Ben's Forum Replies
Wow! You've really gone for some big hitters this month Daniel!
One of the greatest albums in metal. My review should make it clear just how much a love it!
I must admit that I've never heard Boris. I'm not big on drone and their discography seems so eclectic and strange that I've been scared off. I really should give them a go at some point.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 31st of January, 2020:
1. Kollwitz (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
2. Kingdom of Sorrow (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
3. Acid Mammoth (FALLEN)
4. Wagakki Band (NORTH)
5. Tengger Cavalry (NORTH)
6. Runic (NORTH, HORDE)
7. Sig:Ar:Tyr (NORTH)
8. Juggernaut (PIT, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel
9. Malkavian (PIT) - requested by Tymell
10. Mantic Ritual (PIT) - requested by Tymell
11. Metal Allegiance (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
12. Temperance (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 30th of January, 2020:
1. Mael Mordha (FALLEN, NORTH) - requested by Tymell
2. Higher Power (GATEWAY)
3. Dalriada (NORTH, GUARDIANS)
4. Heidevolk (NORTH, GUARDIANS)
5. Myrkgrav (NORTH)
6. Dark Forest (NORTH)
7. Bonded (PIT)
8. Machine Men (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
9. Liv Sin (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 29th of January, 2020:
1. Inverloch (FALLEN, HORDE) - requested by Daniel
2. Lamassu (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
3. Jesus Cröst (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
4. Nero di Marte (INFINITE)
5. Le Grand Guignol (INFINITE, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
6. Jordablod (NORTH)
7. Tuatha de Danann (NORTH
8. Mägo de Oz (NORTH, GUARDIANS)
9. Ásmegin (NORTH)
10. Lumsk (NORTH)
11. Iskald (NORTH)
12. Lazarus A.D. (PIT) - requested by Tymell
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 27th/28th of January, 2020:
1. To/Die/For (FALLEN) - requested by shadowdoom9
2. Garganjua (FALLEN, INFINITE)
3. King Goat (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
4. Kiuas (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
5. Holter (GUARDIANS)
6. Jorn Lande & Trond Holter (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
7. Darktribe (GUARDIANS)
8. Infernal War/K riegsmaschine (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
9. Porta Nigra (NORTH, INFINITE)
10. Impending Doom (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Daniel
11. Forlorn Citadel (NORTH)
12. Interment (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
13. Attomica (PIT) - requested by Daniel
14. Hazzerd (PIT) - requested by Sonny92
15. Marko Hietala (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
Could you please add Marko Hietala? (Nightwish frontman's solo project)
I'm a bit confused by the two releases listed on every site. Are they the exact same album, just released with titles in different languages, or is Pyre of the Black Heart a re-recorded version of Mustan sydämen rovio? Maybe it's the same album with lyrics in English?
For now I will just add the 2019 album Mustan sydämen rovio.
I love getting requests, even when they're from you. That being said, you seem to be the only one that desperately wants me to add some never-heard-of underground release with artwork that's impossible to track down, just so you can give it 1.5 stars. Lucky I enjoy a good challenge!
Absolutely no reason to apologise. I encourage the requests!
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 24th of January, 2020:
1. Humanfly (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel
2. Apostle of Solitude (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Landskap (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
4. The Howling Void (FALLEN, NORTH) - requested by Daniel
5. Mouth of Oceans (FALLEN, HORDE) - requested by Sonny92
6. Dopelord (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
7. In Vain (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
8. Mutyumu (INFINITE)
9. Pin-Up Went Down (INFINITE)
10. Neuma (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
11. Violent Magic Orchestra (INFINITE)
12. Ex Eye (INFINITE)
13. Jeff Loomis (INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
14. Inquisitor (PIT, HORDE) - requested by Tymell
15. I Shalt Become (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 23rd of January, 2020:
Horseback (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Daniel
Howl (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
Carbonized (HORDE, INFINITE)
Ignominious Incarceration (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
In Extremo (NORTH) - requested by Tymell
Dornenreich (NORTH, INFERNO)
Helrunar (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
Kalmankantaja (NORTH)
Imagika (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
Crotchduster (INFINITE)
John Zorn (INFINITE)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 22nd of January, 2020:
1. Ether Coven (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
2. Odious Mortem (HORDE)
3. Ichor (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
4. Wormhole (HORDE)
5. Ignea (NORTH, INFINITE, GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
6. Svarttjern (NORTH)
7. Hæresiarchs of Dis (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
8. Heaven (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
9. Manticora (GUARDIANS, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
10. Hellish Crossfire (PIT) - requested by Daniel
11. Hyades (PIT) - requested by Tymell
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 21st of January, 2020:
1. Dyscordia (INFINITE, GUARDIANS)
2. Hades Archer (NORTH, PIT) - requested by Daniel
3. Graveworm (NORTH, FALLEN, HORDE)
4. Lesath (NORTH)
5. Horn of the Rhino (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
6. Haemorrhage (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
7. Habitual Defilement (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
8. Job For a Cowboy (HORDE, REVOLUTION) - requested by Tymell
9. Hospital of Death (PIT) - requested by Tymell
Ben, please add Ether Coven (aka Ether) (USA) and Konvent (Denmark).
If I'm not mistaken, Konvent are yet to have an official release, only a demo in 2017. I'll add them once the full length comes out later in the month. As much as I'd like to add releases before they actually come out, the need to nail down genres and therefore clans on Metal Academy makes that idea fraught with danger.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 19th / 20th of January, 2020:
1. Haarp (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
2. Dukatalon (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Elder Druid (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
4. Grin (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
5. Holy Knights (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
6. Herman Frank (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
7. Hexen (PIT) - requested by Tymell
8. HAARP Machine (INFINITE) - requested by Daniel
9. Despondent Moon (NORTH)
10. Rumination (NORTH, HORDE)
11. Vengeful Spectre (NORTH)
12. Zhrine (NORTH, HORDE)
13. Snorlax (NORTH, HORDE)
14. Virvum (HORDE)
15. Archspire (HORDE)
16. Kick Axe (GUARDIANS)
17. Primal Fear (GUARDIANS)
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 release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.
Spotify Lists for these challenges can be found below.
Spotify Lists can be found below. The vast majority of releases are available on the service.
Spotify Lists can be found below. The vast majority of releases are available on the service.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 17th of January, 2020:
1. Lotus Thief (FALLEN, INFINITE)
2. Kurse (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Helltrain (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
4. Grave Miasma (HORDE)
5. Scorched (HORDE)
6. Nefandus (NORTH)
7. Unreqvited (NORTH, INFINITE)
8. Evol (NORTH)
9. Empire of the Moon (NORTH)
10. WelicoRuss (NORTH, GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr
11. Vvilderness (NORTH)
12. Moongates Guardian (NORTH, GUARDIANS)
13. Black Funeral (NORTH)
14. Elderwind (NORTH)
15. Helion Prime (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
16. Hellcannon (PIT) - requested by Tymell
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 16th of January, 2020:
1. Saigon Kick (GATEWAY)
2. Fight (GUARDIANS, PIT)
3. Gaskin (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
4. Ghast (NORTH, FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
5. Gaoth (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92
6. 1914 (NORTH, HORDE, FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
7. Crom Dubh (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92
8. Naked Whipper (NORTH, HORDE)
9. Ildjarn (NORTH)
10. Grind Inc. (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
11. Agoraphobic Nosebleed (HORDE, FALLEN)
12. Helevorn (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
13. Hatriot (PIT) - requested by Tymell
14. Haunted Shores (REVOLUTION, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
Big congratulations Sonny92! You've locked in The Fallen clan.
I think it's fitting that you're the first one to complete a Doom Metal challenge, as you're clearly the best equipped to do it. Really enjoying all of your reviews. I'm particularly stoked to see that you've rated so many of my favourite albums similar scores to me. A kindred spirit!
Another improvement! If you visit the Releases section, you will now see that you can show "Only releases I've rated". So now you can exclude or include releases that you've rated.
Thanks to Sonny92 for the request.
Will get that fixed.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 15th of January, 2020:
1. Soilent Green (FALLEN, HORDE)
2. Poppy (GATEWAY)
3. Galar (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
4. Kawir (NORTH)
5. Flames (PIT, GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
6. Harlott (PIT) - requested by Tymell
7. Hatchet (PIT) - requested by Tymell
8. Guillotine (PIT) - requested by Tymell
9. Mystic Prophecy (GUARDIANS)
10. Yacøpsæ (HORDE)
11. Fleshwrought (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
12. Cripple Bastards (HORDE)
13. Phantomsmasher (HORDE)
Is #1 fully implemented yet Ben, as it doesn't seem to be working for me?
Yes, although it might not be immediately apparent. You can still see your own rating (stars), while the member you've selected's ratings appear in numerical form just below it. So as long as you're picking a member that has actually rated something on a list, you won't notice any difference. Below is what I see when I select you while on the first Doom Metal challenge.
Nice improvements, Ben. The clan links are likely to be particularly useful.
I like that I can see how many releases for a particular clan I've rated too - let's me know how much there's still to do!
Good idea to hide the empty users from the clan list too - will be especially relevant as the number of users increases, I would think. I assume if one of those users starts rating they will then become visible?
Yes, as soon as a member rates a release, they'll appear in the Members section.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 14th of January, 2020:
Giant Squid (FALLEN, INFINITE) - requested by Tymell
Vin de mia Trix (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
Evadne (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
Whelm (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
Wolvserpent (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
Catasexual Urge Motivation (HORDE)
Gravestone (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
Exulceration / Putrid Offal (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
Agathocles (HORDE)
Combatwoundedveteran (HORDE)
Putrid Offal (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
Exquisite Pus (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
Fueled by Fire (PIT) - requested by Tymell
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 12th/13th of January, 2020:
1. Mordenheim (FALLEN)
2. Meth Drinker (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Grey Gallows (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
4. Firebreather (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
5. Obed Marsh (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
6. Victorius (GUARDIANS)
7. Sluagh (NORTH)
8. Endstille (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
9. Throne of Ahaz (NORTH)
10. Nazxul (NORTH, HORDE)
11. The Abyss (NORTH)
12. Folkearth (NORTH) - requested by Tymell
13. Enthrallment (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
14. Frantic Amber (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
15. Epicardiectomy (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
Welcome Praemorior! We hope you stick around and find value in the site. If there are any releases you'd like me to add, let me know.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 10th of January, 2020:
1. Eciton (HORDE)- requested by Daniel
2. Nightfall (HORDE, NORTH, FALLEN)
3. Blackguard (HORDE, GUARDIANS)
4. Façade (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
5. Tortuga (FALLEN)
6. Maniac Butcher (NORTH)
7. Eastern Front (NORTH)- requested by Daniel
8. Tod Huetet Uebel (NORTH)
9. Ragnarok (NORTH)
10. Fastkill (PIT) - requested by Tymell
11. Fatal Embrace (PIT) - requested by Tymell
12. Emmure (REVOLUTION)- requested by Daniel
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 9th of January, 2020:
1. Essence (PIT, GATEWAY) - requested by Tymell
2. Dorsal Atlântica (PIT, GUARDIANS, HORDE) - requested by Daniel
3. Sextrash (PIT, HORDE, NORTH)
4. Exeloume (PIT, HORDE) - requested by Tymell
5. Svrm (NORTH)
6. Victory Over the Sun (NORTH, INFINITE)
7. Ungod (NORTH)
8. The Black (NORTH)
9.Dråpsnatt (NORTH) - requested by Daniel
10. Thou Art Lord (NORTH)
11. Sons of Apollo (INFINITE)
12. East of the Wall (INFINITE, FALLEN) - requested by Daniel
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 7th/8th of January, 2020:
1. Tankograd (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
2. Wolf Blood (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Wolf Counsel (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
4. Djerv (GATEWAY) - requested by Daniel
5. Eidolon (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell
6. Infernum (NORTH)
7. Grimah (NORTH)
8. Doombringer (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Daniel
9. Necromantia / Varathron (NORTH)
10. Necromass (NORTH, HORDE)
11. Disfiguring the Goddess (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
12. Unbounded Terror (HORDE)
13. Elimination (PIT) - requested by Tymell
14. Enemynside (PIT) - requested by Tymell
5 stars from me. Love all the tracks mentioned.
I was a big fan of Lacuna Coil in their gothic metal period, but my interest quickly waned when they switched to alternative.
It has to be said that Cristina is one of the sexiest women in metal.
It's my favourite too, although the debut is also pretty cool.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 5th/6th of January, 2020:
1. Pinewalker (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
2. High Inquisitor Woe (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
3. Dub War (GATEWAY) - requested by Tymell
4. Chastain (GUARDIANS) - requested by SilentScream213
5. Killers (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by SilentScream213
6. Dublin Death Patrol (PIT) - requested by Tymell
7. Hellripper (PIT, NORTH)
8. Hadez (NORTH, HORDE)
9. Horde (NORTH)
10. Cénotaphe (NORTH)
11. Diminished (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
12. Suffering Hour (HORDE, PIT)
13. Die (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
14. Vale of Pnath (HORDE)
I have managed to use my downtime over Xmas and New Year well and appear to have completed the 2nd Decade challenge the day before I head back to work.
You have indeed! Congratulations mate! That was some festive season effort to get there. You are the very first Metal Academy Attendee to "lock in" one of your three chosen clans. You're a quarter of a way to gaining a much-desired 4th clan.
I will create a new thread to celebrate the occasion.
I also feel it's their best album by a fair margin.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 1st/2nd of January, 2020:
1. Eremit (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92
2. Domkraft (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell
3. God Disease (FALLEN, HORDE) - requested by Sonny92
4. Exterminator (NORTH, PIT)
5. Flames of Hell (NORTH, PIT)
6. Xibalba (NORTH)
7. Détente (PIT) - requested by Daniel
8. Legion of the Damned (PIT, HORDE)
9. Devour The Unborn (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
10. Disarmonia Mundi (HORDE) - requested by Tymell
11. Desecravity (HORDE) - requested by Daniel
Spotify lists for the Progressive Metal challenges are below:
Progressive Metal - The 1st Decade
Progressive Metal - The 2nd Decade
Progressive Metal - The Modern Era
I don't consider myself to be a big fan of Prog Metal and yet these challenges are filled with some of my favourite albums. I think if anything that shows how diverse the genre actually is. I may not be attracted to the Dream Theater style of technical wizardry, but I sure love bands like Arcturus, Devin Townsend, Amorphis, Emperor, Enslaved, Gojira, Maudlin of the Well, Meshuggah, Nevermore, Anacrusis, Coroner, Cynic and, of course, Opeth.
Maybe I am a fan after all?!
Spotify playlists can be found below: