Ben's Forum Replies

I won't comment on your request as I don't want to sway anyone's judgement one way or another, but I do want to state that I don't feel Septic Flesh (they will always be Septic Flesh to me, regardless of their recent change to Septicflesh) should be in The Guardians. Similar to the way Fleshgod Apocalypse should not in any way sit alongside Iron Maiden and Helloween, Septic Flesh just don't fit there.

This highlights the problem I have with the Symphonic Metal genre. Genres should be used to describe a style of music and not necessarily relate to the use of a particular technique or instrument. Nightwish, Epica and After Forever have what I consider to be the Symphonic Metal sound. Death Metal that utilises symphonic aspects does not in any way resemble that sound.

We don't call Emperor Symphonic Metal because we have a genre called Symphonic Black Metal, which I should point out is a subgenre of Black Metal and not Symphonic Metal. If we had a subgenre called Symphonic Death Metal, then I'm certain that Fleshgod Apocalypse and Septic Flesh would sit comfortably within it, and once again it would not be a subgenre of Symphonic Metal.

Before I consider adding these releases to the Hall of Judgement, does anyone share this view? Does anyone disagree with it? I'd be very happy to discuss as it's bothered me for a while. Would anyone not find it weird if Fleshgod Apocalypse's Agony album was in the top 10 Guardian releases (it never would be, but I'm sure you get my point)?

You can already see how many releases are related to each clan on the Homepage. You want that replicated on the Clans homepage (not necessarily each individual clan's homepage but the page you get when you click Clans)? I'm sure that wouldn't be difficult.

As for also showing how many you've rated...maybe...I'll check out how easy it would be.

Agreed. Although Blessed Are the Sick has a very special place for me also.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 5th of December, 2019:

1. Cloaca (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

2. Lord Mantis (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. Possessor (FALLEN, PIT) - requested by Sonny92

4. Profetus (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

5. Black Magic (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

6. Anthem (GUARDIANS)

7. Polterchrist (HORDE)

8. Desecresy (HORDE)

9. Chordotomy (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

10. Nattefrost (NORTH)

11. Hulkoff (NORTH) - requested by Tymell

12. Tsjuder (NORTH)

I'm with you Xephyr. I always wanted to like this album as I'm a huge fan of Faith No More. But it doesn't come close to the genius that follows, and the vocals are a big reason for that.

I used to find you practicing metal faces and poses in front of the mirror all the time when we were teenagers. Never as effective when you’re in pyjamas and ugg boots. You did have the long hair and the Flying V though.

OCD? Me? I don't know what you're talking about. Minor details are not important to me at all.

Um...you put two spaces between "discrepancies" and "between". Just sayin.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 4th of December, 2019:

1. Beyond the Black (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

2. Luna Field (HORDE, NORTH)

3. Chaossworn (HORDE, NORTH) - requested by Daniel

4. Defiled (HORDE)

5. Cleric (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

6. Imber Luminis (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

7. Earth and Pillars (NORTH)

8. Bonded by Blood (PIT) - requested by Tymell

9. Golgotha (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

10. Clagg (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

I've thought about it, but I think that will have to wait until there are other established administrators. I think that's a task that would be very naive for me to take on by myself.

Black metal is one of the biggest passions in my life, but I have to admit that I do have a limit when it comes to enjoying lo-fi material. I'm honestly surprised that you've listed Pure Fucking Armageddon as something that you love, as I find it to be literally unlistenable. In fact, it's the only release that I've given 0.5 stars on RYM, because the production is so bad that there's simply no enjoyment to be had (for me). I would genuinely love to hear what it is about that demo in particular that attracts you to it. Who knows, maybe I should reassess it. Out of the other demos you've listed, Enslaved's effort is likely the one I enjoy the most, although I haven't heard it in a couple of decades.

To answer your question more directly though, I'm going to cheat on a technicality and list Paysage d'Hiver's work as my clear favourite lo-fi releases. It's questionable as to whether they should be considered demos now that they all have album-like CD/LP releases, but they're listed as such in most places so seem to fit the bill. Otherwise, I do get a lot of enjoyment out of Emperor's Wrath of the Tyrant demo, although the production is decent enough there that you may not consider that to be lo-fi?

Great review Xephyr. You've clearly given the release a chance, and explained your views succinctly.

While I won't give away my views on the release yet (I plan to reassess it in the next week or so and hopefully write a review), I will say that I too initially struggled going back to traditional doom metal after years of submitting myself (very willingly) to death doom and funeral doom. It wasn't until Daniel and I chronologically explored the beginnings of metal for the Metal Academy podcast that I found myself appreciating traditional doom more.

If you check out the early albums of Trouble and Pentagram, and also Cirith Ungol's King of the Dead album, you'll hear riffs that are more in line with modern doom, but there are definitely other influences throughout those albums. I guess that shouldn't be surprising, as metal didn't really have any categorisation at this point. It was all just metal, and the doom metal template hadn't yet been solidified. The bands I just mentioned were really just taking one aspect of the Black Sabbath sound and giving it more prevalence. I don't think Paul Chain was necessarily doing that. I think he was just experimenting with sound and atmosphere, which makes labelling the result more challenging.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 2nd/3rd of December, 2019:

1. Beyond Fear (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

2. Benedictum (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

3. The Crest (FALLEN)

4. Esogenesi (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny92

5. Orodruin (FALLEN)

6. Black Dawn (NORTH)

7. Fimbulwinter (NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

8. Chaos Invocation (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

9. Mylingar (HORDE, NORTH)

10. Gorelord (HORDE)

11. Cerebral Bore (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

12. Hideous Divinity (HORDE)

So you mean an album that hasn't been added to Metal Academy at all, not even as a Non-Metal release?

If that's the case, then I think you can put your case forward in the forum that the release be added as a Non-Metal release, and then request it be added to the Hall for judgement. I never want this site to be a dictatorship, so will always be amenable to releases being added in some form. I will however require communal decision-making to influence what genres and clans releases are attached to.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 1st of December, 2019:

1. Penumbra (FALLEN)

2. The Raven Age (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION) - requested by Xephyr

3. Atrophy (PIT) - requested by Tymell

4. Black Mass (PIT) - requested by Sonny92

5. Avenger of Blood (PIT) - requested by Tymell

6. Bloodthirst (PIT, NORTH) - requested by Sonny92

7. Cavalera Conspiracy (PIT) - requested by Daniel

8. Meridian (NORTH)

9. Rings of Saturn (REVOLUTION, HORDE) - requested by Xephyr

10. Soul Demise (HORDE)

11. Centurion (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

This release has been added to the Hall of Judgement.

Yes. It's totally possible with the existing Hall of Judgement. As long as a release exists on Metal Academy (even if it's genre is Non-Metal), then it can be added to the Hall.

Agreed! As you say, it's not bad (I actually quite like it), but it feels out of place. And Death's Painkiller is another perfect example.

The album has no metal on it, so wouldn't normally be added to Metal Academy until they release something else that does. I think I'll make an exception in this case though, as it's highly doubtful they've left metal behind for good.

One thing I love about metal is that bands make albums, not just individual tracks. Covers often stand out as having a totally different feel to the rest of the album and so they just feel jarring, no matter how good they are. Early Megadeth albums were a prime example of this, the Aerosmith cover on Testament's A New Order album is another. I guess album flow is important to me.

As for hidden tracks, well it's just an unnecessary gimmick. The 666 track at the end of Anathema's Pentecost III EP is horrible, so I'd put that up there as one of my "top 10 greatest shits". Probably the only hidden track that comes to mind that I actually look forward to is Static Journey at the end of Samael's Rebellion EP.

I hate all hidden tracks, and most covers.

A few excellent doom albums on that list SilentScream213. Some very interesting choices too. I wonder how many best of lists would have Divine Intervention at #1?

Of course, there are no wrong selections when someone makes a personal favourite albums list. 

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 29th of November, 2019:

1. Fvneral Fvkk (FALLEN)

2. At Vance (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

3. Dawn of Relic (NORTH, HORDE)

4. Wurdulak (NORTH)

5. Advent Sorrow (NORTH)

6. Netherbird (NORTH, HORDE) - requested by Xephyr

7. Cannabis Corpse (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

8. Darkside (HORDE)

9. Eye of the Enemy (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Xephyr

10. Amok (PIT) - requested by Tymell

11. Bewitcher (PIT)

12. The Bride (REVOLUTION) - requested by Daniel

Maybe one day. I decided early on to leave them out for a few reasons. Firstly, there's a lot of confusion around them, with a lot of sites listing completely different things about them. Secondly, it would have resulted in me focusing almost exclusively on 70s and 80s heavy metal for a LONG time with little reward, delaying the true value of the site. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly to me, a lot of them have no artwork or it's next to impossible to find good images for them. As I hope you can tell, the visuals of Metal Academy are just as important to me as the content. I wanted this site to be the best looking metal site there is, and literally spend hours every day hunting down the very best images I can find for every release. I fear that adding singles would detract from the result.

Never say never though.

Thrilled to see Draconian's Arcane Rain Fell, Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor and Morbid Saint's Spectrum of Death on that list! Much respect!

It's also good to see such a mix of genres. Industrial, Thrash, Heavy, Power, Doom, Progressive, Gothic and Groove. Covering a lot of the metal spectrum.

I admit that I had to look up Torture. Never heard of them. Will have to add them to the site.

I totally agree, and already have a plan that I'm trying to implement. Thanks!

Welcome Ded Bolt! You'll find all of those favourites here. If you'd like me to add anything else, there's a thread for each clan in the forum dedicated to requests.

Cheers, and enjoy the site!

I think most metal fans go through a similar transition. I took to the likes of Metallica and Slayer quite quickly, but Sepultura were initially too much for me due to Max's gruff style. Once I accepted his vocals I quickly found myself loving them, and it wasn't long before Morbid Angel, Death and Deicide were banging out of my speakers.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 28th of November, 2019:

1. Motorhead/Girlschool (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

2. A Sound of Thunder (GUARDIANS) - requested by Tymell

3. Archivist (NORTH, FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Korpiklaani (NORTH) - requested by Xephyr

5. Acid Reign (PIT) - requested by Tymell

6. Mind Over Four (INFINITE, GATEWAY) - requested by Dwightfryed

7. Fleshgrind (HORDE)

8. Brujeria (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

9. Jungle Rot (HORDE)

10. My Insanity (FALLEN)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 27th of November, 2019:

1. Griffin (GUARDIANS)

2. Pissgrave (HORDE)

3. Loudblast (HORDE, PIT)

4. Crowhurst (NORTH, INFINITE, FALLEN)

5. Obsequiae (NORTH)

6. Borgne (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

7. Carnival in Coal (INFINITE)

8. Syrinx (INFINITE)

9. Black Pyramid (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

10. Below (FALLEN) - requested by Tymell

11. Bong (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

I've never heard of them! You've got me intrigued now.

Nothing cheeky about it. I'm happy that someone has finally requested a release for this clan!

Can we get Jinjer and Ashbringer to the Infinite? Thanks!

These have both been added.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 26th of November, 2019:

1. Blitzkrieg (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

2. Blood Duster (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

3. Bonesaw (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

4. Anata vs. Bethzaida (HORDE, NORTH)

5. Agressor (HORDE, PIT)

6. Sarcasm (HORDE, NORTH)

7. Creeping Death (HORDE)

8. Cultus Sanguine Vs. Seth (NORTH, FALLEN)

9. Ashbringer (NORTH, INFINITE) - requested by Shezma

10. Jinjer (INFINITE, REVOLUTION, GATEWAY) - requested by Shezma

11. Winds of Sirius (FALLEN)

Welcome to Metal Academy, and more importantly, welcome to The Fallen, The Horde and The Pit! Your description of your tastes sounds awfully similar to my own, although I must admit that I feel most affiliated with The North.

Thanks for the great feedback. We're very happy with the way the site is developing, but it's great to hear positive things from the metal fans we made it for. I can assure you that we intend to keep building on the foundation, and hopefully we can also encourage the continuation of the non-toxic environment you mentioned.

The treatment of metal at RYM was one of the main reasons I designed this site. I think in the early days of that site, metal fans kind of took over and filled the charts with (admittedly fantastic) metal releases. Those 80s, 90s and early 00s albums still hold deservedly high places in the charts, but as the RYM audience broadened, the intentional down-rating of extreme or underground releases began, to the point where the top 200 metal albums looks like a view through the Wayback machine. There are literally only 6 albums in that top 200 that were released in the past 10 years. To make matters worse, as styles of metal music have become more divisive (think Melodic Metalcore, Blackgaze, etc.), the down rating has become a thing within the metal community itself.

Metal Academy was created as a response to all of the above. We wanted to make a site where non-metal fans held no influence, but perhaps more importantly, where fans of ANY metal genre can have a voice. It was always going to be the case that clans like The Horde and The North were going to be heavily populated, but I'll be super excited if we can start to fill some of the less dominating clans, particularly The Revolution, The Gateway and The Sphere.

Cheers,

Ben.

Haven't seen Mariner (2016) by Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas anywhere on this site.

Would be cool, if it could be added.

Thanks.

This has been done.

Is it possible to add any Ghost releases past Opus Eponymus?

I know there is some debate regarding Ghost being metal past that point, if that's the reason for the lack of the albums. Personally, I don't see any issue still considering the band metal past that point, as I feel the band is still somewhat tied to metal culture regardless and each of the following albums still has a fair share of metal influence to it.

Thanks

Hi robiu013, and welcome to Metal Academy!

I'm afraid we have to draw the line somewhere when it comes to including releases that aren't considered to be metal. What I've been doing (and I think it's working well) is adding all releases for a band from their first one that is considered metal to the last one. So if Ghost were to release a metal album next year, then I would go back and add all their other releases since the debut (as a Non-Metal release with no clan). Basically, once a band stops being metal then they are no longer part of Metal Academy.

Otherwise the site would be filled with rock albums by bands like Anathema and The Gathering. Good albums, but they're not what this site is all about.

Cheers,

Ben.

Yes, it happens occasionally, presumably when someone's browser screws up. I've deleted one of the ratings.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 24th/25th of November, 2019:

1. Abaddon Incarnate (HORDE)

2. Unaussprechlichen Kulten (HORDE)

3. Vukari (NORTH, INFINITE)

4. Djevel (NORTH)

5. Sacrilege B.C. (PIT) - requested by Daniel

6. Blessed Death (PIT) - requested by Daniel

7. Blaspheme (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

8. Julie Christmas (INFINITE)

9. Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas (INFINITE, FALLEN) - requested by robiu013

10. Atrox (INFINITE, FALLEN)

11. The Bleeding Light (FALLEN)

12. Black Wreath (FALLEN) - requested by Daniel

I like it Xeph. Ben I simply MUST have this feature immediately. My very existence depends on it. Plus I want the particular clan I'm listening to at any one time to intuitively start to glow with a hint of hellfire that progressively starts to burn brighter as my listening experience reaches it's peak. Should be easy enough to deploy, shouldn't it?

I implemented this ages ago. Your clan icons glow when you're really digging an album. I wonder why it doesn't work for you?

Thanks for the feedback Shezma. I'll have a think about how I might make genre coverage clearer during the registration process. It's wrong of me to assume that everyone has complete knowledge of RYM's branching genre tree.

Hmmmm...I think I have an idea...

Welcome to Metal Academy Tymell! More importantly though, welcome to your chosen clans. I'm sure it's tough for everyone to make that choice.

I'm busy coming up with ways that contributing site members can earn entry into a fourth clan, so your torment may eventually be eased somewhat.

We hope you enjoy the site!

Welcome! We genuinely hope you find value and will contribute in any way that works for you.

In order to give user's Clan choices a bit more weight, I thought it would be cool if you could change the ordering that your clan icons show up in your profile/posts so others can get a better idea of someone's preferences at a glance. Possibly could be thrown in Account settings with a drag/drop style interface? 

For example I'd rather have my icons ordered Infinite/North/Guardians instead of the generic ordering. Gives people a better sense of "Oh this person really likes this stuff out of the three they've chosen" and makes each profile more unique. 

 That's an interesting idea. I'll have to think about how it could be implemented.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 22nd of November, 2019:

1. Werian (FALLEN, NORTH)

2. Black Alice (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

3. Black Task (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Daniel

4. Black Breath (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

5. Contrarian (HORDE, INFINITE)

6. Encoffinized (HORDE)

7. ...and Oceans Vs. Bloodthorn (NORTH)

8. Geasa (NORTH)

9. Obsidian Gate (NORTH)

10. Furious Trauma (PIT)

I like the idea. Would give me some focus in what I listen to. Are you volunteering to run it Daniel or merely suggesting the idea?

Can you add the Norwegian MasseMord? Should've specified in my earlier request. Looks like you added the Polish one - haha.

The Norwegian Massemord has now been added. You really sent me down the rabbit hole with that one. How does a band have 14 albums with next to no fanbase? Most of these albums have under 5 ratings on RYM.

I did wonder which one you meant when adding it the first time. I must admit that I chose the Polish one because they have about a million less releases, so it would be a lot less wasted time if I got it wrong.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 21st of November, 2019:

1. Oxiplegatz (INFINITE)

2. Latitudes (INFINITE, FALLEN)

3. Wheel (INFINITE)

4. Bison (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

5. Bloodthorn (NORTH, HORDE)

6. Massemord (NORTH) - requested by illusionist

7. Bethzaida (NORTH)

8. Sadisme (NORTH)

9. Bifröst (NORTH) - requested by Daniel

10. Birth Of Depravity (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

I have to admit that I don't mind a bit of "ggghghghghghghghghghgh.....thwack.....ggghghghghghghghghghghgh....thwack" every now and then.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy on the 20th of November, 2019:

1. Danse Macabre (FALLEN)

2. Nightfell (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. Bengal Tigers (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel

4. Impious (HORDE, PIT)

5. Beneath The Massacre (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

6. Beneath (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

7. Liturgy (INFINITE, NORTH)

8. Crown the Empire (REVOLUTION) - requested by Xephyr

9. Dimension F3H (SPHERE)

10. The Dark Element (GUARDIANS) - requested by Xephyr