we could find a way to connect a release to multiple bands, but it’s not going to happen.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 5th of March, 2020:

1. Rompeprop (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

2. Rise To Fall (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

3. Invictus (HORDE)

4. Rev. Kriss Hades (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

5. Regarde les hommes tomber (NORTH, FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Lonescar (PIT) - requested by Tymell

7. Lumberhead (PIT) - requested by Tymell

8. Total Annihilation (PIT)

9. Proscrito (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

10. Nomad (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

11. Devil Seed (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

12. Konvent (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

13. Khazad-dûm (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 4th of March, 2020:

1. Ramesses (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

2. Deathkings (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

3. Suum (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

4. Papa Roach (GATEWAY) - requested by shadowdoom9

5. Limp Bizkit (GATEWAY) - requested by shadowdoom9

6. Wolf Spider (PIT) - requested by Daniel

7. Khiral (PIT, HORDE) - requested by Tymell

8. Famous Last Words (REVOLUTION) - requested by Tymell

9. Resist The Thought (REVOLUTION) - requested by Daniel

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 3rd of March, 2020:

1. Acid Witch (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny92

2. Drown (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

3. Coal Chamber (GATEWAY) - requested by shadowdoom9

4. Kittie (GATEWAY) - requested by shadowdoom9

5. Mulla (NORTH)

6. Grógaldr (NORTH)

7. E-X-E (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

8. Accu§er (PIT) - requested by Daniel

9. Xenobiotic (REVOLUTION, HORDE)

10. Blutfeld (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

11. Casket Feeder (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

12. Plague (HORDE)

There were indeed two of Amon Amarth's The Crusher on the site, although one of them had no clan attached to it. That's been cleaned up.

As for The Angel and the Dark River, I can't see anything wrong with that one and can't replicate the duplication. I'm wondering whether it's just a caching issue? Can you see if you can repeat it Tymell?

Good pick up on the All That Remains and Symphony X albums shadowdoom9. They've both been fixed. I blame Rate Your Music. If you check out Symphony X on that site you'll see that it shows up as their second album being released in 1996. If you then click on it you can see that it did indeed have a 1994 release. I've probably got things wrong in other instances where they've done that.

Cheers all for the correction requests. I of course always want the site to be as accurate as it can be.

I've always found it surprising that you didn't select The Guardians as one of your starting clans, so that would be my vote. The Guardians need you!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 27th of February, 2020:

1. Violet Sun (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

2. Veonity (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

3. Venom Inc. (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

4. NightFear (GUARDIANS)

5. Necrowretch (HORDE, NORTH)

6. Coffin Curse (HORDE)

7. Deadspawn (HORDE)

8. Skyforest (NORTH)

9. Scáth na Déithe (NORTH)

10. Faustian Pact (NORTH)

11. Polaris (REVOLUTION, INFINITE)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 26th of February, 2020:

1. Van Canto (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

2. The Spirit (NORTH, HORDE)

3. Izthmi (NORTH)

4. Chakal (PIT) - requested by Daniel

5. Ensnared (HORDE)

6. Vallenfyre (HORDE, FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

7. Ursinne (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

8. Putrid Pile (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. Pyrexia (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

10. Skeleton Gong (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

11. The Wandering Midget (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

12. Acolytes of Moros (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

13. Saturnalia Temple (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 24th/25th of February, 2020:

1. Mansion (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

2. Tuskar (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

3. Toxikull (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

4. Seven Spires (GUARDIANS)

5. Torture (PIT) - requested by Tymell

6. Reaper (PIT, NORTH)

7. Profanatica (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Provocation (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. Apep (HORDE)

10. Pighead (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

I didn't realise he was in this band. I'm certainly interested and will check it out. Thanks for the tip!

I believe I have completed The Pit challenge, Thrash Metal - The 80s.

Next up for me is The North. Probably the Black Metal - The 1st Decade challenge.

I can confirm that you have indeed completed this challenge, and have therefore locked in The Pit. Congratulations Sonny92!

I actually thought that more people would target this challenge, particularly those of us that have been into metal since the 80s. We know a lot of these albums like the back of our hands. Still, I'm glad there was at least one in there that you hadn't heard before (KAT).

I was looking forward to checking out this album. It's primary genres on RYM are black metal and thrash metal, and it's ratings there aren't terrible. The first time I listened to it I started laughing uncontrollably. The musicianship is poor to say the least, but the vocals...oh the vocals!!!!...are so hilariously bad that the album is close to unlistenable for me. He sounds like a mix of Flemming Rønsdorf from Artillery and Tim Baker from Cirith Ungol, but much much worse than that comparison suggests. I've given it two solid listens and some of the music is admittedly somewhat enjoyable, but the album's flaws are just too huge to get over. And if I have to listen to the guitarist play one more decreasing scale lead (Daniel, what's the technical term for what this guy's doing in every track?), I may create some flames of my own.

I've put this comment in The North, but honestly, I'd love to know what you guys think of this album's genre(s). I don't hear much black or thrash metal at all. This just seems like poorly played and produced heavy metal, with a smattering of speed and doom, yet those genres don't even get a look-in on RYM. I could be wrong. The vocals are so off-putting. Thoughts?

1.5 stars

Covering their King of the Dead album for the podcast was my first experience with Cirith Ungol and I really liked it. I must admit that the slower doomier stuff is much more my cup of tea than the more traditional stuff (if you can call anything they do traditional), but thankfully that's most of the album's run-time. I'll check out the new album for sure.

It's good to see that they still use fantastic Michael Whelan artwork on the covers!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 21st of February, 2020:

1. The Midnight Ghost Train (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

2. Pantheist (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

3. Godthrymm (FALLEN)

4. Thrashfire (PIT) - requested by Tymell

5. Susperia (PIT, NORTH, HORDE, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

6. Svart Crown (HORDE)

7. Pathology (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Pestilential Shadows (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

9. Dzö-nga (NORTH)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 20th of February, 2020:

1. Otep (GATEWAY) - requested by Daniel

2. Ravage (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

3. Blaze of Perdition (NORTH, FALLEN)

4. Otargos (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

5. Speed Kill Hate (PIT) - requested by Tymell

6. SSS (PIT) - requested by Tymell

7. The Sabbathian (FALLEN)

8. Ouroboros (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. The Gentle Storm (GUARDIANS)

10. Arion (GUARDIANS)

11. Trans-Siberian Orchestra (GUARDIANS)

12. Pathfinder (GUARDIANS)

Hey Ben, Ravage (USA) is listed as added to the Academy on 12th February, but I can't find them when I search.

Hmmmm... I have no idea what happened there. I must have just skipped over it. Will add to tomorrow's list.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 19th of February, 2020:

1. Space God Ritual (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny92

2. Castle (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

3. Sludgehammer (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

4. Omnihility (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

5. Orphalis (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

6. Schattenvald (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

7. Nattverd (NORTH)

8. Shatter Messiah (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

9. Snowy Shaw (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

10. Borealis (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

1986 was indeed an absolutely cracking year for thrash metal, but I'm not sure I can call it my favourite year without any death or black metal releases. With this in mind, my favourite year would have to lie somewhere between 1991 and 1995.

1991 is unquestionably a massive year for death metal...

• Death - Human
• Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
• Dismember - Like an Ever Flowing Stream
• Autopsy - Mental Funeral
• Carcass - Necroticism
• Entombed - Clandestine
• Morbid Angel - Blessed Are the Sick
• Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten
• Pestilence - Testimony of the Ancients
• Immolation - Dawn of Possession

1994 is unquestionably a massive year for black metal...

• Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss
• Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
• Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas
• Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger
• Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi / Frost
• Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times / The Shadowthrone
• Samael - Ceremony of Opposites
• Gorgoroth - Pentagram

But I think 1995 deserves my accolade due to the way metal music expanded its horizons. There were so many groundbreaking albums in all my favourite genres that were equally as pioneering as they were quality. All the below albums created (or perfected) entirely new sounds that would inspire countless bands in the years to come.

• Death - Symbolic
• Ulver - Bergtatt
• Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane
• My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River
  
• The Gathering - Mandylion
• At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul
• Ved Buens Ende... - Written in Waters
• Fear Factory - Demanufacture
• Skepticism - Stormcrowfleet
• Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve
• Opeth - Orchid

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 18th of February, 2020:

1. Iron Void (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny92

2. Omega Massif (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel

3. Funeral Horse (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

4. Sabel (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

5. Major Kong (FALLEN)

6. Nox Aurea (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

7. Sex Machineguns (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

8. Assassin (PIT)

9. Six Feet Under (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

10. Skelethal (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

11. Sivyj Yar (NORTH)

12. Oceano (REVOLUTION) - requested by Daniel

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 16th/17th of February, 2020:

1. Endless Floods (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

2. Seventh Void (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

3. Frayle (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

4. Deathwhite (FALLEN)

5. Norse (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

6. Gorevent (HORDE)

7. Skeletal (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

8. Nox (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. Astronoid (INFINITE, NORTH)

10. Eneferens (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

11. Nothing Sacred (PIT) - requested by Daniel

12. Scum of the Earth (SPHERE) - requested by Tymell

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 13th of February, 2020:

1. Black Boned Angel (FALLEN)

2. Wrekmeister Harmonies (FALLEN)

3. Hyatari (FALLEN)

4. ReVamp (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

5. Savage Messiah (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

6. Ygg (NORTH)

7. Nidingr (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Sanctity (PIT) - requested by Tymell

9. Loathe (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY)

10. Venomous Skeleton (HORDE)

11. Nephelium (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

12. Neuraxis (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 12th of February, 2020:

1. Ascend (FALLEN)

2. Asva (FALLEN)

3. Bismuth (FALLEN)

4. Napoleon Skullfukk (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

5. Necros Christos (HORDE, NORTH) - requested by Daniel

6. Raintime (HORDE, GUARDIANS, GATEWAY) - requested by Tymell

7. Unseen Terror (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Daniel

8. Blasphemer (HORDE)

9. Marrasmieli (NORTH)

10. Rebellion (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

11. Ravage (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Tymell

12. Negligence (PIT) - requested by Daniel

Agreed!

Thrash Metal - The 90s is completed for me now.  I shall (slowly) be tackling a North challenge next.

Congrats again! Big effort! You're well on your way to becoming the first Academy attendee to gain a 4th clan.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 11th of February, 2020:

1. Times of Grace (REVOLUTION)

2. Enter Shikari (REVOLUTION)

3. Still Remains (REVOLUTION)

4. Purgatory (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

5. Probot (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

6. Pyramaze (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

7. Mortem (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Mortician (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. Murmur (NORTH, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel

10. Worm (NORTH, FALLEN)

11. Death. Void. Terror. (NORTH)

12. Frigoris (NORTH)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 9th/10th of February, 2020:

1. Monument of Urns (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

2. Monarch! (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

3. Posthuman Abomination (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

4. All Hell (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

5. Serpent Noir (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

6. Obsidian Tongue (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

7. Perzonal War (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

8. Morsüre (PIT) - requested by Daniel

9. Pissing Razors (PIT) - requested by Tymell

10. Kublai Khan (PIT) - requested by Daniel

11. Alquimia (GUARDIANS)

A Spotify list for this challenge can be found below:

Groove Metal

Spotify lists for these challenges can be found below:

Folk Metal: The Early Days

Folk Metal: The Modern Era

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 7th of February, 2020:

1. Messa (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

2. Melvins/ISIS (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

3. Ogre (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

4. Temple of Pain (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

5. Zolfo (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

6. Merrimack (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

7. Kaoteon (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Xephyr

8. Troll (NORTH)

9. Theory in Practice (HORDE)

10. Outrage (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

11. Necronomicon (PIT) - requested by Daniel

12. Bütcher (PIT) - requested by Xephyr

13. Paragon (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

14. Memphis May Fire (REVOLUTION, GATEWAY) - requested by Daniel

Not a lot of surprises for me, although I never imagined that you’d like Green Carnation that much, especially as you generally don’t like single track albums.

That Hate album is seriously underrated!

Here's my off the top of my head list. It really made me realise that I haven't listened to enough modern releases. I consider myself very experienced in most forms of metal from the early 80s to the mid-00s. Before and after that is much more patchy, with lots of gaps, so my current choices could easily be replaced in future. This was fun though.

1970. Black Sabbath - Paranoid

1971. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality

1972. Black Sabbath - Vol 4

1973. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

1974. Budgie - In for the Kill

1975. Black Sabbath - Sabotage

1976. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny

1977. Judas Priest - Sin After Sin

1978. Judas Priest - Stained Class

1979. Motörhead - Overkill

1980. Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations

1981. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules

1982. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

1983. Mercyful Fate - Melissa

1984. Metallica - Ride the Lightning

1985. Slayer - Hell Awaits

1986. Slayer - Reign in Blood

1987. Candlemass - Nightfall

1988. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

1989. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness

1990. Deicide - Deicide

1991. Death - Human

1992. Ministry - Psalm 69

1993. My Dying Bride - Turn Loose the Swans

1994. Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss

1995. Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler

1996. Burzum - Filosofem

1997. Ocean Machine - Biomech

1998. Theatre of Tragedy - Aégis

1999. Summoning - Stronghold

2000. Shape of Despair - Shades Of…

2001. Opeth - Blackwater Park

2002. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors

2003. Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God

2004. Nehëmah - Requiem Tenebrae

2005. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor

2006. Negură Bunget - OM

2007. Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters

2008. ColdWorld - Melancholie²

2009. Sun of the Blind - Skullreader

2010. Deathspell Omega - Paracletus

2011. Blut aus Nord - 777 - The Desanctification

2012. Blut aus Nord - 777 - Cosmosophy

2013. Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

2014. Darkspace - Dark Space III I

2015. Shape of Despair - Monotony Fields

2016. Trees of Eternity - Hour of the Nightingale

2017. The Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia

2018. Horrendous - Idol

2019. Esoteric - A Pyrrhic Existence

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 6th of February, 2020:

1. Mad Butcher (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Daniel

2. Novareign (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

3. Ripper (PIT, HORDE)

4. Leeched (REVOLUTION, FALLEN)

5. Lorna Shore (REVOLUTION)

6. Black Capricorn (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

7. Hands of Orlac (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

8. Bretus (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

9. Pathosray (INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

10. Malignant Monster (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

11. Pale King (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

12. Malignancy (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

13. Havukruunu (NORTH)

That's the plan.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 5th of February, 2020:

1. My Diligence (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

2. Flapjack (GATEWAY, PIT)

3. Lustre (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

4. Nomans Land (NORTH) - requested by Tymell

5. Throwdown (REVOLUTION, PIT)

6. A Life Once Lost (REVOLUTION, PIT)

7. Adrenaline Mob (PIT, GUARDIANS)

8. Pro-Pain (PIT)

9. Mace (PIT) - requested by Daniel

10. Mutant (PIT) - requested by Tymell

Apologies! I got distracted by my ongoing sibling rivalry. They're added to the list.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 4th of February, 2020:

1. Mob Rules (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

2. Ironsword (GUARDIANS)

3. ShadowQuest (GUARDIANS)

4. Lumpur (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

5. Mors Subita (HORDE) - requested by Tymell

6. Mother of Millions (INFINITE) - requested by Tymell

7. Ludicra (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

8. Aethyrick (NORTH)

9. Ludichrist (PIT) - requested by Daniel

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 2nd/3rd of February, 2020:

1. Minushuman (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Tymell

2. Grey Skies Fallen (HORDE, FALLEN)

3. Kraanium (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

4. Lock Up (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

5. Memory Garden (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

6. Lair of the Minotaur (FALLEN, PIT) - requested by Daniel

7. Lordi (GUARDIANS) - requested by Shezma

8. Revenant Marquis (NORTH)

9. Metsatöll (NORTH) - requested by Tymell

10. Horned Almighty (NORTH, PIT)

11. Deathhammer (PIT)

Love me some Crystal Mountain!

That literally sounds awful to me.

Congratulations mate! That's a big effort.

I'm stoked that a bunch of you are picking up these challenges and running with them.